Good morning. I thought I heard a hummingbird about a week ago and saw my first on Sunday. A male, getting the place set up for his beloved. I set out the hummingbird feeder, though the currants are in full bloom along with the pear trees getting ready. Dandelions are up so there is plenty of food. I also put out bee traps a week before as the yellow jackets were ramping up.
Hummingbird feeders are interesting. Only one hummingbird at a time feeds.
Except in the fall. Travelers seem to be welcome.
I have some comments about I Cor. 6 Wondering if they belong here or on the prayer thread.
Here goes:
Paul says, Rom 5:2 that we shall “judge the world:? And v. 3 he says we will judge angels.
I look forward to saying a couple of good things about mine.
He has rescued me a couple of times that I know of. Maybe some I don’t know if.
I hesitate to tell them because the background takes more explaining than the event.
Maybe I’ll try.
Morning all! It is another beautiful day and we have had hummingbirds at the feeders for the past two days! How I love their return! Fascinating little creatures are they….
Tonight we are breaking out of this house and having dinner with our daughter and her family in town. It is her 42nd birthday and I have not seen her nor my grandkids in months. Funny how that happens. 😞 😊
Good morning. It’s still quite cool here. Tomorrow storms and by the weekend temps will go up in the eighties. I know I need to mow, but with allergies it makes for a difficult choice. Do I suffer now from allergies or later from the grass being taller and mowing when it will feel unbearable.
Hummngbirds? A very rare sight in my vicinity. They are special creatures. Maybe all the traffic makes them not want to hang out in a metro area when they have better environments to visit.
I may have told this before. But I doubt it because explaining the background is more complicated than the event.
But here goes:
When I was a student at Southwestern Seminary, a colleague and I went down to a mission in Fort Worth to witness. We met a man and led him to the Lord. He wanted us to go speak to his family. But there was a problem: He had his car here and didn’t want to leave it on the street when we went in my friends car. He was afraid someone would steal it. (The problem was more serious than I’m making it here. But that doesn’t matter.)
I solved the problem of the car going somewhere. I took the distributor rotor out of the car and took it with me.
We witnessed to his family and his wife trusted the Lord.
We drove back to retrieve his car.
I inserted the rotor.
The car wouldn’t start! I knew I was doing it correctly. You can’t do it wrong. Like a three way electric socket.
You can’t do it wrong. But the car wouldn’t start. The significance of the following event was not apparent to me because I had other things on my mind and t wasn’t until after I retired that I thought of the event and the significance.
It was a Spiritual battle. I know. Ihad installed distributor rotors several times before. Back in those days, distributors would break. I always had a spare.
But the car wouldn’t start. And I was afraid, not physically, but spiritually, we were about th lose the man.
But (and again, I didn’t realize the significance until years later.)
A man came up from I don’t know where. He said, “what’s happening” I told him.
He said “give me that”.. I gave him the rotor, he installed it and walked away. the car started. End of event.
Years later, I thought about that. Normally: I have a problem. While I am wondering what to do, a stranger comes up and says “What’s happening” I tell him. He says, “let’s see that.” He installs it and says, “Now try it!” I try and the car starts. He says, ‘”How bout that?” I say, ‘Thanks a lot, let me give you something (though I had very little>) He says “Nhaa lad to help.” and walks away.
None of that happened. He walked away without waiting for the car to start.
I am convinced that my angel had an appearance. I hope to shake his hand someday.
Janice- I would not participate unless I first got an official notice in the mail asking for permission. If they show up to your door, ask for ID and call the police to verify they are who they say.
1 Cor 6: we have the wisdom of God residing in us. Some day we will learn to use it, or work with Him. It seems rather intimidating to me at this stage to think of judging such things, but I know God and I know He will make it work.
Thank you, Chas, we need to hear stories of how God is working.
Janice, no, I would not. Paramedics are coming to people’s homes to swab test here, but only upon request, for those unable to get out. Besides, those antibody tests are still highly questionable, and may give a false sense of security.
Chas, I do not think the good angels are the ones we will be judging. I think rather our faith and persistence, even without being able to see God, will be a judgement on the fallen angels, who tested and tormented us. See also the book of Job.
Janice no way would I participate if someone just shows up at my door. I did not like it when someone with the census showed up at the door. It seemed too invasive of my privacy for me. If the government officials want to request my participation they need to send me an official notice asking and then I might choose to go to a location where they are testing. It has been a bit disturbing to me to see the overreach of government lately.
Janice, I wouldn’t give blood to a random person at my door no matter what ID they had. I have a hard enough time letting the nurse at the doctor’s office draw blood. My veins restrict and roll. I’m not letting some random person stab me. Plus, how sanitary can it be? Finger pricks are worse than full needle blood draws.
My husband would probably do it. He figures the government already knows everything about him. They probably know everything about me too, but I like to pretend they don’t.
I have said for a long time that the government is behind 23 and Me and all the other genetic testing to find out about your ancestors and where your people were from. Now they are using all of that information to solve crimes. On the surface that sounds great…that is until you think about it. It’s an invasion of privacy.
Would I like to know if I have the antibodies to Covid? Sure.
QUESTION:
Have any of you ever had your eyeball hurt. It has happened to me several times in the last 6 or so months. I am not much worried about it as I have seen the opthamologist 3 times in the last year, once for a regular exam, once for pink eye, and once for this. I have some prescription drops for the redness in my eye and the watering. It’s the soreness/tenderness in my eyeball that bothers me. It started hurting Sunday afternoon, so yesterday morning I visited Dr. Google and self diagnosed. It is a sinus issue. My nose has run for a month or so, stopped and started again. It isn’t something I worry about. It’s Spring time in the South. I called the pharmacy down the street spoke with the pharmacist, told him what was going on and that I need some sinus medicine. He had two packages waiting for me at the drive-up window, I took it yesterday and last night. Today my eyeball doesn’t hurt.
What I do have to do now is go for the 6 month follow up mammogram. See ya later.
What is the difference between school and life?
In school we are taught a lesson then given a test. In life we are given a test then taught a lesson.
This is what I am listening to on the speakers as the doctor is pondering my scans. Why is it the longer you wait the more nervous you become?
We have been given a great deal of Scripture. Though I know a lot of people who think they have a handle on it, I don’t know anybody or of anybody who actually does. I do know a lot of good solid believers on both side of this argument and see lots of Scripture to support each. I do know God and He knows me and He will work out the details of His plan. He expects me to search the Scriptures and love my brother without attacking his views. I do like to talk about this stuff, and especially to hear other folks’ views.
Kim, my eyes periodically get achy, bloodshot, and itchy. I have figured out that the immediate cause seems to be eye strain from screen use, but I am only prone to developing the symptoms at certain seasons.
Something that has me kind of dismayed about this current coronavirus situation is how it has become another argument between “sides”, with each thinking the other is ignorant or “sheep”. I’ve been praying for God to be glorified through this, and for a new great awakening, but now I wonder if people are too caught up in trying to prove their own side of the issue that they are not open to hear the Holy Spirit drawing them. Please give them eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe, Lord!
A subset of those arguing their “side” is the so-called anti-vaxxers. By that, I do not mean those who are concerned about vaccine injuries and such, but the ones who will say that vaccines are not only unhelpful, but are harmful, and not even necessary. Many of them are fans of Robert Kennedy, Jr., who twists and exaggerates statistics, as well as making a lot of totally false claims. I have a couple friends on Facebook – whom I also know in real life – who fall into this category.
They are claiming that the government’s response to the coronavirus is a stealth plan to implement a new vaccine (they are against a coronavirus vaccine) and to make others mandatory (which is actually happening in some states). They blame Bill Gates, and make him out to be an evil character who wants to vaccinate the world or something.
All the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Ezekiel 3:7
Are there no exceptions? No, not one. Even God’s chosen are described in this way. If the best are so bad, then what must the worst be like? Come, my heart, consider to what extent you share in this universal accusation; as you think, prepare to be ashamed of those things of which you are guilty.
The first charge is impudence, or hardness of forehead, an absence of holy shame, an unholy boldness in evil. Before my conversion, I could sin and feel no regret, hear of my guilt and remain unhumbled, and even confess my iniquity without any accompanying humiliation. When a sinner goes to God’s house and pretends to pray to Him and praise Him, he displays a brazen-facedness of the worst kind! Sadly, since the day of my new birth I have doubted my Lord to His face, murmured unblushingly in His presence, worshiped Him in a slovenly manner, and sinned without bewailing myself on account of it. If my forehead were not like a diamond, harder than flint, I would display more holy fear and a far deeper contrition of spirit. Woe is me, for I am one of the impudent house of Israel.
The second charge is hard-heartedness, and I dare not attempt to plead innocent here. Once I had nothing but a heart of stone, and although through grace I now have a new and fleshy heart, much of my former stubbornness remains. I am not affected by the death of Jesus as I ought to be; neither am I moved as I should be by the lostness of my fellowmen, the wickedness of the times, the chastisement of my heavenly Father, and my own failures. O that my heart would melt at the recital of my Savior’s sufferings and death. Would to God I were rid of this dreadful burden within me, this hateful body of death.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, the disease is not incurable; the Savior’s precious blood is the universal remedy, and it will effectually soften me, even me, until my heart melts as wax before the fire.
__________________________
Kizzie, it’s been dismaying to see how our political divide now colors everything, any discussion about any topic.
We’ve become absolutely tribal (based sheerly on partisanship) in our thinking and in our discourse. We speak disrespectfully, we do not listen. It plays out over and over again on FB, Twitter and social media in general as well as on our airwaves in the evening news.
The nation doesn’t truly communicate anymore. And I don’t know what can fix that other than divine intervention.
But, indeed, this could be now a judgement simply playing out. We can’t really know. But it seems a distinct possibility to me.
Kizzie, do we have the same friends? Only it is not just friends, but relatives too. And yes, they were anti-vaccine before this.
The thing is, I have some reservations about Bill Gates, because he includes birth control in his funding, in addition to funding for public health measures such as vaccines. That has, for anyone who has studied global health issues, really bad optics. Imams in North Africa, some years ago were warning against vaccines because there were rumours that birth control substances in the vaccines – the confusion no doubt came from the fact that there were two types of injections being offered in two different types of clinics. One was vaccines in local clinics such as the one where I worked. The other was birth control injections offered at birth control clinics, which are generally transitional, but they were easily confused by those who were illiterate and dependent on translated information. We had a woman come to the clinic who was experiencing side effects from an implant given at one such transitional clinic, and there was little we could do for her beyond referring her to a hospital because we did not have the equipment to remove it. It made me so angry that anyone would inject those things without ensuring follow up. To me, the imposition of permanent birth control meadures by wealthy aid programs on poorer countries seems like a mere continuation of the worst forms of colonialism. So, I have grave and well founded reservations about the Gates’ Foundation. But, I also know from history that Gates is not the first extremely rich Western businessman whose philanthropy has been decidedly if mixed morality. The Rockefeller foundation supported mass sterilization and population control campaigns throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s and members of the Rockefeller family were part of the infamous Population Council that oversaw many of those campaigns and lobbying political leaders such as Presidents Johnson and Nixon to support them. There is nothing new under the sun. I happen to know that vaccines, unlike birth control, were developed by physicians trying to stop deaths, so it erroneous to conflate the two. Like the Israelites spoiling the Egyptians, one can use the funding of those wealthy aid programs to fund vaccines and treatment of disease while opting out of their birth control programs.
I just spotted a pretty, almost neon-green humming bird near the patio roof. I don’t have any feeders but do have a number of plants they seem to love.
“The Georgia Department of Public Health, Fulton County and Dekalb County Boards of Health are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn more about the spread of COVID-19 in the community. This investigation will help us estimate the percentage of people in the community who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Some people may have had COVID-19 but were not tested, did not have any symptoms, or did not seek medical care.
From April 28 through May 4, teams will be visiting randomly selected homes in Fulton and Dekalb counties to ask residents questions about their health and to collect blood samples for an antibody test. Antibodies are proteins the body makes in response to infection. The antibody test can tell us whether a person might have had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. The antibody test is not meant to diagnose whether a person has COVID-19 now. All members of the households selected will be asked to participate, including children. Participation is voluntary, and you can ask investigation teams any questions you have before agreeing to participate.
If your home is selected, please consider participating in this important investigation. You can help us learn more about COVID-19.
I have mixed feeling about the testing. I know they will show proper credentials. Also, I know several people at church who work for CDC. But it does seem invasive. I get that they want a good sample and not everyone has transportation to take them to a testing site. If the test included finding out if one has an active case in addition to antibodies that would be more valuable to the person and community. I think I am having allergy problems but it could be mild symptoms of Covid. Why not do a thorough test? I did talk to my friend Karen who said they are testing for both, but what I heard on Fox news and read on AJ’s info does not say that. Karen said they would not show up at her door since they live in a gated apartment community. Has a gate ever stopped the government?
so last week I got a new library card and was able to download some books. Now they gave me a new card, but the number is not working. Use the old number??
Frustrating.
Michelle, the new well caps in the village were donated, according to the signs painted on them, by Qatar. Not an unusual sight – the wealthy Middle Eastern kingdoms frequently give largesse to their poorer counterparts elsewhere. Particularly during Ramadan, which is now, as the flip side of the fast is to give charity – used to see Ramadan seasonal ads depicting all the charity work being done when I was in the city.
The antibody testing came up yesterday at the news conference I covered, the public health physician said it can be useful in looking at a community or population to see how widespread “possible” immunity can be; but some tests (several companies are producing them now) are thought to be very unreliable, especially the ones that bring quick (15-minute) results. “I think they’re going to help us but we’re not there yet, so stay tuned.” Caution still prevails on that front. She also stated that this virus is “an ever-evolving landscape.”
I just finished mowing. Afterward my throat felt sore. Now I am inside and my throat does not feel sore. I will continue to point my index finger at the Ligustrum monster plant as the culprit unless I get a fever.
Y’all are giving me wise advice about the testing. When I first heard it on the news this a.m. my immediate response was, “No, way.” But then I started considering being a helpful good citizen. If I’d been really sick at any point, I would be more inclined to do testing. I have a friend who was being a good citizen and gave blood. The person who took the blood really messed up my friend’s arm. Things like that make me even more reluctant.
I’m not easy to get blood from anymore, either, so I’d probably not eagerly sign up for a non-specific reason.
My left knee hurts, I did something to it (I think, but I only have a vague memory of tweaking it maybe a few weeks ago now, around the time when this shutdown began). It feels like a ‘soft tissue’ kind of thing, something pulled? although how would I know that, right? It’s not keeping me from walking the dogs or doing what I need to do, but it does hurt mostly when I’m using it, when I get up from my desk chair especially after working for a while (but sometimes at night I’ve felt it burning and aching a bit). Not a good time to deal with any of it, I should probably try a cold or hot pack. I just thought it would have cleared up by now. Guess I’ll have to get it looked at when the pandemic restrictions ease up a bit, assuming it’s still bothering me then.
Youngest is home now with the new baby. My parents went to watch the children when she went to the hospital. My mother described the older sibling’s reactions to Fifth Niece. Little Niece, the eldest, demonstrated to her mother that she was capable of carrying the baby, as she is anxious to be of assistance. Baby Niece, a girl of sturdy opinions and good intentions, however they may go awry, couldn’t keep away from the baby, which was slightly overwhelming. Fifth Nephew, a bit of an eccentric lad – the word that comes to mind to describe him is pixilated (nothing to do with computers, think Mr. Deeds Goes to Town) – was a bit puzzled as to whether the baby was actually arrived or not, since his mother still appeared to have a ‘tummy’. But Seventh Nephew, whose extreme shyness and preference for his mother made it seem unlikely he would welcome the latest arrival, was the sweetest of all. Upon seeing his little sister lying by his mother, he went to his room and brought back his blanket and favorite stuffed animal for the new baby.
I’ve now officially received the sternly worded census form in the mail, reminding me that I must — must! — fill this out “by law.” No more fooling around. I’d ignored all the earlier, much kinder and friendlier ones, I was too busy with work and the pandemic pre-occupation.
Jo’s advice is sound. Remember Rest Ice Compresdion Elevation for musculoskeletal injuries. Advil has anti-inflammatory properties that are good for strains and sprains.
I remember the first, 1960, because my mom was a door-to-door “census taker” that year and endured all kinds of on-the-job grief. Her favorite, on what was among her several return, followup visits, was the woman who hollered to her husband “The sense-less taker is here.”
My you people have been busy. Tonight’s dinner will be sheet pan Greek Chicken.
I have been working on all those things I didn’t get done the past 5 weeks.
The census took about five minutes to fill out. I wasn’t impressed with the questions, from a genealogist’s point of view. I wish I had answered “American” under nationality. https://www.michelleule.com/2020/03/24/census-3/
Awkward phone interview w/port exec — I’d just fed the dogs and Cowboy’s dish is in the den area where my desk is; he slurped and slurped his way through; then Tess, in the kitchen decided to raid the cat’s dishes on the butcher block table so there was an awful bowl clattering that went on and on. They were clean, and thankfully unbroken, by the time I checked on them later when the interview ended.
But kind of embarrassing when I realized how loud (phone was on speaker) those ‘background’ noises might have been. The joys of working from home.
One of those “anti-vaxxers” is Mom-of-5, the Christian lady who was a good friend of Nightingale’s. Both of them being busy women, they wouldn’t see each other very often, but when they did, it would be for several hours or even a whole day. Nightingale would take some food over and they would whip up a dinner together. One of Mom-of-5’s sons was Boy’s best friend, and spent the night here at least a couple times. Nightingale had the younger two, the girls, for a “girls’ day”, buying them cute outfits and doing their nails and such.
But Nightingale says that the last time she was over at their house, close to a year ago, I think, all Mom-and-Dad-of-5 could talk about was their anti-vaccine views. She said they went on and on about the issue, and she felt uncomfortable. That turn if events made me really sad, because I had been so happy that she had a solid Christian for a good friend.
(Her best friend Stephanie is a believer, but not living as she should in some ways. Please say a prayer for her. She is a sweet lady.)
Kizzie, that’s too bad, I don’t know why people get so completely carried away and obsessed by some of these narrow issues, it really sounds like idolatry to me.
I mean, if she thinks others don’t have discernment in the vaccination realm, why not simply state your view and move on so the other person doesn’t feel entirely overwhelmed (and harshly judged, not to mention) by a single issue like that? So tiring.
I have my zoom Bible study tonight so I went to walk earlier. I am not sure that 4 pm was a good time as it was over 80 degrees. I kept stopping in the shade to drink water.
DJ – Her comment about discernment had to do with Christians believing what we would think of as reputable media sources rather than the (questionable to unreputable) sources that she and others like her believe.
Jo, we got into the seventies here. It was supposed to be the nicest day this week, and I spent most of it outside and the rest preparing to go outside or working with photos I took. I took a three-and-a-half hour walk this morning, got home in time for lunch. Then my husband wanted to sit outside, then I took a nap, then my husband wanted to take a walk (much shorter), and then it was almost time for supper so I had to prepare that, then a shower, and now I’m writing on here. But it was a lovely, lovely day.
Kizzie, there are a lot of maverick, alternative “news” sources and our favorite, social media sites, out there to choose from, for sure. As I’ve said, news consumers (all of us) need a lot of discernment these days.
But that doesn’t mean we buy into every random view that’s out there just because it goes against the mainstream. Are there valid concerns about vaccines and their potential negative impacts? Of course. Do vaccines save lives? Most definitely yes.
Many of these issues are so much more nuanced that either side would like to believe.
From a church with we are affiliated in San Antonio, Texas.
“This is a version of the song All in All that was written by Dennis Jernigan, who was mercifully saved in 1981 out of false Christianity and homosexuality. A documentary, Sing Over Me, was done on his life that can be seen for free on Amazon Prime.
This song was recorded by members of Grace Community Church in San Antonio during the coronavirus lockdown to be used during corporate worship. Each person individually recorded themselves singing to the piano music and then everything was edited together.”
Wandering Views 
Good morning everyone.
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Good morning! Butter is churning and I saw my first hummingbird of the season.
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Good morning. I thought I heard a hummingbird about a week ago and saw my first on Sunday. A male, getting the place set up for his beloved. I set out the hummingbird feeder, though the currants are in full bloom along with the pear trees getting ready. Dandelions are up so there is plenty of food. I also put out bee traps a week before as the yellow jackets were ramping up.
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Hummingbird feeders are interesting. Only one hummingbird at a time feeds.
Except in the fall. Travelers seem to be welcome.
I have some comments about I Cor. 6 Wondering if they belong here or on the prayer thread.
Here goes:
Paul says, Rom 5:2 that we shall “judge the world:? And v. 3 he says we will judge angels.
I look forward to saying a couple of good things about mine.
He has rescued me a couple of times that I know of. Maybe some I don’t know if.
I hesitate to tell them because the background takes more explaining than the event.
Maybe I’ll try.
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Morning all! It is another beautiful day and we have had hummingbirds at the feeders for the past two days! How I love their return! Fascinating little creatures are they….
Tonight we are breaking out of this house and having dinner with our daughter and her family in town. It is her 42nd birthday and I have not seen her nor my grandkids in months. Funny how that happens. 😞 😊
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I don’t know why I said Romans 5:2. I’m talking about I Corinthians 6:
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Good morning. It’s still quite cool here. Tomorrow storms and by the weekend temps will go up in the eighties. I know I need to mow, but with allergies it makes for a difficult choice. Do I suffer now from allergies or later from the grass being taller and mowing when it will feel unbearable.
Hummngbirds? A very rare sight in my vicinity. They are special creatures. Maybe all the traffic makes them not want to hang out in a metro area when they have better environments to visit.
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If people came to your door, said they are from the government, and they want to take your blood, would you give? Serious question.
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt–politics/cdc-georgia-conduct-coronavirus-antibody-survey-fulton-dekalb/IzSF6u6Cx47BxHuLn0aNpN/
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I may have told this before. But I doubt it because explaining the background is more complicated than the event.
But here goes:
When I was a student at Southwestern Seminary, a colleague and I went down to a mission in Fort Worth to witness. We met a man and led him to the Lord. He wanted us to go speak to his family. But there was a problem: He had his car here and didn’t want to leave it on the street when we went in my friends car. He was afraid someone would steal it. (The problem was more serious than I’m making it here. But that doesn’t matter.)
I solved the problem of the car going somewhere. I took the distributor rotor out of the car and took it with me.
We witnessed to his family and his wife trusted the Lord.
We drove back to retrieve his car.
I inserted the rotor.
The car wouldn’t start! I knew I was doing it correctly. You can’t do it wrong. Like a three way electric socket.
You can’t do it wrong. But the car wouldn’t start. The significance of the following event was not apparent to me because I had other things on my mind and t wasn’t until after I retired that I thought of the event and the significance.
It was a Spiritual battle. I know. Ihad installed distributor rotors several times before. Back in those days, distributors would break. I always had a spare.
But the car wouldn’t start. And I was afraid, not physically, but spiritually, we were about th lose the man.
But (and again, I didn’t realize the significance until years later.)
A man came up from I don’t know where. He said, “what’s happening” I told him.
He said “give me that”.. I gave him the rotor, he installed it and walked away. the car started. End of event.
Years later, I thought about that. Normally: I have a problem. While I am wondering what to do, a stranger comes up and says “What’s happening” I tell him. He says, “let’s see that.” He installs it and says, “Now try it!” I try and the car starts. He says, ‘”How bout that?” I say, ‘Thanks a lot, let me give you something (though I had very little>) He says “Nhaa lad to help.” and walks away.
None of that happened. He walked away without waiting for the car to start.
I am convinced that my angel had an appearance. I hope to shake his hand someday.
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Youngest has had her baby, a little girl.
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Janice- I would not participate unless I first got an official notice in the mail asking for permission. If they show up to your door, ask for ID and call the police to verify they are who they say.
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Chas, cast your net on the other side of the boat, right?
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1 Cor 6: we have the wisdom of God residing in us. Some day we will learn to use it, or work with Him. It seems rather intimidating to me at this stage to think of judging such things, but I know God and I know He will make it work.
Thank you, Chas, we need to hear stories of how God is working.
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Janice, no, I would not. Paramedics are coming to people’s homes to swab test here, but only upon request, for those unable to get out. Besides, those antibody tests are still highly questionable, and may give a false sense of security.
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Chas, I do not think the good angels are the ones we will be judging. I think rather our faith and persistence, even without being able to see God, will be a judgement on the fallen angels, who tested and tormented us. See also the book of Job.
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Janice no way would I participate if someone just shows up at my door. I did not like it when someone with the census showed up at the door. It seemed too invasive of my privacy for me. If the government officials want to request my participation they need to send me an official notice asking and then I might choose to go to a location where they are testing. It has been a bit disturbing to me to see the overreach of government lately.
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Janice, I wouldn’t give blood to a random person at my door no matter what ID they had. I have a hard enough time letting the nurse at the doctor’s office draw blood. My veins restrict and roll. I’m not letting some random person stab me. Plus, how sanitary can it be? Finger pricks are worse than full needle blood draws.
My husband would probably do it. He figures the government already knows everything about him. They probably know everything about me too, but I like to pretend they don’t.
I have said for a long time that the government is behind 23 and Me and all the other genetic testing to find out about your ancestors and where your people were from. Now they are using all of that information to solve crimes. On the surface that sounds great…that is until you think about it. It’s an invasion of privacy.
Would I like to know if I have the antibodies to Covid? Sure.
QUESTION:
Have any of you ever had your eyeball hurt. It has happened to me several times in the last 6 or so months. I am not much worried about it as I have seen the opthamologist 3 times in the last year, once for a regular exam, once for pink eye, and once for this. I have some prescription drops for the redness in my eye and the watering. It’s the soreness/tenderness in my eyeball that bothers me. It started hurting Sunday afternoon, so yesterday morning I visited Dr. Google and self diagnosed. It is a sinus issue. My nose has run for a month or so, stopped and started again. It isn’t something I worry about. It’s Spring time in the South. I called the pharmacy down the street spoke with the pharmacist, told him what was going on and that I need some sinus medicine. He had two packages waiting for me at the drive-up window, I took it yesterday and last night. Today my eyeball doesn’t hurt.
What I do have to do now is go for the 6 month follow up mammogram. See ya later.
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Here’s today post if you’re looking for something interesting about modernIsrael and prophecy: https://www.michelleule.com/2020/04/28/ezekiel/
Here’s a link Linda provided which is also of interest: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/keithgiles/2018/05/whats-happening-in-israel-isnt-about-jesus/
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What is the difference between school and life?
In school we are taught a lesson then given a test. In life we are given a test then taught a lesson.
This is what I am listening to on the speakers as the doctor is pondering my scans. Why is it the longer you wait the more nervous you become?
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Au contraire, it is all about Jesus. We are just the sideshow.
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Kim, a lot of those tests they do are just stress inducers. Read a good book.
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Well, I won’t be churning butter today, that much I can say for sure. 🙂
It’s a cool, overcast morning.
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We have been given a great deal of Scripture. Though I know a lot of people who think they have a handle on it, I don’t know anybody or of anybody who actually does. I do know a lot of good solid believers on both side of this argument and see lots of Scripture to support each. I do know God and He knows me and He will work out the details of His plan. He expects me to search the Scriptures and love my brother without attacking his views. I do like to talk about this stuff, and especially to hear other folks’ views.
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Kim, my eyes periodically get achy, bloodshot, and itchy. I have figured out that the immediate cause seems to be eye strain from screen use, but I am only prone to developing the symptoms at certain seasons.
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Something that has me kind of dismayed about this current coronavirus situation is how it has become another argument between “sides”, with each thinking the other is ignorant or “sheep”. I’ve been praying for God to be glorified through this, and for a new great awakening, but now I wonder if people are too caught up in trying to prove their own side of the issue that they are not open to hear the Holy Spirit drawing them. Please give them eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe, Lord!
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All is well, they will see me in a year.
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A subset of those arguing their “side” is the so-called anti-vaxxers. By that, I do not mean those who are concerned about vaccine injuries and such, but the ones who will say that vaccines are not only unhelpful, but are harmful, and not even necessary. Many of them are fans of Robert Kennedy, Jr., who twists and exaggerates statistics, as well as making a lot of totally false claims. I have a couple friends on Facebook – whom I also know in real life – who fall into this category.
They are claiming that the government’s response to the coronavirus is a stealth plan to implement a new vaccine (they are against a coronavirus vaccine) and to make others mandatory (which is actually happening in some states). They blame Bill Gates, and make him out to be an evil character who wants to vaccinate the world or something.
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Good devotional this morning from Alistair Begg:
https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/daily-devotionals/4/28/0/
____________________________
All the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Ezekiel 3:7
Are there no exceptions? No, not one. Even God’s chosen are described in this way. If the best are so bad, then what must the worst be like? Come, my heart, consider to what extent you share in this universal accusation; as you think, prepare to be ashamed of those things of which you are guilty.
The first charge is impudence, or hardness of forehead, an absence of holy shame, an unholy boldness in evil. Before my conversion, I could sin and feel no regret, hear of my guilt and remain unhumbled, and even confess my iniquity without any accompanying humiliation. When a sinner goes to God’s house and pretends to pray to Him and praise Him, he displays a brazen-facedness of the worst kind! Sadly, since the day of my new birth I have doubted my Lord to His face, murmured unblushingly in His presence, worshiped Him in a slovenly manner, and sinned without bewailing myself on account of it. If my forehead were not like a diamond, harder than flint, I would display more holy fear and a far deeper contrition of spirit. Woe is me, for I am one of the impudent house of Israel.
The second charge is hard-heartedness, and I dare not attempt to plead innocent here. Once I had nothing but a heart of stone, and although through grace I now have a new and fleshy heart, much of my former stubbornness remains. I am not affected by the death of Jesus as I ought to be; neither am I moved as I should be by the lostness of my fellowmen, the wickedness of the times, the chastisement of my heavenly Father, and my own failures. O that my heart would melt at the recital of my Savior’s sufferings and death. Would to God I were rid of this dreadful burden within me, this hateful body of death.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, the disease is not incurable; the Savior’s precious blood is the universal remedy, and it will effectually soften me, even me, until my heart melts as wax before the fire.
__________________________
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Kizzie, it’s been dismaying to see how our political divide now colors everything, any discussion about any topic.
We’ve become absolutely tribal (based sheerly on partisanship) in our thinking and in our discourse. We speak disrespectfully, we do not listen. It plays out over and over again on FB, Twitter and social media in general as well as on our airwaves in the evening news.
The nation doesn’t truly communicate anymore. And I don’t know what can fix that other than divine intervention.
But, indeed, this could be now a judgement simply playing out. We can’t really know. But it seems a distinct possibility to me.
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Well said, Begg.
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Kizzie, do we have the same friends? Only it is not just friends, but relatives too. And yes, they were anti-vaccine before this.
The thing is, I have some reservations about Bill Gates, because he includes birth control in his funding, in addition to funding for public health measures such as vaccines. That has, for anyone who has studied global health issues, really bad optics. Imams in North Africa, some years ago were warning against vaccines because there were rumours that birth control substances in the vaccines – the confusion no doubt came from the fact that there were two types of injections being offered in two different types of clinics. One was vaccines in local clinics such as the one where I worked. The other was birth control injections offered at birth control clinics, which are generally transitional, but they were easily confused by those who were illiterate and dependent on translated information. We had a woman come to the clinic who was experiencing side effects from an implant given at one such transitional clinic, and there was little we could do for her beyond referring her to a hospital because we did not have the equipment to remove it. It made me so angry that anyone would inject those things without ensuring follow up. To me, the imposition of permanent birth control meadures by wealthy aid programs on poorer countries seems like a mere continuation of the worst forms of colonialism. So, I have grave and well founded reservations about the Gates’ Foundation. But, I also know from history that Gates is not the first extremely rich Western businessman whose philanthropy has been decidedly if mixed morality. The Rockefeller foundation supported mass sterilization and population control campaigns throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s and members of the Rockefeller family were part of the infamous Population Council that oversaw many of those campaigns and lobbying political leaders such as Presidents Johnson and Nixon to support them. There is nothing new under the sun. I happen to know that vaccines, unlike birth control, were developed by physicians trying to stop deaths, so it erroneous to conflate the two. Like the Israelites spoiling the Egyptians, one can use the funding of those wealthy aid programs to fund vaccines and treatment of disease while opting out of their birth control programs.
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Interesting about the Gates Foundation — “mixed morality” is a good way to put it, that describes probably many such efforts.
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I just spotted a pretty, almost neon-green humming bird near the patio roof. I don’t have any feeders but do have a number of plants they seem to love.
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Janice,
The door to door thing is legit. Whether you do so, depends on you.
From your state’s Dept. of Public Health…..
https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-antibody-testing
“The Georgia Department of Public Health, Fulton County and Dekalb County Boards of Health are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn more about the spread of COVID-19 in the community. This investigation will help us estimate the percentage of people in the community who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Some people may have had COVID-19 but were not tested, did not have any symptoms, or did not seek medical care.
From April 28 through May 4, teams will be visiting randomly selected homes in Fulton and Dekalb counties to ask residents questions about their health and to collect blood samples for an antibody test. Antibodies are proteins the body makes in response to infection. The antibody test can tell us whether a person might have had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. The antibody test is not meant to diagnose whether a person has COVID-19 now. All members of the households selected will be asked to participate, including children. Participation is voluntary, and you can ask investigation teams any questions you have before agreeing to participate.
If your home is selected, please consider participating in this important investigation. You can help us learn more about COVID-19.
For general information about antibody testing, also known as serology testing, visit the CDC website” https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/serology-testing.html
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I have mixed feeling about the testing. I know they will show proper credentials. Also, I know several people at church who work for CDC. But it does seem invasive. I get that they want a good sample and not everyone has transportation to take them to a testing site. If the test included finding out if one has an active case in addition to antibodies that would be more valuable to the person and community. I think I am having allergy problems but it could be mild symptoms of Covid. Why not do a thorough test? I did talk to my friend Karen who said they are testing for both, but what I heard on Fox news and read on AJ’s info does not say that. Karen said they would not show up at her door since they live in a gated apartment community. Has a gate ever stopped the government?
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That’s an awfully cute bird in the header!
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It doesn’t make sense to me. If I need/want to know, why not visit my physician–who can then advise me on what steps to take if I am positive?
Totally with Roscuro–particularly on the Rockefeller Foundation.
I do appreciate Gates Foundation’s wells.
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so last week I got a new library card and was able to download some books. Now they gave me a new card, but the number is not working. Use the old number??
Frustrating.
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oh, there is a free kindle book that you all might like. I have not read it yet.
Susie, a biography of Susannah Spurgeon
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Michelle, the new well caps in the village were donated, according to the signs painted on them, by Qatar. Not an unusual sight – the wealthy Middle Eastern kingdoms frequently give largesse to their poorer counterparts elsewhere. Particularly during Ramadan, which is now, as the flip side of the fast is to give charity – used to see Ramadan seasonal ads depicting all the charity work being done when I was in the city.
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The antibody testing came up yesterday at the news conference I covered, the public health physician said it can be useful in looking at a community or population to see how widespread “possible” immunity can be; but some tests (several companies are producing them now) are thought to be very unreliable, especially the ones that bring quick (15-minute) results. “I think they’re going to help us but we’re not there yet, so stay tuned.” Caution still prevails on that front. She also stated that this virus is “an ever-evolving landscape.”
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I just finished mowing. Afterward my throat felt sore. Now I am inside and my throat does not feel sore. I will continue to point my index finger at the Ligustrum monster plant as the culprit unless I get a fever.
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Y’all are giving me wise advice about the testing. When I first heard it on the news this a.m. my immediate response was, “No, way.” But then I started considering being a helpful good citizen. If I’d been really sick at any point, I would be more inclined to do testing. I have a friend who was being a good citizen and gave blood. The person who took the blood really messed up my friend’s arm. Things like that make me even more reluctant.
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I’m not easy to get blood from anymore, either, so I’d probably not eagerly sign up for a non-specific reason.
My left knee hurts, I did something to it (I think, but I only have a vague memory of tweaking it maybe a few weeks ago now, around the time when this shutdown began). It feels like a ‘soft tissue’ kind of thing, something pulled? although how would I know that, right? It’s not keeping me from walking the dogs or doing what I need to do, but it does hurt mostly when I’m using it, when I get up from my desk chair especially after working for a while (but sometimes at night I’ve felt it burning and aching a bit). Not a good time to deal with any of it, I should probably try a cold or hot pack. I just thought it would have cleared up by now. Guess I’ll have to get it looked at when the pandemic restrictions ease up a bit, assuming it’s still bothering me then.
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Youngest is home now with the new baby. My parents went to watch the children when she went to the hospital. My mother described the older sibling’s reactions to Fifth Niece. Little Niece, the eldest, demonstrated to her mother that she was capable of carrying the baby, as she is anxious to be of assistance. Baby Niece, a girl of sturdy opinions and good intentions, however they may go awry, couldn’t keep away from the baby, which was slightly overwhelming. Fifth Nephew, a bit of an eccentric lad – the word that comes to mind to describe him is pixilated (nothing to do with computers, think Mr. Deeds Goes to Town) – was a bit puzzled as to whether the baby was actually arrived or not, since his mother still appeared to have a ‘tummy’. But Seventh Nephew, whose extreme shyness and preference for his mother made it seem unlikely he would welcome the latest arrival, was the sweetest of all. Upon seeing his little sister lying by his mother, he went to his room and brought back his blanket and favorite stuffed animal for the new baby.
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how can I post after a nurse??
Dj, I usually use advil to take care of the inflammation and also ice. Get those peas out of the freezer! 🙂
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I’ve now officially received the sternly worded census form in the mail, reminding me that I must — must! — fill this out “by law.” No more fooling around. I’d ignored all the earlier, much kinder and friendlier ones, I was too busy with work and the pandemic pre-occupation.
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Jo’s advice is sound. Remember Rest Ice Compresdion Elevation for musculoskeletal injuries. Advil has anti-inflammatory properties that are good for strains and sprains.
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This is the 7th census I’ve been around for.
I remember the first, 1960, because my mom was a door-to-door “census taker” that year and endured all kinds of on-the-job grief. Her favorite, on what was among her several return, followup visits, was the woman who hollered to her husband “The sense-less taker is here.”
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Blueberries or mixed veggies should work, right? 🙂
I’m taking Aleve, is that the same as Advil?
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DJ, both are NSAIDS. Advil is ibuprofen, a milder NSAID. Aleve is naproxen, a more powerful NSAID.
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I only allow myself 1 Aleve a day (and not every day), but yes, now I remember it’s supposed to last for 12 hours.
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My you people have been busy. Tonight’s dinner will be sheet pan Greek Chicken.
I have been working on all those things I didn’t get done the past 5 weeks.
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The census took about five minutes to fill out. I wasn’t impressed with the questions, from a genealogist’s point of view. I wish I had answered “American” under nationality.
https://www.michelleule.com/2020/03/24/census-3/
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Awkward phone interview w/port exec — I’d just fed the dogs and Cowboy’s dish is in the den area where my desk is; he slurped and slurped his way through; then Tess, in the kitchen decided to raid the cat’s dishes on the butcher block table so there was an awful bowl clattering that went on and on. They were clean, and thankfully unbroken, by the time I checked on them later when the interview ended.
But kind of embarrassing when I realized how loud (phone was on speaker) those ‘background’ noises might have been. The joys of working from home.
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I would do mixed vegetables. Any leaking juice would be less likely to stain 🙂
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Just. In. Time. 57!
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One of those “anti-vaxxers” is Mom-of-5, the Christian lady who was a good friend of Nightingale’s. Both of them being busy women, they wouldn’t see each other very often, but when they did, it would be for several hours or even a whole day. Nightingale would take some food over and they would whip up a dinner together. One of Mom-of-5’s sons was Boy’s best friend, and spent the night here at least a couple times. Nightingale had the younger two, the girls, for a “girls’ day”, buying them cute outfits and doing their nails and such.
But Nightingale says that the last time she was over at their house, close to a year ago, I think, all Mom-and-Dad-of-5 could talk about was their anti-vaccine views. She said they went on and on about the issue, and she felt uncomfortable. That turn if events made me really sad, because I had been so happy that she had a solid Christian for a good friend.
(Her best friend Stephanie is a believer, but not living as she should in some ways. Please say a prayer for her. She is a sweet lady.)
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Kizzie, that’s too bad, I don’t know why people get so completely carried away and obsessed by some of these narrow issues, it really sounds like idolatry to me.
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DJ – Yes, and she is the one who said that Christians who don’t see things her way lack discernment. 😦
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Janice – Did you send me a private message with a link to a video on Facebook?
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And I don’t understand how people become obsessed with these side issues to the point of losing all perspective and driving people away.
OK, last interview done, interesting one — economics prof who had some valuable things to say about our dependence on China and “cheap stuff.”
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I mean, if she thinks others don’t have discernment in the vaccination realm, why not simply state your view and move on so the other person doesn’t feel entirely overwhelmed (and harshly judged, not to mention) by a single issue like that? So tiring.
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I have my zoom Bible study tonight so I went to walk earlier. I am not sure that 4 pm was a good time as it was over 80 degrees. I kept stopping in the shade to drink water.
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DJ – Her comment about discernment had to do with Christians believing what we would think of as reputable media sources rather than the (questionable to unreputable) sources that she and others like her believe.
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Jo, we got into the seventies here. It was supposed to be the nicest day this week, and I spent most of it outside and the rest preparing to go outside or working with photos I took. I took a three-and-a-half hour walk this morning, got home in time for lunch. Then my husband wanted to sit outside, then I took a nap, then my husband wanted to take a walk (much shorter), and then it was almost time for supper so I had to prepare that, then a shower, and now I’m writing on here. But it was a lovely, lovely day.
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Kizzie, there are a lot of maverick, alternative “news” sources and our favorite, social media sites, out there to choose from, for sure. As I’ve said, news consumers (all of us) need a lot of discernment these days.
But that doesn’t mean we buy into every random view that’s out there just because it goes against the mainstream. Are there valid concerns about vaccines and their potential negative impacts? Of course. Do vaccines save lives? Most definitely yes.
Many of these issues are so much more nuanced that either side would like to believe.
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There can be a lot of pride in being “The One in the Know” as opposed to all the poor regular folk. Whether it is about vaccines or whatever.
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From a church with we are affiliated in San Antonio, Texas.
“This is a version of the song All in All that was written by Dennis Jernigan, who was mercifully saved in 1981 out of false Christianity and homosexuality. A documentary, Sing Over Me, was done on his life that can be seen for free on Amazon Prime.
This song was recorded by members of Grace Community Church in San Antonio during the coronavirus lockdown to be used during corporate worship. Each person individually recorded themselves singing to the piano music and then everything was edited together.”
https://illbehonest.com/jesus-you-are-my-all-in-all
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*with which
So much for trying to grammatical.
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12:04 — pretty!
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