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When Paul wrote this to the Romans, there were 1,000,000 citizens and 1,000,000 slaves in Rome. We are all slaves, to one or the other. When I try to master my own life I am mastered by sin. The only way to be free is to be bound to Christ and slave to Him. Sin has authority by my invitation.

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The Library of Congress page on The Gettysburg Address contains several of Lincoln's drafts of the speech

Video with recitation by actor Jeff Daniels:

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Check out Cal Thomas' article "A different path" 

After 30 years of trying to transform culture through politics, conservative evangelicals would be wise to try a different, God-glorifying direction

If results are what conservative evangelicals want, they already have a model. It is contained in the life and commands of Jesus of Nazareth. Suppose millions of conservative evangelicals engaged in an old and proven type of radical behavior. Suppose they followed the admonition of Jesus to "love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison and care for widows and orphans," not as ends...but as a means of demonstrating God's love for the whole person in order that people might seek Him?

Such a strategy could be more "transformational" than electing a new president.....But in order to succeed, such a strategy would not be led by charismatic figures, who would raise lots of money, be interviewed on Sunday talk shows, author books, and make gobs of money.

God teaches in His Word that His power (if that is what conservative evangelicals want and not their puny attempts at grabbing earthly power) is made perfect in weakness. He speaks of the tiny mustard seed, the seemingly worthless widow's mite, of taking the last place at the table and the humbling of one's self, the washing of feet, and similar acts and attitudes; the still, small voice. How did conservative evangelicals miss this and instead settle for a lesser power, which in reality is no power at all? When did they settle for an inferior "kingdom"?

Evangelicals are at a junction. They can take the path that will lead them to more futility and ineffective attempts to reform culture through government, or they can embrace the far more powerful methods outlined by the One they claim to follow. By following His example, they will decrease, but He will increase. They will get no credit, but they will see results. If conservative evangelicals choose obscurity and seek to glorify God, they will get much of what they hope for, but can never achieve, in and through politics.

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Suggested reading:

The Wall of Separation by Daniel L. Dreisbach

The rancorous presidential election of 1800 brought religion to the forefront of public debate and had lasting repercussions for the relationship between church and state.

From Uncle Tom's Cabin to "I Have a Dream"

Together, race and religion have been the driving forces in American political history.

Stewards of Capitalism

God and mammon in 19th-century America.

Post-Racial America? Not Yet.

Why the history of the black "freedom struggle" remains all too relevant today.

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http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%202:1-3;&version=31;

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

(1 Peter 2:17).

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

(Romans 13:1-7)

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/14617

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http://www.sonsofkorah.com/

http://www.last.fm/music/Sons+Of+Korah

Psalm 1

Psalm 23

Psalm 32

Psalm 67

Psalm 117

Psalm 125

Psalm 148

Psalm 17

Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it does not rise from deceit
May my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.
Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find there is nothing there
I resolve my mouth it will not sin against You
As for the deeds of evil men— o Lord
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of violent men
  Keep me as the apple of your eye;
  hide me in the shadow of your wings
My steps have held onto your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
I call on you, O God, for you, O Lord, answer me;
Show the wonder of your love, O Lord
give Your ear to my prayer
from enemies You save
those who hide in You
  Keep me as the apple of your eye;
  hide me in the shadow of your wings
  Keep me as the apple of your eye;
  hide me in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 40

I waited patiently for the LORD
he turned and heard my cry
He lifted me up from the mud and mire
he set my feet on a rock
He put a new song within my mouth
a hymn of praise to our God
Many will see and they will fear
and put their trust in the LORD
Blessed is the man
who trusts only in the LORD
who does not look to the proud
to those who turn to their idols
So many my LORD are the wonders that you have done
The things you planned for us
they're too many to declare.
It was not sacrifice that you desired
but you have pierced my ears
burnt offerings you did not require
it was not your desire
"Here I am," I said and I have come
for things are written of me
How I desire to do your will
your law is in my heart
I will proclaim Your righteousness in the assembly
I do not seal my lips
as you know, O LORD
I do not hide your righteousness and Your salvation
your love and your truth I'll show
within your most holy assembly
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD
may your love and truth always protect me
the troubles without number surround me
my sins have overtaken me, I cannot see
They are more than the hairs of my head
and my heart fails within me
Be pleased, O LORD, to save me
O LORD, come quickly to help me
May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion, o Lord
may all those who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace
be appalled at their own shame
But may all who seek you
be glad and rejoice in you
may those who love your salvation say
"The LORD be exalted!"
Yet I am poor and needy
may the Lord think of me
for You are my help
O Lord do not delay

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD
Come let us shout to the Rock of salvation, yeah
Come before him with thanksgiving, yeah
and extol him with music and song
Come let us, Come let us hey
come let us, come let us bow down in worship
come let us, come let us kneel before God our Creator
come let us, come let us before God our Creator
For the LORD is a great God and great King above all gods
In his hand are the depths of the earth, (Come let us, Come let us)
and the mountains belong to him and the sea, for he made it,
and the hands of the Lord they formed the dry land
Come let us, Come let us hey
come let us, come let us bow down in worship
come let us, come let us kneel before God our Creator
come let us, come let us he is our God
come let us, come let us we are the people, the flock of his pasture, the flock under his care
Today, if you hear if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did at Meribah,
as you did that day in the desert
there your fathers tested me
though they had seen what I had done
For forty years I was angry with them, angry with that generation
I said, "They have gone astray"
I said, "they have not known my ways."
So I declared in my anger,
"They will never enter my rest" enter my rest
Come let us, Come let us oooo whoa
come let us, come let us let us bow down before Him
come let us, come let us let us bow down before the Lord
come let us, come let us do not harden your hearts
come let us, come let us do not harden your hearts
come let us, come let us let us sing, sing to the lord, let us shout, shout to the rock, let us kneel, bow down before him for he is your god and your king

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills for my help
from where does my help come?
My help only comes from the Maker of heaven and the Maker of the earth.
and He will not let you fall down
your feet will be firm to the ground
he watches over you
he will not slumber
yes the Lord who watches Israel will not sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
He is your shade the shade at your right hand;
and even the sun will not harm you by day,
the moon will not harm you by night.
The LORD watches over your life
The LORD He will keep you from harm
he watches over you
he watches over you
yes, he watches over every step you take
he watches over you
he watches over you
yes, he watches over every step you take
both now and forever
both now and forever
both now and forever
both now and forever
both now

Psalm 123

I lift up my eyes to you,
whose throne is up in heaven.
I lift up my eyes to you,
whose throne is up in heaven.
As the eyes of a slave look to look to the hand of the master,
I lift up my eyes to you,
whose throne is up in heaven.
I lift up my eyes to you,
whose throne is up in heaven.
as the eyes of a maid look to, look to the hand of the mistress,
so our eyes they look to you O LORD
so our eyes look up to you O LORD
so our eyes look up to you O LORD
so our eyes look up to you O LORD
so our eyes look up to you O LORD
Have mercy on us, O LORD
for all that we have endured
for all that we have endured
Have mercy on us, O LORD
for all that we have endured
for all that we have endured

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from:  http://www.marriagemissions.com/reflecting-the-image-of-god-marriage-message-14/

Reflecting the Image of God in Marriage - Marriage Message #14

"God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the air, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:26-28).

Don and Sally Meredith, who wrote the article "God's Three Purposes for Marriage" (posted on the web site Crosswalk.com) explain from these verses in the Bible that "Christian marriages are to reflect God's image." They wrote:

"Notice the emphasis on 'image' and likeness.' God creates 'them' as a unit to reflect Him. It takes both a man and woman, in oneness, to truly reflect His image.

Exploring further on what these scriptures tell us about reflecting the image of God within marriage, Pastor Roger Ridley explains: "Look at the end of verse 27 ... That is something many have failed to see. God did not just create a man, He created both a man and a woman, specifically Adam and Eve. He created them as a unit. And together as husband and wife they were to reflect His image. By himself Adam could not fully do it.
"See Genesis 2:18 ... Out of all creation, the only thing that God said was not good was Adam alone. Adam needed a helper, a completer, someone comparable to him, to make him complete, and as a result, reflect God's image. The message for us is obvious: When two people are brought together in marriage and display oneness, God's image is reflected and He is glorified.
We are two separate people and yet we are to be "one" in how we work together for God's glory and purpose. In this way we reflect the image of God.
 As author Charlie Shedd once said, "God wrapped His words around the relationship of marriage (as we can read throughout the Bible) to describe God's love and relationship with the world." God has placed upon those of us who are Believers and who are married, an awesome responsibility that we dare not take lightly. You and I are "ordained to participate" in reflecting God's glory and love to a world that desperately needs Him.

In light of this, the question arises, "Are you reflecting the image and unity of God to those outside of your home and more importantly, to those within your home?" How we relate to our marriage partner communicates the Gospel with and without words (even if your spouse doesn't reflect back). Your married lives are reflecting something to those around you, are they reflecting God's values or that of the enemy of our faith?

Steve: If a young engaged couple asked if they could foll