Sunday, 30 June 2019
Galatians.
Today in church we had the Lectionary reading from Galatians 5.
This letter of St. Paul includes the notorious list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God.
This list was quoted almost word for word by Israel Folau when he said that gay people were bound for hell.
But Paul's list does not include homosexuals.
So where does that leave us?
We would do well to remember that Paul was not the Messiah.
Jesus was the Messiah and you will not find such statements in the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus taught unconditional love that was inclusive of those marginalized by the religious authorities.
He did not judge people for the sexuality.
And he did not exclude people from Heaven.
The disciples constantly misinterpreted what Jesus was saying.
The second reading today from Luke sees Jesus rebuking his disciples for threatening to destroy the Samaritans.
So it is clear that Jesus is not in the business of threatening people with hell-fire.
Jesus' teaching is all love.
And this reflects the nature of the Father.
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Saturday, 29 June 2019
Non-Violence.
Some passages in the Bible may suggest that God acts violently towards evil and disobedience.
But I believe that God is non-violent.
Where there is a conflict the words of Jesus always take precedence.
And Jesus said: "'You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;" Matthew 5:38,39 (NRSV)
Also The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat (Matthew 13:24-30), where Jesus tells his disciples not to weed out evildoers because in doing so they would uproot the good also, suggests that violent methods are not recommenced.
Also the principle of Ahimsa - harmlessness or non-violence - is an integral part of Eastern religions.
Why would God tell us to be non-violent if He was violent Himself?
God transcends all human concepts of violence and force.
He has ways of dealing with evil that we do not understand.
So cry out to God!
And pray for those who attack you.
God may find the fear that motivates them.
And change them forever.
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
Photo Credit: Pinterest.
Friday, 28 June 2019
The Last Vestiges of Homophobia.
What is behind the statements of conservative Christians about homosexuals (and others)?
Fear!
The rigid Legalism displayed by Israel Folau and his supporters is disguised homophobia.
The violent reaction of sportsmen in the NRL and AFL is fear of homosexuals.
Men have always been afraid that the boys will call the poofters if they associate with or support gay people.
But the AIDS crisis made this ten times worse.
AIDS is no longer a death threat - doctors can stop the HIV virus developing into AIDS and there is a pill to protect you against HIV.
So disease and death are no longer excuses to persecute homosexuals.
But the fear of hell that persists in some Christian Churches still fuels homophobia.
Israel Folau claims that his actions are motivated by love.
But it is fear that motivates him.
I pray that God will show him that His Love does not discriminate.
God loves gay people as they are.
The passages in the Bible which appear to condemn homosexuality have been dealt with extensively.
Suffice to say you will not find them in the teachings of Jesus.
So the last vestiges of homophobia in sports and in the Churches will be overcome by the Love of God.
They will see that homosexuality is love.
And they will be free!
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Wednesday, 26 June 2019
Gay Christian.
I am gay.
And I am Christian.
And I know that Israel Folau is wrong.
As a gay man I have experienced that liberating Love of God.
And I know that God does not discriminate.
He loves me as I am:
A sexually active gay man.
As for Israel Folau and other so called Christians who pass off their prejudice as moral superiority all I can say is that they are misguided.
Their hateful statements are an insult to Jesus who refused to condemn people and included the marginalized in his ministry.
God loves gay people.
And we will go to Heaven when we die.
Nothing Israel Folau can say will change that.
Photo Credit: Michael E. East.
Tuesday, 25 June 2019
The Way.
God has sent us new revelations in the form of Progressive Christianity.
And although this involves a new way of thinking about God, scripture, and theology it is not about converting other people to our way of thinking.
This is the classic mistake of conversion.
And conversion gives power to the converter.
But this is not the purpose of enlightenment.
The Buddha said: "The way is not in the sky; the way is in the heart."
So the purpose of these new revelations is not to export ideas to others but to open people's hearts.
Then, instead of scoring points for conversions, we will be meeting the needs of those who come to us.
Instead of thinking of ourselves we will be thinking of others.
Instead of taking we will be giving.
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Monday, 24 June 2019
Damage.
It is no use pretending to be Progressive and then turning it back into Orthodoxy.
It is no use stealing the answer and pretending that the Church has never done anything wrong.
It is no use clinging to the old theology.
Original Sin, Penal Substitution, Mortification of the Body, penance, suffering, sin, debt, celibacy, fear, purgatory, hell.....
All these things have damaged humanity.
And that's quite apart from The Crusades and The Inquisition.
The Church has a lot to answer for.
There will be no revival until they do.
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Sunday, 23 June 2019
Dualism.
Because I write about Christianity and Satanism you may think that I believe in Dualism.
But the only reason that I use dualistic formulae like: life and death, good and evil, light and darkness, day and night etc. is to counteract the negative suggestions put out by Satanists in our popular culture.
These negatives have been created by reversing positive Christian concepts.
This is born of a belief in Dualism.
i.e. That the positives of God: life, good, light etc. must have negative counterparts.
But this is not necessarily true.
Personally I believe that God is One.
And all things are interrelated aspects of God.
There is no devil, no dark powers.
Even darkness is an optical illusion caused by the limitations of our human eyes.
"even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you." Psalm 139:12 (NRSV)
There is radiation beyond our human eyesight which other beings can see.
God is One:
Life without death, good without evil, light without darkness, day without night, love without hatred.....
We are surrounded by the Love of God.
"'"In him we live and move and have our being."'" Acts 17:28 (NRSV)
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
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(The image has been slightly modified.)
Saturday, 22 June 2019
Christian Socialism.
Once we have seen the diabolical nature of rock music and much of our popular culture we emerge into a minefield of competing interests.
The major players in this arena are Fundamentalism and Orthodoxy.
They are strongest and most aggressive.
They will try to force you to accept their authority over you and you will lose your freedom and your psychological independence.
But these are false prophets.
They represent the conservative establishment which is the modern version of the Pharisees.
And it is no coincidence that their allies are the corporate plutocrats because as the dominant power in the world they are the modern version of the Romans.
But there is an alternative.
Progressive Christianity is a modern, intelligent, liberal religion that does not expect you to check out your intellect or your politics at the door.
It is a form of Christian Socialism.
Now any mention of Liberalism or Socialism will encounter screams of Satan from the Fundamentalists.
This is because they associate any left-wing political philosophy with the devil.
And this is because they associate left-wing politics with godless Communism which is the devil himself to many American Christians.
But this is Mammon - the worship of money - not the worship of God.
John the Baptist and the early Christians practised a form of Socialism that is seldom mentioned in church.
Mary's Magnificat lauds the downfall of the mighty and the uplifting of the humble poor.
This echoes the Old Testament prophets who constantly advocated for the poor, the destitute, and the alien.
This is God's true manifesto.
So don't be fooled or forced into accepting conservative control.
Progressive Christianity is a form of Christian Socialism.
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Thursday, 20 June 2019
A Different Place.
At a Progressive Christian forum when the assembled people were asked if they supported gay marriage 100% were in favor.
And when asked about damnation and hell 100% were opposed.
This is extremely promising.
Because, outside of the Uniting Church, all denominations are opposed to gay marriage and they still preach damnation and hell.
But there is a grassroots movement within the mainstream Churches to embrace progressive ideas.
The hierarchies, however, are digging in and delaying change.
This is why the Christian Churches will continue to decline until the last hope of survival is gone before those in authority will act.
Then they may adopt more progressive theology.
So, if the future of the Church is in Progressive Christianity, the world will be a different place.
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Wednesday, 19 June 2019
Asceticism.
It is clear that St. Paul retained some of the Asceticism that he learned in the strict sect of Pharisees in which he was trained.
Asceticism in the ancient world taught that abstinence from sex was necessary for spiritual development.
And this influence can be seen in Paul's writings.
But Jesus said, "'For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, "He has a demon"; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" Luke 7:33,34 (NRSV)
This indicates that John the Baptist was an Ascetic.
But Jesus himself is definite in his statement that he is not.
This is consistent with the scriptural assertion that the Way of Love which Jesus taught is greater than the Way of Asceticism or Self-Denial.
John the Baptist himself says, "'I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.'" John 1:27 (NRSV)
This inferior way survives as the Christian tradition of mortification of the body.
But this practice derives from the writings of St. Paul not the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus way is the Way of Love.
He did not practise or recommend Asceticism.
So Paul's writings about the body and sex, including his condemnation of homosexuality, can be ignored because they are not consistent with the Way of Love.
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
Photo Credit: Dioknox.
Tuesday, 18 June 2019
Progressive Christianity.
Join my new facebook group: Progressive Christianity for daily posts on Progressive Christianity, Gay Rights, Poetry, and Social Issues at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/461671534607561/
Invested.
It is clear that those older people who have remained in the Church have invested their lives in good works.
The Way of Good Works which leads to Heaven and avoids hell was the standard teaching of the Church.
So it is no surprise that they have internalized it.
But the new teachings of Progressive Christianity maintain that the Way of Love is greater than the Way of Good Works.
And this is confirmed by scripture.
But the older generation are so firmly entrenched in the Way of Good Works that they may try to tell you otherwise.
Their fear of hell is too strong.
It is not for me to deny them their place in Heaven.
But I will not be diverted from the Way of Love.
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Monday, 17 June 2019
Heartless Threats.
Despite what some in the Church may tell you gay men and lesbians will not go to hell.
Bigotry and prejudice thinly disguised as moral superiority is no longer credible.
As for extremists making statements on behalf of Christians they don't have the authority or the right to spread hate in the name of Jesus Christ.
And if we criticize their statements on homosexuals we are not persecuting them.
It is our right to oppose their views and inform the public that there are other Christians who accept and affirm gay people.
So don't take their heartless threats to heart.
Gay men and women will go to Heaven.
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(The image has been slightly modified.)
Sunday, 16 June 2019
Viceland.
The latest Satanic curse is Viceland.
This is designed to corrupt you.
And it is no coincidence that it contains Satanic rock shows and cartoons.
These are vehicles for Satanism in our world.
If you watch it you are being poisoned and cursed.
Turn it off.
And turn to the goodness of God.
Photo Credit: Vimeo.
Saturday, 15 June 2019
Unexpected Evil.
We are benevolent and trusting.
And we expect others to be so as well.
But some may not be as good as we expect.
For example we trust rock stars and sportsmen.
But I believe that many rock stars and sports men and women have sold their souls for fame and fortune and do the devil's work in the world.
This is unexpected evil.
And it has spread through our media and now forms a web of evil throughout the world.
It plays constantly in discos.
And it saturates our entertainment.
They call us suckers and laugh at our naivety.
So be more discriminating in your listening and viewing.
We are surrounded by hidden evil.
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Friday, 14 June 2019
Fear.
Fear makes people do strange things.
Fear makes people attack (fight).
Fear makes people flee (flight).
Fear makes people use violence and force (war).
Fear makes people hate.
Fear makes us hard and cold.
Fear make us anxious and irritable.
Fear inspires avarice.
Fear engenders jealousy.
Fear triggers anger and revenge.
We learn fear as children.
And we bring it to our adult lives.
Until we find love.
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Thursday, 13 June 2019
Love.
Love is the universal panacea.
Love makes us happy.
Love makes us warm and friendly.
Love makes peace.
Love inspires sacrifice.
Love engenders respect.
Love shows mercy.
Love leads us to the other.
Love helps.
Love cares.
Love banishes fear.
And the more love we give away the more love there is to give.
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Wednesday, 12 June 2019
Fountain of Love.
"'Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'" Matthew 11:28 (NRSV)
The Church should be a fountain of love where all the thirsty and the broken-hearted come to drink.
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright ©1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
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Tuesday, 11 June 2019
All the Wrong Things.
We have been told all the wrong things about God.
The Church told us God is our judge, He punishes sin, He tortured and killed Jesus, He hates sex, He is homophobic and misogynistic, and He will punish some with eternal torment in hell.
But none of these things is true.
The world does not know God.
And unfortunately this includes His priests and ministers.
The punitive God described above has more to do with the dominance of the ruling elite than it has to do with God.
God punishes no one.
He loves us like a Father.
He is merciful, forgiving, and compassionate.
He knows and understands us.
And His Love is everlasting.
So go into your room and close the door.
Pray to God with all your heart.
He will answer you.
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(The image has been slightly modified.)
Monday, 10 June 2019
Fear.
What is it that makes people corrupt themselves and conspire with evil?
Contrary to the popular belief that it is greed and lust for power I believe it is fear.
Fear that if they act honestly they will lose out.
Fear that without cheating they will fail.
Fear that good won't succeed.
Fear that truthfulness is foolishness.
Fear of failure.
Fear of poverty.
And it is no coincidence that the generation which designed this disaster is the generation who were born during the Great Depression.
The unconscious fear created in small children during the Depression is the cause of their cynical corruption.
And their allies in Generation X have inherited this economic fear and added a fascination with evil.
They dance with the devil and they side with Satan.
All fed by rock music and reality T.V..
But the darkness has reached its limit.
The pendulum has begun to swing back.
The older generation is dying.
And the younger generation - the Millennials - is good.
Their activism is waking up the Baby-Boomers.
And their politics is left-wing.
But our enemy is not other generations.
Our enemy is fear.
The only way to defeat evil is to address the fear that created it.
Once that fear is gone evil simply disappears.
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Sunday, 9 June 2019
Faust.
The business people and plutocrats who have conspired with Satanists in our popular media have effectively sold their souls.
Because if you try to use evil for your own benefit you will find that it is evil which is using you.
And this is exactly what has happened.
The right-wing social designers and their partners in the conservative political parties have conceived a plot to enslave us all and create a two-tier society with themselves at the top.
This is why we are now seeing huge disparity between the mega-rich and their overworked employees.
And even greater disparity between rich and poor countries in our world.
Third World countries are exploited to bring cheap goods to the First World.
And the corporations reap the profits.
But it is their flirting with Satanism in music and entertainment which has corrupted them the most.
Backwards letters; upside-down words and images; dark, menacing entertainment; supernatural evil.....
All these things derive from modern Satanism.
They will try to addict you in order to get money out of you.
They will curse and corrupt you.
They will tempt you and damn you.
All in the name of evil.
"And the devil claimed his soul."*
(*The final words of Faust.)
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Saturday, 8 June 2019
Satanism.
You will never understand what is happening in our world until you see the Satanism which has infected rock music, popular entertainment, and sports.
Deliberate evil sabotages our spirituality, our hopes, and our aspirations.
It infects us with a death-wish.
And it tries to kill us.
If not physically then spiritually.
It breaks our hearts.
It corrupts the powerful.
And it victimizes the vulnerable.
Turn it off.
It is Anti-Christian.
And it worships the Beast.
It is poison.
It curses your soul.
And it attacks your mind.
So be wary of any songs or movies which embrace: the dark side, violence, murder, evil, or death.
It is the work of Satanism.
And we can do without it.
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Friday, 7 June 2019
The Enemy.
Our enemy is not a person or an organization.
Our enemy is not any being - supernatural or otherwise.
Our enemy is fear.
God's Love takes away our fear.
Our fear of each other, even our fear of ourselves.
Love God and love your neighbor.
Love even your enemies.
Then there will be one world and one family of God.
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(The image has been slightly modified.)
Thursday, 6 June 2019
Emotionalism.
Emotionalism is not Spirituality.
Although Spirituality may elicit an emotional response Emotionalism is not the same as Spirituality.
Many modern Churches use Emotionalism in their worship using music and emotive language to manipulate their participants.
But this is not Spirituality.
Spirituality is calm, peaceful, and joyful.
Real spiritual experiences leave you tranquil and positive.
Many people confuse love and emotion.
But love is not an emotion.
Love is a unique experience that is neither mental nor emotional.
Love is something that we feel in our hearts.
And Spiritual experience is all about love.
So don't be fooled by preachers who prey on your emotions.
The chances are they are not the real deal.
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Wednesday, 5 June 2019
A Community Dinner.
Something that could be done to counteract racism in our society is a community dinner.
Families from each of the ethnic groups in our society - Chinese, Indian, Arabic, Israeli, Italian, Greek etc. - could be invited to join us in a communal dinner.
Australians could help to warm the hearts of those who feel left out in the cold.
This is true multiculturalism.
If we can find a place for each of them in our hearts we may be able to make for them a true home.
Photo Credit: ace4education.
Tuesday, 4 June 2019
Sex.
While sex is O.K. - not bad or banned.
Sex is not the answer.
Sex alone creates emptiness and misery.
The answer is love.
And all sex is looking for love.
But we must cultivate a healthy attitude to the exigencies of sex.
Sex is natural.
It is a natural part of God's good creation.
And as such we should not feel ashamed or afraid.
And this also applies to homosexuality.
Sex creates intimacy and tenderness.
It is not merely for procreation.
The urge for union with another is perhaps our strongest urge.
But it is vanity without human love.
Photo Credit: Bodybuilders.
Monday, 3 June 2019
Good News.
Many Old Testament prophets claimed that war was the result of "doing evil in the sight of the Lord" which usually took the form of worshipping foreign gods.
Therefore, they claimed, God raised armies against Israel.
And they put words into the mouth of God to fulfil their theory of vengeance.
But there is no evidence that God acts in this way.
"Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them." Job 21:7-9 (NRSV)
God does not punish the wicked.
Because God punishes no one.
The theory that suffering in life is punishment from God (or Karma) is bankrupt.
It doesn't happen.
Because God punishes no one.
He is our loving Father.
And He does not punish His children.
Instead He tries to help us.
This is why Jesus says to love your enemies and pray for those who abuse you.
God will write off their debts and let them start again.
And he who is forgiven the greater debt will love Him the more.
This is Good News.
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
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Sunday, 2 June 2019
Seeing God.
"No one has ever seen God." John 1:18a (NRSV)
"In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." Ezekiel 1:1 (NRSV)
"As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne; his clothes were white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool." Daniel 7:9 (NRSV)
These are just two examples of people who have seen God.
But "It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known." John 1:18b (NRSV)
And "'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.'" 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NRSV) (Paraphrasing Isaiah 64:4)
And "'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.'" Matthew 5:8 (NRSV)
What could this mean?
Jesus said that the world did not know God.
Could it be that God reveals Himself to those who are pure in heart - like Jesus - those who love Him?
When I was about three years old I saw a vision of God:
He was white as snow and clothed in light.
A mature man with long white hair and beard and sitting on a throne - like the Ancient of Days.
And there was no fear - as if fear had never been conceived.
And He was speaking to me.
But I did not understand the language He was speaking.
It was all breath - the Breath of Life.
Later I discovered that one of the Jewish names for God is all aspirates - Hs - Like the Breath.
And so I am blessed.
But this is not a boast.
It is merely a statement of fact.
Perhaps God has chosen me to reveal His true nature to humanity.
And this nature is pure Love.
There is no wrath, no judgement, no vengeance in God.
He loves us like a Father.
And He loves us like our mother.
"Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God, he has seen the Father." John 6:46 (NRSV)
And when I thought "Perhaps God punishes no one" a voice said: "Someone has seen me."
No one means no one.
And that includes evildoers and apostates.
The only reason that words of vengeance and violence appear in the Bible is because those who wrote them were filled with fear - they could not conceive of a God without vengeance.
But God reveals Himself to those who love.
And so the true path to God is the Shamma:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength."
"And love your neighbor as yourself."
These are the first and second commandments.
And Jesus' commandment is that we should love one another as he loved us.
Then you may see God.
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
Photo Credit: Thoughts on Books.
Saturday, 1 June 2019
Old and New.
Jesus said: "'Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.'" Matthew 13:52 (NRSV)
Jesus was saying that the new revelation revealed in him did not wipe out the old revelation of the prophets but that they were to take the best of both.
Jesus often referred to what we call the Old Testament.
For example when he was asked which was the greatest commandment he quoted Deuteronomy:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5 (NRSV)
And Leviticus:
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Leviticus 19:18 (NRSV)
But Jesus also said: "'Neither is new wine put into old wineskins, otherwise the skins burst, and the wine is spoiled, and the skins are destroyed, but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.'" Matthew 9:17 (NRSV)
And so it is with the new revelation of Aquarius.
Aquarius is co-ruled by Uranus (the new) and Saturn (the old).
So we can take from the new revelation what is good and from the old revelation what is good.
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
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