Saturday, June 18, 2005
YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Author Unknown
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her, and the class.
Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference." Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a Community. She gave each of the students three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report back to the class in about a week.
One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby Company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person, to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going.
Then please report back to me and tell me what happened." Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down, and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius.
The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart.
As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you take this extra ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school, and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."
That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-old son, and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office, and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me, and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I'm a creative genius! Then he put this blue ribbon that says, "Who I Am Makes a Difference", on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor.
As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought about you. I want to honor you.
My days are really hectic and when I come home, I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school, and for your bedroom being a mess. But somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid, and I love you!"
The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom, explaining why I had killed myself, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just didn't think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I need it after all." His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain.
The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch, but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference. The junior executive helped several other young people with career planning, and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life......one being the boss' son. And the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson, "Who you are DOES make a difference."
You are under no obligation to pass this on to anyone....... not to two people, or to two hundred. As far as I am concerned, you can forget it and move on. On the other hand, if you want, you could send it to all of the people who mean something to you, or send it to the one, two, or three people who mean the most.
Or, just smile and know that someone thinks that you are important, or you wouldn't have received this in the first place. Who you are does make a difference, and I wanted you to know that. Isn't this a wonderful story? I'm passing the blue ribbon to you, for who YOU are does make a difference, too.
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her, and the class.
Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference." Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a Community. She gave each of the students three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report back to the class in about a week.
One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby Company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person, to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going.
Then please report back to me and tell me what happened." Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down, and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius.
The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart.
As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you take this extra ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school, and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."
That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-old son, and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office, and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me, and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I'm a creative genius! Then he put this blue ribbon that says, "Who I Am Makes a Difference", on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor.
As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought about you. I want to honor you.
My days are really hectic and when I come home, I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school, and for your bedroom being a mess. But somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid, and I love you!"
The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom, explaining why I had killed myself, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just didn't think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I need it after all." His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain.
The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch, but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference. The junior executive helped several other young people with career planning, and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life......one being the boss' son. And the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson, "Who you are DOES make a difference."
You are under no obligation to pass this on to anyone....... not to two people, or to two hundred. As far as I am concerned, you can forget it and move on. On the other hand, if you want, you could send it to all of the people who mean something to you, or send it to the one, two, or three people who mean the most.
Or, just smile and know that someone thinks that you are important, or you wouldn't have received this in the first place. Who you are does make a difference, and I wanted you to know that. Isn't this a wonderful story? I'm passing the blue ribbon to you, for who YOU are does make a difference, too.
ARE THESE THE PATHS WE WALK?
By John Nichols
I often have analogized our life on this earth to a bus stop or to a door mat. Using the analogy of the bus stop, I see each of us waiting for a bus, hoping that the driver will recognize us, and take us to our final destination, heaven, where we can live with Him forever. Hopefully in our short time on earth, our little wait at the bus stop, we will form a personal relationship with the bus driver, Jesus Himself, so that He will joyfully and lovingly welcome us to our eternal home. Using the analogy of the door mat, as we are born, we climb up the edge of the door mat, peer over, and it seems as if it will go on forever. We do not see that what we just climbed up is a door mat. Remember when you were a child how long a day lasted? As we live more and more of our lives, months and years seem to pass much faster. Soon we see in the not too distant future the "end" of our lives racing up. We look around and see the brevity of life, and realize that we are standing on a door mat, before a beautiful mansion. How can we ring the door bell, high above us, so far out of reach? Soon the master of the house will open the door, unprompted, and hopefully invite us in. Will He recognize us, or will He lock the door, and leave us out in the eternal cold, or consign us to the fires of hell?
Let me use another analogy. Imagine you and I are walking across a grassy field. We see a cross floating about three feet in the air, horizontal or parallel to the ground, the foot of the cross pointing to us. We are stunned. We realize that this is the cross that Jesus was crucified upon. There are the blood stains. There are the nail holes! We look a bit further and see Jesus Himself, in the Glorious State of His Resurrection, sitting side saddle at the head of the cross, the far end of the cross from where we are standing. He is looking at each of us lovingly, beaconing us to come to Him. He is smiling at us and motioning us to climb up on the cross and walk to Him. It looks so easy. The step up is only three feet. We awkwardly climb up and begin our journey, balancing on this narrow beam. The surface of the cross is rough and we feel frightened. Will we slip and fall? We look at Jesus and His loving eyes give us the confidence we need to continue. The closer we get to Jesus the more eager we feel. We now feel the intensity of Jesus' love drawing us closer. We look at Him. Now we notice that His tunic is open and His chest is bare. We suddenly see His Divine Heart blazing before His chest. He is pointing at it with His left hand and motioning us with His right hand to run and plunge into His heart! Our joy is unbearable as we race the final few steps and dive into the ecstasy of His unending love. His love is inexhaustible. We hear Him laughing joyfully, crying with tears of delight, as His love engulfs us! Are these the paths we walk?
I often have analogized our life on this earth to a bus stop or to a door mat. Using the analogy of the bus stop, I see each of us waiting for a bus, hoping that the driver will recognize us, and take us to our final destination, heaven, where we can live with Him forever. Hopefully in our short time on earth, our little wait at the bus stop, we will form a personal relationship with the bus driver, Jesus Himself, so that He will joyfully and lovingly welcome us to our eternal home. Using the analogy of the door mat, as we are born, we climb up the edge of the door mat, peer over, and it seems as if it will go on forever. We do not see that what we just climbed up is a door mat. Remember when you were a child how long a day lasted? As we live more and more of our lives, months and years seem to pass much faster. Soon we see in the not too distant future the "end" of our lives racing up. We look around and see the brevity of life, and realize that we are standing on a door mat, before a beautiful mansion. How can we ring the door bell, high above us, so far out of reach? Soon the master of the house will open the door, unprompted, and hopefully invite us in. Will He recognize us, or will He lock the door, and leave us out in the eternal cold, or consign us to the fires of hell?
Let me use another analogy. Imagine you and I are walking across a grassy field. We see a cross floating about three feet in the air, horizontal or parallel to the ground, the foot of the cross pointing to us. We are stunned. We realize that this is the cross that Jesus was crucified upon. There are the blood stains. There are the nail holes! We look a bit further and see Jesus Himself, in the Glorious State of His Resurrection, sitting side saddle at the head of the cross, the far end of the cross from where we are standing. He is looking at each of us lovingly, beaconing us to come to Him. He is smiling at us and motioning us to climb up on the cross and walk to Him. It looks so easy. The step up is only three feet. We awkwardly climb up and begin our journey, balancing on this narrow beam. The surface of the cross is rough and we feel frightened. Will we slip and fall? We look at Jesus and His loving eyes give us the confidence we need to continue. The closer we get to Jesus the more eager we feel. We now feel the intensity of Jesus' love drawing us closer. We look at Him. Now we notice that His tunic is open and His chest is bare. We suddenly see His Divine Heart blazing before His chest. He is pointing at it with His left hand and motioning us with His right hand to run and plunge into His heart! Our joy is unbearable as we race the final few steps and dive into the ecstasy of His unending love. His love is inexhaustible. We hear Him laughing joyfully, crying with tears of delight, as His love engulfs us! Are these the paths we walk?
GOOD SPEED GOOD ENDING
From: Cornelius Orlu
"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." --Ecclesiastes 7:8
Look at David's Lord and Master; see His beginning. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Would you see the end? He sits at His Father's right hand, expecting until His enemies be made his footstool. "As He is, so are we also in this world." You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you shall never walk the golden pavement. Cheer up, then, poor Christian. "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." See that creeping worm, how contemptible its appearance! It is the beginning of a thing. Mark that insect with gorgeous wings, playing in the sunbeams, sipping at the flower bells, full of happiness and life; that is the end thereof.
That caterpillar is yourself, until you are wrapped up in the chrysalis of death; but when Christ shall appear you shall be like Him, for you shall see Him as He is. Be content to be like Him, a worm and no man, that like Him you may be satisfied when you wake up in His likeness. That rough-looking diamond is put upon the wheel of the lapidary. He cuts it on all sides. It loses much--much that seemed costly to itself. The king is crowned; the diadem is put upon the monarch's head with trumpet's joyful sound.
A glittering ray flashes from that coronet, and it beams from that very diamond which was just now so sorely vexed by the lapidary. You may venture to compare yourself to such a diamond, for you are one of God's people; and this is the time of the cutting process. Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for in the day when the crown shall be set upon the head of the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, one ray of glory shall stream from you. "They shall be Mine," saith the Lord, "in the day when I make up My jewels." "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof."
"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." --Ecclesiastes 7:8
Look at David's Lord and Master; see His beginning. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Would you see the end? He sits at His Father's right hand, expecting until His enemies be made his footstool. "As He is, so are we also in this world." You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you shall never walk the golden pavement. Cheer up, then, poor Christian. "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." See that creeping worm, how contemptible its appearance! It is the beginning of a thing. Mark that insect with gorgeous wings, playing in the sunbeams, sipping at the flower bells, full of happiness and life; that is the end thereof.
That caterpillar is yourself, until you are wrapped up in the chrysalis of death; but when Christ shall appear you shall be like Him, for you shall see Him as He is. Be content to be like Him, a worm and no man, that like Him you may be satisfied when you wake up in His likeness. That rough-looking diamond is put upon the wheel of the lapidary. He cuts it on all sides. It loses much--much that seemed costly to itself. The king is crowned; the diadem is put upon the monarch's head with trumpet's joyful sound.
A glittering ray flashes from that coronet, and it beams from that very diamond which was just now so sorely vexed by the lapidary. You may venture to compare yourself to such a diamond, for you are one of God's people; and this is the time of the cutting process. Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for in the day when the crown shall be set upon the head of the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, one ray of glory shall stream from you. "They shall be Mine," saith the Lord, "in the day when I make up My jewels." "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof."
PEARLS
Author Unknown
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy, can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere-Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.
One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess - the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."
"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's Daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"
Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.
Jenny's father is like our heavenly Father. He also is waiting for us to give up our dime store stuff and seek Him first... so He can fling open the windows of Heaven and pour us out such a blessing that we will not have room enough to hold it.
What are you hanging on to?
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember, amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy, can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"
Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere-Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.
One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess - the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."
"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's Daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"
"Daddy, you know I love you."
"Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."
"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"
Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."
With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.
Jenny's father is like our heavenly Father. He also is waiting for us to give up our dime store stuff and seek Him first... so He can fling open the windows of Heaven and pour us out such a blessing that we will not have room enough to hold it.
What are you hanging on to?
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember, amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.
WHEN THINGS SEEMS STRESSFUL, I COUNT
Author Unlnown
Do you find yourself trudging from one day to the next unaware of the simple blessings God sends your way? Like Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh's gloomy friend, do you ever force a smile, then greet others with a mournful salutation?
An age-old song, "Count Your Blessings," is a wonderful therapy. It will shake off the ho-hums and stress. The words mentally flow like a revolving turntable.
Think of when you have been blessed by a full rainbow after a storm. The lightning boomed. Trees, plants. animals, and people succumbed to the pelting rain; then a colorful rainbow broke through.
Recall when you awoke to the most remarkable sunrise ever and heard birds chirping outside your window. You smelled the morning dew. Later you viewed a gorgeous sunset.
What a delight to watch a child make a simple discovery and witness a look of amazement on that little one's face. How refreshing it is to see an elderly man and woman walking hand in hand.
The phone rings or a letter arrives and makes your day. You hear a favorite song or an amusing story on the car radio. It may give you a lift that can last for hours.
These are God's everyday blessings, Savor them. Pull them up from your memory log and be doubly blessed.
When someone speaks sharply or cuts you off on the freeway, when worries pile up, think on these wonderful things.
Bob and I love the ocean. Every time we go, he finds a stick, draws a big heart in the sand, and puts our initials in it.
When things seem stressful (I count my blessings), I hear God remind me of the blue heron or Bob's heart in the sand.
"WHEN UPON life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost...
Count your many blessings, name them one by one...
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all...
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!"
Do you find yourself trudging from one day to the next unaware of the simple blessings God sends your way? Like Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh's gloomy friend, do you ever force a smile, then greet others with a mournful salutation?
An age-old song, "Count Your Blessings," is a wonderful therapy. It will shake off the ho-hums and stress. The words mentally flow like a revolving turntable.
Think of when you have been blessed by a full rainbow after a storm. The lightning boomed. Trees, plants. animals, and people succumbed to the pelting rain; then a colorful rainbow broke through.
Recall when you awoke to the most remarkable sunrise ever and heard birds chirping outside your window. You smelled the morning dew. Later you viewed a gorgeous sunset.
What a delight to watch a child make a simple discovery and witness a look of amazement on that little one's face. How refreshing it is to see an elderly man and woman walking hand in hand.
The phone rings or a letter arrives and makes your day. You hear a favorite song or an amusing story on the car radio. It may give you a lift that can last for hours.
These are God's everyday blessings, Savor them. Pull them up from your memory log and be doubly blessed.
When someone speaks sharply or cuts you off on the freeway, when worries pile up, think on these wonderful things.
Bob and I love the ocean. Every time we go, he finds a stick, draws a big heart in the sand, and puts our initials in it.
When things seem stressful (I count my blessings), I hear God remind me of the blue heron or Bob's heart in the sand.
"WHEN UPON life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost...
Count your many blessings, name them one by one...
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all...
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!"
THE BARBER
Author Unknown
After twenty years of shaving himself every morning, a man in a small Southern town decided he had enough. He told his wife that he intended to let the local barber shave him each day. He put on his hat and coat and went to the barber shop, which was owned by the pastor of the town's Baptist Church. The barber's wife, Grace, was working that day, so she performed the task. Grace shaved him and sprayed him with lilac water,and said, "That will be $20."
The man thought the price was a bit high, but he paid the bill and went to work. The next morning the man looked in the mirror, and his face was as smooth as it had been when he left the barber shop the day before. Not bad, he thought. At least I don't need to get a shave every day.
The next morning, the man's face was still smooth. Two weeks later, the man was still unable to find any trace of whiskers on his face. It was more than he could take, so he returned to the barber shop.
"I thought $20 was high for a shave", he told the barber's wife, "but you must have done a great job. It's been two weeks and my whiskers still haven't started growing back."
The _expression on her face didn't even change, expecting his comment. She responded, "You were shaved by Grace and once shaved, always shaved!"
After twenty years of shaving himself every morning, a man in a small Southern town decided he had enough. He told his wife that he intended to let the local barber shave him each day. He put on his hat and coat and went to the barber shop, which was owned by the pastor of the town's Baptist Church. The barber's wife, Grace, was working that day, so she performed the task. Grace shaved him and sprayed him with lilac water,and said, "That will be $20."
The man thought the price was a bit high, but he paid the bill and went to work. The next morning the man looked in the mirror, and his face was as smooth as it had been when he left the barber shop the day before. Not bad, he thought. At least I don't need to get a shave every day.
The next morning, the man's face was still smooth. Two weeks later, the man was still unable to find any trace of whiskers on his face. It was more than he could take, so he returned to the barber shop.
"I thought $20 was high for a shave", he told the barber's wife, "but you must have done a great job. It's been two weeks and my whiskers still haven't started growing back."
The _expression on her face didn't even change, expecting his comment. She responded, "You were shaved by Grace and once shaved, always shaved!"
EMBRACE THE MIRACLES
By Joseph J. Mazzella
I was asked the other day if I believed in coincidences.
I said that, "No I don't believe that there are any coincidences in this life. I do believe that there are miracles in this life, however. I see more proof of them everyday."
Just look at the world around us. Is it a coincidence that the sun rose so beautifully today that it filled countless hearts and souls with wonder, love, peace, and joy? It seemed more like a miracle to me. Is it a coincidence that life developed so intelligently and perfectly on this world? Is it coincidences that birds know to fly south each winter, that the seasons change and flowers bloom each spring, and that thousands upon thousands of different plants and animals live, grow, and thrive here?
It seems to me more like a hundred million miracles created by a glorious, joyous mind and a loving hand.
Look at your own lives as well. Is it a coincidence that you accidentally walked into the wrong room and met the person who changed your life and blessed you with love?
Are they all coincidences or are they all little miracles?
Is it a coincidence that you followed a silent urge to turn off the road before you had to and later learned you avoided a deadly accident because of it? Is it a coincidence that you were on the verge of despair and then heard a song, or read a line, or got a call that lifted your spirits and strengthened your soul once again?
Are they all coincidences or are they all little miracles created by God and His angels to guide you, protect you and help you to ever greater love, joy, and goodness in your life?
Embrace the miracles in your life then. Embrace the miracle of life. Rejoice in these miracles and use them to choose and share ever more love and joy with others. It's not a coincidence that God put you in their life. You're there to share His miracle of life!
Celebrate in the knowledge that you are loved, cared for, and watched over by God, and always remember that Life is full of Miracles not coincidences.
I was asked the other day if I believed in coincidences.
I said that, "No I don't believe that there are any coincidences in this life. I do believe that there are miracles in this life, however. I see more proof of them everyday."
Just look at the world around us. Is it a coincidence that the sun rose so beautifully today that it filled countless hearts and souls with wonder, love, peace, and joy? It seemed more like a miracle to me. Is it a coincidence that life developed so intelligently and perfectly on this world? Is it coincidences that birds know to fly south each winter, that the seasons change and flowers bloom each spring, and that thousands upon thousands of different plants and animals live, grow, and thrive here?
It seems to me more like a hundred million miracles created by a glorious, joyous mind and a loving hand.
Look at your own lives as well. Is it a coincidence that you accidentally walked into the wrong room and met the person who changed your life and blessed you with love?
Are they all coincidences or are they all little miracles?
Is it a coincidence that you followed a silent urge to turn off the road before you had to and later learned you avoided a deadly accident because of it? Is it a coincidence that you were on the verge of despair and then heard a song, or read a line, or got a call that lifted your spirits and strengthened your soul once again?
Are they all coincidences or are they all little miracles created by God and His angels to guide you, protect you and help you to ever greater love, joy, and goodness in your life?
Embrace the miracles in your life then. Embrace the miracle of life. Rejoice in these miracles and use them to choose and share ever more love and joy with others. It's not a coincidence that God put you in their life. You're there to share His miracle of life!
Celebrate in the knowledge that you are loved, cared for, and watched over by God, and always remember that Life is full of Miracles not coincidences.
A SOLID ICE SHEET
From: Through the Night with God
Copyright 1999, Honor Books
An environmental News Network report released in late 1998 indicated that contrary to what some people believe, the Antarctic ice sheet is not melting rapidly and has been stable for more than a century. The ice sheet is the largest grounded repository of ice on the planet, and some scientists have argued that the melting of this ice sheet would lead to a dramatic rise in sea levels.
Many feared that a global warning would melt this ice sheet, causing widespread flooding. Politicians, working with naturalist groups, passed legislation to limit growth and production. Predictions were made that cities located near the oceans would be flooded and farmlands ruined.
The news report may ease fear for a while until some new report comes out. But it seems that the huge ice sheet will be around for a lot longer. It's massive and solid.
God, on the other hand, has been around for far more than a century, and He will never break away from humanity. God will calm our fears and ease our trepidation. As our Rock, He will give us the wherewithal to deal with all our circumstances, no matter how tough they may seem. God is not a cold, icy experience, and He will not wear away like the drip of water on stone.
Your life may be unsettled and stormy, causing you to feel as if you were bouncing about on rough waters. But if you allow God to enter your life, He will melt away you fear and concerns and bring a spring-like freshness to your heart.
As you meditate tonight in preparation for sleep, let God help you prepare for tomorrow. Pray to Him for guidance in your daily decisions. Let Him be your guiding hand in all you do. Let Him rock you gently to sleep, and trust Him to bring you through the rough waters tomorrow. Let Him be your rock and your refuge.
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer and my God, the rock in whom I take refuge." (Psalm18:3)
Copyright 1999, Honor Books
An environmental News Network report released in late 1998 indicated that contrary to what some people believe, the Antarctic ice sheet is not melting rapidly and has been stable for more than a century. The ice sheet is the largest grounded repository of ice on the planet, and some scientists have argued that the melting of this ice sheet would lead to a dramatic rise in sea levels.
Many feared that a global warning would melt this ice sheet, causing widespread flooding. Politicians, working with naturalist groups, passed legislation to limit growth and production. Predictions were made that cities located near the oceans would be flooded and farmlands ruined.
The news report may ease fear for a while until some new report comes out. But it seems that the huge ice sheet will be around for a lot longer. It's massive and solid.
God, on the other hand, has been around for far more than a century, and He will never break away from humanity. God will calm our fears and ease our trepidation. As our Rock, He will give us the wherewithal to deal with all our circumstances, no matter how tough they may seem. God is not a cold, icy experience, and He will not wear away like the drip of water on stone.
Your life may be unsettled and stormy, causing you to feel as if you were bouncing about on rough waters. But if you allow God to enter your life, He will melt away you fear and concerns and bring a spring-like freshness to your heart.
As you meditate tonight in preparation for sleep, let God help you prepare for tomorrow. Pray to Him for guidance in your daily decisions. Let Him be your guiding hand in all you do. Let Him rock you gently to sleep, and trust Him to bring you through the rough waters tomorrow. Let Him be your rock and your refuge.
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer and my God, the rock in whom I take refuge." (Psalm18:3)
OVERCOMING OUR PAST
From: TGIF - Today God Is First by Os Hillman
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. ~ Judges 11:29a
We've all heard stories of individuals who have overcome extreme hardship during their childhood years. Children of alcoholics, orphans who never have parents, loss of parents to a fatal crash, childhood disease. These are all difficult circumstances to overcome.
Jephthah was a man who overcame his obstacles and refused to allow his circumstances to prevent him from becoming great in God's sight. He was born to Gilead, a result of his father's adulterous encounter with a prostitute. Gilead's wife, who had bore more sons, decided to reject Jephthah, and drove him away from their home saying, "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family because you are the son of another woman." Imagine the rejection this young man felt as he was cast away from his own family.
This experience taught Jephthah to become a hardened warrior. Today he probably would have been part of a street gang. As he got older, his reputation as a warrior became known to those in his country, so much so that when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander. Jephthah had to fight off those feelings of rejection from previous years.
"Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house?" he responded. He overcame his hurt and pain, and responded to the call God had on his life.
It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive. It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly. Without the struggle in the cocoon, it could not survive as a butterfly.
The Lord prepares each of us in similar ways. Some of our childhoods seem to have been harsh and born from a seemingly unloving God. However, the Lord knows our struggle and will make our life an instrument in His hand if we will follow Him with an upright heart. He does make all things beautiful in His time if we are willing to be patient.
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. ~ Judges 11:29a
We've all heard stories of individuals who have overcome extreme hardship during their childhood years. Children of alcoholics, orphans who never have parents, loss of parents to a fatal crash, childhood disease. These are all difficult circumstances to overcome.
Jephthah was a man who overcame his obstacles and refused to allow his circumstances to prevent him from becoming great in God's sight. He was born to Gilead, a result of his father's adulterous encounter with a prostitute. Gilead's wife, who had bore more sons, decided to reject Jephthah, and drove him away from their home saying, "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family because you are the son of another woman." Imagine the rejection this young man felt as he was cast away from his own family.
This experience taught Jephthah to become a hardened warrior. Today he probably would have been part of a street gang. As he got older, his reputation as a warrior became known to those in his country, so much so that when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander. Jephthah had to fight off those feelings of rejection from previous years.
"Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house?" he responded. He overcame his hurt and pain, and responded to the call God had on his life.
It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive. It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly. Without the struggle in the cocoon, it could not survive as a butterfly.
The Lord prepares each of us in similar ways. Some of our childhoods seem to have been harsh and born from a seemingly unloving God. However, the Lord knows our struggle and will make our life an instrument in His hand if we will follow Him with an upright heart. He does make all things beautiful in His time if we are willing to be patient.
THAT KIND WORD "MAYBE"
By Marjorie Holmes
My parents never had much money, but they enriched us by their use of that wonderful word "maybe."
Much of the time it was a hope word. When we'd plead, "Can I have a new bike?" "Are we going to the circus?" Dad would have to ponder. "Maybe," he would say, not wanting to make a promise he couldn't keep.
"Maybe" was also their word for dreaming. "Maybe next summer we can take a trip to the ocean." "Maybe someday we can buy a little farm with a brook.
But the thing I remember best is that "maybe" was a word for making allowances for others. Whenever one of us would make a snap judgement, we would hear it. "Just look at the poor lady loading all those groceries in the car while her husband sits there. Why doesn't he help her?" "Maybe he's been sick," Dad sympathized. "Maybe he's had a heart attack." Or, Doesn't that woman look awful. Her slip's showing and she's got a big run in her stocking." Mother: "Maybe her strap broke and she doesn't have a safety pin. Maybe she doesn't know about the run."
All this came back to me one awful day when my brakes failed in city traffic. Terrified, I couldn't even pause at lights except to go bucking into neutral. "You fool! Why don't you learn to drive?" a passing motorist bawled.
In my instant hurt and outrage I wanted to bellow back, "You're rude, you're mean! Can't you see I'm in trouble?" I didn't -- it wouldn't have done any good. But that's not what stopped my tirade. It was simply the healing word "maybe." Maybe the man was already tired and mad and hurting. Maybe he's just been fired, or his mate is leaving him. Maybe nobody ever taught him to control his temper. Maybe he can't help it!
Still praying desperately, I finally made it to a filling station and safely home -- too grateful to blame anybody, and so relieved I found myself praying for that man.
My parents never had much money, but they enriched us by their use of that wonderful word "maybe."
Much of the time it was a hope word. When we'd plead, "Can I have a new bike?" "Are we going to the circus?" Dad would have to ponder. "Maybe," he would say, not wanting to make a promise he couldn't keep.
"Maybe" was also their word for dreaming. "Maybe next summer we can take a trip to the ocean." "Maybe someday we can buy a little farm with a brook.
But the thing I remember best is that "maybe" was a word for making allowances for others. Whenever one of us would make a snap judgement, we would hear it. "Just look at the poor lady loading all those groceries in the car while her husband sits there. Why doesn't he help her?" "Maybe he's been sick," Dad sympathized. "Maybe he's had a heart attack." Or, Doesn't that woman look awful. Her slip's showing and she's got a big run in her stocking." Mother: "Maybe her strap broke and she doesn't have a safety pin. Maybe she doesn't know about the run."
All this came back to me one awful day when my brakes failed in city traffic. Terrified, I couldn't even pause at lights except to go bucking into neutral. "You fool! Why don't you learn to drive?" a passing motorist bawled.
In my instant hurt and outrage I wanted to bellow back, "You're rude, you're mean! Can't you see I'm in trouble?" I didn't -- it wouldn't have done any good. But that's not what stopped my tirade. It was simply the healing word "maybe." Maybe the man was already tired and mad and hurting. Maybe he's just been fired, or his mate is leaving him. Maybe nobody ever taught him to control his temper. Maybe he can't help it!
Still praying desperately, I finally made it to a filling station and safely home -- too grateful to blame anybody, and so relieved I found myself praying for that man.
WHEN MINE LETS GO
By John Coen
As I watched my six-year-old Whitney walk down the driveway, pony tail bobbing, I wanted to run out and stop her. I knew I was over-reacting. After all she was only getting on the school bus to start first grade.
Part of me realized it was time for me not to push her out of nest, but at least to let her try her wings. But letting go is very difficult. Had my wife Cherry and I prepared her for the adventure she was just now starting?
I worry about being prepared for everything. I remember when I decided to get married, when we wanted to start having children, when we took over full management of our farm, every time we've planted a new crop. I fussed over countless details on all these occasions: "Have I covered everything? Am I ready?" But the time came when I just had to do it. We got married, we had children, we took over the farm, we planted those seeds in the ground...we waved goodbye to our new first-grader.
I thought about this all day today. I'm never really prepared for everything-- and that's where God helps me. His hand takes over when mine lets go. Cherry and I have done our best, and now we have to have faith in God's guidance.
And a little faith in Whitney, too She's running up the driveway now, and judging from the look on her face, she's had a successful first day of school -- without my fatherly help.
As I watched my six-year-old Whitney walk down the driveway, pony tail bobbing, I wanted to run out and stop her. I knew I was over-reacting. After all she was only getting on the school bus to start first grade.
Part of me realized it was time for me not to push her out of nest, but at least to let her try her wings. But letting go is very difficult. Had my wife Cherry and I prepared her for the adventure she was just now starting?
I worry about being prepared for everything. I remember when I decided to get married, when we wanted to start having children, when we took over full management of our farm, every time we've planted a new crop. I fussed over countless details on all these occasions: "Have I covered everything? Am I ready?" But the time came when I just had to do it. We got married, we had children, we took over the farm, we planted those seeds in the ground...we waved goodbye to our new first-grader.
I thought about this all day today. I'm never really prepared for everything-- and that's where God helps me. His hand takes over when mine lets go. Cherry and I have done our best, and now we have to have faith in God's guidance.
And a little faith in Whitney, too She's running up the driveway now, and judging from the look on her face, she's had a successful first day of school -- without my fatherly help.
DON'T LET ME JOIN IN STONING
By Marjorie Holmes
DEAR LORD,
I detest myself right now. For I have just come from a luncheon where four of us spent most of our time criticizing a mutual friend. Her faults, her eccentricities, how extravagant and undependable she is. How she spoils her children, how vain and eager she always is to be attractive to men.
And though a lot of these things are true (Lord, they really are) I found myself wondering even as I joined in: Who are we to judge? Isn't every one of us guilty of at least some of the very same things? Was that why we attacked her with such relish? (Dear Lord, I'm so ashamed.) Because it made us a little bit better ourselves to brandish the defects of somebody so much "worse."
Well, I don't feel better about myself now. I keep thinking of what Jesus said to the men about to stone the adulterous woman: "Which of you is without sin!" Yet there we sat, self-righteous, stoning our sister with words.
How, Lord, can I make amends?
I long to call her up and beg her forgiveness, but...she would be so hurt, so much damage would be done. [Teach me] to ask for Your forgiveness. And pray for her. Help her, strengthen her, bless her, [Lord]...
And oh, Lord, put more compassion in my heart, guard my tongue. Don't let me ever again join in stoning a sister--or a anyone--with words.
DEAR LORD,
I detest myself right now. For I have just come from a luncheon where four of us spent most of our time criticizing a mutual friend. Her faults, her eccentricities, how extravagant and undependable she is. How she spoils her children, how vain and eager she always is to be attractive to men.
And though a lot of these things are true (Lord, they really are) I found myself wondering even as I joined in: Who are we to judge? Isn't every one of us guilty of at least some of the very same things? Was that why we attacked her with such relish? (Dear Lord, I'm so ashamed.) Because it made us a little bit better ourselves to brandish the defects of somebody so much "worse."
Well, I don't feel better about myself now. I keep thinking of what Jesus said to the men about to stone the adulterous woman: "Which of you is without sin!" Yet there we sat, self-righteous, stoning our sister with words.
How, Lord, can I make amends?
I long to call her up and beg her forgiveness, but...she would be so hurt, so much damage would be done. [Teach me] to ask for Your forgiveness. And pray for her. Help her, strengthen her, bless her, [Lord]...
And oh, Lord, put more compassion in my heart, guard my tongue. Don't let me ever again join in stoning a sister--or a anyone--with words.
NOT WHAT YOU WANT, BUT WHAT GOD WILLS
By Helen Steiner Rice
Do you want WHAT YOU WANT when you want it...
Do you pray and expect a reply,
And when it's not instantly answered
Do you feel that God passed you by?
Well, prayers that are prayed in this manner
Are really not prayers at all,
For you can't go to God in a hurry
And expect Him to answer your call...
For prayers are not meant for obtaining
What we selfishly wish to acquire.
For God in His wisdom refuses
The things that we wrongly desire...
And don't pray for freedom from trouble
Or ask that trials pass you by.
Instead, pray for strength and for courage
To meet life's "dark hours" and not cry
That God was not there when you called Him
And He turned a deaf ear to your prayer
And just when you needed Him most of all
He left you alone in despair...
WAKE UP! You are missing completely
The reason and purpose of prayer,
Which is really to keep us contented
That God holds us safely in His care...
And God only answers our pleadings
When He knows that our wants fill a need
And whenever "OUR WILL" becomes "HIS WILL"
There is NO PRAYER THAT GOD DOES NOT HEED!
Do you want WHAT YOU WANT when you want it...
Do you pray and expect a reply,
And when it's not instantly answered
Do you feel that God passed you by?
Well, prayers that are prayed in this manner
Are really not prayers at all,
For you can't go to God in a hurry
And expect Him to answer your call...
For prayers are not meant for obtaining
What we selfishly wish to acquire.
For God in His wisdom refuses
The things that we wrongly desire...
And don't pray for freedom from trouble
Or ask that trials pass you by.
Instead, pray for strength and for courage
To meet life's "dark hours" and not cry
That God was not there when you called Him
And He turned a deaf ear to your prayer
And just when you needed Him most of all
He left you alone in despair...
WAKE UP! You are missing completely
The reason and purpose of prayer,
Which is really to keep us contented
That God holds us safely in His care...
And God only answers our pleadings
When He knows that our wants fill a need
And whenever "OUR WILL" becomes "HIS WILL"
There is NO PRAYER THAT GOD DOES NOT HEED!
BUT WHAT THEN, SENOR?
For People Who Love Their Jobs More Than Their Lives (orig. subj.)
Sent by: sfc-north@eGroups
An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, "Only a little while, Senor."
The American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, Senor."
The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But Senor, how long will this all take?"
To which the American replied, "15-20 years."
"But what then, Senor?"
The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
Millions, Senor? Then what?"
The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
"You mean being a Harvard MBA, you have to go through all that to finally get to where I already am, Senor?"
----------------------------------------------
"Jesus never taught men how to make a living. He taught men how to live" by Dr.Bob Jones, Sr.
---------------------------------------------
Sent by: sfc-north@eGroups
An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, "Only a little while, Senor."
The American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, Senor."
The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But Senor, how long will this all take?"
To which the American replied, "15-20 years."
"But what then, Senor?"
The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
Millions, Senor? Then what?"
The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
"You mean being a Harvard MBA, you have to go through all that to finally get to where I already am, Senor?"
----------------------------------------------
"Jesus never taught men how to make a living. He taught men how to live" by Dr.Bob Jones, Sr.
---------------------------------------------
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL!
By Bill Sanders
A couple of years ago, I witnessed courage that ran chills up and down my spine. At a high school assembly, I had spoken about picking on people and how each of us has the ability to stand up for people instead of putting them down. Afterwards, we had a time when anyone could come out of the bleachers and speak into the microphone. Students could say thank you to someone who had helped them and some people came up and did just that. A girl thanked some friends who had helped her through family troubles. A boy spoke of some who had supported him during an emotional difficult time.
Then a senior girl stood up. She stepped over to the microphone, pointed to the sophomore section and challenged her whole school. "Let's stop picking on that boy. Sure, he's different from us, but we are in this thing together. On the inside he's no different from us and needs our acceptance, love, compassion and approval. He needs a friend. Why do we continue brutalize him and put him down? I'm challenging this entire school to lighten up on him and give him a chance!"
All the time she shared, I had my back to the section where the boy sat, and had no idea who he was. But obviously the school knew. I felt almost afraid to look at this section, thinking the boy must be red in the face, wanting to crawl under his seat and hide from the world. But as I glanced back, I saw a boy smiling from ear to ear. His whole body bounced up and down, and he raised one fist in the air. His body language said, "Thank you, thank you. Keep telling them. You saved my life today!"
A couple of years ago, I witnessed courage that ran chills up and down my spine. At a high school assembly, I had spoken about picking on people and how each of us has the ability to stand up for people instead of putting them down. Afterwards, we had a time when anyone could come out of the bleachers and speak into the microphone. Students could say thank you to someone who had helped them and some people came up and did just that. A girl thanked some friends who had helped her through family troubles. A boy spoke of some who had supported him during an emotional difficult time.
Then a senior girl stood up. She stepped over to the microphone, pointed to the sophomore section and challenged her whole school. "Let's stop picking on that boy. Sure, he's different from us, but we are in this thing together. On the inside he's no different from us and needs our acceptance, love, compassion and approval. He needs a friend. Why do we continue brutalize him and put him down? I'm challenging this entire school to lighten up on him and give him a chance!"
All the time she shared, I had my back to the section where the boy sat, and had no idea who he was. But obviously the school knew. I felt almost afraid to look at this section, thinking the boy must be red in the face, wanting to crawl under his seat and hide from the world. But as I glanced back, I saw a boy smiling from ear to ear. His whole body bounced up and down, and he raised one fist in the air. His body language said, "Thank you, thank you. Keep telling them. You saved my life today!"
WHAT IS COURTSHIP?
By Christy Shipe, "Ask the Expert for Girls"
You've heard a lot about it, but what exactly is it? Many of you have written in with this same question, wondering about courtship and how it is different from dating.
Courtship means different things to different people. According to the dictionary, courtship is "the wooing of one person by another; the period during which such wooing takes place." Simply put, courtship is the process of winning another person's romantic love.
Courtship begins by expressing a romantic interest in another person. Then you form a relationship with each other, and as your courtship progresses, you fall in love. If all goes well, the courtship ends in a happy marriage.
The same could be said of dating. You express romantic interest, form a relationship, fall in love, and get married.
The main difference between courtship and dating is that courtship always means that you are in some form of a serious relationship. But dating can mean something far more casual. For example, just because you go out on a date with someone doesn't mean you're serious about them or even like them that much. Maybe you just decided to go out on one date for fun or to see what happens.
So, while courtship always means a serious relationship, dating can mean either a serious or a casual relationship.
In the last several years, the term "courtship" has become more and more popular among Christian circles to describe various methods of engaging in a serious romantic relationship. For some Christians, courtship means an approach to marriage that is almost the same thing as an arranged marriage. Your parents pick your future mate and there is hardly any one-on-one contact before marriage. For others, it means the same thing as a serious dating relationship. You decide to court someone when you are thinking about perhaps marrying that person.
Still others use the term "courtship" to describe a set of biblical principles that Christians should follow in their approach to romance. These principles usually include: 1) Seeking and receiving the approval of parents before entering into a romantic relationship; 2) Waiting to start a serious relationship until you are at the age where you could consider getting married; 3) Entering into the relationship with the purpose of pursuing the idea of marriage, not just going out for fun with no serious intentions; and 4) Setting high standards for physical purity.
I think that the four principles listed above are important for every Christian to follow. Whether you want to call it courtship or dating doesn't matter. The principles are what's important.
You've heard a lot about it, but what exactly is it? Many of you have written in with this same question, wondering about courtship and how it is different from dating.
Courtship means different things to different people. According to the dictionary, courtship is "the wooing of one person by another; the period during which such wooing takes place." Simply put, courtship is the process of winning another person's romantic love.
Courtship begins by expressing a romantic interest in another person. Then you form a relationship with each other, and as your courtship progresses, you fall in love. If all goes well, the courtship ends in a happy marriage.
The same could be said of dating. You express romantic interest, form a relationship, fall in love, and get married.
The main difference between courtship and dating is that courtship always means that you are in some form of a serious relationship. But dating can mean something far more casual. For example, just because you go out on a date with someone doesn't mean you're serious about them or even like them that much. Maybe you just decided to go out on one date for fun or to see what happens.
So, while courtship always means a serious relationship, dating can mean either a serious or a casual relationship.
In the last several years, the term "courtship" has become more and more popular among Christian circles to describe various methods of engaging in a serious romantic relationship. For some Christians, courtship means an approach to marriage that is almost the same thing as an arranged marriage. Your parents pick your future mate and there is hardly any one-on-one contact before marriage. For others, it means the same thing as a serious dating relationship. You decide to court someone when you are thinking about perhaps marrying that person.
Still others use the term "courtship" to describe a set of biblical principles that Christians should follow in their approach to romance. These principles usually include: 1) Seeking and receiving the approval of parents before entering into a romantic relationship; 2) Waiting to start a serious relationship until you are at the age where you could consider getting married; 3) Entering into the relationship with the purpose of pursuing the idea of marriage, not just going out for fun with no serious intentions; and 4) Setting high standards for physical purity.
I think that the four principles listed above are important for every Christian to follow. Whether you want to call it courtship or dating doesn't matter. The principles are what's important.
IMAGES OF DAD
IMAGES OF DAD
Author Unknown
4 Years old - My Daddy can do anything.
7 Years old - My Daddy knows a lot. A whole lot!
9 Years old - My Dad doesn't really know quite everything.
12 Years old - Naturally Dad doesn't know that either.
14 Years old - Dad? He's hopelessly old-fashioned.
21 Years old - The old man? He's way out of date.
25 years old - Dad might know a little bit about it. 35 years old -
Before we decide, let's get Dad's opinion.
40 years old - Wonder what Dad would have thought about it?
50 years old - Wish I could talk it over with Dad just one more time. -
Anonymous
Happy Father's Day!!!
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RUDY'S ANGEL
RUDY'S ANGEL
-- Author Unknown
Jun 18, 2005
I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying
groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 37 years
was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.
Rudy often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off
and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always
spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his
hands.
Rudy knew I loved yellow roses. With a heart filled with grief, I only
wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was
different since Rudy had passed on.
Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two.
Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and
remembered how Rudy had loved his steak.
Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blond, slim and lovely in a
soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large pack of
T-bones, dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back.
She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks. She saw
me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, but
honestly, at these prices, I don't know."
I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes. "My
husband passed away eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the
package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. "Buy
him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together."
She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the
package in her basket and wheeled away.
I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy
products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy.
A quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream section near
the front of the store. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an
ice cream cone. I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the
aisle toward the front.
I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming
towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the
brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled
her blond hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine. As
she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my
eyes. "These are for you," she said and placed three beautiful long
stemmed yellow roses in my arms. "When you go through the line, they
will know these are paid for." She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss
on my cheek, then smiled again.
I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still
unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my
vision. I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green
tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know?
Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone. "Oh, Rudy, you
haven't forgotten me, have you?" I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He
was still with me, and she was his angel.
Everyday be thankful for what you have and who you are.
PRAYER
"Lord, let your word be on my lips and in my heart that I may walk in
the freedom of your truth and love."
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in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
Feel free to forward this to your friends, family and associates!
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As Ministers of the Word of God we have been called to proclaim the
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this gift back to God's children. Any donations for this Internet
Ministry would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made online at
www.paypal.com. Address donation to rickpen16@earthlink.net.
(c) FoodForThought 2005
