tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28943842952556084722024-02-19T15:26:44.015-08:00TRACY BLOGSYOLO. You Only Live Once. The following is what happens when someone drops all fear and inhibitions to follow God into whatever He tells a person to do no matter how crazy it may sound... and thus our family adventure ensues...hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-48189828914842244392022-07-08T18:12:00.000-07:002022-07-08T18:12:26.255-07:00How did I get to YWAM? <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I wrote this blog back in early 2021. To tell my lifelong YWAM story. There is no room for all of the stories and places where my life and YWAM have intersected over the past 35 years. But I had the need to share an overview of what happened, why we are here, and how much it means to me. I am posting it over a year from when it was written as it was not the right time then. It was too fresh, too recent, too raw. But today in July of 2022. I think it is okay to share how we got here, at least part of the story. There is so much more we have done, so many more places we have been, and so much has happened in this past year living in over 20 places in 8 countries. But for now, I will just post this unposted blog from 2021 if for anything, to share this fantastic picture Juan took of me in Dallas, Texas, USA when I was 15 years old and we were dating ;) </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSziM_4oCv4kVnorSYAalxscWaQ2nke_H7QISXO-Mt3ULuQoQpOi9yxf2O52UcR5pGm69BKoJNQLEjsJxeo68DECBrPrZzWYGiy452os9_1gUwQ3VkgvkH7PcmB1WY-0RwXFoR523o_b8/s960/IMG_5811.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSziM_4oCv4kVnorSYAalxscWaQ2nke_H7QISXO-Mt3ULuQoQpOi9yxf2O52UcR5pGm69BKoJNQLEjsJxeo68DECBrPrZzWYGiy452os9_1gUwQ3VkgvkH7PcmB1WY-0RwXFoR523o_b8/w593-h791/IMG_5811.JPG" width="593" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Way back in 1988 when I was 15 years old, a good friend gave me a Youth With A Mission "GO Manuel" and said, "You should pray about joining YWAM." This book was basically a "website" for Youth With A Mission before there was the internet. Each page was a promo for a YWAM missions base somewhere in the world. In one black and white page, a missions campus would need to put enough convincing slogans, pictures, and information to inspire a young person like me to hop on an airplane, arrive in their country, to serve in missions with their team. Usually with a skateboarder or surfer having a blast in the picture or some young woman backpacking in Nepal. It was glorious! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeZfI0cEy0btBZJNpU4jJtMABckXWX5KFWfcUjzFLlBXYzb0JVwliksUdFJCrRNvzXiEl9zPmy0lS2I3kJNgxHvp6F7m8JePrJry01_qFtW-XVdKfgxyWZsDQtosabhJ9vBC_E-tnpqU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="220" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeZfI0cEy0btBZJNpU4jJtMABckXWX5KFWfcUjzFLlBXYzb0JVwliksUdFJCrRNvzXiEl9zPmy0lS2I3kJNgxHvp6F7m8JePrJry01_qFtW-XVdKfgxyWZsDQtosabhJ9vBC_E-tnpqU/w350-h556/image.png" width="350" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember holding an earlier version of this book close to my chest as a very precious source of information. It was my dream to be a missionary in Africa, and I thought this may be my ticket to get there. I poured over the pages of this book over and over again in my bed at night. Many times falling asleep with it open in my hand, multiple pages dog eared. Amsterdam. England. Hawaii. South Africa. Australia. New Zealand. Switzerland. Each page prayed over with little stars or checkmarks in the corner to remember which ones seemed like the right place for me. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SqeN2BzhZjrzfRUmKqsaDyXBeoESbcaBPpeH4LbApE2Zed4DfMjLFibThwl69h9nqINekRjjbVZehdeAHa7F5eZIFqktKJG-NOJ2y84NAckNNhXcfDqM5pUhfykmhiblvIkJAKEXaJ8/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="233" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SqeN2BzhZjrzfRUmKqsaDyXBeoESbcaBPpeH4LbApE2Zed4DfMjLFibThwl69h9nqINekRjjbVZehdeAHa7F5eZIFqktKJG-NOJ2y84NAckNNhXcfDqM5pUhfykmhiblvIkJAKEXaJ8/w424-h395/image.png" width="424" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I presented this dream to my parents they looked at me incredulously. Go to some other country where I know NO ONE to study the bible and missions with an organization they knew nothing about? It was a firm NO. I had to go to college. I sighed a disappointing sigh and picked a Bible College in Santa Cruz, California to attend that was Assemblies of God. It was called Bethany Bible College. I wanted to study Bible and World Missions there.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpQnWtKvRPXK83QCuMYrM2zy7s32Rfi5pFVwmGL4OCq1MlSz7oyqT1UBLfq3PkO_Flhi_TxbhXi9R2zCnNxa2k88Kp2lCG04AhU-bNGzOw1wFi61YDR5nQIH2tpgWN2rMQrSTqtLTcVw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="220" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpQnWtKvRPXK83QCuMYrM2zy7s32Rfi5pFVwmGL4OCq1MlSz7oyqT1UBLfq3PkO_Flhi_TxbhXi9R2zCnNxa2k88Kp2lCG04AhU-bNGzOw1wFi61YDR5nQIH2tpgWN2rMQrSTqtLTcVw/w606-h454/image.png" width="606" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">After visiting I was sure that is where I wanted to go. I loved everything about it. California and these people were "my people" - Alas, my parents were disappointed that it had the words "Bible College" in the title and that would be "limiting the options for my future" so no, I couldn't go there either. My mom thought it would be better for me to go to Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida. It was a Christian School, but an employer couldn't tell by the name. A win-win in my parent's mind. I did not want to go there, but we came to an agreement that I would go if they allowed me to major in Theology and minor in Counseling.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOy0ooDxrbccV8b9vOJwq8ohchjIFA3TQeiDAVqujE5XmaPraRibi55WjU_OvlVGHmrqH1mi8NgOZoIsXY89hZ2L0wuYvTmAsVmh0ngNfCtNCtzAcpk1zHHRpwIAb4oPIOIWCN4xt3k-E/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOy0ooDxrbccV8b9vOJwq8ohchjIFA3TQeiDAVqujE5XmaPraRibi55WjU_OvlVGHmrqH1mi8NgOZoIsXY89hZ2L0wuYvTmAsVmh0ngNfCtNCtzAcpk1zHHRpwIAb4oPIOIWCN4xt3k-E/w564-h376/image.png" width="564" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">After one year there, actually, after a few weeks... I knew it was not the right place for me. My dorm room in the above picture overlooked the Palm Beach Yacht Club & Intercoastal Waterway... yet the beauty was empty. The Bible classes were so basic that it was not challenging for me intellectually or spiritually. I felt like the Christians at this school were not like me at all, barely Christian if at all for the most part. I had to do extra things on my own time to make being there worth my time. I became the first Resident Assistant RA that was a Freshman in the history of the school. In this job (usually reserved for Juniors and Seniors) I was responsible for ministering to and caring for girls of all ages, many nights praying with them or offering kind correction and kindness in their rooms. I also worked as a youth pastor at a local church which I was later told was intimidating to the other guys who were my fellow Theology majors - hoping to get a youth pastor job like mine after 4 years of education. Ooops. I didn't know I wasn't "supposed" to do this. Too late. In my spare time, I helped at a church for the homeless on the wrong side of the tracks, volunteered with the Pro-Life Club, and served every week at a home for children born addicted to crack and cocaine. During spring break, while others drank and partied, I took my roommates on a mission trip to the West Indies; did street evangelism in the slums and helped build a community center. Returning to fancy Palm Beach, I would try to reach the rich as well as the poor. I would drive the dark hedge lined streets at1am at night putting bibles and cartoon messages about Jesus in the mailboxes of multi-million-dollar rows of mansions. Voted in as the representative for the freshman class in the Campus Ministries Department, I enjoyed helping to plan outreaches and ministry events for the whole campus. All this is to say, I was not the "normal" female freshman college student.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ5XHwBfHRv72IHbbA08sCQiH85Wwo4Y7Tl-19Wn1PogisVuilIniSOqMN5KRVp0h2es06kqWNgfUEeOrqO6wMo5-BVZVKid7TEIP-M6uVYjzpQFGnPlwOs4JNt36RSz2gpjcBxuEIG0sy6-A1aL4RJQGPfAerir2RITJUUqo2Cb37xEFcH0B7LzMg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="612" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ5XHwBfHRv72IHbbA08sCQiH85Wwo4Y7Tl-19Wn1PogisVuilIniSOqMN5KRVp0h2es06kqWNgfUEeOrqO6wMo5-BVZVKid7TEIP-M6uVYjzpQFGnPlwOs4JNt36RSz2gpjcBxuEIG0sy6-A1aL4RJQGPfAerir2RITJUUqo2Cb37xEFcH0B7LzMg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't stay and study things I already knew when I wanted to GO & DO the gospel. I believed I could study as I went to serve Jesus, as that is what I had been doing my whole life, reading hundreds of books and taking courses throughout the years that applied specifically to what I needed to know to accomplish God's call on my life. So I left. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Back to the YWAM GO Manuel. After leaving University at the conclusion of my Freshman year, I joined a ministry to the homeless in NYC, co-youth pastored at a church with my fiancee and married. I still wanted to join Youth With A Mission, but instead, we ended up in California doing youth ministry, missions, evangelism, and having babies. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We took the teenagers we were pastoring at an Assemblies of God Church in Redwood City, California to YWAM summer camps in Chico, California. Each summer a YWAM mission trip to Mexico, Columbia, Ireland, and England with the students we pastored was on the agenda. We would perform YWAM dramas in San Francisco at all of the tourist stops while doing relationship street evangelism... not just on the West Coast, but all over the world. In my heart, and in ministry, my way of doing everything was always very very very "YWAMISH."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We continued our YWAMy way of doing ministry for many years, youth pastoring outside of NYC and continuing with YWAM missions trips each summer staying at YWAM bases for many years always performing YWAM dramas in the streets & schools of the world sending teens from our maxed out at 300 teenager youth group we led to YWAM worldwide after high school and followed their stories and experiences closely as I followed the growth of YWAM closely from a distance checking their world map and news almost monthly most of my life. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Before 9-11, we were planning on finally joining YWAM by starting a ministry base in Europe, Ireland to be exact, but my husband's parents asked us to help them with their ministry in NYC once those planes hit the twin towers and NYC Relief needed us. We didn't want to, but God asked us to, so we said yes, of course. We will follow the Lord anywhere He leads, even when it is something that we would not choose for ourselves. My husband was able to grow the ministry to quadruple the size, budget, and volunteers hosting YWAM teams from around the world at our missions base that was very much like a YWAM base. We were Urban Missionaries leading up to 12 outreaches a week at one time and reaching possibly up to 1000 people a day in the busy season. But alas it was not YWAM, though it operated very much the same. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My husband became the Chairman of the Board for the NYC Rescue Alliance making sure the big outreaches in the city like The Salvation Army, The oldest Mission in America, and our organization at the time worked together to help move towards ending the homelessness epidemic in NYC. I suggested many times for my husband to donate our missions base to YWAM as if we ran it as a YWAM base we would have no overhead, no salaries, no medical insurance to pay, etc., etc. as all YWAMERS raise their own missionary support. We would be able to help SO MANY more people and have a steady stream of students coming through for 2-3 month cycles to run the outreaches. Alas, it never materialized as we would have to do a DTS to do that and we had 4 small kids and a large ministry to run. Plus we were too old by then in our 30's. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9BIvmdQZsZjWqI0URTCGz-EALHzOsDLe5z7zu79eKgCoDzEeZFKAbTB2IT7Gni1A-yeVogAseaMCcclK8Yj8aODCenuHpYURywsdRrkw6giDqgWfKZMOh2DLKhYan-OdprOPVFk_RDk/s1280/IMG_5616.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9BIvmdQZsZjWqI0URTCGz-EALHzOsDLe5z7zu79eKgCoDzEeZFKAbTB2IT7Gni1A-yeVogAseaMCcclK8Yj8aODCenuHpYURywsdRrkw6giDqgWfKZMOh2DLKhYan-OdprOPVFk_RDk/s320/IMG_5616.JPG" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTfzK0Qest686ZDgZXALg7D72IjfT7chk2GgBjRLl3cE6GbUXMTJeRRUcdN77QclpbaepIJ2mjXp6zl0lw5lTeASEJvi71EXkXwGhFBttgXtVe2X0Hg-OuWs3007M0wh76-qTZE2dhVU/s1707/IMG_5605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1281" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTfzK0Qest686ZDgZXALg7D72IjfT7chk2GgBjRLl3cE6GbUXMTJeRRUcdN77QclpbaepIJ2mjXp6zl0lw5lTeASEJvi71EXkXwGhFBttgXtVe2X0Hg-OuWs3007M0wh76-qTZE2dhVU/s320/IMG_5605.JPG" /></a></div></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Two of our 4 kids attended Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training Schools in Orlando and in Paris, France. Another attended Heidi Baker's School of Missions in Mozambique, Africa. We still kept our YWAM ties, sent many people to YWAM schools and hosted teams from around the world on our 8-12 outreaches a week. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then Covid Hit NYC - being a mobile outdoor ministry to the homeless, it was one of the few options for the homeless in the whole city as it shut down. Lines were blocks long. It was all hands on deck. Yet not many hands could as our 6 thousand volunteers a year were in quarantine. After a horrific and exhausting year in NYC during Covid with triple the need, and a few heroic volunteers and staff who kept things going we all saw so much death, almost my own even as I had near death experience while having Covid as my husband was on the streets doing ministry that day. As a first responder organization, my husband and I needed a Sabbatical. We had been in full-time ministry for 30 years and we had earned a 3-month break in 2021 even before Covid hit. Our family's Non-Profit was doing better than ever, so it was a good time to take a breather. Our ministry non-profit mission allowed for sabbatical according to the bylaws as we had been faithful at NYC Relief for 18 years, 14 of which we fully funded our own income. After 7 years a sabbatical is awarded to all of our employees, but we had never taken one. It was time. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXatOS2vQvhPG7LTF1-CyG_BJVpXlWhGaEVwzP_vrrBLt4dGXsfQNoz1LsSiOOduXQaFvXTKeKHRBhiuvBfaEzzFIutx5H2XdSejs5GaH7afXLep1tk77TzxcoCwCF4c6MU5TC6oje8M/s640/IMG_4759+%25281%2529.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXatOS2vQvhPG7LTF1-CyG_BJVpXlWhGaEVwzP_vrrBLt4dGXsfQNoz1LsSiOOduXQaFvXTKeKHRBhiuvBfaEzzFIutx5H2XdSejs5GaH7afXLep1tk77TzxcoCwCF4c6MU5TC6oje8M/w563-h317/IMG_4759+%25281%2529.PNG" width="563" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My first idea was to call a YWAM base where we could rest and recover. This is when I was encouraged to consider a Crossroads Discipleship Training School. A YWAM school for over 30-year-olds. I knew we only had 3 months for our sabbatical, not the 6 months required to do this, so I did not think it was possible even though it sounded like a dream come true to me. Join YWAM for a season? My 17-year-old self was giddy with the long-awaited dream being presented to me.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9csYB0AkVe8qUu-tq1vz_kqLCipokBh4naCBc0TFQ-GW6dHnqtHybc9VV7HOW1N-AplMCvFjsuecuiQqR-wEP5y1Sg5acyGnQ67tx3A1Ih_3tKe-QLhJ3WaR2KOVW81QcEEI3fmGHng/s3088/IMG_6674.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9csYB0AkVe8qUu-tq1vz_kqLCipokBh4naCBc0TFQ-GW6dHnqtHybc9VV7HOW1N-AplMCvFjsuecuiQqR-wEP5y1Sg5acyGnQ67tx3A1Ih_3tKe-QLhJ3WaR2KOVW81QcEEI3fmGHng/s320/IMG_6674.HEIC" width="320" /></a> </div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By December 12, 2020, we found out we would no longer be working with the ministry our parents had started and we had served and grown so faithfully for 18 years of our lives from post 9-11 through Covid. On December 13th we interviewed for YWAM Crossroads. December 14th we were talking with a realtor to put our family's dream home on the market. By December 15th we began to sell almost everything we owned on Facebook Marketplace, up to a hundred items a day to afford our airfare to get on a plane flying out to one of the largest YWAM campuses in the world. On Christmas Day we were taking down the tree and packing up the family heirloom ornaments by lunch. On December 31st at 10:30pm, our plane landed on the most isolated island in the world in the center of the pacific ocean on the side of a volcano. Just before Midnight 2021, we were standing on the balcony of our Airbnb with 3 suitcases containing our entire lives for the coming years, praying in the New Year and giving each other a sweet kiss as we held each other tight leaning into the unknown.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF63PzyJsX2GK9qbq0UdoTwM0X8bRvGrpx_IKHyIMZn1_ItlaZFq-bsB9PspOXKD109bub2xmgvD7KuU5ED81HkRUCZyVW67SfxWy3cVYQ-WoN2J2cCiCscbXSLARcGoi8qnNMcNUS4M/s960/tracyandjuanwithkidsphilipines.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF63PzyJsX2GK9qbq0UdoTwM0X8bRvGrpx_IKHyIMZn1_ItlaZFq-bsB9PspOXKD109bub2xmgvD7KuU5ED81HkRUCZyVW67SfxWy3cVYQ-WoN2J2cCiCscbXSLARcGoi8qnNMcNUS4M/s320/tracyandjuanwithkidsphilipines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">As we walk this new road it feels like a rebuilding of the ancient ruins of all of the things we have done in ministry over the past 30 years coming together in a cumulation of experiences and giftings to finally do what we do best. Our sweet spot, missions, youth, mentoring healthy ministers, creative ministry with acting, music, evangelism, mercy ministry, it's all here. It's YWAM. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCPM2-7OkYSQ-WQCMQfn_M-dv9_p0aiodPdV8tzPeyZzjifUv_d0v-DjPtmmZA5ogOvGbVoWowSNudtNsfTo3PQRAR-diGNNmmn0es8XSBQMqEMAWlMD2fm5506ILIvIaM1uC6WJeRXU/s960/tracypreachingatwomenscenter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCPM2-7OkYSQ-WQCMQfn_M-dv9_p0aiodPdV8tzPeyZzjifUv_d0v-DjPtmmZA5ogOvGbVoWowSNudtNsfTo3PQRAR-diGNNmmn0es8XSBQMqEMAWlMD2fm5506ILIvIaM1uC6WJeRXU/s320/tracypreachingatwomenscenter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">Still, I wonder as I step onto the campus and the life I longed for when I was 15 years old, 16 years old, 17 years old, hugging that old dog eared "Go Manuel" and every year from then until now as a YWAM affiliate 47-year-old... why could I have not been in YWAM all along? Maybe He wanted us to gain wisdom and understanding in different venues, different arenas, different denominations and ministries as I have worked with well over 20 for sure, so we could bring that wisdom back home. Back home to YWAM where my heart has always been. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQX7QXkc5r1hS5Vt6LdJntUtHzu8BTvSk58sqIHaNXmHmi5xX5REw-KVPS3pFzPAqXAEShr9X3p2IhFaVpPTjVcRQAtIxMFrsBNKlLTNMLETypeTXSgFtB7iQxnMgTb90x2efR-MJC0M/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="254" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQX7QXkc5r1hS5Vt6LdJntUtHzu8BTvSk58sqIHaNXmHmi5xX5REw-KVPS3pFzPAqXAEShr9X3p2IhFaVpPTjVcRQAtIxMFrsBNKlLTNMLETypeTXSgFtB7iQxnMgTb90x2efR-MJC0M/" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">They asked us if we wanted to commit to 2 years with YWAM. My first thought was 2 years? How about 20? They had me at hello. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv10ULUYMgm_RpjGzvwX08fALAQGrH8iAVIimw2F6rXWoKKBvdhD2uFRzm2QL48cP8YgrWO48g2t-U9IUGk5vzO9txGxiafbV5vjdCYWlD1JUeo0Q_4FTNWUE3dDi_hXTaEQ-iGAysSs/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv10ULUYMgm_RpjGzvwX08fALAQGrH8iAVIimw2F6rXWoKKBvdhD2uFRzm2QL48cP8YgrWO48g2t-U9IUGk5vzO9txGxiafbV5vjdCYWlD1JUeo0Q_4FTNWUE3dDi_hXTaEQ-iGAysSs/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">Formerly Rev. Tracy Galloway</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now Mombo Galloway - University of the Nations, Youth With A Mission</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">www.gallowaysonmission.com</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-69385112319352431502022-06-30T22:58:00.000-07:002022-06-30T22:58:20.963-07:0025 Women Who Ministered to Men in the Bible<span id="docs-internal-guid-15ba6ed5-7fff-23a4-dd5d-a14acf31b193"><h2 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">25 Women </span></span></h2><h2 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who Ministered to Men in the Bible:</span></span></h2><div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By Reverend Mombo Galloway</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nowhere in the Bible does it say women are to minister only to other women and children. In fact, the Word of God teaches the opposite. Yet, many Bible-believing churches and denominations have accepted this false cultural bias as a fact. This has become an acceptable way to place over 1/2 of the population in a status of non-influence within the leadership of the church/missions/ministry to the world. A church with no women in leadership partnering alongside the men is like having a home with a dad but no mother or no mother that partners alongside him in leading the family. Imagine a home with small children at Christmas with a dad and the mother has passed. It would not be the same homey feeling at Christmas. This is the same with our church homes around the world. It is a home yes, but not ideal, not as special, missing so much love and care. It's ideal to have a mother and a father leading the home and leading within the house of God because a male and a female together reflect the nature of who God is as we are both made in His image. In creation, God said "let them rule" not "let him rule." The fall is a result of turning away from God, and horrific things were a result throughout the ages, slavery, abuse, neglect, and more. But if we have been made right with God in Christ Jesus, and now have received God's intended purposes for all of our lives, male and female, we can do all things through Christ Jesus. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">BELOW IS A LIST OF 25 WOMEN WHO MINISTERED TO MEN IN THE BIBLE to show that yes, women can and should minister to men, just like men that minister to women in churches around the world. Sisters and brothers under Christ, not under each other. It's time for reformation in the church to mirror the truth of scripture. Here's mud in your eye so the blindspots can finally be washed away as we see what the whole of scripture says. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">- Mombo Galloway</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">University of the Nations - Kona</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Youth With A Mission</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Eve</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 2:18 “Then the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper (In Hebrew also means minister) fit for him.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, in the beginning, Women were made in creation to minister to men. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Women were created in the image of God. In the image of the Father/Son/Holy Spirit; Not a “less than” image. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The same anointing of a God image bearer and a witness is within the woman as it is in the man.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In addition, God ministers to women and men. Men minister to women and men. Women minister to women and men. It’s that simple.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Miriam</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Micah 6:4 “I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to lead you, also</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Aaron and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Miriam.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Miriam was leading the Israelites (men and women) into the purposes of God, just like her brothers. She also led men and women into victory across the red sea and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">led men and women in worship</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Deborah</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An honored and respected Judge, Deborah excelled in multiple areas. She led as a prophet, judge, military leader, songwriter, and minstrel. Deborah summoned Barak and told him the Lord commands him to position himself at Mount Tabor and bring 10,000 warriors. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lord spoke through her to Barak to share His strategy and promises of deliverance and victory.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Judges 4:5-7 She judged under a palm tree, a setting rabbinic tradition maintains, that validated her openness, fairness, and refusal to show partiality. The Bible records no dissent or rebellion against her. Leadership resides not in gender but in character and gifting. The Israelites recognized her abilities and prospered under her tenure. Deborah calls herself a mother of Israel. (5:7) As we all understand, a mother and a father have authority given by God to lead and train up both males and females. Deborah led Israel for 40 years from 1107 BC until her death in 1067 BC.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Huldah</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Huldah appears in the Hebrew Bible in only nine verses,</span><a href="https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:2_Kings.22:13%E2%80%9322:20" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #663366; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Kings 22:13-20</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><a href="https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:2_Chronicles.34:22%E2%80%9334:28" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #663366; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Chronicles 34:22–28</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This short narrative is sufficient to make clear that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Huldah was regarded as a prophet accustomed to speaking the word of God directly to high priests and royal officials</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to whom high officials came in supplication. She told kings and nations of their fates, had the authority to determine what was and was not the genuine Law, and spoke in a manner of stern command when acting as a prophet. “Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to speak to the prophet Huldah… </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She said to them, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me…</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Again another example of a woman ministering not just to men, but to leaders and priests.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Judith</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To remain ecumenical, for the catholic theologian, I am including Judith from the book of Judith in the catholic old testament bible which is considered Apocrypha literature by the protestants. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judith, instead of going to Bethulia’s leaders, summoned them to her home (Judith 8:10). Chiding them for testing God (Judith 8:11–12), she declared she had a plan to save Bethulia, Jerusalem, the Temple, and the people. Declining to reveal it, she nonetheless proclaimed her deed will “go down through all generations of our descendants” (Judith 8:32). </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only did the leaders listen to Judith without interruption, but they also acclaimed her for her wisdom</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and—like all men in this tale, do her bidding (Judith 8:28–29).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Hannah</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hannah was considered to be a prophetess. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to bring to light a portion of scripture where </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">she decided to do something different than her husband and family, presumably under the unction of the Holy Spirit. In going against his plans and making her own, her husband is actually understanding and supportive of her</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which is a response not commonly valued in marital authority in a patriarchal society. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Samuel 1:21-22 “When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God, offering sacrifices and keeping his vow, Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll bring him myself and present him before God—and that’s where he’ll stay, for good.” Elkanah said to his wife, “Do what you think is best.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If only we who are married would respond this way to each other more when our spouse differs from us. If we were to put an understanding hand on their shoulder, look them in the eye and smile, and say sincerely “do what you think is best.” This portrays confidence and trust in the others' ideas even if it diverges from the traditional family customs. Though not teaching a man directly here, I felt it was noteworthy in that he submits to his wife which foreshadows the New Testament verse instructing us to "submit to one another."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Jael</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #555555; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jael was a woman in the Bible who helped the Israelites subdue Jabin the Canaanite king by single-handedly killing the commander of his army, Sisera. Her story is found in Judges 4:17-24. Killing the commander of an attacking army against Israel was not just a soldier’s act but what victorious military heroes are honored for. Jael took the bull by the horns and took care of business, ugly business, that trumped the meek and mild stereotype of BC women. Jael took a tent peg and hammer in her hand and snuck up going "softly to him" (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Judg%204.21" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judges 4:21</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #555555; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). She then “drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died" (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Judg%204.21" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judges 4:21</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #555555; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Thus Deborah's prophecy that "the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" came true (</span><a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Judg%204.9" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judges 4:9</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #555555; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Did she minister to men? Well, maybe not the man she killed, but to the men and women of Israel, yes. She was an example of wit, fortitude, and strength.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Jehosheba</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As mentioned in 2 Kings 11:2 and 2 Chronicles 22:11 Jehosheba was the daughter of King Jehoram. She became the wife of the high priest, Jehoiada. This is the only instance of a princess marrying a high priest. She was also the courageous woman who rescued her nephew Joash, to save his life from being murdered. Jehosheba has the credit of preserving “The Seed Royal,” for had Joash also perished the line of Judah would have been made extinct. Her husband the priest then set her nephew Joash as King and was free to make a covenant between the Lord and the new king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. “All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This would not have happened without the boldness and risk of Princess Jehosheba saving the future king, the line of Judah, and together with her husband bringing the Israelites back to serving the Lord.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. Esther</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the one "female story" most Christians know. Therefore I will address that she along with many of these female heroes of the Bible risked her life for the sake of men and women in the name of God. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She broke the rules</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by entering the throne room uninvited and speaking when not being spoken to first by the king. She stood for God’s people and turned the heart of the King through prayer, fasting, and obeying what God told her to do. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She ministered to her husband the king as she guided him to make choices that would please the Lord and save the lives of a generation of Jewish families.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. Anna</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 2:36-38 “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spoke about the child to ALL</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She spoke to all "of the messiah", both men and women. The first female preacher of the New Testament.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11. Junia</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once thought to be a man’s name by possibly biased male scribes, it has now been proven from multiple historic sources that Junia has only been used as a female name in her time period. In Romans 16:7 Paul says, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greet Andronicus and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Junia, my compatriots</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to (or prominent among) the apostles, and they were in Christ before me."</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We usually think of the apostles as the 12 disciples that followed Jesus during his time on earth but </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we must remember that in The Upper Room and also at the Ascension that there were many followers of Jesus, male and female, that were commissioned to go into the world and preach the gospel.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At that moment, all of those who decided to follow these instructions male and female were then considered apostles.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This would help us to understand why </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul calls Junia not just an apostle but one of the “well-known” apostles. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strong's biblical concordance says apostle/Apostolos in Greek means: a messenger, one sent on a mission. Surely the men and women in the upper room and the men and women at the ascension were sent by Jesus on a mission to the world to proclaim the gospel. We don’t know if Junia was a follower of Jesus while he was on earth or if she came to the faith after, but we do know that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">if she had been put in prison for proclaiming the gospel along with Paul and Andronicus then she most likely taught the men and women in the early church just like all of the other followers of The Way who were imprisoned for doing so.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12. Phoebe</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since we are already here in Romans 16 regarding Junia, I would be remiss to not tell you that Romans 16 is the "mother-load" of women in ministry in scripture. It is a shame that women are not familiar with </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roman’s 16</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Not including wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters that are mentioned there, we find up to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9 women who serve in ministry in the churches listed in this one chapter.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Phoebe is the first one mentioned. Paul says </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a deacon</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to point out that he is not saying she is there to help them, though she is, he is instructing the men and women to help her. She is the leader to be offered help.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She is the one carrying the gospel letter message to the church in Rome which by anyone’s standard was an intimidating, highly educated, anti-Christian city. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the gospel messenger, it would be her duty to read the letter and explain it to the church in Rome and the other places she was sent to proclaim the gospel mentioned and therefore minister to men and women in the church. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Word also shows Phoebe as a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“benefactor”. In Greek,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a benefactor is someone who’s a donor yes, but also the word is connected with a presenter. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Someone who presents to groups of people, men, and women.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She is also wealthy and some theologians concur, possibly a business owner. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13. Priscilla a.k.a. Prisca for short by close friends</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul lived with Priscilla and her husband Aquila for a year and a half. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Priscilla and Aquila were early church pastors that ministered to men and women in their congregation.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> To the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with the church in their house</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are mentioned six times in the New Testament together with her name being ahead of her husband's four times</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and his being mentioned ahead of his wife two times. Four of six times having the wife’s name ahead of the husband which is different even by today’s standards speaks to her leadership. This seems to imply that she was an equal leader if not a prominent leader of the church with her husband. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If in any way, Priscilla outshone Aquila, he appeared to have no problem with his precious gifted wife and appeared to work together harmoniously with her as the two were inseparable in scripture.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When they went on a mission trip with Paul to Syria, Cenchreae, and Ephesus where they relocated their ministry, they listened to Apollos preach boldly in Ephesus. Afterward, they took him aside </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so Priscilla & her husband taught Apollos, (a man.) </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They expounded unto him the way of God more carefully.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> What was the result of Apollos being trained not just in John’s baptism but the baptism of the Holy Spirit by Priscilla and Aquila? Apollos was then called an apostle that some Corinthians actually put above Peter and Paul. In addition, in Romans 16:4 Paul said “They (Priscilla and Aquila) risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again, we see this wife and husband team risking their lives for Paul and possibly multiple men and women in multiple churches that are in return “grateful to them.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Eventually having their lives ended like most apostles, July 8th is the day set apart for them in the martyrology of the Roman Church when it is said the faithful couple were led out beyond the walls and beheaded for their faith. Examples of whose name was first in the text: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2018:2,%20Acts%2018:18,%20Acts%2018:26,%20Rom%2016:3,%201Cor%2016:19,%202Tim%204:19" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts 18:2: A & P fled Rome, 18: P & A go on a missions trip to Syria with Paul, 26: P & A taught apostle Apollos; Romans 16:3: P & A Church leaders who risked lives for Paul; 1 Corinthians 16:19 A & P greetings; 2 Timothy 4:19</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: P & A greetings.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14. Mary</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again referring to the female minister, the "mother-load" of “Romans 16” briefly mentions a Mary as a woman in the church who </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">worked very hard for her fellow believers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15. Tryphena and 16. Tryphosa</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sisters, possibly twins, were greeted by Paul in Romans 16:12 “Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">women who work hard in the Lord.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” These two sisters whose names mean dainty and delicate were not just church attenders, there were many church attenders. Paul is greeting the people “who work hard in the Lord.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are the heavy lifters of the faith working within the church regardless of their quite delicate names.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17. Persis</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Romans 16 it lists “another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I want to highlight the words worked, not attended, and not just worked but worked very hard. She was someone honored and respected by Paul. Otherwise, there would be no need to point out her accomplishments.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We will end our names of women mentioned by Paul as close personal friends of his in the early church here even though there are more listed in the “mother-load” of Romans the “Sweet 16.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18. Lois and 19. Eunice</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is in Acts 1:6 and 2 Timothy 1:5 that we find records of these women, but what a strong commendation the Apostle Paul gives to them. In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul writes: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These women were responsible for passing their faith on to the next generation. They were mentors in the faith to Timothy, a trusted companion in the ministry alongside Paul.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The compelling feature of the scriptural record of Eunice and Lois is their religious influence on Timothy.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20. Lydia</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The purple cloth lady; that’s about all most people know when they hear the name, Lydia. But, Luke, the author of Acts, records that Paul’s first ministry encounter in Philippi was not with a Macedonian man, but with a group of women, a group which included Lydia, a woman originally from Thyatira who was a business owner and a God worshiper. I suggest we are given this information because Luke uses her as an example of a significant woman. Women in the first-century Roman world, like Lydia, were entering the public sphere in business and as patrons, and they impacted the early church in those roles as well. Lydia was a seller of purple, that is, she was a businesswoman who sold luxury textiles dyed purple. It was only the wealthy elite who wore garments dyed purple or trimmed with purple. The expenses involved in her occupation as a merchant of luxury textiles indicate she was a woman of some wealth. Lydia’s wealth is also indicated by the fact that she seems to have been the owner and mistress of her own home. Acts 16:15. which begins with, “When she and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">her household</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ho oikos autēs</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) were baptized. . .”—makes it clear that it was </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HER</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> household. Furthermore, Lydia uses her own initiative and doesn’t consult a male relative, when she offers the missionaries hospitality, which they accept. There is no mention of a husband or a father in her story. This is unusual as women in Bible times were often identified by their relationship to a man: a father, a husband, an adult son, or even a brother. It is likely Lydia had no surviving adult male relatives. She was probably widowed or perhaps divorced. Divorce was easy under Roman law and it was common, and in most cases, it did not result in any sense of scandal or stigma. Whatever her marital status, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lydia’s home was relatively spacious. It was large enough to accommodate Paul and his fellow missionaries (who included Silas, Timothy, and possibly Luke and others) as well as her own household. Her home was also large enough to hold church meetings. It was in Lydia’s home that the church at Philippi first gathered, Acts 16:40. Lydia’s hospitality and her benefaction of Paul and his ministry required courage. Having a group of foreign men stay in her house might potentially cause scandal. Hosting meetings where they worshiped a new Jewish messiah, and not an emperor or any of the ancient and respected pagan gods, could have ruined her reputation and her business.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Receiving Paul and Silas into her home after they were released from prison and asked to leave town, was brave, Acts 16:40. After Paul and Silas left the town, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the church met in her home. As she was personally mentored by Paul and Silas we can assume she was not just a host but a newly appointed leader in this new church over men and women in Philippi. You will find future letters of encouragement to Lydia’s church in the book of Philippians.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21. Euodia and 22. Syntyche</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Philippians 4:1-3 Paul said </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Therefore, my brothers <b>and sisters</b>, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both are women who Paul said, “contended at my side” in the cause of the gospel. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here it does not say they followed him, or helped him but fought alongside him in the preaching of the gospel.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am reminded of Eve being taken out of Adam’s rib, his side, not his foot, or his back, but his side. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The way he references men and women in this verse portrays an intimate camaraderie with Paul's brothers and sisters together in Christ as friends working alongside him in the ministry; both men and women.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Also, I would like to draw attention to the fact that it seems these two ladies may be having a problem with each other and need a little help from a brother. I love this because it shows that the women of the Bible are human, just like the men. That humanness does not disqualify them but endears them even more to each other. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes there are higher standards put on women than on men when it comes to holiness and more. This should not be so.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We are all sinners saved by grace and therefore are “in process” and a woman does not need to be “perfect” to be in ministry just like a man does not need to be “perfect.” Jesus is the only perfect one in the equation. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">23. Mary Magdalene</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a lot to say about Mary Magdalene. She was in the upper room on the day of Pentecost and prayed in tongues when she was filled with the Holy Spirit. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In so doing she was given power from on high to be a witness to everyone, everywhere along with the other men and women present.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But here I want to focus on how she was chosen by God to be the first person to share the resurrection, with men. Mark 16:9-14,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">out of whom he had driven seven demons.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She went and told those who had been with him</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and who were mourning and weeping.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they did not believe it.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Afterward, Jesus appeared in a different form to the two of them while they were walking in the country.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These returned and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stubborn refusal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">24. The unnamed “Woman at the Well”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again, a familiar story to most about Jesus sitting with a woman at the well, a sinner. It is interesting to point out he chooses to share a special secret with her in John 4:25-28, "The woman said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jesus shares with this Samaritan sinner woman that he is the Messiah in a very matter-of-fact direct way. He has not been going around saying I am the Messiah. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a really big deal that he picks her to tell this.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It reminds me of the verse "I choose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise." He finds her worthy of this information not to just hold on to and believe in the quietness of the four walls of her home, but instead, without any training, any more knowledge than just finding salvation in Jesus, literally minutes after her interaction with him, she in verse 28 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">said to the people…”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She then tells the men and women of her town about Jesus, and</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was transformed from a woman hiding from them out of shame by going to the well in the middle of the day, to going up to men and women face to face and bringing them to Jesus.” She led them as an evangelist.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25. Johanna and (a bonus 26. Susanna)</span></p><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Luke 8:3 </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto Jesus and the disciples of their substance.”</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even Jesus and the 12 disciples had women who ministered to them.</span></span><div><span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Let us all reflect on the whole of scripture and not just pick out confusing one-off verses to prove a point. (In my blog www.shepreaches.blogspot.com I address many of these difficult verses about women to bring to light what they mean in the original Greek and how they have been misinterpreted to keep daughters of God from proclaiming the gospel for all time - not a God thing, sounds more like satan concept who would want to silence 1/2 of creation from preaching the gospel. Know the truth, and the truth will set you, and everyone else free, to preach. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mombo Galloway</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">University of the Nations - Kona</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Youth With A Mission</span></span></div>hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-54515616505924643912020-07-23T11:18:00.004-07:002020-07-23T12:01:10.701-07:00I Don't Covet... Or Do I?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I Don't Covet.... Or Do I?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">(In response to the new "Quarantine Body" most of us are seeing in the mirror staring back at us.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">By Tracy Galloway</span></div>
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<span data-dobid="hdw"><b>cov·et</b></span></div>
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<span data-dobid="hdw"> /kavat/ Verb - yearn to possess or have (something)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLewtasNEUspLddJGUre1NdE1Es08lqG7RTtEUKyyEbOvrjGn3Bf_LhB8IYBq-04MXTU13si0oDaClJPlUJItnq3nEmwq6f2mCYyV1eZhBbAtJHXHILAX6BU4otVj7bPbNu9N1B_ErnM/s1600/groundsforsculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLewtasNEUspLddJGUre1NdE1Es08lqG7RTtEUKyyEbOvrjGn3Bf_LhB8IYBq-04MXTU13si0oDaClJPlUJItnq3nEmwq6f2mCYyV1eZhBbAtJHXHILAX6BU4otVj7bPbNu9N1B_ErnM/s400/groundsforsculpture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(My sweet little sister Emily with me at Grounds For Sculpture, my fav. place in Jersey)<br />
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A few times a year, not often, usually when I am reading the Bible... God gives me a revelation. A revelation of something that seems so HUGE, so IMPORTANT that is could change a generation, change the world even! It is something simple. Right in front of our faces. Yet if understood fully, profoundly life-altering. This is what God showed me yesterday...<br />
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<b><i>"Women covet thinness, more than seeking Me. If I were to add the minutes, hours, weeks, years women look at their bodies and wish it looked like someone else... all of that time added up... if it were spent seeking My image... they would reflect real beauty unlike is rarely seen."</i></b></h3>
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I thought about how many times I look at my belly and wish it was smaller, every time I sit, every time I glance down, pass a mirror. I think about my neck how it doubles when I bend to read or write this blog post on my laptop, and I curse my inherited fat neck. I contour my face with makeup to make it look like there is not as much chub there that is there. <b>It must equal thousands of little or big thoughts that pass through my mind every day. </b>Really. Sometimes it is self-talk "I look fat in this" most times they are passing thoughts, "I wish my arms/legs/face/stomach/even back were thinner." as I glance down at my body or in a mirror.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzwvgCIQncW5qok1K4WO23zfPP6O9VG5RWmPoZBZpB5wskR-Pr1JqPu_RrK4gkYxyRPT23hKW6qLN0p7mcBplUwZpKAUBkn05vkgjPYd-6jPDLi08VfYPFxepfigD2BJQ1M8ch1xGVVo/s1600/elephant-in-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="744" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzwvgCIQncW5qok1K4WO23zfPP6O9VG5RWmPoZBZpB5wskR-Pr1JqPu_RrK4gkYxyRPT23hKW6qLN0p7mcBplUwZpKAUBkn05vkgjPYd-6jPDLi08VfYPFxepfigD2BJQ1M8ch1xGVVo/s640/elephant-in-room.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When we truly have a revelation of this waste of time coveting thinness, we see that this is an elephant in every room we step into... and this elephant is not our friend, he is a distraction, <b>possibly the biggest distraction of our lives.</b> I view thinner people on social media or television and think "I wish I looked like that" before I even realize I thought it. I covet. I covet a body other than my own. It could be the littlest thing about them I covet like their hair, or thin tall neck lol, or the whole package. I KNOW I am not alone. <b>This is a modern-day idol of the perfect proportion.</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span data-dobid="hdw" style="color: #222222;">i·dol </span><span style="color: #70757a; text-align: left;">/</span><span style="color: #70757a; text-align: left;">ˈīdl</span><span style="color: #70757a; text-align: left;">/ noun </span></i><span style="color: #70757a; text-align: left;"><i> - an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.</i></span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CAEXLB_enUS715US715&sxsrf=ALeKk002Qi6F7Nf9Us5MKwo5gE4HwaNUEg:1595526954984&q=how+to+pronounce+idol&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoxi3w8sc9YSndSWtOXmNU5-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLgYglJLcoV4pBi42LJTMnPsWJRYkrN41nEKpqRX65Qkq9QAFSfD9SQqgCSBgBqnpyMUwAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj1m4aL-ePqAhUQknIEHaoUD9AQ3eEDMAB6BAgHEAg" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="-1"><g-img class="FamOtd" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="rISBZc M4dUYb" data-atf="1" height="32" id="dimg_23" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" style="border: 0px; display: block; position: relative;" width="32" /></g-img><span class="fe69if" style="color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 10px; vertical-align: middle;">Learn to pronounce</span></a></div>
<i style="font-size: 14px;">- an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGBJgJVITBeRWgP5Zf88-SSNzy_ESGJ_UNdVRHxNTVvjIXO5w3-IB7UxiNxNz60YJMe30BsRRle519FoJzdjhAMxmyPnVZ7xh9_U6_biy5v7ZwHxeAVkpadsEh13GtgZMlDzZ8M4u0zY/s1600/fat-girl-on-a-treadmill-and-silhouette-of-a-thin-woman-in-a-mirrorfitness-clubcartoon-vector-illustration-2ADHKMJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1300" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGBJgJVITBeRWgP5Zf88-SSNzy_ESGJ_UNdVRHxNTVvjIXO5w3-IB7UxiNxNz60YJMe30BsRRle519FoJzdjhAMxmyPnVZ7xh9_U6_biy5v7ZwHxeAVkpadsEh13GtgZMlDzZ8M4u0zY/s400/fat-girl-on-a-treadmill-and-silhouette-of-a-thin-woman-in-a-mirrorfitness-clubcartoon-vector-illustration-2ADHKMJ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Coveting and "there shall be no idols before me" applies to this kind of striving too</b>.</div>
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I am usually the strong girl that tells other girls "XL stands for Xtra Lovely!" I am the one that goes to the beach even though my figure is one of the largest ones there, and I don't think about it really for the most part. But even I, the one who taught my girls over and over growing up that "it matters what is in the inside more than what is on the outside" kind of mom..." I struggle still. Do you? I am all for exercise, healthy eating. Living gluten-free, dairy-free, mostly sugar-free with regular exercise. For years this has been my normal due to health reasons. But when these actions do not reflect on my body, it's easy to get bummed out and want to give all healthy choices up to just "live a little." We are not talking about that here. <b>Our focus here is on seeing Coveting, Idol Worship, Envy, and Vanity in regard to body image as a sin instead of just a weakness. You see, if it is just a weakness, we sigh and say"oh well!" If it is a sin, we are faced with the fact that we need to deal with it.... and deal with it we will if you keep reading just a few more minutes. </b><br />
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It must equal hours every day of tiny thoughts flashing through my mind that say "you are not enough, you can do better, you are gross looking." Maybe there is some truth to that. <b>But that is how Satan works, half-truths twisted into bondage to draw us away from a loving Father who holds all the answers in His perfect vision of who we really are.</b> I know I am not the only one who struggles with this. Even extremely thin women do this more than I ever thought possible. In fact, the thin ones do it more than most. What a flip flop concept for the thinnest to feel the fattest? Looks like a trick of the old Beelzebub once again yes?<br />
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Ephesians 5:3 ".</div>
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"..<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "corbel" , "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">covetousness must not even be named among you, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "corbel" , "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">as is proper among saints."</span></div>
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Can you imagine if all the time we spent coveting another's figure, hair, whatever, we instead coveted Jesus alone? What if the hundreds of little self-loathing thoughts each day, pausing in front of the mirror too long insulting God's creation (you) what if instead, we could look into the eyes of Jesus hundreds of times a day to see who HE is so that we can KNOW who we are, inside and out. <b>This would equal tons of moments every day of letting our thoughts be His thoughts, our ways, His ways. I can only dream of the beauty that would radiate out of my eyes if such a thing were to occur.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGI0GlBg9y7lvNcDSZAOVob2a9EZhVa5bK3Pbc3UmFV4TRS8MMl5C1PoD8jDPqattV3lSS9BGEuGUNQbtm-ZRrTLAEGmweUGjV2uxbJy8C4DsNw00P8txAhreClc8Qcvz9v_VM6HGDrY/s1600/fix-eyes-on-jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="640" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGI0GlBg9y7lvNcDSZAOVob2a9EZhVa5bK3Pbc3UmFV4TRS8MMl5C1PoD8jDPqattV3lSS9BGEuGUNQbtm-ZRrTLAEGmweUGjV2uxbJy8C4DsNw00P8txAhreClc8Qcvz9v_VM6HGDrY/s640/fix-eyes-on-jesus.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Do I covet? Yes, yes I do. Are there idols in my life, yes, yes there are.</b> It's not television, Facebook, Instagram or even a new sports car that are tempting idols for me. (Though I do appreciate a cool Jeep) My idol comes in a perfect figure of what used to be size 8, then size 6, down to a size 4, 2, and now 0- an impossible, unachievable figure.<br />
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Unless we lay our lives on the altar of starving and running night and day, the idol of thinness is the carrot hanging in front of our eyes that even if achieved, is never enough and most times is lost within months or years once again. <b>This god I am told is ruthless, filled with hate for you and for others, and never satisfied. Who would want to follow a god like that?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqUVSszevSRiMkoR6ZCVD6-YYPmwntIza1XW5XZNA3EWIv-7W2prZI_6cS3i0JMkFVai6rtrpMlyUrNww7TJmtXNCU5RzKmsQNgdbZ1aWcTS3agC0d4Yw_cd-QukcwLrOxShteKMGCUs/s1600/angry+woman.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqUVSszevSRiMkoR6ZCVD6-YYPmwntIza1XW5XZNA3EWIv-7W2prZI_6cS3i0JMkFVai6rtrpMlyUrNww7TJmtXNCU5RzKmsQNgdbZ1aWcTS3agC0d4Yw_cd-QukcwLrOxShteKMGCUs/s1600/angry+woman.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<b>The god of thin-ness can never be satisfied</b></div>
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Do you struggle in this area? If so...pray with me now: say out loud <b>"Lord please forgive me and help me to take my eyes off of myself, my body, and the bodies of others. Forgive me for coveting and having an idol before you. I make the choice to stare deeply into your unconditionally loving eyes for me, inside and out. Let your truth of what REALLY matters become my self-image. Let Jesus be the only figure I crave in my 24-7, 365-day world. Let the transformation I pursue, be to live more like Jesus. Mold my heart, grow my confidence, change my belief system, convert my preconceived notions of beauty to the things that YOU find beautiful. Help me to make what you love, my deepest hearts desire Jesus."</b><br />
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<b>Amen.</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Changing your mind happens through time in the Word of God, here is a taste if you have been away from this life-transforming words for a while, I encourage you to watch The Bible Project online or download the Bible App. (The little brown one with yellow letters on the Bible is the best.)</div>
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Proverbs 3:1-18</div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-1.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;">1</a>...</b></span>Do not forget my teaching,</div>
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but let your heart keep my commandments;<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="3"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-2.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>2</b></a></span>for they will add length to your days,</div>
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years and peace to your life.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="4"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-3.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>3</b></a></span>Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you;</div>
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bind them around your neck,</div>
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write them on the tablet of your heart.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="5"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-4.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>4</b></a></span>Then you will find favor and high regard</div>
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in the sight of God and man.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="6"></a></div>
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<div class="indent1stline" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; text-align: center;">
<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><b style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-5.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;">5</a></b></span>Trust in the LORD with all your heart,</div>
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and lean not on your own understanding;<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="7"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-6.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>6</b></a></span>in all your ways acknowledge Him,</div>
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and He will make your paths straight.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="8"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-7.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>7</b></a></span>Be not wise in your own eyes;</div>
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fear the LORD and turn away from evil.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="9"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-8.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>8</b></a></span>This will bring healing to your body<span class="fn" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/bsb/proverbs/3.htm#fn" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;">b</a></span></div>
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and refreshment to your bones.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="10"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-9.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>9</b></a></span>Honor the LORD with your wealth</div>
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and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="11"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-10.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>10</b></a></span>then your barns will be filled with plenty,</div>
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and your vats will overflow with new wine.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="12"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-11.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>11</b></a></span>My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD,</div>
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and do not loathe His rebuke;<span class="fn" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/bsb/proverbs/3.htm#fn" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;">d</a></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="13"></a></div>
<div class="indent1" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; text-align: center;">
<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-12.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>12</b></a></span>for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,</div>
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as does a father the son in whom he delights.<span class="fn" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/bsb/proverbs/3.htm#fn" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;">e</a></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="14"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-13.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>13</b></a></span>Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,</div>
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the one who acquires understanding,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="15"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-14.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>14</b></a></span>for wisdom is more profitable than silver,</div>
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and her gain is better than fine gold.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="16"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-15.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>15</b></a></span>She is more precious than rubies;</div>
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nothing you desire compares with her.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="17"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-16.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>16</b></a></span>Long life is in her right hand;</div>
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in her left hand are riches and honor.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="18"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-17.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>17</b></a></span>All her ways are pleasant,</div>
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and all her paths are peaceful.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="19"></a></div>
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<span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/3-18.htm" style="color: #008ae6; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>18</b></a></span>She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,</div>
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and those who lay hold of her are blessed.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="20"></a></div>
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Following Jesus and His Word that leads to Life Transformation,</div>
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Being raw and real,</div>
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Rev. Tracy Galloway</div>
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In process :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxWp3yBOkjlBoCl7YPvqz0egx4nIWOu0vIca_UhuGBbwaaM_mRW-cO-leTGTaXTQCqtNIpAq4ceJiBjPNAboGUumn72w7oQz1JD5_d4VzN8MzPXZz2SMc3QUAVLpitSwsVGq-__FHpbg/s1600/tracyandjeepatmagnoliainwacotexas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxWp3yBOkjlBoCl7YPvqz0egx4nIWOu0vIca_UhuGBbwaaM_mRW-cO-leTGTaXTQCqtNIpAq4ceJiBjPNAboGUumn72w7oQz1JD5_d4VzN8MzPXZz2SMc3QUAVLpitSwsVGq-__FHpbg/s640/tracyandjeepatmagnoliainwacotexas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-64417886914476617312019-07-26T12:36:00.000-07:002019-07-26T13:56:58.552-07:00So... If you Haven't Heard... I Am Healed!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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SO... IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD... I AM HEALED!</h2>
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<img alt="Image may contain: Tracy Lucia Galloway, smiling, outdoor" height="480" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/51593531_10218021083617838_5337975158663544832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_oc=AQnTI8IvmHxP5AfQwMSEvmBHApY0oiPXIGrRT_sP71xrjjCCYUp50Zky2BuMSjpGtdQ&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=e086cb340682104a46207b75f00242ea&oe=5DDF26A6" width="640" /> </div>
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At Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas with one of my sisters</div>
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I can doll up and put on a smile with the best. It's amazing what make-up, a good outfit, and fixing my hair can do for peoples perceptions. I can push myself hard and do what needs to be done briefly out of sheer tenacity, then revert to the daily reality this past year of inability to walk, talk, think, read or write. You may not know that I would rest for two days to be able to try and appear normal for an hour... then rest another two days to recover. So if you have seen me this past year, and I didn't look THAT bad, or maybe I chatted a bit with you and seemed kinda normal, it was all smoke and mirrors. Half of the time I didn't know what you were saying and if you got a text from me, I had to rewrite it 6 times to get it out correctly as every other word was wrong. I may have been sitting by you nodding my head as you shared, but you may not have noticed that I was pushing my hand into my side to keep it from jerking wildly. I didn't want to freak you out. I was biting my lip instead of screaming out when I felt a sharp pain in my heart or my head that felt like an ice pick jamming in. I didn't want to scare you. I was laughing at your jokes while trying to remember your name or who you are, even though we have been close friends for years. My delayed words were actually me talking a million miles a minute in my head so I could get the words out fast enough to keep you from noticing-noticing that I was horribly ill. </h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x8CPZ2qZu3P00QhcWtUZIB5nI394hzv22kHXTBwoW2N4Nom2KsPearjMA8uizbeL-q7A2jUJkJK8vNPZCZysKOOiXeOKhpUlfU91pIGNOf2qmxZLFZNqRqQmkVYbwTIIo-xyA-xHsVk/s1600/IMG_5604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x8CPZ2qZu3P00QhcWtUZIB5nI394hzv22kHXTBwoW2N4Nom2KsPearjMA8uizbeL-q7A2jUJkJK8vNPZCZysKOOiXeOKhpUlfU91pIGNOf2qmxZLFZNqRqQmkVYbwTIIo-xyA-xHsVk/s400/IMG_5604.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Me on a rare "dressed and out of bed day" leaning on the wall as I can't stand. Sporting my "Reverse Ombre" I created and did myself in my bathroom, has it caught on yet? - Ha ha! Thought I would do something a little crazy with my hair as I wasn't pastoring anymore.</i></div>
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I have been on a 14-year journey of having "something" happen to me every 5 years or so. The first time I was 33 years old, then at 38 and again at 43; the last one I was 45. It is JUST LIKE A STROKE. It's not a stroke (as my brain scans are clear), but all of the symptoms are the same. As I recover in the Stroke Center of the hospital or in my soft memory foam bed for weeks... months... years... the question has remained... what is this that takes my life away?</div>
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A brief insight into what happens, as the last thing I like to share or hear from others is boring detailed medical mumbo jumbo... but, to be able to give God the glory for WHAT He healed me from 1 month ago, I will give a list of the top 10 symptoms to get it over with quickly for your sake and for mine.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTg1Xsjwbf34YLapkCHfw7WiEadJ0rn1ZTaZfA0BluqE7aisBz9f2Ni9DiKefkxOzMej2yGZNXacPEj3FLubhwxekVT5EhapyViLk7HHxr-9_knf-JBIsMsRxhhqs2AF84HgGc_GqsrsQ/s1600/IMG_5614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTg1Xsjwbf34YLapkCHfw7WiEadJ0rn1ZTaZfA0BluqE7aisBz9f2Ni9DiKefkxOzMej2yGZNXacPEj3FLubhwxekVT5EhapyViLk7HHxr-9_knf-JBIsMsRxhhqs2AF84HgGc_GqsrsQ/s400/IMG_5614.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Yay! This will be fun! NOT.</div>
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1. Heart pain, stabbing pain in the head, bright flashing light like lighting, inability to speak, walk, think, read. I could read a few sentences then it became blurry and I couldn't understand what I was reading.</div>
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2. Pain in heart, then head, then blank out for 15 seconds, lasted for months repeating every 5 minutes. This was basically a "Zone Out" every 5 min.</div>
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3. Lay in a hammock, lay in bed, lay on a sofa, couldn't talk much, follow conversations much, couldn't remember sections of my life and or people I should know. Confused. Seeing leaves rustle from the window took all my brainpower.</div>
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4. Felt like a 1st grader, lack of vocabulary or understanding of what is happening around me. Couldn't make decisions, any. "What would you like?" Became my go-to sentence. I didn't know what to wear so I put on the same thing every day. I didn't eat unless someone fed me because I couldn't choose. </div>
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5. Repeating sentences uncontrollably, like turrets syndrome. Couldn't stop. Rarely happened, but pretty wild when it did. Something was definitely wrong.</div>
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6. Arms flailed around while I was repeating words and my body jerked. Juan had to hold my arms down with all his strength so I wouldn't hit myself in the face during these seizure-like incidents. </div>
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7. Hands turning into fists, wrists turning under, arms twisting in. Head tilting to the right while arms & head jerked spontaneously. SO embarrassing. </div>
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8. Communication problems, lack of filter in saying too much, couldn't understand what people are saying with multiple people in a room talking. Couldn't concentrate to talk if there was music or any noise around. It sounded like a roar.</div>
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9. Inability to drive, delayed response, flashing shadows on the road caused my brain to check out and become disoriented, lost, afraid.</div>
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10. Ten, twenty, thirty appointments & tests (some which take months to recover in bed and can't move) with doctors who give no answers and bill us to the hills. Wiped out all of our savings and put us in deep debt.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Holding Juan's arm while he helps me to walk alongside him on the boardwalk before a day at the beach to sit in the sand, rest, listen to waves, just be. </i></span></div>
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In the midst of this, I am pretty proud of myself actually. I stayed calm, happy and thankful for the most part throughout. God was with me and I was thankful to be alive which overshadowed everything with a joy deep in my soul that I would drink from daily. I was alive. </div>
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The bummer is my kids seeing me as an invalid and the burden I was to my husband, not that he treated me that way, he was amazing as usual. This was after all the 4th time this has happened, though this time was by far the worst. I didn't want to be a burden, but I had no choice. We called it our "new normal" to keep going through life as best as we could despite the circumstances. My kids told me they thought I may die and were spending time with me as much as they could as no one knew if this was something that would be permanent or even get worse. That was sad. My poor kids. </div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>The view from my bed. Not so bad :) </i></span></div>
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On the recommendation of my parents, I went to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on a credit card with my husband and sat in waiting rooms all day long trying to get in for tests even though I was scheduled to be there. This is the way they work I guess. Sitting for 6 hours in a doctor's office hoping to get in. Juan wheeled me around in a wheelchair because the facility was too large for me to get around. I received very few tests and had meetings with 2 world-renowned doctors. The neurologist there wanted to test me for Huntington's Disease which is a movement disorder that gives a 10-year life expectancy after diagnosis. It is quickly deteriorating and debilitating. Don't look on youtube to see what it looks like, just don't. It's bad. Hearing that possibility was not easy. We couldn't continue to pay for the hotel and stay the additional weeks to get more tests to confirm as it would be too expensive. I learned the hard way from other patients when you go to Mayo, you are supposed to get a one-way ticket and plan to stay for a month to get a diagnosis. Hotel for a month? Waiting rooms for days? No thanks. I didn't feel well enough to do more than a week of that. Besides, Juan had to return to work for our New York City Relief Gala and our airline tickets were non-refundable. I wasn't well enough to stay without a caregiver, so we headed home. Thankfully before we left, our Mayo Neurologist made a "Mayo Exception" and wanted to continue to care for me from a distance by sending me to one of the few places in the country that offer the tests I needed that happened to be in NYC, Columbia University Hosptial. </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2894384295255608472" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for doctor's office" height="225" src="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/130524135147-patient-doctors-office-waiting-story-top.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
I needed to meet with a new neurologist at Columbia before getting the movement study test. But then, this new doctor said after evaluating me that I did not have Huntington's Disease so they would not be testing me. That was great news! But at that point, I gave up. I couldn't keep spending money we didn't have to find out nothing over and over again. To be honest, the possible diagnosis of Huntington's Disease the Mayo Neurologist told me he thought could be what was wrong with me... kept haunting me at night. It could be a slow death filled with suffering. I was hoping this was not in my future, but there was no way of knowing for sure as the NYC doctor didn't do the test the Mayo doctor asked for. I hoped the Columbia doctor was right and that I didn't have it. Regardless, I was done. No more doctors. No more tests. No more. </div>
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AND THEN I WAS HEALED...</h2>
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<b>As of 4 weeks ago, my arms were turning under and flailing uncontrollably more than ever. All-day Saturday my body and head jerked until I was exhausted. I holed up in my bedroom with the door locked so my sons would not see me and worry. It was SO BAD, worse than ever. A normal person would have gone to the hospital, but I knew there was nothing they could do so I suffered alone in my room all morning and afternoon and night jerking over and over again to the point of exhaustion. </b></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Then I got MAD. </span><span style="color: red;">I got really, really, really MAD.</span></h2>
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<b>I was so tired of this! I was not going to have it ANYMORE. Sunday morning my sweet husband left early to go preach at a partner church and both my boys went to work. I was alone and determined to pray through this. </b></div>
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<b>Now don't get me wrong, I had read books (once I taught myself to read again) on healing, I had prayed and received prayer for an entire year. I am a believer in healing. I became a Christian in a mega faith church of 8 thousand and even worked there and at the 700 Club on the prayer lines praying for peoples salvation and healing all over the world as a teenager. But over the years, I had drifted from this stance to a more "balanced" approach to my faith. It is good to be level headed, but in this circumstance, instead of believing for my healing the past 12 months, I was asking, begging, hoping, and when it didn't come, I was accepting the sickness as my lot in life and through it, I would "suffer well" and let God's glory and peace shine through my life despite the hardship. </b></div>
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<b>I believed 60% wholeheartedly for healing and 40% of me was singing "It is well with my soul" accepting the situation and responding with the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control the best I could in my "humanness" -nobodies perfect. Most of the time I felt like I would die soon, or die sooner than most. But at this point, on this day, at the end of June, I was ticked off at the sickness. Angry. Fed Up! </b></div>
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<b><img alt="Image result for introduction to god wants you well" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/39/7c/9c/397c9c1f9bbdf0ae66b36c5a44283cdf.jpg" /></b></div>
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<i><b>Short Booklet as an Intro to more books and teachings</b></i></div>
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<b>I took a healing booklet my female minister friend from Foursquare originally from Nigeria gave me called "Introduction to God Wants You Well - Change Your Mind and Change Your Life" I had read it before, but this time was different I was going AFTER IT. I was going after my healing with a fiery rage against it. I went into one of my many hammocks (I had acquired over the past year to lay in and recover) and read through it with authority, praying, declaring, worshiping... and I didn't stop. I just kept going and going and going. All morning, all day, I prayed, I declared, I changed to different hammocks and chairs outside as I prayed, worshiped and confessed healing verses over myself commanding my body to submit to the word of God. I started around 8am and continued until I felt a breakthrough at 8pm. </b></div>
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<i><b>I immediately felt a difference. I am well. I knew it. I am healed. I knew it. It is finished. I knew it. </b></i></div>
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<b>I let my husband know that night who hesitantly listened. I emailed my family the story who expressed worry over my declaration. I knew everyone would have to wait and watch to believe. But I believed 100% - It is finished. </b></div>
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<a href="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7656469972_024a19914a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><img alt="Image result for pastor mike leahy" border="0" height="266" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7656469972_024a19914a_b.jpg" width="400" /></b></a><b>Now I have been healed before. Years before my friend Pastor Mike Leahy from Liquid Church visited me at the church I was pastoring part-time called Garwood Church. He anointed my head with oil, and I was healed that day. Before that, I could not stand long enough to preach on Sunday mornings so I would use a table and a stool or a leather chair to deliver the messages. I couldn't go up and down stairs without hanging on to the railing and hobbling down. I was getting worse by the day. But after Mike prayed, I was set free. Totally well. His church www.liquidchurch.com even highlighted my healing in a video here: </b></div>
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<b><img alt="Image result for label maker liquid church" height="180" src="https://liquidchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/LBM_feature.png" width="320" /></b></div>
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<a href="https://liquidchurch.com/messages/label-maker-series/sick-to-healed/"><b>https://liquidchurch.com/messages/label-maker-series/sick-to-healed/</b></a></div>
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<b>Experiencing this miraculous healing was awesome until a few years after... last summer on June 4th 2018... I was "knocked out for the count" again. It was a long year of horrific suffering until Sunday, June 30th, 2019 I declared in Jesus name that I was once again healed. Both times were miraculous. Both times my healing manifested differently. Both times were a move of God-no doubt! If this was a test of my faith, I was going to pass it. I will fight tooth and nail to fulfill all of God's purposes for my life and this time I had to get ticked at the devil. So ticked! </b></div>
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<b>It has been four weeks that I have been well and everyone is starting to believe it now. I do have shooting pains now and again and I speak to them with anger and authority, get out! It goes. I am in a battle every day, fighting to continue to believe, continue to walk in my healing, declaring life over my body. I have been praying for the sick more lately as people hear my story and then they ask me to pray for them. I am trusting that God will get all the glory for performing His word in my body every day continually. </b></div>
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<b>Amen - so be it. </b></div>
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<i><b>Beach Day after my healing - Point Pleasant, New Jersey with my husband, son & ministry friends from New York City Relief & Helsinki Relief - That's in Finland Yo! </b></i></div>
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<b>Here are a few of the truths that I am confessing, </b></div>
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<b>and commanding my body to believe every day. </b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Jesus went around casting out demons and healing people all day long. All over the New Testament, He is just healing people one after the other. If Jesus lives in me, then He can continue to go about healing now, here, me. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">3. Truly I tell you, if you have faith</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23721A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23721A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> as small as a mustard seed,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23721B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23721B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23721C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23721C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> Nothing will be impossible for you.” </span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Matthew 17:20</span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Immediately the father of the child cried out, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Proverbs 23:7 "As he thinks in his heart, so is he."</span></b></div>
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I am continuing to build my faith in this. I am not perfect, and I struggle every day to continue to believe 100% and declare with the faith of a mustard seed, </div>
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"Sickness - Move out of my body!" Nothing is impossible. And as I think I am healed, so am I. When I doubt or have a pain I pray, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief!"</div>
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<i>Looking forward to growing old </i></div>
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<i>and being an awesome "Mombo" for my future Grandchildren!</i></div>
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Just as God gave me salvation, a new life, holiness, purity, authority, giftings, He has given me HEALING. I just need to WALK IN IT just like I walk daily in His other gifts to me. Just as I am saved by faith, I am anointed by faith, I walk in the prophetic by faith, I preach by faith, I counsel and love by faith, I am just as much healed by faith. <span style="text-align: center;">I will take my healing Thank You Very Much.</span></div>
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So here I am, walking in it, healed, not just saying it. I REALLY AM HEALED! My hand and arms that would turn in and jerk multiple times every day have not done so since my "day of prayer" 4 weeks ago! I am so thankful and I give all the credit to Jesus who has given His life for me, so I could walk in all levels of freedom: emotionally, spiritually, and yes even physically. </h3>
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<b>Two Days Before June 4th, 2018 Incident</b></div>
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<b>If:Gathering Leadership with my Selah Women in Ministry Group at my home</b></div>
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<img alt="Image may contain: 16 people, including River Rebecca Galloway, Chris Mayes, Jess Wright, Lydia Lucas, Jan Conklin, Lauren Elgin, Karen Shannon, Heather Kohler and Denise Pasqualone Cicchella, people smiling, people standing, outdoor and nature" height="480" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34385986_10216079841808006_950467878828638208_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_oc=AQmRySAYWSA9JYs7pnN_57xZ9Mp0zSz1m3y3DpVZdmBMn-JevbQLyAEHVptu8xIP5zk&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=22bd0e40d6e90e4e8604f35167182455&oe=5DA44148" width="640" /><br /><br />Time to get the "Girls" back together! </h3>
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Walking out my Faith - Age 46 - Tracy Lucia Galloway :)</h3>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com3New Jersey, USA40.0583238 -74.405661236.9481793 -79.5692357 43.168468299999994 -69.2420867tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-64592930204088799502019-01-02T13:02:00.002-08:002019-01-02T13:02:43.251-08:0036 Questions Podcast - Do you want to hear my voice?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So my sweet husband Juan and I started a Podcast on a lark really. We decided, downloaded the software, and recorded our first episode all within one hour! Talk about spontaneous! And so it continues... once a week, we sit down and record a podcast where we answer one of 36 questions that lead to a deeper more meaningful relationship. This is to in turn, help the listener to copy and do likewise with the people in THEIR lives. We have had TOO MANY friends and family go down the rabbit hole of lost relationships and want to do our part to lead them, or others, maybe you, back into the daylight of authenticity, honesty, and hope for relationships with spouses, friends, family, co-workers, parents, anyone really, as long as it is a God-honoring relationship. Below is a link to check out our brand new podcast 36 Questions. Now you Blog readers have my voice to go with my writing -Yay! Lol who cares? No one. But that's okay :) If you enjoy this Blog, you may also enjoy this short fun podcast. I warn you, the first one is super off the cuff rough. But you will see as each episode goes by, we sharpen and polish it to be more enjoyable for the listener with music written by my husband for the intro, fun stories, book recommends, and more to come... </div>
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Here is the link to copy and paste in your browser:</div>
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www.anchor.fm/36questions </div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-30209810653500674022019-01-02T12:27:00.000-08:002019-01-02T12:33:51.377-08:00The Princess Bride and Long-Suffering with Hope and even JOY.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Are you of The Princess Bride generation? I remember my high school friends and I would watch it over and over and over again. A cult classic! I can't count how many times we have quoted "Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!" My kids were raised on this quirky movie.<br />
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There was something so attractive that the young farm boy would come for his love, no matter the cost earnestly looking into her eyes and saying "as you wish" which meant "I love you." Yet each adventure is lined with adversity. Each victory is after a desperate struggle - in my life and maybe even yours. We want adventure, victory, and joy without the pain, the hardship, the cost. And yet, one does not happen without the other.<br />
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My struggle, my hardship, my cross to bear, is that out of nowhere, I am broadsided by an intensive health crisis that has no name, has no cause that we are aware of. I can go from traveling the world, speaking and inspiring hundreds of people, to laying out flat on the bed unable to speak. Sometimes accompanied by so much pain I hope for heaven to come quickly. It is a journey that has lasted for many years, over a decade. I am teased with health, and strength, working out at the gym for hours at a time, and event leading events & groups of people confidently, with deep and complex solutions to many problems that came across my desk. And then at other times, I can't even talk without a stutter and feel like a 3rd grader. This from the girl whose greatest fear was to appear incompetent is now desperately so, with this unknown neurological demon that has tormented my body with what mirrors strokes and hundreds of Transient Ischemic Attacks - TIAS and seizures. Kind of like when the main characters in The Princess Bride are traveling through the Fire Swamp and out of nowhere different kinds of attacks jump out at them/you/me and 1/2 the time they don't know what is happening to them/you/me, but somehow, they/you/me survive.<br />
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And yet, in the midst of the dark parts of this journey of life, there is a victory that has been won this time around. This time around, (there have been about 5 times this has illness has happened to me lasting for weeks, months or years depending...) this time... I am not afraid. I am not sad. I am not discouraged. Not at all. My joy is made full in Christ. It's an unexplainable joy, confidence in God and hope. That if I must suffer, I will suffer well. If I must wait, I will wait patiently. If I must lose all the ground I have gained, all the milestones I have achieved, I freely and humbly offer all my crowns to the feet of Jesus. If I can do nothing, if I can say nothing, if I can achieve nothing, I am still pleasing to God, He loves me. I harbor no resentment. No confusion. No "why me." No, that is not my jam. My heart is to fully offer all that I am, functioning high or low, fast or slow, to Jesus, my savior and soon coming King of my life.<br />
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Back to The Princess Bride. There is this scene that is not my favorite, in fact, I think it is the saddest scene in the movie. The one where the farm boy turned pirate is captured and held underground at an undisclosed location called "the pit of despair" hooked up to a torture device that sucks the years out of his life.<br />
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I can relate to this. The years of my life spent in bed, or in a chair looking out the window in a hazy fog of mental nothingness, the years of my children growing up around me while I lay on the sofa barely unable to move, again, with no diagnosis really, no cause, therefore no treatment besides green juices, gluten-free and dairy-free diets, vitamins and prayer. Years of my life have been sucked away due to illness. More than I want to count. And now, as I lay in bed once again, watching the day turn into night, and then again and again and again day night, day night, day night.... as I look out the window not able to think, talk... Now leaning into week 11 of being incapacitated (actually upon posting this blog I found today - we are in month 7), I could be sad. As sad as the young farmboy in The Princess Bride was after suffering pain and loss and then even what seemed to be his time of death in the movie after the torture was just too much to bear, and he cried. I cry as well sometimes.... but honestly, just like Jesus rises from the dead, even death has no power over me. For when that day comes, I will also rise, rise into my new healthy spiritual body, free from sickness, free from pain, and be truly physically free to match my spirit and my heart that already is so.<br />
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At one point in the movie, the young farmboy turned pirate fights with such determination, that he shouts death first! Meaning he will die fighting; fighting for his Love. And I will do the same. I will fight until the end to return to health, fulfill my call on this earth to preach, to teach, to mentor, to love, to help, to advise, to guide, to start, to build, to plant. As long as I am here, which in "God time" is like a breath, I will use what mental capacity I have, what strength I have, to love Jesus, my husband, my kids, my family, my friends, my church, and every person and situation He has placed before me with all of my might. Death first! Even unto death, I will fight to stand, and to stand strong in the power of His might, that no weapon formed against me would prosper and that the healing that is in His wings would wrap around my body and set me free.<br />
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Maybe now, maybe here, maybe not. But regardless of what happens, I am thankful that I am growing in the fruit of the Spirit that no one wants to have, that no one prays for, that no one covets. It is called "LONG-SUFFERING." It looks different for each of us. To some, it may be a marriage that has found its way into a dark place, for others it may be a job that you despise. For another, it may be a person in your family who acts badly toward you continually, for years and years. For me, it's this health crisis that causes my whole life to be set on hold once again. Regardless, like the old hymn, "It is Well with My Soul" and I know that my "healing will quickly appear" in God's timing. Until then, I am thankful for each moment, each small victory, and how my story will bring Jesus glory over and over again.<br />
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Forever Thankful for your prayers,<br />
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Tracy,<br />
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His bride.<br />
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-79348886156057650722017-09-03T20:07:00.001-07:002017-09-06T12:25:05.866-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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THE SUMMER OF BECOMING A MAN</h2>
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<b>I am known for having ideas. Lots of ideas. So many ideas that my 2 sons have trained themselves to just say an enthusiastic "great idea mom!" multiple times every day to whatever thought I throw into the air that lands on their ears. They know that most of them will never come to fruition, so they just give an encouraging nod to my latest vision of how to make the world a better place. This could be as simple as how to open a banana more effectively (peel from the bottom instead of the top) or a complete re-design blueprint for a Syrian refugee camp in Greece to be more of a village with a community vibe with jobs, schools, gardens, builders, and open markets within a healthy system.</b> </div>
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<b>But this summer I came up with a doozy - and we did it. I called it THE SUMMER OF BECOMING A MAN. This idea was born out of the limited time I have left to raise my sweet son Corban. We are on countdown mode. Counting down the months until he leaves for college in 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours 20 minutes and 7 seconds no 5, 4, 3.... This makes us panic. Panic. Did we raise him as best as we could? Did we teach him all he needs to know to be a man in the world without us looking over his shoulder? Hovering by his bedroom door peeking in and asking him questions about the latest task we hoped he had completed. How will he survive without us much less thrive? This was the heart of my latest fantastic idea! </b></div>
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<b>My husband and I talked about all of the things that a GOOD man would do, know about, be aware of. We made a list. Things that he had yet to do or needed to grow in just a bit. It looked something like this:</b></div>
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<b>1. Have a good job - He left Burger King job and as applying for Starbucks. Not bad for 17.</b></div>
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<b>2. Drive their own car. Check!</b></div>
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<b>3. Play a sport well. Ping pong and golf even pickle ball, yes pickle ball. Done.</b></div>
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<b>4. Grocery shop (we can't be sexist you know, and hey, it's a basic) Love how guys just get the list.</b></div>
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<b>5. Cook a healthy fresh dinner - Thank you Blue Apron!</b></div>
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<b>6. Know how to change the filter in the furnace. He didn't know where or what this was.</b></div>
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<b>7. Climb to the roof on a ladder (every boy's dream really) to get his Gumba's half-ball. Don't ask.</b></div>
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<b>8. Change the oil in a car. We nixed this as no one needs to know how with $30 oil changes. </b></div>
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<b>9. How to change a tire. </b></div>
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<b>10. Ask a girl on a date and show her a nice time. We may have to give up on this one. He is SO SHY.</b></div>
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<b>11. Play in a rock band. (Juan thought this was important.)</b></div>
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<b>12. Take Dave Ramsey's Full Online Personal Financial Management Class. Check.</b></div>
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<b>13. Take John Bevere's Full Online Workshop on how to know your Calling in Life. Did it.</b></div>
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<b>14. Plan, prepare, pack and execute an overnight camping trip with his little brother. (It rained the WHOLE time but he had a great attitude and they had a great time anyways)</b></div>
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<b>15. Help the poor. Going on The Relief Bus in NYC to help the homeless is a staple in our family.</b></div>
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<b>16. Invite over friends to have a fun time and be a great host with drinks and food.</b></div>
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<b>17. Run errands for the family.</b></div>
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<b>18. Build something out of wood for the backyard.</b></div>
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<b>19. Study 2 hours a day for the SAT with consistency and diligence. </b></div>
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<b>20. Lead a devotional that is from the heart. </b></div>
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<b>I am sure we could come up with many more things. And we did do a few that seemed more like chores in the yard to be honest, but for the most part, we tried to stick to things that would help Corban to "BECOME A MAN."</b></div>
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<b>We are missing some of these "rights of passage" in our American culture. The Jewish culture has the Bar mitzvah which happens at the ripe old age of 13. But what about when a young man is on the cusp of venturing out into the world? Why not have a "Right of Passage" created by his very own family full of activities, ideas, and adventures that will help to make the transition more fun. The last night of Summer, the day before his first day of Senior year, we are going to hold a ceremony. A right of passage of our own making. </b></div>
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<b>The ceremony will consist of our oldest son Corban leading a devotional at Washington Rock. A special place in New Jersey where we live that General George Washington looked out to see the British movements to keep his troops safe. We will then give him a token, a gift to wear that will remind him of his "Summer of Becoming a Man" and of his commitment to integrity, purity, and to be a man of God. Oh, and a BIG knife. Men like that. </b></div>
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<b>Maybe you would like to create a "Summer of Becoming a Man" for your son one day? If so, enjoy every moment as the countdown clock is ticking... tick tock tick tock. </b></div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-31926961297562455782016-02-19T07:27:00.000-08:002016-08-02T21:22:15.019-07:00TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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To The Ends Of The Earth...</h2>
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Just got home a few hours ago... from the other side of the earth. That scripture in Acts 1:8 to preach the gospel in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth have now taken on a whole new meaning for me. Check. Done that. I have done lots of missions before, but never this far away. I left the iron protective gate in Dagupan, Philippines Youth With A Mission Base on Sunday morning Feb. 14th, Valentine's day, 8am. After taking a group photo with our new missionary friends and our "New York Team" - we set off home. Just got home, 11:30pm almost Tuesday the 16th... to my snow covered kitchen porch with an Amazon box from my always perfect gift at the perfect time sister. The ice crusted box that must have been sitting in the snow for days was filled with "Bath Bombs" to relax after returning home from our long journey. </h3>
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Door to door, this "to the ends of the earth" return trip was approximately 40 hours of travel by van, a short sleep in a hotel in dark and crowded Manila, taxi, plane to Hong Kong, China, plane to USA with 10 hours of mostly turbulence over the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean to a Shuttle driven by my always cheerful father-in-law and to home. A place of comfort and familiar smells. It is good to be under my soft fuzzy blanket in bed, finally. Yet I am tormented.</h3>
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<br />Tormented by the girls faces. H___l, P____a, R______e, R______a, and the others, the girls who live in the slums where raw sewage runs past their shanty homes and into the river. The place where dark hovels are the only homes they have ever known. Trying to be cool, whiting out their faces to look more pale, grasping for acceptance and a future that I pray is not in the arms of a tormenter one day. Will they follow JESUS into HIS AWESOME PLAN for their lives or repeat the generational demonic stronghold that trips up even the most hopeful of children... We taught them a drama about keeping safe in the arms of a loving God, away from drugs, alcohol, prostitution, and human trafficking, do they realize that the drama was for them? </h3>
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There is a light in these slums though, the light in the eyes of the smiling children, filling the tiny maze alleys, grabbing my hands and hanging on my arms with enormous smiles like I was a long lost mama who finally came home to visit them. </h3>
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<br />No white people. None to be seen except a glance of an older white woman in the mall who looked as surprised to see us as she her on day two during a passing glance. All 10 days we were the only non Asian people I saw in Dagupan, Philippines. People don't usually travel this deep in. 7 hour drive from the city into the Northern Philippines. We were far away, very far away from home. To the ends of the earth. Thanks Missionary Gina for taking good care of us.</h3>
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<br />We stayed at the "Youth With A Mission Beach Base" 1 block from the "red light" prostitution district that was dangerous at night. This beach was not what you would imagine. Beautiful, but a prison just down the street with shanty's on the beach. A prison built to hold 250 but currently holds 850 men in mostly open air minus the thick cement walls, all wearing yellow t-shirts. We ministered there with testimonies and music in what could be called a courtyard but was more like an abandoned factory with 1/2 a tin roof, and tarps rigged up to keep the hot sun off the necks of the prisoners. It was an uncomfortable feeling at first being locked in with hundreds of criminals sitting right in front of me. </h3>
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After they started to praise and worship, my soul was put at ease. They enjoyed my husband's band with our 2 sons and great friends playing alongside. The prisoners sang the na na naaas with gusto. Seemingly truly touched by the messages from our team. Genuinely thankful that we would visit them. Prison. That was on my bucket list. I could not believe that after being a Christian for 29 years I had never visited Jesus in Prison as He had asked me to do. I was so thankful to finally get this opportunity. Scared a bit at first, but truly thankful. Thanks Missionary Coy & friends for taking us there. </h3>
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You see, God never said He would keep us safe. I was in multiple dangerous situations throughout our time in East Asia. Danger of sickness, danger of being robbed, danger of motorcycle side car wreck or an open air Jeepney fall (not really). Danger of being taken advantage of in multiple ways. Danger. It is dangerous to follow Jesus sometimes. And therefore many people decide not to go. Not to put themselves or their children in danger. It is in the danger though where new levels of faith, miracles and trust come into our hearts. </h3>
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You see, our light does shine brightest in the darkness. But if we do not go where it is dark, we may never notice any light in us at all. Thanks Missionaries GiGi, Queenie, Analiza, Aldelfa, Dreb, Fronie, Coy, Joel, Novie, Gina & Manny and all wonderful missionaries for shining your light daily.</h3>
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So back to the girls. I used to lay awake at night for years thinking of what it must be like to be human trafficked, to have to prostitute oneself to survive, to be forced to do internet porn to satisfy the nasty desires of sinful men and women and in return get paid a pittance while the evil men and women fill their pockets with cash to exploit me. Now I have names, faces, of girls my sons age, pre-teens and teenagers, women, men, even young children to this horrific practice. I was able to spend time with them. Minister to them. Speak to them one on one and try to help them to find a way out. Their faces are flashing in my mind as I attempt to adjust, to sleep after this 12 hour time change adjustment. </h3>
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What will I do now? In the coming weeks I will be recovering, praying, seeking God as to what could I possibly do from 1/2 way around the world - it really is 1/2 way around the world. There are many things that are possible, but what is Jesus calling ME to do? I will seek His face and take action. As usual.</h3>
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Above is me preaching with missionary GiGi translating.<br />Thanks for listening, now Go. Go into all the world and preach the gospel. What are YOU waiting for?</h3>
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<br />Serving Jesus to the ends of the earth and here with you,<br />Pastor Tracy Galloway</h3>
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A Shout Out to our AMAZING sons Corban and Connor with whom we are so proud of for sharing their stories so eloquently, loving on the people, and experiencing a new culture with gusto and a great attitude. You rock. Literally! Thanks to my adoring husband for "making me go" it was fun; far away, but fun!</h3>
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Where are you going to go? Pray about it.</h3>
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www.ywam.org<br />www.garwoodchurch.org<br />www.newyorkcityrelief.org</h3>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-17061325561654612502015-05-18T17:16:00.001-07:002016-08-02T21:25:47.602-07:00My Daughter and ISIS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My 17 Year Old Daughter and ISIS</span></h4>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">It is crazy what things come down my path of life. ISIS for instance. It is so far away, so terrible, like many injustices around the world. But when it knocks on our families door, how do I respond? Let me start from the beginning...</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">This past winter, our younger daughter joined University of The Nations, also called Youth With A Mission AKA YWAM, that is just the start of all of their acronyms that can be so confusing to the newbie. Like DTS. Short for "Discipleship Training School." Maybe I have lost you already but basically, there are over 1000 YWAM locations around the world where teens and young adults can grow in their Christian faith by doing a 3 month intensive Bible training called Discipleship Training School (DTS) then go on a two month outreach (helping local people with acts of service) to a country not to be revealed until after the students are about midway through their courses at DTS. After completing the outreach, they graduate DTS, then move onto college, a job, or more YWAM AKA University of the Nations classes at whatever location worldwide they like. These courses are varied from deeper bible courses, first-aide, journalism, performing arts, photography, teaching, and more. They even have a surfing school. Yes, it is that cool. www.ywam.org </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTEk8p6N2NTOcFPTSFJt2DUbkreQcdDfgxA18fp93bgtWSKk_ntfSu30vfQFlJsiWzwmTfo_X0rE9x8R8s2Vo56CbfmRrnc7HZrRwVpsef8IKT5Fzdh4-Cdpusc4aKhwjj_uhyphenhyphenpt3T7U/s1600/isisblogdts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTEk8p6N2NTOcFPTSFJt2DUbkreQcdDfgxA18fp93bgtWSKk_ntfSu30vfQFlJsiWzwmTfo_X0rE9x8R8s2Vo56CbfmRrnc7HZrRwVpsef8IKT5Fzdh4-Cdpusc4aKhwjj_uhyphenhyphenpt3T7U/s1600/isisblogdts.jpg" /></span></b></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Our daughter's goal has been to go through DTS with YWAM and then attend what they call a "Secondary School" in Taiwan for Sequential Arts (Basically Comic Book Art) as she would like to be a graphic novelist one day. Great. Perfect plan for our younger daughter who has been passionate about reading, writing, and drawing most of her life. Out of many YWAM locations for her DTS, she picked Orlando as she worked there last summer with their SOS - UGH another acronym, standing for "Summer of Service." Ever heard of "Christianize?" This is "YWAMize!" Lost you yet?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">So, our girl loved her DTS in Orlando this past semester, great program. She was learning more about God, the Bible, Jesus, and preparing for her outreach. We were told it would be in Northern Africa, great! My husband, his father and mother, myself and our oldest daughter have all done missions/relief work in Africa. Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa. Yay. We are all for it! </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Then the beheadings happened on the beaches of Tripoli, Libya. Northern Africa. Hmmmmm. I googled where that was as they replaced geography with sex education when I was in high school. I was not sure how close this chaos may be to Tunisia where our daughter was going weeks from then. Bam. It was the country next door to her outreach location, and right on the border of her country. She was even headed for the coast north of there less than a days drive.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">At this point, I figured she was bound for a different country, 9 hours drive from where the Libya ISIS was currently infiltrating, which when you think about it, it is the same distance from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina. Not too close right? I was not too worried, but I did want to do my "due diligence" and research more about ISIS which I had limited knowledge of, find out more about why ISIS was in Northern Africa instead of just the Middle East, where they were headed, and why? </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">This began my late night hours of research online for the month of March. I searched every news outlet in the US, BBC, as well as Al Jazeera. The more I learned, the more I became concerned. So I dug deeper. I read blogs by people in the Middle East, surrounding countries of Northern Africa, local towns, news in Tunisia and Libya, the most up to date reports daily throughout. I dedicated about 1- 3 hours a night to educate myself on the situation. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;"><i>Mass graves of Christians with their organs removed, sold for money to buy weapons. Killings of women, grandmas and grandpas, children, entire villages. Forcing young girls to marry them for one week only to have as a personal sex slave, then divorcing them so the next soldier can do the same, repeat, repeat, repeat to help with their guilt of sex trafficking and rape. The new knowledge that they actually want a war with Europe and America as some militants feel called of Allah to bring about the last holy war, the battle of Armageddon, </i>well, that was worrisome. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">After a week or two, when I felt like I had a grasp on the movement of ISIS in the region, I contacted the leadership of YWAM for Orlando to see if they were aware of the recent events in the area they were bound for with their DTS team of students. Their limited knowledge concerned me. Besides the beheadings, they were unaware of the movement of ISIS headed West toward their relief work location. In addition, ISIS had the most recruits in the world from the country of Tunisia, my daughter's destination. The muslim extremist men were currently returning from the war in the Middle East with the goal of taking over their local North African towns for ISIS to carry the same clout and power locally that they felt on the battlefields of Syria and Iraq. Here is a Map of their movement from early in 2015:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">We wanted to pull our daughter from the trip. Who would send their teenage child to the middle of a war zone? It would be like sending her into Nazi Germany as a Jewish girl in the 1930's or sending her into Rwanda during the Rwandan holocaust of the 1990's. It was crazy. Our long time friends who are missionaries in Muslim Burkina Faso Northern Africa even said "Don't send your sweet daughter there."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">But, our family, being a family of missionaries, who does crazy things most of the time, like working with the homeless of New York City, helping the poor in Haiti during Hurricane Sandy that struck that Island first, heading into Uganda Africa with a youth group weeks after many Europeans were murdered (hacked to death) in the forest, and many more adventures that most "normal" people would never consider an adventure much less ever consider doing, that is sort of our "thing." Maybe because all of the above experiences are truly the highlights of our lives... so we prayed about it. We found this to always be a dangerous thing. So dangerous that I regularly say, "I don't want to pray about it." But at our daughter's request, we prayed to see if God would have this team go into this area, and maybe even change the heart of one young suicide bomber that would in turn save many lives if they were to let go of hate, and learn about the love of Jesus for all people. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">I then in addition thought about United States military moms who have their children in the thick of battle carrying guns, and knowing that their sons and daughters are currently walking on the most dangerous parts of the earth. They let their children go to protect the innocent. Would I as a Christian parent allow my daughter to go into the battle zone to win hearts for Jesus and in turn hopefully turn people towards peace, restoration, healing, blessing?</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Lastly, my youngest son reminded me of the story of Abraham and Isaac in the bible where God actually asked Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son:</span></b><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Genesis 22:1-2 "<span class="text Gen-22-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">After these things <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-549A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-549A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Gen-22-2" id="en-ESV-550" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-550B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-550B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." </span><span class="text Gen-22-9" id="en-ESV-557" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-557E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-557E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.</span> <span class="text Gen-22-10" id="en-ESV-558" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son."</span></span></b></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange; line-height: 24px;"><b>To top it all off, I just happened to be doing a sermon series at my church the same week of this decision called "Heroes." That particular Sunday, I was highlighting the Green Lantern who spread light in the darkness and I connected that super hero to Stephen in the bible who was Martyred (stoned to death) and his face shown like a light. I also highlighted in that sermon a modern day hero: Steve Saint - yes that is his real name - whose father was a missionary that was speared to death trying to reach an unreached violent people group in the Amazon. Steve Saint later returned and led his father's killers to Jesus and even adopted his own father's killer into his family as his children's grandfather to replace his father. It's an amazing story of forgiveness and restoration if you ever want to watch the movie. My brother-in-law Mike did the movie poster :) Hey Mike!</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>Our daughter grew up around missionaries and loves superheroes. Super Heroes are her passion. She is one of the few girls who has loads of comic books and watches every superhero movie with gusto, repeatedly. She loves the idea that an underdog, or mutant, or someone of not much significance in the worlds eyes, can change the world for the better and defeat evil. That is one of the reasons she is willing to live all the way out in Taiwan, just to perfect her comic book art skills.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange; line-height: 24px;"><b>The more I prayed, the more I felt, I should let her go. I knew that this choice was going to make a mockery of my mothering abilities, that all mothers and most everyone would disagree and think I was crazy like Abraham. But I was sure, that God was asking me to take a step of faith, and for us, being wild missionaries already who have done our share of loads "are you crazy" things, it would actually take something this crazy, this insane, to test our faith in a very real, heart wrenching, challenging way. </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>Before I called to give the "okay, she could go" I just had to speak personally to one or two missionaries on the ground in the city she was going to. All the smaller local North African news blogs and reports seemed to show ISIS was headed in the direction of her destination, and even that ISIS was already there underground waiting to attack. I needed to be reassured that this was media hype, and she would most likely be okay. After contacting our large network of missionaries friends worldwide, I got a connection from the Philippines who had an old friend who was a missionary in Tunisia. After e-mailing back and forth a few times, being reassured that he and his family were enjoying the Mediterranean Ocean, shopping at the mall, and eating out, with many tourists from around the world, in perfect safety, I made my final decision. She could go. We felt good about it. We released her to God fully, whole heartedly. She was going!</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b>I proclaimed on Facebook, "We decided to let her GO!" I shared with my worried congregation Sunday morning who thought, like everyone else, we were insane. But they were too kind and gracious to tell me so. <u>We only had one stipulation. If there was a terrorist attack in the city she was headed to, we would then pull her from the trip,</u> her Orlando YWAM leaders agreed. Otherwise, we were letting her go, hoping and praying that a terrorist attack would not happen during her 2 months in that region, which was a very real threat.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><b><span style="line-height: 24px;">It was a Wednesday morning, just a few days before my daughters planned departure. I was at my Ladies Life Group Bible Study where I talked with my friends and had to let them know "yes, I am letting my 17 year old daughter go into an ISIS area to do missions." But even though I am sure my friends were sick with worry, and wondering if I was insane (I had questioned my sanity myself a few times), I felt a peace that was indescribable in that I knew, come what may, I had passed this test. I was laying my daughter on the alter as Abraham had with Isaac, as the Father God did with Jesus, and saying, come what may Lord, we will follow you. Little did I know what was happening that exact same hour of my announcement. Little did I know as I was telling my friends that I was letting our daughter go to North Africa, that over 64 tourists and locals were being shot or injured in a museum in the exact city she was headed towards in just a few short days. 24 people murdered in cold blood by local ISIS militants who had come home from the war, out of the underground to kill the infidels (which surprises me that they don't consider themselves infidels as killing women and children seems pretty infidevilish - I made up that word) </span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdMgOPfMk-7Fr7-jtLMHhyjstWqrw3V0zBsQvN9D_nHFFpLP05Gesz8iy1_3n8eRwxZqr-T97kdc2gUB6VR7lf24ZHwPKvkIhu3hr62D7e3odoQBzIKI6DtIZzABF6Od-jK8DUEP2wb4/s1600/isisblogtunisattack.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdMgOPfMk-7Fr7-jtLMHhyjstWqrw3V0zBsQvN9D_nHFFpLP05Gesz8iy1_3n8eRwxZqr-T97kdc2gUB6VR7lf24ZHwPKvkIhu3hr62D7e3odoQBzIKI6DtIZzABF6Od-jK8DUEP2wb4/s320/isisblogtunisattack.jpeg" width="320" /></span></b></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">(running for their lives outside the museum)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Genesis</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> 22:9-18</span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><span class="text Gen-22-11" id="en-ESV-559" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>But the angel of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”</span> <span class="text Gen-22-12" id="en-ESV-560" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>He said, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-560F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-560F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>“Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-560G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-560G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”</span> <span class="text Gen-22-13" id="en-ESV-561" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.</span> <span class="text Gen-22-14" id="en-ESV-562" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>So Abraham called the name of that place, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-562H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-562H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>“The <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> will provide”;<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-562b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-562b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+22#fen-ESV-562b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> it shall be provided.”<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-562c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-562c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+22#fen-ESV-562c" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span></span></span></b></i><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">That night, during my nightly ISIS research, I learned indeed a terrorist attack right where I thought there would be one weeks previous, had actually happened in the city I predicted. I could not believe that my research was actually right. After warning YWAM that this looked like it would happen, it actually did. I was surprised and saddened by the loss of life, the poor families, the 10 years of democratic progress Tunisia had made, was shifted into a hard reverse, all in one morning. The area was suddenly extremely volatile. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">I felt the Lord tell me, "this is your ram in the thicket, you can pull her from the trip; well done good and faithful servant." We passed the test, we were willing to give her to the Lord and let her go, but did not have to make the ultimate sacrifice we thought would be required of us to worry every moment she was over there, and quite possibly receive devastating news. Like I am sure Abraham did, we breathed a sigh of relief and called YWAM to let them know she would not be going with that particular team. There was an ISIS attack. That was our ram.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">YWAM being responsible, decided to cancel that particular location as they are not allowed to send DTS teams of students into "Hot spots." They would not be going to Tunisia anymore after the ISIS attack. But the new location was likely going to be in the middle east, and we did not know where yet. So we waited a week to hear. Then we were told they were going to Turkey as well as Algeria in Northern Africa. I was not thrilled about Algeria as that borders on Libya as well, but after finding out that the refugee camp she would be building a school at out of sand bags in the dessert was very, very, very far away from the ISIS activity, we were okay with that. Turkey would be fine if it was Istanbul or on to coast, as it is very European and safe generally, and I have a wonderful friend from there, but if they were going near the Iraq border in Turkey, we could not let her go, as ISIS was in control of that region, it was way worse than Northern Africa in that part. After multiple calls and emails requesting where in Turkey the students would be going, and not getting a response from her leadership, we sadly had to decide to pull her from the trip all together. We could not let her go close to Iraq and no one was telling us otherwise. So the Ram in the Bush for us was also a different trip. But our journey was not over, she needed a replacement outreach to graduate from DTS.</span></b><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><span class="text Gen-22-15" id="en-ESV-563" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>And the angel of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> called to Abraham a second time from heaven</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Gen-22-16" id="en-ESV-564" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>and said, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-564I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-564I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>“By myself I have sworn, declares the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Gen-22-17" id="en-ESV-565" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-565J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-565J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>as the stars of heaven and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-565K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-565K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-565L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-565L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the gate of his<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-565d" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-565d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+22#fen-ESV-565d" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</span> enemies,</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Gen-22-18" id="en-ESV-566" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">18 </span>and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-566M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-566M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-566N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-566N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>because you have obeyed my voice.”</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></b></i><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">So we did not withhold our daughter. We were willing to send her, but where? I went into "Full-Time Find an Outreach Mode" I spent up to 6 hours a day contacting YWAM bases in Africa, Europe, Asia, India, South America, Central America, Australia, America, asking if she could do an outreach with their DTS team so she could graduate her DTS and go onto secondary school in Taiwan next year. I must have contacted and personally talked with over 50 YWAM bases. I got no, after no, after no, after no, after no. Every door closed. Finally I was able to reach The Big Cheese of DTS Leaders with University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii and he was able to ask his good friend to do a personal favor and allow Hailey to join their missions outreach team to Haiti. Thank you so very much!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Our daughter was so kind to be okay with not going with her friends to the Middle East (at least on the phone with us). She said "Dad, Mom, if you guys think it is not safe, I trust you because I know you both do crazy things for God, and if you think it is not safe, it must be pretty bad." When she found out she was going to Haiti she was excited as her good friend went there last year and she was actually familiar with the Haiti training from helping with that team during her Summer of Service (SOS), last summer. Also, her Dad, sister and friends from New York City Relief had all been to Haiti to do relief work a few years back. We were excited to get her plugged in somewhere even though the additional cost was a significant blow to us, somehow, it all came together down to the last day and off she went. It's funny to be relieved to send your daughter to Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere, that is not known for it's safety in itself. But we were. We were relieved. It was nice to have a good nights sleep, finally. </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><b>It is crazy what things come down my path of life. ISIS for instance. It is so far away, so terrible, like many injustices around the world. But when it knocks on our families door, how do I respond? Hopefully with wisdom and faith. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><b>Haiti report coming soon... here is a sneak peak at our daughter in Haiti:</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><b>as well as Israel missions report from our oldest daughter who returns next week.... and West Virginia Appalachia relief report this summer from our oldest Son of 15. Yes, we are all about that. That is how we roll, almost ISIS and all.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><b>The Galloway Family </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><b>To learn A TON about ISIS in a riveting video great for Christians, Muslims & Jews go here:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: orange;"><b>http://www.liquidchurch.com/isis/1/</b></span></div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-76133160045224675622015-02-09T14:19:00.000-08:002015-02-09T14:19:02.291-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am amazed at the Lord. I am amazed at how His hand is upon the pen that is continuing to write my life story. It is a wonderful thing to follow Jesus into what ever adventure He calls you to. Yes, there are years of sitting and waiting, years of suffering, years of nothing special happening at all even. But overall, when I look back at my 42 years of life thus far. I am amazed. Amazed at His hand holding me up when I can not stand on my own. His direction when I feel lost. His patience when I feel like I can not wait another day. His blessings and unmerited favor that I am still surprised by. Jesus is Good. Really Good. He never promised I would not suffer, but I know that when I do suffer, I am not alone. Never alone. My prayer is that when suffering comes, that I may suffer well. He is always with me. Yet, in the midst of possible suffering always looming on the horizon, wether it be health challenges, or difficult situations that rear their ugly head, I am excited that 2015 is actually the "Year of Jubilee"</h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">The </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Jubilee</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> (Hebrew </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">yovel</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> יובל) year is the year at the end of seven cycles of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmita" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Shmita">shmita</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> (Sabbatical years), and according to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" title="Bible">Biblical</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> regulations had a special impact on the ownership and management of land in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_Israel" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;" title="Land of Israel">Land of Israel</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">; there is some debate whether it was the 49th year (the last year of seven sabbatical cycles, referred to as the Sabbath's Sabbath), or whether it was the following (50th) year. Jubilee deals largely with land, property, and property rights. According to Leviticus, slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven and the mercies of God would be particularly manifest. Leviticus 25:8-13 </span></h3>
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I am excited to see what the Lord has next for me, my family, our churches, our ministry, our country and the world in this "Year of Jubilee" that some say is set to start this Fall. Jesus is holding the pen and may I let His love and mercy flow through me continually into the next chapter of our lives here on earth. </h3>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-64530375537108477652014-10-22T21:00:00.001-07:002019-10-07T17:09:39.436-07:00Can Women be Pastors?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://shepreaches.blogspot.com/2014/10/this-is-my-new-blog-called-she-preaches.html" style="color: #949494; text-decoration: none;">The Elephant in the Room</a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Being invited to be the first female senior pastor in a historic Christian church over 100 years old, I felt led of the Lord to speak about the "Elephant in the Room" for my first blog post so that anyone with concern about having a female pastor could read up in a quick and simple way on the biblical history of female ministers. If you DO NOT believe in women pastors, this blog is for you to consider biblically.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></span> <span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Is it okay? Is it okay She Preaches? A pastor friend asked me this week if I had a lot of opposition being a female pastor throughout the years. My answer was honestly no. I had the privilege or even dare I say "luck" of not receiving much criticism for the 28 years I have been in ministry. I happened to operate in circles where it was perfectly fine for a woman to teach the Bible, to anyone, anywhere, anytime, at any location.</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one wants to say it, but many people have it cross their minds. Some even feel strongly one way or the other. Either way, we all come from different religious and cultural backgrounds regarding women in ministry and I wanted to give you a simple, yet solid, biblical answer after two short stories...</b><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">There were only 2 or 3 Brief moments of "challenge" for me (after which I will give a biblical reason to answer the questions I am sure you might have regarding women pastors)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">1. When studying at a Baptist University with 300 male Theology students and 3 female ones, one boy was bold enough to ask me "What are you doing here?" "There is no need for girls to study Theology." I laughed at the absurdity of this statement that my friend made and just said "Really?" "Wow!" Not offended, just humored at this new experience, I was shortly after given the opportunity to pray at the University chapel service. All students were required to attend. I took this rare opportunity to get all of the non-christian students saved. The Holy Spirit fell in the room as I spoke for around 5 minutes to the non-believing students (around 100 students sitting in the back rows). ALL stood to their feet to pray to have a better relationship with Jesus. From that moment on, all 297 male theology students were behind me 100%. No one asked me why I was studying Theology ever again. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">2. A few years later, after being in full-time ministry for 8 years, my husband and I flew from California to New Jersey to interview at a church to be youth pastors. Concluding a weekend of interviews and meals, I asked the Pastor privately (who is Hispanic) "Do you believe in ordaining women?" He quickly said, "Oh no, I don't believe in that." I am not going to lie, what I said in return was VERY CHEEKY. But, to my credit, I believe the Lord put the words in my mouth at that moment and gave me no fear. I leaned in close to whisper to the Pastor "Yes, I agree, and I don't believe in Hispanic or black ones either" turned... and walked away. I know, it seems SO BAD, but honestly, I felt God instructing me to say just that, so I was obedient. I am willing to risk it all (even a great job or large sums of money) when I know the Lord has me to say or do something. Surprisingly, that Hispanic pastor presented an offer to hire us later that day, ordained his wife immediately who was one of the best female preachers I have ever learned from, and then shortly thereafter, led me through the process as well with the denomination.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">"I happened to operate in circles where it was perfectly fine for a woman to teach the Bible, to anyone, anywhere, anytime, at any location." tg</i></b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Here is the biblical "BLOW YOUR MIND" reason why it is okay that a "SHE" preaches, just in case you are not sure if it is okay or not.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">I will deal with just two of the most difficult passages for this blog:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">1. "The head of a woman is the man"</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Seems impossible to wrestle with these scriptures.... I know, but watch this original Greek translation that I would bet money (if I were a betting gal) you have never known...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Though some passages may at first appear contradictory, we can be sure that God does not contradict Himself. God is truthful, unchanging, the absolute source of all knowledge and wisdom. Not only that, He reveals truth to us and invites us to question Him when we don't understand. God doesn't ask us to abandon our minds when we don't understand. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u style="background-color: white;">1. Blowing Headship Out Of The Water:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fffbf6; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;"><b style="background-color: white;">What comes to your mind when you hear the word head? Probably something like a boss, leader, authority, ruler, top dog, the big cheese, or head honcho, Right? <u>To be honest, it doesn't matter what you or I think. What matters is what Paul's original readers thought. What image did the word head bring to mind of first-century Corinthians? </u>Words change meaning over time and sometimes have more than one meaning, even in the first century. Just like now how "post" means to put a picture or words up online but used to mean and sometimes still means a newspaper or a fence post.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Going deep, hold your breath, this is for theologians, skip it if you can't follow. The word for "head" in Hebrew is <i>ro'sh</i> can mean part of the body, or it can mean "leader" or "ruler." When<i>ro'sh</i> meant a physical head in a passage of the Old Testament, the Septuagint translators chose <i>kephale</i> (the word Paul used in 1 Corinthians 11:3 to translate it 226 out of the 239 times, or about 95 percent of the time. However, when <i>ro'sh</i> clearly meant "ruler" or "leader", the Septuagint translators used some other word 171 times out of 180. <u>They used Kephale for "ruler" or "leader" only 5% of the time. </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">TO PUT IT SIMPLY, it is possible that Paul used kephale in 1 Corinthians 11:3 to mean that man should be the "leader" or "ruler" over a woman, but <u>that would be a rare usage of the word</u>, as seen by evidence of the Septuagint. On the other hand, we find <u>many, many times in ancient literature where head/<i>kephale</i>meant "source" or "origin"</u>. This came from the ancients idea that semen, the source of life, was produced in the male brain, which is, of course, located in the head. Aristotle believed this and influenced generations after him. Therefore, the head represented the source of life for them.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Li</u></b></span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>kewise, <i>kephale</i> was the word used for the source of a river.</u>This is why the Greeks and Romans often set up a bearded head of a man or a bull at a fountain or at the source of a river. This meaning was carried over into Latin and later into English so that <u>we still refer to the source of a river as its headwaters.</u> </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Back to our question for 1 Corinthians 11:3: If Kephale could be either "ruler" or "life-source", how was Paul using it here? If we were to substitute these meanings for head/kephale in the text, we could come up with two alternatives;</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>1. "Now I want you to realize that the <i>authority/leader</i> of every man is Christ, and the <i>authority/leader</i> </b></span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of a woman is the man, and the <i>authority/leader</i> of Christ is God."</b></span></div>
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<b style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u style="background-color: white;">2. "Now I want you to realize that the source/origin of every man is Christ, and the source/origin of a woman is the man, and the source/origin of Christ is God."</u></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The translation in number one, if correct is very rare and not in line with the biblical language and A-B-A-B structure. <u>If on the other hand number two is correct and much more common and goes in line with other writings of Paul, then well, the church leaders have been making up church policy that does not make sense and degrades women for many years, for no reason.</u> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">For more on this, read "Why Not Women? A fresh look at Scripture on women in missions, ministry, and leadership by Loren Cunningham the founder of Youth With A Mission and David Joel Hamilton, the worlds leading expert in women's studies. Pages 162-175 address what I have highlighted in this post. I have read over 5 books on this topic, this is by far the best one. Amazon it!</i></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><u style="background-color: white;">2. NEXT Blow Your Mind Item: </u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">"Women should remain silent in churches"</span> </u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Greek, there are NO parenthesis "" Instead, <u>they put a small <i>n.</i>before a statement to show that the text following is ridiculous, like saying "No Way!" to a quote from another.</u> I bet no one ever told you there was an <i>n. </i>in the Greek before this famous scripture used to keep women from preaching for centuries. Paul was not saying women should be silent, he was quoting a letter written to him from the leaders of the church in Corinth, and responds immediately with a rebuke and previous to it says "No Way!"(the greek N symbol) Interesting yes? Let's unfold that scripture.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>WARNING: SCRIPTURE REVELATION BELOW WAITING...</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red = Paul encouraging women in ministry</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blue = Paul quoting a letter from someone he disagrees with</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1 Corinthians 14:24-33</span></b></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1Cor-14-24" id="en-NIV-28703" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span><span style="color: red;">But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,</span></span><span style="color: red;"> <span class="text 1Cor-14-25" id="en-NIV-28704" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">25 </span>as the secrets<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28704AJ" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28704AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)"></span> of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”</span></span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1Cor-14-26" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">26 </span>What then shall we say, <span style="color: red;">brothers and sisters?</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28705AL" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28705AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)"></span> <span style="color: red;">When you come together, each of you <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28705AM" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28705AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)"></span>has a hymn,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28705AN" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28705AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)"></span> or a word of instruction,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28705AO" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28705AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)"></span> a revelation, a tongue<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28705AP" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28705AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)"></span> or an interpretation.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28705AQ" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28705AQ" title="See cross-reference AQ">AQ</a>)"></span>Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28705AR" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28705AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-27" id="en-NIV-28706" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">27 </span>If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—<span style="color: red;">should speak</span>, one at a time, and someone must interpret.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-28" id="en-NIV-28707" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">28 </span>If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.</span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1Cor-14-29" id="en-NIV-28708" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">29 </span><span style="color: red;">Two or three prophets<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28708AS" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28708AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)"></span> should speak</span>, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28708AT" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28708AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-30" id="en-NIV-28709" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30 </span>And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-31" id="en-NIV-28710" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">31 </span><span style="color: red;">For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.</span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-32" id="en-NIV-28711" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">32 </span>The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28711AU" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28711AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-33" id="en-NIV-28712" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">33 </span>For God is not a God of disorder<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28712AV" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28712AV" title="See cross-reference AV">AV</a>)"></span> but of peace<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28712AW" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28712AW" title="See cross-reference AW">AW</a>)"></span>—<span style="color: red;">as in all the congregations</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28712AX" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28712AX" title="See cross-reference AX">AX</a>)"></span> of the Lord’s people.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28712AY" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28712AY" title="See cross-reference AY">AY</a>)"></span></span></i></div>
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<span class="text 1Cor-14-33" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i style="background-color: white;">(THEN RIGHT HERE IN THE GREEK IS AN N. THAT MEANS THE TEXT AFTER IS A QUOTE FROM A LETTER, ODD FOR AMERICAN WRITING BUT NORMAL FOR WRITING FLOW OF THIS TIME PERIOD)</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1Cor-14-34" id="en-NIV-28713" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">34 </span>Women<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28713f" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28713f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2014&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28713f" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #949494; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</span> should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28713AZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28713AZ" title="See cross-reference AZ">AZ</a>)"></span> but must be in submission,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28713BA" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28713BA" title="See cross-reference BA">BA</a>)"></span> as the law<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28713BB" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28713BB" title="See cross-reference BB">BB</a>)"></span> says.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-35" id="en-NIV-28714" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">35 </span>If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28714g" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28714g" title="See footnote g">g</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2014&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28714g" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #949494; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote g">g</a>]</span></span></i></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;">(RIGHT AFTER IS PAUL'S REBUKE OF THIS BLUE STATEMENT)</i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1Cor-14-36" id="en-NIV-28715" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">36 </span><span style="color: red;">Or did the word of God<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28715BC" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28715BC" title="See cross-reference BC">BC</a>)"></span> originate with you? <u>Or are you the only people it has reached?</u></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-37" id="en-NIV-28716" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">37 </span>If anyone thinks they are a prophet<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28716BD" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28716BD" title="See cross-reference BD">BD</a>)"></span> or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28716BE" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28716BE" title="See cross-reference BE">BE</a>)"></span> let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28716BF" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28716BF" title="See cross-reference BF">BF</a>)"></span></span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-38" id="en-NIV-28717" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">38 </span>But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28717h" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28717h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2014&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28717h" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote h">h</a>]</span></span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1Cor-14-39" id="en-NIV-28718" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">39 </span><span style="color: red;">Therefore, my <u>brothers and sisters</u>, be eager<span style="font-size: 0.625em;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28718BG" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28718BG" title="See cross-reference BG">BG</a>)"></span></span> to prophesy,</span><span style="font-size: 0.625em;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28718BH" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28718BH" title="See cross-reference BH">BH</a>)"></span></span> and do not forbid speaking in tongues.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-14-40" id="en-NIV-28719" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">40 </span>But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28719BI" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28719BI" title="See cross-reference BI">BI</a>)"></span> way.</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">"I bet no one ever told you there was an n. in the Greek </i></span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">before this famous scripture used to keep </i></span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">women from preaching for centuries." tg</i></span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="background-color: white;">Aimee Semple McPherson, a pastor in the 1930's who started a denomination that now has over 1,600 bible based churches worldwide</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before this controversial scripture, Paul is encouraging females and males to prophecy, "for you can ALL prophesy one by one, that ALL may learn and ALL may be encouraged." Prophesy is basically to declare the wonders and truths of God to men and women in a church setting of believers in the context of this scripture. Then he quotes the letter written to him that "women should remain silent in churches" written by what many theologians believe are new Christians who had possibly a religious Jewish background. Paul immediately rebukes them by saying "Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?" </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">For more depth of this study read pages 61-65 in "10 Lies the Church tells Women" by J. Lee Grady</i></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">MEN MUST BE QUIET?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We must remember that all Christians - both males and females - are told in 1 Timothy 2:2 to lead "a tranquil and <u><i>quiet</i> </u>life". Does this mean men are supposed to refrain from speaking? Of course not.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">JESUS PICKED WOMEN TO PROCLAIM FIRST...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Who did Jesus use for the first ever telling of His resurrection? Women. The women were ignored though, so the first thing Jesus does when He appears to the disciples personally is to take the time to rebuke their "unbelief and <i>hardness of heart</i> because they did not believe <i>those who had seen Him (the women) </i>after He had risen."</b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;"> Mark 16:14</b></span></h3>
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<b style="background-color: white;">Priscilla and Aquila OR Aquila and Pricilla? </b></h3>
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<b style="background-color: white;">(The question of female senior pastors...)</b></h3>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's important to note regarding the leading of the first churches ever, Paul mentions Aquila and Priscilla as church leaders/pastors 6 times. 3 times he uses Aquila's name first, and 3 times he uses Priscilla's name first. This is very rare to use a woman's name ahead of her husband even in today's society. Therefore it can be assumed that she was at a minimum an equal and more likely, the main leader of this church for him to highlight her before Aquila multiple times in his writings. </span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">IS SHE A HELPER OR MINISTER?</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paul continually promoted Priscilla, a female pastor, and strongly promoted Phoebe as a deacon and as a helper/minister. The Greek word translated to "helper" when speaking of women IS THE SAME GREEK WORD for "minister" when translated speaking of men. This shows a BIAS OF THE TRANSLATOR in the time period it was translated into English as they used two different English words for the same Greek word. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Men = Minister and Woman = Helper </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">instead of the correct translation </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Men = Minister and Woman = Minister</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Though yes, a helper is a word used for God, the Holy Spirit is our helper, so the word is not meaning servant, but still, the correct translation from Greek should read Minister. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">________________________________</span></b></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Is there any church in the world where women are completely silent when they walk over the threshold of the church door until they leave the building?</span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> "</span></b></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaFd-1ocxXp10c1zTqs37ajcagQCfd6dJpF6TNzMJu4pPO-jDciPpnmA5Ga8rIo1gmo7ZGXg2_-MKA9cKklDocBmCT4cuGXM9CTzpa-RHXl3aaWczTBfQUie6FelSmvPDLXGFydChNsIa/s1600/foot-in-the-door+graphic+for+pastors+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; color: #949494; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaFd-1ocxXp10c1zTqs37ajcagQCfd6dJpF6TNzMJu4pPO-jDciPpnmA5Ga8rIo1gmo7ZGXg2_-MKA9cKklDocBmCT4cuGXM9CTzpa-RHXl3aaWczTBfQUie6FelSmvPDLXGFydChNsIa/s1600/foot-in-the-door+graphic+for+pastors+blog.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even in practical beliefs today. Do we actually follow this? Is there any church in the world where women are completely silent when they walk over the threshold of the church door until they leave the building? Not a word? Woman are gabbing in every church in the world, every single church. This is a scripture that has been interpreted as Paul contradicting himself from many other areas where he promotes women as ministers. This is why I believe that the n. symbol which represents quotation marks in the Greek, proceeding the statement that "women should be silent" shows clearly, Paul is quoting and then correcting domineering new Christians who are following the old way of doing things before freedom in Christ. </span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TALK BUT DON'T TALK?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Who is to say women can give announcements, or even "share" but not "preach" and all kinds of silly things that <u>we make up</u> to dance around this miss-interpretation of scripture? Who decides what a woman can and can not do in the church? Maybe we should just allow them to do whatever the Lord calls them to do, even if it is to Pastor. SCANDALOUS! Jesus was pretty scandalous though wasn't He? Clearly, there were women pastors in the New Testament church that Paul supported and promoted in multiple cities, should we not follow his example?</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is absurd that God would want 1/2 of the population to not teach the bible. It just smells of a trick of the enemy to me, does it not? </span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How can thousands of years of women not being allowed to pastor or preach in some church communities be wrong?</span></b></h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's simple.</span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is similar to what happened with the Christian's when it came to slavery. Thousands of dedicated bible believing Christians were slave owners for hundreds of years. They loved the Lord, they ministered to their slaves, some even treated their slaves really well, they did. But it took hundreds of years for Christians to get THE REVELATION that slavery was flat out wrong. </span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is exactly how it is possible to have thousands of years of women being oppressed, sold into slavery, human trafficked, told to be silent, wearing burkas, kept in lowly positions of service, not allowed to teach the bible. It is because some Christians have not had THE REVELATION yet that this is wrong. Do YOU see it yet?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I personally believe it does not jive with the heart or ministry of Jesus to tell a woman it is a sin to teach the Bible to a group of believers, male or female. I also think that not giving a woman the title of a pastor when she is one in practice, is a hurtful man-made idea that has no biblical context. I know I am stepping on toes here. I have friends who do this who I love deeply. But remember what I said early in this blog, "</span></b><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am willing to risk it all, (even a great job or large sums of money) when I feel the Lord has me to say or do something." </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All I ask is to just think about this blog "post" above, chew on it, consider it, think about the heart of Jesus, and I am hopeful that if you don't agree, at least you will understand... why I called this blog "She Preaches" Hopefully one day, that will be no big deal to say.</span></b></span><br />
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<b>After Jesus taught the woman at the well, she went and shared Jesus with her entire community. </b></h3>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lastly, I believe Jesus can use His <i>followers</i> (people who follow Jesus' teachings) who are Old, Young, Tall, Short, Large, Slim, African American, Hispanic, Jewish or Gentile, Male or Female to declare His wonders anywhere, anytime, in any way He sees fit. I love how Jesus rolls like that. </span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not a feminist, </span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span> <span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rev. Tracy Galloway </span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Senior Pastor</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Garwood Church</span></b> <b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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www.garwoodchurch.org<br />
Facebook: Garwood Church </div>
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www.newyorkcityrelief.org</div>
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<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">https://juniaproject.com</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">https://messengerinternational.org/blog/devotional/women-have-a-voice-2/</span></span></div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-63102384208947083442014-04-08T08:17:00.002-07:002014-04-08T08:17:31.857-07:00River's Coming Home!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our daughter River has been in Africa and Asia for almost a year. Well, actually to get technical it has been 8 months but that is a long time considering there have been no visits, no River at Thanksgiving, or Christmas :( We can't wait to see our daughter again as she returns home in May! She is only 18 but has traveled the globe helping the poor, learning new languages and basically practicing for her future job as a nurse missionary. We are so proud of her. Her most recent host home in Chengdu, China wrote us this sweet e-mail as River was out in the mountains of Tibet/China area for a few weeks before returning to their home. I wanted to share their letter with you:<br />
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Hi Tracy & Juan,<u></u><u></u></div>
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I know you have probably been seeing the pictures that <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">River</span> has posted on Instagram so you know she is having a great experience! We text each other and this is what she said in one:<u></u><u></u></div>
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“We got to welcome a new sister today, a blind massage person. Sooooo awesome!”<u></u><u></u></div>
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Another one:<u></u><u></u></div>
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“The sky has been like a gleaming blue jewel, and the mountains seem to bear it up, lifting it high in the air with their great strength and majesty. And this morning the clouds streamed over them like a silk scarf. So beautiful.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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I love how <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">River</span> uses words <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> <u></u><u></u></div>
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We have been to the area she is at several times.. Google KangDing and you can see more pics and read about where they are. <u></u><u></u></div>
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We are all excited for Fri night – when everyone is back and we have a worship and praise time all together <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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I’ve been meaning to send you these pictures…. In the winter we can buy sweet potatoes on the street… they are yummy and work as wonderful hand warmers <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> <u></u><u></u></div>
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I know you will hear all about the conference from <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">River</span>… so many wonderful things happened. I just want to tell you that your daughter is such a joy to be around! I love how free she is and loving to people she just meets. She fit right in with everyone, danced during worship, let other people use her material wraps (forget what they are called) that she brought from MZ to dance and worship with too…. We all were blessed beyond words and it was so fun to have <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">River</span> with us! I hope you saw the picture she posted of her painting….I never did get a photo of it but it was GREAT and really blessed a dear Mongolian sister who was going to pass it on to her friend.<u></u><u></u></div>
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As your heart misses your sweet <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">River</span> take comfort in knowing she is being such a blessing to all she is around."</div>
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Love,<br />
River's Host Family</div>
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I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the wonderful family that has been hosting River in China over the past months. You are an amazing family and we appreciate you so very very very much!!!!!<br />
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-49461880708855905422014-03-07T22:07:00.000-08:002014-03-07T22:07:18.866-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Confessions of a Tom Boy Mama Preacher</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZQosnfUxbVFtFUlm437qGbyBeASllF61Eq0-iH26_upx5dsX9lkBMqwaVETIN6op44WPe2-vh2XS_cvX2zun0RLkSZp833UFMi2PHY2x4q73otTtvD8uSCWygWDNwMyfSA3u1Fk7ri0/s1600/tracypaintball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZQosnfUxbVFtFUlm437qGbyBeASllF61Eq0-iH26_upx5dsX9lkBMqwaVETIN6op44WPe2-vh2XS_cvX2zun0RLkSZp833UFMi2PHY2x4q73otTtvD8uSCWygWDNwMyfSA3u1Fk7ri0/s1600/tracypaintball.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I never wanted to HAVE TO be an advocate for women. I really didn't. I am not a big fan of women in general actually; being a huge"tom boy" all of my life. I hate pink. I don't wear much jewelry. Those who know me know my wedding ring will some days be a wooden spool or a plastic thing with a fake flower I found in my car one day. I'm weird like that. </span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">But today being International Woman's Day, as g</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">oogle is proclaiming, I do want to say, I wish I did not HAVE TO be an advocate for women, esp. women in ministry, as there are so many important things to do in this world, and to have to be a voice for this is a real bummer... you know? It really is. I wish it was a non-issue so I could go about changing the world in other areas. That would be awesome. So help me to be free of this issue by making it a non-issue so I do not have to speak up for unfair treatment of woman in ministry anymore, I would rather speak up for oppressed children in Africa or something. </span></h3>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I wonder what is more of a sin, a woman preaching the bible or a person stopping her from preaching the bible? hmmmmm (Juan told me that one)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4aBjoPGc12OgUfvpf4FN3tUMgBZQDqs3K-MbXIqzLMesN8V5AdoGc_9f6dkWQE1ve25Lgu5X6d4T3kSOIKAbOMHtqiH0NetKEq1Xpupl_5i10CI9p4lOv3-ny2I_4ElV449djVvkSNM/s1600/menwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4aBjoPGc12OgUfvpf4FN3tUMgBZQDqs3K-MbXIqzLMesN8V5AdoGc_9f6dkWQE1ve25Lgu5X6d4T3kSOIKAbOMHtqiH0NetKEq1Xpupl_5i10CI9p4lOv3-ny2I_4ElV449djVvkSNM/s1600/menwoman.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></h3>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It is good to allow women to preach, hold the same titles as men, like in the bible... Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned six times in four different books of the New Testament. They are always named as a couple and never individually. Of those six references, Priscilla's name is mentioned first three times, which is conspicuously unusual for such a male-dominant society. Seems like they were equals as pastors of their church and as missionaries.</span></h3>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> What an interesting biblical concept <i class="_4-k1 img sp_ajm6r8 sx_b610f5" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yl/r/djWWR4XJTnA.png); background-position: -170px -146px; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i> </span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcvC7Jmke95tEMNHgpuM7Lzqfj5p8opiw32faA8tZpBdtLxxMf8Zy100zV2uZ1_jAwxOYvvBNpxIzZJtzPog3hnezfYWlbb1P9GsOLbHgL9fitC6NYMEKT8y30Biy-CZJhM826AwK9C8/s1600/cartoonwithmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcvC7Jmke95tEMNHgpuM7Lzqfj5p8opiw32faA8tZpBdtLxxMf8Zy100zV2uZ1_jAwxOYvvBNpxIzZJtzPog3hnezfYWlbb1P9GsOLbHgL9fitC6NYMEKT8y30Biy-CZJhM826AwK9C8/s1600/cartoonwithmen.jpg" height="189" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></h3>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Again, I don't like this topic. Really, it's the last thing I want to talk about. I really hope not to offend (even though my paintball pic. prob. already did that for some), I am not upset or emotional, that's not my "tomboy" style. I strategically surround myself with people who struggle with these concepts at my church and at our non-profit on purpose. They need to be around a female Reverend because much of this issue is based on non-exposure and religious traditions only. It is okay to agree to disagree, except when it comes to devaluing a human being of any race, size, status or gender. </span></h3>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When that happens, something must be said. </span></h3>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">God can do anything with anyone at any time. That's just his style. </span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Apyw147IYelPmdlCGqCr0icySrDKpAtDH__nw3b2NWNc7DphOq_-da7-MT2T4DqcwMtxb__Vj9wWl9j55kbDG8TcERTty-RWRvrnoSIOECmQOInCEggEFQze2bSFyTXuXMPTmPGTyiM/s1600/malefemale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Apyw147IYelPmdlCGqCr0icySrDKpAtDH__nw3b2NWNc7DphOq_-da7-MT2T4DqcwMtxb__Vj9wWl9j55kbDG8TcERTty-RWRvrnoSIOECmQOInCEggEFQze2bSFyTXuXMPTmPGTyiM/s1600/malefemale.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It would be so cool for a blue to take this topic and run with it, I believe it would make a much stronger impact than my pink voice... sadly. </span></h3>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: orange; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">In the bible, when the women were proclaiming to the men Jesus was raised from the dead for the first time, Luke 24:11 says, "But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them." </span><span style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I hope the disciples learned after that day, that women proclaiming truth to men, </span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">was not nonsense, after all...</span></h3>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-57894568357291345362013-09-04T22:20:00.000-07:002014-12-10T19:54:31.479-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A Killer In Your Fridge ~ Sweet Poison… A MUST READ by Rhonda Gessner</h1>
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SEPTEMBER 2, 2013</div>
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tags: <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/aspartame/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">aspartame</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/diabetes/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">diabetes</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/dizziness/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">dizziness</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/fibromyalgia/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">fibromyalgia</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/headaches/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">headaches</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/lupus/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">lupus</a>,<a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/migraines/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">migraines</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/ms/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">ms</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/muscle-spasms/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">muscle spasms</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/nutra-sweet/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">nutra-sweet</a>, <a href="http://rhondagessner.wordpress.com/tag/splenda/" rel="tag" style="color: #666666; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">splenda</a></div>
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In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.</div>
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By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick she just knew she was dying.</div>
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She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter’s name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.</div>
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She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.</div>
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On March 19, I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn’t find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS.</div>
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I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.hungryforchange.tv/article/are-diet-sodas-making-us-fat" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><img src="http://www.hungryforchange.tv/images/dietsodas.jpg" height="212" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 44px;" width="320" /></a></div>
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I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda! I e-mailed her an article my friend, a lawyer, had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn’t feel 100% but, she sure felt a lot better.</div>
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She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.</div>
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Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind. In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda.. and literally dying a slow and miserable death.</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.stemcellmd.org/conditions-treated/neurological-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><img src="http://www.stemcellmd.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/multiple-sclerosis-s11-ms-symptoms1.jpg" height="335" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 35px;" width="493" /></a></div>
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When she got to Florida March 22, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery. And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life. If it says ‘SUGAR FREE’ on the label; DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on ‘ASPARTAME,’ marketed as ‘Nutra Sweet,’ ‘Equal,’ and ‘Spoonful. ‘In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://beveragesandhealth.com/stay-away-from-aspartame/" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><img src="http://beveragesandhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/no-aspartame.jpg" height="200" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 52px;" width="200" /></a></div>
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I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus.</div>
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Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!</div>
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Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues it’s use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=201127" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><img src="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/data/journals/jama/4981/m_jpg0622f1.jpeg" height="320" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 0px;" width="283" /></a></div>
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In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. We’ve seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly.</div>
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This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, ‘If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs,<br />
Cramps,<br />
Vertigo,<br />
Dizziness,<br />
Headaches,<br />
Tinnitus,<br />
Joint pain,<br />
Unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!’ People were jumping up during the lecture saying, ‘I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?’</div>
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Yes!<br />
Yes!<br />
Yes!</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://newagegathering.com/category/health/additives/artificial-sweetener/" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><img src="http://newagegathering.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/blog-aspartame-002.jpg" height="212" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 38px;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1em;">STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!</span></div>
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Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates.</div>
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It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!</div>
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These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve ’tissue specimens.’</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/which-is-worse-sugar-or-aspartame/" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; outline: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="http://www.deeprootsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/blog-aspartame-003.jpg" height="211" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 38px;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!</div>
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Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the ‘diet products’ and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period. Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.secretsofthefed.com/the-shocking-story-of-how-aspartame-became-legal-2/" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; outline: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.secretsofthefed.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/aspartame-rusnfeld.jpg" height="404" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 0px;" width="464" /></a></div>
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Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE.. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, Seizures, Depression, Manic depression, Panic attacks, Uncontrollable anger and rage. Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well. Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet.</div>
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So called ‘behavior modification prescription drugs’ (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place! Most of these children were being ‘poisoned’ on a daily basis with the very foods that were ‘better for them than sugar. ‘It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://bestmeal.info/food/aspartame.shtml" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; outline: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><img src="http://bestmeal.info/images/toons/aspartame-kids.jpg" height="286" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners.</div>
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There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.’</div>
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Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included in 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYCRxL52VzI/UcnrdI0ORMI/AAAAAAAAeec/0veHacMt8Pg/s1600/monsanto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 29px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYCRxL52VzI/UcnrdI0ORMI/AAAAAAAAeec/0veHacMt8Pg/s320/monsanto.jpg" height="320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: #222222; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sadly, MONSANTO’S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a ‘piece of the Aspartame pie. ‘I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is.</div>
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And isn’t it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?</div>
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This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products. Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants.</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://grassrootsgourmet.net/category/monsanto/" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><img src="http://grassrootgourmet.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/monsanto_labelling1.jpg" height="326" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 39px;" width="468" /></a></div>
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The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioural symptoms.<br />
The bill was killed. It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well, you’re informed now!</div>
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<span style="color: black;">Note: I have been studying health and nutrition for 35 years. What I’ve learned in the past 3 years has been by far…the most valuable. My husband was diagnosed with liver disease 3 years ago and that sent me on a very aggressive search for help. I came across an article about Dr. Otto Warburg that said…he won the Nobel Prize in 1931 for proving that no disease including cancer, can survive in an alkaline body. From there…a friend told me about a Japanese medical device that makes alkaline water. She went on to tell me that since our body is 70% water, drinking alkaline ionized water is the easiest way to raise your pH. It makes perfect sense…the health “puzzle” is made up of many pieces including water, diet, exercise, sleep, etc. But since 3/4 of that puzzle is made up of one big piece…WATER, drinking enough of the “right” kind of water will have a HUGE impact on your health. If you’d like to learn more, click on the link and request your FREE eBook on Healthy Water: <a href="http://www.usakangenwater.net/" style="color: #772124; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Healthy Water">http://www.usakangenwater.net</a></span></div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://library.thinkquest.org/C007795F/" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><img src="http://library.thinkquest.org/C007795F/chart.gif" height="293" id="irc_mi" style="-webkit-background-size: 21px; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65098) 0px 5px 35px; margin-top: 56px;" width="452" /></a></div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-54288022410587607452013-08-12T20:35:00.001-07:002013-08-12T20:36:54.668-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What it feels like to have your oldest child leave home...</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AJE04AoHAJRiA1VFQRhWm4-AclGSNFaVqEUEod-YyqE1iQvHNgUN_jDmhRtzkvtNNpkK39EqpTGv2_ZkUs1Qb_DMyyeGlJyoNL7PNOLXKfQCGHEJZoq0VitfA-qcJAhxXak6zI2SILc/s1600/riverandmomincentralpark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AJE04AoHAJRiA1VFQRhWm4-AclGSNFaVqEUEod-YyqE1iQvHNgUN_jDmhRtzkvtNNpkK39EqpTGv2_ZkUs1Qb_DMyyeGlJyoNL7PNOLXKfQCGHEJZoq0VitfA-qcJAhxXak6zI2SILc/s400/riverandmomincentralpark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hmmmmm. It changes day to day, hour to hour. One hour I feel excited for her. Dreaming of what it will be like for her to be out on her own, enjoying new friends and experiences (and in our case cultures) for the first time. But then out of nowhere, like a punch in the stomach, I feel queasy, worried that she will loose her wallet with all of her id and money in a 3rd world country (again just in our case). I start to get beads of sweat on my brow and I furrow it in anxiety while I imagine a bad man up to no good singling her out as a target once they see her bright orange backpack and approach her with a kind trusting smile. Then hours later those fears are washed away with excitement again as I dream of her taking notes in her class taught by seasoned missionaries, and enjoying cuddling orphan children; doing her laundry from a bucket while singing her favorite songs to Jesus. Then, unexpectedly, and not often, like a ball coming at me from behind and striking me in the head I start to cry. A cry that brings all of the tears I did not know I had with a all of the emotion that I did not know was there, welling up out of my body in a deep grown. A grown of loss, of missing by first born so passionately that I can not even speak of the great sadness that I quickly bury back down and cover up with a warm blanket of hope. Hope that she will be okay. Hope that she will be more than okay, that she will dance and thrive in the goodness of God's plan for her life. And I am proud. So proud. </div>
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That is what it feels like...</h3>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-59178608569806353462013-06-03T21:34:00.000-07:002013-06-03T21:34:51.187-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">Parenting Advice - 2 Short and Sweet Tips </span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: red;">Do your kids scream "I want that! I want that!" in the store?</span><b><br /></b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDADYj3aziCkrRg7sS4kXlKu5Tmm1ArNdut8utYreTgf_I9CKvzih1QqQOaQOodHf1LcSYZy7CjX9n5n-5kqISW8kDPv6TD8GE6RmzI0OzWXyzq5T0XOWiAE6fr73uTeRA9dAcj7IBN0/s1600/brat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDADYj3aziCkrRg7sS4kXlKu5Tmm1ArNdut8utYreTgf_I9CKvzih1QqQOaQOodHf1LcSYZy7CjX9n5n-5kqISW8kDPv6TD8GE6RmzI0OzWXyzq5T0XOWiAE6fr73uTeRA9dAcj7IBN0/s1600/brat.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: lime;">TracyTip #1:</span> Our kids were not allowed to say "I want that" instead they were trained from an early age that if they see something they like in the store, what they mean to say is "I LIKE THAT" so they do not appear to be spoiled brats. To this day, they follow this rule. The trick is to train them young or if you do not have that luxury at this late of date, correct them promptly and maybe even reward them accordingly for saying "I like that" without you telling them to do it, occasionally of course. </b></h2>
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<b style="background-color: red;">Do your kids say "I'm Bored!" too much?</b></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_bSTnx_uEye7yjlY8sFMDap1rhmq1pbhzKyKA6_DbhAQ0YEsXeZ2k8Nl3-e6ZbHua83oncPEzp9qe_flc75SjZc4PREiHiinZlbVvSLC2QQQMLCl3fiiMwyTVOHDNQ-bpppSMdfzvrY/s1600/bored.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_bSTnx_uEye7yjlY8sFMDap1rhmq1pbhzKyKA6_DbhAQ0YEsXeZ2k8Nl3-e6ZbHua83oncPEzp9qe_flc75SjZc4PREiHiinZlbVvSLC2QQQMLCl3fiiMwyTVOHDNQ-bpppSMdfzvrY/s1600/bored.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: lime;">TracyTip #2:</span> We explained to our children that when they are bored they are actually really relaxed. Instead of saying "I'm Bored" say "I'm relaxed!" The first few times you have to catch them when they are saying "I'm Bored" and say "You mean you are relaxed?" to which they always say "Yeah, I am SUPER RELAXED!" and we all laugh. Then I give them 3 choices of something to do, one being a chore, one being an activity at home they enjoy, and the other being something to help me with what I am working on so that they feel needed and useful. They are ALWAYS happy to do the one that is NOT a chore. Or they might just realize they are relaxed, lay back and enjoy it if they are a laid back kind of person. I have one like that. His name is Corban :)</b></h2>
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<b>I hope these 2 small tips bring entertainment and peace to your lives. I honestly have not heard my teenagers say "I am bored" or "I want that" in years. It is awesome.</b></div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-46555549658199467972013-05-21T21:06:00.001-07:002013-05-22T09:45:38.915-07:00The Honest Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zCRmmP7UynysGw9wrCRgRRzgWKewjZJiPLFM9J_fhdnui9umK-XW5rew16giC2fYk7mDVijxt6GxGyb6G39f5A9GsmxZIBC3XRh0o2v8gEL1FLxUsDX_5Ise2DFzb9wa0hbHQbOFxec/s1600/tracygallowaycloseup2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zCRmmP7UynysGw9wrCRgRRzgWKewjZJiPLFM9J_fhdnui9umK-XW5rew16giC2fYk7mDVijxt6GxGyb6G39f5A9GsmxZIBC3XRh0o2v8gEL1FLxUsDX_5Ise2DFzb9wa0hbHQbOFxec/s320/tracygallowaycloseup2011.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
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Sometimes I read books that are chalked full of new and super useful information that will help me and my family GREATLY in our everyday lives. I want to slap some of the best parts down here for you to glean from my latest pick. It is called "The Honest Life - Living Naturally and True to You" There is a link at the bottom so you can order it yourself if you find this information to be helpful to you and yours.<br />
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"I was sick of being told that "healthy," "Safe," and "eco" means "boring," "beige," and "blah" - not to mention crazy expensive and hard to find. Which really doesn't add up, right?"<br />
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<b>TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 80,000 CHEMICALS ON THE MARKET </b></div>
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<b>THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN PROPERLY STUDIED </b></div>
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<b>TO SEE IF THEY'RE TOXIC TO OUR HEALTH.</b> </div>
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<img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOfCKy1l-db42S1nKW82f2xNdJcsKupPQZBUSpOsUW3H6kSPOo" /></div>
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Biggest Misconception: "But I grew up with that and I'm FINE!" I hear this all the time from friends and family when I tell them about mainstream, toxic products - and that is exactly what my mom said when I told her how the special expensive "baby safe" detergent gave me horrible swelling and a rash just from folding the clothes washed in it.</div>
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But the fact is, all of those so-called "tried and true" products you've trusted and used for years aren't necessarily the same as when we were kids. </div>
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In fact, far from it. There are WAY more chemicals in the marketplace today. Most of these chemicals have <u>NEVER been tested for human safety </u>- and in fact, the way the system works, they need to be proven unsafe to be banned. So we have no idea what they might do to our health - or, more important, the health of our kids - in the long term.</div>
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<img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSmAkwSgfqaAUpTSqYbMj7Fjg2JecRjzpIjSppt9MCSCCRGP9CaCQ" /></div>
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<b>In the past 35 years the EPA has restricted only 5 toxic substances and the FDA has banned 11. Meanwhile, the European Union has banned more than 1,100 chemicals that it considers unsafe in personal care products alone. </b></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">"I don't think a parent should need a chemistry degree to have a safe home."</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">"Parents today are way too busy to do tons of research and shop around. So the idea of one trusted company that met all of these needs and saved us a trip to the store was incredibly appealing...www.honest.com was launched in 2012.</li>
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<h3>
HONEST FOOD</h3>
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Eating tons of fruit, veggies, and whole grains makes your skin amazing and gives you way more energy. </div>
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<img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT2QJa-4Av8LWJNW6z-0EiR4tk4KlJ6PudSb2Xw9atgxm-0P6BwCQ" /></div>
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<b>Organic:</b> <i>"Whether I'm buying produce, meat or dairy, the USDA "Certified Organic" Label is a must for me. It's the hands-down biggest deal, whether you're worried about your health, the environment, or animal welfare - or, like me you think all three are important and intersecting. When you see the organic label on a whole fresh food, you can relax because you know you've covered your bases. If it's a fruit or vegetable, it wasn't sprayed with toxic pesticides or fertilizers, and the farmers couldn't use genetically modified (GMO) seeds. If it's meat or dairy, the animals weren't given antibiotics or growth hormones, and they were fed a 100% organic diet and <u>given access to the outdoors.</u> The USDA regulates how food brands can use the organic label and checks to make sure they're upholding all of these standards."</i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;"><b>THE DIRTY DOZEN (Highest in Pesticides: Buy these Organic!)</b></span></i></div>
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<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Apples</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Celery</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Sweet bell peppers</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Peaches</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Strawberries</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Nectarines (imported)</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Grapes</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Spinach</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Lettuce</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Cucumbers</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Blueberries (domestic)</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Potatoes</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Green Beans</b></span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: red;"><b>Kale/Greens</b></span></i></li>
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<i><b> <span style="color: lime;">THE CLEAN 15! (Lowest in Pesticides) </span></b></i></div>
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<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Onions</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Sweet corn</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Pineapples</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Avocado</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Cabbage</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Sweet peas</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Asparagus</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Mangoes</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Eggplant</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Kiwifruit</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Cantaloupe (Domestic)</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Sweet Potatoes</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Grapefruit</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Watermelon</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: lime;"><i><b>Mushrooms</b></i></span></li>
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<i>Hellotheretracy says:</i> <i>There are many many more ideas of How and What to eat "Honest" in this book, pick it up on Amazon if you want more information as this is just a quick overview of the first 1/2 of the book only. The following are more things I found really interesting that I wanted to share with you...</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.moulsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Eating-problem-in-children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://www.moulsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Eating-problem-in-children.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Honest Little Eaters:</div>
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"...how do you get your family to eat it, too? I see so many kids whose parents are always having to pack them special snacks with the rationale, "That's just how my kid eats." But in my house, we don't have discussions or give the girls tons of options. It's "Here's what you're eating." If that sounds kind of old school, it is - that's how my mom raised my brother Joshua and me and I think she got this so right. There was no special children's meal versus the adults' meal. Whatever my mom made, we all ate it -</div>
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and questioning wasn't an option. </div>
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The fact is, kids don't need alternatives to what the adults are eating. With too much choice, they can get overwhelmed, and that makes them cranky and more prone to putting up a fight."</div>
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<b>Honest Clean</b></h2>
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<b>" One Hundred Percent of women of childbearing age have detectable levels of phthalates (fragrance ingredients that may be <u>reproductive toxins</u> in their bodies, probably because of cosmetic use)" </b></div>
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<b>LIAR LABELS - These marketing claims sure sound healthy - but don't fall for their greenwashing...</b></h2>
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<b><i>Hypoallergenic:</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS: That somebody has tested the product to make sure it won't cause any allergic reactions</i></b></div>
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<b><i>WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: Nothing - there are no government regulations around the term "hypoallergenic," so companies are free to define it however they like. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Natural:</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS: That a product was made with all-natural, plant-based ingredients.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: Who Knows? The government doesn't regulate the term "natural", so it can mean just about anything.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Organic:</i></b></h2>
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<b><i>WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS: That every ingredient in a product comes from a USDA Certified Organic Farm.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: That some of the ingredients in your product are certified organic - but the rest can be anything at all.</i></b></div>
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<b>DON'T FALL FOR THOSE "TEAR-FREE" BABY PRODUCTS. THEY CONTAIN A SPECIAL MIX OF TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT WORK BY NUMBING YOUR BABY'S EYES SO THEY CAN'T FEEL ALL THE OTHER HARSH CHEMICALS STINGING!</b></div>
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<b><i>NOTE: The average personal care product contains around 126 ingredients. The Government doesn't require pre-market safety testing on any of them. </i></b></h3>
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<b><i>DISHONEST INGREDIENT: PETROCHEMICALS </i></b></div>
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<b><i>(includes mineral oil, petroleum jelly, propylene glycol and paraffin)</i></b></div>
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<b><i>FOUND IN: Foundations, lotions, cleansers, lipsticks, lip balms - unless they say "oil free"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>...this stuff is used in paint, antifreeze, and gasoline. Does that sound like something that should go on your face?</i></b></div>
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<img height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRExFNSkF1gFDSEI-pokcaWSpM1Go0AEVqHff3zXIRRJUxYlwjt8g" width="156" /></div>
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<b><i>DISHONEST INGREDIENT: PARABENS</i></b></div>
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<b><i>FOUND IN: Water-based products like shampoo, conditioner, cleanser, shower gel, lotion - you name it.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>WHY IS IT SKETCHY? We can absorb parabens through our skin blood, and digestive system, and they've even been found inside breast tumors (and thus, linked to cancer). They may also be toxic to our reproductive, immune, and neurological systems and can cause skin rashes.</i></b></div>
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<img height="134" src="http://www.kristinjackson.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/0shampoo.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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<b><i>DISHONEST INGREDIENT: TRICLOSAN & TRICLOCARBAN</i></b></div>
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<b><i>FOUND IN: Antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, deodorants (plus some fabrics and plastics) </i></b></div>
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<b><i>WHY IS IT SKETCHY? This stuff gets absorbed and piles up in our bodies, where it may disrupt our hormones. And because we use so much of it, it's also helping to create dangerous bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. In 2005, the FDA found no evidence that antibacterial soaps are in any way superior to good old soap in water. </i></b></div>
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<img height="133" src="http://images.sciencedaily.com/2007/12/071207150713-large.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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<b><i>DISHONEST INGREDIENT: SLS & PEG</i></b></div>
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<b><i>FOUND IN: Baby shampoo, kids bubble bath, regular shampoo, soap and shower gel</i></b></div>
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<b><i>WHY IS IT SKETCHY? When these chemicals are manufactured they release a toxic by-product called 1,4-dioxane. This chemical easily penetrates our skin and may cause cancer and birth defects. It may also be toxic to our kidneys, neurological system and respiratory system. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Tip for parents: Once a week, de-gunk your bath toys in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts hot water solution. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Tons of tips in book that I am not putting here. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>DISHONEST INGREDIENT: TOLUENE</i></b></div>
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<b><i>FOUND IN: HAIR DYES, ANTI-AGING CREAMS</i></b></div>
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<b><i>WHY IS IT SKETCHY? Can cause cancer and screw up your immune system and reproductive health. Also associated with developmental problems when little kids are exposed. All around bad news. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>DISHONEST INGREDIENT: FORMALDEHYDE</i></b></div>
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<b><i>FOUND IN: KITCHEN CABINETS, CARPETING, MATTRESSES</i></b></div>
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<b><i>WHY IS IT SKETCHY? Chronic, long-term exposure has been linked to cancer, plus in can trigger more immediate allergic reactions, rashes, asthma, nosebleeds and other respiratory issues.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Tip: Use No-VOC paint like Mythic Paint. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Tip: Look for cushions, mattresses and throw pillows, even nursing pillows and children's clothes made with polyester, down, wool or cotton which are all less likely to contain flame retardants that are harmful chemicals that interfere with healthy hormonal development and can lead to reproductive and developmental disorders. Try the Naturepedic brand.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Tip: Shop vintage.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Tip Take shoes off when entering your home (cuts lead dust tracked in by 60%)</i></b></div>
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<b>WHEN SWITCHING TO NONTOXIC CLEANING PRODUCTS, IT MAY TAKE YOU A WHILE TO GET USED TO NOT HAVING THAT PINE FOREST OR LEMON SMELL THAT HAS SIGNALED "CLEAN" FOR OH, YOUR WHOLE LIFE. BUT TRUST ME - ODORLESS (OR NATURALLY SCENTED) IS MUCH HEALTHIER! </b></div>
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<i>A breath of Fresh Air: Here's a nasty fact: According to the EPA, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air - and we spend 90 % of our lives indoors! Choosing natural, healthy materials for building supplies and furniture and swapping in safer cleaning products will go a long way. </i></div>
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<i>Tip: Encase your mattress and pillows in protective covers and wash all linens in hot water weekly to kill dust mites that can cause breathing issues. </i><br />
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<i>Hellotheretracy says: Before I encased my pillows and mattresses I actually had to use a breathing nebulizer machine regularly and suffered horribly for years from asthmatic bronchitis. Taking the carpet out of the bedroom and encaseing my bedding along with washing everything in hot water regularly set me free. I have had ZERO problems since and thus gave my expensive nebulizer away. </i></div>
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<i>Tip: Kill dust mites out of your children's stuffed animals by putting them in the freezer for 3 to 5 hours per week. </i></div>
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<img height="132" src="http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/ny/dust-mite-500-time.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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<i>Good to know: Mold can trigger asthma and allergies or in more concentrated doses dizziness and flu like symptoms. </i></div>
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<i>Other chapters in this very informative wonderful book cover Honest Beauty, Honest Style, Honest Home, Honest Baby, Honest Inspiration. </i></div>
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<i>If you would like to order this book for yourself, a loved one or a friend go to amazon.com and order it for less than $14. It is called "The Honest Life" by Jessica Alba. If you are interested in ordering healthy "honest" products for yourself or your children at a discounted rate go to www.honest.com and they will ship them right to your door!</i></div>
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<img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMBFHh7tPeKCG01qaJabI6CbjX2pPGlXKJos_N8xQcp9O37evh" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Honest-Life-Living-Naturally-True/dp/1609619110/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369194605&sr=1-1&keywords=the+honest+life">http://www.amazon.com/Honest-Life-Living-Naturally-True/dp/1609619110/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369194605&sr=1-1&keywords=the+honest+life</a></div>
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Hope this summary of the first 1/2 of the book was helpful to you in some small way. Even if you make just one change every few months, in a few years you will be living a healthier lifestyle for yourself and for your family. Thanks for reading this long but hopefully informative blog post.</div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-20745297500453597272013-05-20T08:32:00.002-07:002013-05-20T08:32:41.044-07:00More Fantastic Business Ideas that I will never get around to DOING...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Traveling this past weekend with my hubby I had lots more fantastic business ideas that I KNOW would make me rich but alas I have NO IDEA how to bring these ideas to market. So here I type them to be stolen by smarter indiviuals who can make a profit. If you ever want to get me a cut, feel free (we help homeless people) - maybe that will guilt you into it ;)<br />
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1. Toiletry Bags that are plastic see through. No more zip lock baggies, just have see through toiletry bags to use to breeze you through security lines at the airport. Have something you don't want EVERYONE seeing? Just pop that item in your bag side pocket. These would sell great in the travel toiletries section of drugstores.<br />
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2. Wooden or strong plastic belt buckles on belts. Why? Felt so bad for all of the businessmen holding their drooping fancy pants up alongside their female co-working traveling companions. Exp. if you have to go in the scanner that requires you to make a triangle over your head with your hands. Whooooops there it is! If traveling men or women for that matter could belt up with a buckle that was not metal, no more need to remove that belt and shuffle through security. From now on their pants and their pride could be sturdy on their hips. www.aliexpress.com sells these just found it after writing this and looking for a picture: Go figure.<br />
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3. Rolling backpack carry-ons. Okay, I know there are rolling backpacks (too small) and I know their are carry-ons (no hands free option). What if we could have the best of both worlds? Molded plastic would not work here as you would need a very light weight fabric and aluminum insides to be the lightest possible option. I love to have hands free when traveling to talk on the phone, or drink a water while walking. If I am pulling a bag, well less freedom than having it strapped to my back. And if I am tired of having it on my back it is a great option to be able to roll it in all directions and give it a spin for fun.<br />
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So, should have been an inventor or engineer. Instead I am a stay at home mom who is too ill to work and too uninformed to bring my many ideas to life that I have almost every week. I am doing my husband a favor by putting them here so he does not have to hear my ideas week after week after month after year. I will just post them here. If anyone makes a go of it, feel free to send me 1% of the profits and keep the rest for yourself. Your welcome. :)<br />
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ps: After writing this blog found some of these items on google pics and was happy to see they are out there, wish they were more available and there were more options.... maybe one day soon.....<br />
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-86587298818051681152013-04-26T00:28:00.001-07:002013-04-26T00:28:26.320-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #999999;">"I want you to rebel." </span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #999999;">"I want you to rebel</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #999999;"> against everything that is</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #999999;"> evil and wrong in this word."</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #999999;">"Rebel with all of your might </span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #999999;">and in doing so, change the world." </span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #999999;">~Quote by Tracy Galloway to her teens</span></span></h2>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-71037686055790778442013-04-14T20:13:00.001-07:002013-04-14T20:43:07.598-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So today has been a BIG day! Today is the day we celebrated my daughter Hailey Summer Galloway's Sweet Sixteen! She is a wonderfully beautiful young woman who has a heart after Jesus and we could not be more proud of her. We picked up this jazzy, fun outfit in a hip local thrift-store called Progress yesterday for her big day. Today Juan took her into New York City to see Spiderman on Broadway. We had won free tickets just in time for her birthday. Yay! Hailey is a big comic book fan and this was just the perfect surprise for her.</h4>
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I am in awe of how she is growing into a woman of God. It is such an adjustment for me to see her do everything for herself so perfectly. I find myself asking over an over again "can I help you with that" to which she always responds kindly "no mom, I've got it" and she does. She is becoming more and more of a person who can stand on her own two feet and I know I can trust her. I know that she prays...a lot, and reads her bible... a lot, and wants to be pleasing to Jesus in all that she does. (So thankful for that) She is teachable. She is helpful. She is responsible. She is caring. She is patient. She is humble. She is wise. She is smart. She is pretty. She is funny. She is joyful. She is full of peace. In fact I hoped one day she would thrive in the qualities of the scripture below when I wrote to her a letter almost a year and half ago. And now I have to say as I am just realizing this as I type this blog. She does. She is a Galatians 5:22 woman. </h4>
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Galatians 5:22 says:</h4>
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"<span class="text Gal-5-22" id="en-NIV-29185" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">But the fruit</span><span class="text Gal-5-22" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span>of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,</span></h4>
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<span class="text Gal-5-22" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> long suffering</span>, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,</span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Gal-5-23" id="en-NIV-29186" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>gentleness and self-control."</span></h4>
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<span class="text Gal-5-23" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>I see all of these things in our lovely Hailey blossoming like a flower in Spring and it is a thrill to behold. </b></span></div>
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<span class="text Gal-5-23" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Happy Sweet Sixteen Hay Hay, we LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!</b></span><br />
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-44398069563802597592013-03-16T23:19:00.003-07:002013-03-16T23:20:19.541-07:00Connor is Growing Up...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Connor's Elementry school has a tradition of doing a photo collage of each 5th grader in the yearbook before they graduate to Junior High. Here are the photos I sent in for Connor along with these questions they wanted answered.</div>
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1. Favorite Brookside Memory:</div>
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- When I beat a janitor at a water bottle drinking contest and everyone cheered for me. </div>
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2. Favorite Things to do:</div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma;">- To play football or any other sports</span></div>
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3. Someday I would like to be:</div>
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- A person that never gives up</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKupsLBeq3yBIIMhJ_7I2kU6SBIgCFKIFYButDk18iDY04jhduYD_bnuUq08002L7hl-YmEEeQeERtLwkIASYdvsNx-cLdttoEl0LlbAAH5izS81nS61LtO4EtM0T9W47fTaPkTSD8lsI/s1600/connorfootball.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKupsLBeq3yBIIMhJ_7I2kU6SBIgCFKIFYButDk18iDY04jhduYD_bnuUq08002L7hl-YmEEeQeERtLwkIASYdvsNx-cLdttoEl0LlbAAH5izS81nS61LtO4EtM0T9W47fTaPkTSD8lsI/s320/connorfootball.jpeg" width="243" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8CigMnfi5ox6xwA-WorUVMlE5bdtJl6MOlD6RMBfDvnnZgrF1wPV7gmyMjG6bCpnMrjH2uIlQTpDFw2O7oVm6K1ibvrNLQkGDLL0PJ6FFyXAWdQfZZqWvEIJngi1IFWXZBKJom8Nh90/s1600/connortaekwondo1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8CigMnfi5ox6xwA-WorUVMlE5bdtJl6MOlD6RMBfDvnnZgrF1wPV7gmyMjG6bCpnMrjH2uIlQTpDFw2O7oVm6K1ibvrNLQkGDLL0PJ6FFyXAWdQfZZqWvEIJngi1IFWXZBKJom8Nh90/s320/connortaekwondo1.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_p_7O-vZfPwbi-yGpkx1Nlxgg7fmBxm5B3xesNWwJ2gunUK9wz-2X8G0cDcCCyhZPF8TeAQQ_BmRbbxml7gp3sIlOH5v6XhQ4TiZrUKE6hcM5THszfEVtRoxeIqTie2uSJHIuhokn3g/s1600/connorandfamily.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_p_7O-vZfPwbi-yGpkx1Nlxgg7fmBxm5B3xesNWwJ2gunUK9wz-2X8G0cDcCCyhZPF8TeAQQ_BmRbbxml7gp3sIlOH5v6XhQ4TiZrUKE6hcM5THszfEVtRoxeIqTie2uSJHIuhokn3g/s320/connorandfamily.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do you know what he is telling me in this picture? "Mom, my costume is broken, I can't fly."</div>
hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-62756527642657780352013-03-03T12:19:00.000-08:002013-03-03T12:19:07.462-08:00Something Different <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT </h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFM18HOlGh6pHEvtypGyYdLIYgzvan7LwpdixAoBklWN1wwcg7uzFdP5hdjmJpeu2XOTztY37fP_TRL7Yg43MLNLYHtE7HTFr4YBDaQSv6ITfI8NKYy7DJ39f6i2N5XejYAi3-YegGcg/s1600/hanover2012tracyatgreatgreatgreatgrandaddysstoreinwilmington4thandcastlestreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFM18HOlGh6pHEvtypGyYdLIYgzvan7LwpdixAoBklWN1wwcg7uzFdP5hdjmJpeu2XOTztY37fP_TRL7Yg43MLNLYHtE7HTFr4YBDaQSv6ITfI8NKYy7DJ39f6i2N5XejYAi3-YegGcg/s320/hanover2012tracyatgreatgreatgreatgrandaddysstoreinwilmington4thandcastlestreet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We are doing something different as a family this month, we are doing the 40 DAY BIBLE CHALLENGE. That is reading through the entire new testament in 40 days. Click on the link below to see what convinced</span><span style="text-align: left;"> us to do such a crazy thing with our 17, 12 and 11 year old kiddos.</span></h4>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeMg9uboWC0" target="_blank">40 Day Bible Challenge Short Creative Video</a></h4>
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The way we are making it work is we are meeting in the living room every night at 8:30 and reading the 8 or so chapters of the bible independently and then talking about what we read after. It has been an awesome family time and a huge accomplishment for the kids. After we are done, they will get to have ice cream with 40 toppings at church as this is a church wide event at www.liquidchurch.com </h4>
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Have you ever read through the entire New Testament straight through? If not, check out the link above and see if this is something YOU would be interested in doing one day for yourself or for your family. Jesus turns out to be way more wild and controversial than you could imagine. It seems like on almost every other page he is casting out a demon, healing a sick person, or yelling at the religious people. Exciting!</h4>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-68984377609701873112013-02-23T19:54:00.000-08:002013-02-23T19:54:10.172-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Got this letter from Corban's 7th Grade English teacher. So very proud of him!</div>
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Hi Tracy,</div>
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I hope all is well with you and your family. It is so nice to have Corban in my Language Arts class. I wanted to send you an email to apprise you of his performance in my class.</div>
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As you probably know, the students recently gave persuasive speeches. Corban delivered an extremely persuasive speech about vaccinations. He earned an "A" (95) for his efforts. After all of the speeches, I asked the students to complete a survey about their favorite speeches, topics, etc. You'll be pleased to know that 16 out of 20 students said that Corban's was their favorite speech. He was commended for his persuasive tone, effective body language, convincing reasons, and use of his visual aid. I, too, was very impressed by his speech. Please share this wonderful news with him.</div>
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I guess those public speaking genes are continuing to flow down through the generations! </div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-35085886539574370002012-11-26T10:08:00.000-08:002013-04-26T00:50:29.315-07:00River's College Application Essay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>She answers these two questions below so beautifully I had to share it...</i></h4>
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<i>1.Write a brief narrative that shows how your Christian Faith has sustained you in a difficult time in your life or has developed you as an individual and the person you are today</i></h4>
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<i><b>My eyes are the color of dark earth dug from deep under the ground, where it’s moist and warm. This is the well of my soul, where I hide away the things I have seen, and they become a part of me. Here stands the wild mountain I blazed mazes through as a young child. Here live childhood friends from the streets, with their oily braided hair and black eyes shining in the warehouse light as we played tag. That was a hard concrete floor to fall on. Here grows the elder pine tree towering above my new suburban school. I would climb it’s shivering sleeves and watch life continue on oblivious to the suffering of smellier people I had met. I would cry up there sometimes. My eyes would leak the tears of those they carried. These only line the edge of my iris.</b></i></div>
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<i>Further in, I bury the faces of the orphans I met on the clay-dirt and rocks of Ethiopia. They taught me not to whine, and how to be brave. Fikadu, the 7-year old shepard boy, Embaba, the 5-year old HIV positive baby found abandoned in the street, Birhan, the 7-year-old little Einstein who knew her times tables better than I, and Senai, the 8-year old leader of the pack who was attacked by an escaping guard dog and later ran away to find his grandfather. They taught me the importance of learning as they begged me to teach them. Beside them, stands mi amigita (my little friend) from Tijuana, Mexico. She pulls my hand down a staircase made of old tires, into her house: a room with a bed, a shelf, and a sink. She pulled me in to pray for her mother. She taught me how to pray for the sick. Behind her sits Manuel- peeking his lazy eye into the Salvadorian kitchen-shack as we cooked “arroz con leche”. I wrapped my arm around his little bloated belly as I slowly fed him. He taught me how to love.</i></h4>
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<i><br />And beneath it all, there lies the source of the this well. His name is Love. His name is The Way. His name is The Truth. His name is The Life. When you look into my eyes there is a deep and strong love that blows you down and apart. It is not my love, but the love of Him who first loved me enough to teach me through children about the Kingdom of God. He has taught me well. I have much yet to learn, though, and so I keep my eyes wide open. My eyes are on you, Lord.</i></h4>
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<i><br />My visit to NU last year was quite the eyefull. The beauty of God adorned each moment, as the trees were strewn with moss. Heaven and earth sang His praise as inch by inch the sun’s light rose over the land. In the same way, so did each student and teacher rise each day. They rose to excellence in scintillating beauty that far outshone the light on the waters as I sat in the fading light with them over a plate of dumplings outside Pecota. Every crumb of their lives was worship to God. We ate of His goodness and blessings together, sharing all He had provided. Each person I met had their story with the Lord. Some were told early in the morning mist from a window seat in the Caf. Others were lived out as Crowder residents stopped at the bathroom sink to encourage one another to never lose hope. Everywhere I went students lavished brotherly and sisterly affection on one another, strengthening each other to press on, to study hard, and to live life to the full. I was honored to spend time with such dedicated students.<br />I was equally as honored to dip my cup in a variety of Bible classes. They were bowls of fruit punch to the eye, and just as sweetly mysterious to the taste. There were no rigid recipes to follow, only everything and anything to be found in the kitchen poured into the mix. Those I attended were stirred with passion as revelation was passed around and shared.<br />Unfortunately, the nursing majors’ finals prevented me from sitting in on a class. However, I did get to peek in the window as some students made up missed practicals. I felt right at home as I saw the dummies strewn about the room. I got a very similar sense of the same professionalism that drew me to my health-science-focused High school. The environment was steeped in dedication. I easily envisioned myself mastering nursing here.The image sent shivers down to my toes.<br /> I might only parallel it to my great joy when I discovered the prayer closets hidden around campus. No longer will I have to hide in the bathroom or a staircase to escape and pray between classes. I could not have imagined such intimate integration of worship and prayer into every aspect of NorthWest. The chapel, of course is a wonderful place to worship. There are also so many convenient getaways to be with the Lord, such as the nearby international house of prayer, and even a quiet spot overlooking lake Washington, where the sun reflects off the waters. I see NU as a good place to sit and reflect the Son. It is a good place to absorb all I can before bouncing off into the distance like a ray of light.</i></h4>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894384295255608472.post-53952077064965827282012-11-14T08:29:00.000-08:002013-04-26T00:58:21.514-07:00River - a dream come true. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151138699401275" target="_blank">River Leading Sunday Morning Worship at Cranford Alliance Church NJ</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151138706221275" target="_blank">One more song of River leading worship same service</a></div>
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<i style="text-align: left;">I remember when I was pregnant with River 17 years ago. I remember when we decided to name her River even when I was only a few months pregnant. Everyone thought we were crazy. We had lots of naysayers and "she will hate you if you name her that" - but we knew. We knew without a shadow of a doubt that River would be her name. Now I liked the middle name Jordon and Juan liked the middle name Rebecca and of course I bent to Juan's will as I did with all the children's names and Rebecca it was which I loved anyways. River Rebecca Galloway. Before she was born I dreamed about what she would be like. I had an idea in my mind. It was actually from an old silly camp movie I saw once. One of the camp councilors had long kinda curly hair. Wore sort of natural hippy necklace and had a deep soul. Beautiful and sweet but deep. For some reason I pictured River may be a bit like this one day as I placed my hand on my stomach and prayed for her. </i></div>
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<i>This past Sunday River was asked by our friend who pastor's Cranford Alliance Church to lead worship for the Sunday morning service. I had a cough in the morning and Juan told me to stay home and rest but my first reaction was the words I would have to be a cold dead body on the floor to miss this. When I arrived at the church where she had been practicing she was filled with grace, poise and confidence. I asked her "are you nervous?" She threw her head back and laughed "No Mama!" It brought me back to the many times people have asked me if I was nervous before I preached. I always said "No Way, I can't wait!" She had that same excitement and confidence that comes from the Lord when moving in the sweet spot of your gifting or calling. Of course it was beyond amazing. Unique in style and filled with the Holy Spirits power and love. The way she gave our her stylized vocals, the way she was playing, the way she was prophetic in her singing and also leading the congregation into the presence of God while demonstrating the love of Jesus with her words and tone. I had tears in my eyes.</i><i><br /></i></h4>
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<i>I am so proud of the woman that River has become. </i></div>
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<i>Here are links for you to watch River:</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151138699401275" target="_blank">River Leading Sunday Morning Worship at Cranford Alliance Church NJ</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151138706221275" target="_blank">One more song of River leading worship same service</a></div>
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hellotheretracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087201819073012072noreply@blogger.com1