May 16, 2003 V1N15
Greetings in Jesus's name. It's finally starting to act like summer around here; one week ago it was cloudy and rainy! Got up to 84 degrees today. Can't say I'm thrilled about the heat but it's nice to have sun when you're showing goats.
Well, it's about time I got this newsletter out so may God dump an extra blessing on each of you today and hope you enjoy reading this!
Apple
At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year, they have what is called "Baptist Day." On this day each one is to bring a lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every "Baptist Day" the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center.
The story is that one year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich. Dr. Tillich spoke for two and one-half hours "proving" that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book.
He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection the religious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense.
He then asked if there were any questions.
After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium.
"Docta' Tillich, I got one question," he said as all eyes turned toward him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it.
"Docta' Tillich"... CRUNCH, MUNCH... "My question is a simple question, "CRUNCH, MUNCH." Now, I ain't never read them books you read..."CRUNCH, MUNCH"...and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek" ...CRUNCH, MUNCH..." I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and Heidegger"... CRUNCH, MUNCH...He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate - was it bitter or sweet?"
Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple."
The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus."
The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.
Have you tasted Jesus?
Pass this inspiration on...
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One Step at a Time
Dear, God, I thank you
For the peace and quiet
Of meditation with You and Your Word.
For a mountain in the distance,--
The moving misty clouds,
Leafless trees reaching their arms heavenward
In praise and thankful laud.
If my soul is in turmoil
And I know not which way to take,--
You send reason to my mind
To guide me through the quake.
Journeying on the sea of life
As the waves billow and
There is strife. . .
In the midst
Comes a calmness of soul
As He whispers to me
"Let ME take control!"
Stepping forward in faith
I trust to move ahead,--
May this ever be the goal
As by HIM I am safely led.
God loves to do
What seems impossible to you and me!
"Oh, open our eyes
That we may truely see!"
~by Sara Anne Kane
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Prayer & Praise
Hi! Nothing has come to my attention at this time; just got done showing goats at the local fair about an hour ago. You can pray that all the animals stay healthy (and the exhibitors!) and that going home Sunday will be distinctly unexiciting. Thank you.
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Word Study
By AprilRose Pilgrim
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
Mercy....
Compassion or forbearance shown to an offender / Blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion.
Mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it, or that extends help even to the lowliest or most underserving.
Romans 9:15-16, 18,
Romans 11:30-32
Ephesians 2: 4-9
Titus 3:5-7
1 Peter 1:3
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we obtain mercy,and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
If anyone has any suggestions for the word study please let me know at applerp@yahoo.com
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Selected Sayings
1. When your knees are knocking, it might help to kneel on them.
2. In the ordinary business of life, industry can do anything which genius can do, and many things which it cannot. -Henry Ward Beecher
3. Revenge has no more quenching effect on emotions than salt water has on thirst. -Walter Weckler
4. Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company. -George Washington
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Smiley
A teenager was sitting in church, and when the collection plate was passed around, he quickly pulled a dollar bill from his pocket and dropped it in. Just then, the person behind him tapped him on his shoulder and handed him a $20 bill. The boy smiled, placed the $20 in the plate and passed it on, admiring that the man was being generous. Then the boy felt another tap from behind and heard a whisper: "Son," the man said, "that was your $20 bill that had fallen out of your pocket."
Thanks for taking time to read this! And if you have anything to send (right now I really need Verse of the Week), please e-mail me at ready4anything_2003@yahoo.com. The web page is at www.oocities.org/ready4anything_2003. Have a nice day, and God bless!
Staff: Editor in Chief: Jesus Christ
Assistant Editors: Jamie Scharf & April Pilgrim
Website Coodinator: Cheri Cross
Contributers: Deborah Epp
Sara Kane