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"The scandal of this parable is that "The scandal of this parable is that we are all equal recipients of God's we are all equal recipients of God's gifts. The scandal of our faith is gifts. The scandal of our faith is that we are often covetous and that we are often covetous and jealous when God's gifts of jealous when God's gifts of forgiveness and life are given to forgiveness and life are given to other in equal measure." other in equal measure."

-Karl Jacobson-Karl Jacobson

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Is God Too Nice?Is God Too Nice?

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Matthew 20:8-11 “When evening Matthew 20:8-11 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’  “The and going on to the first.’  “The workers who were hired about five workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. received a denarius.

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So when those came who were So when those came who were hired first, they expected to hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began When they received it, they began to grumble against the to grumble against the landowner.”landowner.”

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STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN SYNDROME There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is goldAnd she's buying the stairway to heaven.When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closedWith a word she can get what she came for.

Ooh, ooh, and she's buying the stairway to heaven.

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Ephesians 2:1-4-9 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

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in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

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THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON: TWO lost brothers.

Matthew 20:15 “Are you envious because I am generous?”

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Thief on the Cross: A recent conversation with someone who had just experienced the inward transformation of his initial spiritual surrender transported me back to my own. I recall with pristine clarity the wonder of that holy moment when every attempt to intellectually grasp is finally exhausted and the heart takes you in. Lord, after all our failed attempts at self-improvement, at last, You say the word and we are spotless.

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Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011. "...when God pours out his love and favor towards someone else, we need not worry. If we'd just take the time to look, we'd see that God has filled our cup to the brim too."

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DELIVERED FROM IDLENESS

GOD IS GREAT, GOD IS GOOD

Some never understand the generosity of grace. They simply do not trust God’s goodness and humility.

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