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	<title>Expressions and Insights &#187; encouragement</title>
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	<description>By Dr. Garrick D. Conner</description>
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		<title>Expressions and Insights &#187; encouragement</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com</link>
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		<title>A prayer of hope</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2010/02/28/a-prayer-of-hope/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2010/02/28/a-prayer-of-hope/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:53:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feelings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hope]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purpose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[suicide]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://garrickdconner.com/?p=1895</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m not one to casually link to other blogs &#8212; mainly because I can&#8217;t be responsible for the views and contents of someone else&#8217;s domain. However, there are times when exceptions must be made. This is one of them.
There is so much suffering in this world. From Haiti to Chile and all around the globe, [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=1895&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
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		<title>In search of simplicity</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2010/02/15/in-search-of-simplicity/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2010/02/15/in-search-of-simplicity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:24:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discipleship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Priorities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purpose]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://garrickdconner.com/?p=1874</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;It&#8217;s complicated.&#8221;
That&#8217;s a statement used today to describe everything from relationships to technology. Those of us who readily utilize computers for work and play are always seeking out simpler means to achieve our goals. We want software and apps that are intuitive. We want our calendars and contacts to sync. We want shortcuts to even [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=1874&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">stormy-sea-ship</media:title>
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			<media:title type="html">Share</media:title>
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		<title>One month from today . . .</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/12/01/one-month-from-today/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/12/01/one-month-from-today/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:10:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discipleship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Priorities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resolutions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://garrickdconner.com/?p=1713</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s December 1. Believe it or not! We&#8217;re heading into a busy season. And one month from today, we&#8217;ll greet a whole new year. This post is definitely a challenge &#8212; for me and for you.
Here are 30 questions I&#8217;m already pondering as I think toward 2010:
PERSONAL LIFE

What do I want to be different in my personal life?
Who [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=1713&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/december-30-day-challenge.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">December 30-Day Challenge</media:title>
		</media:content>

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			<media:title type="html">Share</media:title>
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		<title>Thoughts on Thanksgiving</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/11/24/thoughts-on-thanksgiving/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/11/24/thoughts-on-thanksgiving/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:57:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[friends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gratitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Priorities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thanksgiving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://garrickdconner.com/?p=1672</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nestled snugly between the widely commercialized holidays of Halloween and Christmas lies a special day called Thanksgiving . . . a day on which we are encouraged to offer gratitude for our many blessings.
Sadly, I think that for many Thanksgiving Day is little more than an opportunity to overindulge on favorite food items, binge on college [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=1672&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/11/24/thoughts-on-thanksgiving/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
		</media:content>

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			<media:title type="html">Give-Thanks</media:title>
		</media:content>

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		<title>A tribute to our veterans</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/11/11/a-tribute-to-our-veterans/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/11/11/a-tribute-to-our-veterans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:22:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[America]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gratitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[military]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[patriotism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Veterans Day]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://garrickdconner.com/?p=1666</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you&#8217;re really still and quiet you can hear them in the distance &#8212; the sounds of artillery and grenades exploding against the night sky. And every pop represents a person, a man or woman engaged in a battle for our continued freedom in an increasingly hostile and volatile world.
These are soldiers on a mission, [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=1666&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/11/11/a-tribute-to-our-veterans/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/us-flag.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">US-Flag</media:title>
		</media:content>

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			<media:title type="html">Share</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>The impact of&#8217; &#8216;little things&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/08/17/the-impact-of-little-things/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/08/17/the-impact-of-little-things/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:07:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[impact]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purpose]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://expressionsandinsights.wordpress.com/?p=997</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It turns out that in many cases &#8216;little things&#8217; aren&#8217;t so little after all. In fact, it&#8217;s those &#8216;little things&#8217; can sometimes pack the biggest punch.
And I&#8217;m not just talking about fire ants. . .or velvet jewelry boxes. . .or a grain of sand &#8212; in your eye. I&#8217;m talking about those things that can [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=997&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/08/17/the-impact-of-little-things/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/man-tying-a-tie.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Man Tying a Tie</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>Christians can be buggers</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/06/15/christians-can-be-buggers/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/06/15/christians-can-be-buggers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:36:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[devotional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fireflies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purpose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[summer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://expressionsandinsights.wordpress.com/?p=768</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I just love summer nights. The thick humid air takes me back to my childhood. So many nights were spent out in the backyard swing, enjoying the gentle breeze, cricket sonnets, and that soothing sound of a distant whippoorwill.
Now that I&#8217;m a city boy, summer nights are different. The sounds of traffic from both ground [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=768&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/06/15/christians-can-be-buggers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/fireflies1.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">fireflies</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/lightning-bug.jpg?w=98" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">lightning bug</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/fireflies-unison3.png" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">fireflies unison</media:title>
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	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why outreach matters</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/06/10/why-outreach-matters/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/06/10/why-outreach-matters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:20:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[evangelism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outreach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purpose]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://expressionsandinsights.wordpress.com/?p=657</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Throughout my time in ministry, I have often found myself burdened by the nature of the local church. Now that&#8217;s not a blanket condemnation of the church. There are, in fact, many things that most churches seem to do pretty well: prayer, fellowship, worship, Bible study.
These tasks of the church, however, are largely self-focused. We [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=657&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/06/10/why-outreach-matters/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/outreach-globe1.jpg?w=300" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">outreach globe</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/cotton-field.jpg" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">cotton field</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>A day to remember</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/05/25/a-day-to-remember/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/05/25/a-day-to-remember/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2009 07:50:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[America]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gratitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[liberty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Memorial Day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[military]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[patriotism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poetry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[remembering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://expressionsandinsights.wordpress.com/?p=562</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
On this Memorial Day, I offer this original poem, which I wrote from my heart. If it blesses you, please feel free to share this post with friends and family. I dedicate it, with sincere thanks, to the memory of those who died while serving in our armed forces. May we never forget their sacrifice.
Today [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=562&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
	
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			<media:title type="html">Garrick</media:title>
		</media:content>

		<media:content url="http://expressionsandinsights.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/memorial-day.gif" medium="image">
			<media:title type="html">Memorial Day</media:title>
		</media:content>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>How salty are you?</title>
		<link>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/05/13/how-salty-are-you/</link>
		<comments>http://garrickdconner.com/2009/05/13/how-salty-are-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2009 05:01:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Garrick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purpose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[salt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saltiness]]></category>

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I spent a large portion of yesterday pondering salt. That&#8217;s right. . .salt. Ever since Monday&#8217;s news report on the ridiculously high amount of salt in the food of many chain restaurants, I&#8217;ve been thinking it through.
Salt is one of those minerals that is absolutely essential for animal life, including humans. As a primary electrolyte, salt is responsible [...]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=garrickdconner.com&blog=2294139&post=517&subd=expressionsandinsights&ref=&feed=1" />]]></description>
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