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<DIV><FONT size=4>The hard truth about us is that we do not fear, love, and
trust God above all else. In short, daily we renounce the Lord our God and
abandon the Christian faith. Daily we fail to die to ourselves and knowingly
commit apostasy. Following the suggestion of C.S. Lewis in <EM>Mere
</EM>Christianity, I call this functional atheism. When we exclude God from
whole portions and chapters of our lives, we abandon our God and function as
atheists in that area or that period of our lives.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-7/050324-4-e.html">http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-7/050324-4-e.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=4>Samuel Zumwalt, 2005</FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>...we run faster, do more, buy more and access more, and find
that there is less and less time for intimate meaningful relationships with
family, friends and God. Suicides and divorces are up, drug and alcohol abuse
still plague us. Studies and personal experience tells us we are increasingly
unhappy and unfulfilled. In many ways, the American dream is about personal
success. Yet, it is also about the pursuit of happiness, which we often forget
is not material, but spiritual. The Psalmist, referring to Israel's obsession
with material success wrote, "God gave them their request; but sent leanness
into their soul." [Psalm 106:15]. America's soul is lean. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/baxter_4222.htm">http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/baxter_4222.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Nathan D. Baxter, 1998</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>
<P align=left><FONT color=#000000>Here is a list of what the American Medical
Association says are the top killers in our society. You could probably guess
most of them. Heart disease, hypertension, and cancer are all on the list.
BUT... the worst disease of all was not listed. Do you know what this most
devastating disease of all is? It is a horrible disorder and every person on
earth is vulnerable to its consequences.</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT color=#000000>I trust I have your ear now. Here it is:The
most destructive disease on planet earth is lack of love!
</FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.lectionarysermons.com/giftlove.html">http://www.lectionarysermons.com/giftlove.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>John Jewell,<SPAN lang=en-us> 1998</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>
<P>I am the eldest of three very strong-willed boys. When I was growing up
we had all of the fights and arguments you can imagine of rambunctious boys.
Sometimes our disagreements would get so intense we would go to mother to have
our righteous indignation ratified. She would often say to us, "You boys go back
and resolve it, but remember you are brothers." "But Mom," we would reply, "he
took my ball; he said I was a liar." "Mom, he broke the rules." But all she
would say was, "You boys go back and resolve it and remember, you are brothers."
It was eventually clear that what was most important to Mother was that we
behave, in such a way that demonstrated our bond as brothers. This was even more
important to her than our resolution (which she also expected).</P>
<P>I think this is what God says to the church. "I know you have differences,
but you must struggle to resolve them as brothers and sisters. This is what I
expect of you because you are my children."</P>
<P>Jesus said it this way in the Gospel of John: "By this, everyone will know
you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" [John 13:35].</P>
<P><A
href="http://day1.org/910-what_a_christian_community_can_offer_a_polarized_society">http://day1.org/910-what_a_christian_community_can_offer_a_polarized_society</A></P></DIV>
<DIV>Nathan D. Baxter, 1996</DIV>
<DIV>- - - - - </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4>It is unfortunate (but true) that many in the church believe
that love is simply something you feel. There is the notion that love is simply
the warm feeling that one gets in church when something is said that moves you.
Or when a child is baptized and we feel touched. Such moments may be the seeds
of love, but it is not love until it gets beyond feeling and introspection to
some kind of doing, living commitment. He calls us to love one another as he
loved. That love was incarnational. It was love in action, in ministry, in life
style.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://day1.org/903-beyond_introspection">http://day1.org/903-beyond_introspection</A></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Hugh L. Eichelberger, 1996</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>...the men said that if it were not for the incredible bravery
of the sergeant they all would have been killed. He was always like a mother and
a father to us, they said.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.agreeley.com/hom01/may06.htm">http://www.agreeley.com/hom01/may06.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Andrew M. Greeley, 2001</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT
size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - -
-</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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