prayer,  it is like a rowboat.....if one oar is prayer, and the other is action, you will only get ahead if you use both. One or the other alone will just keep you going in circles. 77777777 Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes off all the dirt you may have gotten from other pumpkins. Then He cuts the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Last, He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see. 777777777777777777777777777777777777777 An old Cherokee was teaching his grandson about life: "There is a struggle inside me" he said to the child. "It is a struggle between two wolves. One is full of envy,greed,jealousy,arrogance,resent,possessiveness,lies,superiority and false pride. The other is good,at peace,happy,serene,humble,generous,true and full of compassion. This struggle is happening too inside you, my child, and inside every person." The grandson pondered for a while and asked his grandfather: "Which of these two wolves will win the fight?" The old man simply replied: "the one you feed." 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777 To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 777777777777777777777777777777777 Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. An entire verse tells us that the napkin was neatly folded and placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning,while still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there , but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done.' But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, 'I'm not finished yet.' The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!' 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 THE TEA CUP A couple vacationing in Europe went strolling down a little street and saw a quaint little gift shop with a beautiful teacup in the window. The lady collected teacups and she wanted this one for her collection, so she went inside to buy the teacup, and as the story goes the teacup spoke and said: "I want you to know that I have not always looked like this. It took the process of pain to bring me to this point. You see, there was a time when I was just clay and the Master came and he pounded me and he squeezed me and he kneaded me and I screamed: "STOP THAT!". But he just smiled and said, "Not yet". Then he took me and put me on the shelf and I went round and round and round and round... and while I was spinning and getting dizzier and dizzier I screamed again and I said, "Please get me off this thing... please get me off!!!" And the Master was looking at me and he was smiling, as he said, "Not yet". Then he took me and walked toward the oven and shut the door and turned up the heat and I could see him through the window of the oven and it was getting hotter and hotter and I thought, "He's going to burn me to death!". And I started pounding on the inside of the oven and I said, "Master, let me out, let me out, let me out!", and I could see that he was smiling as he said "Not yet". Then he opened the door and I was fresh and free and he took me out of the oven and he put me on the table and then he got some paint and a paintbrush. He started dabbing me and making swirls all over me and I started to gag and I said: "Master, stop it... stop it... stop it please... you're making me gag". He just smiled as he said "not yet". Then very gently he picked me up again and he started walking toward the oven and I said, "Master, NO!! Not again, pleeeease!!". He opened the oven door and he slipped me inside and he shut the door and this time he turned the heat up twice as hot as before and I thought, "He's going to kill me!!", and I looked through the window of the oven and I started to pound on it, saying, "Master... Master, please let me out... please let me out... let me out!". I could see that he was smiling but I also noticed a tear trickle down his cheek as I watched him mouth the words, "Not yet!" Just as I thought I was about to die, the door opened and he reached in ever so gently and took me out, fresh and free and he went and placed me on a high shelf and he said: "There, I have created what I intended. Would you like to see yourself?" I said, "Yes". He handed me a mirror and I looked and I looked again and I said, "That's not me, I'm just a lump of clay". He said, "Yes, that IS you, but it took the process of pain to bring you to this place. You see, had I not worked you when you were clay, then you would have dried up. If I had not subjected you to the stress of the wheel you would have crumbled. If I had not put you into the heat of the oven you would have cracked. If I had not painted you there would be no color in your life. But, it was the second oven that gave you the strength to endure. Now you are everything I intended you to be - from the beginning." And I, the teacup, heard myself saying something I never thought I would hear myself saying, "Master, forgive me, I did not trust you. I thought you were going to harm me, I did not know you had a glorious future and a hope for me. I was too shortsighted, but I want to thank you. I want to thank you for the suffering. I want to thank you for the process of pain. Here I am! I give you myself - fill me; pour from me, use me as you see fit. I really want to be a vessel that brings you glory within my life." 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 COWS, CONSTITUTION, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Three Things to Ponder: C O W S Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow. T H E  C O N S T I T U T I O N They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq . Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore. T H E  1 0  C O M M A N D M E N T S The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal, 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians...It creates a hostile work environment. 777777777777777777777777777777777777 REAL CONFIDENCE The strongest confidence is quiet, inner confidence. The surest sign of inherent weakness and lack of confidence is the need to boast. Practice humility and what you will build is confidence. The less you care about impressing others, the more impressed they will be. Be honest and authentic, and your confidence will grow. The more fully you realize that there's no need to hide who you are, the more confident you'll become in every endeavor. Approach each task with understanding and patience. Don't let arrogance infect your attitude, for arrogance is a feeble imitation of confidence that drives real confidence away. Know where you are going and why. True confidence flows naturally from a clear sense of purpose. There is a solid, genuine confidence within you, and it can empower all that you do. Live and act to nourish and grow that confidence, and it will surely serve you well. -- Ralph Marston 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER NOTE: This application will be incomplete and rejected unless accompanied by a complete financial statement, job history, lineage, and current medical report from your doctor. NAME________ _________ _________ _________ __ DATE OF BIRTH_______ ______ HEIGHT______ _____ WEIGHT______ ______ IQ__________ GPA_________ ____ SOCIAL SECURITY #___________ ______ DRIVERS LICENSE #___________ _____ BOY SCOUT RANK AND BADGES______ _________ _________ _________ _________ HOME ADDRESS_____ _________ _________ CITY/STATE__ _________ ZIP______ Do you have parents? ___Yes ___No Is one male and the other female? ___Yes ___No If No, explain: ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ______ ____________ ___ Number of years they have been married ____________ _________ _________ If less than your age, explain ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ACCESSORIES SECTION: A. Do you own or have access to a van? __Yes __No B. A truck with oversized tires? __Yes __No C. A waterbed? __Yes __No D. A pickup with a mattress in the back? __Yes __No E. A tattoo? __Yes __No F. Do you have an earring, nose ring, __Yes __No pierced tongue, pierced cheek or a belly button ring? (IF YOU ANSWERED 'YES' TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, DISCONTINUE APPLICATION AND LEAVE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY. I SUGGEST RUNNING.) ESSAY SECTION: In a minimum of at least 50 words, what does 'LATE' mean to you? ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ In a minimum of at least 50 words, what does 'DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER' mean to you? ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ In a minimum of at least 50 words , what does 'ABSTINENCE' mean to you? ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ REFERENCES SECTION: Church you attend ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ___ How often you attend ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ When would be the best time to interview your: father? ____________ _ mother? ____________ _ pastor? ____________ _ SHORT-ANSWER SECTION: Answer by filling in the blank. Please answer freely, all answers are confidential. A: If I were shot, the last place on my body I would want shot would be: ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ B: If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken is my: ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ C: A woman's place is in the: ____________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _ D: The one thing I hope this application does not ask me about is: ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ E. What do you want to do IF you grow up? ____________ _________ ______ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ F. When I meet a girl, the thing I always notice about her first is: ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ F. What is the current going rate of a hotel room? ____________ ______ I SWEAR THAT ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT, NATIVE AMERICAN ANT TORTURE, CRUCIFIXION, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE, RED HOT POKERS, AND HILLARY CLINTON KISS TORTURE. ____________ ____ ____________ _________ _________ _________ __ Applicant's Signature (that means sign your name, moron!) ____________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ __ Mother's Signature Father's Signature ____________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ __ Pastor/Priest/ Rabbi State Representative/ Congressman Thank you for your interest, and it had better be genuine and non-sexual. Please allow four to six years for processing. You will be contacted in writing if you are approved. Please do not try to call or write (since you probably can't, and it would cause you injury). If your application is rejected, you will be notified by two gentleman wearing white ties carrying violin cases. (you might watch your back) To prepare yourself, start studying Daddy's Rules for Dating. Daddy's Rules for Dating Your dad's rules for your boyfriend (or for you if you're a guy) : Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up. Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.. Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips! . Pleas e don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist. Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a 'Barrier method' of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you. Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and ! other i ssues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: 'early.' Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry. Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than! painti ng the Golden Gate Bridge . Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car? Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual themes are to be avoided; movies which feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better. Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me. Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi . When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter! passwo rd, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine. 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777    Prop Me Up On My Leaning Side Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, "Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side."   After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he  prayed that prayer so fervently.   He answered, "Well sir, you see, it's like this....I got an old barn out back.  It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of weather, it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing, but one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.   Then I got to thinking 'bout that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time, I've withstood a lot of life's storms, I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning, at times." Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't, so we need to pray, "Lord, prop us up on our leaning side," so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord. Author unknown 7777777777777777777777777777777777777 Candy store Christian When someone finds a Christian, it is a sweet treat bargain indeed. No matter what is going on, Christians are filled with Almond Joy. If something stressful happens, Christians just Snicker and Tootsie Roll with the Sour Punches. Though troubles may Mound up to the Milky Way, Christians can always find the Bit of Honey in the rainbow. When one has a Butterfinger or Jawbreaker of an accident, Christians bring in that Reece’s Cup of cheer. When money troubles give someone a Blow Pop or Nestle’s Crunch their finances, Christians help others Skittle by until Pay Day. Christians have a Sweet Tart heart. They can be a true Lifesaver. So if things aren’t going so great as you trudge down the aisles, treat yourself to time with the Candy Store Christian. Who cares if everything isn’t coming up roses, when there is Hershey’s chocolate! Remember, Christians are allowed to give those holy Kisses! 77777777777777777777777 God’s Valentine Gift God’s Valentine gift of love to us Was not a bunch of flowers; It wasn’t candy, or a book To while away the hours. His gift was to become a man, So He could freely give His sacrificial love for us, So you and I could live. He gave us sweet salvation, and Instruction, good and true-- To love our friends and enemies And love our Savior, too. So as we give our Valentines, Let’s thank our Lord and King; The reason we have love to give Is that He gave everything. By Joanna Fuchs 77777777777777 Live for today I may never see tomorrow; there's no written guarantee And things that happened yesterday belong to history. I cannot predict the future, I cannot change the past, I have just the present moments, I must treat it as my last. I must use this moment wisely for it soon will pass away, and be lost forever, as part of yesterday. I must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their feet, Be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete. The unkind things I do today may never be undone, And friendships that I fail to win may nevermore be won. I may not have another chance, on bended knees to pray, and I thank God with a humble heart for giving me this Day. 77777777777777777777777 God's Retirement Plan Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked 12 hrs. that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattoed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19 year old college student balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting student loans for next semester. Dear Lord, remind us that the annoying teenage girl that dresses inappropriately and is too loud and too needy is dealing with the loss of her innocence, the loss of her mother, and the loss of her childhood. She is really looking for someone to pay attention to her and love her. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoying slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love. Working for God on earth doesn't pay much...but His retirement plan is out of this world. 77777777777777777777777777777777 from the Boot Camp Buddies Support Forum What you eat in private, you wear in public. Fill the holes in your life not the one in your face. Americans are digging their own graves with knives, forks and spoons. Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Be miserable, Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice. "Better to go to waste than to go to waist" Think with your brain not your belly. NOT TODAY. I AM GOING TO SAY NO: JUST FOR TODAY! Taste Not--want Not! Adding calories to a bad day will not make it better. I can always eat again at my next meal. Loose lips cause big hips. A year from now you can be glad you started or you can wish you had. AS LONG AS I DON'T QUIT, I CANNOT FAIL If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the answer! A goal without a plan is just a wish. Think like a thin person. It's not what you eat between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's what you eat between Christmas and Thanksgiving. The people who lose are the people who move...... There are only two choices: Make progress or make excuses. I can eat anything I want...tomorrow. Eat for the body you want, not for the body you have. How will I feel about this decision tomorrow? It's easier to say 'no' once in the store, than 'no' twenty times at home. There is no elevator to success, you have to take the steps" If it's to be, it's up to me. "DON'T WAIL ON THE SCALE IF YOU CHEAT WHEN YOU EAT!" A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."- Nothing will work unless you do. The only way you can fail to reach your goal is to stop before you get there. Don't believe in miracles. Depend on them. The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work." This hand puts this food into this mouth. "We all make our own choices...one bite at a time." face your stuff, don't stuff your face" "DON'T TREAT YOUR STOMACH LIKE A WAIST BASKET!" ONE SHOULD EAT TO LIVE, NOT LIVE TO EAT" Too many square meals make round people!" Let your head be more than a funnel to your stomach." There will be another time...there will be another biscuit." "Eating is not the problem; what you choose to eat is." You get what you settle for." "Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you what you are." Is 5 minutes of pleasure worth feeling like a piece of crap at least the rest of the day? little pickers wear big knickers Would you rather eat what you want, or wear what you want" Bigger snacks mean bigger slacks. 7777777777777777777777777777 words by Mark Lowry sung by Kenny Rogers Mary Did You Know Mary did you know that your Baby Boy Would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy Would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your Baby Boy Has come to make you new; This Child that you delivered Will soon deliver you. Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy Will give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy Will calm the storm with His hand? Did you know that your Baby Boy Has walked where Angels trod? When you kiss your Little Baby, You kiss the Face of God! Oh, Mary, did you know? Oh, Mary, did you know? The blind will see, the deaf will hear, The dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak The praises of the lamb! Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy Is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy Will one day rule the nations? Did you know that your Baby Boy Is Heaven's Perfect Lamb? This sleeping Child you're holding Is the Great I Am! 7777777777777777777777777 ANGEL TEARS AT CHRISTMAS God sends His lovely angel tears To us this time of year They float and tumble through the air And send out Christmas cheer. Each flake He sends is special From out of wintry skies They paint a pretty picture To soothe our weary eyes. They glide and twirl as if to say The season's just begun And gently beckon to us To join in merry fun. Like sparkling gems, they fill the sky And quietly take up space They seem to flow in harmony Attired in angel lace. At Christmas time when all is calm We look to things above For angel tears and Christmas To fill our lives with love. A sacred star shines in the East As Christmas day draws near A manger scene, a Holy night And gentle angel tears. The children gather 'round the tree To hear the Christmas story As angel tears fall to the earth To trim the earth in glory. His precious tears drift to the earth So everyone will know A child was born in Bethlehem It's written in the snow. So if you get to feeling blue And plagued by worldly fears Just look outside your window God's shedding angel tears. © 2001 Marilyn Ferguson 77777777777777777777777777 I KNOW WHO I AM I am God's child (John 1:12) I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 ) I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17 ) I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20) I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1) I am a personal witness of Christ.  (Acts 1:8) I am the salt & light of the earth ( Matt.5:13-14) I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27) I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2) I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant ( Phil.3:20) I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34) I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5:17-21) I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6) I cannot be separated from the love of God( Rom.8:35-39) I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22) I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28) I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 ) I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 ) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13) I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5) I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 ).  I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10) I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1) I am God's co-worker (1 Cor.. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship(Eph 2:10 ) I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected.  (Phil 1: 5) I have been redeemed and forgiven(Col.1:14).I have been adopted as God's child(Eph 1:5) I belong to God Do you know who you are!? 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777 OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE This is an absolutely incredible interview with Rick Warren, author of "Purpose Driven Life" His wife now has cancer, and he now has "wealth" from the book sales. In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said: "People ask me, 'What is the purpose of life?' And I respond: 'In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.' One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body--but not the end of me. I may live to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense. Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness. This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for. You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is 'my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others. We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases. Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call 'The Peace Plan' to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation. Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free. We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)? When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, 'God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better.' God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do That's why we're called human beings, not human doings. Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD. " 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 LEAVING THE CITY OF REGRET I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip." I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town. As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there. First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have and Could Have. Then came the I Had family. You probably know ol' Wish and his clan. Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost. The biggest family would be the Yesterdays. There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share. Then Shattered Dreams would surely make and appearance. And It's Their Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help It. Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent "pity party" could be cancelled by ME! I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no physical way to undo them. So, if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so very helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you in finding this great town. If you can find it -- it's in your own heart -- please look me up. I live on I Can Do It street. 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Count That Day Lost (by Mary Ann Evans 1819-1880) If you sit down at set of sun And count the acts that you have done, And, counting, find One self-denying deed, one word That eased the heart of him who heard, One glance most kind That fell like sunshine where it went- Then you may count that day well spent. But if, through all the livelong day, You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay- If, through it all You've nothing done that you can trace That brought the sunshine to one face- No act most small That helped some soul and nothing cost- Then count that day as worse than lost. 777777777 I'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER YOU  ---For Les 1965 -  - The Seekers There's a new world somewhere They call The Promised Land And I'll be there some day If you will hold my hand I still need you there beside me No matter what I do For I know I'll never find another you There is always someone For each of us they say And you'll be my someone For ever and a day I could search the whole world over Until my life is through But I know I'll never find another you It's a long, long journey So stay by my side When I walk through the storm You'll be my guide Be my guide If they gave me a fortune My pleasure would be small I could lose it all tomorrow And never mind at all But if I should lose your love, dear I don't know what I'd do For I know I'll never find another you But if I should lose your love, dear I don't know what I'd do For I know I'll never find another you Another you Another you 7777777777777777777 Give Thanks for Garden Bounty Let us give thanks; For generous friends...with hearts...and smiles as bright as their blossoms; For feisty friends, as tart as apples; For continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers, keep reminding us that we've had them; For crotchety friends, sour as rhubarb and as indestructible; For handsome friends, who are as gorgeous as eggplants and as elegant as a row of corn, and the others, as plain as potatoes and so good for you; For funny friends, who are as silly as Brussels sprouts and as amusing as Jerusalem artichokes; And serious friends as unpretentious as cabbages, as subtle as summer squash, as persistent as parsley, as delightful as dill, as endless as zucchini and who, like parsnips, can be counted on to see you through the winter; For old friends, nodding like sunflowers in the evening-time, and young friends coming on as fast as radishes; For loving friends, who wind around us like tendrils and hold us, despite our blights, wilts and witherings; And finally, for those friends now gone, like gardens past that have been harvested, but who fed us in their times that we might have life thereafter. For all these we give thanks. Rev Max Coots CLOTHESLINES by Marilyn Walker A clothesline was a news forecast To neighbors passing by. There were no secrets you could keep When clothes were hung to dry. It also was a friendly line For neighbors always knew If company had stopped on by To spend a night or two. For then you'd see the fancy sheets And towels upon the line; You'd see the company table clothes With intricate design. The line announced a baby's birth To folks who lived inside As brand new infant clothes were hung So carefully with pride. The ages of the children could So readily be known By watching how the sizes changed You'd know how much they'd grown. It also told when illness struck, As extra sheets were hung; Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too, Haphazardly were strung. It said, "Gone on vacation now" When lines hung limp and bare. It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged With not an inch to spare. New folks in town were scorned upon If wash was dingy gray, As neighbors raised their brows, And looked disgustedly away. But clotheslines now are of the past For dryers make work less. Now what goes on inside a home Is anybody's guess. I really miss that way of life. It was a friendly sign When neighbors knew each other best By what hung on the line! 777777777777777777777777777 if You Could See Me Now If You Could See Me Now (Kim Noblitt) Our prayers have all been answered. I finally arrived. The healing that had been delayed has now been realized. No one's in a hurry. There's no schedule to keep. We're all enjoying Jesus, just sitting at His feet. Cho: If you could see me now, I'm walking streets of gold. If you could see me now, I'm standing strong and whole. If you could see me now, you'd know I've seen His face. If you could see me now, you'd know the pain is erased. You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place, If you could only see me now. My light and temporary trials have worked out for my good, To know it brought Him glory when I misunderstood. Though we've had our sorrows, they can never compare. What Jesus has in store for us, no language can share. (Chorus twice) You wouldn't want me to ever leave this perfect place If you could only see me now If you could see me now If you could only see me now Kim Noblitt, (c) 1992 Integrity's Praise/BMI and Dad and Dann Music Sung by Truth (Russ Lee, soloist) on "Something to Hold On To," 1992. 7777777777777777777777777777777777777 I'm Spending Christmas With Jesus Christ This Year I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow. The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear For I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year. I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear But he sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here. For I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring For it is beyond description to hear as angels sing. I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart But I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year. I can't tell you the splendor or the peace here in this place Can you just imagine Christmas, with our Savior face to face? I'll ask Him to light your spirit as I tell Him of your love So, then pray on for another as you lift your eyes above. So, please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirit sing For I'm spending Christmas in Heaven and I'm walking with the King ! -Unknown- 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 A happy, self confident, person does not put others down. They might provide constructive criticism but they won’t put others down. This says lot about the person who criticizes. Some people are very negative about others because: - they need to make themselves feel like they're in control or more powerful or to cover up their own insecurities - they’ve experienced a trauma of their own in the past and they don’t know how to deal with the pain so they'll hurt others as a defence mechanism. "Hurting people hurt others" 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777 THE NEWNESS OF LIFE In order to learn something new you must first accept that you do not know it. To fully understand another person, you must let go of your desire to make blind assumptions and judgments about that person. Turn down the volume and intensity of your own chattering thoughts, and you can hear the music of life. Stop expecting to see what you've always seen before, and new and wondrous beauty will appear in front of your eyes. When you continue to perform a task the exact same way you've always done it, your effectiveness cannot improve very much. Be open to new ideas and techniques, and you can vastly accelerate your performance. If you cynically think you've experienced it all, you'll close yourself off from much of life's richness. If you consider yourself smarter than everyone else, you'll be supporting and advancing your own growing ignorance. Open your mind and your heart to the newness of life that comes with each moment. There is always more to learn, more to experience, more to appreciate and enjoy, no matter how much you've already done. With each dawning day, a whole new world of possibilities is born. Allow yourself to know and acknowledge their newness, and bring the best of those possibilities to life. -- Ralph Marston 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Safely Home I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now in peace forever, Safely home in heaven at last. Did you wonder I so calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh! But Jesus' love illumined Every dark and fearful glade. And He came Himself to meet me In that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus' arm to lean on, Could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still: Try to look beyond earth's shadows, Pray to trust our Father's Will. There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth- You shall rest in Jesus' land. When that work is completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come! Author Unknown  7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 If Tomorrow Starts Without Me If tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did today, while thinking of the many things we didn’t get to say. I know how much you care for me, and how much I care for you, and each time that you think of me I know you’ll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand, and said my place was ready in heaven far above, and that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, for all life, I’d always thought I didn’t want to die. I had so much to live for and so much yet to do. it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you. I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while, I’d say goodbye and hug you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realised that this could never be, for emptiness and memories would take the place of me. And when I thought of worldly things that I’d miss come tomorrow. I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through Heaven’s gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne, He said, "This is eternity and all I’ve promised you, Today your life on earth is past but here it’s starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last. and since each day’s the same, there’s no longing for the past. But you have been so faithful, so trusting, so true. Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn’t do. And you have been forgiven and now at last you’re free. So won’t you come and take my hand and share my life with me?" So if tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart, for every time you think of me, please know I’m in your heart. Author Unknown 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Don’t weep for me my dear ones, I’ve not gone very far Gently, angels all around me Took me by the hand And led me to a garden In a beautiful golden land Everywhere was shining Lovely to behold I felt a peace I’ve never known Wrapped in their arms as they took me home I wish to thank you, everyone For all your love and care Just knowing you were with me And the happy times we shared I will never leave you ever I will be in the softest sigh In the gentle summer breezes And the clouds in a morning sky Yes, I will be with you forever As long as there is love Then one day we’ll be together In God’s home above. 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Death is nothing at all I have only slipped away into the next room I am I and you are you whatever we were to each other that we still are call me by my old familiar name speak to me in the easy way which you always used put no difference in your tone wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together pray smile, think of me, pray for me Let my name be ever the household word that it always was Let it be spoken without effort without the trace of a shadow in it Life means all that it ever meant it is the same as it ever was there is unbroken continuity why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you somewhere very near just around the corner All is well Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918) Canon of St Paul's Cathedral 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 People say they’re sorry, And they mean it from the heart, But to understand your heartache, They couldn’t even start, To have a loss like you have had, Is too much to understand, We see it and we feel for you, But it’s only secondhand, You’re the ones who are suffering, And we’re the ones who care, But if there’s anything we can do, Call us, we’ll be there. 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 LIFE Life is but a stopping place A pause in what’s to be A resting place along the road To sweet eternity. We all have different journeys, Different paths along the way, We all were meant to learn some things, But never meant to stay... Our destination is a place Far greater than we know. For some, the journey’s quicker, For some the journey’s slow. And when the journey finally ends, We’ll claim a great reward And find an everlasting peace, Together with the Lord. Author Unknown 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 The Rose Beyond The Wall A rose once grew where all could see, sheltered beside a garden wall, And, as the days passed swiftly by, it spread its branches, straight and tall.... One day, a beam of light shone through a crevice that had opened wide ~ The rose bent gently toward its warmth then passed beyond to the other side... Now, you who deeply feel its loss, be comforted ~ the rose blooms there ~ Its beauty even greater now, nurtured by God's own loving care. Author Unknown 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 SEE THE BRIGHT FUTURE What has happened before has brought you to where you are. Yet the past has no control over where you can go from here. Your past history does not create your future. The choices you make right now are what create the substance of that future. Learn from your mistakes, but do not agonize over them. There is nothing you can do to change the fact that they happened, yet there is much you can do to move positively beyond them. When you dwell on the past it holds you prisoner. When you let it go, that allows you to go anywhere you now choose. People change, circumstances change, and you can change too. With each moment comes the opportunity to shake off the old assumptions and limitations, to give new purpose and meaning to life. Give new energy, new effort, new commitment and determination to this day that you have the good fortune to be living. See the bright future that can be, and you will make it so. -- Ralph Marston Remember Me Dear I'll see you one fine day Another place, another way Hold me close deep in your heart And in that way we'll never part Do the things we liked to do If not for me than just for you Tell the kids I love them so And show them all the love we've known Smile and let your heart be free Know you'll always be with me Your love, it let me live again And now anew you must begin I'll be there for the things you do And always be a part of you You'll see me with each song you sing As the twinkle in your wedding ring unknown 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777