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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='min-width: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Larry Perry [mailto:larryperry@performancepress.ccsend.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Larry Perry<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, May 16, 2021 12:10 PM<br><b>To:</b> mmoore11@kent.edu<br><b>Subject:</b> EXT: Feast of Pentecost (First Fruits of God's Harvest)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt:.75pt'><span style='font-size:1.0pt'><img id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://r20.rs6.net/on.jsp?ca=5b5e86ab-8c03-41fb-a613-956e4ce253e6&a=1103316066373&c=6f49fc70-74b9-11eb-9d75-fa163e24df6a&ch=6f4b0606-74b9-11eb-9d75-fa163e24df6a"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;word-wrap: break-word'><div><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;background:white;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=610 style='width:457.5pt;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:11.25pt 3.75pt 11.25pt 3.75pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;word-wrap: break-word'><tr><td valign=top style='background:#869198;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;background:#869198;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='background:#E6E6E6;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Letter from Larry</span></i><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#717A80'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#EB4C39;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;word-wrap: break-word'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:white'>Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:white'>May 16, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;word-wrap: break-word'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'>Good Sunday Afternoon Everyone:</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'>Today, May 16 is the Feast of First Fruits in Biblical times and </span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'>in today’s times. The following is an excerpt from my new book due</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'>out later this fall, <b>Larry Teaches the Children</b>, and explains this</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'>celebration. Hope you read and understand it.</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#403F42'> </span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:19.5pt;color:red'>Feast of Pentecost </span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:19.5pt;color:red'>(First Fruits of God’s Harvest)</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:#403F42'> </span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Mizzur Perry,” said Lucas, one of the children visiting Eloise and</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>I one day after school. “My friend in school was talking about </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Pente.. something in the Bible. “What is Pente...something and</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>First Fruits?” he asked.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Oh, your friend was probably talking about the Feast of Pentecost</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>or the Feast of First Fruits,” I said. Continuing, “the Feast of Pentecost </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>or First Fruits is celebrated 50 days from the day Jesus was crucified </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>each year.”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Whatiszat,” asked Julie another of the children.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Well a long time ago most of the people were farmers or sheep herders.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>As farmers they planted the seeds of vegetables and fruits in the spring </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>so that they would grow for the summer and fall,” I explained.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“You mean like the farmers in our country do today?” asked Lucas.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Exactly,” I replied. “In the Bible days there were 7 Feasts or we </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>would call them celebrations today.”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Oh, you mean kinda like Christmas or Easter?” asked Julie.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Why?” asked Michael another of the children.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“These festivals were reminders of the people of important events</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>in history. Kinda like a link between the past and the present,” I </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>explained. “In the Bible, God told everyone to celebrate these </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Festivals.”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Why, are they important today?” asked Michael again.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“ Some people today believe these Festivals were only meant for the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>early Biblical times and that the need for them stopped when Christ </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>was crucified on the cross. Believe it or not the Bible itself clearly </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>contradicts this view,” I said.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Whatdoya mean?” asked Julie.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Well, these festivals are called God’s Holy Days and He wants us</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>to celebrate them, because He wants us to know about our future. He </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>tells us his great purpose for our lives and reminds us how to live them.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>When we celebrate God’s festivals He explains His plan for our future.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>The biblical festivals and the Holy Days within them fall during three</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>harvest seasons of the year…early spring harvest, the late spring </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>harvest and the late summer to early fall harvest in the biblical </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>countries of a long time ago,” I explained.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Then why do we need to celebrate these today?” asked Michael.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“We need to celebrate these today to show God’s <i>spiritual harvest</i> of</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>all of us to eternal life by Jesus Christ,” I said. Continuing I said,</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“ God’s Holy Days help us to understand His master plan…the way</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>to truly become His people and to be with Him when we die and </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>go to heaven.”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Hey,” asked Lucas, “you said there were 7 festivals in the Bible. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>What are they?”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Good question, “ I said, “They are Passover, Feast of the Unleavened</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Bread, Pentecost that we are talking about today, Feast of Trumpets, </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles, and the Eighth Day. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>We’ll talk about the others later, but for now let me try to explain </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Pentecost.”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Why 7,” asked Michael. “Why not 10 or 12 or some other number?”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Seven is a very strong biblical number meaning ‘<i>complete</i>,” I explained. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Anyway these Holy Days have meaning that build upon each other. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Together they reveal how God works with us and guides us to be </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>with Him when we die.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Let me tell you a story,” I continued. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“This is a story about a great miracle that happened on the first Pentecost </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Festival way back in bible times. Remember Jesus was crucified and</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>rose from the dead, but He didn’t go straight to heaven. The Bible </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>teaches is was 50 days from when He rose from the dead. During</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>these 50 days His disciples or students started telling people about</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Jesus and all that He did and said. In this period the Bible tells us there </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>were 120 believers that His disciples had taught and who believed in </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Jesus. But on this 50</span><sup><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:black;position:relative;top:-2.5pt;mso-text-raise:2.5pt'>th</span></sup><span style='color:black'> day Jesus wanted to pour out His Holy Spirit </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>to these new believers before He went to be with His father in Heaven. </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>So these new believers from all over the biblical world came together</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>in one place, even though many spoke different languages and could</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>not understand each other, they joined together in celebration of </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Jesus. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>mighty wind and it filled the whole house where the 120 were sitting.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>They were filled with God’s Holy Spirit and began to speak with </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them that ability. The interesting</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>thing was that the people who were speaking in different languages </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>were gathered together hearing and understanding the speech of the </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>disciples. This demonstrated the presence of the Holy Spirit.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>At first the people who saw this miracle were astonished and some </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>thought the statements made by the disciples as being drunk. Then one</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>of the disciples named Peter, now filled with the Holy Spirit, explained</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>the event to the crowd as a fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s prophecy,</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>when he said, ‘<i>And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, </i></span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>that I will pour out My Spirit on all.’</span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>God used these miracles and Peter’s preaching to add 3,000 more </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>people to His Church in one day! These people were converts and </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>were all baptized and received the Holy Spirit! The day of Feast of</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Pentecost is an annual reminder that God poured out His Holy Spirit</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>to establish His Church, the group of believers who are led by His </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Spirit.”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Whoa,” said Lucas. “What is the Holy Spirit?”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“The Holy Spirit is how God talks to us or His power if you will. Think</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>of the wind. Can you see it? No. Can you taste it? No. But you can feel</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>it, right? That is how God talks with us, through the Holy Spirit. We can’t</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>see it, we can’t taste it, but when we read the Bible or learn from a </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>religious leader we can feel it. So it is one way that God guides us,” </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>I answered.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Remember that God’s way of thinking makes peace, happiness and </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>concern for others. Jesus once complimented a religious scholar who </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>correctly quoted the basis of God’s law: <i>‘</i></span><b><i><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>You shall love the Lord your</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>God with all your heart, and with all your soul,, with all your strength </span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>and with all your mind’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself</span></i></b><i><span style='color:black'>.’</span></i><span style='color:black'> The man </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>quoted from two books in the Old Testament, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Jesus confirmed in the New Testament book of Matthew that the Old</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Testament scriptures are based on these two great principles of</span><span style='color:#BF3F2F'> <b>love</b></span><span style='color:black'>.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Because after Jesus’ resurrection, God lived in the Church, its members </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>could express genuine love for one another. Jesus said, <i>‘ </i></span><b><i><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>A new </span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>commandment I give you</span></i></b><b><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>…<i>that you love one another as I have loved </i></span></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>you</span></i></b><b><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>…’ . </span></b><span style='color:black'>By this all will know that you are My disciples, ‘</span><b><i><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>if you have love </span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>for one another.</span></i></b><b><span style='color:#BF3F2F'>’”</span></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“So what does all this mean the Festival of First Fruits or Pente…what </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>did you call it?” asked Lucas.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“Well remember that Pentecost or First Fruits are the first farm products</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>to mature and open. Throughout the Bible, God uses stories of the harvest---</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>particularly on First Fruits or Pentecost to give examples of His plan </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>to get us to heaven. This spring harvest of wheat and barley was the</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>first fruits of the yearly agricultural cycle. One of the first harvest lessons</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>of the New Testament is that Jesus Christ ‘<i>is risen from the dead, and </i></span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.’</span></i><span style='color:black'> Pentecost </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>serves as an annual reminder that God still works miracles, granting His</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Holy Spirit to those called to be the <i>first fruit</i> of His spiritual harvest,</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>giving them the power to carry out His work in this world. In this world</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>we are simply at the <i>beginning of the harvest</i> for the Kingdom of God.”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“So-o-o-o-o what you are saying is that God wants us to love each other </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>as we love Him, and that He talks to us through the Holy Spirit and we</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>celebrate that on First Fruits or Pentecost to remind us of all that.” </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>said Julie.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>“ I think you’ve got it,” I said, “now lets get some milk and cookies </span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Eloise has made for us.</span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:black'>”</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'>*****<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#BF3F2F'>May God Bless and keep you and yours!!!</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#BF3F2F'>Larry</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;word-wrap: break-word'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'>NOTE: This letter is sent to anyone interested in receiving these inspirational notes. There is no charge and you are encouraged to forward these to anyone you think would benefit from reading them. If you would like to receive them direct, just send an email to me at larryperry@att.net and ask.</span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:#403F42'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:.75pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 22.5pt 0in;height:.75pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt:.75pt'><img width=5 height=1 id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif"><o:p></o:p></p></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%;cursor:default'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top 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