Members of Congress Demand India Release Tennessee Pastor Bryan Nerren

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Members of Congress Demand India Release Tennessee Pastor Bryan Nerren

Members of Congress are demanding that the government of India release a Tennessee pastor who continues to be detained in the country even after he resolved a customs case brought against him for allegedly not paying duty on money he brought into the country.

“We write to bring your attention to the case of Bryan Kevin Nerren Sr. of Shelbyville, Tennessee. We are immediately concerned with the health of the Nerren family, including Mr. Nerren’s daughter with special needs, who has been hospitalized with pneumonia as Mr. Nerren remains in India without a clear point of return,” Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Reps. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., and Jody Hice, R-Ga., wrote in a letter to the Indian Foreign Secretary last week.

Pastor Nerren, who leads the International House of Prayer Ministries in Shelbyville and operates a nonprofit organization called Asian Children’s Education Fellowship, which has been training Sunday School teachers in India and Nepal for 17 years, was targeted and arrested as he stepped off a flight in Bagdogra, India, last October.

“We request that India uphold their end of the offer, as Mr. Nerren has upheld his, by finalizing the compounding of the offense and allowing him to return to his family,” the letter said.

Before his arrest in Bagdogra, a security agent in New Delhi questioned Nerren about $40,000 he was carrying while traveling with two other pastors from Tennessee. The pastor explained that the funds were to cover two conferences and support a two-week trip for 13 ministers. After about an hour of questioning, he was cleared to fly, but when he arrived in Bagdogra he was arrested for violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act because he didn’t complete a document to account for the funds. But the officials in New Delhi did not provide Nerren with the necessary forms.

Nerren recently accepted an offer to compound his offense. “He submitted an application for compounding, filed an affidavit with the court indicating submission of the application, and compiled $7,000 to be transferred to Customs upon Customs’ finalization of the appropriate paperwork,” the letter explained. “He has completed all of these required actions. However, Customs is now requiring the submission of a waiver of forfeiture for the money lost, a request that was not included in the original conditions – and to our knowledge is not required by Indian law.”

In the letter, the senators and congressmen reminded Indian officials that “the U.S.-India relationship is a vital and healthy one, as exhibited by President Trump’s recent visit to Delhi.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Anugrah Kumar

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Mohabat TV Director: Millions of Iranians May Perish as Result of Coronavirus, People Not Obeying the Quarantine

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Source CBN

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Religious Leaders Believe Coronavirus Outbreak Is a Sign of the Messiah’s Return

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Religious Leaders Believe Coronavirus Outbreak Is a Sign of the Messiah’s Return


Religious Leaders Believe Coronavirus Outbreak Is a Sign of the Messiah’s Return

Muslim and Jewish leaders from Israel to Iran believe the coronavirus may be a sign that the Messiah is coming soon.

“The Jewish people live, we are waking up, opening our eyes, stopping all the nonsense we do, and really drawing closer to Shabbat,” said Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu in a YouTube video, CBN News reports. “Maybe the Muslims will tell us to build the Temple.” Many Christians and Jews believe this event would bring the Messiah.

A Muslim Iranian cleric, Ali Reza Banahyan also believes that the worldwide pandemic will bring the Shiite messiah named “Mahdi” or “The Twelfth Imam.” Muslim prophecy predicts he would come during a great upheaval of the earth.

Saudi Sheikh Saleh Al-Maghamsi also vocalized a similar belief that the Judgment Day is near in a television program.

Other leaders believe the coronavirus outbreak is God’s judgment on the earth in order to bring the wayward back to Him.

“In our days, man thinks he is God, that he is the master and can decide what is good and bad, something which is called moral relativism or postmodernism,” said Orthodox rabbit Shlomo Aviner. “If this is the case, that mankind is proud, mankind knows everything, understands everything, let us see you fight the smallest of God’s creations. This creation is called corona, a crown.”

The coronavirus is so named because of the fatty outer layer that looks like a crown…

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Trump Says US on 'War-Time Footing' Against Virus, Senate Passes First Economic Aid Bill

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Trump Says US on 'War-Time Footing' Against Virus, Senate Passes First Economic Aid Bill

America is at war with an “invisible enemy.” President Trump said Wednesday that the US is on a war-time footing in the fight against COVID-19.

As economic fears are hitting hard, another stock market free-fall struck Wednesday and a sell-off roller coaster triggered a historic fourth halt in trading. 

The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed down by 5 percent or more on Wednesday, erasing Tuesday’s 5 percent comeback.

Senate Passes Economic Aid

The US Congress is striking back against recession fears with a new economic aid package.

Wednesday afternoon, the US Senate passed a multi-billion dollar emergency package to help Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The House already approved the measure. It now heads for President Trump’s desk and his signature. 

The Senate will now begin work on the third and largest stimulus package that lawmakers hope to pass next week. The bill would infuse almost $1 trillion into the US economy.  

At the Capitol on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell prepared his colleagues for unprecedented steps to deal with the epidemic’s assault on the economy. “I will not adjourn the Senate until we pass a far bolder package,” McConnell said. “We aren’t leaving until we deliver.”

On another financial note, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is responding to the pandemic by suspending all foreclosures and evictions until the end of April. 

US War Footing Against Coronavirus

As part of his war-footing, President Trump announced he’s invoking the Defense Production Act to allow the production of essential equipment to ramp up. 

The US-Canadian border is also being closed to all non-essential traffic.

“This does not include essential travel or the transit of goods but it was through mutual discussion that took place between the President and Prime Minister Trudeau and the Department of Homeland Security will be effectuating that decision,” Vice President Mike Pence said in a news briefing Wednesday morning. 

There are now 7,600 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US compared to 600 in Canada. The leaders of both countries say this decision to close the border is a necessary one.

“Travelers will no longer be permitted to cross the border for recreation and tourism in both our countries,” Trudeau said. 

Meanwhile, flight operations at Chicago’s Midway Airport are limited. Hundreds of flights were canceled after at least three technicians in the airport’s air traffic control tested positive for COVID-19.

FEMA and US Navy Responding

FEMA, known for responding to natural disasters, is now operating at its highest level to help fight the virus. 

Trump said, “This is a very different kind of work for FEMA, but they will come through as they always do.”

Tomorrow, the president will hold a teleconference with all the nation’s governors to help solidify the federal government’s partnership in the crisis with all of the states and US territories. 

And the US Navy is preparing to send two hospital ships to New York and Seattle to handle the overflow caused by the epidemic. Each ship can treat up to 1,000 patients.

For now, officials are also asking all other doctors and dentists to postpone elective surgeries for the time being, so all medical resources can be used fighting this pandemic.

International Developments

During Wednesday’s task force briefing, new information was revealed about the potential effect of this disease on young people, who had been thought to be at lower risk.

Dr. Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator, said, “There are concerning reports coming out of France and Italy about some young people getting seriously ill and very seriously ill in some ICUs. There may be a disproportional number of infections among that group and so even if it’s a rare occurrence it may be seen more frequently in that group and be evident now.”

Meanwhile, President Trump has referred to the disease as “The Chinese virus.” So a reporter asked him Wednesday, “Why do you keep using this? A lot of people say it’s racist?” He replied, “It’s not racist at all, it comes from China.”

Source CBN

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PODCAST: The Prayer Motivator Minute #915 with Daniel Whyte III

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PODCAST: The Prayer Motivator Minute #915 with Daniel Whyte III

Prayer Motivator Minute #915

Charles Spurgeon said, “Neglect of private prayer is the locust which devours the strength of the church.”

This is Daniel Whyte III with the Prayer Motivator Minute #915 here to remind you that there is still great power in prayer to God Almighty in the holy Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our prayer motivator verse from the Word of God today is Matthew 21:13 which says: “And [he] said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Our featured prayer motivator quote today is from Oswald Chambers. He said: “To say that ‘prayer changes things’ is not as close to the truth as saying ‘prayer changes me and then I change things.’ God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things.”

PRAYER

Now, if you are listening today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, allow me to show you how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Until next time,

Remember, friend, Pray, Think, Do! God Bless You!

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Chick-fil-A Delivers 1,000 Meals to Washington Hospital Impacted by Coronavirus

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Chick-fil-A Delivers 1,000 Meals to Washington Hospital Impacted by Coronavirus


Chick-fil-A Delivers 1,000 Meals to Washington Hospital Impacted by Coronavirus

A Chick-fil-A in Washington state delivered 1,000 meals last week to a local hospital that has been impacted by the novel coronavirus.

Chick-fil-A Cascade Park in Vancouver, Wash., delivered the meals to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, which is about four miles away.

“We are so grateful to [owner] John Dombroski and his team at Chick-fil-A Cascade Park in Vancouver for delivering and serving 1,000 meals to our hard-working caregivers today,” the hospital wrote on its Facebook page. “Your kindness in a tough time is appreciated more than you can know.”

Chick-fil-A, on its own Facebook page, said it was “truly honored to partner with PeaceHealth Southwest to serve their fantastic team.”

Hospital workers said they appreciated the gesture.

“Thank you so much Chic fil a … we are all so appreciative of your kindness! it was delicious and brightened our workday!” one worker wrote on the hospital’s Facebook page.

Washington state has the most COVID-19 cases (1,014) in the nation, according to Johns Hopkins University. Fifty-five people have died.

The hospital is preparing for an influx of cases by postponing elective surgeries indefinitely.

“This measure will free up space in our hospital, while also conserving supplies and ensuring the safety of all patients, community and caregivers,” PeaceHealth spokeswoman Debra Carnes told The Columbian newspaper in an…

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PODCAST: Whyte House Family Devotional Reading of Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening #61 with Daniel Whyte III

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PODCAST: Whyte House Family Devotional Reading of Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening #61 with Daniel Whyte III

This is Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International with the Whyte House Family Devotional Reading of Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening podcast. This is Episode #61.

Charles Spurgeon was a prominent English Particular Baptist preacher. He was very influential among the Christians of various denominations during his age and even today, and is commonly called the “Prince of Preachers”. After some time of alternately searching for God and running from God, he had a powerful encounter which led him to give his life to Christ. Spurgeon was only 16 when he preached his first sermon and he began publishing books shortly afterward. At the time of his death, he had preached nearly 3,600 sermons and published 49 volumes of commentaries, sayings, anecdotes, illustrations and devotions. Spurgeon said, “encouraging thoughts are like honey to the heart”, and wrote this devotional in hopes that its uplifting messages for each day of the year would bring comfort and refreshment to our walk with God. He was inspired by Isaiah 50:4 which reads, “He wakeneth morning by morning. He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned” and Psalm 63:5-6 which says, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips; when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.”

Jeremiah 23:6 reads: “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE Lord OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we are “perfect in Christ Jesus.” It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we call to mind that “Christ is made unto us righteousness,” we shall be of good cheer. What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me, though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace; there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all. On the cross he said, “It is finished!” and if it be finished, then am I complete in him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, “Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” You will not find on this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into their hearts the doctrine of Christ’s righteousness. When the believer says, “I live on Christ alone; I rest on him solely for salvation; and I believe that, however unworthy, I am still saved in Jesus;” then there rises up as a motive of gratitude this thought—“Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not love him and serve him, seeing that I am saved by his merits?” “The love of Christ constraineth us,” “that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them.” If saved by imputed righteousness, we shall greatly value imparted righteousness.

PRAY.

Thank you for listening to the Morning and Evening podcast. If you do not know the Lord as your Savior, here is how you can be saved from Hell and walk with the Lord morning and evening until you go to that wonderful place called Heaven when you die:

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 18:8: “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at [email protected] and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

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William Vanderbloeman on Eight Tips for Confronting Your Boss the Right Way

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William Vanderbloeman on Eight Tips for Confronting Your Boss the Right Way

A friend of mine recently told me, “People go to work because of a vision. People leave work because of managers.”

People are difficult to work for. The No. 1 reason why? Because they are people. No matter how great your manager is, there will come a time when you will feel a need to confront your boss. If you don’t know how to face that, you may end up leaving a dream job over a simple misunderstanding.

So, what’s the right way to confront your boss? Of all the pointers I’ve read, there’s one that stands out: honor those in authority above you.

When the Apostle Paul told people to respect those in authority over them in Romans 13, he was likely speaking to a group that wasn’t really excited about their leaders. Showing honor is biblical. It’s lacking in our culture. It’s also effective. If you must confront your boss, they will likely remember how you carried yourself more than what you said, and showing honor may get you closer to your goal than any critique you may bring.

Honor doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to everything a leader does. Honor doesn’t mean accepting every idea without offering feedback. But honor does mean that when you confront your boss, you do so respecting the person to whom you are talking and honoring the office they hold.

I’d like to offer eight pointers to show honor when it’s time to confront your boss.

Tip #1: Look in the Mirror
Before you confront your boss over an issue, ask yourself which part of the problem is yours. I have never seen an instance where one side is totally wrong and the other totally right. If you can, as the Bible says, name the log in your own eye while pointing out a splinter in your boss’ (Matthew 7:5), your visit will be much better received.

Tip #2: Make an Appointment
Scheduling ahead of time makes a huge difference to a leader and shows more respect than most people realize. Just as important as scheduling a start time, be sure to schedule an end time. My advice is that planning these meetings is like packing for vacation. Consider how long you think you’ll need, then cut it in half. Confrontational meetings go much better if they err on the short side rather than the long.

Tip #3: Meet in Private and Meet Alone
Except in rare circumstances of sexual misconduct or dishonesty, I make this a cardinal rule. The only advantage I know to confronting a boss in front of other employees is consistency — it will consistently end badly. Show honor by meeting behind closed doors. Most good leaders I know welcome input, feedback and even pushback in private. One of my mentors says it this way, “I invite pushback in private. I demand loyalty in public.” When handled privately, your boss may be more welcome to input than you ever imagined.

SOURCE: Christian Post, William Vanderbloeman

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Mississippi House Passes Bill Banning Abortions Based on Race, Sex, or Genetic Abnormalities

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Mississippi House Passes Bill Banning Abortions Based on Race, Sex, or Genetic Abnormalities

The Mississippi House of Representatives passed a bill that, if enacted, will ban abortions performed due to an unborn baby’s race, sex, or possible genetic abnormalities.

Known as House Bill 1295, the measure was passed last Thursday by a vote of 79-33, with six abstentions, three voting present, and one vacancy.

Sue Liebel, state policy director for the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List, celebrated the results of the vote and expected the legislation to ultimately pass.

“Abortions carried out because of a baby’s sex, race, or potential disability, such as Down syndrome, is no less than modern-day eugenics,” said Liebel in a statement.

“SBA List is confident these staunch pro-life advocates will continue to champion this bill until it reaches Governor Tate Reeves’ desk — a strongly pro-life governor who will not fail to sign it into law.”

Also known as the Life Equality Act of 2020, the bill gives an exemption for medical emergencies.

“Abortions predicated on the presence or presumed presence of genetic abnormalities continue to occur despite the increasingly favorable post-natal outcomes for human beings perceived as handicapped or disabled,” explains HB 1295 in part.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Michael Gryboski

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Timothy D. Padgett on Coronavirus and the Hope of Christianity

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A contagion stalks the land, and we play at not being afraid.

We make our jokes, suggesting a black market for toilet paper and how this is all an introvert’s dream. We cultivate rationalizations, noting that more people die in a week from tuberculosis than this new blight has felled in all. We keep our distance, zeroing in on the implications for the 2020 election.

But we are afraid.

It’s hard not to be scared when we see the numbers grow, when we see $11 trillion wiped from the economy, when we see the affected areas slither their way across the map, ever closer to home. There’s something unnerving about a new and unknown ailment that the powers that be are powerless to contain.

It’s unsettling when all the comforts we’ve grown accustomed to enjoying seem to be slipping from our grasp. Dining out with friends, greeting associates with a handshake, even touching our own faces — all of these now cast an ominous shadow on our lives.

We are not the first to face such fears. And, as much as we wish it otherwise, we will not be the last. We can look back to the most famous plague of all — The Black Death that wormed its way across Europe nearly 700 years ago. From there we read Boccaccio’s morbidly beautiful account where he describes the fabulous and wealthy in his city who:

[A]fter dining heartily with their friends here, have supped with their departed friends in the other world!

Our shaky confidence in our prepping abilities — what with our Netflix, our Facetime, and our hoarded toiletries — also finds it echo in the past, this time in delightfully dark words of Edgar Allen Poe. In his tale, “The Masque of the Red Death,” an old-world princeling hides away from the disease outside, secure in the knowledge that he is safe:

The prince had provided all the appliances of pleasure. There were buffoons, there were improvisatori, there were ballet-dancers, there were musicians, there was Beauty, there was wine. All these and security were within. Without was the “Red Death.”

We can think of other works where fear reigns. There’s H. G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds,” which, despite its reputation as simply a tale of aliens, is more about human fear on a mass scale, as the most civilized of nations comes unglued in days when faced with an unstoppable nemesis. Or, somewhat more contemporary, we see a plague-induced panic in Stephen King’s “The Stand,” as the thin veneer of culture strips away as the bodies begin to fall.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Timothy D. Padgett

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