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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">ABRAHAM & MARY<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:date Month="5" Day="15"
Year="2006"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">MAY 15, 2006</SPAN></st1:date><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">WOODS CROSS GROUP<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">I
am ABRAHAM. Greetings. As always, I am happy to be with you again. I really
admire how you pour your heart and soul into those things you believe deeply in.
Sometimes it does take quite a bit of time to draw conclusions within your
minds, but when you decide to act, you are indeed driven with passion.
Admirable, indeed. It is understandable in this material life when one feels a
tendency to hold back. Allow Father’s love and logic to be your guide. Have not
worry. As promised, I give you our esteemed teacher, MARY.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Greetings, friends and colleagues, I am always at home
among you. I am growing with more affection each time I look upon your beautiful
faces. I know I am indeed blessed to be in such a position to teach and also be
a student. What an honor.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">I
am with great interest in Abraham’s topic of last week on going forth with
spiritual courage. I realize the beginning of my very salvation began with my
sister’s, who portrayed such courage. I make no excuses for myself really, for
my dark days. They simply were what they were--a mixture of upbringing and poor
choices, not a cause for eternal damnation. I was hardened, believe me. I was
quite bitter against those who appeared to be better off, having had somewhat of
a more blessed journey than I, which brings me to my dark days in the flesh,
when I lived the only way I knew how. I made a bit of money here and there doing
things I was not proud of and yet, I did what I had to, to survive. For the most
part, I saw no way out. I was definitely ready for a glimmer of hope, some light
at the end of a long and dark tunnel.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Imagine my dismay at the two clean, well-dressed women
who came to share with me the good news. It was really not so much their words
of encouragement, but the risk they took at being seen in such a place of low
standards. Yes, I am speaking of ten women who embraced the Master’s teaching,
who took a chance at ruining their good standing in the community to go into the
underbelly of society to bring glad tidings. One woman was the daughter of a
well-known physician. One woman was the eldest daughter of an apostle. One woman
was the cousin of Thomas and so on. Each woman had something to lose socially by
embracing the Master’s teaching first off and secondly by going into the poor
communities and reaching out to the sick.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Had
it not been for my sister’s, I don’t know if I would have had the courage to
break free from the only life I had known. Do you see? I would not have related
as well with one of the male apostles, no. It was Father’s plan all along to
involve women on an administrative level. These women apostles dared to leave
their good-standing in favor of faith. They acted upon that faith. Don’t think
for one minute their loved ones did not try to sway them to think differently.
They were under tremendous pressure to keep with tradition. Had they let fear
get the better of them and stayed with tradition, the Master’s cause might not
have been as successful on so many levels. The male apostles might have led a
more public life, but the females laid a more sturdy foundation. They tended to
the lesser. In the end this brought greater upliftment.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">In
joining the Master’s ministry I really had nothing to lose. My reputation really
could not have gotten any worse, so the transition was fairly easy for me. When
I do look at both the women and men apostles I am inspired by their courage to
follow through with a concept that was mostly built out of faith. While the
overall ministry of the Master was not perfect, it was successful. Your ministry
will not be perfect. It will have highs and lows. You will be the student and
the teacher. Overall, it will be successful. It will take courage to stay true
to the course, to the one who serves us so well.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">This week let us ponder how much we need to be seen in
the public eye, or can we serve in lesser capacity? Can we forsake traditional
standing to do what is right? Where does our energy go? That is all. Know that
every minute with you is joy-filled and a great learning experience for me. As
always, our love goes with you. From both of us, until next time,
shalom.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>