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<title>Just a Thought</title>
<description>Senior Pastor Sid Batts' Just a Thought weekday messages from First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/index.html</link>

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<title>8-22-11_Too much stuff</title>
<description>Have you noticed how many reality TV shows deal with too much stuff?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0822_11.html</link>
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<title>8-19-11_Seeing another way</title>
<description>A young woman in Iran was pursued by a man in whom she was not interested. She kept refusing his invitations.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0819_11.html</link>
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<title>8-17-11_Room philosophy</title>
<description>In waking up this morning, we could ask ourself, “What are some secrets to a meaningful life?” And we might find answers right there in our own house.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0817_11.html</link>
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<title>8-15-11_Spiritual grit</title>
<description>Each summer about 1,200 young men and women arrive at West Point to begin four years of preparation.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0815_11.html</link>
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<title>8-12-11_Love is blind</title>
<description>There was a wealthy young man who was born with a disfigured face, so he always stayed home.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0812_11.html</link>
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<title>8-10-11_Monarch butterflies</title>
<description>Because of their lifespan, no one butterfly makes the whole journey. So how do the offspring know which way to fly?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0810_11.html</link>
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<title>8-8-11_Your message in a bottle</title>
<description>Paula Pierce runs a beach motel in New Hampshire that her father opened in 1960. At that time he also wrote a note, tucked it into a soda bottle and tossed it into the Atlantic.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0808_11.html</link>
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<title>8-5-11_Silent voice</title>
<description>Amy Winehouse, the jazz and pop singer who died recently, had a distinct voice. She was only 27 and already had won several Grammy awards.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0805_11.html</link>
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<title>8-3-11_Zombie me</title>
<description>Well, we thought it was only vampires but zombies have acquired hip status as well.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0803_11.html</link>
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<title>8-1-11_The 12th sponge</title>
<description>In the operating room of a large hospital, a young nurse was completing her first full day of responsibilities.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Aug_2011/0801_11.html</link>
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<title>7-29-11_Like finding golf balls</title>
<description>A man who lived near a golf course liked to walk early in the mornings. One day he spotted a golf ball on a neighbor’s lawn and picked it up.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0729_11.html</link>
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<title>7-27-11_Connecting to a purpose</title>
<description>Po Bronson has a book entitled, “The Ultimate Question: What Should I do with my life?”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0727_11.html</link>
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<title>7-25-11_Paying attention</title>
<description>Around 1970, Bill Bowerman, the University of Oregon track coach, was searching for a design for new type of track shoe for his runners.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0725_11.html</link>
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<title>7-22-11_Identity yard sale</title>
<description>Just about every week it seems that we hear more news about identity theft. It happens when hackers break into computer systems and steal personal information such as Social Security or credit cards numbers.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0722_11.html</link>
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<title>7-20-11_Start with ourselves</title>
<description>A wise, old Middle Eastern mystic said this about himself: “I was a revolutionary when I was young, and my prayer to God was, ‘Lord give me the energy to change the world.’</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0720_11.html</link>
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<title>7-18-11_Living better with less</title>
<description>The Great Recession has many of us re-thinking how we live, and we are spending our money on experiences over stuff.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0718_11.html</link>
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<title>7-15-11_Managing mistakes</title>
<description>Ben Hogan was an American golfer, and is generally considered one of the greatest golfers in the history of the game.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0715_11.html</link>
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<title>7-13-11_How much life?</title>
<description>Scientists say there might be 100 million planets in the Milky Way galaxy that are roughly the Earth’s size and include the chemicals and conditions thought necessary for life.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0713_11.html</link>
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<title>7-11-11_Would you rather?</title>
<description>There is a card game called “Would You Rather” that asks players to make tough choices.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0711_11.html</link>
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<title>7-8-11_Daydreaming</title>
<description>Are you with me? Chances are, until I asked the question, many of you weren’t.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0708_11.html</link>
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<title>7-6-11_Measuring value</title>
<description>How much would you pay for a tape measure? What if it were silver, or what if it had been owned by John F. Kennedy?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0706_11.html</link>
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<title>7-4-11_Happy Independence Day</title>
<description>On this day we are reminded of Thomas Jefferson, and the Declaration of Independence. You remember words from that document?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0704_11.html</link>
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<title>7-1-11_Discovering who we are</title>
<description>In American culture, we have a tried and true formula: You study hard and work hard. You go to the right college.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jul_2011/0701_11.html</link>
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<title>6-29-11_A note to parents</title>
<description>Joseph Califano from Columbia University says the odds that 12 to 17-year-olds will smoke, drink, or use marijuana rise as the number of meals they have with their parents declines.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0629_11.html</link>
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<title>6-27-11_Who's your Good Samaritan?</title>
<description>You probably know the story of the Good Samaritan – the one who stopped to help an enemy who needed help. If Jesus were to tell that story today, think about how it might be different:</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0627_11.html</link>
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<title>6-24-11_A different race</title>
<description>One of my favorite movies is “Chariots of Fire.” It tells the true story of Eric Liddell, a Scottish sprinter and the son of Christian missionaries.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0624_11.html</link>
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<title>6-22-11_Spiritual rest</title>
<description>Margaret Diddams was a senior manager at Microsoft: “I had a lovely office, but it really didn’t matter where I hung my hat, as long as I could access a network to my laptop, I could work anywhere, anytime."</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0622_11.html</link>
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<title>6-20-11_Living deeper</title>
<description>Several studies have come to the same conclusion that good health and regular church participation are linked.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0620_11.html</link>
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<title>6-17-11_Righting wrong threads</title>
<description>Do you know how a real Persian rug is made?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0617_11.html</link>
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<title>6-15-11_It is more than believing</title>
<description>Rollo May, one of the greats in the field of psychology, says that the chief problem in people is our emptiness – our lack of purpose, power and direction. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0615_11.html</link>
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<title>6-13-11_Better than you think you are</title>
<description>A young woman was struggling to play well in soccer. She was athletic and smart, but her progress was slow.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0613_11.html</link>
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<title>6-10-11_You know about zombies?</title>
<description>You know about zombies, don’t you? They are the walking undead, the corpse being taken over by a supernatural force.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0610_11.html</link>
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<title>6-8-11_Summertime</title>
<description>So what will you do this summer? I hope you'll have the chance to drink in the beauty and wonders of God's creation and examine what's really important in life.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0608_11.html</link>
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<title>6-6-11_Sins at the supermarket</title>
<description>A Catholic priest, who had become very deaf, had formed the habit of asking members of his flock who came to his enclosed stall to write their sins on a slip of paper.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0606_11.html</link>
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<title>6-3-11_Mary and James</title>
<description>I am inspired by political couple Mary Matalin and James Carville. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0603_11.html</link>
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<title>6-1-11_A serving of grace</title>
<description>Hot Dish and Hope is our church’s ministry that prepares dinner for the hungry in our city. Afterward I talked to two women who had been served.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jun_2011/0601_11.html</link>
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<title>5-30-11_Reasons to believe</title>
<description>A Scottish atheist was spending a quiet day fishing when suddenly his boat was attacked by the Loch Ness monster. In one easy flip, the beast tossed him and his boat high into the air.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0530_11.html</link>
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<title>5-27-11_Wrong and Wright</title>
<description>Did you know that the Wright brothers experienced hundreds of failures before they flew the first manned airplane?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0527_11.html</link>
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<title>5-25-11_Anger can be a gift</title>
<description>On a May day in 1980, along a road in California, a 13-year-old girl was walking to a church carnival. A car swerved out of control, hit and killed her.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0525_11.html</link>
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<title>5-23-11_Holy sarcasm</title>
<description>Israeli researchers have developed a computer algorithm that detects sarcasm in written material.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0523_11.html</link>
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<title>5-20-11_Our destination is home</title>
<description>About a half-million birds from Texas, Arizona, and Oklahoma stop every year in Nebraska. They settle in along the Platte River.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0520_11.html</link>
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<title>5-18-11_Healing touches</title>
<description>Guess what is as deadly as smoking? Being extremely isolated from other people. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0518_11.html</link>
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<title>5-16-11_Crazy busy</title>
<description>All winter a friend kept a brochure taped to the wall beside her desk. It advertises a conference this month called “Being Spiritual in a Crazy Busy World.” </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0516_11.html</link>
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<title>5-13-11_Archibald's mockingbird</title>
<description>Archibald Rutledge, a poet, told that as a boy he was not content with hearing a mockingbird sing outside his window. So he captured and put a bird in a cage so that he could have one all his own.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0513_11.html</link>
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<title>5-11-11_A room with a view</title>
<description>This winter brought cold, ice and snow. Our church was one of several that offered a home to the homeless. Each night about 20 men slept in one of our rooms converted into a winter shelter.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0511_11.html</link>
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<title>5-9-11_Happy endings</title>
<description>Her name was Julie, and on Julie’s sixth birthday, her parents gave her the gift of selecting a dog, something Julie had always wanted.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0509_11.html</link>
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<title>5-6-11_What I learned from baseball</title>
<description>When I was in high school, I played summer league baseball. One of our coaches was an old salt named Shank.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0506_11.html</link>
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<title>5-4-11_The lens of humility</title>
<description>A friend recently returned from a trip to Honduras with Habitat for Humanity. Honduras is about the size and population of Virginia. Two-thirds of the people live in poverty.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0504_11.html</link>
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<title>5-2-11_The big secret of peace</title>
<description>A scholar and teacher says the big secret of making peace is that we will need to be people of prayer.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/May_2011/0502_11.html</link>
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<title>4-29-11_An undeserved gift</title>
<description>A young female associate minister was to deliver her first sermon in a large New York church, but she had overslept.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0429_11.html</link>
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<title>4-27-11_Never think of the red monkey</title>
<description>There is a fable of a chemist who sold villagers a powder that he claimed would turn water into gold.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0427_11.html</link>
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<title>4-25-11_A glimpse of God's mind</title>
<description>Perhaps you’ve heard that the scientist who led the team that cracked the human genome talks about how such discoveries bring a person closer to seeing God.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0425_11.html</link>
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<title>4-22-11_Soul cleaning</title>
<description>You don’t have to be a packrat to need a good spring cleaning. This is the time of year when we crawl out of our layers of winter. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0422_11.html</link>
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<title>4-20-11_The two roads</title>
<description>A woman found her husband had been unfaithful. He begged for forgiveness but she filed for divorce. She writes:</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0420_11.html</link>
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<title>4-18-11_Blessed are the merciful</title>
<description>The young doctor was brilliant and accomplished. He went to the hospital administrator and accused an older doctor of malpractice. But the administrator urged the young physician not be so hasty.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0418_11.html</link>
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<title>4-15-11_Our trivial pursuits</title>
<description>The driver in my golf bag is great. Sometimes I hit it well and I know that when I don’t, what I need is a better golf swing -- not another club. Then I see an ad for a new driver.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0415_11.html</link>
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<title>4-13-11_Faith amidst conflict</title>
<description>Madeleine Albright is the former secretary of state whose job was dealing with conflicts all over the world.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0413_11.html</link>
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<title>4-11-11_Creating dissatisfaction</title>
<description>Everywhere we turn, there is a marketing strategy intended to create a feeling of dissatisfaction with what we have.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0411_11.html</link>
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<title>4-8-11_What Jesus could have said</title>
<description>Remember in the Bible the adulterous woman that the crowd was about to stone? “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” said Jesus.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0408_11.html</link>
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<title>4-6-11_Church: Fear or hope</title>
<description>Churches have personalities just as people do. Some churches have an ethos that is negative, judgmental, divisive and critical.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0406_11.html</link>
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<title>4-4-11_Shaping our identity</title>
<description>April is the birthday of one of the all-time cool cars: the Ford Mustang. When it debuted in 1964, they expected to sell 100,000 of the cars in the first year.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0404_11.html</link>
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<title>4-1-11_Through our weakness</title>
<description>A recent video gone viral on the Internet features a piano performance by a 19-year-old girl from China. The really remarkable part is that she was born with no fingers on her right hand.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Apr_2011/0401_11.html</link>
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<title>3-30-11_Might be a Christian if</title>
<description>The one I like best is, “You might be a redneck if you think your church needs pews with cup holders.”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0330_11.html</link>
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<title>3-28-11_The gift of grace</title>
<description>Grace is a word often used in spiritual communities. But grace is a hard concept to get.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0328_11.html</link>
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<title>3-25-11_10,000 hours</title>
<description>If you read Malcolm Gladwell’s best-selling book Outliers, you will remember the 10,000-hour rule.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0325_11.html</link>
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<title>3-23-11_The Paradox of Choice</title>
<description>We equate happiness with freedom and choice. However, the flipside is that we often become paralyzed in the face of a million possibilities.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0323_11.html</link>
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<title>3-21-11_Lenten resolutions</title>
<description>If you've fallen off the scales, you are not alone. Remember those New Year's resolutions? And how are you doing with them?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0321_11.html</link>
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<title>3-18-11_The author of love</title>
<description>When catastrophe strikes, like the earthquake and its frightening tsunami in Japan, we often feel angry or overwhelmed. Why do things like this happen?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0318_11.html</link>
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<title>3-16-11_The truth?</title>
<description>There was a man who had saved all his money. Just before he died, he said to his wife, “When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me."</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0316_11.html</link>
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<title>3-14-11_Lessons from children</title>
<description>The results of a recent study might surprise some parents. It showed that children as young as 3 not only know what’s fair, they show it.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0314_11.html</link>
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<title>3-11-11_Spiritual progress</title>
<description>How do we make progress in the spiritual life? Perhaps it is by asking ourselves these simple questions:</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0311_11.html</link>
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<title>3-9-11_Our greatest impediment</title>
<description>James Michener had dreamed of becoming a novelist for years, but he was afraid to try. Then he was in a plane crash but survived.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0309_11.html</link>
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<title>3-7-11_A higher calling</title>
<description>It’s only March, but we might already have seen the most remarkable play of the year in college sports, and it didn't happen on the field.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0307_11.html</link>
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<title>3-4-11_A mayor and his shovel</title>
<description>When the city’s plows couldn’t keep up, Newark Mayor Cory Booker got out his shovel and his BlackBerry, fired up his Twitter account, and started seeking out and helping stranded motorists.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0304_11.html</link>
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<title>3-2-11_Theodor's principles</title>
<description>Today is the birthday of Theodor Geisel, who we know and love by his pen name, Dr. Seuss.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Mar_2011/0302_11.html</link>
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<title>2-28-11_A diamond in the kettle</title>
<description>This winter The Salvation Army in Dalton, Ga., received an unusual drop in the Red Kettle.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0228_11.html</link>
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<title>2-25-11_Born This Way</title>
<description>Lady Gaga is known for her outrageous costumes and dress. However the pop star (and philosopher) has entered the nature-versus-nurture debate with her new song, “Born This Way.” </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0225_11.html</link>
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<title>2-23-11_To gain human rights</title>
<description>Back in the 1970s, a famous cellist from Russia made a desperate leap for freedom and defected to the U.S., and he risked his life in doing so.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0223_11.html</link>
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<title>2-21-11_Tradition or change?</title>
<description>Tradition or change? Almost four decades ago, baseball owners adopted the designated hitter rule. It allows a hitter to bat for the pitcher.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0221_11.html</link>
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<title>2-18-11_Oprah's sister</title>
<description>Patricia had been given up for adoption as an infant. After she grew up and had children of her own, she wanted to find her birth family.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0218_11.html</link>
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<title>2-16-11_The sense of being here</title>
<description>Charles Kuralt did a story of an older fellow in Virginia. The man had bought some land and made a public park at his own expense.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0216_11.html</link>
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<title>2-14-11_Losing your head in love</title>
<description>Have you ever lost your head in love? One legend about the origin of Valentine’s Day goes like this:</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0214_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>2-11-11_Dangerous ideas</title>
<description>More than 300 years ago, Roger Williams stepped off a boat in Boston. Trained as a preacher, he had sailed from England to join the Puritans. Soon he was in trouble. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0211_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>2-9-11_Come and see</title>
<description>Why do we do what we do every day? One popular motivation theory says we are driven by one of three needs.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0209_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>2-7-11_Jack LaLanne</title>
<description>Jack LaLanne died recently at age 96. He was the father of fitness. He opened the first health club, started an exercise show for housewives and created some of the fitness machines we use now. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0207_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>2-4-11_Big game blessings</title>
<description>I wonder what B.J. Raji is dreaming of as he gets ready for his first Super Bowl this weekend? Raji is a defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers, and this is his second year in the NFL.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0204_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>2-2-11_Wake up to a new day</title>
<description>Some groundhogs will leave their burrows today and find themselves surrounded by on-lookers. Today always reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Feb_2011/0202_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-31-11_Only a competition</title>
<description>While mowing the front lawn, 9-year-old Greg was determined to please his father. Greg called out, “Hey Dad! Look what I’ve done!”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0131_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-28-11_Enter Pastor Holmer</title>
<description>In the Communist days, a Lutheran pastor, Uwe Holmer, tried to get his children into the University of East Berlin. They made application and were turned down eight times.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0128_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-26-11_Contagious kindness</title>
<description>"As she passed me at the door, she thrust her leather gloves into my hands, along with a $20 bill inside them. She was gone before I could even say thank you." </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0126_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-24-11_Penn's respect</title>
<description>Though the charter empowered Penn to make war on the Indians, he refused to build any forts or to have cannons or soldiers in his province. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0124_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-21-11_While at the Canyon</title>
<description>A man visiting the Grand Canyon wrote, “Last summer while on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, I stopped in a family-style burger place to get some lunch..." </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0121_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-19-11_Guerilla lovefare</title>
<description>As the first anniversary approached for 9/11, a group decided they would nominate the week surrounding September 11 to be called, “Random Acts of Kindness Week." </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0119_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-17-11_The silence of good people</title>
<description>Today we honor Martin Luther King with a national holiday. King was arrested in Birmingham in 1963 for leading protests against segregation. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0117_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-14-11_Restoring your soul</title>
<description>For many of the people who love it, golf is a way to restore the soul.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0114_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-12-11_Searching for love</title>
<description>North Carolina is back in a starring role on reality TV. This time our candidate is Emily Maynard, a single mom from Charlotte who is one of the women on “The Bachelor.”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0112_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-10-11_Mega-millions?</title>
<description>We all think an infusion of cash will bring us happiness. It reminds me of a story of Buddy Post, a Pennsylvania man who won the lottery and millions of dollars.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0110_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-7-11_Conference play</title>
<description>ACC basketball begins in earnest this weekend. Both players and fans will be much more enthusiastic now that we can concentrate on each other instead of the less relevant teams.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0107_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-5-11_Your Epiphany journey</title>
<description>About 4 million babies will be born in America this year. Each will change someone’s world. Wouldn’t we like to know who will change the world for us all? </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0105_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>1-3-11_Gaining some weight</title>
<description>Over the years, we have watched celebrities like Kirstie Alley and Oprah as their weight dropped down and popped back up. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Jan_2011/0103_11.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-31-10_2011 to-be list</title>
<description>As we get ready for a new year, chances are our resolutions are about doing. But here’s another way to think about making 2011 a different year.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1231_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-30-10_Out of our gratitude</title>
<description>Greg Mortensen is a mountain-climbing fool. When he failed to top a peak in Pakistan 17 years ago, he became so sick and depressed that he might not have survived except for the kindness of a small village. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1230_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-29-10_Surpassing Dean</title>
<description>Odds are that Duke will beat UNCG tonight in basketball. That would give Mike Krzyzewski his 880th win, making him second on the all-time win list.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1229_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-28-10_You are invited</title>
<description>This winter, the need for shelter is so high that several local churches, including ours, have opened doors to offer a warm place where people can sleep overnight. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1228_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-27-10_Peace in, peace out</title>
<description>Just last week we sang of peace on Earth and goodwill to all. This week is it unrealistic to dream of a harmony that comes out of mutual respect even though we may disagree with each other?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1227_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-24-10_Comfort and joy</title>
<description>One of the things that brings my family comfort and joy during Christmas is watching the movie “The Muppets Christmas Carol.”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1224_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-23-10_Journey to the unknown</title>
<description>Do you know what intrigues me about the wise men of the Christmas story? It’s that they took off on a journey, not really knowing what they were looking for.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1223_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-22-10_Always winter?</title>
<description>In the movie and story The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, an evil witch has cast a spell upon the land. The result is that “it is always winter, but never Christmas.”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1222_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-21-10_Expectations</title>
<description>This Christmas children have in mind certain toys that they expect to see under the tree, and couples expect certain gifts, and families expect certain meals and times together.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1221_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-20-10_A prayer a day</title>
<description>With the arrival of e-mail and other social media, I’m not sure how long plain old mailed Christmas cards will be around. But here is one reason why they should.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1220_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-17-10_Everyone is someone</title>
<description>Pierre Monteaux, a famous conductor, entered a motel with his wife. The woman behind the desk told him flatly, “Sorry, I have nothing. No rooms left.”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1217_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-16-10_Holiday silence</title>
<description>The Christmas season is filled with sounds. There's music – carols playing in stores and on the radio, kids singing at school and church programs.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1216_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-15-10_Writing redemption</title>
<description>Stieg Larsson wrote three great crime novels, starting with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. They have sold more than 27 million copies.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1215_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-14-10_Best boss</title>
<description>Lola Gonzalez owns a small business in Florida with nine employees. And like a lot of small businesses, her firm has been struggling during the Great Recession.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1214_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-13-10_Glee battles</title>
<description>As the fall season of TV's "Glee" closed, the choir was preparing to compete at Sectionals. But there wasn't much harmony on this team.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1213_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-10-10_A fictitious obituary</title>
<description>I remember reading about a writer, a newspaper man, I think, who decided to write a fictional obituary of himself. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1210_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-9-10_Be here now</title>
<description>Microsoft says its new phone is going to save us from our cell phones.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1209_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-8-10_All about perspective</title>
<description>Roberto De Vincenzo was a great Argentine golfer. After winning a tournament he walked alone to his car and was approached by a young woman.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1208_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-7-10_Good ole' Mister Rogers</title>
<description>Once Mister Rogers, who welcomed children into his TV neighborhood, was invited to the National Press Club. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1207_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-6-10_Gratitude</title>
<description>According to researchers in the field of positive psychology, gratitude is now seen as a key cause of well-being – that is, satisfaction with one’s life.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1206_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-3-10_Like country music</title>
<description>Country music lyrics often speak with candor and honesty about the human condition; it pulls no punches about our low places, and drops the pretense about who we are.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1203_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-2-10_Monopoly</title>
<description>The classic board game Monopoly is celebrating its 75th year. Since it was invented, 275 million games have been sold. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1202_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>12-1-10_December</title>
<description>December: the most wonderful time of the year... or is it?</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Dec_2010/1201_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-30-10_Quality, not quantity</title>
<description>Do you ever judge yourself based on the number of friends you have on Facebook? </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1130_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-29-10_Taylor's revenge</title>
<description>Taylor Swift has a new CD called Speak Now, and the songs tell the stories of her past relationships. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1129_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-26-10_When to hold 'em</title>
<description>Country music tells great stories… whether it’s the gambler who knows when to hold ‘em, when to fold ‘em or when to walk away.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1126_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-25-10_A non-anxious life</title>
<description>Dr. Edward Hallowell is a child and adult psychologist who taught at Harvard for more than 20 years. In an article for Psychology Today, he offered several suggestions in dealing with excessive worry. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1125_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-24-10_The Grateful Un-dead</title>
<description>If I ever heard a voice saying, “Sid, start a new church,” and I was able to pick the players of those working with me, I would start with those who gather for worship on Thanksgiving Day. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1124_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-23-10_Developing character</title>
<description>A 25-year-old soldier from Iowa recently received our nation's highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1123_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-22-10_Pass the Twinkies</title>
<description>A nutrition professor wanted to test his theory that it doesn’t matter what you eat so long as you control your calories. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1122_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-19-10_Letter to yourself</title>
<description>If you could send a letter back through time to your younger self, what would the letter say? </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1119_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-18-10_Beginning of the end</title>
<description>This weekend is the beginning of the end for Harry Potter film fans. The last book in the phenomenal series comes to movie theaters – or at least, part one does.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1118_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-17-10_Greed and generosity</title>
<description>Do you remember Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas in the movie Wall Street? His infamous speech went:</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1117_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-16-10_Back to Earth</title>
<description>Some health studies are beginning to suggest that one way we can get healthier is by spending time each day getting “grounded” – or having direct contact with the Earth.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1116_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-15-10_Willie's friends</title>
<description>The life of country music singer Willie Nelson is intriguing. Twenty years ago, the government seized Willie’s property because he owed $17 million in back taxes.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1115_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-12-10_What does 2+2 equal?</title>
<description>A mathematician, an accountant and an economist applied for the same job. The job interviewer called in the mathematician and asked, “What does two plus two equal?”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1112_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-11-10_Half full or half empty?</title>
<description>Two friends met in the street. One looked sad and almost on the verge of tears. “Hey, my friend, how come you look like the whole world has caved in?”</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1111_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-10-10_A six-word life</title>
<description>An online magazine invited its readers to write their life stories. The catch was they had to do it in six words. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1110_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-9-10_Skewing our judgment</title>
<description>Money can skew our judgment. A mafia Godfather discovered his deaf bookkeeper had stolen $10 million from him. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1109_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-8-10_Falling back</title>
<description>Did you remember to set your clock back an hour before you went to bed on Saturday? </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1108_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-5-10_Our unchanging strength</title>
<description>A wife put a little plaque in the kitchen that said, “PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.” Twenty-four hours later it was gone.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1105_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-4-10_Caring for Mom</title>
<description>In 1955, RCA Records purchased from Sun Records the contract of a singer named Elvis Presley. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1104_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-3-10_Life of significance</title>
<description>During a commencement address, Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary doctor, predicted that the most successful graduates would be people who discovered how to serve.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1103_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-2-10_The God app</title>
<description>On a camping trip, some Cub Scouts performed a skit about the ride of Paul Revere. </description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1102_10.html</link>
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<item>
<title>11-1-10_Billions and billions</title>
<description>It looks like there are now as many Internet users as there are stars in the sky.</description>
<link>http://www.fpcgreensboro.org/justathought/Nov_2010/1101_10.html</link>
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