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<BODY leftMargin=0 rightMargin=0 topMargin=0><SPAN><FONT size=4> Sermons
for Proper 23</FONT>
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<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><FONT size=4><SPAN><SPAN
class=686464115-09102012> </SPAN>Mark 10:17-31</SPAN><SPAN> -
<STRONG>"</STRONG></SPAN><STRONG>What Must I DO to Receive
Life?"</STRONG></FONT></P>
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face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><FONT size=4><SPAN><SPAN
class=686464115-09102012> </SPAN>Mark 10:17-31</SPAN><SPAN> <SPAN>-
<STRONG>"L4G - Live for God</STRONG></SPAN><STRONG>"</STRONG><SPAN> by Leonard
Sweet</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
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class=686464115-09102012><FONT color=#0000ff size=4
face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><FONT size=4><SPAN><SPAN
class=686464115-09102012> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>Mark 10<SPAN
class=686464115-09102012><FONT color=#0000ff
face=Arial> . </FONT></SPAN> the sermon title "</SPAN>What Must I DO
to Receive Life?<SPAN>"</SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>I heard about
an expert in diamonds who happened to be seated on an airplane beside a woman
with a huge diamond on her finger. Finally, the man introduced himself and said,
"I couldn't help but notice your beautiful diamond. I am an expert in precious
stones. Please tell me about that stone." She replied, "That is the famous
Klopman diamond, one of the largest in the world. But there is a strange curse
that comes with it." Now the man was really interested. He asked, "What is the
curse?" As he waited with bated breath, she replied, "It is Mr.
Klopman."</FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>Some of you
may wish to re-evaluate your diamonds on that basis. But seriously the true
curse of any kind of valuable possession is its capacity to steal our hearts and
souls. The rich young ruler is one of those unique characters from the Bible
that have come to represent greed. So unwilling was he to part with earthly
wealth that he sold his soul in order to keep his money. He wanted to be saved
but not at the expense of losing his possessions. The first thing that impresses
me when I read this story is that the rich young ruler was so near to the
Kingdom. He asked all the right questions. He understood the Law and he
understood Jesus' teaching. But in the end love of money kept him out. We see
him as a moral coward. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>But that
conclusion is too simple...</FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>The rest of
this sermon can be obtained by joining </FONT><A
title=blocked::http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001u15FGYs4lPP7C7ApEnbKfxEROCLh4SJUo76GIFWU3wi6VFOnrWNjoLEp_o1XOZZViNxIYdY2xCdMRQpn0SfnobyzMpeNIjwj2BFEOw5bRodyY_GasuENjJ2p96fr2vo2
href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001u15FGYs4lPP7C7ApEnbKfxEROCLh4SJUo76GIFWU3wi6VFOnrWNjoLEp_o1XOZZViNxIYdY2xCdMRQpn0SfnobyzMpeNIjwj2BFEOw5bRodyY_GasuENjJ2p96fr2vo2"
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<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4>_______________________</FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
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class=686464115-09102012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><FONT size=4><SPAN><SPAN
class=686464115-09102012> </SPAN>Mark 10 for the sermon titled
"</SPAN><SPAN>L4G - Live for God</SPAN><SPAN>"</SPAN><SPAN> by Leonard Sweet
</SPAN></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>The front of
local markets have been crammed full of candy for the past two weeks. [Get
someone to take pictures of your specific local markets.] Halloween "Trick or
Treat" might not be until the end of this month. But candy creators want us to
stock-up and stock-pile. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>As a kid it
was such a rush to come home after "making the rounds" of the trick-or-treat
neighborhood and ceremoniously dump out all that candy crammed into our paper
bag. Every piece would be inspected. Perhaps some cautious trades made with
siblings. Then each of us got our own bowl to keep our "cavity central" separate
from everyone else. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>Halloween
candy is consumed according to two very different philosophies. There are the
"hogs" and there are the "hoarders." </FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>The "hogs"
dive right into the bowl, scarf down all their favorites the first night, eat
until queasy, and then finish it up during lunchtime at school the next day.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>The "hoarders"
not only stretch out the life-span of their goodies until Thanksgiving. They
also allow themselves only one or two "favorites" per day, mixing in the less
desired goodies to fill out the daily ration.</FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>There are
obvious problems with both of these strategies. The "hogs" either get horrible
stomach aches, or suffer an out-of-control sugar rush that leads them to harass
little sister, drive the dog crazy, and get grounded by a frustrated parent.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>The "hoarder"
lords their "I still have candy" status over others for a month. But eventually
they end up with stale, rock-hard, break-your-teeth "goodies" that really are
not good (although they would never admit it). </FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>For both kids
and adults it is hard to know how to deal with "wealth," with "stuff" we have
that others may not...</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>The rest of
this sermon can be obtained by joining </FONT><A
title=blocked::http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001u15FGYs4lPP7C7ApEnbKfxEROCLh4SJUo76GIFWU3wi6VFOnrWNjoLEp_o1XOZZViNxIYdY2xCdMRQpn0SfnobyzMpeNIjwj2BFEOw5bRodyY_GasuENjJ2p96fr2vo2
href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001u15FGYs4lPP7C7ApEnbKfxEROCLh4SJUo76GIFWU3wi6VFOnrWNjoLEp_o1XOZZViNxIYdY2xCdMRQpn0SfnobyzMpeNIjwj2BFEOw5bRodyY_GasuENjJ2p96fr2vo2"
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size=4>http://www.sermons.com/signup</FONT></A><FONT size=4> </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4>________________________</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>The Freedom to
Sing </FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4><SPAN
class=686464115-09102012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4><SPAN
class=686464115-09102012> </SPAN>The French have a story about a
millionaire in his palace who spent his days counting his gold. Beside the
palace was a poor cobbler who spent his days singing as he repaired people's
shoes. The joyful singing irritated the rich man. One day he decided to give
some gold coins to the cobbler. At first the cobbler was overjoyed, and he took
the coins and hid them. But then he would be worried and go back to check if the
coins were still there. Then he would be worried in case someone had seen him,
and he would move the coins and hide them in another place. During all this, he
ceased to sing. Then one day he realized that he had ceased to sing because of
the gold coins. He took them back to the rich man and said, "take back your
coins and give me back my songs."</FONT></SPAN></P>
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size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>Gerry Pierse,
Detachment and Freedom</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4>________________________</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>Shot in the
Wallet</FONT><SPAN class=686464115-09102012><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><SPAN
class=686464115-09102012> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>The devil was
on the prowl one day out to get the Christian. When he saw the Christian he shot
one of his fiery darts and it struck the Christian in the chest. The Christian
had on the breastplate of righteousness so he wasn't harmed. The devil shot at
the Christian's head but that was protected by the helmet of salvation. The
devil figured everyone has an Achilles' heel, so he shot at the Christian's feet
that were shod with the gospel of peace so no harm was done. The Christian
smirked and turned around to walk away. The devil fired an arrow into the
Christian's wallet and killed him.</FONT><SPAN class=686464115-09102012><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><SPAN
class=686464115-09102012> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT size=4>Beth Quick,
Mission: Impossible</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN><FONT
size=4>___________________________</FONT><SPAN class=686464115-09102012><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
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