The Storm Tree

 

Somehow, the terrain and our buildings created a wind tunnel down one side of our house. When the winter winds blew down from the hills way off in the distance, they destroyed everything we put out on the verandah.

One particular wind storm was so fierce it completely blew over a large plant growing in a heavy tub, turned it upside down and totally smashed both tree and tub. Likewise, chairs and tables were a no-no unless they were made of cast iron and comforting cushions had to be firmly tied to them.

So we planted a line of trees along the fence to steady the wind and break it up. We thought a line of good, sturdy trees would prevent the disasters that plagued us but still the problem persisted. The tree line was helpful but it still did not give a sufficient break or prevent all the damage of the strong winds. Then one day I figured it out. We needed just one more tree. It needed to be planted at the opposite end of the verandah where no other trees grew.

The soil was poor, there was a drainage problem and the aspect was extremely difficult so it had to be a very special tree. It had to be tough but flexible and it had to adapt to all the extremes the weather could throw at it.

We chose it carefully, it grew and flourished and it became our storm tree. In time we came to depend on it so that our verandah became a pleasant place to share time with friends. Because of the tree, we had shelter.

There was once another storm tree and, among all the trees that were growing, it was the only one that stopped destruction. It was a storm tree that prevented us from being lashed by storms of sin that would totally smash us.

There are many good and sturdy trees but only one storm tree that prevents destruction. It is the tree of Jesus, who 'himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.' (1st Peter 2:24.)

It is the only one that can still the winds that threaten to destroy the world. Please grow the storm tree of Jesus so that everyone around you has a shelter from the fierce gales of sin.

Elizabeth Price reprice@dragnet.com.au

from Illustrator

Peanut Butter for Thanksgiving

By Kenneth L. Pierpont

 

To me the ultimate feeling of well-being is sitting down to a holiday meal with the family all around the table. It is especially sweet at Thanksgiving. No one quite cooks for you like your own wife. Over the years your tastes move in the direction of her gifts and her dishes move in the direction of your preferences. After a couple decades you meet in the middle and prefer her cooking over just about anyone.

Lois is a wonderful homemaker, a good cook and an exceptional nurturing mom. There are times when the table is laden with good food, the children she has borne to me are all around the table, the house is fragrant with spicy baking smells and bathed with candle glow. At times like that I find it impossible to hold back tears of deep happiness and well-being. Lois knows how to make a home beautiful, warm, personal and comfortable. I love sharing it with her and being there with the children.

We were talking about that one day and she told me of a Thanksgiving Day memory she had. In her memory she was standing in the door of the house and looking up and down the street. All the driveways were lined with cars. She was eating a peanut butter sandwich for Thanksgiving dinner. She thought how nice it would be to have family in and enjoy a big meal with her family all together.

But that never happened. The little house where she grew up never hosted a holiday feast. No one was ever invited over for dinner. It wasn't really that there was no money for food. Lois' mother had a good job at Ford Motor Company that paid well and included generous benefits. Her mother worked hard and sacrificed for her children to have nice things. They were able to buy their own modest home. But it was a troubled home.

The family had reluctantly moved from the beautiful mountains of their native Kentucky to a city in the north where factory jobs were abundant. They were also trying to shake off troubling difficulty that threatened their home and happiness. Lois' dad struggled with alcoholism all his life. It eventually led to his early death. He was a hard working man, but could not hold a job because of the hold alcohol had on him. The adjustment from a rural village where everyone knew and trusted everyone to a cold, urban industrial community was difficult for the whole family. It was especially difficult for Lois' older brother and her Dad.

Her Dad's behavior was unpredictable so they learned to discourage people from stopping by and they never invited anyone over. This was a source of great humiliation for them. As a result Thanksgiving was not a special holiday for them. It was time off school and work, and a time to be together, but it was not a time for the family to come in or even a time to enjoy sitting down to a meal around the same table.

When I look down to the other end of the table into the deep brown eyes of my wife and the mother of eight beautiful happy children, I think of the little girl standing in the door eating a peanut butter sandwich for Thanksgiving dinner. In her little heart was a desire for a secure, happy Christian home and in my heart I renew my vow to build that kind of home with her.

Ken Pierpont
ken@kenpierpont.com

Growing Old

You Know You're Getting Even Older When...
When you step off a curb and look down one more time to make sure the street is still there.

Goose Pimple Diaries

Strength out of Weakness

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness."1

In his book, Confidence, Alan Loy McGinnis talks about a famous study entitled "Cradles of Eminence" by Victor and Mildred Goertzel, in which the family backgrounds of 300 highly successful people were studied.

Many of the names of those in the study were well-known to most of us—including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, Gandhi, and Einstein—all of whom were brilliant in their field of expertise.

The results of this study are both surprising and encouraging for many of us who came from a less than desirable home life. For example: "Three-quarters of the children were troubled either by poverty, by a broken home, or by rejecting, over-possessive or dominating parents.

"Seventy-four of 85 writers of fiction or drama and 16 of the 20 poets came from homes where, as children, they saw tense psychological drama played out by their parents.

"Physical handicaps such as blindness, deafness, or crippled limbs characterized over one-quarter of the sample."

These people who had confidence in their abilities and put them to creative use had more weaknesses and handicaps than many who have all of their faculties intact and who had a reasonably good home life background. So, what made the difference? Probably by compensating for their weaknesses they excelled in other areas.

One man reported, "What has influenced my life more than any other single thing has been my stammer. Had I not stammered I would probably have gone to Cambridge as my brothers did, perhaps have become a don and every now and then published a dreary book about French literature." The speaker who stammered until his death was W. Somerset Maugham, as he looked back on his life at age 86.

"By then he had become a world-renowned author of more than 20 books, 30 plays, and scores of essays and short stories."

It's not what we have or don't have that matters in life but what we do with what we have. All God expects of us is that we don't allow our past to determine our future and that with his help we use what we have to the best of our ability.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the gifts you have given to me, no matter how small or large, help me to develop and use them to my total God-given potential, and to use them for your glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

from Daily Encounter

"The Thankful Chair"
by Bob Perks
 
"I have so much to be thankful for.   I wouldn't know where to
begin," she said.
 
I wouldn't know either.  As I looked around her home I couldn't find a
thing that she could include.

I have discovered that the friendliest, most welcoming people in
the world are those who have little to offer.  What they lack in
possessions they make up for in spirit and love.
 
I had been working for the Commission on Economic Opportunity.
It was the year following the flood.  My job was to interview low income
 families and assess their needs.  Up until that moment I thought I had
seen it all.  The odd thing was I was looking at nothing at all and this
woman was thankful.
 
The home had actually been out of the flood area, yet it looked like it
had been a part of the destruction.  The front porch steps were missing,
replaced by a few cinder blocks and planks.  There were several broken
windows and part of the foundation had caved in exposing the basement to the weather.
 
That particular day it was in the upper thirties with a heavy wind blowing snow from the west.
 
Thanksgiving Day was approaching and quite frankly my heart
was not into doing these surveys.  Like many others, I just wanted to
start my holiday early.  This was the last stop for me.  Tomorrow like millions of
other families we would be snuggled around the table filling ourselves to capacity.
 
Oddly I hadn't even thought about what this family was looking
forward to.  I just figured they would be taken care of by some
organization or church.  I looked around the kitchen for some sign
of a charitable box of goodies but saw nothing there.
 
The house was bitter cold.  The young children ran several times
 through the kitchen playing, laughing like any other child.  I happened
to notice that they were bare foot on this cold linoleum floor.
 
At one point I said to one of the youngest girls, "You should go put
your socks and shoes on before you get sick."
 
She replied, "Mommy did this man bring me some shoes I can wear?"
 
"No, Sissy.  He didn't.  Go put on a pair of mine.  He's right you
need something on your feet."
 
I was embarrassed for having put her in that position.
 
"Well, I'm finished here.  Thank you for your time.  I hope you have
a wonderful...."  I didn't know what to say.  How could they possibly
have a wonderful anything.
 
"Look, I'm sorry.  I know there must not be much to be thankful for
these days," I said nervously.
 
"Well, you certainly are wrong about that!" she said emphatically.
Then rising to her feet she walked into the living room and stood in the middle.
 
"My dear, I am truly blessed for all of this.  I know it doesn't look
like much.  But who made the rules that say that we can only be
thankful for things that cost money?" she said.
 
"Sit here on this chair," she told me. "That chair may be worthless
even to a junk dealer.  But I sat in that chair and waited for months when
my son was in the Vietnam war.  That was my worry chair.  I sat in that chair,
prayed and gave thanks when the good Lord brought him safely home to me.
It was in that same chair I was sitting in when they announced that John F.
Kennedy was dead.  I wept in that chair.  It was in that same chair I was sitting
when my daughter came home from school and told me she was going to
college cause she got a full scholarship. It was my joyful chair.
 
It was also in that chair that I sat holding my Daddy's hand when he died.  They
had sent him home telling us there was nothing more they could do.  He wanted
to be at home.  I ate, slept and cried as I sat in that chair holding his hand.  He was all
the world to me when I was growing up.  I owed him that much.
 
So how much is that chair worth in dollars?  Nothing.  But I wouldn't trade it," she said.
 
Then walking over to a picture on the wall she said "You see this man?  He's my man.
He's the man that has loved me for all these years.  He's at work now.  He doesn't make
much but he works hard for it.  He paid for that chair in sweat.  How much money value
do I put on him?  There isn't enough money in all the world for the true value of love."
 
"Those kids out in the yard.  Yeah, maybe someone would say I'm not a good parent.
But you go and ask them if they love their Mommy and Daddy.  Then tell me how much
that is worth," she said.
 
Then walking closer to where I was seated she looked down at me and said, "I'm
thankful for my sight, the touch of my baby's hand on my face.  I am thankful that I have
good health considering everything else.  I am thankful for my faith.  Oh, how thankful I am
that I have something to believe in.  I am thankful for the smell of hot biscuits and honey on
Christmas morning.  I am thankful for the second hand quilt the lady down the street gave me yesterday."
 
Then tilting her head and cupping her ear she said, "Listen....do you hear that?
That's laughter. My kids are laughing as they are playing with all the other kids in the
neighborhood.  How much would you pay to find something to laugh about when things
aren't so good?"
 
Grabbing my briefcase, I stood up and walked toward her.
 
"So my dear.  Should I go on?  There is so much more I am thankful for that most
people take for granted."
 
"No." I said.  "Thank you."
 
"Oh sir," she said.  "One more thing."
 
She walked over to the chair and sat down.
 
"I call this my "Thankful Chair".  Tomorrow when we gather round the table to
share whatever meal God will provide, and he always provides, I will be thankful that
He had sent you here to talk to me," she said smiling.
 
"I believe that one day I will find that priceless," I said and walked out the door.
 
I was right. 

"I believe in You!"

Bob Perks
Bob@BobPerks.com

All stories copyright 2006 Bob Perks

I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when
copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information
attached so that new readers can find their way here. Use of this
story for commercial use is prohibited without direct permission
from the author.

How to Find a Church That Doesn't Bug You

War metaphors, pro-GOP sermons, and treating Jesus like an Amway product: three reasons I went searching for another church.
By Donald Miller

Reprinted from "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller, with permission of Thomas Nelson publishers.

I go to a church now that I love. I never thought I would say that about a church. I never thought I could love a church. But I love this one. It is called Imago Dei, which means "Image of God" in Latin. Latin is exotic and cool.

In the churches I used to go to, I felt like I didn't fit in. I always felt like the adopted kid, as if there was "room at the table for me." Do you know what I mean? I was accepted but not understood. There was room at the table for me, but I wasn't in the family.

It doesn't do any good to bash churches, so I am not making blanket statements against the church as a whole. I have only been involved in a few churches, but I had the same tension with each of them; that's the only reason I bring it up.

***

Here are the things I didn't like about the churches I went to. First: I felt like people were trying to sell me Jesus. I was a salesman for a while, and we were taught that you are supposed to point out all the benefits of a product when you are selling it. That is how I felt about some of the preachers I heard speak. They were always pointing out the benefits of Christian faith. That rubbed me wrong. It's not that there aren't benefits, there are, but did they have to talk about spirituality like it's a vacuum cleaner. I never felt like Jesus was a product. I wanted Him to be a person. Not only that, but they were always pointing out how great the specific church was. The bulletin read like a brochure for Amway. They were always saying how life-changing some conference was going to be. Life-changing? What does that mean? It sounded very suspicious. I wish they would just tell it to me straight rather than trying to sell me on everything. I felt like I got bombarded with commercials all week and then went to church and got even more.

And yet another thing about the churches I went to: They seemed to be parrots for the Republican Party. Do we have to tow the party line on every single issue? Are the Republicans that perfect? I just felt like, in order to be a part of the family, I had to think George W. Bush was Jesus. And I didn't. I didn't think that Jesus really agreed with a lot of the policies of the Republican Party or for that matter the Democratic Party. I felt like Jesus was a religious figure, not a political figure. I heard my pastor say once, when there were only a few of us standing around, that he hated Bill Clinton. I can understand not liking Clinton's policies, but I want my spirituality to rid me of hate, not give me reason for it. I couldn't deal with that. That is one of the main reasons I walked away. I felt like, by going to this particular church, I was a pawn for the Republicans. Meanwhile, the Republicans did not give a crap about the causes of Christ.


Only one more thing that bugged me, then I will shut up about it. War metaphor. The churches I attended would embrace war metaphor. They would talk about how we are in a battle, and I agreed with them, only they wouldn't clarify that we were battling poverty and hate and injustice and pride and the powers of darkness. They left us thinking that our war was against liberals and homosexuals. Their teaching would have me believe I was the good person in the world and the liberals were the bad people in the world. Jesus taught that we are all bad and He is good, and He wants to rescue us because there is a war going on and we are hostages in that war. The truth is we are supposed to love the hippies, the liberals, and even the Democrats, and that God wants us to think of them as more important than ourselves. Anything short of this is not true to the teachings of Jesus.

So one of the things I had to do after God provided a church for me was to let go of any bad attitude I had against the other churches I'd gone to. In the end, I was just different, you know. It wasn't that they were bad, they just didn't do it for me. I read through the book of Ephesians four times one night in Eugene Peterson's The Message, and it seemed to me that Paul did not want Christians to fight with one another. He seemed to care great deal about this, so, in my mind, I had to tell my heart I love the people at the churches I used to go to, the people who were different from me. This was entirely freeing because when I told my heart to do this, my heart did it, and now I think very fondly of those wacko Republican fundamentalists, and I know that they love me, too, and I know that we will eat together, we will break bread together in heaven, and we will love each other so purely it will hurt because we are a family in Christ.

So here is a step-by-step formula for how you, too, can go to church without getting angry:

Pray that God will show you a church filled with people who share your interests and values.
Go to the church God shows you.

Don't hold grudges against any other churches. God loves those churches almost as much as He loves yours.

Grace

When we preach atonement, it is atonement planned by love, provided by love, given by love, finished by love, necessitated because of love. When we preach the resurrection of Christ, we are preaching the miracle of love. When we preach the return of Christ, we are preaching the fulfillment of love. - Billy Graham

 

Thought for Today

  God

Before anything else, above all else, beyond everything else, God loves us.  God loves us extravagantly, ridiculously, without limit or condition.    

          --Roberta Bondi

from Pearls

   Prayer

Our prayers may be awkward.  Our attempts may be feeble.  But since  the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.     --Max Lucida

 

from Pearls

GOOD SHEPHERD

A Seminary professor took a group of students to the Holy Land. While traveling on a bus through the area, the professor prepared the students for their next lesson.

One day he was telling the students about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. He told them how shepherds in Palestine lead the sheep rather than driving them from behind.

Just as he was making his point, the bus stopped to let some sheep cross the road. To their surprise, the people on the bus saw a man with a whip, driving the sheep from behind.

The teacher got out of the bus and asked the man, "My friend, I was always told that shepherds in Palestine lead their sheep. They do not drive them as you are doing."

The man responded, "You are right; but you see, I am not a shepherd--I am the village butcher."

 

 Tarnished Mirrors

 

It was very early on a Saturday morning and I could hear my sister, Leisha, already rattling around in the kitchen, making coffee. By the time I got downstairs she was pouring the hot liquid into a thermos.  A map of the town was on the counter and a strip of newspaper lay beside it with things highlighted and circled.

My sister is a very organized garage sale enthusiast and having someone to go along that day seemed to spur her on. We set off with anticipation and it wasn't long before her early-bird-gets-the-worm philosophy paid off. We were poking around in a large garage full of interesting stuff when I spotted a large oval mirror. It was covered in a thick layer of dirt but it looked like it was about the size and shape that Leisha had said she wanted for above the fireplace in their home. I called her attention to it. She pulled it out and her eyes lit up. Then the negotiating started with the owner. I was amazed at how low the price went and Leisha was beaming as she walked away with the deal of the day.

It was some time before I was able to visit again, and when I did, Leisha immediately called my attention to the space above the mantle on their fireplace. My jaw dropped. The old mirror we'd found in that garage was beveled and the frame was solid oak. My brother-in-law had done a great job restoring it. It looked beautiful.

The great thing about the mirror was that it made the room seem bigger and brighter, as mirrors are designed to do. The reflection of a warm fire always made the room a comforting place to sit on a cool evening. I thought of the layers of dirt that had coated it and wondered how long it had been sitting in that old garage, like a gem waiting to be discovered.

Then I realized that we are all, in a way, like that old mirror. We've been used and abused and are often layered with the effects of sin and the trials of life. How tremendously encouraging it is to know that God is in the business of finding the gems that are hidden. How heartening it is to know that He is skilled at restoring minds and souls. How blessed it is to believe that He can remove every speck of tarnish, heal the brokenness and make us all into reflections of His love and mercy.

That's the great thing about redemption - it reveals His image in us all. Just as that mirror became a thing of beauty that enhanced the room, we become the true essence of God's creation, bringing His light and life to the world. It is what we were all designed to do. We are all meant to be mirrors that reflect His grace. All we have to do is say yes to Jesus so that the work can begin.

Tarnished Mirrors

Marcia Lee Laycock

Jan 25, 2006

'InJesus

Gotta Watch the Fish Eat

By Cheryl Kirking

 

I did something very daring today. I said, "No." I was at a meeting where I was asked to serve on a committee that would require numerous Thursday evening meetings. And I said, "No."

I declined politely, even graciously, but it wasn't enough. The others just looked at me, waiting. Three long seconds, four, five. Waiting, waiting for my important excuse. They couldn't move on until I had explained my answer

"You see," I continued, "I really want to be home to tuck the kids in bed at night." Most of the others around the table nodded in understanding. "Well," the chairperson offered, "we can make sure we're done by eight-thirty, so you can be home in time to tuck the kids in." The others murmured in affirmation, and turned back to me, expectantly, waiting for my response.

"Well," I explained, "that's right when we are watching the fish eat." The others weren't impressed. "You see," I continued, "on Thursdays, after I've quizzed the children for Friday's spelling tests, we watch the fish. It's just an important time in our family's week. It seems to set the tone for the next day, and when I'm gone on Thursday nights, Fridays just don't go as well." My words sounded rather weak and almost silly as they tumbled out. No one said, "Oh, of course, Cheryl, we understand!" They were still waiting.

Now, I could have added, "But, you see, I've got a book manuscript due to the publisher in two months that I have got to work on." That would have been sufficiently important. After all, that's my career. They would have nodded in understanding, and quickly moved on. But the truth is, I'm not writing between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings. I'm being Mom. I'm reviewing spelling words for Friday's tests. I'm checking math answers. I'm making sure permission notes are signed, book reports are written and weekly assignments completed. And when school work is done, and the children have brushed their teeth and gotten into their PJs, the family gathers on the couch in front of the aquarium to watch the fish eat. We feed the fish every night, of course. But on Thursdays we make an effort to sit together as a family and watch them. This is when I heard about Blake's plans to be a paleontologist. It's when I learned about how Bryce handled the bully on the playground. This is when Sarah Jean explained why she doesn't want to wear bows in her hair anymore.

The committee members were still looking at me. Feeling guilty, I almost changed my mind to say, "Okay, I'll do it." But I didn't. Because my reason for saying no is important. On Thursday evenings, we watch the fish eat.

 

from Christmas_story_lovers@yahoogroups.com

 

DOUBT

Let me meet you on the mountain, Lord,
Just once.
You wouldn't have to burn a whole bush.
Just a few smoking branches
And I would surely be ...your Moses.
Let me meet you on the water, Lord,
Just once.
It wouldn't have to be on White Rock Lake.
Just on a puddle after the annual Dallas rain
And I would surely be...your Peter.
Let me meet you on the road, Lord,
Just once.
You wouldn't have to blind me on North Central Expressway.
Just a few bright lights on the way to chapel
And I would surely be...your Paul.
Let me meet you, Lord,
Just once.
Anywhere. Anytime.
Just meeting you in the Word is so hard sometimes
Must I always be...your Thomas?
Norman Shirk, April 10, 1981, KQ (Dallas Seminary)

I ask the Master of mankind

         I ask the Master of mankind


to guide me day by day


and He has always answered me


with help to make my way.


         


He washes worry from my mind


and fills my heart with strength


so when the need arises


I can go to any length.


         


With every prayer hope comes to me


my faith is born anew


and I find the task at hand


is smoother to pursue.


         


God is the truest friend I have


without Him life would be


filled with pain and sad regret. 


A wild and stormy sea.


         


Oh, Master of my heart and soul


stay with me all the time. 


Only in your loving care


will I reach the sublime.


         


Thank you, my Lord for everything. 


Help me righteously trod


temptation hovers all around


to live I need You God.

JELLY BEAN PRAYER

         Have you heard the story of the jelly beans?


         


The black ones are a symbol of our sinful heart,


cold and hard not a good start.


         


The red ones would be,


the blood shed for you and me.


         


The white ones would mean washed white as snow,


by the blood of Jesus do you know?


         


The green ones mean growth for our clean heart,


so we can tell others of Jesus, now that's a good start. 


         


The yellow ones would mean streets of gold,


like the ones in Heaven, as in the book of  Revelation is told.


         


The purple ones are to mean like the robe He wore,


when our sins on the cross He bore.


         


So the next time you see a bag of jelly beans,


you will know what the colors mean.


         


from IBGN-SmileSharing 2

He's My Friend

When I am down, He lifts me up.


When I am sad, He makes me glad.


When I am lonely, He keeps me company.


When I am broken in spirit, He mends my soul.


When I am weak, He makes me strong.


When I am lost, He finds me.


When I begin to doubt, He gives me faith.


When I am ready to give up, He gives me hope.


When temptation beckons me, He helps me resist.


When I am in pain, He comforts me.


When I sin, He forgives me.


When I forget Him, He remembers me.


When I am in need, He provides.


 


Why?


 


Because He's my friend!


from IBGN-SmileSharing 2

 

Just how special you are?

Did anyone ever tell you


Just how special you are?


The light that you emit


Might even light a star.


         


Did anyone ever tell you


   How important you make others feel?


Somebody out here is smiling


About love that is so real.


         


Did anyone ever tell you


Many times, when they were sad


Your email made them smile a bit.


In fact it made them glad?


         


For the time you spend sending things


And sharing whatever you find


There are no words to thank you,


But somebody thinks you're fine.


         


Did anyone ever tell you


Just how much they love you?


Well, my dearest online friend


Today I am telling You.


         


Author Unknown


         


IBGN-SmileSharing 2

A Friend

A friend is like a shade tree


beside a summer way


A friend is like the sunshine


that makes a perfect day


A friend is like a flower


that's worn close to the heart


A friend is like a treasure


with which one will not part


         


from IBGN-SmileSharing 2

My Special List - Friendship

 

I have a list of folks I know...


all written in a book,


And every now and then


I go and take a look.


         


         


That is when I realize


these names... they are a part,


not of the book they're written in


but taken from the heart.


         


         


For each Name stands for someone


who has crossed my path sometime,


and in that meeting they have become


the reason and the rhyme.


         


         


Although it sounds fantastic


for me to make this claim,


I really am composed


of each remembered name.


         


         


Although you're not aware


of any special link,


just knowing you, has shaped my life


more than you could think.


         


         


So please don't think my greeting


as just a mere routine,


your name was not


forgotten in between.


         


         


For when I send a greeting


that is addressed to you,


it is because you're on the list


of folks I'm indebted to.


         


         


So whether I have known you


for many days or few,


in some ways you have a part


in shaping things I do.


         


         


I am but a total


of many folks I've met,


you are a friend I would prefer


never to forget.


         


         


Thank you for being my friend!


         


from IBGN-SmileSharing 2

Not To Confuse Faith With Optimism

Today, I got a letter from someone who included a quote from her pastor. He said: "It is important not to confuse faith with optimism. Optimism is seeing a glass as half-full rather than half-empty. Faith is being handed an empty glass and joining with God in the process of filling it. In some cases it means beginning with a broken glass."

I think many Christians see faith as a sort of "power of positive thinking" type of thing. It means always seeing the world through rose coloured glasses and never recognizing problems or difficulties. But that isn't being authentic. It's not being honest with ourselves or others.

A lot of people accuse Christians of being phonies, and sad to say many of us are. We pretend everything is Okay when it is not. When you are sick, you do hurt. When you are having marital distress you are in pain. When you get down to your last dollar and payday is two weeks away, you will be concerned. When you lose a loved one, you will cry. To claim you won't or to pretend these things don't bother you is inauthentic.

It is not a lack of faith to cry out to God and say, "I'm feeling overwhelmed. I don't know if I can handle this." In fact, when you feel you can't handle something, that's the very time you need to cry out to God and let Him handle it.

You see with God it doesn't matter if the glass is half-full, half-empty, completey empty or broken, He stands ready in our hour of desolation to fill us up to overflowing.

Lord, today let me be honest with you and myself about what is facing me and trust you to take care of it. Amen

from devotion@yahoogroups.com

WHEN YOU FEEL WEAK

 

Three different times I begged God to make me well again. Each time He said, "No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people." Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ's power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. . . . When I am weak, then I am strong--the less I have, the more I depend on God.

Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, He remains faithful to us and will help us, for He cannot disown us who are part of Himself, and He will always carry out His promises to us. . . . I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.

from DailyBreadFeedingTheSoul@yahoogroups.com

Humor

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps.

"Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely. "The front row please." She answered. "You really don't want to do that," the usher said. "the pastor is really boring."

"Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired. "No." he said. "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked. "No." she said. "Good," he answered.

from Illustrations_clergy@yahoogroups.com

 

Prayer- Billy Graham

Prayer is the rope that pulls God and man together. But it doesn't

pull God down to us: it pulls us up to him. - Billy Graham

from FavoriteStories@yahoogroups.com

 

 GOD AND THE SPIDER

 

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me.

Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.

As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.

"Hah," he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor."

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

from list FavoriteStories@yahoogroups.com

LOVING EACH DAY

 

A part of you always knows the truth. It knows whether you really finished cleaning the car. It knows whether you really did stick to your diet. It knows whether you did 20 push-ups or 15. It knows whether you did one hour of meditation or spiritual exercises, or 30 minutes, no matter what you say to yourself.

When you commit to doing something, you don't have to give in to your "won't" power and fall short.

Instead, you can use your energy, your willpower, to complete it.

- John-Roger

(From: Wealth & Higher Consciousness, 42-43)

"God comes to us"

Barbara Lundbald writes,

"God comes to us in times of dissonance, conflict and pain to be with us, to carry us through the experiences, to give us hope that something better is there, to invite us to live in the trenches, in the midst of the rubble, in the middle of the dissonance and share that light of hope with others as well."

'Down Is the Best Place To Be'

How to find hope at your lowest point.

Bob Perks

"I've really hit bottom," the young woman said.

"You'll still find hope there," I told her.

"How could I? I'm down so low in life I can't see a thing."

"Down is really a great place to be. Everything is always looking up!" I told her and then went on to explain.

I had been so depressed at one point in my life, that I prayed to God to take my life. Every morning when I woke up, I'd curse the day. I was unemployed and in great debt.

But it wasn't until I crashed, literally hitting the floor that my life would change.

My life became very predictable. I had been desperately looking for a job. Each morning I woke up I'd grab the local newspaper from my porch. Bypassing the news, which during that time was depressing enough, I immediately looked for the want ads. Running my finger slowly down the page, I'd carefully scan for something new. Anything that caught my attention would be circled. It was early in 1990. There was little to circle.

That day there was nothing at all.

By this point I had already sent out hundreds of resumes to every conceivable employer within a 100 mile radius of my home. Of course, because of the economy, so did thousands of other unemployed mid-lifers.

I remember that day as clearly as I can see today. Sadness and despair washed over me like sweat on a hot, humid day.

I stood up from the kitchen table and walked, no, dragged myself into the living room. The paper slipped from my hands as I lost all touch with reality. My heart, my mind, my soul, my spirit, suddenly just gave up on life.

I looked up at the ceiling and tears gushed from my eyes.

With every last bit of energy I screamed, "God help me!" and fell to the floor on my knees. I wept openly for a few minutes and rolled over on my side. I lay there crying still, now curled up in a fetal position.

I don't remember much of my time lying there on the floor, but I do remember waking up and finding my Old English Sheepdog next to me.

I, too, was as low as I could be.

You might think, "How sad!" or "How very depressing!"

It actually saved my life.

Jim Rohn, professional speaker and inspirational writer would call such an event, "The day that turned my life around."

Despair and anguish were like an infection running through my system.

Hopelessness and thoughts of being a failure were lies raging within my very soul.

That moment, my crashing to the floor was one of the greatest moments in my life.

I was down so low that "up" was the only option.

I believe, that my cry to God that day told Him that I was ready for Him to take over. Up until that very moment, although I may have prayed for help, I was never really willing to accept it at all.

Jesus the solution for the weariness of the soul

Jesus says he is the solution for weariness of soul.

Go to him. Be honest with him. Admit you have soul secrets you've never dealt with. He already knows what they are. He's just waiting for you to ask him to help....

Go ahead. You'll be glad you didi. Those near you will be glad as well.

-=- by Max Lucado -=- from Everyday Blessings

Jesus Carrying our Burdens

I wonder, how many burdens is Jesus carrying for us that we know nothing about? We're aware of some. He carries our sin. He carries our shame. He carries our eternal debt. But are there others? Has He lifted fears before we felt them?... Those times when we have been surprised by our own sense of peace? Could it be that Jesus has lifted our anxiety onto His shoulders and placed a yoke of kindness on ours?

 

-=- by Max Lucado -=- from Everyday Blessings

God Handling Your Problems

To: YOU

Date: TODAY

From: THE BOSS

Subject: YOURSELF

Reference: LIFE

           I am God. 


         


          Today I will be handling all of


  your problems.  Please remember that I do not need


  your help.  If life happens to deliver a situation to


  you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve


  it.


         


 Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to


  do) box.  It will be addressed in My time,


  not yours. Once the matter is placed into


  the box, do not hold on to it.


         


  If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair.


  There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of


  privilege


         


  Should you have a bad day at work; Think of


  the man who has been out of work for years.


  Should you despair over a relationship gone bad;


  Think of the person who has never known what it's like


  to love and be loved in return.


         


  Should you grieve the passing of another


  weekend;  Think of the woman in dire straits, working


  twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed


  her children.


         


  Should your car break down, leaving you


  miles away from assistance; Think


  of the paraplegic who would love the


  opportunity to take that walk.


         


  Should you notice a new gray hair in the


  mirror; Think of the cancer


  patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to


  examine.


         


  Should you find yourself at a loss and


  pondering what is life all


  about, asking what is my purpose? Be


  thankful. There are those who


  didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.


         


  Should you find yourself the victim of other


  people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or


  insecurities; Remember, things could be


  worse. You could be them!!!!


         


  Should you decide to send this to a friend;


  You might brighten someone's day!


 

from inspirational-stories@yahoogroups.com

Boy, School

Here is today's CleanQuote.

 

"A boy's mind is a wonderful thing. It starts working the minute he gets up and never stops until he gets to school."

Compassion Is Active

 

Christians are sometimes accused of being so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good. We get caught up in choirrehersals, studies of the end times or other church activities, and ignore needs around us.

When problems are brought to our attention, we content ourselves with feeling sorry about them while doing nothing. But sympathetic thoughts or kindly musings are not true compassion.

With the devine power he possessed, Jesus could have met the multitude's needs merely by forming a thought or speaking a command. He could even have done it from heaven without coming to earth.

But his compassion caused him not only to come and live and die among us, but also touch lepers (Mark 1:40-41) and blind men (Matthew 20:34) and to take little children in His arms (Mark 10: 13-16). Truw compassion is personal, active involvement that expresses God's merciful heart in words and deeds.

God's chosen people are to "clothe" themselves with compassion (Colossians 3:13). We are to meet others' needs, not to contuinally satisty our selfish desires.

As God showers us with comfort through His Word and through other believers, we in turn are to redirect the stream of His mercy to others. We are not to hoard God's love, but to overflow with te good news of His compassion to all.

I will today sit back today and reflect of the compassion that Jesus had for me and bestow that same comparrion on others, that I come in contact with.

I will not keep it all for myself, for Jesus did not keep His love and compassion just to His self.

God Bless!!

lfrom ist dailythoughtsandinspirations@yahoogroups.com

A Christian

Faith makes a Christian.

Life proves a Christian.

Trails confrims a Christian.

Death crowns a Christian.

from list dailythoughtsandinspirations@yahoogroups.com

Jesus - a simple message

         Jesus (Son of Mary)


Lived two thousand years ago,


And what Jesus did and said,


Everyone should know.


         


For Jesus gave to cripples,


The power to walk again,


And he cast the demons out,


Of those who were insane.


         


Jesus gave the blind their sight,


And the deaf - he made them hear,


He could make himself invisible,


Then elsewhere reappear.


         


Jesus gave the dead their life,


And brought them walking from their graves,


And when his boat was in a storm,


He calmed the wind and waves.


         


Jesus walked on water,


When he walked across the sea,


And what Jesus taught was simple,


For he simply said, "Love Me."

 

Story - Potato Chip Dance

Not too long ago I had "one of those days." I was feeling pressure from


a writing deadline. I had company arriving in a couple days and the


toilet was clogged. I went to the bank, and the trainee teller


processing my deposit had to start over three times. I swung by the


supermarket to pick up a few things and the lines were serpentine. By


the time I got home, I was frazzled and sweaty and in a hurry to get


something on the table for dinner. 


         


Deciding on Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup, I grabbed a can opener,


cranked open the can, then remembered I had forgotten to buy milk at the


store. Nix the soup idea. Setting the can aside, I went to plan B, which


was leftover baked beans. I grabbed the Tupperware container from the


fridge, popped the seal, took a look and groaned. My husband isn't a


picky eater, but even HE won't eat baked beans that look like


caterpillars. 


         


Really frustrated now, I decided on a menu that promised to be as


foolproof as it is nutrition-free: hot dogs and potato chips. Retrieving


a brand new bag of chips from the cupboard, I grabbed the cellophane and


gave a hearty pull. The bag didn't open. I tried again. Nothing


happened. I took a breath, doubled my muscle, and gave the bag a hearty


wrestle. With a loud pop, the cellophane suddenly gave way, ripping wide


from top to bottom. Chips flew sky high. I was left holding the bag, and


it was empty. 


         


It was the final straw. I let out a blood curdling scream. "I CAN'T


TAKE IT ANYMORE!" My husband heard my unorthodox cry for help. Within


minutes he was standing at the doorway to the kitchen, where he surveyed


the damage: an opened can of soup, melting groceries, moldy baked beans,


and one quivering wife standing ankle deep in potato chips. My husband


did the most helpful thing he could think of at the moment. He took a


flying leap, landing flat-footed in the pile of chips. And then he began


to stomp and dance and twirl, grinding those chips into my linoleum in


the process! 


         


I stared. I fumed. Pretty soon I was working to stifle a smile.


Eventually I had to laugh. And finally I decided to join him. I, too,


took a leap onto the chips. And then I danced. Now I'll be the first to


admit that my husband's response wasn't the one I was looking for. But


the truth is, it was exactly what I needed. I didn't need a cleanup crew


as much as I needed an attitude adjustment, and the laughter from that


rather funky moment provided just that. 


         


So now I have a question for you, and it's simply this: Has God ever


stomped on your chips? I know that, in my life, there have been plenty


of times when I've gotten myself into frustrating situations and I've


cried out for help, all the while hoping God would show up with a


celestial broom and clean up the mess. 


         


What often happens instead is that God dances on my chips, answering my


prayer in a completely different manner than I had expected, but in the


manner that is best for me after all. Sometimes I can see right away


that God's response was the best one after all. Sometimes I have to wait


weeks or months before I begin to understand how and why God answered a


particular prayer the way he did. There are even some situations that,


years later, I'm still trying to understand. I figure God will fill me


in sooner or later, either this side of Heaven or beyond. 


         


Do I trust Him? Even when he's answering my prayers in a way that is


completely different from my expectations? Even when he's dancing and


stomping instead of sweeping and mopping:? Can I embrace what He's


offering? Can I let His joy adjust my attitude? Am I going to stand on


the sidelines and sulk, or am I willing to learn the steps of the dance


he's dancin' with my needs in mind? 


         


I'll be honest with you: Sometimes I sulk. Sometimes I dance. I'm


working on doing more of the latter than the former. I guess the older I


get the more I realize that He really does know what He's doing. He


loves me and I can trust Him. Even when the chips are down. 


         


~ Author Unknown

from ChristianEncouragementStoriesRUs@yahoogroups.com

PERSPECTIVE

         A Southern California minister reports, "A neighboring church


has just completed a large addition, including a new sanctuary,


to house their growing congregation.  Last week they discovered


that 250 housing units were going in right behind them-they will


share a property line."


         


Their pastor said he had two conversations within a three hour


time period.  The first individual said: "We need to build a fence


so their kids don't wander onto our property."  The second


person asked: "Do we have the money to build a sidewalk and


steps up to our church so their kids can come to our ministries?"

Source: unknown

from illustrate@yahoogroups.com

Our Father who Art In Heaven

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.

YES?

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.

BUT -- YOU CALLED ME!

Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying.. Our Father who art in heaven.

THERE -- YOU DID IT AGAIN!

Did what?

CALLED ME. YOU SAID, "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN"

WELL HERE I AM. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.

WELL, ALL RIGHT. GO ON.

Okay, Hallowed be Thy name.....

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

By what?

BY "HALLOWED BE THY NAME"?

It means, it means ... good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?

IT MEANS HONORED, HOLY, WONDERFUL.

Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?

Sure, why not?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess... I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know.

YES, I KNOW; BUT, HAVE I GOT CONTROL OF YOU?

Well, I go to church.

THAT ISN'T WHAT I ASKED YOU. WHAT ABOUT YOUR BAD TEMPER?

YOU'VE REALLY GOT A PROBLEM THERE, YOU KNOW AND THEN THERE'S THE WAY YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY -- ALL ON YOURSELF. AND WHAT ABOUT THE KIND OF BOOKS YOU READ?

Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!

EXCUSE ME. I THOUGHT YOU WERE PRAYING FOR MY WILL TO BE DONE. IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN, IT WILL HAVE TO START WITH THE ONES WHO ARE PRAYING FOR IT. LIKE YOU -- FOR EXAMPLE.

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.

SO COULD I...

I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to put out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free.

GOOD. NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE. WE'LL WORK TOGETHER -- YOU AND ME. I'M PROUD OF YOU.

Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread.

YOU NEED TO CUT OUT THE BREAD. YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT AS IT IS.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.

PRAYING IS A DANGEROUS THING. YOU JUST MIGHT GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR. REMEMBER, YOU CALLED ME -- AND HERE I AM. IT'S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW. KEEP PRAYING.

.....pause...

WELL, GO ON.

I'm scared to.

SCARED? OF WHAT?

I know what you'll say.

TRY ME.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

WHAT ABOUT CAROL?

See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!

BUT -- YOUR PRAYER -- WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRAYER?

I didn't -- mean it.

WELL, AT LEAST YOU'RE HONEST. BUT, IT'S QUITE A LOAD CARRYING AROUND ALL THAT BITTERNESS AND RESENTMENT ISN'T IT?

Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born.

NO, YOU WON'T FEEL ANY BETTER. YOU'LL FEEL WORSE. REVENGE ISN'T SWEET. YOU KNOW HOW UNHAPPY YOU ARE -- WELL, I CAN CHANGE THAT.

You can? How?

FORGIVE CAROL. THEN, I'LL FORGIVE YOU; AND THE HATE AND SIN WILL BE CAROL'S PROBLEM -- NOT YOURS. YOU WILL HAVE SETTLED THE PROBLEM AS FAR AS YOU ARE CONCERNED.

Oh, you know, you're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You... (sigh) All right....all right...I forgive her.

THERE NOW! WONDERFUL! HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.. I haven't been getting much rest, you know.

YEAH, I KNOW. BUT, YOU'RE NOT THROUGH WITH YOUR PRAYER ARE YOU? GO ON.

Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

GOOD! GOOD! I'LL DO THAT. JUST DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE TEMPTED.

What do you mean by that?

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

Yeah. I know.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. FINISH YOUR PRAYER.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BRING ME GLORY -- WHAT WOULD REALLY MAKE ME HAPPY?

No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now. I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly follow you. I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me ... how do I make you happy?

YOU JUST DID...

from ChristianEncouragementStoriesRUs@yahoogroups.com

Grandparents

         Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of her own.


They like other people's.


         


A grandfather is a man grandmother.


         


Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see


them. They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run. It is good if they drive


us to the store and have lots of quarters for us.


         


When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves


and caterpillars.


         


They show us and talk to us about the color of the flowers and also Why we


shouldn't step on "cracks."


         


They don't say, "Hurry up."


         


Usually grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes.


         


They wear glasses and funny underwear.


         


They can take their teeth and gums out.


         


Grandparents don't have to be smart.


         


They have to answer questions like "why isn't God married?" and "How come


dogs chase cats?".


         


When they read to us, they don't skip. They don't mind if we ask for the same


story over again.


         


Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have


television, because they are the only grown ups who like to spend time with us.


         


They know we should have snack-time before bedtime and they say prayers with


us every time, and kiss us even when we've acted bad.


         


         


A 6 year old was asked where his grandma lived. ''Oh,'' he said, ''she lives


at the airport, and when we want her we just go get her. Then when we're done


having her visit, we take her back to the airport.''


         


from ChristianEncouragementStoriesRUs@yahoogroups.com

If I had my Life to Live Over Again

If I had my life to live over again, would I do things the same? Yes....I

would...except,

I WOULD GIVE MORE RESPONSE TO THOSE ARMS THAT EMBRACED ME WHEN THERE WAS NO

ONE ELSE.... AND LESS, 'THANK YOU' AND WALKING AWAY...

LESS ARROGANCE WHEN SOMEONE 'DESERVED IT'...AND MORE EMPATHY, KNOWING THAT

THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I...

A LITTLE MORE LINGERING WHEN TWO EYES MEET, AND I SEE HURT AND DESPAIR IS

DWELLING.

LESS OF A GLANCE AND HANDSHAKE, AND MORE OF A 'NO MAN IS AN ISLAND UNTO

HIMSELF'...

MORE... TELEPHONE CALLS TO THE ONE WHO HASN'T BEEN AROUND MUCH LATELY;...

LESS... WORRYING ABOUT THE EXTRA COST THAT SHOWS UP ON THE MONTHLY PHONE BILL...

MORE BACKACHES WHILE BRUSHING OUT THE CRACKER CRUMBS, WHEN MY LITTLE ONE WAS

JUST 'STARVING' BEFORE SLEEPTIME...

KEEPING TWO TOOTHPICKS AT MY BEDSIDE TO PROP THE EYELIDS OPEN WHEN THE LITTLE

ONE WAS 'DYING OF THIRST' AT 3A.M. IN THE MORNING...

LESS... GRUMBLING, BECAUSE I LOST SOOO MUCH SLEEP STAYING 'UP LATE' DOING

WHAT I WANTED TO DO...

MORE... 'WARM FUZZIES' GIVEN TO THAT TEENAGER, OR LITTLE ONE WHOM I THOUGHT

WAS SO STRONG AND SELF-WILLED...

LESS OF, WHY SHOULD I GIVE A 'FUZZY' WHEN THERE IS NO ONE TO GIVE ME ONE...

I'D THINK LESS OF THE WORN CARPET AND DIRT FROM THE FIREPLACE AND SMEARED

FINGERPRINTS, AND BUY MORE 'LIFE-TIME GUARANTEES' OF 'WON'T PEEL, CHIP, OR

STAIN'...

LESS... FRETTING OVER EATING POPCORN IN THE LIVING ROOM, OR THE MARKS ON THE

GLASS TABLE ...

MORE... LAUGHING THAN CRYING OVER 'SPILT MILK'...

LESS... 'YOU'LL GET IT WHEN I CATCH YOU!' FOR TOYS ALL AROUND UNDER

FOOT...DOG HAIR ON THE CARPET...

MORE OF..., 'I LOVE YOU'...LESS GRUMBLINGS BECAUSE OF THE MESSED UP

BEDSPREADS...

MORE LAUGHING AND ROMPINGS ON IT WITH THEM...

MORE FASTINGS...LESS OF 'WHERE WILL THE NEXT MEAL COME FROM'...

MORE OF... LISTENING TO THE LITTLE ONES SERIOUSNESS,

LESS ...ATTENTION TO THE TRIFLES...

MORE... PARKS AND PLAYTIME...LESS... WORKING AND WORRYING ABOUT THE 'MESSED

UP' HOME...

MORE OF... 'I UNDERSTAND'...LESS OF... 'HOW COULD YOU DO THAT' !!

LESS REMEMBERING, AND MORE FORGETTING...

SPENDING AN EXTRA DAY TO REST...LESS OF THINKING HOW INDISPENSABLE I AM...

MORE... BUYING OF PAPER TOWEL ROLLS...LESS... GRIPES WHEN THOSE 2 LITTLE

HANDS MAKE 10 LITTLE FINGER PRINTS ON THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CAR...

BEING BIG ENOUGH WHEN LITTLE ONES TRY TO EXPLAIN...AND LESS 'LISTENING, BUT

NOT HEARING'..THUS, TURNING A DEAF EAR...

LESS... FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF WHEN THINKING THAT I'M REALLY NOT LOVED...

MORE... PRAYING TO GOD THAT I MIGHT BE MADE WORTHY OF THEIR LOVE...

LORD...LET THIS DAY BE THE FIRST DAY OF MY LIFE , THAT I WILL NEVER NEED TO

FEEL THAT IF I COULD LIVE MY LIFE OVER...WHAT A DIFFERENT WAY I WOULD LIVE!!!

Written by Shirley Kotsanos

from ChristianEncouragementStoriesRUs@yahoogroups.com

THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS

         A young man who had been reared on a farm decided to be a doctor in 


order that he might be of greater service to mankind. He felt that 


he could do more good and help more of his fellow men if he 


practiced medicine, than if he stayed on the farm. 


         


The years in medical school were strenuous ones. There were many 


sacrifices on his part, and plenty of work and study. His father and 


mother entered into the sacrifice, too. They went without many 


things in order that the boy might stay in school. Finally he 


graduated and served an internship, then went into a large city and 


began his chosen work. 


         


Things did not go too well. He didn't have many patients, and his 


income was not all he had expected. Evidence of his discouragement 


must have crept into his letters to his parents, for his father 


decided to go to the city to see his son. His visit was a pleasant 


surprise. 


         


"Well, son," he asked, "How are you getting along? How is your 


courage?" 


         


"I'm not getting along at all, dad. I am not doing a thing. Maybe I 


made a mistake." 


         


The father tried to say something which would encourage the young 


doctor. He had helped him before; maybe he could do something now. 


So he did his best. 


         


Later in the day the father went with his son to a free clinic, 


where the young man spent several hours each day without any 


financial recompense. Twenty-five suffering patients were cared for 


as carefully as if the doctor were to receive a large check from 


each one. He spoke words of cheer, and left each one feeling better. 


         


When they were alone again, the old gentleman said, "I thought you 


told me you were not doing anything. If I had given as much help to 


as many persons in a month as you have in a few hours this morning, 


I would thank God that I was good for something." 


         


"But there isn't any money in it, dad," the boy replied. 


         


"Money!" the old man said, with a tone of scorn in his voice. "What 


is money in comparison with being a help and a blessing to your 


fellow men? Forget the money. Don't let it worry you. I will go back 


to the farm and work the rest of my life to help support you, for in 


that way I shall be a blessing, too. I shall be happy by day and 


sleep soundly at night in the thought that I have helped you to help 


your fellow men." 

 

By C. L. Paddock

from list dailythoughtsandinspirations@yahoogroups.com

 The Story of the Grape

Once upon a time there was a little grape stem. This stem was so glad to be alive. She drank water and minerals from the soil and grew and grew. She was young and strong and could manage quite well ... all by herself.

But then, the wind was cruel, the rain was harsh, the snow was not one bit understanding, and the little grape stem suffered. She drooped, weak and suffering. It would be so easy to stop trying to grow, to stop trying to live. And the grape stem was poor! The winter was long, and the stem was weary.

But then the little grape stem heard a voice. It was another grape stem calling out to her ... "Here, reach out ... hang on to me." But the stem hesitated.

"What would this mean?" she thought. For you see, the little stem had always managed quite well ... all by herself.

But then, ever so cautiously, she reached out towards the other grape stem. "See, I can help you," it said. "Just wind your tendrils about me and I will help you lift your head." And the little stem trusted ... and suddenly she could stand straight again.

The wind came ... and the rain ... and the snow, but when it came, the little grape stem was clinging to many other stems. And although the stems were swayed by the wind and frozen by the snow, they stood strongly united to each other. And in their untired strength ... they could smile and grow.

And then, one day the little grape stem looked down and saw a tiny stem, swaying, frightened. And our little grape stem said, "Here, hang on ... I will help you." And the other stem reached up to our grape stem, and together all the stems grew.

Leaves budded ... flowers bloomed ... and finally, grapes formed. And the grapes fed many.

from Christmas_story_lovers@yahoogroups.com

Humility

Anonymous - "The easiest way to dignity is humility.

Loosing oneself for God

In order to get riches, we have to give.

In order to receive a hundredfold return, we have to forsake all.

In order to save our life, we have to lose it.

In order to lose our life, we have to save it.

In order to be first, we must be last.

A corn of wheat must die before it produces fruit.

In order to win Christ, we have to lose everything.

 

Humility

Martin Luther - "Until a man is nothing, God can make nothing of him.

Around the Corner

  by: Henson Towne, Source Unknown

Around the corner I have a friend


In this great city that has no end,


Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,


And before I know it, a year is gone 


         


And I never see my old friends face,


For life is a swift and terrible race,


She knows I like her just as well


As in the days when I rang her bell, 


         


And she rang mine.


We were younger then,


And now we are busy, tired men.


Tired of playing a foolish game,


Tired of trying to make a name.


"Tomorrow" I say "I will call on Jane" 


"Just to show that I'm thinking of her" 


         


But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes, 


And distance between us grows and grows.


Around the corner!-yet miles away,


"Here's a telegram sir-"


"Jane died today."


         


And that's what we get and deserve in the end.


Around the corner, a vanished friend. 


         


If you love someone, tell them.


Remember always to say "what you mean".


Never be afraid to express yourself.


Take this opportunity to tell someone what they mean to you.


Seize the day and have no regrets.


         


Most importantly, stay close to your friends and family,


They have helped to make you the person you are today,


What it's all about anyway. Pass this along to your friends.


Let it make a difference in your day and theirs. 


         


from Afterhours Inspirational Stories

The Four Philanthropists

 

There is a story about a village which was overtaken by enemy forces. All of the warriors who inhabited the village were gathered together and imprisoned by the conquerors.

Amidst the villagers were four philanthropists who became aware of the prison conditions that their compatriots were enduring. The first philanthropist went to the prison and said to the captors, "I understand that my brothers are without clean water. I want to take all my riches, and use them to purify the water, so that my brothers will have clean water, that they will not get sick." The captors agreed and granted the man this right. He walked away, feeling that he had fulfilled his destiny in doing this act of charity for his brothers.

The second philanthropist went to the prison, and approached the captors, saying "I understand my brothers are sleeping on rocks. I want to take all my riches, and provide bedding for the men, so they may rest comfortably in prison." The captors agreed, and the man left, feeling that he had fulfilled his purpose in aiding his brothers' plight.

The third philanthropist went to the prison, and spoke to the captors, saying "I have heard that my brothers have no food. They have only bread and water. I have a large farm, and want to harvest all my crops to see that the men have good food to eat while they are in prison." The captors agreed, and the philanthropist left, knowing he had done much good in helping his brothers in prison.

The fourth philanthropist ~ a wise man of higher awareness ~ found the keys to the prison. One night, he slipped into the prison and freed all his brothers from their captivity.

from Storybin.com

Humbled in Grace

C. H. Spurgeon - "The more we are humbled in grace, the more we 


shall be exalted in glory." 

            Evil is the absence of God


      

 

At a certain college, there was a professor with a reputation for being tough on Christians. At the first class every semester, he asked if anyone was a Christian and proceeded to degrade them and to mock their statement of faith. One semester, he asked the question and a young man raised his hand when asked if anyone was a Christian.

The professor asked,"Did God make everything, young man?"

He replied,"Yes sir He did!"

The professor responded,"If God made everything, then He made evil."

The student didn't have a response and the professor was happy to have once again proved the Christian faith to be a myth.

Then another man raised his hand and asked, "May I ask you something sir?"

"Yes, you may," responded the professor.

The young man stood up and said,"Sir, is there such thing as cold?"

"Of course there is, what kind of question is that? Haven't you ever been cold?"

The young man replied, "Actually, sir, cold doesn't exist. What we consider to be cold, is really an absence of heat. Absolute zero is when there is absolutely no heat, but cold does not really exist. We have only created that term to describe how we feel when heat is not there."

The young man continued,"Sir, is there such a thing as dark?"

Once again, the professor responded, "Of course there is."

And once again, the student replied,"Actually, sir, darkness does not exist. Darkness is really only the absence of light. Darkness is only a term man developed to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally, the young man asked,"Sir, is there such thing as evil?"

The professor responded,"Of course. We have rapes, and murders and violence everywhere in the world, those things are evil."

The student replied,"Actually, sir, evil does not exist. Evil is simply the absence of God. Evil is a term man developed to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. It isn't like truth, or love, which exist as virtues like heat or light. Evil is simply the state where God is not present, like cold without heat or darkness without light."

The professor had nothing to say.

      from list Illustrations_clergy@yahoogroups.com


      


      Hugging Is


      


Hugging is healthy. It helps the immune system, cures depression,


reduces stress and induces sleep. It's invigorating, rejuvenating and


has no unpleasant side effects. Hugging is nothing less than a miracle


drug.


      


Hugging is all natural. It is organic, naturally sweet, no artificial


ingredients, non-polluting, environmentally friendly and 100 percent


wholesome.


      


Hugging is the ideal gift. Great for any occasion, fun to give and


receive, shows you care, comes with its own wrapping and, of course,


fully returnable.


      


Hugging is practically perfect. No batteries to wear out,


inflation-proof, non-fattening, no monthly payments, theft-proof and


nontaxable. Hugging is an underutilized resource with magical powers.


When we open our hearts and arms we encourage others to do the same.


      


Think of the people in your life. Are there any words you'd like to


say? Are there any hugs you want to share? Are you waiting and hoping


someone else will ask first?


      


Please don't wait! Initiate!


      


from list Illustrations_clergy@yahoogroups.com


      


      The Pencil Maker


      

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.


There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you


out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will


become the best pencil you can be.


         


One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself


to be held in Someone's hand.


         


Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll


need it to become a better pencil.


         


Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.


         


Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.


         


And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No


matter what the condition, you must continue to write.


         


The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with


purpose in its heart.


         


Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and


never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.


         


One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself


to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the


many gifts you possess.


         


Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going


through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.


         


Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.


         


Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.


         


And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No


matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.


         


By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth


having a meaningful purpose in our heart.


         


~ Author Unknown


         


from list inspirational-stories@yahoogroups.com

Love

Heavenly Father,

Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and  is rushing home to cook dinner, help with  homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember  that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly  is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that  the scary looking bum, begging for money in  the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to mental illness or addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all  the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is  love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity.  Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

from list inspirational-stories@yahoogroups.com

A Rose Bud

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice. The older preacher walked up to a rose bush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing any of the petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But, because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try and unfold the rosebud while keeping every petal intact . . . It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do.

Noticing the young preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem:

It is only a tiny rosebud


A flower of God's design;


But I cannot unfold the petals


With these clumsy hands of mine.


         


The secret of unfolding flowers


Is not known to such as I. 


GOD opens this flower so sweetly,


Then, in my hands, they die.


         


If I cannot unfold a rosebud,


The flower of God's design, T


hen how can I have the wisdom


To unfold this life of mine?


         


So, I'll trust in Him for leading


Each moment of my day. 


I will look to Him for His guidance


Each step of the Pilgrim's way. 


         


from posts@cybersaltlists.org

IF GOD BRINGS YOU TO IT

            If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.


Happy moments, praise God.


Difficult moments, seek God.


Quiet moments, worship God.


Painful moments, trust God.


Every moment, thank God.


            


-- Author Unknown


            


from ChristianEncouragementStoriesRUs@yahoogroups.com

Thinking Of You

Hello God, I called tonight


To talk a little while.


I need a friend who'll listen


To my anxiety and trial.


            


You see, I can't quite make it


Through a day just on my own...


I need your love to guide me,


So I'll never feel alone.


            


I want to ask you please to keep,


My family safe and sound.


Come and fill their lives with confidence


For whatever fate they're bound.


            


Give me faith, dear God, to face


Each hour throughout the day,


And not to worry over things


I can't change in any way.


            


I thank you God, for being home


And listening to my call,


For giving me such good advice


When I stumble and fall.


            


Your number, God, is the only one


That answers every time.


I never get a busy signal,


Never had to pay a dime.


            


So thank you, God, for listening


To my troubles and my sorrow.


Good night, God, I love You, too,


And I'll call again tomorrow!

      Remember:God is there for you always, even when everyone else has betrayed and left


you.  God loves you and so do I.


      


From ChristianEncouragementStoriesRUs@yahoogroups.com

 A Friend

A man fell into a ditch. A doctor walked by the and the man yelled out to him. The doctor walked on by and flipped a prescription into the ditch.

A priest walked by and the man yelled again for help. The priest stood over the man and offered a prayer.

Sometime later a man walked by, seeing the man in the ditch and hearing his call for help, the man jumped into the ditch.

The man in the ditch said,"How are we going to get out down that you are now here ,too.

The man said, "I have been in this ditch before and I will lead you out."

That is the mark of a true friend, one who will lead another out of the ditch.

God's Wings

A little something to put things in perspective....

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an interesting picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies.

Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast.Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." (Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it.

Thank God for Children Saying Grace...

 

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great.... Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!" Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.

"Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied. Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), " Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman.

With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

The End;)

Everyone should have this list.

1. If you feel far away from God, guess who moved?

2. Fear knocked. Faith answered. No one was there.

3. What you are is God's gift to you. What you become is your gift to God.

4. I am God's melody of life and He sings His song through me.

5. We can never really go where God is not, and where He is, all is well.

6. No matter what is happening in your life, know that God is waiting

for you with open arms.

7. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

8. Do your best and then sleep in peace. God is awake.

9. God has a purpose and plan for me that no one else can fulfill.

10. The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will

not protect you.

11. We are responsible for the effort, not the outcome.

12. We set the sail; God makes the wind.

13. Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.

14. Sometimes when God says "no", it's because He has something better

in store for you.

15. The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.

16. Prayer: don't bother to give God instructions, just report for

duty.

17. It's my business to do God's business and it's His business to

take care of my business.

18. Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.

19. How come you're always running around looking for God? He's

not lost.

20. God put me on earth to accomplish a number of things; right

now I'm so far behind I will live forever!!

Want a Donut?

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the Western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or her freshman year regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously. This year, Dr.Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class. One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind." Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it."

And he put a donut on Scott's desk. Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row.

During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room.

He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want."

And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come in."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut"

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was profusely dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was no sound except his heavy breathing, there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone. I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve, here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for all of your sakes.

Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant" said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who spared not the only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all for the whole Church, now and forever.

Greater love hath no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.

 

Author Unknown!

WATCH YOUR WITNESSING

 

A woman pulls up to a red light behind one other car. She notices the driver of the car in front of her is talking on his cell phone and appears to be shuffling through some papers on the seat beside him. The light turns green, but the man doesn't notice. The woman waits, but the man still doesn't notice the light change.

The woman begins pounding on her steering wheel and yelling at the man to move. The man doesn't move. The woman is going ballistic inside her car, ranting and raving at the man, pounding on her steering wheel and dash.

The light turns yellow. The woman begins to blow the car horn and scream curses at the man. The man hearing the commotion, looks up, sees the yellow light and accelerates through the intersection just as the light turns red.

The woman is beside herself, screaming in frustration as she misses her chance to get through the intersection. As she is still in mid-rant she hears a tap on her window and looks up into the barrel of a gun held by a very serious looking policeman. The policeman tells her to shut off her car while keeping both hands in sight.

She complies, speechless at what is happening. After she shuts off the engine the policeman orders her to exit her car with her hands up. She gets out of the car and he orders her to turn and place her hands on her car. She turns, places her hands on the car roof and quickly is cuffed and hustled into the patrol car.

She is too bewildered by the chain of events to ask any questions. She is driven to the police station where she is fingerprinted, photographed, searched, booked and placed in a cell. After a couple of hours a policeman approaches the cell and opens the door for her. She is escorted back to the booking desk where the original officer is waiting with her personal effects. He hands her the bag containing her things, and says, "I'm really sorry for this mistake. But you see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn and cussing a blue streak at the car in front of you.

Then I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. So naturally I assumed you had stolen the car.

PERSPECTIVE

 

A Southern California minister reports, "A neighboring church has just completed a large addition, including a new sanctuary, to house their growing congregation. Last week they discovered that 250 housing units were going in right behind them-they will share a property line."

Their pastor said he had two conversations within a three hour time period. The first individual said: "We need to build a fence so their kids don't wander onto our property." The second person asked: "Do we have the money to build a sidewalk and steps up to our church so their kids can come to our ministries?"

 

Source: unknown

Today's Quote : Achievement

 

Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds. -- Orison Swett Marden

The Ticket

 

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down:

73 in a 55 zone.

When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially off the road.

Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard.  

Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror.

The cop that stepped out of his car was Bob, Bob from Church?  

Jack sunk farther into his seat. This was worse than the coming ticket, a Christian cop catching a guy from his own church.

Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.

Jack - "Hi, Bob."

Bob - "Hello, Jack."  No smile.

Jack - "Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."

Bob - "Yeah, I guess."  

Jack - "I've seen some long days at the office lately.  I'm afraid I was going a little fast.  Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight.  Know what I mean?"

Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement.

Bob - "I know what you mean.  I also know that you have a reputation for speeding."

Ouch.  This was not going in the right direction.  Time to change tactics.

Jack - "What'd you clock me at?"

Bob - "Seventy.  Would you sit back in your car please?"

Jack - "Now wait a minute here, Bob.  I checked as soon as I saw you.  I was barely nudging 65."

Bob - "Please, Jack, in the car."

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door.  Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard.  The minutes ticked by.  Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?  

A tap on the door jerked his head to the left.  There was Bob, with a folded paper in hand.

Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

"Thanks a lot!"  Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.  

Bob returned to his police car without a word as Jack unfolded the sheet of paper.  

How much was this one going to cost?  

Jack began to read:

"Dear Jack, once I had a daughter.  She was six when killed by a car.  You guessed it - a speeding driver.  

A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free.  Free to hug his daughters (all three of them).  I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.

A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man for killing my daughter.  A thousand times I thought I had.  Maybe I did, but I need to do it again.  Even now.  Pray for me.  And be careful. My son is all I have left.

Bob"

Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road.  Jack watched until it disappeared.  A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.

Life is precious so handle it with care.  

Drive safely and carefully

This is an important message; please pass it along to your friends.

Remember, cars are not the only things recalled by their maker.

by Bill Stephens

THE ANT AND THE CONTACT LENS

A true story by Josh and Karen Zarandona

 

Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was very scared, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff. In spite of her fear, she put on the gear, took a hold on the rope, and started up the face of that rock.

Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens.

Well, here she is, on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her! . Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn't there.

Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry. She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find it.

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff.

She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"

Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it on it's back.

Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

I think it would probably do some of us good to occasionally say, "God, I don't know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

 

From Heartwarming at yahoo groups

 

 

The Gold and Ivory Tablecloth ( Author Howard C. Schade)

 

At Christmas time men and women everywhere gather in their churches to wonder anew at the greatest miracle the world has ever known. But the story I like best to recall was not a miracle --not exactly. It happened to a pastor who was very young. His church was very old. Once, long ago, it had flourished. Famous men had preached from its pulpit, prayed before its altar. Rich and poor alike had worshipped there and built it beautifully. Now the good days had passed from the section of town where it stood. But the pastor and his young wife believed in their run-down church. They felt that with paint, hammer, and faith they could get it in shape. Together they went to work.

But late in December a severe storm whipped through the river valley, and the worst blow fell on the little church -- a huge chunk of rain-soaked plaster fell out of the inside wall just behind the altar. Sorrowfully the pastor and his wife swept away the mess, but they couldn't hide the ragged hole. The pastor looked at it and had to remind himself quickly, "Thy will be done!" But his wife wept, "Christmas is only two days away!"

That afternoon the dispirited couple attended the auction held for the benefit of a youth group. The auctioneer opened a box and shook out of its folds a handsome gold and ivory lace tablecloth. It was a magnificent item, nearly 15 feet long. But it too dated from a long vanished era. Who, today, had any use for such a thing? There were a few halfhearted bids. Then the pastor was seized with what he thought was a great idea. He bid it in for $6.50.

He carried the cloth back to the church and tacked it up on the wall behind the altar. It completely hid the hole! And the extraordinary beauty of its shimmering handwork cast a fine, holiday glow over the chancel. It was a great triumph. Happily he went back to preparing his Christmas sermon.

Just before noon on the day of Christmas Eve, as the pastor was opening the church, he noticed a woman standing in the cold at the bus stop. "The bus won't be here for 40 minutes!" he called, and invited her into the church to get warm.

She told him that she had come from the city that morning to be interviewed for a job as governess to the children of one of the wealthy families in town, but she had been turned down. A war refugee, her English was imperfect.

The woman sat down in a pew and chafed her hands and rested. After a while she dropped her head and prayed. She looked up as the pastor began to adjust the great gold and ivory cloth across the hole. She rose suddenly and walked up the steps of the chancel. She looked at the tablecloth.

The pastor smiled and started to tell her about the storm damage, but she didn't seem to listen. She took up a fold of the cloth and rubbed it between her fingers. "It is mine!" she said. "It is my banquet cloth!" She lifted up a corner and showed the surprised pastor that there were initials monogrammed on it. "My husband had the cloth made especially for me in Brussels! There could not be another like it." For the next few minutes the woman and the pastor talked excitedly together.

She explained that she was Viennese; that she and her husband had opposed the Nazis and decided to leave the country. They were advised to go separately. Her husband put her on a train for Switzerland. They planned that he would join her as soon as he could arrange to ship their household goods across the border. She never saw him again. Later she heard that he had died in a concentration camp. "I have always felt that it was my fault -- to leave without him," she said. "Perhaps these years of wandering have been my punishment!" The pastor tried to comfort her and urged her to take the cloth with her. She refused. Then she went away.

As the church began to fill on Christmas Eve, it was clear that the cloth was going to be a great success. It had been skillfully designed to look its best by candlelight. After the service, the pastor stood at the doorway. Many people told him that the church looked beautiful. One gentle-faced middle-aged man -- he was the local clock-and-watch repairman -- looked rather puzzled.

"It is strange," he said in his soft accent. "Many years ago my wife -

God rest her -- and I owned such a cloth. In our home in Vienna, my wife put it on the table" --and here he smiled -- "only when the bishop came to dinner."

The pastor suddenly became very excited. He told the jeweler about the woman who had been in church earlier that day. The startled jeweler clutched the pastor's arm. "Can it be? Does she live?"

Together the two got in touch with the family who had interviewed her. Then, in the pastor's car they started for the city. And as Christmas Day was born, this man and his wife, who had been separated through so many saddened Yule tides, were reunited.

To all who hear this story, the joyful purpose of the storm that had knocked a hole in the wall of the church was now quite clear. Of course, people said it was a miracle, but I think you will agree it was the season for it! True love seems to find a way.

 

Newspaper account of the Birth of Jesus

I would like you to pretend that you are back 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, you wake up on this day, get the morning newspaper and you read about some strange happenings which occurred in your town during the night. As most newspaper do, this one, the Daily Bethlehem covered the story from every angle. You read....There is a story about astronomy in which the strange bright star over Bethlehem is explained The top astronomers of the day give their opinions concerning this latest appearing in the sky.

As you read further, you find on article concerning the many miles people traveled and the crowded conditions in your town especially last night. A special human interest story appeared which told of a pregnant woman traveling 70 miles on top of a donkey, then arriving so late that Mary and Joseph find no room in the inn, so they have to settle for a stable.

Then in the police reports, you find that a group of shepherds invaded your town during the night. The report gives little detail, but the shepherds were reported to have gone to that stable to see a little baby who was suppose to have been born. The police kept close track of those shepherds because of their reputation for causing trouble whenever they come to town. The report said something about the shepherds seeing angels in the sky and hearing the angels singing and telling them about a special baby being born this night in a stable. The report went on to say that the police were very suspicious of the shepherd's story.

Finally in the birth announcements you read about a baby born who as yet has not been named being born in a stable behind the inn. You find out that the parents, Mary and Joseph were of the house and lineage of David and that is why they are in your town because of the census ordered by Herod.

By all the accounts, there were some strange happenings in your town last night. As you read these stories, you come to the conclusion that these were all unrelated events. You wonder how the baby is doing since little was said concerning his welfare.

Using your imagination, those might have been the stories you read concerning the strange events in Bethlehem. Notice every angle was covered, but the story which was the short shortest concerned the baby born in that stable. Is that how it should have been? Maybe not, but that is the way it was and I bet if it happened today, it would be reported in the same manner.

 

God cares God knows us

A psychiatrist going through the wards of a state asylum was intrigued by a patient who sat huddled in a corner all by himself, scratching for hours on end. "My good man," the doctor said to the patient, "Why do you stay huddled in a corner all by yourself, scratching?"

"Because," said the man, "I'm the only person who knows where I itch."

We are reminded once again in this holy season that there is Someone who knows where we itch, and Someone who cares.

 

 

The Miraculous Staircase by Arthur Gordon

A story entitled The Miraculous Staircase by Arthur Gordon explains the gift of Christmas very well It seems in 1878 a chapel was built and completed and named Our Lady of Light and run by the sister of Loretto . But a problem developed, it seemed that the plans for the chapel came from Paris and the architect who drew them forgot to put a staircase leading to the choir loft. After the chapel was built, it was soon discovered that there was no room for a staircase.

One cold December day a carpenter came hearing about the problem and offered to build a staircase. The mother superior Magdalene was leaving to help in a village with sickness and couldn't talk with the Carpenter.

The best ones in Santa Fe and New Mexico couldn't figure out how to guild a staircase so she figured this one wouldn't either. She left giving orders for him to be fed and then he could go on his way. While fighting the sickness in the village she received some strange letters from home. It seemed that the carpenter was working late, into the night on something.

The Mother Superior having completed her mission in the village hurried home. Because of a snow storm she arrived late at night on Christmas Eve. The chapel was ablaze with light. She hurried in and was met by excited sister ushering her quickly into the chapel to the choir loft area.

"Like a curl of smoke the staircase rise before them as insubstantial as a dream. Two completed spirals it made, nothing seemed to support it. One sister whispered, it has 33 steps, One for each year of the Lord. Mother Magdalene moved toward the staircase, stepped up and began to climb. She reached the choir loft, she was ecstatic

"How did he do it?" she asked, "How did he finish it in time? What is his name?"

The sister answered,"He finished today, he left when he was done."

A young girl who had been mute came forward trying to form words and uttered , "his name was Jose" Jose is the name in Spanish for Joseph. The sisters bowed their heads.

This staircase can be seen today in Santa Fe. No one can explain how it was built. 33 Steps make two complete turns without central support. There are no nails, only wooden pegs. The curved stringers are put together with precision and the wood is spliced in seven places on the inside and nine on the outside!

 

 

Cabby's Story

 

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. It was a cowboy's life, a life for someone who wanted no boss. What I didn't realize was that it was also a ministry. Because I drove the night shift, my cab became a moving confessional. Passengers climbed in, sat behind me in total anonymity, and told me about their lives. I encountered people whose lives amazed me, ennobled me, made me laugh and weep.

But none touched me more than a woman I picked up late one August night. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked.

"Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.

In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. "Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.

"It's nothing," I told her.

"I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated."

"Oh, you're such a good boy," she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice."

I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long."

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.

The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. "How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing," I said.

"You have to make a living," she answered.

"There are other passengers," I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you".

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient at the end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware--beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said,...but they will always remember how you made them feel.

"Do all the good you can. In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as you can!"

Direction for Life

 

Anonymous

 

A traveler was returning to his home from a journey to a distant country. At nightfall he arrived at the entrance to a vast forest. Unable either to delay his journey or retrace his steps, he was prepared to traverse the sullen forest when he came upon an old shepherd from whom he asked the way.

"Alas!" cried the shepherd. "It is not easy to point it out, for the forest is criss-crossed by hundreds of paths winding in every direction. They are almost all similar in appearance, though all with one exception lead to the Great Abyss."

"What is the Great Abyss?" the traveler inquired.

"It is the abyss which surrounds the forest," replied the shepherd. "Moreover, the forest is filled with robbers and wild beasts. In particular, it is ravaged by an enormous serpent, so that scarcely a day passes but we find the remains of some unfortunate traveler who fell prey to it. Still," the shepherd continued, " as it is impossible to arrive at the place where you are going without traversing the forest, I have, through a motive of compassion ' station ed myself at the entrance of the forest to assist and direct travelers. I have also placed my sons at different intervals to assist me in the same good work. Their services and mine are at your disposal, and I am ready to accompany you if you so desire.

The candor and venerable appearance of the old man satisfied the traveler, and he accepted the proposal. The shepherd held a lantern with one hand and with the other took the arm of the traveler. They then set out upon their journey through the dark forest.

After walking for some distance, the traveler felt his strength waning. "Lean on me," said the shepherd. The traveler did so, and was able to continue the journey. At length the lamp began to flicker.

"Ah!" groaned the traveler. "The oil is nearly spent, and the light will soon be gone. What will become of us now?"

"Do not fear," consoled the shepherd. "We shall soon meet one of my sons, who will supply us with more oil." Just then the traveler perceived a glimmer of light shining through the darkness. The light shone from a small cabin by the side of the narrow path. At the sound of the shepherd's well-known voice, the cabin door swung open. A seat was offered to the weary traveler, and some plain but substantial food was set before him. Thus refreshed, the traveler set out again, guided by the shepherd's son.

In this manner the traveler journeyed on for the rest of the night. From time to time, they stopped at different cabins built along the path. At each stop he obtained refreshment, a bit of rest and was furnished with a new guide. With the dawning of daylight, the traveler arrived, without incident, at the farthest boundary of the forest. Only then did he appreciate the magnitude of the service rendered him by the shepherd and his sons. At the very edge of the forest, right before his feet, lay a frightful precipice, at the bottom of which he could distinguish the roar of an angry current.

"This," said his guide, "is the Great Abyss which my father spoke about. No one knows its depth, for it is always covered with a thick fog which no eye can penetrate.

As he spoke, he heaved a deep sigh, and wiped a tear from his eves. "You seem grieved," said the traveler.

"How can it be otherwise?" replied his guide. "Can I look at the abyss without thinking of the thousands of unfortunate people who every day are swallowed up in it? In vain do my father and my brothers offer our services. Very few accept them, and of those few the greater portion, after journeying for a few hours, accuse us of needlessly alarming them. They despise our advice and set out on paths of their own choosing.

The consequence is that they soon lose their way and are devoured by the serpent, murdered by robbers, or plunge headlong into the abyss. You see there is only this one little bridge by which the Great Abyss can be crossed, and the way which leads to the bridge is known to us alone Pass over with confidence," continued the guide. He turned to the traveler, embraced him and said, "On the other side is your true home."

The traveler, overcome with gratitude, thanked his charitable guide and promised never to forget him. He crossed the narrow bridge and discovered he was now in his own land. His family was there to welcome him.

 

(From A Fresh Packet of Sower's Seeds, Third Planting, by Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R., pp. 47-49. Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ 07430: 1994.)

Direction to Life

"A man wanted to find direction and meaning to life. He was told to go and visit a hermit high in the mountains. After climbing to the home of the hermit, he was given a flask and told to go fill it in the stream and through that action his life would have a sense of direction and purpose. The man rushed to the stream, but for some reason the water would not flow into the flask. His pride kept him from going back to the hermit to seek more advise and to admit his failure.

So, he traveled around the world searching for a stream of water that would flow into his flask. He endured hardship, pain and suffering.

Finally, he had enough. He returned to the hermit. He confessed to the hermit his sin of not wanting to admit that he needed help. As he was confessing this to the hermit, a tear rolled from his eyes and fell into the flask, in a second, the flask was filled with water and the man understood what was the direction and meaning for his life. "

He saw that once he was willing to surrender his life to another, to forget selfish pride, life took on meaning.

 

ONE SENTENCE SERMONS

 

~~~~~~~ Be Fishers of Men.... You catch 'em, He'll Clean 'em.

~~~~~~~ A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

~~~~~~~ Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

~~~~~~~ Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

~~~~~~~ Exercise daily. Walk with the Lord!

~~~~~~~ Forbidden fruits create many jams.

~~~~~~~ Give God what's right, not what's left!

~~~~~~ Give Satan an inch and he'll be a ruler.

~~~~~~~ God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

~~~~~~~ God grades on the cross, not the curve.

~~~~~~~ God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over, "religious nuts"!

~~~~~~~ God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

~~~~~~~ Having truth decay? Brush up on your Bible!

~~~~~~~ He who angers you, controls you!

~~~~~~~ He who is good at making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

~~~~~~~ He who kneels before God can stand before anyone!

~~~~~~~ Kindness is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

~~~~~~~ Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.

~~~~~~~ Never give the devil a ride! He will always want to drive!

~~~~~~~ Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.

~~~~~~~ Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

~~~~~~~ "Pray" is a four letter word that you can say anywhere.

~~~~~~~ Prayer - Don't give God instructions - just report for duty!

~~~~~~~ The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

~~~~~~~ This Church is "Prayer Conditioned"!

~~~~~~~ To be almost saved is to be totally lost.

~~~~~~~ WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning!

~~~~~~~ Watch your step carefully! Everyone else does!

~~~~~~~ We don't change the message, the message changes us.

~~~~~~~ We set the sail; God makes the wind.

~~~~~~~ Wisdom has two parts: 1) Having a lot to say. 2) Not saying it.

~~~~~~~ Worry is the darkroom in which "negatives" are developed

 

GOD TALKS TO HIS CREATION

 

(Author Unknown)

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being.  When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.

From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man's life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you. I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side.

You are my perfect angel. You are my beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes - don't change them. Your lips how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form, your hands so gentle to touch. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep; I've held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are the most like me.

Adam walked with me in the cool of the day and yet he was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you: my holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support. You are special because you are the extension of me. Man represents my image - woman, my emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God.

So man - treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt me. What you do to her, you do to me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart, the heart of your Father, and the heart of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self.

 Temptations

Temptations are never so dangerous as when they come to us in a religious garb. -- D.L. Moody

First Call Dad

While kayaking in southern England off the island of Wight, Mark Ashton-Smith, a 33-year-old lecturer at Cambridge University, capsized in treacherous waters. Clinging to his craft and reaching for his cell phone, Ashton-Smith's first inclination was to call his father. It didn't matter to the desperate son that his dad, Alan Pimm-Smith, was at work training British troops in Dubai 3,500 miles away. Without delay, the father relayed his son's mayday to the Coast Guard installation nearest to his son's location. Ironically, it was less than a mile away. Within 12 minutes, a helicopter retrieved the grateful Ashton-Smith.

Like this kayaker, when we are in peril, our first impulseshould be to call our Father "the one we trust to help us. "

Citation:

Greg Asimakoupoulos, Naperville, Illinois; source: Reuters News Agency

FAMILY FIRST

During the late spring of 1998, Chris Spielman, linebacker for Buffalo Bills walked up to the microphone at a press conference and announced his retirement. Spielman lived and breathed football and had done so since his childhood. Why would he retire in his prime?

Priorities. 

His wife Stefanie was diagnosed with cancer. To live, she was facing surgery and six months of chemotherapy. Spielman knew his place was with his wife and with his children.

Reader's Digest, March 2000, p. 100-106

Bridges

It's a New Year - are there any bridges you should build?

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart.

It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber over by the barn? I want you to build me a fence --an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers met at the middle of the bridge, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have so many more bridges to build."

Thanks for the Memory

 

Three sisters ages 92, 100 and 104 live in a house together. One night the 104 year old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells down the stairs "was I getting in or out of the bath?"

The 100 year old yells back "I don't know. I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses. Then she yells "was I going up the stairs or down?"

The 92 year old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea and listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says "I sure hope I never get that forgetful." She knocks on wood for good measure. She then yells "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door?"

Laughter

"Laughter is God's hand on a troubled world."    

Johann Weiss

NEW BEGINNINGS

(James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited)

 

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash all over the place. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, he took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. 

The buyer said, "Forget about the repairs. When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."

That's God's message to us! Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God's the old life is over. He makes all things new. All He wants is the site and the permission to build. There are still some trying to "reform," but God offers "redemption." All we have to do is give Him the "property" and he will do the necessary "building."  

FEARLESSNESS

 

"What is love?"

"The total absence of fear," said the Master.

"What is it we fear?"

"Love," said the Master.

 

Anthony de Mello, SJ

 INVESTING IN ETERNITY

Williams James: "The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it

Worship

 Deeply immersed in meditation during a church


service, Italian poet Dante Alighieri failed to


kneel at the appropriate moment. His enemies


hurried to the bishop and demanded that Dante be


punished for his sacrilege. Dante defended himself


by saying, "If those who accuse me had had their


eyes and minds on God, as I had, they too would


have failed to notice events around them, and they


most certainly would not have noticed what I was


doing."


         


Today in the Word, March 10, 1993.

 

*It's Between You and God*

 People are often unreasonable,


Illogical, and self-centered;


Forgive them anyway.


            


If you are kind,


People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;


Be kind anyway.


            


If you are successful,


You will win some false friends and some true enemies;


Succeed anyway.


            


If you are honest and frank,


People may cheat you;


Be honest and frank anyway.


            


What you spend years building,


Someone could destroy overnight;


Build anyway.


            


If you find serenity and happiness,


They may be jealous;


Be happy anyway.


            


The good you do today,


People will often forget tomorrow;


Do good anyway.


            


Give the world the best you have,


And it may never be enough;


Give the world the best you've got anyway.


            


You see, in the final analysis,


It is between you and God;


It never was between you and them anyway.


            


Be Blessed, 


- Mother Theresa

 Heaven

Some years ago radio evangelist Charles E. Fuller announced that he would speak the following Sunday on "Heaven." It was to be broadcast on radio. During that week he received a letter from an old man who was very ill. Here is part of that letter:

"Next Sunday you are to talk about "Heaven." I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 55 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation since the title is nontransferable. It is not a vacant lot.

"For more than a half-century I have been sending material out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me, which will never need to be repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old.

"Termites can never undermine its foundation for it rests upon the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and ready for me to enter it and abide in peace eternally without fear of being ejected.

"There is a valley of deep shadow between the place where I live in California and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in the City of God without passing through the dark valley of shadows. But I am not afraid, because the best friend that I have ever had went through the same valley alone, a long, long, time ago and drove away all the gloom. He has stuck by me through thick and thin since we first met and became acquainted 55 years ago, and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake nor to leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows, and I shall not lose my way when He is with me.

"I hope to hear your sermon on "Heaven" next Sunday from my home, but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey...no return coupon...and no permit for baggage. Yes, I am ready to go and may not be here while you are talking next Sunday, but I shall meet you there some day."

 

--Author Unknown

Title: Faith That Can Move Mountains

 

Submitted by Karen Cole

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built.

In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard. Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week.

At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen". "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too." The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered. "Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge shopping mall. We need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly."

The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!

Author Unknown

Humor

Ray Murphey sent this funny out in his mailing, LAUGHTER: A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a)... ( to get mail from Ray,send a 'subscribe laughter' message to RM9528@aol.com )

Tom is applying for a job as a signalman for the local railroad and is told to meet the inspector at the signal box.

The inspector decides to give Tom a pop quiz, asking: "What would you do if you realized that two trains were heading towards each other on the same track?"

Tom says: "I would switch one train to another track."

"What if the lever broke?" asks the inspector.

"Then I'd run down to the tracks and use the manual lever down there," answers Tom.

"What if that had been struck by lightning?" challenges the inspector.

"Then," Tom continued, "I'd run back up here and use the phone to call the next signal box."

"What if the phone was busy?"

"In that case," Tom argued, "I'd run to the street level and use the public phone near the station."

"What if that had been vandalized?"

"Oh well," said Tom, "in that case I would run into town and get my Uncle Leo."

This puzzled the inspector, so he asked, "Why would you do that?"

"Because he's never seen a train crash."

WALKING IN OBEDIENCE

 

One day my three-year-old granddaughter, Beverly, was playing with her toys. Her mother, who was folding laundry across the room, noticed Beverly‚s shirt was dirty and needed to be changed. After calling two times with no response, her mother gave her the full three-name call: "Beverly Elizabeth Provost, did you hear me?" Beverly answered, "Yes, Mama. My ears did, but my legs didn‚t." -- Marguerite Provost, Georgia. Today‚s Christian Woman, "Small Talk."

when things look bleak

 

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves,


God has a positive answer for it:


         


You say: "It's impossible"


God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)


         


You say: "I'm too tired"


God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 1:28-30)


         


You say: "Nobody really loves me"


God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)


         


You say: "I can't go on"


God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)


         


You say: "I can't figure things out"


God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)


         


You say: "I can't do it"


God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)


         


You say: "I'm not able"


God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)


         


You say: "It's not worth it"


God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)


         


You say: "I can't forgive myself"


God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)


         


You say: "I can't manage"


God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)


         


You say: "I'm afraid"


God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (IITimothy 1:7)


         


You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"


God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)


         


You say: "I don't have enough faith"


God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans12:3)


         


You say: "I'm not smart enough"


God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)


         


You say: "I feel all alone"


God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews13:5)

Soldier-belief

A young soldier who was fighting in Italy during World War II jumped into a foxhole just ahead of some bullets. He immediately tried to deepen the hole for more protection and was frantically scraping away the dirt with his hands. He unearthed something metal and brought up a silver crucifix, left by a former resident of the foxhole. A moment later another leaping figure landed beside him as the shells screamed overhead. When the soldier got a chance to look, he saw that his new companion was an army chaplain. Holding out the crucifix, the soldier gasped, "Am I glad to see you! How do you work this thing?"

 

--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 254.

 

Unbelief, Faith

Unbelief does not doubt- faith doubts. If a person never has a doubt, faith is not faith but knowledge. Yet so it is; belief springs still In souls that nurture doubt. And we must go to Him, who will The harmful weed cast out.

God uses what you have, not what you don't have. They started with five loaves and two fish. They didn't go beyond what they had- that was their starting point. 

 

Unknown

 

Character, Wealth, Lost, Righteousness

 

Billy Graham said, "When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost."

Source: pastors.com

 

Graduation

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said "with all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

"A Story Of Four Wives"

Once upon a time...there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the third wife very much, and he was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his second wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate, and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her to help him get through the difficult times.

The King's first wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the King fell ill, and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and pondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.

Thus, he asked the fourth wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing, and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "Absolutely not!" replied the fourth wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the third wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No," replied the third wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the second wife, "I have always turned to you for help, and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time," replied the second wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." Her answer came like a bolt of thunder, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out. "I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so sad and thin, she looked half-starved. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have four wives in our lives: Our fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

Our third wife is our possessions, status, and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our second wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our first wife is our soul, often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasures of the ego. However, our soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. So cultivate, strengthen, and cherish it now! It IS your greatest gift to offer the world.

IT TAKES COURAGE TO BE A CHRISTIAN

It takes courage to refrain from gossip when others delight in it, to stand up for the absent person who is being abused.

It takes courage to live honestly within your means, and not dishonestly on the means of others.

It takes courage.... to be a REAL man, a TRUE woman, to hold fast to your ideals when it causes you to be looked upon as strange and peculiar.

It takes courage... to be talked about, and remain silent, when a word would justify you in the eyes of others, but which you dare not speak because it would injure another.

It takes courage.... to refuse to do something that is wrong although everyone else may be doing it with attitudes as carefree as a summer song.

It takes courage.... to live according to your own convictions, to deny yourself what you cannot afford to love your neighbor as yourself, to follow the example of our risen Lord!!

~AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Crtl,Alt, and Delete

Don't you wish when life is bad and things just don't compute, That all we really had to do was stop and hit reboot? Things would all turn out ok, life could be so sweet If we had those special keys Ctrl, Alt, and Delete.

Your boss is mad, your bills not paid, your wife, well she's just mute Just stop and hit those wonderful keys that make it all reboot You'd like to have another job but you fear living in the street? You solve it all and start a new, Ctrl, Alt, and Delete.

 

 "Carl's Garden "

Carl was a quiet man. He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake. Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very well.

Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lone sight of him walking down the street often worried us. He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WWII. Watching him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.

When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically un-assuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed up.

He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened.

He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked, "Would you like a drink from the hose?"

The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, "Yeah, sure", with a malevolent little smile. As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled. Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg.

He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him. Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it. "Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?" the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet. Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head.

"Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday." His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water.

Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, "Carl, what are you doing?"

"I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately", came the calm reply. Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time and place.

A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose.

This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water. When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done.

Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun, picked up his hose, and went on with his watering. The summer was quickly fading into fall. Carl was doing some tilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches. As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer tormenters reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack.

"Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time." The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl.

As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.

"What's this?" Carl asked.

"It's your stuff," the man explained. "It's your stuff back. Even the money in your wallet."

"I don't understand," Carl said. "Why would you help me now?" The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. "I learned something from you", he said. "I ran with that gang and hurt people like you. We picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showing love against our hate." He stopped for a moment.

"I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back." He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say.

"That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess." And with that, he walked off down the street. Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.

He died one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather. In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church. The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do your best and make your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forget Carl and his garden."

The following spring another flyer went up. It read: "Person needed to care for Carl's garden." The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door. Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flyer. "I believe this is my job, if you'll have me," the young man said.

The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl. He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around. As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, "Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honor him."

The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done. In that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.

One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, "My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday."

"Well, congratulations!" said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys.

"That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?"

"Carl," he replied.

Christ is the Greater Light

I heard about a man sitting before a fireplace lost in thought. The drapes had been closed and the room was dark except for the flickering light of the dying fire. Finally the flames themselves disappeared, leaving nothing but a heap of gray ashes topped with glowing embers. One burning coal stood out brilliantly from all the rest because it was white hot. The man's gaze was transfixed upon it. Suddenly that brilliant white-hot coal turned completely black. The man was startled. What had caused the instant change? As he looked around, he noticed that the drapes had parted slightly and a shaft of brilliant sunlight had shot into the study and landed directly on the burning coal. The greater light had made the lesser light look black by comparison.

That is what Christ demands of us. Our love and devotion for Him must be so complete that the deepest love we have for our dearest loved one fades in comparison.

 

Missionary couple

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years and were returning to New York to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

 

No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President's entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man. As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, "Something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us."

 

"Dear, you shouldn't feel that way," his wife said. He replied "I can't help it; it doesn't seem right."

When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President's arrival. No one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night the man's spirit broke. He said to his wife, "I can't take this; God is not treating us fairly."

His wife replied, "Why don't you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?"

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"

"The Lord settled it with me," he said. "I told Him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said;

"But you're not home yet."

Nail Prints

A young girl, whose Sunday school teacher had died, dreamed she was in

heaven and was being introduced by her teacher. In the morning, she told her

mother, "Teacher introduced me to Abraham, Paul, David, and a lot of

others." "Didn't she introduce you to Jesus?" asked her mother. "Oh, no,"

was the reply. "I knew Him the moment I saw Him. I didn't need an

introduction. He carried His identification - the nail-prints in His hands."

 

Obedience, Trust, Expectation, Faith

 

When Anne Graham Lotz and her husband, Danny, attend football games at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, thousands of people cram in the parking lots, and she can't see where she's going. However, her husband, a head taller at 6'7", can look over the crowd, so he takes her hand and leads them to their seats.

"The way I get from the car to my seat is just by holding his hand and following him closely through the crowd," Lotz says.

She follows the same procedure with the Lord. "I just try to faithfully follow the Lord step by step and day by day," she says. "Ten years from now, I just want to look back and know that to the best of my ability I have been obedient to God's call on my life."

Source: Randy Bishop, "Just Give Me Jesus," Christian Reader (September/October 2000),p.25

Submitted by: Craig Watters, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Louisville, CO

Second Coming of Christ

 

Title: They Missed Him

         They were looking for a lion, He came as a Lamb,


and they missed Him.


         


They were looking for a warrior, He came as a


Peacemaker, and they missed Him.


         


They were looking for a king, He came as a


Servant, and they missed Him.


         


They were looking for liberation from Rome, He


submitted to the Roman stake, and they missed Him.


         


They were looking for a fit to their mold, He was


the mold maker, and they missed Him.


         


What are you looking for? Lion? Warrior? King?


Liberator? What are you looking for?


         


They were looking for their temporal needs to be


met, He came to meet their eternal need, and they


missed Him.


         


He came as a Lamb to be sacrificed for your sin.


Will you miss Him?


         


He came to make peace between God and man. Will


you miss Him?


         


He came to model servanthood for all mankind. Will


you miss Him?


         


He came that we might have true liberty. Will you


miss Him?


         


He came to give you eternal life. Will you miss


Him?


         


When we submit to the Lamb, we will meet the Lion.


Join with the Peacemaker, and we will meet the


Warrior. Work with the Servant, and we will meet


the King. Walk with the Submitted, and we will


meet the Liberator. Concern ourselves with the


eternal, and we will have the temporal.


         


If Jesus is not fitting into the mold you have,


then come to the mold maker and get a new one.


Submit to His plan for your life and you will see


the eternal need met first; then all the other


things you have need of will be taken care of as


well.

 

--Author unknown

 Never Underestimate

Author Unknown

This story happened sixteen years ago, my son is now 22 years old, but when I look at him even as a grown man, I remember the small child with the tears.

We had a female cat who was ready to give birth to her kittens, and like all young children, my son was curious and excited to see the birth of these new babies. I felt he was old enough to view this miraculous event.

So I answered all his questions and prepared him the best I could so he wouldn't be shocked or scared. The night the blessed event took place, one kitten had been born by the time my son arrived home from school. He was so thrilled and amazed at what he saw. He would lay his hand on the mother cat's belly and feel the other kittens moving and awaiting their turn to be born. When the mother cat began to yeowl very loudly, it was clear the second was on its way.

My son watched but never said a word. When the second kitten was born and the mother was busy taking care of it, preparing for the next, my son asked me, "Mommy how come she cries so loud when the baby comes?" In my delight of having my son wanting to view this miraculous event and thinking I had prepared him for it, I had not thought to explain about the pain of giving birth.

Not wanting to take anything away from the miracle he was witnessing, I tried to explain to him that it was not hurtful pain but a pain of great pleasure for the mother cat, knowing her babies would soon be born.

When the birth of the third kitten became obvious by the crying yeowls of the mother, I glanced at my son to offer words of comfort if he showed signs of it becoming too stressful for him. When I looked at his face he had tears rolling down his cheeks. So I asked him why he was crying and he looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I'm sorry I gave you all that pain to have me."

I thought my heart had stopped. It was all I could do to contain myself from grabbing him and just holding him close to me but I knew I couldn't have him thinking that his birth was something that caused me pain in the way he was thinking. With a careful choice of words and reassurance, I told him his birth has done nothing but bring smiles to my life and that I would go through it 100 times -- that the pain meant so little compared to the joy of having him.

He gave me a big hug and then he said, "Mommy I know why the kittens come out that end?" I asked him why and he said, "Because the other end has got teeth." I was laughing so much inside, I thought I would burst. The things a child will notice that an adult takes for granted will always surprise me.

My son is a grown man now but he and I always remember that day so clearly and he still says today the memory for him was finally understanding what the word "love" meant. The memory for me was feeling the love of my child as he wrapped his arms around me and gave me the biggest hug he had ever given me. Never underestimate what your child is capable of understanding, or more important, the logic they use to understand what they are seeing or hearing. Do you think the Savior went thru the pain He did because of the joy he would eventually have as we repent of our sins and return to our Father in Heaven? I hope I do my part in bringing Him joy.

 

Augustine Tells of Miraculous Healing

During his pastoral ministry, Augustine came to know a woman in Carthage named Innocentia. A devout woman and highly regarded, she tragically discovered that she had breast cancer.

A physician told her the disease was incurable. She could opt for amputation and possibly prolong her life a little, or she could follow the advice of Hippocrates and do nothing. Either way, death would not be put off for long.

Augustine reports: Dismayed by this diagnosis, "She turned for help to God alone, in prayer." In a dream, Innocentia was told to wait at the baptistry for the first woman who came out after being baptized, and to ask this woman to make the sign of the cross over the cancerous breast.

Innocentia did as she was told, and she was completely cured. When she told her doctor what had happened, he responded with a contemptuous tone, "I thought you would reveal some great discovery to me!" Then, seeing her horrified look, he backpedaled, saying, "What great thing was it for Christ to heal a cancer? He raised a man who had been dead for four days."

 

Jesus Understands Our Pain

 

Author and speaker Jill Briscoe recalls:

In Croatia I was asked to speak to a church gathering for about 200 newly arrived refugees. Refugees from this area of the world are mostly women because the men are either dead or in camp or fighting. This group of Muslims, Croats, and a few Serbs had fled to a seminary on the border of a battered Croatian town. The town was still in danger of sniper fire and bombing, but the church had escaped, because there were apartment buildings between it and the guns. Attackers had tried to fire shells over the apartment buildings to the seminary, but they hadn't managed to do it, so it became the refugee receiving and feeding place.

We worked all day visiting with the refugees. At night a service was held in this huge, old church, and I had to speak. I didn't know what to say. Everything I had prepared seemed totally inadequate, so I put my notes away and prayed, "God, give me creative ideas they can identify with."

I told them about Jesus, who as a baby became a refugee. He was hunted by soldiers, and his parents had to flee to Egypt at night, leaving everything behind. I could tell the people began to click with what I was saying. I kept praying like crazy.

I continued telling them about Jesus' life, and when I got to the cross, I said, "He hung there naked, not like pictures tell you." They knew what that meant. Some of them had been stripped naked and tortured.

At the end of the message, I said, "All these things have happened to you. You are homeless. You have had to flee. You have suffered unjustly. But you didn't have a choice. He had a choice. He knew all this would happen to him, but he still came." And then I told them why.

Many of them just knelt down, put their hands up, and wept. I said, "He's the only one who really understands. How can I possibly understand, but he can. This is what people did to him. He's the suffering God. You can give your pain to him."

 

 

Procrastination

The congregation of a small stone church decided that the stone which formed the step up to the front door had become too worn by its years of use, and would have to be replaced.

Unfortunately, there were hardly any funds available for the replacement.

Then someone came up with the bright idea that the replacement could be postponed for many years by simply turning the block of stone over.

They soon discovered that their great-grandparents had beaten them to it.

 

 

Tug of War

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother--in the house was looking out the window--saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go."

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go.

In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you.

If you have Christ in your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.

That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful.

He did not - and will not - let you go. "For we do not have a High Priest [Jesus] who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16  

 

AN ENCOURAGING WORD

A young Polish boy wanted to play piano, but his teacher told him that his fingers were too stubby and that he would never play well. The boy was advised to try the cornet, but was later told by an expert musician that he did not have the lip to ever be good.

Then one day he met the great pianist, Anton Rubinstein. The famous musician gave this young boy the first bit of encouragement he ever received. "Young man," Rubinstein said, "you might be able to play the piano. In fact, I think you can... if you will practice seven hours a day."

That was all the encouragement he needed! The great Rubinstein had told him he could do it! He would have to dedicate his life to practicing piano, but he could do it! He could be good! Anton Rubinstein said so!

He did practice for many hours a day and his hard work was rewarded, for years later, Jan Paderewski became one of the most famous pianists of his time. An encouraging word carried within it the power to ignite a young boy's eager spirit, which burned brightly for decades.

Your encouraging word, given today, may forever change a receptive life!

 

---

After Reuben and Don, best friends since childhood, graduated from high school, Reuben joined the Army and got Don to enlist too. Unfortunately, neither man liked being in the service.

Assigned to separate posts, they didn't see each other for two years. At the end of their hitches, they both had a layover in Denver before flying home. As soon as Don spotted his old friend, he called out, "Got any more bright ideas?"

-- Contributed to Reader's Digest "Humor In Uniform" by John M. Hebert

 

---

 

When my wife's little sister, Patty, was very young, she was allowed to have her best friend, a boy named Rory, over to spend the night. As the children grew toward adolescence, their parents knew that someday the sleepovers would have to end.

One night, when Rory and his family were visiting, everyone gathered around the television to watch the Miss America pageant. When Patty asked if Rory could stay over, the parents hesitated, wondering if the time had finally come to discontinue the tradition. At that moment, the pageant host announced a contestant's measurements: 36-22- 36.

"Rory," his mom asked, "what are those numbers?"

The boy thought for only a moment before responding, "Ninety-four?"

Rory got to spend the night.

Contributed to Reader's Digest "Life In These United States" by Ron Pyron

 

---

 

Though marriages are meant to last a lifetime, they can deteriorate rather quickly.

I like what someone calls the seven stages of a cold for a married couple:

The first year of marriage, the husband says, "Honey, I'm worried about my little girl. You have a bad sniffle. I want to put you in the hospital for a complete checkup. I know the food is terrible there, but I have arranged for meals for you to be sent in from Valentini's."

The second year: "Listen, sweetheart, I don't like the sound of that cough. I've called the doctor and he said I can bring you in this afternoon. Just rest in bed until it's time to go."

Third year: "Maybe you should lie down, dear. I'll make supper tonight. Do we have any cans of soup in the house?"

Fourth year: "Look, dear, be sensible. After you have fed the kids and washed the dishes, you should go to bed."

Fifth year: "Why don't you take a couple of aspirin."

Sixth year: "Please gargle, or something, instead of sitting around barking like a seal. I think I'll sleep on the couch tonight."

Seventh year: "Would you stop sneezing. What are you trying to do, give me pneumonia? You better sleep on the couch tonight."

 

---

 

THE CHRISTIAN STORY OF VALENTINE

"Be My Valentine." This is a phrase that conjures up a lot of different images associated with the celebration of Valentine's Day. Cards with hearts and little poems on them. Candy and flowers given to someone you love. And images of cupids flying around shooting their arrows of love into unsuspecting youths. Young and old alike expressing their affection for their sweethearts.

What we call Valentine's Day was at one time the Feast of St. Valentine. It was a religious holiday. Cupid was a character from pagan mythology. For Christians in the past this holiday was a day to remember and celebrate the life and death of a Christian martyr.

According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor was imprisoning Christians for not worshipping the Roman Gods. During this persecution St.Valentine was arrested.

During the trial they asked Valentine what he thought of the Roman Gods Jupiter and Mercury. St.Valentine said they were False Gods and that the God that Jesus called Father was the only true God. So the Romans threw him in prison for insulting the gods.

While in prison Valentine continued to minister. He witnessed to the guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. Because these people had come to know Jesus, Valentine praised God right there in his prison cell. When the emperor heard about this he was furious that Valentine was still making converts even in prison, so he had Valentine beheaded.

Valentine knew that he might get caught in his Christian activities. He knew that if he told the court the truth about the Roman Gods that he would be thrown in prison. And he knew that if he continued to witness to Christ in the prison he would make his captors angry. But he continued, because he loved the Lord and his fellow humans. He was willing to risk his life to free the prisoners and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who needed to hear it.

The Bible Says: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."(John 15:13)

God showed us this love by coming in Christ to die for our sins. And St. Valentine demonstrated this love when he died for his friends. This is the kind of love that Valentine's Day is really about.

 

 

OBSERVING JURY SELECTION in our county courthouse one day, I was amused by one prospective juror. An attorney asked her, "Have you ever been falsely accused of speeding?"

"No, sir," replied the woman. "I'm always guilty."

Contributed to Reader's Digest "All In a Day's Work" by Ethan Home  

Considerate Witnesses

       While in seminary in Chicago's suburbs, I discovered that a


    Promise Keeper's convention was coming to Soldier Field. A


    group of us took a commuter train downtown, then caught a cab


    to the stadium.


   


    We were running late, but still hoped to get a good seat. I'm


    sure our driver, a man who spoke little English, felt


    intimidated as the six of us piled into his taxi, jabbering


    loudly. Traffic was heavy and got worse near the stadium. We


    slowed to a crawl. We weren't going to get that good seat


    after all.


   


    A couple of us started talking about hopping from the cab and


    running the rest of the way to the stadium. It sounded good


    to most of us, but Michael spoke against the plan. He was


    more concerned about the cabby. If we got out at that point,


    the driver would be stuck in traffic without being able to


    refill his taxi. He'd be losing money.


   


    After Michael spoke with us, he turned his attention to our


    foreign driver. Michael shared about the conference we were


    going to, and then he shared the good news of Jesus Christ.


   


    I don't know if the man was affected by the message, but I do


    know Michael's concern provided a base of credibility for


    sharing the gospel that the rest of us overlooked.


   


   


    Citation:

Greg Huffer, Lebanon, Indiana

 

 

Reconciling with the Father


   


    *Field of Dreams* is a fantasy-drama about baseball, the pursuit


    of a dream, and reconciliation between a father and son. Though


    the film borders on the thoroughly unbelievable (with a "voice"


    talking from a corn field, old baseball players walking in and


    out of a center-field "heaven," and time travel back to a town


    in 1972), it somehow gets us to suspend our disbelief because of


    its thematic realism.


   


    Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, is on the way to


    reconciling with his long-dead father--though he doesn't


    know it yet. About halfway through the movie he's driving his


    rustic red Volkswagen van down back roads in the heart of the


    Midwest, the gently sloping hills and cornfields passing by.


    Sitting next to Ray is his newfound friend Terrence, played by


    James Earl Jones. The two men have just picked up an adolescent


    hitchhiker who tells them: "I'm a baseball player." It sparks a


    conversation about Ray and his father--and the role that


    baseball once played in their relationship.


   


    "What happened to your father?" Terrence asks.


   


    "He never made it as a ball player," says Ray. "So he tried to


    get his son to make it for him. By the time I was 10, playing


    baseball got to be like eating vegetables or taking out the


    garbage. So when I was 14, I started to refuse. Can you believe


    that? An American boy refusing to play catch with his father?"


   


    Ray goes on to talk about the pain of the ever-widening rift


    that grew between them until one day it resulted in a complete


    and permanent separation. "When I was 17, I packed my things,


    said something awful, and left. After awhile, I wanted to come


    home, but I didn't know how.... Made it back for the funeral,


    though."


   


    Sadness and regret pervade the atmosphere as the van continues


    down the road.


   


    But in the extended closing scene of the movie, Ray Kinsella is


    miraculously allowed to meet his dead father, John Kinsella.


    They meet on a baseball field that Ray has constructed in a


    cornfield on his Iowa farm. Ray stands along the sidelines with


    his wife, Annie. They turn their gaze to home plate. There,


    standing with his back to them and pulling off his old-fashioned


    catcher's equipment is a young man dressed in a loosely fitting


    uniform he once wore as a minor leaguer.


   


    Suddenly it dawns on Ray that he is witnessing a miracle of


    monumental proportions. He soon shakes hands with John Kinsella,


    his own father, returned from "baseball heaven." They talk for a


    while, and then the father begins to walk away. Ray calls out:


    "Hey, Dad, want to play catch?"


   


    "I'd like that," says the father.


   


    They walk onto the field together, Ray standing by home plate,


    his father out on the pitcher's mound, and they begin tossing


    the ball back and forth. There is a gleam in their eyes; no


    words need be spoken.


   


    Elapsed time: Measured from initial flashing of the studio


    symbol, the car scene begins at 1:11.15 and ends at 1:13.40, and


    the reconciliation scene begins at 1:34.00 and ends as the


    closing credits begin to roll.


   


    Moral value: This is an excellent family-oriented film, rated


    PG, that conveys the value of family life, doing what's right,


    and reconciling differences in family relationships. However,


    there is some reference in the opening scene to marijuana usage,


    and a few occasions of mildly offensive language.


   


   


    Citation:


    "Field of Dreams," Rated PG, written for the screen and directed


    by Phil Alden Robinson, produced by the Gordon Company,


    Universal Pictures, released 1989; submitted by Gary Wilde

Values

True value (and values) often emerge through testing. As John Ortberg says in his book The Life You've Always Wanted, "A test is a difficult experience through which a person's true values, commitments and beliefs are revealed." He precedes this comment with the story of the college sophomore who frets all semester "in anticipation of the notoriously difficult final exam in his ornithology class. Having made what he regards as the ultimate effort, he is stunned when he walks into the classroom to take the exam. There is no blue book, no multiple-choice questions, no text booklet at all --- just 25 pictures on the wall. And they are not photos of birds in resplendent color, but pictures of birds' feet. The test is to identify the birds.

"This is insane," the student protests. "It can't be done."

"It must be done," says the professor. "This is the final."

"I won't do it," the boy says. "I'm walking out."

"If you walk out, you fail the final."

"Go ahead and fail me," the boy says, heading for the door.

"Okay, you have failed. Tell me your name," the professor demands.

The boy rolls his pants up and takes his shoes off to reveal his feet: "You tell me!"

Source: The Life You've Always Wanted (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), 209-210

Submitted by: Craig Watters, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Louisville, CO

I tend to clock everything and it gives me an anxiety attack. So I don't wear a watch because I like to be freer than that. I like to not be under the spell of time

Source: Actress Drew Barrymore, "Live Tyler," Interview, April 1999, 108.  

Room during a storm

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia. Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get some shelter for the night.

"Could you possibly give us a room here?" the husband asked. The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, looked at the couple and explained that there were three conventions in town.

"All of our rooms are taken," the clerk said. "But I can't send a nice couple like you out in the rain at one o'clock in the morning. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night."

When the couple declined, the young man pressed on.

"Don't worry about me; I'll make out just fine," the clerk told them. So the couple agreed.

As he paid his bill the next morning, the elderly man said to the clerk, "You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I'll build one for you."

The clerk looked at the couple and smiled. The three of them had a good laugh. As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding people who are both friendly and helpful isn't easy.

Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the old man. It recalled that stormy night and enclosed a round- trip ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay them a visit.

The old man met him in New York, and led him to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th street. He then pointed to a great new building there, a palace of reddish stone, with turrets and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky. "That," said the older man, "is the hotel I have just built for you to manage."

"You must be joking," the young man said.

"I can assure you that I am not," said the older man, a sly smile playing around his mouth.

The old man's name was William Waldorf Astor, and the magnificent structure was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt.

Peace

"An artist was commissioned by a wealthy man to paint something that would depict peace. After a great deal of thought, the artist painted a beautiful country scene. There were green fields with cows standing in them, birds were flying in the blue sky and a lovely little village lay in a distant valley. The artist gave the picture to the man, but there was a look of disappointment on his face. The man said to the artist, " This isn't a picture of true peace. It isn't right. Go back and try again.

The artist went back to his studio, thought for several hours about peace, then went to his canvas and began to paint. When he was finished, there on the canvas was a beautiful picture of a mother, holding a sleeping baby in her arms, smiling lovingly at the child. He thought, surely, this is true peace, and hurried to give the picture to the wealthy man. But again, the wealthy an refused the painting and asked the painter to try again.

The artist returned again to his studio. He was discouraged, he was tired and he was disappointed. Anger swelled inside him, he felt the rejection of this wealthy man. Again, he thought, he even prayed for inspiration to paint a picture of true peace. Then, all of a sudden an idea came, he rushed to the canvas and began to paint as he had never painted before. When he finished, he hurried to the wealthy man.

He gave the painting to the man. He studied it carefully for several minutes. The artist held his breath. Then the wealthy man said, "Now this is a picture of true peace." He accepted the painting, paid the artist and everyone was happy.

And what was this picture of true peace?? The picture showed a stormy sea pounding against a cliff. The artist had captured the furry of the wind as it whipped black rain clouds which were laced with streaks of lightening. The sea was roaring in turmoil, waves churning, the dark sky filled with the power of the furious thunderstorm. And in the middle of the picture, under a cliff, the artist had painted a small bird, safe and dry in her nest snuggled safely in the rocks. The bird was at peace midst the storm that raged about her."

   

Alone/Together

In Ron Lavin's book Alone/Together, he describes these kinds of feeling of the author, Arthur Gordon. Gordon couldn't write, or think,or function, he felt all dried out. He went to his doctor, for a chat or maybe some medicine which would help. The doctor who was, a good friend told him to go to the ocean and open 4 envelopes, one every 3 hours. .

At 9:00am. Gordon opned the first envelope as he sat by the ocean side. The note said,:" Listen" For 3 hours he watched the.waves, the birds, the people. He listened to sounds he had not heard in years.

At 12:00 noon, he opened the second envelope. "Try to reach back", the note said. For three hours he tapped his memory about where he had been and what he had done with his life.

At 3:00p.m., he opened the third envelope. 'Remember your original motives", the note said. For three hours the author Gordon, asked," Why did I start?", Would I do it again? Why did I do that? Say that? React that way?

At 6:OOpm.. Gordon opened the last envelope it said.,"Write your worries in the sand." For three hours he wrote his resentments, worries and fears in the sand. Then he watched as the waves rolled in and washed them all away.!'

---

An Aesop Fable 

According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.

Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, "Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies."

The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, "If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it."

People are also like that. That's why we all need to take time to rest. Start by setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually. You will be at your best for the Lord if you have taken time to loosen the bow.

Our Daily Bread, June 6, 1994

 The Shepherd

A bus load of tourists was traveling throughout Israel visiting the holy sites related to the life of Jesus. One day they came to a flock of sheep by the roadside. The bus driver stopped so that all of the passengers could get a better look at the flock.

One of the tourists noticed something unusual about the sheep. Instead of being led by a man at the front of the group, they were being driven by a man behind. Her curiosity was aroused and the traveler said to the guide, "Look at that shepherd. He is not leading the sheep. He is driving them, and, poking them, and whipping them! I thought a shepherd was supposed to lead his sheep."

"You're right," answered the guide. "A shepherd does lead his sheep. But that man is not the shepherd. He is the butcher."

In the same way that sheep are driven to market, we are driven by the devil. He tries to drive us into all sorts of sinful acts to fulfill his purpose for us. On the other hand, Christ seeks to lead us in pathways that will bring spiritual peace and joy. He offers to become a Good Shepherd for each of us, and we will find happiness as we follow him and do his will.

Compassion and Motive

Jesus renewed people with the power of his compassion. I like the ancient legend about the monk who found a precious stone, a precious jewel. A short time later, the monk met a traveler, who said he was hungry and asked the monk if he would share some of his provisions. When the monk opened his bag, the traveler saw the precious stone and, on an impulse, asked the monk if he could have it. Amazingly, the monk gave the traveler the stone.

The traveler departed quickly, overjoyed with his new possession. However, a few days later, he came back, searching for the monk. He returned the stone to the monk and made a request: "Please give me something more valuable, more precious than this stone. Please give me that which enabled you to give me this precious stone!"

James W. Moore, Some Things Are Too Good Not To Be True, Dimensions,

1994, p. 101

 

 

 Rudyard Kipling, I want God

It is said that when Rudyard Kipling was desperately ill, burning with fever and near death, tossing to and fro on his bed, he was beard to mumble words which no one could quite understand. One morning a nurse bent down close to him and asked. "Mr. Kipling, what is it you want?" The famous poet ceased his restless tossing momentarily, opened his eyes, and weakly whispered, "I want God."

Like a little child crying for his momma, the great man was calling for God. None of us ever attain self-sufficiency, do we?? A sense of need is normal, a dependence upon God is wholesome. We should never be ashamed to admit a need which cannot be satisfied from within us, but must be met from without. A lion in the jungle may make it on its own, but a sheep needs a shepherd. And our Lord, knowing us so well, sees us us more like sheep than lions.

How did Jesus view the multitudes? As sheep without a shepherd. And the result? He had compassion on them. How do we Christians see the multitudes? and with what result? what reactions are evoked within us? what response do we offer? Perhaps neither you nor I can offer very much of our own. But we can offer them this: we can offer them the Shepherd.

The old-time itinerating preachers, reporting on their labors, were often heard to say something like this: "I preached to the people there, and then I offered them Christ." For the shepherd less multitude, or for the individual sheep lost in the night, no offering can be better than this.

 The Great Abyss

A traveler was returning to his home from a journey to a distant country. At nightfall he arrived at the entrance to a vast forest. Unable either to delay his journey or retrace his steps, he was prepared to traverse the sullen forest when he came upon an old shepherd from whom he asked the way.

"Alas!" cried the shepherd. "It is not easy to point it out, for the forest is criss-crossed by hundreds of paths winding in every direction. They are almost all similar in appearance, though all with one exception lead to the Great Abyss."

"What is the Great Abyss?" the traveler inquired.

"It is the abyss which surrounds the forest," replied the shepherd. "Moreover, the forest is filled with robbers and wild beasts. In particular, it is ravaged by an enormous serpent, so that scarcely a day passes but we find the remains of some unfortunate traveler who fell prey to it. Still," the shepherd continued, " as it is impossible to arrive at the place where you are going without traversing the forest, I have, through a motive of compassion ' station ed myself at the entrance of the forest to assist and direct travelers. I have also placed my sons at different intervals to assist me in the same good work. Their services and mine are at your disposal, and I am ready to accompany you if you so desire.

The candor and venerable appearance of the old man satisfied the traveler, and he accepted the proposal. The shepherd held a lantern with one hand and with the other took the arm of the traveler. They then set out upon their journey through the dark forest.

After walking for some distance, the traveler felt his strength waning. "Lean on me," said the shepherd. The traveler did so, and was able to continue the journey. At length the lamp began to flicker.

"Ah!" groaned the traveler. "The oil is nearly spent, and the light will soon be gone. What will become of us now?"

"Do not fear," consoled the shepherd. "We shall soon meet one of my sons, who will supply us with more oil." Just then the traveler perceived a glimmer of light shining through the darkness. The light shone from a small cabin by the side of the narrow path. At the sound of the shepherd's well-known voice, the cabin door swung open. A seat was offered to the weary traveler, and some plain but substantial food was set before him. Thus refreshed, the traveler set out again, guided by the shepherd's son.

In this manner the traveler journeyed on for the rest of the night. From time to time, they stopped at different cabins built along the path. At each stop he obtained refreshment, a bit of rest and was furnished with a new guide. With the dawning of daylight, the traveler arrived, without incident, at the farthest boundary of the forest. Only then did he appreciate the magnitude of the service rendered him by the shepherd and his sons. At the very edge of the forest, right before his feet, lay a frightful precipice, at the bottom of which he could distinguish the roar of an angry current.

"This," said his guide, "is the Great Abyss which my father spoke about. No one knows its depth, for it is always covered with a thick fog which no eye can penetrate.

As he spoke, he heaved a deep sigh, and wiped a tear from his eves. "You seem grieved," said the traveler.

"How can it be otherwise?" replied his guide. "Can I look at the abyss without thinking of the thousands of unfortunate people who every day are swallowed up in it? In vain do my father and my brothers offer our services. Very few accept them, and of those few the greater portion, after journeying for a few hours, accuse us of needlessly alarming them. They despise our advice and set out on paths of their own choosing.

The consequence is that they soon lose their way and are devoured by the serpent, murdered by robbers, or plunge headlong into the abyss. You see there is only this one little bridge by which the Great Abyss can be crossed, and the way which leads to the bridge is known to us alone Pass over with confidence," continued the guide. He turned to the traveler, embraced him and said, "On the other side is your true home."

The traveler, overcome with gratitude, thanked his charitable guide and promised never to forget him. He crossed the narrow bridge and discovered he was now in his own land. His family was there to welcome him.

(From A Fresh Packet of Sower's Seeds, Third Planting, by Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R., pp. 47-49. Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ 07430: 1994.)

 

The Parable of the Rose

 

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully and before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought...

"How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?"

Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God like qualities planted in us at birth growing amid the thorns of our faults.

Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us.

We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies.

We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them.

One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others.

This is the characteristic of love ....to look at a person and know their true faults.

Accepting that person into your life, while recognizing the nobility in their soul.

Help them to realize that they can overcome their faults. If we show them the rose, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they blossom many times over.

 

Flowers

There is a legend which tells of a young boy whose mother was ill. Knowing how much she loved flowers, the boy went to his room and there in the top drawer of his chest was his meager savings. It was just a few pennies but it represented all his wordly wealth. He took it and headed for the village market to buy some flowers for his mother. When he arrived, he found that there was not a flower left for sale. Walking home bitterly disappointed, he passed a magnificent garden. Acres of glorious roses were in full bloom. He asked the man tending the garden if he might buy one. The gardener told him he was sorry but these were the royal gardens. The roses belonged to the king and were not for sale. The little boy turned away in tears,for this was his last hope.

Then a voice called to him. It was the young prince of the realm. "The gardener is right," he said, "these are the royal gardens. The flowers belong to my father the king and he does not sell them, but he does give them away." And with this the prince picked an armful of the most beautiful roses in the gardens and placed them in the delighted arms of the little boy."

So with God and his Kingdom. Membership in his Kingdom is not for sale at any price but it is given freely by the kind mercy of God.

 

Selfishness by Dostoyevsky

He tells a story of a woman who found herself in hell and felt she did not belong there. She could not bear the suffering and cried out in agony for the mercy of God. God listened and was moved with pity. "If you can remember one good deed that you did in your lifetime, I will help you,"said God. Wracking her brain, she remembered that once she had given a starving neighbor an onion. god produced the onion complete with stem. The woman grabbed the onion, and God began to pull her up and out of hell. But others, damned with her, began to grab hold of the woman's skirts to be lifted out, too. the stem of the onion held and would have saved them all, but the woman began to kick and scream for them to let go. Thrashing about trying to dislodge her friends was too much for the onion and the stem snapped, plunging them all back into the depths of hell."

 

John 18:33 37 Christ the King Sunday

Do we open ourselves for the kingship of Jesus to make the kind of difference we would like it to make?

The story is told of a particular king who had a friend, a young man whose company he enjoyed. But then something happened. The young man could no longer enjoy those things which had become important to him.

The king became concerned about his friend. So he invited the young man to the castle and told him, "I would like to make you a gift. We will eat and drink together, and then I will listen to you, story. You can tell me anything you wish about what has happened to you, and about what it is that you feel. You can tell me your story as many times over as you wish. And I, for my part, will tell you some things of myself."

The young man came to know the king much better than he ever did before. Something else happened, too. The young man began to realize that he was truly loved by the king. This made it possible for him to love himself in a very beautiful way.

The gift of the king had worked its cure. It had been such a precious gift that the young man continued to tell his story. He continued to listen to the story of his king, and, most of all, he continued to feel loved. And, after aft, that is what really mattered.

It Is in this sense Jesus wants to be our king.

   

One-liners From God:

        1. Give God what's right - not what's left.


    


     2. "Pray" is a four-letter word you can say anywhere - except in public schools (in the USA).


    


     3. Man's way leads to a hopeless end - God's way leads to an endless hope.


    


     4. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.


    


     5. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.


   


     6. To be almost saved is to be totally lost.


    


     7. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma - but never let him be the period (full stop).


    


     8. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.


    


     9. God grades on the cross, not the curve.


    


     10. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a facelift.


    


     11. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.


    


     12. God doesn't want shares of your life - He wants a controlling interest.


    


     13. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.


    


     14. We don't change God's message - His message changes us.


    


     15. The church is prayer-conditioned.


    


     16. When God ordains, He sustains.


    


     17. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.


    


     18. Plan ahead - It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.


    


     19. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.


    


     20. Suffering with truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.


    


     21. Exercise daily - walk with the Lord.


    


     22. Coincidences happen when God chooses to remain anonymous.


    


     23. Wisdom has two parts - 1) having a lot to say 2) not saying it.


    


     24. Never give the devil a ride - he will always want to drive.


    


     25. A clean conscience makes a soft pillow.


   


     26. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.


    


     27. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.


   


     28. He who angers you controls you.


    


     29. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.


    


     30. Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.


    


     31. Forbidden fruits create many jams.


    


     32. Be ye fishers of men - you catch them & He'll clean them.


    


     33. Deciding not to choose Jesus is still making a choice.


    


     34. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.


    


     35. Read the Bible - It will scare the hell out of you.


    


     36. If God is your co-pilot - swap seats.

"Mom, teacher was asking me today if I have any brothers or sisters who will be coming to school."

"That's nice of her to take such an interest, dear. What did she say when you told her you are the only child?"

She just said, "Thank goodness!

 

Today's Quote

To the contented, even poverty is joy. To the discontented, even wealth is a vexation.--Chinese Proverb

An elderly gentleman passed his granddaughter's room one night 


 and overheard her repeating the alphabet in an oddly reverent 


 way.  "What on earth are you up to?" he asked.


  


 "I'm saying my prayers," explained the little girl.  "But I 


 can't think of exactly the right words tonight, so I'm just 


 saying all the letters.  God will put them together for me, 


 because He knows what I'm thinking."

Not On My Watch

by Caryl Vittorio, Naperville, Illinois, USA


      


   I was on the shoulder of a busy tollway in the Chicago metropolitan


area, looking in the trunk for my tools and spare tire. I had changed


tires before -- that was no big deal -- but I was worried about being


accosted by another person while stuck on the side of the road, or


being hit by a passing car.


      


   As I bent into the trunk, I heard a man's voice from behind and to


my left. I have no idea what he said, because when I heard his voice I


screamed, jumped over the guard rail, and ran toward the nearest


building. After a moment I realized he wasn't following me, so I turned


to see what he was doing.


      


   That's when I saw the van full of Boy Scouts parked in front of my


car. And I saw the voice: their Scout Leader, a man in his mid-40s,


removing the spare from my trunk to fix my flat! As I timidly walked


back, I could hear him speaking to the boys, who by now were standing


behind the guard rail.


      


   "See, boys," he said to them, "this young lady is terrified, and for


good reason. Thousands of young women are attacked every year. Last


month a girl was killed on Route 88 when her car broke down. It's


dangerous to be a young woman alone in this world. She did the right


thing running like that. This girl will NOT be found dead in a forest


preserve, not if we can help it."


      


   He told the boys how they, as men, are responsible not only to treat


women with respect, and as equals, but also to watch over and protect


them. He told them that if they see another man harming a woman, they


have a responsibility to try to stop him, or call the police. Once he


made that point, he gave step-by-step instructions on safely changing a


flat on the side of the road.


      


   Now, I don't know what the Boy Scout definition of a Scout Leader


is. This man displayed the epitome of everything I'd want taught to my son


in Boy Scouts, or anywhere. He took the time, not only to help one


woman in distress, but to do his best to ensure that other women in


need of help will receive it. I was so relieved he was there, with his


'not on my watch' attitude.


      


   That Scout Leader may have saved my life that day. I'll never forget


his mentioning the murdered girl, because I was thinking of that same


incident. Who knows if the next person coming down the road wasn't the


one who killed that other girl?


      


   Those boys learned a lot that day, and so did I. I'm so grateful


there are still honorable, decent men out there. I witnessed one,


teaching our youth to be honorable and decent, making the world a safer


place for women, for our daughters, for everyone.


      

On Enemies

One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy.


            


E. B. White


Writer


Cited in BITS & PIECES

          Love your enemies. It will drive them nuts.


            

Eleanor Doan


Cited in BITS & PIECES

Ragman

by Walter Wangerin, Jr.


      


I saw a strange sight. I stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street


sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for. 


      


Hush, child. Hush, now, and I will tell it to you. 


      


Even before the dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong,


walking the alleys of our City. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright


and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: "Rags!" Ah, the air was foul and the


first light filthy to be crossed by such sweet music. 


      


"Rags! New rags for old! I take your tired rags! Rags!" 


      


"Now, this is a wonder," I thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four, and his


arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashed intelligence. Could he


find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city? 


      


I followed him. My curiosity drove me. And I wasn't disappointed. 


      


Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into a


handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her knees and elbows made a sad


X. Her shoulders shook. Her heart was breaking. 


      


The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly, he walked to the woman, stepping round tin cans,


dead toys, and Pampers. 


      


"Give me your rag," he said so gently, "and I'll give you another." 


      


He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he laid across her palm a


linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She blinked from the gift to the giver. 


      


Then, as he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he put her stained


handkerchief to his own face; and then HE began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had


done, his shoulders shaking. Yet she was left without a tear. 


      


"This IS a wonder," I breathed to myself, and I followed the sobbing Ragman like a child


who cannot turn away from mystery. 


      


"Rags! Rags! New rags for old!" 


      


In a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and I could see the


shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Ragman came upon a girl whose head


was wrapped in a bandage, whose eyes were empty. Blood soaked her bandage. A single


line of blood ran down her cheek. 


      


Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet


from his cart. 


      


"Give me your rag," he said, tracing his own line on her cheek, "and I'll give you mine." 


      


The child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to


his own head. The bonnet he set on hers. And I gasped at what I saw: for with the


bandage went the wound! Against his brow it ran a darker, more substantial blood - his


own! 


      


"Rags! Rags! I take old rags!" cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent Ragman. 


      


The sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the Ragman seemed more and more to


hurry. 


      


"Are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. The man


shook his head. 


      


The Ragman pressed him: "Do you have a job?" 


      


"Are you crazy?" sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right


sleeve of his jacket - flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm. 


      


"So," said the Ragman. "Give me your jacket, and I'll give you mine." 


      


Such quiet authority in his voice! 


      


The one-armed man took off his jacket. So did the Ragman - and I trembled at what I saw:


for the Ragman's arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good


arms, thick as tree limbs; but the Ragman had only one. 


      


"Go to work," he said. 


      


After that he found a drunk, lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, and old man,


hunched, wizened, and sick. He took that blanket and wrapped it round himself, but for


the drunk he left new clothes. 


      


And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. Though he was weeping


uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm,


stumbling for drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, old, and sick, yet he


went with terrible speed. On spider's legs he skittered through the alleys of the City, this


mile and the next, until he came to its limits, and then he rushed beyond. 


      


I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow. And yet I needed to see


where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so. 


      


The little old Ragman - he came to a landfill. He came to the garbage pits. And then I


wanted to help him in what he did, but I hung back, hiding. He climbed a hill. With


tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. Then he sighed. He lay down. He


pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his bones with an army


blanket. And he died. 


      


Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a junked car and wailed and mourned


as one who has no hope - because I had come to love the Ragman. Every other face had


faded in the wonder of this man, and I cherished him; but he died. I sobbed myself to


sleep. 


      


I did not know - how could I know? - that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and


its night, too. 


      


But then, on Sunday morning, I was wakened by a violence. 


      


Light - pure, hard, demanding light - slammed against my sour face, and I blinked, and I


looked, and I saw the last and the first wonder of all. There was the Ragman, folding the


blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! And, besides that, healthy! There


was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags that he had gathered shined for


cleanliness. 


      


Well, then I lowered my head and trembling for all that I had seen, I myself walked up to


the Ragman. I told him my name with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. Then I


took off all my clothes in that place, and I said to him with dear yearning in my voice:


"Dress me." 


      


He dressed me. My Lord, he put new rags on me, and I am a wonder beside him. The


Ragman, the Ragman, the Christ!       

Trouble Tree

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished up a rough first day on the job. A flat tire had made him lose an hour of work,his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

Then opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterwards he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the best of me.

I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. "Oh, that is my 'trouble tree'" he replied. "I know I cannot help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure--troubles do not belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang'em on the tree every night when I come home; then in the morning, I pick them up again.

"Funny thing is" he said smilingly, "when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there are not as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

A man owned a little grocery store. It was the week before Christmas, when a tired-looking woman came in and asked for enough food to make a Christmas dinner for her small family. The grocer asked her how much she could spend. "My husband did not come back; he was killed in the War and I have nothing to offer but a little prayer,"she answered. The storekeeper was not very sentimental nor religious, so he said, half mockingly, "Write it on paper, and I'll weigh it." To his surprise, the woman took a piece of paper from the pocket of her dress and handed it to the man saying, "I wrote it during the night while watching over my sick baby."

 

The grocer took the paper before he could recover from his surprise and, because other customers were watching and had heard his remarks, he placed the unread prayer on the weight side of his old-fashioned scales. Then he began to pile food on the other side; but to his amazement, the scale would not go down. He became angry and flustered and finally said, "Well, that's all the scale will hold. Here's a bag, you will have to put it in yourself. I'm busy." With trembling hands the woman filled the bag and through moist eyes expressed her gratitude and departed.

 

Now that the store was empty of customers, the grocer examined the scales. Yes, they were broken and they had become broken just in time for God to answer the prayer of the woman. But as the years passed, the grocer often wondered about the incident. Why did the woman come at just the right time? Why had she already written the prayer in such a way as to confuse the grocer so that he did not examine the scales? The grocer grew older but never saw the woman again. Yet he remembered her more than any of his customers. He came to treasurer the slip of paper upon which the woman's prayer had been written--simple works, but from a heart of faith, they said, "Please, Lord, give us this day our daily bread."

Peace

"An artist was commissioned by a wealthy man to paint something that would depict peace. After a great deal of thought, the artist painted a beautiful country scene. There were green fields with cows standing in them, birds were flying in the blue sky and a lovely little village lay in a distant valley. The artist gave the picture to the man, but there was a look of disappointment on his face. The man said to the artist, " This isn't a picture of true peace. It isn't right. Go back and try again.

The artist went back to his studio, thought for several hours about peace, then went to his canvas and began to paint. When he was finished, there on the canvas was a beautiful picture of a mother, holding a sleeping baby in her arms, smiling lovingly at the child. He thought, surely, this is true peace, and hurried to give the picture to the wealthy man. But again, the wealthy an refused the painting and asked the painter to try again.

The artist returned again to his studio. He was discouraged, he was tired and he was disappointed. Anger swelled inside him, he felt the rejection of this wealthy man. Again, he thought, he even prayed for inspiration to paint a picture of true peace. Then, all of a sudden an idea came, he rushed to the canvas and began to paint as he had never painted before. When he finished, he hurried to the wealthy man.

He gave the painting to the man. He studied it carefully for several minutes. The artist held his breath. Then the wealthy man said, "Now this is a picture of true peace." He accepted the painting, paid the artist and everyone was happy.

And what was this picture of true peace?? The picture showed a stormy sea pounding against a cliff. The artist had captured the furry of the wind as it whipped black rain clouds which were laced with streaks of lightening. The sea was roaring in turmoil, waves churning, the dark sky filled with the power of the furious thunderstorm. And in the middle of the picture, under a cliff, the artist had painted a small bird, safe and dry in her nest snuggled safely in the rocks. The bird was at peace midst the storm that raged about her."

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia. Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get some shelter for the night.

"Could you possibly give us a room here?" the husband asked. The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, looked at the couple and explained that there were three conventions in town.

"All of our rooms are taken," the clerk said. "But I can't send a nice couple like you out in the rain at one o'clock in the morning. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night."

When the couple declined, the young man pressed on.

"Don't worry about me; I'll make out just fine," the clerk told them. So the couple agreed.

As he paid his bill the next morning, the elderly man said to the clerk, "You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I'll build one for you."

The clerk looked at the couple and smiled. The three of them had a good laugh. As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding people who are both friendly and helpful isn't easy.

Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the old man. It recalled that stormy night and enclosed a round- trip ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay them a visit.

The old man met him in New York, and led him to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th street. He then pointed to a great new building there, a palace of reddish stone, with turrets and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky. "That," said the older man, "is the hotel I have just built for you to manage."

"You must be joking," the young man said.

"I can assure you that I am not," said the older man, a sly smile playing around his mouth.

The old man's name was William Waldorf Astor, and the magnificent structure was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt.

One night a frightful storm raged around the Longstone Lighthouse. A steamer crashed on a neighboring rock. In the lighthouse was a young girl of twenty-two, and her father. They immediately launched their little boat in that tempestuous sea, and the young girl took the oars. After desperate efforts, they reached the ro cks to which nine poor wretches clung. They took them into their boat, and such was the violence of wind and wave that it took them nearly the whole day to get back to the lighthouse. There they safely landed them, and for three days and nights they tended and consoled them. Is there one who has not heard that young girl's name? It was Grace Darling, and from the humblest cottage of England, her heroic deed awakened a transport of enthusiasm.

 

The Road of Life

   At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the 


things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell 


when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized 


His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him. 


   


But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather 


like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ 


was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that 


He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. 


When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but 


predictable... it was the shortest distance between two points. 


   


But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, 


and through rocky places at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to 


hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal"!" I 


worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He 


laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot 


my boring life and entered into the adventure, and when I'd say, "I'm 


scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. 


   


He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, 


acceptance and joy, they gave me gifts to take on my journey, My 


Lord's and mine. And we were off again. 


   


He said, "Give the gifts away. They're extra baggage, too much 


weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I 


received, and still our burden was light. 


   


I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd 


wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take 


sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly 


to shorten scary passages. 


   


And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and 


I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my 


delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ. And when I'm sure I just 


can't do it anymore, He just smiles and says... "Pedal." 

 

Author Unknown

---

Unique Flaws

 

submitted by Rick Ingram

   I think we all struggle with the thought that we can't serve God 


because of some flaw in ourselves. But the Master has a plan and a 


purpose. 


   


A water-bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a 


pole which he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in 


it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full 


portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the 


master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. 


   


For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering 


only one and a half pot full of water in his master's house.  Of 


course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to 


the end for which it was made.  But the poor cracked pot was ashamed 


of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish 


only half of what it had been made to do. 


   


After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke 


to the water-bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, 


and I want to apologize to you."  "Why?" asked the bearer.  "What are 


you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to 


deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water 


to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my 


flaws, you have to do all of this  work, and you don't get full value 


from your efforts," the pot said. The water-bearer felt sorry for the 


old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the 


master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the 


path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took 


notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of 


the path, and this cheered it some.  But at the end of the trail, it 


still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again 


it apologized to the bearer for its failure. 


   


The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers 


only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?  


That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took 


advantage of it.  I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and 


every day while we walk back from  the stream, you've watered them.  


For two years I have been able to pick  these beautiful flowers to 


decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he 


would not have this beauty to grace his house." 
Each of us has our own unique flaws.  We're all cracked pots.  But 


each has a gift to give, accept yourself as you are.  You are perfect 


for your life's purpose 

Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no 


birds sang there except those that sang best. 


   


--Henry Van Dyke, Bits & Pieces, March 31, 1994, Page 16 

The Dog and His Master

      C.S. Lewis likened God's use of adversity to walking a dog. If the 


dog gets its leash wrapped around a pole and tries to continue running 


forward, he will only tighten the leash more. Both the dog and the 


owner are after the same end, forward motion, but the owner must 


resist the dog by pulling him opposite the direction he wants to go. 


The master, sharing the same intention but understanding better than 


the dog where he really wants to go, takes an action precisely 


opposite to that of the dog's will. It is in this way that God uses 


adversity. 

 

His Unfailing Presence

      Another year I enter


It's history unknown;


Oh, how my feet would tremble


To tread its paths alone!


   


But I have heard a whisper,


I know I shall be blest;


"My presence shall go with thee,


And I will give thee rest."


   


What will the New Year bring me?


I may not, must not know;


Will it be love and rapture,


Or loneliness and woe?


   


Hush! Hush! I hear His whisper;


I surely shall be blest;


"My presence shall go with thee,


And I will give thee rest"

 

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

   There are two days in every week that we should not worry about.  Two


days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.


   


One is YESTERDAY, with its mistakes and cares, its faults, and


blunders, its aches and pains.  Yesterday has passed, forever beyond


our control.


   


All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.  We cannot


undo a single act we performed.  Nor can we erase a single word we've


said.  Yesterday is gone!!


   


The other day we shouldn't worry about is TOMORROW with its impossible


adversaries, its burden, its hopeful promise and poor performance.


   


Tomorrow is beyond our control.  Tomorrow's sun will rise either in


splendor or behind a bank of clouds - but it will rise.  And until it


does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.


   


This leaves only one day - TODAY.  A person can fight the battles of


just one day.  It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and


tomorrow that we break down.  It is not the experience of today that


drives people mad - it is the remorse for something that happened


yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.


   


Let us therefore, LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Hope

Hope means more than just hanging on. It is the conscious decision to see the world in a different way than most others see it. To hope is to look through the eyes of faith to a future not determined by the oppressive circumstances of the present . . . To dig our heels in and say no to the present madness is a good thing, but to walk a new path and say yes is a better thing.

 

Marriage

Actor Kevin Costner shared the following about his family: "(My wife) and I sure... don't have a perfect marriage by any means, but we work at it. People are surprised our marriage works. It seems they wish it didn't, because you're a star and so your marriage isn't supposed to work. I don't want to be known as a man who steals another guy's wife. I want to be like my dad, home with my kids at night.... My dad was a tremendous influence on me, and I still talk to him nearly every day. He's the kind of guy that if he borrowed somebody's lawn mower, when he gave it back, the tank was full of gas and the lawn mower was clean. He never missed anything I was a part of, and I don't think I'll be able to be that for my children, given the way my job works. But I'll try.... He was my teacher, and he taught me about loyalty and friendship and doing your best. It's not a Boy Scout's creed. Truth and those things are never far out of style."

-- From Parade Magazine, Servant, May 1991, p. 8

Marriage

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." ~ Mignon McLaughlin

Marriage-song of Love

  Soon after his marriage, the famous nineteenth century poet and


composer Thomas Moore was called away on business.  On his return he


was not met by his beautiful bride, but by their family doctor.  "Your


wife is upstairs.  But she has asked you not to come up.  She has had


small-pox.  The disease has left her once flawless skin pocked and


scarred.  She has drawn the shutters, and asked that you never see her


again.


         


  Thomas Moore would not listen to the doctor, but bounded up the


steps to his wife's room.  It was black as night inside.  He reached


for the gas jets.  "No!  Don't light the lamps," screamed his wife. 


"Go!  Please Go!  This is the greatest gift I can give you now."


         


  Instead of leaving, he spent most of the night writing a love poem,


which he then set to music.  The next morning, in her darkened bedroom


he sang to his wife:


         

  Believe me, if all those your endearing charms,


 Which I gaze on so fondly today.


Were to change by tomorrow, and flee in my arms,


               


  Like fairy gifts fading away,


Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art.


 Let thy loveliness fad as it will,


               


  And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart


 Would entwine itself verdantly still...

           The song ended.  His bride arose to her feet, crossed the room and


slowly opened the shutters.  Love was unafraid of the light of


reality.

Lord's supper

Come to this sacred table, not because you must, 


but because you may; Come to testify not that you are righteous, 


but that you sincerely love our Jesus Christ, and desire to be 


his true disciple; Come not because you are strong, 


but because you are weak; Come not because you have any claim on 


heaven's rewards. 


but because in your frailty and sin you stand in constant need 


of heaven's mercy and help; Come not to express an opinion, 

but to seek a Presence and pray for a Spirit.

How often there was a twinkle in the eye of Jesus!

His humor shines through his words. For instance, Jesus once pictured the religious legalists of his day. He said they were like a man who polished the outside of his drinking cup, but forgot to clean the inside. "You are like a person," said Jesus, "who picks a fly out of his drink and then swallows a camel" (Matthew 23:24). Jesus made his point by a humorous exaggeration. He used the same kind of humor when he said, "It is much harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle" (Mark 10:25). There must have been a twinkle in his eye when he talked about the faultfinder: "Why do you notice the little piece of sawdust that is in your brother's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood that is in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3).

The humor of Jesus show us the quickness of his mind and the playfulness of his outlook. Long before Mary Poppins, Jesus knew that a "spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down." How much we need the humor of Jesus today! We get deadly serious about his words and miss the humor in them. Jesus talked about the necessity of communicating his message. He made this point by an absurd picture: "Does anyone bring a lamp home and put it under a washtub or beneath the bed? Don't you put it up on a table or on the mantel?" (Mark 4:21).

Jesus did not fit the pattern of what people expected a holy man to be like. Luke reported: "By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently" (Luke 15:1). The religion scholars were not pleased and growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends" (Luke 15:2). Jesus' cousin, John, had followers who fasted all the time. Jesus and his followers had a reputation for eating and drinking. Again, Jesus reached for a humorous image to portray his contemporaries. He said about them: "They're like spoiled children complaining to their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk but you were always too busy.' John the Baptist came fasting and you called him crazy. The Son of Man (Jesus' favorite term for himself) came feasting and you called him a lush" (Luke 7:31-34, The Message). I believe that Jesus would approve this little prayer:

God, give me sympathy and common sense,

And help me home with courage high.

God, give me calm and confidence

And please -- a twinkle in my eye."

"The Best Reward"

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly couple entered the lobby of a small hotel and asked for a room. The clerk explained that because there were three conventions in town, the hotel was filled. "But I can't send a nice couple like you out in the rain at 1 o'clock in the morning," he said. "Would you be willing to sleep in my room?" The couple hesitated, but the clerk insisted. The next morning when the man paid his bill, he said, "You're the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I'll build one for you." The clerk smiled, amused by the older man's "little joke." A few years passed. Then one day the clerk received a letter from the elderly man, recalling that stormy night, and asking him to come to New York for a visit. A round-trip ticket was enclosed. When the clerk arrived, his host took him to the corner of 5th Avenue and 34th Street, where stood a magnificent new building. "That," explained the man, "is the hotel I have just built for you to manage." "You must be joking," said the clerk. "I most assuredly am not," came the reply. "Who -- who are you?" stammered the other. "My name is William Waldorf Astor." That hotel was the original Waldorf-Astoria, and the young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt.

God's word tells us to always give our best when doing our daily work. A cute commercial on television advertising the telephone company, shows all of the people at a particular office goofing off and having a party while the boss was away on vacation. The boss calls the office on his cellular phone from his vacation paradise to tell them that he had to cut his vacation short and would see them soon. After he hangs up he says, "I love doing that!" This commercial would have little appeal if it wasn't true when describing people's work behaviors. The Bible states that we should give of our best at all times, as though we were working for the Lord. We often become concerned that other people are doing more work than we are, and that we are unjustifiably overworked. The bottom line is that we should do everything in the manner as though God was watching every move. We never know who is watching us and evaluating our actions and behaviors. God will ultimately reward us for our faithfulness to every given task. May we take a fresh look at our lives and remember to always give of our best. Who knows, He may have a special place of honor waiting for us in the future. Being faithful in the little things may make all the difference in the world.

Success

We don't necessarily recognize success when we see it. When Hamilton College celebrated its centennial, one of its most famous alumni,

Alexander Woolcott, was asked to give a major address. Woolcott opened his speech this way: "I send my greetings today to all my fellow alumni

of Hamilton College, scattered all over the world. Some of you are successes, and some of you are failures--only God knows which are which!"

It's hard to recognize success. We don't always know it when we see it.

Jesus was able to recognize success and he wasn't going to allow the crowds to define it for him.

J. Ellsworth Kalas, If Experience Is Such A Good Teacher Why Do I keep Repeating The Course, Nashville: Dimensions, 1994, p. 88.

IF A DOG WERE YOUR TEACHER

You would learn stuff like.....

      When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.


      


Never pass up the opportunity to go for a ride.


      


Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure


ecstasy.


      


Let others know when they've invaded your territory.


      


Take naps and stretch before rising.


      


Run, romp, and play daily.


      


Thrive on attention and let people touch you.


      


Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.


      


On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.


      


On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.


      


When your happy, dance around and wag your entire body.


      


No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and


pout...  run right back and make friends.


      


Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.


      


Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.  Stop when you have had enough.


      


Be loyal.


      


Never pretend to be something your not.


      


If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.


      


When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.


      

The Birthday Check

In the 1950s, local banks sent personalized checks to noncustomers to try to generate new business. I was eight years old, proud of my new writing and spelling ability, so I begged for these checks from my parents.

In our family, special occasions meant gifts from parents, siblings and friends, but from others it meant cards with money. Cards with crisp ones, fives, tens or twenties meant "I love you." So using these advertisements Æ gimmick checks Æ I did the same. My homemade cards, heavily colored and flowery with prose and poetry, with a bogus check inside, were made out to the honoree in the amount appropriate to the extent of my love. For my brothers, it was a dollar. For my parents, it was thousands. For my Uncle Howard, it was a million dollars.

In July of 1958, we held a Sunday dinner birthday celebration for my uncle. He opened the card I'd made, read the message inside and looked at the check enclosed for a long time. Smiling at me from across the dinner table, he thanked me for the card and check. Then he took his wallet out of his back pocket, folded and tucked the check away, saying "I'll just keep this with me until I need it."

Thirty-five years later, I sat drinking coffee, early in the morning, at that same table, across from the same smile, hearing the same voice, sharing the same memories of those thirty-five years, with the same Uncle Howard Æ probably for the last time. My uncle was dying of cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy had been administered without success and ended so his crew cut was growing back. The nausea that had plagued him during treatments was no longer a problem. He was eating again and putting on the weight he had lost. Sitting there talking about the good old days, I fooled myself into thinking this was a pleasure visit and there would be others to come. But deep down, I knew that this visit was for good-bye.

Putting down his coffee mug, he reached for his hip pocket. Unfolding his wallet, he reached inside and handed me a pale blue slip of paper, folded in half, saying, "Remember this?" There was the birthday check for a million dollars. He had kept it, carrying it with him, shifting it from old wallet to new wallet for thirty-five years.

"You never tried to cash it," I joked.

"I never needed it," he said. "I'll just keep this with me a little longer in case I need it yet." He put it away once more.

I left him that afternoon with final hugs, kisses, and the final good-byes. Four days later, he was gone.

Shortly after the funeral, I returned home from work and found a package on the kitchen table mailed to me, the handwritten return address from my aunt. Inside was another small package with a short note in Uncle Howard's handwriting. "Since I don't need this anymore, I thought you might want it back. With love, Uncle Howard." Enclosed was the check for a million dollars, mounted inside a frame. Thanks, Uncle Howard, for a million-dollar love that lasts longer than a lifetime.

By Kathleen Dixon

from Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul


Copyright 2000 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen


No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever 


without prior written consent from Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Inc.

Free Lawn Care

Steve Sjogren conducted a " Free Lawn Care " out reach . He loaded a mower and rake in to a truck and drove around until he saw long grass. He approached the house and knocked on the door to tell the owner what he was up to. Through the screen door a man barked, "What do you want?" Steve gave him a brief explanation and, without even looking up, the man's response was simply,

"Yeah, whatever...."

The man sat motionless in front of the TV, watching a Reds baseball game. Steve mowed enthusiastically - he sometimes calls it "power mowing" - and finished in about 30 minutes. When he stopped by to tell the man it was done, Steve asked if he could pray for any needs in the man's life. He said he didn't have any needs. As Steve began to walk away, he felt sure this man had some emotional need and that he ought to insist on praying for him. Steve turned around and prayed, "Come, Holy Spirit, and touch this man's pain, whatever it is."

The response was instant and surprising - the man erupted in deep sobbing that continued for some time. As the crying died down, he told Steve his son had been arrested the night before for stealing a car in order to support a drug habit. That day God's presence and power penetrated this man's pain and isolation in a tangible way - because a Christian was willing to cut a little grass.

God's Presence

*A fellow who had been reared in the city bought a farm and several milk cows. In the feed store one day he complained his best cow had gone dry.

"Aren't you feeding her right?" asked the store owner.

"I'm feeding her what you've been selling me," said the man.

"Are you milking her every day?"

"Just about. If I need six or eight ounces of milk for breakfast, I go out and get it - I just let her save it up."

The feed store owner had to explain it doesn't work that way. With cow's milk, like God's presence, you take all that's there, or you eventually have nothing.

Asking for God's power in six-ounce doses, or asking sporadically only at our convenience, may mean that for us, the source dries up.

Prayer

I got up early one morning,

And rushed right into the day.

I had so much to accomplish,

That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

And heavier came each task.

"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered,

He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on gray and bleak.

I wondered why God didn't show me,

He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;

I tried all my keys in the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning,

And paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish,

That I had to take time to pray.

 

Author unknown

 God with us

God the Father is God ABOVE US...the creator,

sustainer of all that is...the Holy Other..."Our

Father who art in HEAVEN, HALLOWED be

thy name..."

 

God the Son is God WITH US...taking on

flesh and blood, taking on the human condition,

experiencing all we experience and more, so

that we might rested assured God knows all

we go through...yet the Son is also divine...

the Son reveals to us what God is like and what

God calls us to become...

 

And God the Spirit is God IN US...dwelling

in our hearts and minds, giving us an intimate

connection to God...empowering us to be

God's people and continue the work of

Christ in the world...

 

"..so that they would search for God

and perhaps grope for him and find him -

though indeed he is not far from each

one of us. For in him we live and

move and have our being..."

(Acts 17:26-7).

 Presence of God

Almost 50 years ago Elie Wiesel was a fifteen-year old prisoner in the Nazi death camp at Buna. A cache of arms belonging to a Dutchman had been discovered at the camp. The man was promptly shipped to Auschwitz. But he had a young servant boy, a pipel as they were called, a child with a refined and beautiful face, unheard of in the camps. He had the face of a sad angel. The little servant, like his Dutch master, was cruelly tortured, but would not reveal any information. So the SS sentenced the child to death, along with two other prisoners who had been discovered with arms.

Wiesel tells the story: One day when we came back from work, we saw three gallows rearing up in the assembly place, three black crows. Roll call. SS all around us; machine guns trained: the traditional ceremony. Three victims in chains--and one of them, the little servant, the sad-eyed angel. The SS seemed more preoccupied, more disturbed than usual. To hang a young boy in front of thousands of spectators was no light matter. The head of the camp read the verdict. All eyes were on the child. He was lividly pale, almost calm, biting his lips. The gallows threw its shadow over him. This time the Lagercapo refused to act as executioner. Three SS replaced him. The three victims mounted together onto the chairs. The three necks were placed at the same moment within the nooses. "Long live liberty!" cried the two adults. But the child was silent. "Where is God? Where is He?" someone behind me asked. Total silence throughout the camp. On the horizon, the sun was setting. "Bare your heads!" yelled the head of the camp. His voice was raucous. We were weeping. "Cover your heads!" Then the march past began. The two adults were no longer alive. Their tongues hung swollen, blue-tinged. but the third rope was still moving; being so light, the child was still alive...For more than half an hour he stayed there, struggling between life and death, dying in slow agony under our eyes. And we had to look him full in the face. He was still alive when I passed in front of him. His tongue was still red, his eyes were not yet glazed. Behind me, I heard the same man asking: "Where is God now?" And I heard a voice within me answer him: "Where is He? Here He is--He is hanging here on this gallows.." That night the soup tasted corpses.

 

Elie Wiesel, Night, Bantam, 1982, p. 75-6. Quoted in W. Aldrich, When God

 Jackie Robinson

Some of you are old enough to remember when Jackie Robinson broke into baseball. He was a tremendous player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was also the first black man to don a major league uniform. Jackie Robinson once told of some excellent advice he received from Branch Rickey, former President of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He received this advice the same day Rickey asked him to take this historic step knowing there could be trouble up ahead. Rickey said to him, "You know, Jackie, I was a small boy when I took my first train ride. On the same train was an old couple, also riding for the first time. We were going through the Rocky Mountains. The old man sitting by the window looked forward and said to his wife, 'Trouble ahead. Ma! We're high up over a precipice and we're gonna run right off.' "To my boyish ears," said Rickey, "the noise of wheels repeated `Trouble ahead trouble ahead....' I never hear train wheels to this day but what I think of this. But our train course bent into a tunnel right after the old man spoke, and we came out on the other side of the mountain. That's the way it is with most trouble ahead in this world, Jackie if we use the common sense and courage God gave us. But you've got to study the hazards and build wisely.... "God is with us in this, Jackie," Mr. Rickey said quietly. "You know your Bible. It's good, simple Christianity for us to face realities and to recognize what we're up against... We've got to fight out our problems together with tact and common sense." (3) Branch Rickey gave Jackie Robinson some good advice. God is with us. Faith in His promises gives us confidence in our future. The light at the end of the tunnel is not an on coming train. It is the light of God's glory. 3. John Haggai, WINNING (New York: Inspirational Press, 1991).

 His Life's Work

When his wife died, the baby was two. They had six other children - three boys and three girls, ranging in age from 4 to 16.

A few days after he became a widower, the man's parents and his deceased wife's parents came to visit. "We've been talking," they said, "about how to make this work. There's no way you can take care of all these children and work to make a living. So, we've arranged for each child to be placed with a different uncle and aunt. We're making sure that all of your children will be living right here in the neighborhood, so you can see them anytime..."

"You have no idea how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness," the man responded. "But I want you to know," he smiled and continued, "If the children should interfere with my work, or if we should need any help, we'll let you know."

Over the next few weeks the man worked with his children, assigning them chores and giving them responsibilities. The two older girls, aged 12 and 10, began to cook and do the laundry and household chores. The two older boys, 16 and 14, helped their father with his farming.

But then another blow. The man developed arthritis. His hands swelled, and he was unable to grip the handles of his farm tools. The children shouldered their loads well, but the man could see that he would not be able to continue in this vein. He sold his farming equipment, moved the family to a small town and opened a small business.

The family was welcomed into the new neighborhood. The man's business flourished. He derived pleasure from seeing people and serving them. Word of his pleasant personality and excellent customer service began to spread. People came from far and wide to do business with him. And the children helped both at home and at work. Their father's pleasure in his work brought satisfaction to them, and he drew pleasure from their successes.

The children grew up and got married. Five of the seven went off to college, most after they were married. Each one paid his or her own way. The children's collegiate successes were a source of pride to the father. He had stopped at the sixth grade.

Then came grandchildren. No one enjoyed grandchildren more than this man. As they became toddlers, he invited them to his workplace and his small home. They brought each other great joy.

Finally, the youngest daughter - the baby, who had been two years old at her mother's death - got married.

And the man, his life's work completed, died.

This man's work had been the lonely but joyful task of raising his family. This man was my father. I was the 16-year-old, the oldest of seven.

By Wyverne Flatt

  Rose

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet and I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began. "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day.

You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

Just Ask Your Kids

Employers are begging for workers. Workers are taking on extra hours and second jobs.

More money is earned. More money is spent. More things are bought. People are piling up possessions and everyone is happy. Right?

Maybe.

Along with more things comes less time. Overtime and second jobs mean less time for family, friends, household chores, reading, reflection and sleep. Less time means more stress.

A Gallup Poll revealed that a nationwide survey of parents of children ages 7-12 found that shared family time has decreased since 1976. The percentage of respondents who engaged frequently in attending religious services together decreased from 38 percent in 1976 to 29 percent in 1997.

The percentage who engaged frequently in watching television together decreased from 54 percent to 42 percent. The percentage who engaged frequently in sitting and talking together decreased from 53 percent to 42 percent. The percentage of respondents who frequently have the main meal together on weekdays decreased from 72 percent to 58 percent -- and the percentage who take a vacation together decreased from 53 percent to 38 percent.

The only family activity that increased in frequency was - surprise, surprise - shopping. In 1997, 31 percent of the families polled said they shop frequently together. This was up 7 percent from 1976.

Of course, work is not the only thing competing for family members' time. School activities, sporting events, dance/music/art/athletic classes, volunteer efforts, etc., are all pulling parents and children in many directions.

There are enough books and magazine articles about time management and parenting to fill a small library... and little time to read them.

But you know what the best authors say?

They're not talking about "quality time" anymore. They are revealing what I started suspecting years ago when my four kids were little. The one thing in life kids want most is more time with Mom and Dad.

Kids want fewer organized activities away from home and more time just relaxing and doing things like playing cards or board games with their parents.

The booming economy is good news. But we need to make it work for us. That means setting limits on how much extra work we take on and thinking twice about how much we spend and how many activities we add to our lives.

When we realize that time spent with family is priceless, our lives become richer. Just ask your kids.

-- by Grace Witwer Housholder

 Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low, and the debts are high,

and you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

 

Life is queer with its twist and turns

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,

You may succeed with another blow.

 

Success is failure turned inside out,

the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

and you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,

It's when things seem worst,

that you must not quit.

 

By Clinton Howell

 

 A God Having No Demands

The Mush God has been known to appear to millionaires on golf courses. He appears to politicians at ribbon-cutting ceremonies and to clergymen speaking the invocation on national TV at either Democratic or Republican conventions.

The Mush God has no theology to speak of, being a Cream of Wheat divinity. The Mush God has no particular credo, no tenets of faith, nothing that would make it difficult for believer and nonbeliever alike to lower one's head when the temporary chairman tells us that Reverend, Rabbi, Father, or Mufti, or So-and-So will lead us in an innocuous, harmless prayer, for this god of public occasions is not a jealous god. You can even invoke him to start a hooker's convention and he/she or it won't be offended.

God of the Rotary, God of the Optimists, Protector of the Buddy System, The Mush God is the Lord of secular ritual, of the necessary but hypocritical forms and formalities that hush the divisive and the derisive. The Mush God is a serviceable god whose laws are chiseled not on tablets but written on sand, open to amendment, qualification and erasure. This is a god that will compromise with you, make allowances and declare all wars holy, all peaces hallowed.

Nicholas Van Hoffman, The Mush God.

Get Rid of Dad?

submitted by Ken Board, missionary to Japan, kenboard@network.or.jp

The children begged for a hamster, and after the usual fervent vows that they alone would care for it, they got one. They named it Danny. Two months later, when Mom found herself responsible for cleaning and feeding the creature, she located a prospective new home for it. The children took the news of Danny's imminent departure quite well, though one of them remarked, "He's been around here a long time--we'll miss him."

"Yes," Mom replied, "But he's too much work for one person, and since I'm that one person, I say he goes."

Another child offered, "Well, maybe if he wouldn't eat so much and wouldn't be so messy, we could keep him."

But Mom was firm. "It's time to take Danny to his new home now," she insisted. "Go and get his cage."

With one voice and in tearful outrage the children shouted, "Danny? We thought you said Daddy!"

ABILITY

Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

--Henry Van Dyke, Bits & Pieces, March 31, 1994, Page 16

It is almost as presumptuous to think you can do nothing as to think you can do everything.

Phillips Brooks

Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. Josh Billings

 

It was a sheep -- not a lamb, that strayed away,

   In the parable Jesus told: 


   A grown-up sheep that had gone astray 


   From the ninety and nine in the fold. 


   


   Out in the meadows, out in the cold, 


   'Twas a sheep the good Shepherd sought. 


   Back to the flock and into the fold, 


   'Twas a sheep the good Shepherd brought. 


   


   And why for the sheep, should we earnestly long, 


   And so earnestly hope and pray? 


   Because there is danger, if they go wrong, 


   They will lead the young lambs away. 


   


   For the lambs follow the sheep, you know, 


   Wherever the sheep may stray; 


   If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long 


   Till the lambs are as wrong as they. 


   


   So with the sheep we earnestly plead, 


   For the sake of the lambs today. 


   If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost, 


   Some sheep may have to pay! 

-- Thomas Spurgeon

Dr. Victor Frankl, the bold, courageous Jew who became a prisoner during the Holocaust, endured years of indignity and humiliation by the Nazis before he was finally liberated. At the beginning of his ordeal, he was marched into a gestapo courtroom. His captors had taken away his home and family, his cherished freedom, his possessions, even his watch and wedding ring. They had shaved his head and stripped his clothing off his body. There he stood before the German high command, under the glaring lights being interrogated and falsely accused. He was destitute, a helpless pawn in the hands of brutal, prejudiced, sadistic men. He had nothing. No, that isn't true. He suddenly realized there was one thing no one could ever take from him -- just one. Do you know what it was?

Dr. Frankl realized he still had the power to choose his own attitude. No matter what anyone would ever do to him, regardless of what the future held for him, the attitude choice was his to make. Bitterness or forgiveness. To give up or to go on. Hatred or hope. Determination to endure or the paralysis of self-pity.

THE GUTS TO FAIL

Someone quipped that a classified newspaper ad read:


    For sale. Parachute. Only used once,


    never opened, small stain.





I realize that we cannot afford to fail in some endeavors. But I


also know that we cannot afford NOT to fail in most of what we


do. Unfortunately, too many of us live by the motto: If at first


you don't succeed, don't admit that you tried. Why? We often feel


ashamed or embarrassed when we fall flat.





Though sports stories are appreciated by many readers, I also


know that they do not communicate well globally, as many people


are unfamiliar with the rules of a game. But the following


"sports" quotation is too good to ignore, as it points to a major


reason many of us are afraid to fail.





In his book THE COURAGE TO FAIL (McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1993) Art


Mortell tells about conversation he had with Baseball's Lou


Brock. It took place when Brock held the record for stolen bases.


He was about 35 years old at the time and his days as a


professional player were winding down. Brock was talking about


why he successfully stole more bases than younger, faster


players.





"When you start out in baseball," Brock said, "you're young and


you have the speed and reflexes. However, when you try to steal


second base and you get thrown out, it's a long walk back to the


dugout, with 40,000 fans watching you. When reach my age, you


come to understand that records are not set by being the


quickest, but by the willingness to look bad in the eyes of


others."





A sure-fire recipe to avoid failure is to:





*Never ask anyone out. There will be no possibility of rejection


and embarrassment.





*Never ask for a promotion. That way you will not risk the


humiliation of being turned down.





*Never go back to school. You cannot fail a class you do not


take.





*Never change careers. You'll never fail at something you never


try. Better to stay in the security of the present, regardless of


how miserable you feel.





*Never look bad in the eyes of others. Always choose the safest,


surest route in all important decisions and your success is


practically guaranteed.





If success is just avoiding failure, I don't want it. But if


success is about pursuing a passion or finding the guts to risk


in order to live fully, then I want to go for it. Even if it


means a lot of long walks back to the dugout while everyone is


watching.






 

A GLORIOUS FAMILY

I like the story about three ministers and a priest who played


golf together every week. They decided to visit each other's


churches. So the following day, the three ministers showed up at


an early morning mass at their friend's church. There were no


empty pews, so they stood in the back.





When the priest saw them, he whispered to the little acolyte,


"Get three chairs for the Protestants." The boy looked stunned


and sat down.





The priest pointed in the back to where the clergy were standing


and repeated, "Get three chairs for the Protestants!" The


confused boy still stared back blankly.





Exasperated, the priest said emphatically, "PLEASE! Get three


chairs for the Protestants!"





The dismayed acolyte stood before the congregation and announced,


"Ladies and gentlemen. This is the first time it has ever been


done in this church, but let's all stand and give three cheers


for the Protestants!"





Perhaps it's time to give three cheers to those of another faith.


And while we're at it, let's applaud those of other cultures and


races, too! What a beautiful world it is when all are truly part


of one glorious family! And after all, if God doesn't love


variety, why is there so much of it?

 A LITTLE FAITH

The temporary church school teacher was struggling to open a


combination lock on the supply cabinet. She thought that perhaps


she'd forgotten the correct combination, so she went to the


pastor's study and asked for help.





The minister came into the room and began to turn the dial. After


the first two numbers he paused and stared blankly for a moment.


Then he lifted his eyes upward and whispered something too faint


to be heard. He finally turned back to the lock, entered the


final number, and opened it.





The teacher was amazed. "I'm in awe at your faith, Pastor," she said.





"It's really nothing," he answered. "The number is taped to the


ceiling."





Of course, he still may have been a man of great faith. Or he may


have been a man of little faith. Not that it matters, for even a


little faith can move a mountain-sized obstacle.





Often, if we just begin with a tiny bit of belief and fertilize


it with desire, even some of the most impossible obstacles


imaginable can be surmounted and some of the most outlandish


aspirations can be realized. Just a little belief, firmly held,


can accomplish a great thing.





Many Warsaw Jews died in hopelessness during the German


occupation of their city during World War II. But some survived,


and some were sustained by faith. During those dark years, an


unknown hand wrote this graffiti on a Warsaw ghetto wall:





    I believe in the sun, even if it does not shine.


    I believe in love, even if I do not feel it.


    I believe in God, even if I do not see (God).





Even a little faith can make a big difference.

GETTING RID OF DISAPPOINTMENT

A great many people are disappointed because of unrealistic expectations.

Walking up to a department store's fabric counter, an attractive young woman said, "I want to buy this material for a new dress. How much does it cost?"

"Only one kiss per yard," replied the smirking male clerk.

Not to be taken back by the harassment, the woman said, "That's fine! I'll take ten yards."

With expectation and anticipation written all over his face, the clerk hurriedly measured out and wrapped the cloth, then held it out teasingly, leaning forward to receive his "payment."

The woman snapped up the package and pointed to a little old man standing beside her. "Grandpa will pay the bill," she smiled.

He was no doubt disappointed. But in the course of living, many people are disappointed when others do not live up (or down, in this case!) to their expectations. In order to be happy, some expectations must be dropped. These unrealistic and unhealthy expectations are three of the main culprits.

1. Do not EXPECT appreciation. When others say, "Thank you," or in any way show their gratitude, be happy. It is a gift!

2. Do not EXPECT others to make you happy. They simply cannot do that. Make yourself happy and share your joy with others.

3. Do not expect NOT to be let down. At times, people will simply not come through for you in the way you need. Forgive them and move on.

Get rid of these three expectations and you will be getting rid of daily disappointment!

GOD CREATED THE FIRST TEACHER

On the 6th day, God created men and women.

On the 7th day, he rested.

Not so much to recuperate, but rather to prepare himself for the work he was going to do on the next day. For it was on that day-the 8th day-that God created the FIRST TEACHER.

This TEACHER, though taken from among men and women, had several significant modifications. In general, God made the TEACHER more durable than other men and women.

The TEACHER was made to arise at a very early hour and to go to bed no earlier than 11:30 p.m.- with no rest in between. The TEACHER had to be able to withstand being locked up in an air-tight classroom for six hours with thirty-five "monsters" on a rainy Monday. And the TEACHER had to be fit to correct 103 term papers over Easter vacation.

Yes, God made the TEACHER tough...but gentle too. The TEACHER was equipped with soft hands to wipe away the tears of the neglected and lonely student...of those of the sixteen year old girl who was not asked to the prom.

And into the TEACHER God poured a generous amount of patience. Patience when a student asks to repeat the directions the TEACHER has just repeated for someone else. Patience when the kids forget their lunch money for the fourth day in a row. Patience when one-third of the class fails the test. Patience when the text books haven't arrived yet, and the semester starts tomorrow.

And God gave the TEACHER a heart slightly bigger than the average human heart. For the TEACHER's heart had to be big enough to love the kid who screams, "I hate this class-it's boring!" and to love the kid who runs out of the classroom at the end of the period without so much as a"goodbye", let alone a "thank you".

And lastly, God gave the TEACHER an abundant supply of HOPE. For God knew that the TEACHER would always be hoping. Hoping that the kids would someday learn how to spell... hoping not to have lunchroom duty... hoping that Friday would come... hoping for a free day.... hoping for deliverance.

When God finished creating the TEACHER, he stepped back and admired the work of his hands. And God saw that the TEACHER was good. Very Good!

And God smiled, for when he looked at the TEACHER, he saw into the future. He knew that the future is in the hands of the TEACHERS.

And because God loves Teachers so much, on the 9th day God created "Snow Days."

Author Unknown

THE LIST

1. If you feel far away from God, guess who moved?

2. Fear knocked. Faith answered. No one was there.

3. What you are is God's gift to you. What you become is your gift to God.

4. I am God's melody of life and He sings His song through me.

5. We can never really go where God is not, and where He is, all is well.

6. No matter what is happening in your life, know that God is waiting for you with open arms.

7. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

8. Do your best and then sleep in peace. God is awake.

9. God has a purpose and plan for me that no one else can fulfill. Praise Him!

10. The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you.

11. We are responsible for the effort, not the outcome.

12. We set the sail; God makes the wind.

13. Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.

14. Sometimes when God says "no," it's because He has something better in store for you.

15. The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.

16. Prayer: Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.

17. It's my business to do God's business and it's His business to take care of my business.

18. Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amidst the storm.

19. How come you're always running around looking for God? He's not lost.

20. God put me on earth to accomplish a number of things; right now I'm so far behind I will live forever.

I've Learned

I've learned.... that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... that when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... that just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.

I've learned.... that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... that being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... that you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... that no matter how serious your life requires you to be,everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... that simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... that money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned....that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....that the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I've learned.... that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... that love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... that there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I've learned.... that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned.... that life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... that I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned.... that one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... that I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I've learned.... that when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain,but all

the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances;

when it is requested and when it is a life-threatening situation.

I've learned....that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Author Unknown

"I'll Fix Anthony"

In Judith Viorst's children's book "I'll Fix Anthony," the younger brother complains about the way his older brother Anthony treats him:

"My brother Anthony can read books now, but he won't read any books to me. He plays checkers with Bruce from his school. But when I want to play he says "Go away or I'll clobber you" I let him wear my Snoopy sweatshirt, but he never lets me borrow his sword. Mother says deep down in his heart Anthony loves me. Anthony says deep down in his heart he thinks I stink. Mother says deep deep down in his heart, where he doesn't even know it, Anthony loves me. Anthony says deep deep down in his heart he still thinks I stink. When I'm six I'll fix Anthony....

"When I'm six I'll float, but Anthony will sink to the bottom. I'll dive off the board, but Anthony will change his mind. I'll breathe in and out when I should, but Anthony will only go glug, glug,.... When I'm six my teeth will fall out, and I'll put them under the bed, and the tooth fairy will take them away and leave dimes. Anthony's teeth won't fall out. He'll wiggle and wiggle them, but they won't fall out. I might sell him one of my teeth, but I might not....

"Anthony is chasing me out of the playroom. He says I stink. He says he is going to clobber me. I have to run now, but I won't have to run when I'm six. When I'm six, I'll fix Anthony."

Most of us know the feeling of Anthony's brother. The Bible calls it vengeance.

Cave

Bob Woods, in Pulpit Digest, tells the story of a couple who took their son, 11, and daughter, 7, to Carlsbad Caverns. As always, when the tour reached the deepest point in the cavern, the guide turned off all the lights to dramatize how completely dark and silent it is below the earth's surface.

The little girl, suddenly enveloped in utter darkness, was frightened and began to cry.

Immediately was heard the voice of her brother: "Don't cry. Somebody here knows how to turn on the lights."

In a real sense, that is the message of the gospel: Light is available, even when darkness seems overwhelming.

A tax Collector

A tax collector was a despised person. Nearly all tax collectors abused their office by demanding more than they should by false accusation. To pay taxes to the Romans was very bitter to the Jews. Those engaged in collecting them were despised by the people and counted unworthy of any respect. Hence, they were classed with sinners. How we must worship the Lord that even a person of such a low rank as Matthew, under God's mercy and by His grace, could become an apostle! After being saved, Matthew was so grateful to the Lord that he opened his house and prepared a feast for Him and His disciples. Thus, this section of the Word opens in such a sweet, intimate way.

 Are you righteous?

Are you righteous? If you say, "No, I am not righteous," you are blessed. Blessed are those who do not think that they are righteous, but who recognize that they are sinful. The reason for this is that the Lord did not come to call the righteous; He came to call the sinners. The Lord could say to the self-righteous ones, "If you consider yourselves righteous, you are not suitable for My coming, because My coming is for the sinners. Do not consider yourselves to be righteous. Rather, you must realize how sinful you are. If you consider yourselves as sinners, then you are ready for My coming."

  John Todd

It was well-known author and pastor Charles Allen who first told the story of a little lad named John Todd, born in Rutland, Vermont, in the autumn of 1800. Shortly after the boy's birth, the Todd family moved to the little village of Killingsworth. It was there, when John was only six, that both his parents died. All the children had to be parceled out among relatives-- and a kind hearted aunt who lived ten miles away agreed to take John, to love him, to care for him, and to give him a home.

The boy lived there for some fifteen years and finally left as he went on to school to study for the ministry. Time passed gently as he began and later excelled in his work as a pastor. While he was in middle life, his elderly aunt fell desperately ill. Realizing death was not far off, in great distress she wrote her nephew. The pitiful letter included some of the same questions all of us must one day ask; "What will death be like? Will it mean the end of everything?" Fear and uncertainty were easily traced in the quivering lines of her letter.

Moved with compassion and swamped with the memories of yesteryear, he wrote her these words of reassurance:

It is now thirty-five years since I, a little boy of six, was left quite alone in the world. You sent me word you would give me a home and be a kind mother to me. I have never forgotten the day when I made the long journey of ten miles to your house in North Killingsworth. I can still recall my disappointment when, instead of coming for me yourself, you sent your colored man, Caesar, to fetch me. I well remember my tears and my anxiety as, perched high on your horse clinging tight to Caesar, I rode off to my new home. Night fell before we finished the journey and as it grew dark, I became lonely and afraid.

"Do you think she'll go to bed before I get there?" I asked Caesar anxiously. "Oh no," he said reassuringly. "She'll sure stay up FOR YOU. When we get out of these here woods you'll see her candle shining in the window." Presently we did ride out in the clearing and there, sure enough, was your candle. I remember you were waiting at the door, that you put your arms close about me and that you lifted me--a tired and bewildered little boy--down from the horse. You had a big fire burning on the hearth, a hot supper waiting for me on the stove. After supper, you took me to my new room, you heard me say my prayers and then you sat beside me until I fell asleep.

You probably realize why I am recalling all this to your memory. Some day soon, God will send for you, to take you to a new home. Don't fear the summons-- the strange journey--or the dark messenger of death. God can be trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough to do for me so many years ago. At the end of the road you will find love and a welcome waiting, and you will be safe in God's care. I shall watch you and pray for you until you are out of sight, and then wait for the day when I shall make the journey myself and find you waiting at the end of the road to greet me.

Baseball

Behold, a Ball Team...

went forth to play a game of ball. Just as the umpire was saying, "Batter up!"" the catcher for the home team arrived and took his place. The center fielder and the second baseman didn't arrive until the second inning. The first baseman didn't come at all, but later sent his regrets saying he had to go to a chicken dinner at Aunt Mary's. The third baseman likewise failed to show up having been up late the night before and he preferred to spend the day in bed. The left fielder was away visiting another ball game across town. The shortstop was present, but left his glove at home. VERILY, when the pitcher entered the box, he looked around to see his teammates and lo, his heart was heavy when he saw so many empty places in the lineup. The game had been announced and the visitors were already in the stands to see the game. There was nothing left for him to do but go ahead and pitch and hope for the best. So the pitcher tightened up his belt, stepped into the box and did his level best to put one over the plate. But for some strange reason he just couldn't find the groove. Some of his team mates began to ride him for wild pitches and loud "Boos" began to come from the stands. At the close of the game, the home teem (what there was of it) was mercilessly beaten. After hearing of the disgraceful defeat, the rest of the team decided that a new pitcher should be hired. It must have been the poor pitching that had lost the game.

BEHOLD, A PREACHER

went forth to preach. . .but that's another story . . .

&emdash;Borrowed, Author Unknown

Bible

A clergyman took a seat in a dining car on a train traveling along the Hudson River. Opposite him was an atheist who, seeing his clerical collar, started a discussion. "I see you are a clergyman." "Yes," came the reply. "I am a minister of the gospel."

"I suppose you believe the Bible." The clergyman, orthodox in his views, responded, "I certainly do believe the Bible to be the Word of God." "But aren't there things in the Bible you can't explain?" With humility the minister answered, "Yes, there are places in the Bible too hard for me to understand."

With an air of triumph as though he had cornered the preacher, the atheist asked, "Well, what do you do then?" Unruffled, the clergyman went on eating his dinner--which happened to be Hudson shad, a tasty fish but noted for its bony structure. Looking up, he said, "Sir, I do just the same as when eating this shad. When I come to the bones, I put them to the side of the plate and go on enjoying my lunch. I leave the bones for some fool to choke on.

Proverbs

A FIRST GRADE TEACHER collected old, well known proverbs. She gave each child in her class the first half of a proverb, and had them come up with the rest.

As you shall make your bed so shall you...............mess it up.

Better be safe than...........................punch a 5th grader.

Strike while the ...................................bug is close.

It's always darkest before.................daylight savings time.

You can lead a horse to water but............................how?

Don't bite the hand that.............................looks dirty.

A miss is as good as a........................................Mr.

You can't teach an old dog new..............................math.

If you lie down with the dogs, you'll.......stink in the morning.

The pen is mightier than the................................pigs.

An idle mind is............................the best way to relax.

Where there's smoke, there's...........................pollution.

Happy the bride who........................gets all the presents.

A penny saved is........................................not much.

Two's company, three's............................the musketeers.

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you,cry and......you have

to blow your nose.

Children should be seen and not..............spanked or grounded.

When the blind leadeth the blind..............get out of the way.

Communion

"Leslie Weatherhead tells of a little boy who was admitted to an orphage after his parents were killed. One of the first item on the agenda was to find him a new set of clothes. he was given a new pair of pants, a new shirt and a pair of shoes that shinned as he saw his face in its glow.

Lastly, he was offered a new hat. But he refused to take it. he hung on to his worse-for-the-hat. Finally the Sister was able to coax him into trying on the new cap. He tried it on, liked it, but then did something very funny. He reached inside his old cap and tore the lining out and placed it in his pocket. Noticing the Sister had a puzzled look on her face, he said, "The lining is a part of my mother's dress; it is all I've got left of her, and somehow it seems to bring her back."

Communion is like that for us with Jesus. The bread and the wine are a sign of His presence with us, a reminding of when God walked the earth in the form of Jesus.

Salvation Joke

A little boy was talking with his parents after Sunday School. "Daddy, I know why there are so few men with wiskers in heaven." The father asked, "Why is that son?" He son replied, "Because the Bible indicates that most men will get in by a close shave."

Unknown

Salvation

In "A Book of Saints," Anne Gordon tells the story of Father Maximilian Kolbe, who was a prisoner at Auschwitz in August 1941. A prisoner escaped from the camp, and in reprisal, the Nazis ordered ten prisoners had to die by starvation. Father Kolbe offered to take the place of one of the condemned men. The Nazis kept Kolbe in the starvation bunker for two weeks and then put him to death by lethal injection on August 14, 1941. Thirty years later a survivor of Auschwitz described the effect of Kolbe's action: "It was an enormous shock to the whole camp. We became aware that someone among us in this spiritual dark night of the soul was raising the standard of love on high. Someone unknown, like everyone else, tortured and bereft of name and social standing, went to a horrible death for the sake of someone not even related to him. Therefore it is not true, we cried, that humanity is cast down and trampled in the mud, overcome by oppressors, and overwhelmed by hopelessness. Thousand of prisoners were convinced the true world continued to exist and that our tortures would not be able to destroy it. "To say that Father Kolbe died for us or for that person's family is too great a simplification. His death was the salvation of thousands..... We were stunned by his act, which became for us a mighty explosion of light in the dark camp."

Jesus

: Most people think they have to be good to go to heaven, but God expects perfection. We do not measure up to his standard.

In his celebrated book, "Abraham Lincoln, the War Years," author Carl Sandberg told of Lincoln traveling from Springfield to Washington for his inauguration. Those seeing the president-elect for the first time were most impressed with how tall he was. Curiously, many men stepped up to the train platform and stood back-to-back with him to compare their height to his. Only one man measured up to Mr. Lincoln. All the others failed.

God measures us against his son Jesus. His standard is perfection. Only Jesus can get us to heaven.

 Charity

A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just a hungry as the dog.

- Unknown

Character

"Character is like the foundation of a house. Most of it is below the surface."

- Unknown

Salvation

A father and his young son were viewing a parade in London, England. Because of the chilling wind, they stepped inside a small store and watched through the window. In the course of time a regiment of British troops marched by, and the man exclaimed, "My, aren't those Redcoats pretty!" But the little boy replied, "They aren't red, they are white. If you don't believe me, just squat down here and look." Just to prove the little fellow was wrong, his Daddy got down on his knees and looked out the window. To his amazement the coats were not red; they looked white.

What had happened was this. There was a red band of glass around the storefront window, and at the height of that the boy was looking out he was viewing the parade through a red band of glass. When you look at a red object through a red piece of glass, the red object loses it red color to your eyes. It appears white.

The same thing is true in salvation. When God looks at you through the red blood of Jesus your scarlet sins appear white. This is blood atonement.

Shophar, Feb, 1980

IF ONLY

Many years ago my grandmother sent the wherewithal to Holland for her sister Greta to immigrate to America. Thrilled at the prospect of seeing my grandmother again after twenty-five years, Greta booked passage on the first steamer leaving Rotterdam, settling for accomodations in steerage rather than waiting another six months to travel in the grand style that her relatives had planned for her. A thoughtful purser, familiar with this common choice among families anxious for reunions, discreetly offered my great-aunt the hospitality of the upper decks of the ship during the day. Greta declined this privilege, however, and remained sequestered in her dark, rancid, and noisy quarters for the fourteen long days of her journey. My aunt called this "minding one's place." She never presumed that there was anything more to sailing across the menacing Atlantic Ocean than enduring volcanic tosses from her mildewed perch until reaching land safely on the other side. Only on disembarking in New York Harbor did Greta behold what she had been missing. On those upper decks that she had regarded as off limits were tapestries, chandeliers, wood-carved cornices, Oriental rugs, silver, gleaming crystal, and buffets laden with exotic and plentiful food and drink. Most alarming of all, though, there were people just like Aunt Greta, stranded in fourth-class sleeping accomodations, who had accepted the invitation of the venerable steamship company and had toddled above to enjoy these treasures daily. "Imagine," my aunt would gasp. "It could all have been mine, too, had I only said yes." Doris Donnelly, "Is The Spiritual Life For Everyone?", Weavings Volume 1, No. 1, Sept/Oct 1986. (Published by The Upper Room). Submitted by Jay Dudley, Martinez, California.

MISPLACED FOCUS

It was the first rain of the season and my windshield got worse as I drove. It wasn't long before my focus was on my windshield and how my wipers were doing. Then suddenly I realized that I was about to rear-end the back of a big semi truck and trailer! We have the same problem in the Church. Whenever we become so preoccupied with our own lives and how we are doing morally, or with our fellowship and study as ends in themselves, we have misplaced our focus. We forget what we are really about as Christ's people and Body. The quality of life within the church and our faith really are vital, but they are there to free us to see the world more clearly, that God loves so dearly, in all of its stark need and pain, possibilities and potential. Just as when a family squabble in the car distracts us from the highway and the more important issues going on out there, so also with the Church. Where is your focus -- individually and as a fellowship -- on your morality or on Christ's misssion. Let's look through our faith to see the world Christ loves and not miss any opportunity to share Him and his concern for what is happening on the highways of life! Submitted by Lloyd Auchard, Menlo Park, California.+

  A REMOTE HOPE

A few years ago a young man in the metropolitan New York area took a step before his death at 24 which he thought would safeguard his future. Upon his death, Steven arranged to have himself frozen solid until a medical cure was found for the intestinal infection that had made him a chronic invalid. Steven was a passable poet, photographer, guitarist, a student on the Dean's list at New York University, and an avid reader of science fiction. A friend remarked, "He wanted to be in the forefront where science fiction turns into science fact." When Steven's infection stubbornly refused to respond to medical treatment, he followed up an intriguing ad placed in a science-fiction magazine by the Cryonics Society of New York, a movement with the motto, "Never say die!" This society had been founded on the premise that bodies of the "clinically dead" can be put in a deep freeze and later brought back to life. Seven months before his death, Steven made out a $5 check to join the Cryonics Society. Then he instructed his mother to make sure that once he was pronounced legally dead, his body would be neither buried nor cremated, but frozen. When he died, five members of the Cryonics Society promptly took charge, helping a Long Island funeral director pack Steven's corpse in ice cubes for a two-hour drive to the funeral home. There it was drained of its body fluids, and infused with an "antifreeze solution to help reserve the body tissues." Then it was packed with dry ice, preparatory to placement in "cryonic suspension" in a "Crypt-Capsule," a giant bottle filled with liquid nitrogen. In that state, Steven will remain indefinitely, maintained at a cost of $200 per year, an expense paid for out of a Cryonics Trust Fund set up by Steven before his death. One magazine titled the story, "Soul On Ice." His mother said that shortly before his death, Steven made a tape to be placed in the capsule, for he realized he might suffer some brain damage. She commented that his death was easier for her to bear because there wasn't the same finality of putting someone away under the earth. She said, "I had talked about it with Steven, not morbidly, just ordinary conversation, and I came to accept the idea." When asked if she expected Steven to be raised from his Cryonic Capsule, she made this tragically significant comment, "I have only a remote hope for my boy's resurrection." What a contrast to this remote and unlikely hope is the absolute assurance which the Bible teaches concerning the bodies of those who die trusting in Jesus. Because Jesus Christ conquered death and rose from the grave, He will some day bring back to life all those who have put their faith in Him, giving them perfect bodies, just like His own resurrected, glorified body. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (I John 3:2). Leslie Flynn, The Sustaining Power of Hope, page 27, 28. Submitted by John Bristol, First Presbyterian Church, Milpitas, CA.+

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

At 3.00 AM one very cold morning, a missionary candidate walked into an office for a scheduled interview with the examiner of mission board. The candidate found a note from the examiner which said, " I'll be here in a few minutes. Sit down and wait." He sat in the waiting room, and waited until 8:00 AM, when the examiner finally showed up.

Without a word of explanation about his five hour delay, the examiner said,"All right, let's begin the test. First spell baker."

The young man responded, "B-A-K-E-R."

"Very good," the examiner replied. "I'm impressed. Now, let's see what you know about figures. How much is two plus two?"

The applicant replied, "Four."

"Fine," the examiner said, "you have passed the test. I'll recommend to the board tomorrow that you be appointed."

At the board meeting the next day, the examiner spoke highly of the applicant and said, "He has all the qualifications of a missionary as I discovered in MT test, he explained. "First," said the examiner, "I tested him on self denial. I told him to be at the office at 3:00 Am in the morning. He left his warm bed and came out in the cold without a word of complaint. Second, I examined him on patience. I made him wait five hours to see me, after telling him to come at three. Third, I tested him on temper. He failed to show any sign of it. He did not complain, and did not even question my delay. Fourth, I tried his humility. I asked him questions that a small child could answer, and he showed no offense. He has all the characteristics to be the kind of missionary our Lord needs.

Author unknown

Bearing my brother's burden Song: He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

"The road is long with a many a winding turn...that leads us to who knows where, who knows where.....But I am strong, strong enough to carry Him...He ain't heavy---He's my brother...so on we go...His welfare is my concern...no burden is He is bear...We'll get there...For I know he would not have company.....He ain't heavy...he's my brother....I am leaning at all...I am leaning with sadness that everyone's heart isn't filled with a gladness of love for one another......It's a long, long road from which there is not return.....While we're on the way to there why not share...... and the load does not weight me down at all...He ain't heavy..He's my brother...He's my brother...he ain't heavy...He's my brother

A man in China, horses good//bad

A man in China raised prized stallions, and when one ran away his friends came to his home to mourn his loss. After listening to their expressions of concern, the man asked, "How do I know whether what happened is bad or good?" Several days later the runaway horse returned bringing several strays with him. When the news spread the same group of people came to his house again - to celebrate his good fortune. "But how do I know whether it's good or bad?" the old man asked. The next day the horse kicked the owner's son and broke the young man's leg. Once again the group assembled - this time to express sorrow over the unfortunate incident. The father asked, "But how do I know if this is bod or good?" The following week war broke out; the man's son was exempted from military service because of his broken leg. The friends gathered again.......and the story goes on and on.

God Forgives You and So Must I

"Only a mother could love some-one like that". I guess we have all heard it said or said it ourselves about some particularly obnoxious, nasty, criminal or simply unlovely individual.

But of course, its not just mothers who have that sort of love, for "God loved the World so much...", loving us while we are still sinners. In fact this is the calling of all Christians.

Jesus used a couple of illustrations, both related to cooking, to illustrate how we are to go into all the world. He likened the Christian's role in the world as like salt (Mt.5:13) or leavening (Mt.13:33) and every cook knows the importance of mixing ingredients well, so that every part of the mix has some of the salt, or leavening or seasoning etc in it.

I have heard many sermons on "Who is my neighbour?" (the needy stranger), but almost none on "Who is my enemy?". Loving one's neighbour is in fact from the old testament law (Lev.19:18); Jesus commanded us to love our enemies. The reality of our great mission is living out God's gracious gospel of forgiveness of sin in a world of evil and sometimes open antagonism.

It is easy in a righteous way to condemn a sinner and to pray for their salvation. But to personally offer forgiveness, blessing and praying for their well being (Mt.5:44, Rom.12:14), and even meeting their physical needs (Rom.12:20), is much harder. Whilst we must condemn sin in general and preach God's call to repentance and righteousness, in individual situations it is the Holy Spirit who convicts, and judgement and revenge must be left to God: our role is to repay evil with good (Rom.12:20).

Gods forgives you and so must I.

Graeme Bentley

(From the weekly `Prayer and Share' column of the Heathmont Baptist Church bulletin. Also published weekly at http://www.pastornet.net.au/hbcwww/index.html)

Quote

Instant Quotation Dictionary_, p. 154."It takes less time to do a thing right than it does to explain why you did it wrong."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Difficulty

Submitted by: Tom Campbell

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years in farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now it is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day, The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other. A fine piece of work - handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge and then they met in the middle, took each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder, "No wait, stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many bridges to build."

The Dying Soldier

submitted by: Kevin Burden

WONDROUS LOVE AND OTHER GOSPEL ADDRESSES by Dwight L. Moody

Then you say, "If it is not by working in earnest, how am I to be saved?" I will tell you; Scripture will tell you &emdash; that is better. Take the illustration Christ used to Nicodemus; you could not have a better. He took him to the remedy:

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14, 15).

Now there is the remedy. How am I to be saved? By looking to Christ; just by looking. It's very cheap, isn't it? Very simple, isn't it? Just look away to the Lamb of God now and be saved. What says the great wilderness preacher? "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." You might say the whole plan of salvation is in two words &emdash; Giving; Receiving. God gives; I receive.

I remember, after one of the terrible battles in the American Civil War &emdash; I was in the army, tending soldiers &emdash; and I had just laid down one night, past midnight, to get a little rest, when a man came and told me that a wounded soldier wanted to see me. I went to the dying man. He said, "I wish you to help me to die." I said, "I would help you to die if I could. I would take you on my shoulders and carry you into the kingdom of God if I could; but I cannot. I can tell you of One who can."

And I told him of Christ being willing to save him; and how Christ left heaven and came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. I just quoted promise after promise, but all was dark, and it almost seemed as if the shades of eternal death were gathering around his soul. I could not leave him, and at last I thought of this third chapter of John, and I said to him, "Look here, I am going to read to you now a conversation that Christ had with a man that went to Him when he was in your state of mind, and inquired what he was to do to be saved." I just read that conversation to the dying man, and he lay there with his eyes riveted upon me, and every word seemed to be going home to his heart, which was open to receive the truth.

When I came to the verse where it says, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" &emdash; the dying man cried, "Stop, sir. Is that there?"

"Yes, it is all here."

Then he said, "Won't you please read it to me again?"

I read it the second time. The dying man brought his hands together, and he said, "Bless God for that. Won't you please read it to me again?"

I read through the whole chapter, but long before the end of it he had closed his eyes. He seemed to lose all interest in the rest of the chapter, and when I got through it his arms were folded on his breast, he had a sweet smile on his face; remorse and despair had fled away. His lips were quivering, and I leant over him, and heard him faintly whisper from his dying lips, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." He opened his eyes, and fixed his calm, deathly look on me, and he said, "Oh, that is enough; that is all I want"; and in a few hours he pillowed his dying head upon the truth of those two verses, and rode away on one of the Savior's chariots, and took his seat in the kingdom of God.

Oh, sinner, you can be saved now if you will! Look and live. May God help every lost one here to look on the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Putting Away Strange gods

A church group in Chattanooga, Tennessee, stood around a muddy pit. The pastor read a passage from the thirty-fifth chapter of Genesis: "Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garment."

The group began tossing various objects into the pit. Among the "strange gods" was a big alarm clock that went jangling into the hole: this was a sign that the church was done with clock-watching during future services.

In went an old television set; also a rock-and-roll record with the impressive title "Ooba-Ooba-Ooba," followed by several famous novels by popular modern authors. Women's shorts and toreador pants landed on top of the stack, along with cigarette packs.

The minister of the church assured the newspaper reporters that these folk weren't snake-handlers or weird cultists; they were plain Southern Baptists who wished to put away their idols and strip for the race on the gospel road.

&emdash;Selected

The Race

 

Submitted by:


Matthew Cole


 


They all lined up so full of hope,


each thought to win the race,


or tie for first, or if not that,


at least take second place.


 


And fathers watched from off the side,


each cheering for his son;


And each boy hoped to show his dad


that he would be the one.


 


The whistle blew, and off they went,


young hearts and hopes afire,


To win, to be the hero there


was each young boy's desire.


 


And one boy in particular


whose dad was in the crowd,


Was running in the lead and thought,


my dad will be so proud.


 


But as they sped down the field


across a shallow dip,


The little boy who thought to win,


lost his step and slipped.


 


Trying hard to catch himself,


his hands flew out in brace,


and mid the laughter of the crowd,


he fell flat on this face.


 


So down he fell and with him hope,


he couldn't win, not now;


Embarrassed, sad, he only wished


to disappear somehow.


 


But as he fell his dad stood up,


and showed his anxious face;


Which to the boy so clearly said;


get up and win the race.


 


He quickly rose, no damage done,


behind a bit, that's all.


And ran with all his might and mind


to make up for the fall.


 


So anxious to restore himself,


to catch up, to win,


His mind went faster than his legs,


he slipped and fell again.


 


He wished then he had quit before,


with only one disgrace;


I'm hopeless as a runner now,


I shouldn't try to race.


 


But in the laughing crowd he searched,


and found his father's face.


That steady look that said again,


get up and win the race.


 


So up he jumped to try again,


ten yards behind the last;


If I'm going to gain those yards


I've gotta move real fast.


 


Exerting everything he had,


he regained eight or ten;


But trying so hard to catch the lead


he slipped and fell again.


 


Defeat; he lay there silently,


a tear dropped from his eye;


There's no sense in running anymore


three strikes I'm out, why try.


 


The will to rise had disappeared


all hope had fled away;


So far behind, so error prone


I'll never go all the way.


 


I've lost - so what's the use he thought,


I'll live with my disgrace;


But then he thought about his dad


who soon he'd have to face.


 


Get up - an echo sounded low,


get up and take your place;


You were not meant for failure here,


get up and win the race.


 


With borrowed will, get up, it said,


you haven't lost at all;


For winning is no more than this,


to rise each time you fall.


 


So up he rose to run once more,


and a new commit;


He resolved that win or lose the race,


at least he wouldn't quit.


 


Three times he'd fallen, stumbling,


three time he rose again;


Now he gave it all he had,


and ran as though to win.


 


They cheered the winning runner


as he crossed the line first place;


Head high and proud and happy,


no failing, no falling, no disgrace.


 


But when the fallen youngster


crossed the line last place,


The crowd gave him the greatest cheer,


For finishing the race.


 


And even though he came in last


with head bowed low unproud,


You would have thought he won the race


to listen to the crowd.


 


And to his dad, he sadly said,


I didn't do so well;


To me you won, his father said,


you rose each time you fell.


 


And now when things seem dark


and hard and difficult to face,


The memory of that little boy


helps me in my race.


 


For all of life is like that race


with ups and downs and all,


And all you have to do to win,


Is RISE each time you fall.


 

(author unknown) 

How to Plant a Garden

Submitted by: Bud Brown (gleaned from Proclaim)

Plant three rows of peas:


Peace of mind


Peace of heart


Peace of soul.


 


Plant four rows of squash:


Squash gossip


Squash indifference


Squash grumbling


Squash selfishness.


 


Plant four rows of lettuce:


Lettuce be faithful


Lettuce be kind


Lettuce be obedient


Lettuce really love one another.


 


No garden is without turnips:


Turnip for meetings


Turnip for service


Turnip to help one another.


 


Water freely with patience and


cultivate with love.


 


There is much fruit in your garden


Because you reap what you sow.


To conclude our garden we must have thyme:


Thyme for reflection


Thyme for study


Thyme for prayer


      

The Qualities of Survival

 


   Several years ago I found myself a long way from home in a


small prison cell. As a prisoner of war, I was tortured,


humiliated, starved and left to languish in squalor for six


years.


   


It's important that you get a vivid mental picture of this


scene. Try your best to smell the stench in the bucket I called


my toilet and taste the salt in the corners of my mouth from my


sweat, my tears and my blood. Feel the baking tropical heat in a


tin-roofed prison cell - not that you'll ever be a P.O.W. If I am


effective in these few moments we spend together, you'll see that


the same kind of challenges you face as a teenager, a student, a


leader, or a parent, are the same basic challenges I faced in a


prison cell: feelings of fear, loneliness, failure and a


breakdown of communication. More importantly, your response to


those challenges will be the same response I had to have in the


prison camp just to survive.


   


What qualities do you have within you that would allow you


to survive in a prison camp? Please pause here, think about this


question, and write in the margin of this page at least five


different qualities necessary for survival. (If you've written


faith, commitment or dedication, you've already broken the code.)


As I worked my way through the first several months and then


years of imprisonment, I found I already had a foundation of


survival tools learned in life from my parents, preachers, youth


leaders, and teachers. And the life-saving techniques I used in


that prison camp had more to do with my value system, integrity


and religious faith than anything I had learned from a textbook.


Sound like your life? The adversities you face in your life


can be just as debilitating to you as six years in a Communist


prison camp could have been to me. Now here's the test: The next


time you have a huge problem facing you, turn back to this page


and read not my writing but your writing in the margin. You'll


find that the same factors you've written here, which would serve


you well in a prison camp, will serve you even better in the


challenge of everyday life.


By Charlie Plumb

The Parable of the Rose

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully and before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought...

"How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?"

Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God like qualities planted in us at birth growing amid the thorns of our faults.

Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us.

We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies.

We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them.

One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others.

This is the characteristic of love ....to look at a person and know their true faults.

Accepting that person into your life, while recognizing the nobility in their soul.

Help them to realize that they can overcome their faults. If we show them the rose, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they blossom many times over.

Wealthy Man

Once there was this very wealthy young man. He lived in a great,elaborate house with dozens of rooms. Each room was more comfortable and more beautiful than the one before it. There were paintings and sculptures. Crystal chandeliers, golden, ornate railings on the stairs. More beauty than most have ever seen.

One day he decided to invite the Lord to come and stay with him. When the Lord arrived, this young man offered him the very best room in the house. The room was upstairs and at the end of the hall. "This room is yours, Jesus! Stay as long as you like and you can do whatever you want to in this room, remember Jesus, its all yours." "Thank you" the Lord replied, and with that the man shut the door and went about his daily business.

That evening after he had retired for the night there came a loud

knocking at the front door. The young man pulled on his robe and made his way downstairs. When he opened the door he found that the devil had sent three of his demons to attack the man. He quickly tried to close the door but one of the demons kept sticking his foot in the door. Sometime later, after a great struggle, he managed to slam the door shut and returned to his room totally exhausted. Can you believe that! The man thought. Jesus is upstairs in my very best room sleeping while I am down here battling demons. Oh well, maybe he just didn't hear. He slept fitfully that night.

The next day things went along as normal and being tired as he was, the young man retired early that evening. Along about midnight, there came such a terrible ruckus at the front door that the young man was sure that whatever it was would tear the door down. He stumbled down the stairs once again and opened the door to find that there were dozens of demons now trying to get into his beautiful home.

For more than three hours he fought and struggled against the demons from hell and finally overtook them enough to shut the door against their attack. All energy seemed to fail him. I really don't understand this at all. Why won't the Lord come to my rescue? Why does he allow me to fight all by myself? I feel so alone. Troubled he found his way to the sofa and fell into a restless sleep.

The next morning he decided to inquire of the Lord about the happenings of the last two evenings. Quietly he made his way to the elegant bedroom where he had left Jesus. "Jesus," he called as he tapped at the door. "Lord,, I don't understand what is happening. For the last two nights I have had to fight the demons away from my door while you laid up here sleeping. Don't you care about me? Did I not give you the very best room in house? He could see the tears building in Jesus' eyes but continued on, "I just don't understand. I really thought that once I invited you in to live with me that you would take care of me and I gave you the best room in my house and everything. What more can I do?"

"My precious child," Jesus spoke so softly. "I do love and care for you. I protect all that you have released into my care. But when you invited me to come here and stay, you brought me to this lovely room and you shut the door to the rest of your house. I am Lord of this room but I am not Master of this house I have protected this room and no demon may enter here."

"Oh, Lord, please forgive me. Take all of my house - it is yours

- I am so sorry that I never offered you all to begin with. I want you to have control of everything." With this he flung open the bedroom door and knelt at Jesus' feet. "Please forgive me Lord for being so selfish."

Jesus smiled and told him that He had already forgiven him and that He would take care of things from now on. That night the young man prepared for bed he thought to himself, " I wonder if those demons will return. I am so tired of fighting them each and every night." But he knew that Jesus said that he would take care of things from now on.....

Along about midnight the banging on the door was frightening. The young man slipped out of his room in time to see Jesus going down the stairs. He watched in awe as Jesus swung open the door, no need to be afraid. Satan stood at the door this time demanding to be let in.

"What do you want, Satan?" the Lord asked. The devil bowed low in the presence of the Lord, "So sorry, I seem to have gotten the wrong address." And with that, he and the demons all ran away.

There is a moral to this tale. Jesus wants all of you, not just a part. He will take all that you give Him but nothing more. How much of your heart have you given to the Lord? Are you keeping a portion of it away from Him? Perhaps the attacks are coming more and more each day. Why not let the Lord fight the battles for you. He is always victorious. I have found that God made man simple. All of man's complexities are of his own devising.

A story with a different twist

Once there was a Father and son who were very close and enjoyed adding valuable art pieces to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate.

The widowed, elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action.

The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, a season that he and his son had so looked forward to, would visit his house no longer.

On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home.

As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you." As the two began to talk, the solider told of how the man's son had told everyone of his, not to mention his father's, love of fine art. "I'm an artist,"said the soldier, "and I want to give you this."

As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man's son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace.

A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart.

As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation! Unmindful of the story of the man's only son, but in his honor; those paintings would be sold at an auction.

According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest gift.

The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim "I have the greatest collection."

The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget it and go on to the good stuff."

More voices echoed in agreement. "No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it. "I have ten dollars."

"Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer.

After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice. Gone."The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!"

The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what's going on here!."

The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son . . . gets it all."

Puts things into perspective, doesn't it? Just as those art collectors discovered on that Christmas day, the message is still the same: the love of a Father, a Father whose greatest joy came from his son, who went away and gave his life rescuing others. And because of that Father's love,whoever takes the Son gets it all.

How is your prayer life? Lately, have you prayed for Saddam Hussein, the Real IRA, or Aslam ben Ladin, the terrorist? Who have you included in your prayers lately? Only your family... only those whom you love?... only the sanitized? Have you included the names of any of your enemies in your prayers lately?

First and foremost, the chapter in First Timothy begins with a stress that the church, that Christians pray for EVERYONE.... If you want to say this beginning from the negative side of things, you would say that NOBODY is exempt or outside the sphere of prayer. There is not a person for whom you cannot pray! Therefore, I began this sermon with questions about whom you are including in your prayers. I like the positive spin, therefore I say, every person is a potential subject of your prayer.

When Paul says in the letter to Timothy, to pray for "kings and those in high positions..." this was not an illustration of a safe and sanitized person for whom Apostle Paul requests prayer. Rather, to say 'let us pray for the king and those in high positions' meant to pray for the enemy. At the time of the letter to Timothy, certain kings or persons in high position were persecuting the church. Paul did not hint that Christians were to pray negatively for the king, i.e., that God would remove the king or send suffering to the king. The prayer was positive: "that we would lead a quiet and peaceful life....."

You are to pray for political leaders because kings and folks in high positions have to make decisions that effect thousands of people. Some folks in high positions are not political leaders but economic leaders, that is, CEOs. Their decisions also effect the lives of thousands. When a corporation declares that it will downsize and cut by 10 percent of its work force, sometimes 10,000 people are out of work. Those charged with this kind of responsibility are only human folks. They are subjected to huge pressures, and they make mistakes. Christians need to pray for them. Often, Christians are the CEOs and they ask for your prayers.

The theology behind this call to pray for kings and those in high positions is that Christians can lift up to God all people because we believe that God holds all accountable, God loves all people, and God can help all people. Our Christian theology boldly declares that God is involved in every circumstance of life and that you may pray for every person in every situation.

Additionally, God can redeem all people and save every person. When Christians affirm that God can save all people, we don't mean that salvation comes automatically to all people. If that were true, the accountability for your actions would be negated and a day of judgment would be canceled. God holds all people accountable and God wants all people to be saved. Many will confess that Jesus is our Savior and believe in the cross of Christ. Some will not so confess, will refuse to accept Jesus as their savior, and will thus place themselves in judgment's seat. God will take it from there. Meanwhile, Christians pray for all people.

Sometimes Christians may think that the request to pray for kings and people in high positions is also a request for Christians to not oppose the political and economic leaders. Paul is not advocating such a thing. Praying for someone is different from approving what someone is doing. There have been governments that Christians have defended, .... and there have been governments that Christians fought against.

That has been true in the past and I suspect it will be true in the future. To know which government to support and which to stand against, you need to pray.

The great prophet Isaiah reveals to you that there is only one God who creates everything and saves every one. All other gods are figments of imagination. And one day every person shall confess faith in God and every knee shall bow down in homage to our God. All the nations, therefore, are under God's judgment. All people, kings and those in high positions, will answer to the Lord God Almighty. Thus, Paul asks you to pray for kings and those in high places.

If you believe that there is only one God, then you will note where and how this one God gets known to you. For Apostle Paul and for Christians, the answer is clear; "There is one mediator between God and people and that one person is Christ Jesus." The NRSV says "mediator," correctly translating the Greek, but the Good News Bible provides a definition for 'mediator' as it tries to avoid big words. Mediator is a significant word for the description of the work of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul used a large quantity of words and concepts to describe the person and work of Christ. Paul used this word only three times, twice in Galatians and once here. The work of a mediator is significant and it is a word that theologians love. One theologian wrote a large book describing Jesus as mediator. I read it, enjoyed it and wrote a systematic theology report on it. Lovely theological tome. Only one little problem; it is too much piled on a word used only three times in the New Testament, in two places by one author. Yet, mediator is a handy word to use in much smaller writing, like a sermon... like this sermon.

Apostle Paul is not proposing a large theological concept as he calls Jesus a mediator. The mediator is a quick concept to show that Jesus links humanity and God in a very special way. There is one mediator between God and people [you]. That mediator is Jesus Christ. There is no other mediator. There is no other Jesus. Jesus and God are in a very special relationship. The doctrine of Christology will define that relationship as one God, but two natures of God. When Apostle Paul calls Jesus the only mediator between God and people, he sets up Jesus as both divine and human. Exclusively, Jesus can represent both God and people. To God, Jesus brings all people. To people, Jesus brings God. What happens at that meeting place is the event of Easter where people crucify Jesus and God responds in judgment. Although one concept in the culture of the time dictated that God will exact punishment for the people crucifying Jesus, something else happens. Jesus as mediator asks for and gets the grace of God for the people. Jesus as mediator asks for and gets the salvation of the people for God.

Representing Jesus, Apostle Paul now asks for you to accept the grace of God. Paul asks for you to hear Jesus asking you to become the saved people of God. Paul is not lying, but telling you the truth. He represents Jesus to you. As Christ's ambassador, he utters the invitation of Jesus. Christ's invitation asks you to accept the grace of God and become a part of God's saved people.

At this point many of my companion preachers will issue a call for those not yet saved, to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. Then, come on down front and make a public confession of faith in Jesus. I believe that you all have already made your confession in Jesus when you were baptized and when you joined this grouping of God's saved people (called the Fourth Presbyterian Church). Therefore, I am going to honor your previous confession of faith and not plead for you to come on down again.

Additionally, it is at this point that some good Christians go beyond what Paul is saying here. Paul is not advocating that just because Jesus is the only mediator between God and humankind, that all other religions are bunk. Remember Paul, almost in the same breath, asks us to pray for everyone. Just a sentence or two previous Paul urges petitions, prayers and thanksgivings be made for everyone. The position of the Christian is not arrogance at other religions, but of prayerful respect. From a position of respect, does the Christian tell other religions about the invitation of Jesus. Most important, from a position of respect does a Christian enjoy the company of other Christians. It is a terrible thing when a Christian does not honor another Christian's confession of faith. It is an insult thrown into the face of Jesus when a group of Christians tells another Christian that their previous confession of faith is no good. How dare one denomination not acknowledge the confession of faith made by all the good and faithful people of another denomination?

It is from this line of systematic theology that led the denominations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) to enter into "full Communion." Officially now, we recognize that Jesus is the one and only mediator. Officially now, we say that all our confessions of faith are good. Thus, Paul is not lying to you.

Now let us celebrate that we are one in Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate that Jesus is our one mediator. Let us celebrate that all confessions of faith in Jesus Christ are good confessions of faith, acceptable to God and to us. For a celebration like this, singing is appropriate. How about the hymn, "They'll Know We Are Christian by Our Love?"

by PAUL KABO

An Act Of Will

"Do you believe this chair exist?" (Point to an empty chair.) "Do you believe it will hold you up? It is not holding you up now. How could you prove you believe it exist and that it can hold you up? - By sitting in it!" "Let that chair represent Jesus Christ. For a long time I believe he existed and could help me, but I did not have eternal life because I was trusting my own good works to get me into heaven. To receive eternal life you must transfer you trust from yourself to Christ."

D. J. Kennedy

The Gift of Life

The story is told of an aged silver miner who spent all his life searching for silver in the mountains of the Old West. He had become so obsessed with his search that his wife and children had left him. When he died the handful of people who came to bury him found in his possessions a note instructing them to bury him under his cabin. As the earth was overturned a lustrous gray material began to appear. It became known as the largest silver vein in California history. The miner had been a millionaire all his life, but he had never been able to claim his wealth.

The Bible says that we are spiritual billionaires because of Christ' death. Claim the gift of God today!

J. Dillow

Quote

"Faith is daring the soul to go father than it can see."

Unknown

Story

A little boy was awakened by a thunder storm and cried out in fear. His mother got up and set down on the bed to comfort him. "Honey, don't be afraid. Don't you know that God will take care of you?" The little boy replied, "Yes Mommy, but I want someone with skin on him." God realizes this weakness of ours so he sent his only begotten Son (John 3:16) to become a man so that we might have a Savior with "skin on Him."

Barry Landrum

1982, SBC

THE STRETCH BETWEEN FAITH AND HUMILITY

Beginning with the fourteenth chapter, Luke develops a series of the sayings of Jesus that counter self-righteousness in its various forms with "the Pharisees" as the name for the self-righteous. Our text marks an end to that series and the beginning of Jesus' movement toward Jerusalem and the cross. Within these six verses is the tension that, on the one hand, gives the life of faith its dynamic and, on the other, makes it unstable in the human heart.

If I had the faith, I could say to a mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it would. If I had the faith and uprooted the tree before a local TV crew, I would say, "Build me a bigger church," and somebody would. I would not say, "I am a worthless slave and only did what I ought to have done." And that is why I can't uproot trees with my faith. I haven't the inner strength to uproot trees with my faith without becoming self-righteous. Now, I might have the strength to tithe and not become self-righteous... might. It would be a stretch. This is the way faith can increase in me, though: on the one side, to become more obedient -- that is, act on faith; and on the other side, to become less proud of my obedience -- that is, to think of my obedience as being for someone else.

It is like the capillary action of water in a fine glass tube. The surface tension of the water tugs on one side of the interior wall of the tube, then on the other, and thus the water lifts itself up the tube from the surface of water surrounding the tube. My faith can only increase as my humility increases. They are the reciprocal tugs of the Christian life. My power can only increase as my submission to God increases. If I could uproot trees with my faith, I would also need to be able to know myself as a mere slave of God. I am encouraged by this scripture to let the Lord increase my faith, but I am in no way ready to move trees with it.

Habakkuk, in his own way, in order to have faith in the justice of God, has to let go of himself. He has to let go of his own yearning for justice to prevail in his own community on his own terms in order to have faith in God's justice coming according to God's will. The Psalmist, in order to have faith in the triumph of righteousness, has to let go of his self-centered fretting. Paul, the definer of faith, is pleased to know himself as prisoner for Christ's sake, and that is why he can say to Timothy, "But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him." (2 Timothy 1:12) In order to maintain such faith, first he had to know himself a slave for Christ. As great as the accomplishments were that sprang from his faith in Christ, he would be the fist to say that he did no more than what he was charged to do. Apart from that humility, his accomplishments could not have been what they were. His faith would not have been sufficient to support them.

Paul uprooted trees with his faith. Actually he did something more remarkable. He bulldozed a Jewish sect into a Greco-Roman world. He planted the seeds of the Reformation and reformation itself. But Paul was nothing. The message was everything. We are nothing. The in-breaking of the kingdom of God is everything. For this, Habakkuk, the Psalmist, Timothy, you and I need our faith increased, that we may be the slaves of the reign of God on earth for the sake of Christ for the sake of the world.

*****

May these thoughts strengthen you.

Roland McGregor United Methodist Preacher

When Longfellow was advanced in years, an admirer asked him how he remained so optimistic and continued writing such beautiful poetry.

Longfellow pointed to an apple tree and observed, "That tree has been there for a long time, yet I never saw prettier blooms on it than right now. Its branches display a little new wood each year, and I suppose that is what accounts for the lovely blossoms. Like that apple tree, I still grow new wood each year."

It is hard to stay youthful in spirit unless one stays useful to others. But with real faith in God and love for the brethern, "they shall bring forth fruit in old age" (\reference{Ps. 92:14}{Psalms 92:14}). As we grow older, let us add something better to our lives. Let's still grow a little new wood each year.

How do you react when someone starts boasting? Most of us are taught as kids to not "toot your own horn." How often have you heard that? Usually we find it in poor taste or bad manners to boast, maybe even sinful as boasting may be a sign of pride and thus be linked to one of the "seven deadly sins." No one wants that!

Is it ever OK to boast or brag or place ourselves at the forefront? Is it all right to be proud of some things? During the 27 years I spent as an Army Chaplain we had to endure, at least once a year, something called an efficiency report. It's like a Performance Review. I saw the format for this change at least five times over the years. The most recent one had the one being evaluated tell the ratter and senior ratter, in writing, all one had done to accomplish performance goals for the past year. Believe me when I say if you didn't do some big time boasting, it would be extremely hard to get promoted in that system. And that was hard for some of us because we were taught as kids not to boast. As Christians we are told not to boast, but serve silently, waiting for the "reward" God has in store for the faithful.

The other side of the coin is that when we hear someone else boast, we tend to take what they say with a "grain of salt." When you hear a fisherman boast about a large catch, do you really believe it? Or how about all those stories we hear from our golfers? And what about when you talk about your grandchildren? Oh, oh.. I'm starting to meddle now!

Today we are considering one of the Apostle Paul's little epistles, Second Thessalonians. We know from having read other of Paul's letters, that he had a tendency to boast now and then. Usually it was to make a point. But in this instance there is no doubt that his "boasting" is strictly in good taste. Perhaps one way we can determine whether our boasting is poor manners or good taste is to ask "are we boating about ourselves or someone else?" Paul, on this occasion, is boasting about somebody else. He is bragging about the church at Thessalonica.

"Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." (NIV)

I like hearing folks brag about their church! In our congregation we have a lot to boast about. Our church, like the one at Thessalonica, needs the encouragement that comes from hearing that you're doing some great things! It doesn't mean that we are perfect as a church and we certainly have our points at which we need to stretch and grow. The church at Thessalonica was being stretched. It was undergoing a time of intense persecution from the civil authorities. And there were internal problems among the members. Some in that congregation had become so focused on Jesus' return that they had quit working and were just waiting around.

The Apostle boasts about the the faithfulness of the church. In this day and age that is an important quality! We need to look at those things that are unique about the church as we exist in the world (from a spiritual perspective) and make sure we continue to do those things. That's being faithful to the mission of the Church of our Lord. <B>It is essential that we remain faithful to the gospel of Christ whether it is here in Suburban Maryland or in Thessalonica.

Rather than bemoan whether or not we are growing (and I'm glad to note that we are growing), we need to ask questions about our faithfulness. How do we measure this? How do we measure something as intangible as faithfulness? One church growth expert did a survey that sought to determine such indicators. The result was a dozen factors in the life of congregations that were indicators of what might be called a "quality church." They could also be a measure of "faithfulness." (C. Peter Wagner, Leading Your Church to Growth (Regal Books, 1984), pp. 25-27).

I'm going to mention those twelve things and as I do, keep score for both yourself and our congregation. Keeping in mind that "we" are the church, how do you and we rate? Very quickly, those twelve aspects of a quality church were: Bible knowledge, personal devotional time, regular participation in worship by members, willingness to share one's faith with others, the laity's involvement in the church's ministry, actively supporting outreach causes, appropriate stewardship of income to the work of the church, participation in fellowship groups, having a distinctive Christian lifestyle, being Christ or God centered in one's attitude about religion rather than self-centered (i.e. God first, others second, me last); direct involvement in the social service needs of the community (direct assistance to the needs); and, akin to the last one, involvement in the social justice needs of the community, seeking to make changes in the structures of society that foster injustice.

I would be interested in knowing your impressions about where we stand in these twelve areas of "faithfulness." (You need not share your own personal assessment unless you want to). If these are characteristics of a faithful church, how are we doing? Do we emphasize or have strength in a few, say four or five? Are we really lacking in several? Do we have a good balance? Answers to these questions could give us something to plan our ministry around.

Earlier I suggested you need not share your own personal assessment. I would be very surprised if we, individually, had strengths in more than four or five of these areas. The good news is this has nothing to do with your faithfulness as an individual Christian. It does have something to do with the way you exercise your spiritual gifts. And guess what? The Lord doesn't ask that you have all the spiritual gifts...the Lord wants us to own and use the ones we have! When we put all our folks together with their variety of gifts then we have a church and that's where we want to look at exercising all of the twelve qualities I've mentioned toward further faithfulness.

When we, as individuals, exercise our spiritual gifts (regardless of the number) and then, as a church seek to exhibit the qualities that promote faithfulness (as many and as balanced), then we will fulfill the commission of our Lord to touch the lives of others. Our going forth will be felt right here in our community and neighborhoods by those who have spiritual and human needs. Then we will be ambassadors for our Lord.

When the things I just mentioned happen, then we will have something to boast about! I hope we would be willing to make any changes possible to make that happen! But change is not always easy. On Friday we hosted the Church Women United for their World Community Day. We rearranged the pews so that there were four sections facing each other representing the four quadrants of the globe. I kind of liked it. It was very symbolic. Several mentioned, "why don't we try this seating arrangement for awhile?" And then came all the reasons why it wouldn't work: "we can't see the choir from here." "The preacher needs the pulpit." "What if we had a baptism?" And probably the most important one: "nobody can find their favorite pew...they will have to sit somewhere else."

Change is not easy! But sometimes it is necessary for us to be a faithful church. If we are to have something to boast about... If we are to be true to our theme that takes us into the new millennium "Building Community for All God's People," then we need to make sure that God through our Lord Christ is leading us into those changes that result in our increased faithfulness. We need to be ready to move when the Spirit says "move."

Paul praises the faithfulness of the church at Thessalonica and he prays for their continued productiveness. Faithfulness is faith plus action, trust plus following that still, small voice of God. It is being nurtured here among our fellowship and serving our community, spreading Christ's love to persons outside these doors.

I am convinced that one of the greater things we have going for us as a congregation is the way we show our love for one another in a variety of ways. Paul also boasts about this for the church at Thessalonica. "We ought always to thank God for you," he writes, "and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing." Theirs was not a perfect church, but it was a loving church, and such love can make up for a multitude of sins. Ours is not a perfect church...

When is it OK to boast? When we follow the example of the church at Thessalonica for which Paul boasted... when we strive for a balanced sense of faithfulness; when we identify and use, the best we can, those spiritual gifts Christ has given each of us; when we do all of this for the sake of fulfilling the Great Commission that Christ has given us. And finally, when we love one another as our Lord loves us.

Ben "Benchuck" Manning, Heritage Christian Church, Silver Spring, MD

Christ Is Risen!

Read: Revelation 1:9-18

Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. --1 Corinthians 15:20

Most major religions of the world adore some great but dead leader or philosopher. Christianity alone declares its faith in a living, resurrected Savior.

A missionary was explaining this truth to some people. He said, "I am traveling and have reached a place where the road branches off in two directions. I look for a guide and find two men: One is dead and the other alive. Which of the two should I ask for directions, the dead or the living?" The people responded, "The living." "Then," said the missionary, "why do you follow a leader who is dead instead of Christ, who is alive?"

If we believe in the actual, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, then we will have no difficulty in believing anything else in God's Word. If we reject this central doctrine, we may as well throw away the entire Bible. If Christ has not risen, He has broken His promises, failed in His prophecies, and we are still in our sins.

A little girl lived near a cemetery and often had to walk through it after dark. When someone asked, "Are you ever afraid?" she said, "Oh, no. My home is just beyond."

If our faith is in the risen Christ, we too need not fear death. Our home is just beyond! --HGB

The "Calling Card"

My brother, Dave, was always close to our grandmother. Both of them

shared a love of Mother Nature and of food that they had grown themselves. Whenever his

schedule permitted, he would drop in for a short visit and a cup of coffee. One

day, when he found no one home, he left a chunk of dirt on her porch. This started

what was later to be known as his "calling card." Grandmother would come home occasionally

and instantly know that Dave had been by when she spotted the chunk of dirt

Although Grandmother had a poor upbringing in Italy, she managed to

do well in the United States. She was always healthy and independent and enjoyed a

fulfilling life.

Recently, she had a stroke and died. Everyone was saddened by her death.

Dave was disconsolate. His life-long friend was now gone.

At her funeral, Dave and I were among the grandsons who were

pallbearers. At the cemetery, we were instructed by the funeral director to place our white

gloves and the carnation we wore during the ceremony on our grandmother's casket. One by

one, each grandson paid his final respects. Dave went before me and as he

walked over to her casket, I saw him quickly lean over to pick up something. I couldn't

see what it was, so I didn't pay too much attention to it. As I went to place my gloves

and carnation next to Dave's, tears suddenly filled my eyes as I focused on the chunk of

dirt that lay on top of my grandmother's casket. He had left his "calling card" for the final

time.

By Steve Kendall

from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk

Called, Touched and Healed

Allison Cline

Diocesan Lay Reader

Parish of the Ascension, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Let me tell you about a young woman; it's a true but painful story. This young woman grew up being called stupid and ugly by her parents and teachers, brothers and sisters. Her mother often told her that she was behind the kitchen door when the brains and the looks were handed out. She was abused physically as well as mentally by her family. The scars of this abuse remain with her to this day. Every thought and idea is tinged with the unspoken question at the back of her mind "Is this a good idea, or will it be laughed at, subjected to sarcasm or called stupid?" When she speaks, often it is with a fear that she will be laughed at or that someone will be angry with her. Criticism is not something that she is good at handling because more often than not it has been destructive and punitive, both physically and mentally; only in recent years has she experienced constructive criticism. Many times she wonders if she is even worthy to be where she is, working in a vocation she enjoys which allows her to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in word and action. Yet, in spite what has happened to her, she has been touched, healed, and called by God to move forward and to do work and touch people that no one else is able to do in quite the same way.

Today's lessons seem to concentrate on calling, healing, praising, and moving forward. These aren't easy words to listen to because they mean change and many of us are resistant to change much like the synagogue ruler who protested Jesus healing on the Sabbath. It is so easy to lose focus and look at the rule that was broken, the legalese rather than the pastoral response. Old habits die hard! Coming from a 20 year legal background myself, I often catch myself thinking "But the law says" when I need look at the situation and assess it in a pastoral way. Looking at a situation pastorally means possibly giving new life and hope to a person rather than beating them over the head with rules which they have probably bent over backwards to obey. All of us know how it feels to be frustrated by rules and regulations when all we want is to have someone listen to us and help us find a way out of the crack that we seem to have fallen into. A pastoral response may well mean new life just as the woman was given a new life when Christ healed her of her infirmity of 18 years. A pastoral response means using the resources available to us to assist others in bringing healing to their lives and allowing them to move forward in life.

When God calls us, he touches our lives in many ways as he reveals the resources he makes available to us. We don't need to have an IQ of 120 or be a beauty pageant winner in order to be Christ's hands, feet, and eyes here on earth. A phone call, a letter, or a conversation could be God touching us, as he touched Jeremiah, and pointing us in a certain direction. God touches our everyday lives and it is up to us to respond accordingly. As we respond to God's touch in our lives, we bring healing, hope, and new life to those who are bent over, so that they are able to stand up straight and find new life in Christ.

But when God touches our lives, he has a habit of shaking things up. Our lives, communities, churches, and homes don't remain the same once God enters our hearts and lives. Imagine the synagogue ruler's distress in the days to come after Jesus heals the lady. He probably did much hard thinking about Jesus' response to him in breaking the Sabbath to water a donkey. Was healing and giving new life to a bent over, crippled woman more important than leading a donkey to water? The question Jesus asked was designed to make the ruler and the people in the crowd think. Today, with so much changing in our world, many of us are forced to look for something in our life that is unchangeable and unshakable. Could it be that that something is the grace, hope and love that God extends to each of us even as he shakes up our churches, our communities, and lives?

Shaking up a life is definitely what Christ did when he cured and healed the woman. Jesus called her, just as Jeremiah was called. He consecrated her by touching her and healing her, just as God consecrated Jeremiah. He gave her back her life, her dignity, and welcomed her back into the community when he called her a "daughter of Abraham". To be sick meant exclusion from the community and after 18 years the woman would be extremely isolated. She had every right to praise God, as did the community in the synagogue that day, when she was given new life and released from bondage. Let me take you back to the young woman at the beginning of the homily. In some ways, she is like the bent over woman in today's Gospel reading who when touched by Christ is healed and made straight. It's been been a long and painful journey at times but from the time she was very young, this lady has known that she is a child of God, made in the image of God, loved and consecrated by God. Sunday School teachers reaching out and speaking about the love of God gave this woman healing, hope, and new life. She knows that she has been touched by God and healed in various ways and many times in body, mind, and spirit and with God's help, stands up straight. You all know her because you're looking at her it's my life story.

My story could apply to any of us. All of us in some way are bent over and crippled but when God calls us, touches our lives and heals us, we are able to stand up and reach out to others, using the gifts and resources given to us by God. Herbert O'Driscoll said "Always remember that God put you on earth to do something that nobody else can do in quite the same way." Each of us has been called, touched, and consecrated by God in a different way, and each of us is challenged to proclaim God's love in a way that no one is able to do. Our challenge is to bring healing, light, hope, and life to others, to help them stand up straight when others put them down; to welcome them into the community, to ensure that each person is treated as a beloved and sacred child of God and that they know that their life has meaning in someone's eyes here on earth as well as in God's eyes.

Thanks be to God.