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Asking Can a nation change...

Illustration
Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Jeremiah 2:4-13
Asking "Can a nation change its god?" in Jeremiah's day is akin to asking, "Can a leopard change its spots?" today. (Jeremiah does in fact ask that question, Jeremiah 13:23.) The expected answer was, "No."

There is a leopard that appears to have changed its spots, however. The famous black panther is, in fact, a leopard or a jaguar that has melanism. Melanism occurs because of a mutation or abnormality of one of the cat's genes that is associated with coat coloration and markings. A melanistic leopard appears to be black and often is more aggressive than
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“Breaking Jesus’ Heart” by John Sumwalt
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Breaking Jesus’ Heart
by John Sumwalt
Psalm 22:23-31

For he did not despise or abhor
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