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| Hey it's 2:31 AM and I'm semi-delirious so I decided to check my xanga subscriptions. Anyway, you know, back in the day, Kongzi used to have this thing which I believe was called Kong's Kwestion Korner (KKK) where people would ask him questions in the comments and he would answer them. Supposedly you could ask him anything and he would answer it. We quickly found that there were quite a few questions that he would not answer. You know, I loved Kong's Kwestion Korner in spite of this shortcoming. I would like to offer similar entertainment with a similar promise with likely similar reneges to my reading audience, if such a thing still exists.
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| Matt 13
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying:"A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears
the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
This is one of my favorite parables. Every time I read it, I can't help but think about that third type of ground with the thorns. Isn't it true that especially in developed countries, Christians (along with everyone else) are being entangled by exactly what Jesus said: "the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth"? What are we living for? So many Christians are very comfortable and lukewarm, seeking just to make it through life comfortably. How can we be the good soil that hears the word and understands it and thus produces a hundred, sixty, or thirty-fold crop? Do we even seek this? This takes God's work in our lives.
John 12
23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
To produce many seeds, we have to die to self as Christ did. This takes God's work in our lives.
I believe God works through those brothers and sisters he's placed in our lives. Let us spur each other on to not live as the vast majority lives outlife, in pursuit of wealth or self-fulfillment. So many have gone that route and have
found nothing but more worries of this life and that wealth is deceitful. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and trust that in him is all we need. I confess that behind these bold words is one in need of help to follow through. I need your encouragement as you need mine to resist our culture's strong pull and live a life that will have real significance. Let's pray for a clear mind free of entanglement and a bold spirit. We need this today more than ever in a world with so little hope.
As Bethany Dillon would say:
"Many have traveled this road before
I see their tracks in the dirt
But maybe I don’t agree
With where they are leading
...
Come with me, they'll call us revolutionaries."
Revolutionaries indeed.
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| I am a closet Bethany Dillon fan. She is a Christian music artist. You may have heard her sing such songs as "All I Need" or "Beautiful". I think her voice is crazy good and like her simple, heartfelt lyrics. Ok, some the songs are kinda girly, but I mean, I still recognize good stuff when I hear it. Anyway, so I have always held out some hope that one day I'd be walking along the street and I'd run into Bethany and we'd hit it off and you know, happily ever after and all that.
Well, today, Kyle, of my co-workers, mentioned that she liked Bethany Dillon, so I was immediately like, "yeah, me too!" and she was surprised since apparently guys don't like her stuff. I explained my little thing for her, and then decided to look her up on Wikipedia. Then I ran across this little stunner:
I was shocked  Who does this Shane Barnard character think he is?? How inconsiderate 
Kyle was kind and wanted to cheer me up so she sent me this pic:
Well all I can say is, they better make some darn good music.
P.S. No, I am not a stalker
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| Who wants to go? I can't believe I picked this weekend to go home 
Edit: Yes, I mean Rudy's is now open in Houston, and I would like to go this weekend but as I am going home, it will have to wait. No Kristin, I believe this is important enough to be considered a quality post.
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