Time passes by too quickly...

 -Kinsman

*

The seasons change- seemingly too often.  Autumn has taken over the Summer we loved. 

Now the corn is being harvested with the soybeans waiting to be next. Soon the fields will be empty with room for the winds to gather more speed.

Precious friends have died- leaving loving families to grieve them. Memories of the joys and loves which they shared. Photos are brought out with their love for each other shone throughout. Tears continue until they meet again in Glory.

It feels like a story which is coming to an end. We have nearly four months to the end of this year, but time seems to "rush" by somehow.

I'm thankful for kindnesses people have shown and the words of love which are shared together.  The LORD has been gracious to love us so and then we can love others.

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"My Home is God Himself"; Christ brought me there.

I placed myself within His mighty arms;

He took me up, and safe from all alarms

He bore me "where no foot but His has trod,"

Within the holiest at Home with God,

And had me dwell in Him, rejoicing there.

O Holy Place! O Home divinely fair!

And we, God's little ones, abiding there.

"My Home is God Himself" it was not so!

A long, long road I traveled night and day,

And sought to find within myself some way.

Nothing I did or felt could bring me near.

Self-effort failed, and I was filled with fear,

And then I found Christ was the only way,

That I must come to Him, and in Him stay,

And God had told me so.

And now "my Home is God," and sheltered there,

God meets the trials of my earthly life,

God compasses me round from storm and strife,

God takes the burden of my daily care.

O Wondrous Place! O Home divinely fair!

And I, God's little one, safe hidden there.

Lord, as I dwell in You and You in me,

So make me dead to everything but Thee;

That as I rest within my Home most fair,

My soul may evermore and only see

My God in everything and everywhere;

My Home is God.

-unknown

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I am pruned to bear more fruit.

 -Kinsman

*

I walked a mile with Pleasure,

    She chattered all the way;

But left me none the wiser

    For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow,

    And ne'er a word said she;

   But oh, the things I learned from her

    When Sorrow walked with me.

-unknown

*

John 15:1-11

Jesus says:  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."...

*

The LORD has Spoken!

"The wicked strut about on every side when vileness is exulted among the sons of men."

*

Psalm 12

"Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.


They speak falsehood to one another;
With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.


May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;


Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”


“Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.”

The words of the Lord are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.


You, O Lord, will keep them;
You will preserve him from this generation forever.


The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men."

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I thought this was normal--So we really are PLUGGERS!

-PLUGGERS

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A Fetus; a Human; a Person

"In some of the ancient nations, parents literally had the legal authority of life and death over their children. 

They could sell their children into slavery or even kill them! 

In ancient Rome this was codified into law and was called Patria Potestas.  

How barbaric this seems, but if the unborn child in the womb is a person, then laws that legalize abortion today are not that much different from Patria Potestas. 

Virtually the entire debate over abortion would be concluded if we answered that one question: 

"Is the fetus in the womb a person or not?" 

It is my prayer that those struggling with this question would consider what God has said about this issue in the Holy Scriptures:  

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you..."  Jeremiah 1:5"

-Brad Sherman.  Pastor, former State Legislator, and candidate to be the next governor of the State of Iowa.

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Thankful for Faithful Tradesmen

-PLUGGERS

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The Good Old Days

-PLUGGERS

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Train up your children in the LORD

 -Kinsman

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"Religion in a Family is at once its brightest   Ornament and its best Security."

-Samuel Adams (1780)

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Proverbs 22:6, 17-21

..."Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it...

...Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your mind to my knowledge;

For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

That they may be ready on your lips.

So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I have taught you today, even you.

Have I not written to you excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

To make you know the certainty of the words of truth

That you may correctly answer him who sent you?"...

*

Fruitful in Sufferings

-2025 summer storm

*

Perhaps you are undergoing some trial as God’s child, and you are saying to Him, 

“O God, it is raining very hard on me tonight, and this test seems beyond my power to endure. Disappointments are pouring in, washing away and utterly defeating my chosen plans. My trembling heart is grieved and is cowering at the intensity of my suffering.  Surely the rains of affliction are beating down my soul.”

Dear friend, you are completely mistaken. God is not raining rain on you——He is raining blessings.  

If you will only believe your Father’s Word, you will realize that springing up beneath the pounding rain are spiritual flowers.  And they are more beautiful and fragrant than those that ever grew before in your storm-less and suffering-free life.

You can see the rain, but can you also see the flowers? 

You are suffering through these tests, but know that God sees sweet flowers of faith springing up in your life beneath these very trials. 

You try to escape the pain, yet God sees tender compassion for other sufferers finding birth in your soul. 

Your heart winces at the pain of heavy grief, but God sees the sorrow deepening and enriching your life.

No, my friend, it is not raining afflictions on you. 

It is raining tenderness, love, compassion, patience, and a thousand other flowers and fruits of the blessed Holy Spirit. And they are bringing to your life spiritual enrichment that all the prosperity and ease of this world could never produce in your innermost being.    -J.M.M.--6/15 Streams in the Desert

*

 Genesis 41:52

“God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

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Just something silly --because life is too serious

-internet: found on a tee shirt

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Reality vs Blatantly Living in Your Sins

-Kinsman

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Question Christian:

If you believe that Jesus died for your sins, was raised from the dead so that you may have life and life more abundantly all because of what He did for you- 

--then walk in His truth not your sins!

Get your act together, 

humbly ask for forgiveness, 

make things right with people and God, then

begin to walk as Jesus would have you to live!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

..."do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, 

whom you have from God, 

and that you are not your own? 

For you have been bought with a price: 

therefore glorify God in your body!

*

Mark 1:15

...“The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand;

 repent and believe in the gospel.”...

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*follow what the gospel says!*

The Last of the Spring Flowers

 Johnny Jump ups or Violas have been blooming at my front porch until this week.

Usually, I only have these beauties in the early Spring as any heat wears them out.

We have had hot weather, but mainly coolish and much rain.  Even though they were in my front porch with sun they were also tucked underneath, enough, a volunteer sunflower I let grow there.

They covered a big area and looked lovely and now the last ones sit on my counter. 

God's Creation is Awesome!  Someday soon enough we who are His will be made new again!  Praises to Him who loves us so!

Praises to our God and King!

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Be a Follower of Jesus

-Yellowstone FB

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Humanism IS a Religion

"As president of the American Humanist Association, [Isaac] Asimov defined humanism as a non-theistic religion. 

Not a philosophy, a credo, or a pleasant aphorism, but a religion. 

This is the religion of evolution that trades under the pseudonym of the science of evolution. 

Asimov had a right to worship the altar of his choice, just as do evolutionists today; but we must be aware that, when religion masquerades as science, both suffer."

-Duane Arthur Schmidt, “And God Created Darwin: The Death of Darwinian Evolution, pg.53

*

Jesus said:

Matthew 6:33-34

..."seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 16:24-28

..."Then Jesus said to His disciples, 

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.

“Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

John 10:7-15

“Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." 

1 John 2:1-6

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. 

And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."...

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Our Frail Memories

-PLUGGERS

* 

But don't forget who saved you from your sins!

Ephesians 2:4-10

..."But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions,

made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."...

Glory to God!

*

"Till souls wax fair as earth and air..."

-internet photo

*
 Written by Tara Ross, Facebook, 7/22/25

"On this day in 1893, a professor stands atop Pikes Peak.  She is struck by the beauty around her and is inspired to write a poem. Her poem is later set to music. Today, we all know that song as “America the Beautiful.”

The song nearly became America’s national anthem.  And it all started because a professor accepted a summer teaching position in Colorado.

That professor was Katharine Lee Bates, daughter of a minister and teacher.  She’d been teaching at Wellesley  for several years when she got an offer to teach at Colorado College. 

Little could she then know it, but the decision to take the summer teaching position would have far-reaching effects.  

Bates was soon on a train, headed west. She visited Niagara Falls, and she saw the World Fair in Chicago. The scenery that flew past the train’s windows was stunning, and the trip made a deep impression on Bates. Already, she was seeing how great and beautiful and diverse the American countryside is.

This point would be driven home even more once she arrived in Colorado and was given an opportunity to hike to the top of Pikes Peak.  The view from the top of the mountain was breathtaking, and she was overcome by all that she saw. She later wrote: “It was then and there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind.” 

Later, Bates remarked that “Greatness and goodness are not necessarily synonymous. Rome was great, but she was not good. . . . Unless we are willing to crown our greatness with goodness, and our bounty with brotherhood, our beloved America may go the same way.” 

Bates’s poem was published on July 4, 1895,  but it was revised after that initial publication when people started setting the poem to music. “When I found that you really wanted to sing it,” Bates remarked, “I rewrote it in some respects to make it a bit more musical.” 

Did you know that the lines “And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea” used to be “Till souls wax fair as earth and air, And music-hearted sea”? 

The poem was paired with many different tunes over the years until, finally, one particular melody by Samuel Ward stuck. 

 

Interestingly, Bates and Ward never met each other.  And neither of them really made any money on the song.  Instead, the result of their accidental partnership has simply been a great gift to the country."

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"Have a nice day!" and really mean it!

-PLUGGERS

* 

Bringing up Baby

-internet image:Loon with hatchlings

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Parenting is the most important of vocations anyone can ever have. 

Jobs outside of the home are important for obvious reasons, but raising up the next generation rightly, should always be a number one priority.

Our best intentions may go awry as our young grow into young adults and then into adulthood, but this is where our parenting begins to "let go" as the young begin their own lives, their own choices, their own decisions; good or bad.

The LORD is with those who call on Him in truth (from Gentle Christian Parenting/just as an example)

Always PRAY---especially if your child turns away from the Truth.

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A Thesaurus is Great to Have!

-Garfield 

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A Government with God

-Yellowstone: Mountain Bluebird

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"If we are not governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants."


-William Penn

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1 Peter 3:8-16

..."To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 

For,    

“The one who desires life, to love and see good days,


Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

“He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.

“For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. 

And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but 

sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame."...

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Let's go Home!

-PLUGGERS 

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Fly Away from Falsehoods

Liberty

What is liberty

 without wisdom and

 without virtue?

 

"It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.'

-Edmund Burke, cited by Jeff Myers & David A. Noebel, Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews, pg.366

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Galatians 5:13

..."For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."...

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1 Peter 2:16-17

..."Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."...

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Romans 8:5-8

 ..."For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."...

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Precious Women...

 -FB site,Thank you.

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Starting your day with Christ

Look closely at this picture 

One candy is wrapped and untouched.

The other is exposed and swarmed by ants.

Sometimes... 

the attention you’re getting isn’t because 

you’re "too fine", "too hot" or “too sexy”. 

It’s because you’ve left yourself uncovered.

 Modesty doesn’t hide your beauty, it protects it.

You don’t need to reveal everything to feel valued.

Let your presence speak louder than your skin.

Dear daughters of God,

Dress with purpose, not just popularity.

You deserve respect, not just reactions. 

Let wisdom guide your fashion, not pressure 

or trends.

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Precious Women...

1 Peter 3:3-5

..."Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."...

Romans 12:1-2

..."present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."...

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Just a few ruffled feathers

 -Blue Jay Blowing in the wind, meme

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The God of the Bible had a plan from the beginning of creation. 

It is spelled out in the Bible. 

The Jewish people were the LORD God's chosen people to spread the good news about Himself and His Son, Jesus, who would come after Him to save all who trusted and chose to follow Him.

Jesus doesn't look at skin color or to what country you belong. He knows your heart--

if you are His or not.

Matthew 24

..."1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple...3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, 

“See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 

13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, ...21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be... 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 

23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand... 

30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other...

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only....44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect...

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Strength from God the Almighty

-meme

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Proverbs 3:5-6

..."Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight."...

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His eye is on the Sparrow and even you

-meme

* 

Matthew 10:29-31

..."Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? 

And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."...

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This Anthem is so Personal that We ALL Should Sing It! *Do You Remember When We All Could Sing This!* Let's just do it from now on!

-PLUGGERS

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With tears I share this!

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Happy Fourth of July!

Thankful for our Freedoms! 

Be grateful for those who fought for our freedom before we were a nation!

Thank a Veteran!

Thank a Serviceman!

Stand up with us to treasure our Nation's Freedoms!

Help Keep us Free!

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What's the Difference?

PLUGGERS

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Look over there.

They're (they are) going.

Their car is red.

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Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away...

-Internet meme

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 Ephesians 5:15-21

..."Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."...

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Just Something Silly...

-internet meme,

C-5, Galaxy

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