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For Emma (a cappella) - Bon Iver can't get enough.

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I am a firm believer in multi-skills. By that I mean you're headed in one direction, randomly God calls you in another, and later on you get an opportunity that required both of those seemingly random and separate skills. Our workforce is headed in that direction more and more these days. But what s test of faith to follow along even when its not in your 5- or 10-year plan.puts a whole new perspective on adventure.

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These are hilarious, true, and not derogatory like some people like to make commitment sound. #14 is my fave.

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Sia - Chandelier This one is for Bob, because I think you'd like it.

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Truth

http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/gop-candidate-stone-gay-people Have you heard about this GOP candidate from Oklahoma? He apparently said, via Facebook, that we should stone gay people to death, and cited the Old Testament. First, the opinions I share are based on my reasoning and understanding of the Scriptures. Second, if you’re going to post about a culturally hot topic, do your research. That being said, I haven’t read his post. Maybe he did do his research and maybe the interpretation of his post got out of hand. But I’m not writing to focus on him. Want to know what the Old Testament really says? Much of the Old Testament is about the beginning of the Israelites, God’s chosen people. There are stories and stories about how God loves them and leads them away from slavery and oppression into freedom and life. As God’s people they follow his laws. When they sin and break his laws, they put a wall between them and God, breaking his heart. Because of that distance God has consequences when they do not follow his laws, some of which are extreme. To atone for their sins they regularly offered sacrifices to the LORD. These sacrifices had to be made with pure animals, so the spilling of pure blood washed away their sins and made them right with God. This is just what the Bible says, no interpretation here. We’re all familiar with Easter, which marks the day Jesus rose from the grave. But do you know why He died in the first place? Jesus was God’s son, a sinless, pure man. His blood had to be shed for our sins so that we could be made right with God. By His sacrifice we can have an actual relationship with God, something that is new from the ways of the Old Testament. Because Jesus died in our place and rose again from the dead a new law was created, replacing the old law of the OT. “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.” – Romans 7:4-6 As Christians we believe this, and we yearn to have a right relationship with God. Because of this new law, there is no need for the old law. With no need for the old law, there is no need for traditional temples. We believe that when we have a relationship with God he lives with us, and as weird as it sounds, we are made a dwelling place for Him. “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” - Ephesians 2:12-22 So yes, the GOP candidate made a hasty and unwise comment about homosexuals. And yes, he should not have opened his mouth in the first place. The old law of stoning them was a) just for the Israelites and 2) has been abolished by Jesus’ blood and resurrection. Let’s move forward with this understanding and come to know more of why Jesus did that, why He would care so much about us to be so selfless. Happy Thursday, guys. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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(by Duane Bender)

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inspiration

well its been a while. Partly because I don't have anything glamourous to say, also because Pinterest meets my picture sharing needs. But there is something to say about being able to verbalize your brain, sharing something over 140 characters.

  so here's what we missed since my last posts on here:

  -caramels with burboun + other yummy flavors like earl grey & lavendar have become a favorite

  -we own a house now so I can cook more, I'm getting a green thumb, and my dog has moved into my "bestie" circle

  -I'm growing slightly tired of Insty because these days EVERYTHING is inspiring & beautiful to me so I can't choose what to share

  -learned at work this year that I am the only one looking out for my career; while the State has a great benefits program the lack of pay isn't enough to justify it; and, even if HR dots their i's and crosses their t's there's still grey areas and plenty of room for growth

      yeah that wouldn't all fit in a tweet

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✨My fantastic cousin @lauracarolinetaylor overly blessed me as my Secret Santa this year! Be jealous: she made these delicious treats as well // You are such a joy, beautiful lady! #bestfamily #homemade #giftsareourlovelanguage #noms

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Can you see the fox door knocker Tim surprised me when we got our house? #besthusband

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Happy Birthday to this stud, and my fave, @legalwalker !! Or to Tim the Terrific as my parents rightfully call him ☺🎉🎊🎈

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Just scooting around being crazy with this handsome thing ✌ (at Jorge's Cantina)

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#mcm goes to Tim, a man of great endurance and strength in so many ways. So proud to be his wife! This was taken Saturday after the #toughmudder, hence his how-am-I-still-alive face 💥

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🎃Sometimes homemade costumes don't turn out the way you'd like, but the memories certainly last a lifetime 🎃 #tbt #explosion // happy Halloween!

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✨

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//zedd feat. foxes - clarity

my current obsession

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Just enough to whet my appetite #newyork #ihardlyknewyou ❤

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