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  • Politics Is Like Hiring A Hitman
    by Scott Woods inPolitical on2020-08-13

    For me, politics is like hiring a hitman. I have values and things I care about. I care enough about them to at least bother voting for 5 minutes every year for one issue or another. And because I care at least that much, I vote for people who align with the ability to realize the things I care about.

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  • Punching Above Our Weight
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-07-24

    I believe our vote is the punctuation of our voice. Without that resounding exclamation mark, I believe our voices are just incoherent noise.

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  • BLACK PROGRESS AMIDST SOCIAL CHAOS
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-06-16

    Recent events have raised the profile of historical injustice and inequities here in the USA. The entire world has taken note of the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER.   We invite all of our friends to engage in actions that result in the greatest movement for change in our history. It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity to affect a positive change by ACTING IN OUR SELF-INTERESTS.

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  • Living in a Black No-Man's Land
    by Roger Madison Jr. inOur Community on2019-10-28

    There are many narratives that define the Black experience in America in this 2nd decade of the 21st century. Our striving over the centuries of our sojourn in this nation is a tapestry of every human experience -- oppression, enslavement, forced assimilation, dehumanization, exclusion, segregation, isolation, struggle, perseverance, achievement, excellence, celebration, mourning, despair, progress, setbacks, lynching, assassination, genocide, terror, self-hatred, low esteem, pride,...

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  • Fighting Racism
    by Scott Woods inOur Community on2018-10-25

    I had a boss who was racist. Not an outright bigot, of course; her toolbox was more subtle than most. We bumped heads a lot over inconsequential things. She frequently couldn’t keep my name out her mouth. Lot of gaslighting. You know…2018 style. I tried a lot of ways to combat or navigate her issues. None of them worked, and that’s saying a lot because I’m really good at fighting racism. But at the end of the day – every day – she was my boss, I had to deal with her, and that was that. Finally I...

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Love Story - Jacob & Rachel

10-21-07 Sunday School Lesson — Story of Love – Jacob & Rachel

Key Verse – Jacob served seven years for Rachel; & they seemed unto him a few days, for the love he had to her (Genesis 29:20)

10-28-07 Sunday School Lesson — Esau & Jacob Reunite Peacefully (Background scripture: Genesis 33:1-20) Lesson Scripture: Genesis 33:1-11.

Key Verse – Jacob served seven years for Rachel; & they seemed unto him a few days, for the love he had to her (Genesis 29:20)

The Family – Modes of Getting a Wife – Moved by Ardent (eager, glowing, strong) Affection.

Genesis 29:20-35

Verse 20 — And Jacob “served” seven years for Rachel; & they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

“served” — Hosea 12:12 — Industrial Employments & Products — Care of Live Stock — Shepherds

Jacob was in agreement to work-serve for Rachel for his wife

True LOVE

Cancer Rate Drop Faster Than Ever …….. I saw this on the Internet Headlines & in a Newspaper Headline at a store on 10/15/07 …….. I do believe that October is Cancer Awareness Month ……. This is a love story in itself …. story of love ……. Jesus loves us.

John 3:16 — LOVE — Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind .. the world I Corinthians 13 — Love Chapter I Corinthians 13:3 — the greatest is charity “love”

Genesis 29:20-35

Verses 21, 22, 23 — The Family — The Wedding — Consummation (sum it up)

Ephesians 5:25 — Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church, & gave himself for it.

Verses 21, 22, 23 –

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife …

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, & made a feast

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, & brought her to him …

Men stay sober — Could this have been the case of Jacob not knowing that he was marrying Leah instead of Rachel

Sowing & reaping … What did Jacob do to his father & brother?

God’s Plans are on HIS Timetable in Eternity

Verses 24,29 –

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

Masters & Servants — Given as Dowry

Genesis 30:9 — When Leah saw she had stop having children, she took Zilpah her maid, & gave her to Jacob to wife (The Family, Parents & Children)

Genesis 30:1-8 — Rachel giveth her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob for she was barren — could not at have children.

Genesis 29:20-35

Verses 25, 26, 27, 28, 30 — The Family — The Institution & Laws of Marriage — Polygamy & Concubinage Practised — The Patriarchs

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: & he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me, did I not serve with thee for Rachel?

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our “country,” to give the younger before the firstborn.

Fulfil her week, We will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

And Jacob did so, & fulfilled her week: & he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

…. he “loved” also Rachel more than Leah, & served with him “yet” seven other yeara.

“country” — place (the eldest was to be married in their country/place before the youngest. Leah – eldest & Rachel – younger)

yet — Genesis 31:41 — Jacob served 20 years in Laban’s house, 14 years for Leah & Rachel, 6 years for cattle, & Laban changed his wages 10 times.

Genesis 29:20-35

Verse 31 — And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

Miracles — Supernatual Bodily Gifts — Gift or Denial of Children

Jacob loved Rachel Food for Thought — Question — Did Leah have to pay a high price for being an unwanted wife — unloved?

Genesis 29:20-35

Verses 32, 33 — The Family — Parents & Children — Children the Gift of God

And Leah conceived, & bare a son, & she called his name “Reuben”: for she said, surely the LORD hath “looked” upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

And she conceived again, & there a son; & said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: & she called his name “Simeon.”

Reuben — see a son

looked — Exodus 3:7 — Israel in Egypt — God Remembers HIS Covenant

Simeon — hearing

Genesis 29:20-35 — The Family — Parents & Children — Birth

And she conceived again, & bare a som; & said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore was his name called “Levi.”

And she conceived again, & bare a son: & she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name “Judah”: & “left” bearing

Levi — joined

Judah — praise

left — stood from bearing(having children)

Judah — Jesus Christ came from his line — Genesis 49:10 & Matthew 2:6

With every childbirth Leah felt like Jacob would love her.

Lastly this was not in the sunday school lesson but I did wish to share this …….

Genesis 30:17-21 — Leah had two sons “Issachar & Zebulun” & one daughter “Dinah” by Jacob.

Dinah — Women watch & pray — be careful — Genesis 34:1,2,5,7