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I wish being close to 
God and far from sin was easier.  The closer I get to Him, the more temptation and difficulty seem to come.  Yet I know who I belong to, even if I fail, I know who to turn to.  I just need to consistently turn away from sin.  Lord please help me
- dr joe 
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Food for Thought...

I believe our nation is headed for very hard, even disastrous times.  I do not believe politics will fix our economy - it's too far gone - too much debt to ever pay back.  We depend completely on our fragile technological infrastructure for food, water, shelter, transportation, and entertainment.  Any number of events could cause a sudden  collapse of our system e.g., electric grid collapse from terrorism, natural event like solar flare, simple breakdown from lack of modernization, or Israel attacks Iran and the price of oil skyrockets, or China stops buying our treasury bonds.  I am feeling called to prepare for such disaster by working to be less dependent and more self-sufficient.  If you have interest in or questions about this line of thinking, please e-mail me by replying to this e-mail.  Below are some of my favorite links:



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   Proverbs 18:8   
8  The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts. 

  
It is as hard to refuse to listen to gossip as it is to turn down a delicious dessert. Taking just one morsel of either one creates a taste for more. You can resist rumors the same way a determined dieter resists candy-never even open the box. If you don't nibble on the first bite of gossip, you can't take the second and the third.
 
Verse and commentary above is copied from the Life Application Study Bible Reading Plan on YouVersion.  Check it out at: http://www.youversion.com/ .  

  Any Dr JOE comments will be in BLUE :0)  

 

                 John 8:31-47 

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

34 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[b]"

39 "Abraham is our father," they answered.

"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father."

"We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."

42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

     
 The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. quoted John 8:32 and 8:36.  He knew the Truth that only through Jesus can racism or any hatred be conquered.  Many so-called civil rights leaders today seem to be promoting division and hatred in order to get more power, status, and money for themselves.  All men and women are of equal value to Jesus and can be bound together by Him in that Christian Love that goes beyond understanding.  If you practice this kind of faith and the Love that comes with it, don't expect to be cheered for it.  The devil hates the Truth.  Look what happened to Martin Luther King, Jr.  Yet God used him in an amazing way.  I really don't want to be persecuted or even die for my faith, but if God deems it necessary, I know it will be worth it. 

  

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I might not know the answer but I'll try real hard to find it.