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My Favorite Short Stories

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These are some of My Favorite Short Stories from emails I've received over the years. Check back as I add to these Stories on a regular basis. Share your favorites with me by filling out the form to the right.

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A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God..
Here are some of the results: scroll down.

GOD is like
LOREAL - "BECAUSE YOUR WORTH IT"

God is like
BAYER ASPIRIN - He works miracles.

God is like
A FORD - He's got a better idea.

God is like
COKE - He's the real thing.

God is like
HALLMARK CARDS - He cares enough to send His very best.

God is like
TIDE - He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

God is like
GENERAL ELECTRIC - He brings good things to life.

God is like
SEARS - He has everything.

God is like
ALKA-SELTZER - Try Him, you'll like Him

God is like
SCOTCH TAPE - You can't see Him, but you know He's there.

God is like
DELTA - He's ready when you are.

God is like
ALLSTATE - You're in good hands with Him.

God is like
VO-5 Hair Spray - He holds through all kinds of weather.

God is like
DIAL SOAP - Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?

God is like
The U.S. POST OFFICE - Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.

God is like
Chevrolet - the heart beat of America
God is like
Maxwell House - Good to the very last drop

God is like
Bounty - He is the quicker picker upper, can handle the tough jobs and He won't fall apart on you

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Black Robbers

On a recent weekend in Atlantic City , a woman won a bucketful of
quarters at a slot machine. She took a break from the slots for dinner with
her husband in the hotel dining room. But first she wanted to stash the
quarters in her room. 'I'll be right back and we'll go to eat,' she told her
husband and carried the coin-laden bucket to the elevator.

As she was about to walk into the elevator she noticed two men already
aboard. Both were black. One of them was tall... Very tall ...an
Intimidating figure. The woman froze.. Her first thought was: 'These two are
going to rob me.' Her next thought was: 'Don't be a bigot; they look like
perfectly nice gentlemen' But racial stereotypes are powerful, and fear
immobilized her. She stood and stared at the two men. She felt anxious,
flustered and ashamed. She hoped they didn't read her mind but gosh, they
had to know what she was thinking!!!

Her hesitation about joining them in the elevator was all too obvious now..
Her face was flushed. She couldn't just stand there, so with a mighty effort
of will she picked up one foot and stepped forward and followed with the
other foot and was on the elevator.

Avoiding eye contact, she turned around
stiffly and faced the elevator doors as they closed. A second passed, and
then another second, and then another. Her fear increased! The elevator
didn't move. Panic consumed her. 'My God,' she! Thought, I'm trapped and
about to be robbed! 'Her heart plummeted. Perspiration poured from every pore.

Then one of the men said, 'Hit the floor.' Instinct told her to do what they
told her. The bucket of quarters flew upwards as she threw out her arms and
collapsed on the elevator floor. A shower of coins rained down on her. Take
my money and spare me, she prayed.

More seconds passed. She heard one of the
men say politely, 'Ma'am, if you'll just tell us what floor you're going to,
we'll! Push the button.' The one who said it had a little trouble getting
the words out. He was trying mightily to hold in a belly laugh.

The woman lifted her head and looked up at the two men. They reached down to help her
up. Confused, she struggled to her feet.. 'When I told my friend here to hit
the floor,' said the average sized one, 'I meant that he should hit the
elevator button for our floor. I didn't mean for you to hit the floor, ma'am.'

He spoke genially. He bit his lip. It was obvious he was having a
hard time not laughing. The woman thought: 'My God, what a spectacle I've
made of myself.' She was too humiliated to speak. She wanted to blurt out an
apology, but words failed! Her. How do you apologize to two perfectly
respectable gentlemen for behaving as though they were going to rob you?
She didn't know what to say.

The three of them gathered up the strewn quarters
and refilled her bucket. When the elevator arrived at her floor they then
insisted on walking her to her room. She seemed a little unsteady on her
feet, and they were afraid she might not make it down the corridor. At her
door they bid her a good eveni ng.. As she slipped into her room she could
hear them roaring with laughter as they walked back to the elevator. The
woman brushed herself off. She pulled herself together and went downstairs
for dinner with her husband.

The next morning flowers were delivered to her room - a dozen roses..
Attached to EACH rose was a crisp one hundred dollar bill.

The card said: 'Thanks for the best laugh we've had in years.'

It was signed;
Eddie Murphy
Michael Jordan

PS - Pass this around so others can enjoy! Black Robbers - a true story

Drinking from my saucer
(A very spiritual and true poem)

I�ve never made a fortune, and it�s probably too late now.
But I don�t worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow
And as I go along life�s way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough
But I've got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank GOD for his Blessings,
and the Mercies HE's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.

So LORD, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

GOD gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already Blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads..
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

The moral: It doesn�t matter if you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better be running.

WAKE-UP
Your Email
with VIDEO

Grandchildren

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" She will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye...

2.
My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

3.
After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"

4.
A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We use to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard.. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

5.
My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old he replied.

6.
A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read.."

7.
I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!"

8.
When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

9.
When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised, "mine says I'm 4 to 6."

10.
A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool "That's interesting," she said, "how do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."

11.
Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

12.
A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close."They use the dogs she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

13.
A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

14.
Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

15.
My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over; you hear gas leaks, and they blame the dog.

Old Farmer's Advice

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor
Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled
Meanness don't jes' happen overnight
Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge
You cannot unsay a cruel word
Every path has a few puddles
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty
The best sermons are lived, not preached
Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway
Don 't judge folks by their relatives
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer
Live a good, honorable life.. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time
Don 't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'
Always drink upstream from the herd
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment
Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply
Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God
Don't pick a fight with an old man... If he is too old to fight
he'll just kill you
And,..

Some days all you can do is smile and wait for some kind soul to come pull your butt out of the bind you've gotten yourself into

IT DON'T COST NUTHIN' TO BE NICE ....

At a Touchdown Club meeting many years before his death, Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant told the following story:

I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player and I was having trouble finding the place.
Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small sign out front that simply said "Restaurant." I pull up, go in and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems I'm the only white fella in the place. But the food smelled good so I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?"

I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today?

He says, "You probably won't like it here; today we're having chitlins, collard greens and black eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins are, do you?"(small intestines of hogs prepared as food in the deep South) I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , I've probably eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place." They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate.

When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?" I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was, and he says, "Yeah I've heard of him, he's supposed to be pretty good." And he gives me directions to the school so I can meet him and his coach.

As I'm paying up to leave, I remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good one and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I felt I should pay. The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to show I'd been there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for, but I took a napkin and wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one. I met the kid I was lookin' for later that afternoon and I don't remember his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him.

I had wasted a day, or so I thought. When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it. Back then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me. The next day we found a picture and I wrote on it, "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever had."

Now let's go a whole buncha years down the road.

Now we have black players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an offensive lineman we sure needed. Y'all remember, (and I forget the name, but it's not important to the story), well anyway, he's got two friends going to Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave empty handed and go on to see some others while I'm down there.

Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's this kid who just turned me down, and he says, "Coach, do you still want me at Alabama ?" And I said, "Yes I sure do." And he says OK, he'll come. And I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?" And he said, "When my grandpa found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama , and wasn't playing for nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met."

Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his granddaddy was and he said, "You probably don't remember him, but you ate in his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that he's had hung in that place ever since... That picture's his pride and joy and he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had chitlins with him..."
"My grandpa said that when you left there, he never expected you to remember him or to send him that picture, but you kept your word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything. He said you could teach me more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm going to." I was floored.

But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always right. It don't cost nuthin' to be nice. It don't cost nuthin' to do the right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to lose your good name by breaking your word to someone. When I went back to sign that boy, I looked up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better now; and he didn't have chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that would make Dreamland proud and I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures; and don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, too, along with a signed football. I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these lessons in mind when they're out on the road. If you remember anything else from me, remember this.

It really doesn't cost anything to be nice, and the rewards can be unimaginable.
~ Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant

*********************************
Editor's Note: Coach Bryant was in the presence of these few gentlemen for only minutes, and he defined himself for life. Regardless of our profession, we do define ourselves by how we treat others, and how we behave in the presence of others, and most of the time, we have only minutes or seconds to leave a lasting impression... We can be rude, crude, arrogant, cantankerous, or we can be nice.
Nice is always a better choice.
********************************************
"I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again."

~BURNT BISCUITS~

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad.

I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired.. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

God Bless You..... Now, and Always....

So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.!.!.!.! And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life... I just did!

When a GIRL is quiet ...
millions of things are running in her mind.

When a GIRL is not arguing ...
she is thinking deeply.

When a GIRL looks at you with eyes full of questions ...
she is wondering how long you will be around.

When a GIRL answers ' I'm fine ' after a few seconds ...
she is not at all fine.

When a GIRL stares at you
she is wondering why you are lying.

When a GIRL lays on your chest ..
she is wishing for you to be hers forever.

When a GIRL wants to see you everyday...
she wants to be pampered.

When a GIRL says ' I love you ' ..
she means it.

When a GIRL says ' I miss you ' ....
no one in this world can miss you more than that.

Life only comes around once make sure you spend it with the right person ....

Find a guy .. who calls you beautiful instead of hot.

who calls you back when you hang up on him.

who will stay awake just to watch you sleep.

Wait for the guy who ..... kisses your forehead.

Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats.

Who holds your hand in front of his friends.

Who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you and how lucky he is to have you.

Who turns to his friends and says, ' That's her!! '

A Love Story

Little Bruce and Jenny are only 10 years old, but they know they are in love.

One day they decide that they want to get married,
so Bruce goes to Jenny's father to ask him for her hand.

Bruce bravely walks up to him and says, "Mr. Smith, me and
Jenny are in love and I want to ask you for her hand in marriage."

Thinking that this was just the cutest thing, Mr. Smith replies,
"Well Bruce, you are only 10.. Where will you two live?"

Without even taking a moment to think about it, Bruce replies,
"In Jenny's room. It's bigger than mine and we can both fit there nicely."

Still thinking this is just adorable, Mr. Smith says with a huge grin,
"Okay, then how will you live?
You're not old enough to get a job. You'll need to support Jenny."

Again, Bruce instantly replies, "Our allowance,
Jenny makes five bucks a week and I make 10 bucks a week.
That's about 60 bucks a month, so that should do us just fine."

Mr. Smith is impressed Bruce has put so much thought into this.

"Well Bruce, it seems like you have everything figured out.
I just have one more question. What will you do if the
two of you should have little children of your own?"

Bruce just shrugs his shoulders and says,
"Well, we've been lucky so far."

Mr. Smith no longer thinks the little brat is adorable.

Lost and Found Dog
Saves Life of Boy with
Down Syndrome

Do you believe in canine guardian angels and the kindness of strangers? You just might after reading this story.

Early one morning, Yolanda Segovia's neighbor, Stacey Savige, knocked on her door and asked her to temporarily take in a stray dog she had found. The scruffy terrier mix had no collar or microchip. Segovia eyed the pooch -- burrs sticking to his belly and mud caking his fur -- and reluctantly agreed to foster him for the day.

An erstwhile hairdresser, Segovia hasn't worked since 2006. At 47, she is a survivor of breast cancer and cervical cancer. A divorced single mother of two, Segovia shares her Port Tampa, Florida home with her 10 year-old son Azaiah and 21 year-old son Christian. Her elder son has Down Syndrome; he cannot speak or bathe himself, and he has had heart surgery and a kidney transplant, reports the St. Petersburg Times.

Azaiah immediately took to the dog, whom he named RaeLee (pronounced "Riley"). Segovia and her sons bought the dog a collar, leash, ball and brown bed from the dollar store, and all that day, Azaiah played with the dog, laughing gleefully whenever RaeLee licked his face. "Don't fall in love with him," Segovia warned.

Segovia and Savige made 4,000 FOUND flyers with the dog's picture, stuffed mailboxes and put an ad on Craigslist. When no one called, RaeLee stayed the night at the Segovias' house. His dog bed was placed in the living room, but when the boys climbed into their twin beds, RaeLee dragged his bed down the long hallway and bunked with the boys in their room.

By Saturday -- four days later -- no one had called to claim RaeLee, and he was still living with the Segovias. The honey-colored terrier had started responding to his new name. He almost never barked, loved playing rambunctiously with Azaiah, and was tender with Christian.

One afternoon, the dog settled himself on the floor near Christian as he watched a "Barney" video in his room. Segovia was outside watering the plants when the placid moment was shattered by the sound of RaeLee crashing into the screen door and barking crazily. Alarmed, Segovia opened the door, only to have the dog race back through the house towards the boys' room. Segovia followed, screaming when she caught sight of her son. Christian was "slumped over, his body writhing in a seizure, blood streaming from his nose and mouth." RaeLee stood next to him yelping, but suddenly went quiet when Yolanda reached down to hold her son.

"If he hadn't come to get me," Segovia said, "the neurologist said Christian would have choked on his own blood and died." The dog, she decided, was a keeper.

But the next day, Segovia and her sons were heartbroken when someone called to claim the dog they had come to love. Randy Cliff, 34, who lived six blocks away said he had been searching for his dog -- real name Odie -- for over a week. Odie had lived with Cliff, his wife, their four children and infant granddaughter. Savige cried, telling Cliff, "That dog saved my friend's son."

When Cliff came to collect his dog, RaeLee a.k.a. Odie, leapt off the Segovias' porch and into his arms. Christian watched from a window. Azaiah stood on the porch watching the man hug the dog he knew as RaeLee. "We're going to miss you," he said, tearfully.

Looking up, Cliff took in the scene -- Christian looking scared, Azaiah looking downtrodden -- and asked, "Is that your brother?" Azaiah nodded yes.

With a sudden change of heart, Cliff put the dog back down. "Maybe Odie was supposed to find you," Cliff told a stunned and delighted Azaiah. "Maybe you should keep him."

And that is how the kindness of strangers -- Savige for rescuing a lost dog, Segovia for taking him in, and Cliff for giving up his pet to a pair of brothers who needed the dog more -- brought RaeLee to live with Azaiah, Christian and their mother.

Lost and Found Dog Saves Life of Boy with Down Syndrome
by Helena Sung

A touching story of an old father, son and a sparrow

The Dash

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, and maybe it will help you take life a little slower and with more meaning.

In July 2006, a short 3-minute movie was launched on the Internet called The Dash. Since then, over 40 million people from around the world have watched it; and over 20,000 a day continue to watch it as a result of people passing it along.

The movie has been more successful than we could have ever imagined. More importantly, however, it has inspired many, many people to reflect on their lives and ask that all important question, 'Are my priorities where they should be?'

I hope you enjoy this movie and share it with those who are close to you.


Click This Link to View:
www.dashpoemmovie.com

Live the Life You Have Imagined!

********************

The Dash Poem
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

� 1996 Linda Ellis

Everything
As I awoke to the beginning of a brand new day,
It seemed like waves of trials kept coming my way.
Problem after problem was all I could see,
I cried out, "Lord, what is it you want from me?"

The answer that came from the One Most High,
Was nothing but a very simple reply,
It was one unexpected, but yet rang so true,
It's something He desires from me and from you.

He said, "EVERYTHING"

I want you to know Me as your Saviour and Guide,
The One who will always be right there at your side.
I want you to serve Me through the good times and bad,
To sing praises to My Name whether you're happy or sad.

I want your faith to grow stronger as each day goes by,
To trust Me when there's no answers to your questions of "Why?"
To learn of My love and to feel My embrace,
When you're called to endure the hardships you face.

I want no one or nothing to take My place in your heart,
In whatever you should do, I want to take part.
Stand on My promises, let nothing cause you doubt,
In the end you will see that all things will work out.

So you see, My dear child, I want to be your all in all,
To depend on My presence when you stand or when you fall,
When you question just what is it that I want from thee?
My answer is EVERYTHING, as you are EVERYTHING to Me.

GOOD MORNING

When I say good morning I mean to say:

G-od
O-ffers us His
O-utstanding
D-evotion to

M-ake us
O-bedient &
R-eady for a
N-ew day with Him.
I-nspire others please, and
N-ever forget
G-od loves you!

A young man learns what's most

Important in life from the guy next door.

**

It had been some time since Jack had seen

the old man. College, girls, career, and life

itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved

clear across the country in pursuit of his

dreams.

There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had

little time to think about the past and often

no time to spend with his wife and son. He was

working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him,

"Mr. Belser died last night.

The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed

through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat

quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so

long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly

thought he died years ago," Jack said

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him

he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about

the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence'

as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser

stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in

your life," she said

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said.

"I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him.

He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought

were important...

Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the

next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was

small and uneventful. He had no children of his own,

and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his

Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one

more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment.

It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap

through space and time The house was exactly as he

remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture,

every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said
"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top

of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times

what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I

value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how

Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured

someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said.

"I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died.

Returning home from work one day Jack discovered

a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package.

No one at home. Please stop by the main post office

within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The

small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a

hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to

read, but the return address caught his attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the

package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.

Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents

to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life."

A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as

tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box.

There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing,

he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was...my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his

office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.

"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

The Worlds Shortest Books

NEGROS I'VE MET WHILE YACHTING

by Tiger Woods

______________________________________________

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY COUNTRY

by Jane Fonda & Cindy Sheehan.
Illustrated by Michael Moore

________________________________________

MY CHRISTIAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS &
HOW I HELPED AFTER KATRINA

by Rev Jesse Jackson & Rev Al Sharpton

_______________________________________

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT BILL

by Hillary Clinton

________________________________
Sequel:
THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HILLARY

By Bill Clinton

___________________________________

MY LITTLE BOOK OF PERSONAL HYGIENE

by Osama Bin Laden

___________________________________

THINGS I CANNOT AFFORD

by Bill Gates

____________________________________

THINGS I WOULD NOT DO FOR MONEY

by Dennis Rodman
_________________________________

THINGS WE KNOW TO BE TRUE

by Al Gore & John Kerry

_____________________________________

AMELIA EARHART'S GUIDE TO THE PACIFIC

___________________________________

A COLLECTION of MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES

by Dr. J.. Kevorkian

__________________________________

ALL THE MEN WE HAVE LOVED, BEFORE .....

by Ellen de Generes & Rosie O'Donnel

____________________________________

GUIDE TO DATING ETIQUETTE

by Mike Tyson

__________________________________

THE AMISH PHONE DIRECTORY
_______________________________________

MY PLAN TO FIND THE REAL KILLERS

by O. J. Simpson
_________________________________________

HOW TO DRINK & DRIVE OVER BRIDGES

by Ted Kennedy
___________________________________

MY BOOK OF MORALS

by Bill Clinton with introduction

by the Rev. Jesse Jackson
*******************************************************

AND, JUST ADDED:

Complete Knowledge of Military Strategy!

By Nancy Pelosi

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

One day a man saw a old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes Benz and got out. His Pinto was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried.. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.

He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.'

Well, all she had was a flat tire,
But for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two.. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped..
Bryan never thought twice about being paid.
This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me..'

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her
Feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan .

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.'

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills..

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the
Money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard.....

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.'

After starting a new diet I altered my drive to work to avoid passing my favorite bakery. I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning, and as I approached, there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed ... 'Lord, it's up to you, if you want me to have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery. And sure enough,....
On the eighth time around the block, there it was!
God is so Good!'

A little girl walked to and from school daily.

Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were
forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with
lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be
frightened as she walked home from school and she feared the electrical
storm might harm her child.

Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the
route to her child's school.

As she did, she saw her little girl walking along.

At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile.

Another and another flash of lighting followed quickly and with each,
the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother's car drew up beside the child, she lowered the window
and called to her

'What are you doing?'

The child answered,

'I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture.'

**

May God bless you today and everyday
as you face the storms that come your way.

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the
mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some
items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly
picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and
proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the
students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled
into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked
the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into
the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked
once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an
unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the
table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling
the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided,
"I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children,
your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if
everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would
still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your
house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand
into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles
or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your
time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for
the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will
always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take
care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the
coffee represented. The professor smiled and said,
"I'm glad you asked."
The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life
may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Am I A Fireman Yet?

In Phoenix, AZ, A 26-year old mother stared down at her 6 year old son who was dying of terminal leukemia.

Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now, that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true.

She took her son's hand and asked, 'Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up?
Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?' Mommy, �I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up. �Mom smiled back and said, 'Let's see if we can make your wish come true.'

Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year Old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, 'Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an Honorary Fireman for the whole day.

He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for

him with a real fire hat - not a toy one - with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.

They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.'
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck.

Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station.
He was in heaven.

There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedics van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program.

Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one should die alone - began to call the family members to the hospital.

Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied; 'We can do better than that, we'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire?

It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time, and will you open the window to his room?

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window--------16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room.

With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the Fire Chief and said; 'Chief, am I really a fireman now?'

'Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,' the Chief said. With those words, Billy smiled and said, 'I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing!

He closed his eyes one last time.

No Nursing Home for Me

About 2 years ago my wife and I were on a cruise through the western Mediterranean aboard a Princess liner.

At dinner we noticed an elderly lady sitting alone along the rail of the grand stairway in the main dining room.

I also noticed that all the staff, ships officers, waiters, busboys, etc., all seemed very familiar with this lady.

I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be told that she owned the line, but he said he only
knew that she had been on board for the last four cruises, back-to-back.

As we left the dining room one evening I caught her eye and stopped to say hello. We chatted and I said,

"I understand you've been on this ship for the last four cruises". She replied, "Yes, that's true." I stated,
"I don't understand" and she replied, without a pause, "It's cheaper than a nursing home".

So, there will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old and feeble, I am going to get on a Princess Cruise Ship.

The average cost for a nursing home is $200 per day. I have checked on reservations on a Princess and I can get

long term discount and senior discount price of $135 per day.

That leaves $65 a day for:

1. Gratuities which will only be $10 per day.

2. I will have as many as 10 meals a day if I can waddle to the restaurant, or I can have room service

(which means I can have breakfast-in-bed every day of the week).

3. Princess has as many as three swimming pools, a workout room, free washers and dryers, and shows every night.

4. They have free toothpaste and razors, and free soap and shampoo.

5. They will even treat you like a customer, not a patient. An extra $5
worth of tips will have the entire staff scrambling to help you.

6. I will get to meet new people every 7 or 14 days.

7. T.V. Broken? Light bulb need changing? Need to have the mattress replaced? No Problem! They will fix everything

and apologize for your inconvenience.

8. Clean sheets and towels every day, and you don't even have to ask for them.

9. If you fall in the nursing home and break a hip you are on Medicare; if you fall and break a hip on the Princess ship

they will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

Now hold on for the best! Do you want to see South America, the Panama Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Asia,

or name where you want to go?

Princess will have a ship ready to go. So don't look for me in a nursing home, just call shore to ship.

PS: And don't forget, when you die, they just dump you over the side -- at no charge.

Christian Pick-Up Lines

1. Nice bible"
2. "I would like to pray with you"
3. "You know Jesus? Me too!"
4. "God told me to come talk to you"
5. "I know a church where we could go and talk"
6. "How about a hug, sister?"
7. "Do you need help carrying your Bible? It looks heavy."
8. "Christians don't shake hands, Christians gotta hug!"
9. "Oh, you're cold? Maybe we should read Ecclesiastes 4:11"
10. "Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven?"
11. "What are your plans for tonight? Feel like a bible study?"
12. "I am here for you."
13. "The word says "Give drink to those who are thirsty, and feed the hungry," So...how about dinner?"
14. "You don't have an accountability partner? Me neither."
15. "You want to come over and watch "The 10 Commandments" tonight?"
16. "Is it a sin that you stole my heart?"
17. "Would you happen to know a Christian woman that I could love with all my heart and wait on hand and foot?"
18. "Nice bracelet. 'What would Jesus date? Uh, I mean *do*'"
19. "Do you believe in Divine appointment?"
20. "Have you ever tried praying at a drive in before?"
21. "Excuse me, I believe one of your ribs belongs to me."
22. "My friend told me to come and meet you, he said that you are a really nice person. I think you know him. Jesus, yeah that's his name."
23. "You know, they say that you have never really dated, until you have dated a Christian."
24. "Yeah, I predicted David over Goliath."
25. "What? Friends listen to Amazing Grace by candle light."
26. "What do you think Paul meant when he said, 'Greet everyone with a holy kiss'?"
27. "You have the body of Amy Grant and the soul of Mother Teresa."
28. "You know, I'm really into relationship evangelism."
29. "I'm pretty flexible - I don't think a woman should be submissive on the first date."
30. "Before tonight, I never believed in predestination..."
31. "Just looking at you makes me feel all ecumenical."
32. "I hear there's going to be a love offering tonight."

This was written by a Hospice of Metro Denver physician

I just had one of the most amazing
experiences of my life, and wanted
to share it with my family and dearest friends:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening
about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and
the car started to choke and splutter and die.

I barely managed to coast, cruising into a gas
station, glad only that I would not be blocking
traffic and I would have a somewhat warm spot
to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over.

Before I could make the call, I saw a woman
walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and
it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell
into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.

When I got there, it looked more like she had
been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen;
she was a young woman who looked really haggard
with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped
something as I helped her up, and I picked it up
to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus
for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban
crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back
(1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help,
and she just kept saying "I don't want my kids to
see me crying," so we stood on the other side of
the pump from her car.

She said she was driving to California and that things
were very hard for her right now. So I asked,
"And you were praying?" That made her back away
from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy
person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."

I took out my card and swiped it through the card
reader on the pump so she could fill up her car
completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the
next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food,
some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee.

She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked
it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries
and talking a little. She told me her name, and that she
lived in Kansas City.

Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been
able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have
money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had
finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken
in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she
could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car.
She told the kids they were going to California for
Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer
with her for safety on the road.

As I was walking over to my car, she said,
"So, are you like an angel or something?"
This definitely made me cry. I said,
"Sweetie, at this time of year angels are
really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's
miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in
my car it started right away and got me home with no
problem.

I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect
the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

Sometimes the angels fly close

enough to you that you can hear

the flutter of their wings...

Psalms 55:22

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.

He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Life Is a Dance

God�s gift for your life is to evolve and rise above

So protect your heart; God�s gift for you to love

And to know that in your prayer life�s issues are resolved

People want to give laughter and enthusiasm�s gusto

Look on the outside for entertainment to flow

Not becoming aware that they too need to grow

In their source to trust God in the Truth that they know

His plan is higher than our limitations

Friendship is first in a heartfelt and balanced relation

Respecting and protecting one another�s heart of passion

Loving enough to know when to rest and then to share sweet sensation

Losing the freedom of passion to another heart�s secret gift

A seduction of the mind causes the body to drift

An exchange of emotions the spirit may shift

There are times when the heart feels like dancing

Currents of passion thrill, overflow and entrancing

A beautiful time to find possibilities and then to fulfill

Realizing the value is to know one�s own self

Focus on the right areas that God gave for your health

Remember, love is resilient when the heart dances alone

To give this inspiration makes your lover�s heart strong

The best place in life is to be wholeheartedly in touch

With your freedom to share and in good timing brings much

Creative powers pour through what you�re thinking of

In His wisdom, His way to show you His love

Walking in faith means being centered in believing

Unity in faith in His joy giving and receiving

Like a dance.

rhonda 10/21/05

Pecans In The Cemetery

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big,

old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence.

One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts

and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began

dividing the nuts.

"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me,"

said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down

toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his

bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices

from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate.

Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me. One

for you, one for me."

He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike

and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man

with a cane, hobbling along.

"Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe

what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the

cemetery dividing up the souls."

The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for

me to walk." When the boy insisted though, the man

hobbled to the cemetery.

Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one

for me. One for you, one for me..."

The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' the

truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord." Shaking with

fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still

unable to see anything.

The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars

of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a

glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all.

Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be

done."

They say the old man made it back to town a full

5 minutes ahead of the boy on the bike

Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder (A.A.A.D.D.)

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway,

I may as well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only 1 check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered. I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we want to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter the flowers don't have enough water, there is still only 1 check in my check book, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember to whom it has been sent. Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY.

GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC.

The Penny

You always hear the usual stories of pennies

on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from

angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever

heard this twist on the story. Gives you

something to think about.

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her

husband were invited to spend the weekend

at the husband's employer's home. My friend,

Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The

boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the

waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene

was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how

the very wealthy live. The husband's employer

was quite generous as a host, and took them to

the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would

never have the opportunity to indulge in this

kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying

herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an

exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was

walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.

He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement

for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him.

There was nothing on the ground except a single

darkened penny that someone had dropped, and

a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached

down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket

as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd!

What need did this man have for a single penny?

Why would he even take the time to stop and pick

it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her.

Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally

mentioned that her daughter once had a coin

collection, and asked if the penny he had found

had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached

into his pocket for the penny. He held it out for

her to see. She had seen many pennies before, what

was the point of this.

"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."
She read the words "United States of America.
"No, not that; read further."

"One cent?" "No, keep reading." "In God we Trust?"
"Yes!" "And?"

"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy,

even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that

inscription. It is written on every single United

States coin, but we never seem to notice it!

God drops a message right in front of me telling

me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I

see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in

God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a

response to God; that I do trust in Him.

For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it

were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a

conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient

and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny

on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and

realized that I had been worrying and fretting

in my mind about things I cannot change. I read

the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh.

Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have

been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the

last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!

And, God is patient...

Have a blessed day!!

Lawyer vs Deputy

A Lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a Deputy Sheriff. He thinks that he is smarter than the Deputy because of having a better education. He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the deputy's expense.

Deputy says, "License and registration, please."

Lawyer says, "What for?"

Deputy says, "You didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign "

Lawyer says, "I slowed down, and no one was coming."

Deputy says, "You still didn't come to a complete stop. License and registration, please."

Lawyer says, "What's the difference?"

Deputy says, "The difference is, you have to come to a complete stop, that's the law. License and registration, please!"

Lawyer says, "If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration and you give me the ticket ... if not you let me go and no ticket."

Deputy says, "Exit your vehicle, sir."

At this point, the deputy takes out his nightstick and starts beating the ever-living crap out of the lawyer and says:

"DO YOU WANT ME TO STOP OR JUST SLOW DOWN???�

God's 26 Guards

Here's a message that will bring you chills.

Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone
and then just put it on a list and said,

"I'll pray for them later?" Or has anyone ever called
you and said, "I need you to pray for me, I have this need?"

Read the following story that was sent to me and

may it change the way that you may think about

prayer and also the way you pray. You will be blessed by this....

A missionary on furlough told this true story while

visiting his home church in Michigan

"While serving at a small field hospital in Africa ,

every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the

jungle to a nearby city for supplies.

This was a journey of two days and required

camping overnight at the halfway point. On one
of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I
planned to collect money from a bank, purchase
medicine, and supplies, and then begin

my two-day journey back to the field hospital.

Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting,

one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated
him for his injuries and at the same time

talked to him about the Lord. I then traveled two days,
camping overnight, and arrived home without incident....

Two weeks later I repeated my journey.

Upon arriving in the city,

I was approached by the young man I had treated.

He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines.

He said, 'Some friends and I followed you into the jungle,
knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill
you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were
about to move into your camp, we saw that you were
surrounded by 26 armed guards.

At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in
that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point,
however, and said, 'No, sir, I was not the only person to
see the guards, my friends also saw them, and we all
counted them.

It was because of those guards that we were afraid and
left you alone' At this point in the sermon, one of the men
in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the
missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this
happened.

The missionary told the congregation the date, and the
man who interrupted told him this story: "On the night of
your incident in Africa , it was morning here and I was
preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt
the urge to pray for you.

In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong,

I called men in this church to meet with me here

in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those
men who met with me on that day stand up?"

The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.

The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he
was too busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26!

This story is an incredible example of how

the Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways.
If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it.
Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.

I encourage you to copy & forward this to as

many people as you know. If we all take it to heart,

we can turn this world toward God once again. As the
above true story clearly illustrates,

"With God all things are possible". More importantly,
how God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful.

After you read this, please pass it on and

give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith,
for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles

He works in your own daily life... and then pass it on.

Daddy's Poem

Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home
Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?" She heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart
I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far.

You see he is a Marine and died just this past year
When a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.

And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.

There must be many children in the same boat as this little girl,
thanks to our servicemen and their families
for the sacrifice they are making to keep our country Free.
God Bless

Unfolding the Rose

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.

The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry.

But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do.

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

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
Then, in my hands, they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

"Most Beautiful Heart"

One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect.
There was not a mark or a flaw in it. Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.
Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said, "Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine."
The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart. It was beating strongly, but full of scars, it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.
The people stared - how can he say his heart is more beautiful, they thought?
The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed. "you must be joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine, mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."
"Yes," said the old man, "yours is perfect looking but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love - I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart, but because the pieces aren't exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish because they remind me of the love we shared. Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges - giving love is taking a chance.
Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is?"
The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands.
The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fit, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges.
The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man's heart flowed into his.
They embraced and walked away side by side.

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