We celebrate Palm Sunday every year as the beginning of Easter Week. Some of our societies have special festival services with palm branches or even a live donkey on scene. And some families put on a special family dinner for Palm Sunday.
When you read the accounts of the Triumphal Entry in the gospels, though, you can realize pretty quickly that the celebration of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem was, for the most part, based on a significant misunderstanding of His purpose for coming into this world.
We know now why the Lord was born into this world. It is a point of faith in the broader Christian world and in New Church teachings that Jesus walked around in this natural world for spiritual reasons. The beginning of True Christian Religion puts it this way: “The Lord from eternity, who is Jehovah, came into the world to subjugate the hells and to glorify His Human.” Gaining control over the hells secured the spiritual freedom of humanity, and one way to think of the Lord’s glorification is that it was a spiritual system update or a connection upgrade, one for which the Lord had been preparing the human mind ever since the beginning.
The Jewish people of that time, though, had no interest in spiritual upgrades; they were looking for a natural king of the lineage of David to gather the Israelites, kick out the Romans, and re-establish the glory of Jehovah’s chosen people.
On Sunday, they hailed Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem, and hope probably grew in their hearts as they heard anecdotes of the cleansing of the temple. Then Monday came and went with no rebellion. Tuesday also came and went with no uprising. On Wednesday, the Romans were still in control. By Thursday and Friday, that hope and expectation of a warrior king turned to disappointment and even anger.
So, is Palm Sunday just a celebration of a big misunderstanding and misguided expectations?
Yes, it is. That first Palm Sunday was a big misunderstanding of the Lord’s intentions.
And also, no, it’s not. Our Palm Sunday of today is the celebration that it was supposed to be when Jesus rode that donkey into Jerusalem. The Lord’s entry is really about us allowing the Lord into our hearts by getting ourselves out of the way. We can actually be as full of hope and joy as those people with their palms when we say “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Previous Entries
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Palm Sunday
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 3/18/24
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Coordinating Pastors
by: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 3/11/24
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Diversions
By: Rev. John L. Odhner, 2/27/24
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What Does Having a Relationship with the Lord Mean to You?
by: Rev. Malcolm G. Smith, 2/20/24
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“What is Love?”
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 2/13/24
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God Don’t Make No Junk
By: Rev. Derek Elphick, 2/5/24
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“Swedenborg’s Birthday”
By: Rev. John Odhner, 1/29/2024
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“Building for the Future”
Rev. Derek Elphick, 1/22/2024
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“Impatience or Urgency”
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 1/16/2024
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New Year, New You
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 1/8/24
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New Plan in 2024 for Young Children's and Informal Family Services
From: Pastors Derek Elphick and Malcolm Smith
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Presents
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 12/4/2023
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Christmas Lights
By: Rev. John Odhner, 11/26/2023
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Your Perfect Body
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 11/20/2023
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Be Useful
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 11/13/2023
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World Peace
By: Rev. John Odhner, 11/7/23
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Failure
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 10/30/23
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Why Does Time March on Without Our Approval?
By: Rev. Derek Elphick, 10/23/23
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New Dads Group Starting in November
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 10/16/23
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Reconnection and Conflict
By: Rev. John Odhner, 10/9/23
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It’s All Good
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 10/8/23
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Stability and Change
By: Rev. John Odhner, 9/25/23
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The Unexpected Merciful Face of God
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith; 9/18/23
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Darned If You Do
By: Rev. Jeffrey Smith, 9/5/23
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Always an Egg
By: Rev. John Odhner, 8/28/23
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Community Suppers: What We’ve Got Planned So Far
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 8/22/23
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Life is a Camping Trip
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 8/14/23
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Community Supper
By: Rev. Derek Elphick, 8/7/23
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Hope for the World
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 7/31/23
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Re-Creation
By: Rev. John Odhner, 7/24/23
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Summer: A Chance to Try Worshipping as a Family
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 7/17/23
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Sacred Fire
By: Rev. Solomon Keal, 7/10/23
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Life, Liberty, and Happiness
By: Rev. John Odhner, 7/3/23
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The Leaves of Summertime Trees
By: Rev. Solomon Keal, 6/26/23
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What Should We Call It?
By: Rev. Derek Elphick, 6/13/23
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June Imagery
By: Rev. Jeremy Simons, 6/5/23
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Memorial Day
By: Rev. John Odhner, 5/30/23
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Memorial Day
By: Rev. Solomon Keal, 5/22/23
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When Should a Young Person Start Taking Holy Supper?
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 5/16/23
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Survival Shelter
By: Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith, 5/8/23
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May Weddings
By: Rev. Jeremy Simons, 5/2/23
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Harrowing
By: Rev. Jeremy Simons, 4/17/23
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What Will and What Will Not Last
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 4/11/23
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Easter
By: Rev. John Odhner, 4/4/23
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Pastor’s Message
By: Rev. Derek Elphick, 3/28/23
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First Day of Spring
By: Rev. Solomon Keal, 3/21/23
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The Need for Filters
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 3/14/23
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‘Tis the Season
By: Rev. John Odhner, 3/7/23
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Beauty and the Beast
By: Rev. Solomon Keal, 2/28/23
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The Book That Made Heaven Rejoice
By: Rev. Jeremy Simons, 2/21/23
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Learning to Use the Lord’s Truth Responsibly: A Reflection from Scout Sunday
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 2/7/23
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Eagles
By: Rev. Solomon Keal, 1/30/23
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SWEDENBORG’S 335th!
By: Rev. Jeremy Simons, 1/23/23
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Pastor’s Message
By: Rev. Derek Elphick, 1/16/23
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Smile
By: Rev. John Odhner, 1/9/23
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How to Be Prepared to Take the Holy Supper
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 1/2/23
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Pastor’s Message
By: Rev. Derek Elphick, 12/20/22
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Christmas Spirit
By: Rev. Jeremy Simons, 12/13/22
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Christmas Outreach
By: Rev. John Odhner, 12/6/22
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God with Us
By: Rev. Solomon Keal, 11/28/22
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Pastor’s Message
By: Rev. Derek Elphick, 11/21/22
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Thanksgiving is Coming Soon
By: Rev. Jeremy Simons, 11/14/2022
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Choosing Our Leaders
By: Rev. John Odhner, 11/7/22
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HALLOWE’EN
By: Rev. Solomon Keal- 10/31/22
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Gratitude for the Chance to Worship Together
By: Rev. Malcolm Smith, 10/17/22
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Colors
By Rev. John Odhner, 10/10/22
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Charter Day
By: Rev. Jeremy Simons, 10/03/22
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The Sad and Beautiful Reality of Serving Different Uses
By Rev. Malcolm Smith, 9/26/22
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Pastor’s Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 9-20-2022
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Feeding His Flock
By Rev. John Odhner, 9/13/22
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The Season Begins
By Rev. Jeremy Simons, 9/6/22
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The Importance of What Happens After The Worship Service
By Rev. Malcolm Smith, 8/30/22
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August Pastor’s Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 8/23/22
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Community
By Rev. John Odhner
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Walking the Lord’s Commandments
By Rev. Solomon Keal, 8/9/22
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Quick! have more fun before it’s too late!
By Rev. Malcolm Smith, 8/2/22
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Community Worship
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 7-12-22
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Africa and Asia
By Rev. Jeremy Simons, 7/5/22
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Inclusivity of the Church
By Rev. Solomon Keal, 6/21/22
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The Lord Leads the Church
By Rev. John Odhner, 6/14/22
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Seeing the Light of Heaven
By Rev. Eric Carswell, 6/7/22
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Memorial Day
By Rev. Solomon Keal, 5/31/22
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Pastor’s Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 5/24/22
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Pastor’s Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 9-20-2022
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Arguments
By Rev. John Odhner, 5/10/22
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Swedenborg Foundation
By Rev. Jeremy Simons, 5/3/22
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Pastor’s Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 4/26/22
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A Divine Mission Being Served By Fallible Humans
By Rev. Eric Carswell, 4/19/22
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Pastor’s Box
By Rev. John Odhner, 4/12/22
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A Moveable Feast
By Rev. Jeremy Simons, 4/5/22
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The Christian Symbol of the Cross
By Rev. Eric Carswell, 3/29/22
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The Strength of Inner Peacefulness
By Rev. Eric Carswell, 3/22/22
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A Message from our Head Pastor
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 3/15/22
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Prayer Service for Ukraine
By Jeremy Simons, 3/8/22
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Invading Boundaries
By Rev. Solomon Keal, 3/1/22
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The Olympics
By Rev. Jeremy Simons, 2/22/22
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Love is Always the Heart of the Matter
By Rev. Phil Schnarr, 2/15/22
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Unmasked
By Rev. John Odhner, 2/8/22
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Groundhog’s Day
By Rev. Jeremy Simons, 2/1/22
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January Pastor’s Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 1/25/22
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Martin Luther Kind Jr. Day
By Rev. Solomon Keal, 1/18/22
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Zeal for the Common Good
By Rev. Phil Schnarr 1/11/22
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Reflecting on the Past Year
By Rev. Eric Carswell, 1/4/22
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A Christmas Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, 12/21/21
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Santa Claus
By Rev. John Odhner, 12/14/21
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The Christmas Tree Sale
By Jeremy Simons, December 7th, 2021
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My peace I give to you. (John 14:27)
By Rev. Phil Schnarr, November 30th, 2021
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Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclaimation
By Rev. Solomon Keal, November 23rd, 2021
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Getting Ready for Thanksgiving
By Rev. John Odhner, November 16th, 2021
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May Our Lives Bear Fruit
Rev. Eric Carswell, November 9th, 2021
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Human Heart
By Rev. Derek Elphick, November 2nd, 2021
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What is Easy for One is Difficult for Another
By Rev. Phil Schnarr, October 26th, 2021
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Pumpkin Spice
By Rev. Solomon Keal, October 19th, 2021
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A Healthy Congregation: Worship, Instruction and Community
By Rev. Eric Carswell, October 12th, 2021
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Charter Day
By Rev. Jeremy Simons, October 5th, 2021
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Adapting and Modifying
By Rev. Phil Schnarr, September 28th, 2021
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Pastor’s Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, Septemer 21st, 2021
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Remembering and Forgetting
By Rev. Eric Carswell, September 14th, 2021
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Meaningful Work
by Rev. Phil Schnarr, Sept. 7th, 2021
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End of Summer
By Rev. Jeremy Simons, August 31st, 2021
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New Church Education
By Rev. Eric Carswell, August 24th, 2021
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Laurel Camp Jubilee 2021
By Rev. Solomon Keal, August 17th, 2021
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Pastor’s Message
By Rev. Derek Elphick, August 10th, 2021
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Tranquility
By Rev. Phily Schnarr, August 3rd 2021
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Nina Finkelday
By Rev. Jeremy Simons July 20th, 2021
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Elphick’s Arrival
By Derek Elphick, July 13th, 2021
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When will it be over?
By Rev. John Odhner, July 6th, 2021
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The Fruit and Leaves of the Tree of Life
By Solomon Keal, June 29th, 2021
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New Church Day
By Jeremy Simons, June 22nd, 2021
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Being Useful for the Sake of Use
By Erik Buss, June 15th, 2021
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The Future of the Church
By Eric Carswell, June 8th, 2021
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Manifested in Person
By Phil Schnarr, June 1st, 2021
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It’s Easy to Believe Things That Aren’t True
By Jeremy Simons, May 25th, 2021