There is a call for you

Dear Saints of God,

How is that for a wake up call? Did you know that you are called a Saint? . Hold on get some smelling coffee somebody just fainted! There is that better? maybe I'd better work into this kinda slow. Ok. here what you (we) all see when you look at one another and if you ever do look into a mirror (I mean really look)



thats what you see one of these. Why because there is a great war going on and your the prize! The enemy uses three weopons we call them the World, the Flesh and the Devil.

Now some will tell you that you have a free will WRONG! What you have is the freedom to choose. Most of us have a little voice inside our head that if we stop and think will tell us "that;s right!" Or "No that the wrong choice!" the problem is that we don't listen to that little voice often enough "Go away kid, your bothering me, sound familar?"

Well, hold on I need more coffee!.......................................I made tea instead, where was I ? Oh yes. So this major battle is going on bigger than all the wars that have ever been since recorded history.



It's like a paint ball war the idea is to shoot your foe so that they have to sit it out. Why do you think we have all the problems that we do? Well the ememy wants to to quit, get discouraged, give up and join him against .... you guessed it God!

The difference between a Saint and a sinner is this a Saint will say "Not my will but Thy [God's] will be done While the sinner says "Not thy will but My will be done!" (Thats just what the enemy wants you to choose without a thought about you heavenly Father)

So when is it too late to become a Saint? I don't know! (Didn't see that one coming did you, I don't have all the answers, more question every time I discover an answer I get another question or three. I know this For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace !

All I can tell you is this I pray for each of you every time I talk to God which is every day all day long. We talk about the state of the state, wars, big things I also complain about little things you know traffic parking places things like that. Why, don't you know that God is my Best Friend? (And yours too if you'll let Him, Remember that freedom to choose thingy ) He cares a lot more about me (and you) than I do.

So now lets take a break and think about this God has called all of us to be Saints How about that Saint Dennis? Nice ring to it don't you think? And not just saints but Great Saints don't miss the opportunity

Remember you are appreciated, you are valued you are loved,

ennis

BTW Guess who Wins? Give up? Read the Book! Or ask and I 'll tell you.

How are you Grandfather?

The Grandfather's Table

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." Therefore, the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since grandfather had broken a dish two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently, provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future. Let us be wise builders and role models.

Always remember: "What goes around, comes around!" However, "Treating others as you would treat yourself or that you would like to be treated will grant you more love than not!

What do you think?

you might be preacher if...

1. You hesitate to tell people what you do for a living.

2. You've ever dreamed you were preaching only to awaken and discover you were.

3. You've wondered why people couldn't die at more appropriate times.

4. You find yourself counting people at a sporting event.

5. You're leading the church into the 21st century, but you don't know what you are preaching on Sunday.

6. A church picnic is no picnic.

7. You've ever spoken for free and were worth every penny of it.

8. You drive a Buick with more than 100,000 miles on it.

9. People sleep while you're talking.

10. It's Sunday, but Monday's coming.

11. You feel guilty when you go fishing.

12. Instead of being "ticked off," you get "grieved in your spirit."

13. You've been tempted to take an offering at a family reunion.

14. You jiggle all the commode handles at the church before you leave.

15. You'd rather talk to people with their heads bowed and every eye closed.

16. You've ever wanted to 'lay hands' on a deacon's neck.

A minister told his congregation, "Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17."
The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up.

The minister smiled and said, "Mark has only 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying."

A mother woke her son up on Sunday morning and told him he needed to get ready to go to church. The son replied to his mother that he didn't want to go to church this morning. She told him nonsense he should get up and go to church.


"But mom" he replied, "Everybody hates me, the sermons are boring and none of my friends ever come."


His mother replied, "Now, son...! First, everybody doesn't hate you, only a couple of bullies and you just have to stand up to them. Second, the sermons mean a lot to many people. If you listened to them, you'd be surprised at how good they are in helping people. Third, you have lots of friends at church. They are always having you over to their house. And finally, you have to go, you're the pastor!!"

an incredible story

The power of the cross...

In 1967 while I was taking a class in photography at the University of Cincinnati, I became acquainted with a young man named Charles Murray, who was also a student at the school and training for the summer Olympics of 1968 as a high diver. Charles was very patient with me as I would speak to him for hours about Jesus Christ and how He had saved me. Charles was not raised in a home that attended any kind of church, so all that I had to tell him was a fascination to him. He even began to ask questions about forgiveness of sin. Finally the day came that I put a question to him. I asked if he had realized his own need of a redeemer and if he was ready to trust Christ as his own Saviour. I saw his countenance fall and the guilt in his face. But his reply was a strong 'no'. In the days that followed he was quiet and often I felt that he was avoiding me, until I got a phone call from him. He wanted to know where to look in the New Testament for some verses that I had given him about salvation. I gave him the references to several passages and asked if I could meet with him. He declined my offer and thanked me for the scripture. I could tell that he was greatly troubled, but I did not know where he was or how to help him.

Because he was training for the Olympic Games, Charles had special privileges at the University pool facilities. Sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 that evening he decided to go swim and practice a few dives. It was a clear night in October and the moon was big and bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass panes so the moon shone brightly across the top of the wall in the pool area. Charles climbed to the highest platform to take his first dive. At that moment the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sins. All the scripture he had read, all the occasions of witnessing to him about Christ flooded his mind. He stood on the platform backwards to make his dive, spread his arms to gather his balance, looked up to the wall and saw his own shadow caused by the light of the moon. His shadow was in the shape of a cross. He could bear the burden of sin no longer. His heart broke and he sat down on the platform and asked God to forgive him and save him. He trusted Jesus Christ twenty some feet in the air. Suddenly, the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had come in to check the pool. As Charles looked down from his platform he saw an EMPTY pool which had been drained for repairs.

He had almost plummeted to his death, but the cross had stopped him from disaster.
Galatians 6:14

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

"Explain God".

THIS ONE IS FABULOUS: WRITTEN BY AN 8 YEAR OLD

How to Explain God was written by Danny Dutton, age
8, from Chula Vista, California, for his third grade homework assignment

"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn't have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.

"God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off. "God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.

"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.

"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind, like His Father and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.

"His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.

"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.

"You should always go to Church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.

"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.

"But you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.

And that's why I believe in God.

50 cents worth of God please!

SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said, "We can't keep
Christians from going to church."

"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their
saviour."

"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is
broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish
dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a
relationship with Jesus Christ.."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that
vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable
schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work
6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty
lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from
the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small
voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive."

To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and
see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical
music constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes,
and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products,
services and false hopes.."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands
will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become
dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

"Give them headaches too! "

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to
look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the
real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and
power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."

"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies
instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and
small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek
power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health
and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!" "It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere
to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Please pass this on, if you aren't too BUSY!

I don't think I know 10 people who would admit they love Jesus.

Do You Love Him?

Lonely!

Keep your eyes open!

The Lonely Girl

Bare foot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed, but never did one person stop. Just so happens, the next day I decided to go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there. Right in the very spot as she was yesterday, she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes.

Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. As we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I began walking towards her, I could see the back of the little girl's dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form.

I smiled to let her know it was OK, I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello. The little girl acted shocked and stammered a "hi" after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked 'til darkness fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we at once were alone.

I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said, "Because I'm different."

I immediately said "that you are!" and smiled.

The little girl acted even sadder, she said, "I know."

"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."

She looked at me and smiled, slowly she stood to her feet, and said, "Really?"

"Yes, dear, you're like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by."

She nodded her head "yes" and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said, "I am. I'm your guardian angel," with a twinkle in her eye.

I was speechless. Surely I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself, my job here is done."

Immediately I stood to my feet and said, "Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel?"

She looked at me and smiled, "You're the only one who could see me, and you believed it in your heart." And She was gone.

And with that my life was changed dramatically. So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.

Mine was.

Why women cry

I found this in my comings and goings and felt you might enjoy


A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said:

"When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world,

yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

You can't Kill the truth!

"Christianity is not a series of truths in the plural, but rather truth spelled with a capital "T." Truth about total reality, not just about religious things. Biblical Christianity is Truth concerning total reality - and the intellectual holding of that total Truth and then living in the light of that Truth." Francis Schaeffer

This picture was taken at the end of the first month of pregnancy. The embryo is about one-half inch long, and weighs about one-third of an ounce.

An electrocardiogram (EKG) can be taken from the baby's heart 18 days after conception.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) from the baby's brain, can be taken 6 weeks after conception.

At three months of pregnancy the baby has fingerprints, exactly the same ones he will have at age 30 or 50... if not killed before age!.

Even the suffragettes, our earliest women's-rights activists whose legacy the modern women's movement claims, were opposed to abortion. Alice Paul, the author of the ERA, saw it as "the ultimate exploitation of women." Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton agreed that abortion was "child murder." Like millions of women today, these activists did not believe that women's equality rested on abortion rights.

You got Mail

If you try to convince yourself that you have nothing to offer God... If your capability is limited and so undesirable that no one is interested in your opinion, ability or talent... If you feel that God could never use you in any way, please listen to this story about a young girl without a nose. That is correct... she had no nose. There were only two small holes above her mouth for breathing. Here is the story:

A young girl had just turned sixteen and no one knew that she was pregnant. The young man had only worked in the town for two weeks. He was trying to make enough money to enter college. The secret was hers alone until six months later.

It was Christmas and everyone was so busy. The lights to the tree were ready to turn on. The sixteen year old stood with her mother while her dad plugged the lights in. Then it happened. The socket blew and smoke covered the tree. A flame burst from the tree and everyone grabbed the presents to throw them clear of the fire. The girl fell and did not get up. Dad ran to call the fire department. The fire was out of control and spreading fast. Mom saw that her daughter couldn't get up from her fall. Mom helped her up and they walked through the smoke to the front door where they were met by the firemen.

The night witnessed the loss of everything and the realization that a baby was on the way. I don't know what shocked the little family more. However, there were no lives lost that night and another life was on it's way. The baby was born that next March. It was not a good time for the family had very little to live on. Dad had a physical set back with a heart condition. So, there was little money coming in from the maid work that Mom did. They had to make a decision about whether to keep the baby or give it up for adoption. One great problem was that not many couples would adopt a baby girl that was born without a nose.

The adoption agency said that whoever adopted the little girl would have to spend a lot of money on operations. Girls need to have pretty faces. The years passed and no one seemed to want to take on the responsibility of her misfortune. She left the adoption agency's Home for Children when she was eighteen. She had been loved and taken care of by those in the home. Everyone loved her and would miss her in a great way. As she grew, she took care of all the other children that were placed there. She fed them and rocked them to sleep each night. She would tell them stories of unfortunate children and how their lives could turn around one day and everything would be wonderful. However, down in the secret place of her heart, lived a dark doubt that she would ever have a pretty nose like everyone else.

She left the home and no one heard from her for many years. Her mother was now old and dying. Someone in the town, placed the information of her death in the news paper, hoping that her daughter might read it. On the morning of the funeral, a lady dressed in black walked into the funeral parlor. She had returned. She word a delicate veil over her face and signed the register as "her daughter."

That day, there was a Doctor at the funeral that caught her hand as she stood looking down at her mother. She slowly turned to see who was standing by her side. He nodded and whispered an introduction and asked if he might talk with her afterwards. She nodded and walked back to her seat. When the grave side service concluded, the Doctor walked to her and took her by the hand and walked her to his car. "May I give you a lift?" he asked. She said, "Yes, I have to catch the bus in an hour."

They talked about her life and misfortune. Then he said that he was a plastic surgeon. He had always wanted to be one, ever since he was a small child. He asked her if he could perform the surgery on her face. "Of course," he said, "I won't charge you anything." She was reluctant until he told her that he had performed the surgery over a thousand times. She said, "Well, maybe."

The next four years slowly passed onward with her healings from seven major operations. It seemed that the Doctor wanted this procedure to be his finest. Someone said that they saw her one day in passing and she looked wonderful. She was beautiful. They had heard that she was working in the children's ward of a hospital. No one was for sure that she ever knew for certain, or was never told that the Doctor who had successfully operated on her, had been adopted from the same agency that she came from.


Yesterday, the newspaper reported that the head of the children's ward in City Hospital died. Her funeral was at 2 P.M. The head Doctor gave a few words at the funeral. He said that he had been rocked to sleep so many nights, looking up into a loving and blessed face. He said that his little head had been filled with astounding stories that life can turn out wonderful for all of the insignificant and unfortunate children. The paper went on to say that the hospital staff said that her presence will be severely missed. And that the children will miss her even more. Also, there has been a large number of volunteers to come in each evening and read bed time stories to the sick children. Anyone interested in helping will have to wait until another time. The paper said that it was not known why so many turned out to read to the children. It could have been because it was the Christmas holidays or maybe there are a lot of people in this area who like to do that sort of thing. However, if the hospital doesn't have an opening for you soon, you might have a little child living in your family that would love to hear you tell them one.

Forgiveness

>"Some people come into our lives and quickly go, Some stay and make footprints in our hearts And we are never ever the same".


Forgiveness a powerful but underrated force

In the jungles of South American was a remote primitive tribe of Indians that had little or no contact with the outside world. They lived hard lives and difficult lives. Many of their children died before reaching one year old. Their life expectancy was only 35 years. If a person reached the age of forty they were considered very old.

The government tried to reach them, but they killed any stranger that came into their land. Because they were so savage no one would venture into their area.

Yet, a missionary named Jim Ellott, learned about them and had a deep burden to carry the Gospel to them. It was a hard and dangerous under taking, yet Jim Ellott knew they needed to hear of their Creator and God. There were several attempts made, and them they went in on foot to try and make contact with the primitive people. After not hearing from them for sometime an exposdition was sent in to try and see what had happened. They found Jim Ellott and his companions all slain beside a river. They people they went in to help had murdered them.

Later his wife was able to return with the help of a native girl from the village, and in time some of the very natives who had killed her husband came to Jesus Christ and were saved.

May today there be peace within.
May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing and dance. It is there for each and every one of you

The road less traveled

The King's Highway
Once a king had a great highway built for the members of his
kingdom. After it was completed, but before it was opened to the
public, the king decided to have a contest. He invited as many as
desired to participate. Their challenge was to see who could travel
the highway the best.

On the day of the contest the people came. Some of them had fine
chariots, some had fine clothing, fine hairdos, or great food. Some
young men came in their track clothes and ran along the highway.
People traveled the highway all day, but each one, when he arrived
at the end, complained to the king that there was a large pile of
rocks and debris left on the road at one spot and this got in their
way and hindered their travel.

At the end of the day, a lone traveler crossed the finish line
warily and walked over to the king. He was tired and dirty, but he
addressed the king with great respect and handed him a bag of gold.
he explained, "I stopped along the way to clear a pile of rocks and
debris that was blocking the road. This bag of gold was under it
all. I want you to return it to its rightful owner."

The king replied, "You are the rightful owner."

The traveler replied, "Oh no, this is not mine. I've never known
such money."

"Oh yes," said the king, "you've earned this gold, for you won my
contest. He who travels the road best is he who makes the road
smoother for those who will follow."

-- Unknown

Prayer in Praise of Christ

Born as a son,
led forth as a lamb,
sacrificed as a sheep,
buried as a man,
he rose from the dead as a God,
for he was by nature God and man.

He is all things:
he judges, and so he is Law;
he teaches, and so he is Wisdom;
he saves, and so he is Grace;
he begets, and so he is Father;
he is begotten, and so he is Son;
he suffers, and so he is Sacrifice;
he is buried, and so he is man;
he rises again, and so he is God.
This is Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs glory for all ages.

What goes around

The Grandfather's Table

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." Therefore, the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since grandfather had broken a dish two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently, provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future. Let us be wise builders and role models.

Always remember: "What goes around, comes around!" However, "Treating others as you would treat yourself or that you would like to be treated will grant you more love than not!

See Me

This poem was written by an old woman living in a nursing home in
Ireland. It was found among her things when she died.

What do you see nurses, what do you see?
Are you thinking when you look at me?
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice- "I do wish you'd try."
And forever is losing a sock or a shoe.
Who unresisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill.
Is that what you think, is that what you see?
Open your eyes, nurse, you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am, as I sit here so still,
As I use at your bidding, and eat at your will,
I'm a small child of ten, with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters who loved one another,
A young girl of 16, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at 20, my heart give a leap.
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.

At 25 now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to build a secure, happy home.
A women of 30, my young now grow so fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At 40, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.
At 50 once more, babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead.
I look at the future and shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known,
I'm and old women now and nature is cruel,
Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart.
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again, my battered heart swells,

I remember the joys and I remember the pain,
And I'm living and loving life over again,
I think of the years all too few- gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
Open your eyes, nurse open and see.
Not an empty old women, look closer- see ME.

The "Tip"

Remember its the heart not the size of the dog

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.

I was responding to a call from a small brick fourplex in a quiet part of town. I assumed I was being sent to pick up some partiers, or someone who had just had a fight with a lover, or a worker heading to an early shift at some factory for the industrial part of town.

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 1940s 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 and 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 and 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 rearview 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 to 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.

Here comes the judge

Supreme Court nominee Alito has been grilled this week by senators questioning his past associations, writings, and decisions. It is time to revisit how they approached another Supreme court nominee.

Let us image for a moment that a Supreme Court nominee had advocated, this week, for the following through writings and speaking engagements: (A). A constitutional right to prostitution and polygamy. (B). Attacked the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. (C). Proposed abolishing Mother's Day and Father's Day and replacing them with a single androgynous Parent's Day. (D). Called for an end to singe-sex prisons on the theory that if male prisoners are going to return to a community in which men and women function as equal partners, prison is just the place for them to get prepared to deal with women. (E). Wrote, "use the Supreme Court to enact `social change....without taking giant strides...the court, through constitutional adjudication, can reinforce or signal a green light for social change." (F). Also wrote, "boldly dynamic interpretation departing radically from the original understanding of the Constitution is sometimes necessary." (G). Advocate universal court-ordered work place affirmative action quotas, even if no discrimination is found.

Surely no Senator would support Alito if he had such views. And surely no president, no matter how outrageous, would nominate such a candidate.

Unfortunately, the hypothetical nominee I have just described is, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. President Clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg on June 22, 1993. A mere six weeks later, on August 3, 1993, the Senate confirmed her nomination by a 96-3 vote.

In conclusion, it is hard to imagine any senator attacking Alito's respectable record with a straight face, while confirming an extremist like Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

What are you doing?

I am going to stand up and shout ABORTION is MURDER!


Jer 31:15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

First : Abortion! = Murder
Next : Euthanasia = Murder
Next : The Sick at any age : Murder

Welcome to the American version of the Holocaust its called

GENOCIDE!!!

Taking Aim

If you can read this and not say a short prayer then examine yourself!

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, who we'll call Brother Smith. She says Brother Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons. One particular day, Sally walked into seminary and knew they were in for another fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Brother Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry . . . and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's girlfriend (on her right), drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend (on her left), drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of Brother Smith, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on his face. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts, with much laughter and hilarity. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Brother Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Brother Smith began removing the target from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus . . .

A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced out.

Brother Smith said only these words, "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ. The students remained in their seats . . . even after the bell rang . . . then slowly left the classroom, tears streaming down their faces.

All that glitters

TACT IS THE ART OF MAKING YOUR GUESTS FEEL AT HOME WHEN YOU WISH THEY WERE!
- Unknown


All that Glitters About a hundred years ago, "Gold Fever" hit North America. Thousands of men and several women followed their dream of striking it rich from a stake in the Klondike, only to face a harsh climate, expensive "required" items, treacherous mountain passes, amoral con artists, uncontrollable flooding created by the spring thaw, bacteria-laced drinking water in makeshift tent cities, and digging through granite-like permafrost at the rate of about a foot a day. Very few found even enough gold to pay for their trip home. About a year ago, the Bre-X company started a new sort of "Gold Fever" in North America. Samples from geologists revealed veins of the precious metal in superbly dense quantities in the hills of Indonesia. Money stampeded into the company as investors dreamed of multiplying their nest eggs. When the samples proved to be falsified, fortunes were lost in the devaluation of Bre-X stock. Almost two thousand years ago, Jesus warned his followers that the riches of this world would one day perish. He instructed that no one could effectively serve both God and money; we must choose to pursue either one or the other. If we choose money, any treasures we acquire, any temporary pleasure we may experience, will be lost to us when we die. But the treasures we amass in heaven while we pursue the way of God will never be exhausted. We may or may not experience material success in this life, but those who follow God live with the joy of knowing that we are the much-loved children of the King of all Kings and will be welcomed with celebration and a rewarding eternal life upon our return home. Such a life has meaning and purpose. Where is your treasure accumulating?

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness a powerful but underrated force

By Sunday Pearson
Sacramento District


Forgiveness is a powerful but underrated and often overlooked force in our lives.

Not long ago, I heard about forgiveness for a murder, which helped me find forgiveness for a murder in my own life.


In July 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. That evening, two disgruntled Ku Klux Klan members decided that they needed to kill a black person. Any black person.

A 19-year-old black man named Mike Donald happened to be walking along a street in their town, and the two KKK members randomly chose him to be their victim. They drove Mike to a remote area and killed him. That evening, they drove back into town and hung Mike's body from a tree.

Mike's mother sat through the entire trial of the two killers. Each day, the prosecutor meticulously depicted to her and the jury the details of her son's murder and the despicable nature of the two men who perpetrated the crime.

One accused man who turned informant took the witness stand. He was overcome with emotion as he addressed his victim's mother. It is reported that the courtroom was silent as he began to sob and tell Mike's mother how sorry he was for what he had done to her son.

It is said that you could have heard a pin drop as Mike's mother shifted back in her chair, looked first downward, then back up into the face of her son's killer. In a soft yet clearly audible voice she said, "I forgave you a long time ago."

The attorney who was interviewed on television later said there wasn't a dry eye in the courtroom. Although it has been almost 40 years since Mike's mother spoke those words, their impact is undiminished.

Most of us can relate to anger more easily than we can to forgiveness. Let's face it…forgiveness sounds like a great idea until we are the one who has to actually do it! Forgiveness is powerful, but it is very hard to do because it goes against the grain of our human behavior. And it is scary because it opens the door to unsettling feelings that require painful soul-searching.

A friend of mine once said, "Forgiveness is not something we do for other people. We do it for ourselves. We are saying, 'I'm not going to let this eat me alive. I'm going to get well and move on.'"

He's right. Forgiveness is a choice that cannot be forced or coerced. But by clinging to the past, we scarcely exist in the present.

Inspired by the story of Mike's mother, about three years ago I tried to locate the man who shot and killed my brother, a policeman in Oakland, Calif., a tough waterfront industrial town across the bay from San Francisco. I wanted to tell my brother's killer that I had long ago forgiven him, too.

In the beginning, it would have been inconceivable that I could ever forgive the man whose heinous act caused such tremendous pain to my family. But I now realize that I had become complacent in my hatred for him. The anger and resentment I felt had somehow assimilated itself into my everyday life, and I was only vaguely aware of its insidious nature.

Letting go of that won't erase what happened or the enormous grief the killer caused me. But doing so allowed me to emotionally disconnect myself from him and to give up the hostility that had built up inside of me.

My wrath, although understandable, had become a cancer. It was polluting my life and my relationships with others. That awareness helped me to let my anger go. And to my surprise, forgiving my brother's killer left me feeling stronger and less vulnerable.

I did not surrender my desire for justice, mind you! What I did was consciously decide in my heart to release myself from my disturbing emotional entanglements to the killer. Had I not done that, I would have continued to inflict upon myself (and upon others) the pain the killer created when he took my brother's life.

I found that it takes no extra strength to forgive, only courage. The energy I used to hold onto the resentment was the same amount of energy it took to release it.

Who knows? Maybe one day I will meet the man who took my brother's life. But if I don't, I'm OK with that. It is no longer necessary, if forgiveness is something we do for ourselves and not for the other person.

What is more important is that I unleashed the power of forgiveness, freed myself from the poisonous influence of anger and hatred, and that, in turn, strengthened my capacity to love others.

(The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.)

-End-

Hospital Windows

Here's one I think you will enjoy. Look for the secret message hidden within. Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man
was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain
the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to
find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for
himself.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It
faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

God answers prayers

I believe in prayer here is just one example, why not share your answered prayers with the rest of us!

Open the Door
A woman received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left work and stopped by the pharmacy for some medication for her daughter. When returning to her car to find she had locked her keys inside. She had to get home to her sick daughter, and didn't´ know what to do. She called her home to the baby sitter, and was told her daughter was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door." The woman found an old rusty coat hanger on the ground, as if someone else had locked their keys in their car..

Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don´t know how to use this," She bowed her head and asked God for help. An old rusty car pulled up, driven by a dirty, greasy, bearded man with a biker skull rag on his head.

The woman thought, "Great God. This is what you sent to help me????" But she was desperate, and thankful.

The man got out of his car and asked if he could help. She said "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car."

He said, "SURE.."

He walked over to the car and in seconds the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "THANK YOU SO MUCH..... You are a very nice man."

The man replied, "Lady, I ain´t a nice man. I just got out of prison for car theft."

The woman hugged the man again and cried out loud..... THANK YOU GOD FOR SENDING ME A PROFESSIONAL!"

Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves!!
When no door is open... God will open a window!
When "God Provides".. He provides the very best!
Be blessed today and everyday!

Billows of Blessings

There is a river whose streams shall refresh the children of God, and they
shall bring joy and rejoicing unto My people, says the Lord. When My Spirit
shall be poured forth, the waters shall flow even to the edges of the
wilderness, and all flesh shall know that The Lord Yahweh reigns, for His
glory shall be made manifest unto the heathen -- His grace in the midst of
His people!

With power and great glory shall He come. His streams shall break forth in
dry places, and His power shall come upon the weak. They that have thirsted
shall drink to their fill, and they that have languished shall be comforted.


In truth and righteousness have all My words been spoken; for I have power
to speak, and I have power to bring it to pass. With resolute purpose have
I promised, and to the uttermost shall I fulfill.


When you call, I will answer; and while you are yet speaking I will come to
you. Yea, if you seek Me diligently I shall pour My Spirit upon you: you
shall be encompassed in billows of blessing. From Total Love by Frances
Roberts


Years ago, I heard a doctor describe himself as a glorified plumber. He said
that almost all problems in our body stem from a blockage of some kind. It
was his job to find the blockage, remove it and get the flow going again.
His statement has profound truth far beyond the natural body.



I have discovered there are spiritual flows which often become blocked in
our lives for a variety of reasons. A grateful or grace FULL heart will
naturally express itself in billows of thanksgiving and praise. It will be
truly grateful for even the smallest of things, perhaps as simple as a
single piece of toilet paper. When it becomes difficult to be thankful or
express appreciation to God or to those around us, we are certainly in
spiritual trouble. As in the natural body, when something is clogged up, our
lives are in danger, even so, in the spirit, when thanksgiving and praise
does not freely flow, we are in spiritual danger. Below are a few things
I've collected over the years from various sources that are helpful for
getting the flow going again. Dear brother or sister in the Lord, what is
contained in these few pages are more precious and helpful to me than many
other hundreds of books on Bible subjects that I have read. If the reader
can make the following words their own, their lives will improve immensely.
Billows of Blessings to you this ... Day,

Perspectives

What are your Perspectives?

One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

Very good, Dad!"

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Yeah!" "And what did you learn?"

The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon.

When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.

His son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!" Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, you've got everything!

You can't buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!

May your house be safe from tigers!

The Carpenter's House

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor
of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

The Easiest Thing To Do Is Nothing

Something to think about

It's no secret that America is in the midst of a spiritual and
moral crisis. Polls today indicate that most Americans are deeply
concerned about the direction our nation is heading. The real
problem is a critical shortage of people who care enough to get
off the sidelines and are determined to make a difference.
Sometimes it only takes one person to turn the flow from negative
to positive.

Take, for instance, Babe Ruth, the most famous baseball player of
all time. The Babe finished his career in a slump, and according
to one legendary story, he was jeered mercilessly one day in
Cincinnati. As he made his customary trot off the field to the
dugout, the fans began to yell obscenities at him. The booing
intensified until a little boy jumped a fence and ran to his
hero's side.

The child threw his arms around Babe's legs, crying as he
fiercely hugged him. Moved by the young lad's display of
affection and emotion, Ruth gently swept the boy upwards and
into his arms. As they walked off the field, the man and boy
cried together.

Suddenly, the hoots, howls and curses ceased. And the eerie
silence was replaced by a thunderous ovation. Fans of all ages
now began to weep. One small boy's courageous actions had changed
the behavior of thousands of people.

I can't help but wonder how long the boy sat there listening to
the cursing, angry crowd before he did something. Probably not
very long.

And today, how much worse must our nation become before
individuals are moved by compassion and conviction to get out
of their seats and decide to make a difference?

As I pray for our nation and its families, I continue to sense
that the battle will be won by laymen and women like you.