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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=4>Even
though six different people are named, that doesn't allow us to pinpoint the
exact date that John began his ministry. First of all, our standard time
reckoning of "year of the Lord" (A.D.) did not begin until 533 AD. Our year of
365+ days and 12 months was not standard in the first century. There were at
least four different calendars back then. Each reckoned the years differently.
We can't be sure how long "15 years" would have been.<?xml:namespace prefix = o
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><FONT
size=4> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
size=4>Secondly, we are not sure when Tiberius began his reign or when Luke
started counting the years. There were two or three years when Tiberius was
co-regency with Augustus starting in 11 or 12 AD. Augustus died in 14 AD. Did
the counting start in 11 or 12 or 14? Our best guess is that Luke refers to a
time around 28 AD.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><A
href="http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/luke3x1.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/luke3x1.htm</FONT></A></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>Brian Stoffregen</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>Both [Jesus and John] will end up dead, but their deaths – and even more,
Christ's resurrection – will shake the foundations of power these seven
represent and stand upon. Indeed, by the time Luke writes, all seven are dead, a
fact not lost on the community for whom Luke writes, while those who follow
Jesus persist, and even flourish.<BR><BR>In this way, Luke moves beyond locating
the story of John and Jesus in world history to actually locating – and
reinterpreting – the history of the world in light of the story of John and
Jesus. </FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><A
href="http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=12/6/2009&tab=4"><FONT
size=4>http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=12/6/2009&tab=4</FONT></A></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>David Lose, 2009</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>“Herod” here is Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. “Caiaphas” (v. 2),
Annas’ son, is now high priest but his father retains his prestige (and power).
</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><A
href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cadv2m.shtml"><FONT
size=4>http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cadv2m.shtml</FONT></A></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>Chris Haslam</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4><EM>Verse 2</EM>: “wilderness”: Various groups, including the Qumran
Community, expressed their unhappiness with the Jewish religious authorities by
moving out into the wild country around Jerusalem. Members of the Qumran
community applied Isaiah 40:3 (quoted in v. 4) to themselves, as they prepared
the Lord’s way by living in the desert and by separating themselves from
outsiders (1QS (Rule of the Community) 8:13-14). It is interesting that the
proportions of the ruins at Qumran are the same as those of the Temple; they saw
themselves as the true Judaism.</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4><A
href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cadv2l.shtml">http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cadv2l.shtml</A></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>Chris Haslam</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </DIV></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>What is an Advent perspective as drawn from this
text?</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4><A
href="http://www.ltsg.edu/special/greekprep/c-2advent2004.htm">http://www.ltsg.edu/special/greekprep/c-2advent2004.htm</A></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>Richard Carlson</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4>William R. Herzog provides an excellent illustration of the everyday,
small changes we can make that will lead to a life transformed: "We think of
repentance as a great, life-changing action, but <EM>metanoia </EM>can refer to
a small change as well, and if one projects a small change over a long-enough
time, then a small change can become a life-altering event. <EM>Metanoia</EM> is
something like the mid-course corrections that were part of the Apollo space
program. The space capsule would burn its rockets only a few seconds, but the
course change was immensely significant" (<EM>New Proclamation
2006</EM>). On the other hand, we can't focus solely on our own spiritual
health or even our own personal relationships. Clearly, God cares about the
way our world is organized, and each of us has a role in shaping it. For
example, in case we wonder how John's message long ago applies to us thousands
of years later, Richard Swanson describes what happens when the world gets
"turned right-side-up," when "the goods of creation will fall from the inverted
pockets of the hoarders and thieves and will rain down on the poor"
(<EM>Provoking the Gospel of Luke</EM>).</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
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style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
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style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
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size=4><A
href="http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/december-6-2009.html">http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/december-6-2009.html</A></FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
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style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P
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style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><o:p><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=4> Kate Huey </FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
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size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
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