101. CHOICE
A mother and father were worried about what career their son would
choose.
A friend told them to place on the dining room table - a twenty
dollar bill, a Bible and a bottle of liquor. Then they were to
hide behind the curtains and observe their son's action when he
came in.
If he takes $20, he would grow up to be a banker. If he chose
the Bible, a preacher and if he chose the liquor, a drunkard.
They carried out their friends suggestion. The son came in and
put $20 bill in his pocket held the Bible under one hand, the
liquor under the other and walked out of the room.
"Great goodness, Martha", said the husband "He's
going t be a politician".
102. KEEP ON TRYING
I love the story about the old farmer whose mule fell into the
well. After many attempts to have the mule out of the hole, the
farmer decided it was hopeless. So, with sadness he instructs
his boys to fill up several truck loads of dirt and just bury
the old mule there in the well. The boys backed up the truck filled
with dirt, shoveled in the dirt, and began to fill the well to
bury the mule. The mule didn't take it kindly, though. The first
shovel of dirt hit him squarely on the head, got in his eyes and
mouth, and made him sneeze. Every shovelful after that hit him
somewhere causing the old mule to stamp around in the bottom of
the well. Several trucks of dirt later the mule was still stamping
and packing dirt firmly under his feet. Little by little that
mule was lifting himself out of that hole. Sure enough, about
mid afternoon that mule simply stepped out of the well and snorted
at the whole business.
Have you noticed that is the way that some people deal with their
problems? Some complain. Some do not handle setbacks well, some
are defeated with slightest difficulty. There are others who like
the mule, when problems hit them. squarely on the head, they stamp
around enough. Until finally they use the problem to rise above
it.
103. WHAT MORE DO YOU EXPECT?
A mother was grumbling after church service that the church was
not air conditioned, the choir sang horribly and the sermon was
tedious whereupon her seven-year-old son said, "Mom, what
do you expect for a dollarput in the collection plate? Wasn't
the show worth more than a dollar?"
104. LIVING THIEF
A minister asked a man "Why don't you go to church?"
Quick as a flash he answered, "The dying thief did not join
a church and he went to heaven. "Have you been baptized?
The question continued. "The dying thief never was."
"Do you give to mission? "No, the dying thief never
did" "Well" said the minister "The only difference
between you and that thief is that he was a dying thief and you
are a living thief".
105. FIT THE HOME FOR JESUS
We read of a wealthy man who purchased at high cost a famous painting
of Jesus; He sought with difficulty, an appropriate place for
it on the walls of his home. At last he called in an old friend
who, after carefully examining the house and the picture, said
"Man, you cannot fit this picture into your home. You must
make home to fit it". Just as surely we must so order our
home of life that would be appropriate to invite Jesus to abide
there in.
106. BE USEFUL WHEN YOU LIVE
A pig was lamenting his lack of popularity. He complained to the
cow that people were always talking about the cow's gentleness
and kind eyes, whereas his name was used as an insult. The pig
admitted that the cow gave milk and cream, but maintained that
pigs gave more. "Why" the animal complained, "We
pigs give bacon and ham and bristles and people even pickle our
feet. Don't see why you cows are esteemed so much more".
The cow thought a while and said gently "May be it's because
we give while we're still living".
107. IN GOD'S GOOD TIME
Poor Man : Lord, Is it true that to you a thousand years is like
a
second?
God : Yes, that's true
Poor Man : And is it also true that to you a million dollar is
like penny?
God : Yes. that's so.
Poor man : Then Lord, could you give me a penny?
God : Yes! in a second.
108. FREE AGAIN
A twelve years old boy accidentally killed one of his family's
geese by throwing a stone. Figuring his parents wouldn't notice
that one of the twenty four birds was missing, he buried it. But
his sister called him aside and said, "I saw what you did.
If you don't offer to do the dishes tonight, I'll tell mother.
The frightened boy felt bound to do the dishes. Later, he surprised
his sister by telling her it was her turn. When she quietly reminded
him of what she could do, he replied, "I've already told
mother, and she has forgiven me. Now you do the dishes. I'm free
again. Are you burdened down with guilt? confess it and taste
again the delicious freedom of God's grace?
109. THE WISE WOMAN'S STONE-
A wise woman, while travelling in the mountains, found a precious
stone in a stream. The next day she encountered a hungry traveller.
The woman opened her bag to share what food she had, but the hungry
traveller saw the precious stone and asked if he could have it.
She gave it to him without hesitation.
The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone
was worth enaugh to give him security for a life time. A few days
later, however, he returned the stone to the woman. I've been
thinking, he said, "I know how valuable this stone is, but
I must give it back in the hope you will give me something even
more precious. Give me what you have inside of you, that enabled
you to give me this stone".
110. COUNT ON GOD
Count your blessings instead of your problems
Count your gains instead of your losses
Count your joys instead of your woes
Count your friends instead of your foes
Count your smiles instead of your tears
Count your courage instead of your fears
Count your health instead of your wealth
Count on God instead of yourself.
111. HOW POOR WE REALLY ARE
One day a wealthy man took his son on a trip to the country so
that he could have his son see how poor country people were living.
They stayed one day and one night in the farmhouse of a very humble
farmer. At the end of the trip and back home the father asked
the son what did you think of the trip?
Son : Very nice dad.
Father : Did you notice how poor they were?
Son : Yes.
Father : What did you learn?
Son : I have learnt that we have one dog in the house and they
have four. We have a fountain in the garden and they have a stream
that has no end. We have imported lamps in the gardens, they have
the stars. Our garden goes to the end of our property, they have
the entire horizon as their backyard.
At the end of the son's reply the father was speechless and his
son added. "Thank you dad for showing me how poor we really
are."
112. SAVING
A young bride knitted a sweater for her husband who was in the
Army and stationed in Hawai. When she mailed, she enclosed a note:
"Air mail cost so much for each ounce that I have cut all
the buttons off your sweater."
P.S. you'll find them all in the right hand pocket.
113. WORRY
Jack was moaning and groaning in his bed one night and his wife
said "Jack what's the matter? Go to sleep". And Jack
told her he owed his neighbour, Morris, a thousand dollars and
he had to pay it in the morning, and he didn't have it, and he
was so worried he couldn't sleep. So Jack's wife went over and
raised the window and called across the street, "Morris,
Morris wake up" Morris came to the window rubbing in eyes
sleepily, "What is it? What's the matter? Jacks wife called
back, "I just want to tell you that Jack can't pay you that
thousand dollars tomorrow. He ain't got it". Then she shut
the window and said to her husband, "Go to sleep Jack, now
Morris can worry".
114. PERFECT RENUNCIATION
There was a king who had a wise minister. The king inquired of
his minister if he could meet a man of perfect renunciation. The
minister replied casually, "There is one in every street
corner, your majesty." Not coming across any such person
for several days, the king commanded his minister to produce a
man of renunciation before him within a week, failing which the
minister would lose his job. The minister searched high and low
but could not find a single true sanyasi.
Finally the minister came up with a plan.He chose a young man
who was told to act like a sanyasi, in return for which he would
receive one hundred pieces of gold. As per plan,the young I man
dressed himself in robes, wore a - sacred garland- rudraksha mala,
scarred his body with holy ash - vibhuti and sat under a banyan
tree.
When the king questioned the minister as to whether he had come
across a true sanyasi, the minister took the king and his retinue
to the banyan tree where the young man was apparently in deep
meditation.
Impressed, the king prostrated before the 'holy' man with great
reverence. So did the queen followed by the princes and princesses.
The king made offering of money, jewellery, silk cloth and food.
All of this was rejected by the sanyasi. He would not accept any
of these things.
Impressed and thoroughly satisfied, the King returned to his palace.
The minister, after seeing that the king and his retinue were
safely back in the palace doubled back to the banyan tree with
one hundred pieces of gold, as promised. Congratulating the sanyasi
for his supers performance, he handed him his "fees".
Signalling him to sit beside him, the young man said,"Did
you not learn a great lesson of life today?" I merely feigned
an act of renunciation, a mere show, and so much wealth and reverence
were showered upon me. What would I not achieve, if I genuinely
gave up everything? Realise that my friend, and take this gold
back with you".
115. PRAYER
Lal : Does your father pray before eating food?
Mohan : Yes
Lal ; How do you know?
Mohan : It's quite easy!. Yesterday when I was talking about food.
My father said, "Oh! God pumpkin again".
116. BEARD & THE HAIR
The question on the test was, "Why does a man's hair turn
grey before his moustache does. One bright student wrote. Naturally
the hair on a man's head turns grey first, as it is twenty years,
older than the hair on his face.
117. WHY YOU GO OUT
Wife : Why do you go out on to the balcony when I sing? Don't
you like my singing?
Husband : No, I want the neighbours to see that its not me singing.
118. TEAMWORK
Mike Barker, one of the famous sergeants told that the obstacle
course in Air Force basic training changed his life. On his first
attempt he completed the course far ahead of every one else, but
he was immediately confronted by his drill sergeant, who demanded,
"Where are all your buddies?" "Back there Sir,"
Mike replied "I won!"
The sergeant barked, "The obstacle course isn't about coming
in first.. Its about finishing. Everybody finishes or nobody wins.
Go back and run it again, and this time help the guys who are
struggling along the way".
That began Mikes, transformation from a lone competitor obsessed
with winning into an encourager whose goal was to build team work.
119. THE JUG OF WATER
A Nigerian tribal chief sent out his messengers to invite all
of the men of the tribe to a great feast. "All of the food
will be provided," they announced, "but each man must
bring one jug of palm wine."
Ezra wanted to attend the great festival very much, but he had
no wine. He paced the floor trying to think of a solution for
his dilemma. Finally his wife suggested. You could buy a jug of
wine. It is not too expensive for such a great occasion".
"How foolish", Ezra cried "To spend money when
there is a way to go free". Once again he paced until he
came upon a plan."Rather than wine I will carry water in
my jug. Several hundred men will attend the festival. What will
it hurt to add one jug of water to the great pot of wine?"
On the day of the feast the tribal drums began to beat early in
the morning. Reminding the people of the great festival. All of
the men came dressed in the finest clothes, gathering by midmorning
at the home of the chief. As each man entered the tribal grounds,
he poured his jug of wine into a large earthern pot. Ezra carefully
poured the contents of his container into the pot, greeted the
chief, and joined the dances.
When all the guests arrived, the chief commanded the music to
cease and ordered the servants to fill everyone's glass with wine.
As the chief spoke the opening words of the festival, all of the
guests raised there glasses and drank. Suddenly a cry of disbelief
arose from the crowd, and they quickly drank again. What they
tasted was not wine, but water. Each guest had decided that his
one jug of water could not spoil the great pot of palm wine.
120. THE GRAIN OF RICE
Once there was a good king who ruled wisely and who ruled well.
He was loved by all the people of his kingdom. One day the king
called his four daughters together and told them that he was '
leaving on a long journey. "I wish to learn about God. I
will spend along time in prayer. In my absence I will leave the
four of you in charge."
"Oh, father", they cried, "don't leave us. We will
never he able to rule the kingdom without you".
The king smiled. "You will do well in my absence. Now before
I leave I wish to give each of you a gift. It is my prayer that
this gift will help you learn the meaning of rule".
The king placed a single grain of rice in each daughter's palm.
Then he left.
The oldest daughter immediately went to her room. She tied a long
golden thread around the grain of rice and placed it in a beautiful
crystal box. Every day she picked up the box and looked at it.
The second daughter also went to her room, where she placed the
grain of rice in a wooden box and put it in a secure spot, under
her bed.
The third daughter, a very pragmatic young woman, looked at the
grain of rice and thought, - "this grain of rice is no different
from any other grain of rice". She simply threw the grain
of rice
away.
The youngest daughter took the grain of rice to her room and wondered
about the significance of the gift. She wondered for a week, then
a month. When nearly a year had passed, she understood the meaning
of the gift.
Months turned into years, and the four daughters ruled in the
absence of their father. Then, one day, the king returned. His
beard was full and his eyes sparkled with illumination gained
through years of prayer. The king greeted each of his daughters,
and then asked to see the gifts he had left them.
The oldest daughter rushed to her room and brought the crystal
box. "Father", she began, "I carefully tied a golden
thread
around the grain of rice and have kept it near my bed where I
have looked at it every day since you left"
Bowing to his daughter, the king accepted the box and said, "Thank
you".
Next, the second daughter presented her father with the grain
of rice. "All these years I have kept the rice secure under
my bed" she said "Here it is!"
Again the father bowed, accepted the box, and said 'Thank You"
The third daughter rushed to the kitchen, found a gain of rice,
ran back and said, "Father, here is a grain of rice".
Smiling, the king accepted the grain of rice, bowed, and said,
"Thank you".
Finally the youngest daughter stepped before her father and spoke.
"I do not have the grain of rice that you gave me,"
she said.
"What did you do with it?" the king inquired. "Father,
I thought about that grain of rice for nearly a year before I
discovered the meaning of the gift. I realised that the grain
of rice was a seed, so I planted it in the ground. Soon it grew,
and from it I harvested other seeds. I then planted all of those
seeds, and again I harvested the crop. Father, I have continued
to do this. Come, look at the results."
The king followed his daughter to the window where he looked out
at an enormous crop of rice stretching as far as the eye could
see. There was enough rice to feed their entire small nation.
Stepping before his daughter, the king took off his golden crown
and placed it on her head. "You have learned the meaning
of rule" he said softly.
From that day the youngest daughter ruled the kingdom. She ruled
long, and she ruled wisely, and she ruled well.
121. THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR DONKEY
A miller and his son were travelling to market with their donkey.
They had not gone far when they overheard three women at a well.
"Have you ever seen anything so strange? Two men are walking
when they could ride. Why do people have donkeys?"
Responding to the women, the miller quickly put his son on the
back of the animal and continued on the journey. Soon they met
two men in the midst of fierce debate. "I say the present
generation shows no respect for its elders", cried the older
man -spying the miller and his son, he continued, "there,
that proves what I am saying. The young, healthy lad rides while
his old father is forced to walk".
Immediately the father told his son to dismount, and he climbed
on the animals back. They hadn't gone very far when they met a
man and his wife walking down the road. "Look at that mean
father", the woman exclaimed. "He rides while his little
son has to walk".
Embarrassed, the miller took his son by the arm, "Come up
here with me. We will both ride on the donkey" Together they
rode towards the market. Soon they met a group of men loading
hay beside the road. "Shame on you, "a fat man cried,
"over loading the poor donkey, "why, the two of you
are strong enough to carry that poor animal"
Both the Miller and son quickly got off the animal and walked
along until they found a large log. They tied the legs of the
donkey together and slipped the log between the animals legs.
Then they attempted to carry it over the bridge that led to the
market.
People on the other side of the bridge roared with laughter when
they saw two men trying to carry a donkey. The noise so frightened
the animal that he kicked loose and fell into the river and drowned.
(The simpleton believes everything, but the prudent looks where
he is going)
122. THE MISER
There was a rich jeus who never gave alms to the poor or contributed
to charitable causes. People in his small village never called
him by name, they simply referred to him as the Miser.
One day a beggar came to the door of the Miser "Where do
you come from?" He asked. "I live in the village",
answered the begger.
" Nonsense", cried the Miser." Everyone in this
village knows that I do not support beggars!"
In the same village there lived a poor shoe maker. He was a most
generous man who responded to every person in need and every charitable
cause that was brought to his attention. No one was ever turned
away empty-handed from his door.
One day the Miser died. The village leaders decided to burry him
at the edge of the cemetery. No one mourned his passing; no one
followed the funeral procession to the place of burial.
As the days passed the rabbi heard disturbing news regarding the
shoe maker.
" He no longer gives alms to the beggars ", complained
one man. "He has refused every charity that has approached
him," declared another.
" Has anyone asked about his change? " inquired the
rabbi
" Yes," replied the first man." He says he no longer
has money to give away"
Soon the rabbi called on the shoe maker." Why have you suddenly
ceased giving money to worthy causes?"
Slowly the shoe maker began to speak,
" Many years ago the man you called the Miser came to me
with a huge sum of money and asked me to distribute it to beggars
and charities. He made me promise that I would not reveal the
source of the money until after he died. Once every month he would
visit me secretly and give me additional money to distribute.
I came to be known as a great benefactor even though I never spent
penny of my own money. I am surprised that no one questioned me
earlier. How could anyone who earned the wages of a shoe maker
give away as much money as I have all these years? "
The rabbi called all of the villagers together and told them the
story. "The Miser has lived by the scriptures, keeping his
charity a secret," the rabbi told them. Then they all walked
to the grave of the Miser and prayed. When he died the rabbi asked
to be burried near the fence, next to the grave of the man known
as the Miser.
123. THREE HUNDRED GOLD COINS
There was once a cobbler who was a happy and contented man. People
who passed his shop laughed and waved when they saw him singing
at the top of his voice while fixing shoes. Many people stopped
in his shop just to bask in the warmth of his smile.
One of the people who observed the cobbler was a banker who sang
little and smiled less. He seldom slept well. At first he was
irritated by the constant good humor of the cobbler, but as the
days passed he was attracted to the man. Finally he decided to
visit the cobbler and discover his secret of happiness.
After the two men talked for a while, the banker inquired, "Are
you wealthy? Pardon me for asking, but how much money do you make
each year?"
" My family is seldom in want," The cobbler answered."
Some days I only fix shoes; no one buys. The shop is closed on
holy days, so there is no income at all when we celebrate the
witness of a saint. I simply cannot give you an accurate sum".
" How wonderfully simple"; the banker said "I have
decided to eliminate your financial problems for the immediate
future since you have so openly shared your life story with me.
Take this gift of 300 gold coins and use them whenever you have
need".
Over joyed, the cobbler quickly went home and burried the gold
in a corner of his house. The succeeding days brought many changes.
He often left the shop to go home when the family was absent,
thinking that some one might come when they were gone and steal
his wealth. He began to lose sleep at night because he feared
that people were plotting to steal the gold. Old friends noticed
that he did not sing with the same cheer, and he often seemed
suspicious when some one stopped into shop just to chat.
Finally, the cobbler visited the banker with the bag of gold in
his hands. "Thank you for your generous gift", he began,
"bull cannot really afford to be the owner of these gold
coins. Please take your money back so that I may again enjoy music,
sleep, and my friends. It seems that when I burried the money,
I buried happiness at the same time".
124. HOW WILL YOU KNOW THE WAY TO HEAVEN
A Famous Evangelist was to conduct a service in a town he had
never visited before. On alighting, from the train, he enquired
from a little boy; "Son, can you tell me the way to the post
office?", The boy told him. The moving preacher thanked him
and asked, "Do you know who I am?"
"No" answered the lad.
"I'm Gabriel Boyle, the preacher. You come to my service
tonight and I'll show you the way to heaven!"
"Go on", retorted the lad "You don't even know
the way to the post-office, how can you know the way to heaven".
125. ENCOURAGEMENT
A group of frogs were travelling through the woods, and two of
them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around
the pit., When they saw how deep the pit was, told the two frogs
that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments
and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The
other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good
as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other
frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again,
the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.
He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out,
the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog
explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging
him the entire time.
This story teaches two lessons:
1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging
word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make
it through the day.
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes
to kill them. Be careful of what you say.
Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words is
sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such
a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of
the spirit to continue, in difficult times. Special is the individual
who will take the time to encourage another.-
- 126. GENEROSITY
Ruth looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark,
only her name and address. She read the letter, "Dear Ruth
: I'am going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and
I would like to visit. Love Always, Jesus". Her hands were
shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would
the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything
to;
offer". With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen
cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to
offer, I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for
dinner. She reached for her purse and counted out it's contents.
Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread
and cold cuts, at least". She threw on her coat and hurried
out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey,
and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total of twelve
cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as
she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm. "Hey
lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth had been so absorbed in
her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled
in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little
more than rags. "Look lady, I ain't got a job, you know,
and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and,
well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and,
well, if you could help us, lady, we'd really appreciate it."
Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and
frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work
if they really wanted to. "Sir, I'd like to help you, but
I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some
bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and
I was planning on serving that to him" "Yeah, well,
okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man his arm
around the woman's shoulders, turned and he headed back into the
alley As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in
her heart. "Sir, wait!" The Couple stopped and turned
as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you
take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest."
She handed the man her grocery bag. "Thank you lady. Thank
you very much!". "Yes, thank you!" It was the man's
wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You
know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take
this one. "Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over
the woman shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back
to the street....without her coat and with nothing to serve her
guest. "Thank you lady! Thank you very much!" Ruth was
chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too.
The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer
Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she
did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That's
odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."
She took the letter out of the box and opened it. "Dear Ruth,
it was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal.
And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat. Love Always, Jesus".
The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer
noticed.
127. CRACKED POTS
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each
end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots
had a crack in it, and while the other pot was prefect and always
delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk
from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived
only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with
the bearer delivering only one and half pots full of water in
his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But
the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and
miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it
had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be
a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the
stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and want to apologize to
you". "Why?" asked the bearer." What are you
ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years,
to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes
water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because
of my flaws; you have to do all of this work, and you don't get
full value from your efforts", the pot said. The water bearer
felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said,
"As we return tc the master's house, I want you to notice
the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went
up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming
the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered
it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because
it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to
the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did
you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path,
but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always
known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower
seeds on your side of the path, and every day when we walk back
from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been
able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate master's table.
Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this
beauty to grace his house".
Moral :Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all crackes
pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our
lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just
got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good
in them. There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good
in you. .
128. GOD'S PRESENCE
An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that
the "accident of creation" had created. "What majestic
trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he
said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river he heard
a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw
a 7 - foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could
up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear
was closing. He ran even faster, so scared that tears were coming
to his eyes. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was
even closer. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to
run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled
over to pick himself up but saw the bear; right on top of him;
reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to
strike him. At that instant the Atheist cried out "Oh my
God!...." Time stopped. The bear froze, The forest was silent.
Even the river stopped moving. As a bright light shone upon the
man, a voice came out of the sky, "you deny my existence
for all of these years; teach others I don't exist; and even credit
creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out
of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?" The
atheist looked directly into the light "it would be hypocritical
to ask to be a Christian after all these years, but perhaps could
you make the bear a Christian?" "Very well", said
the voice. The light went out. The river began to run again and
the sounds of the forest resumed once more and then the bear dropped
his right paw....brought both paws together...bowed his head and
spoke:
"Lord, for this food which I am about to receive, I am trully
thankful"
129. JESUS CHECKING IN
A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day,
decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just
then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle, The minister
frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt
was kinda shabby and his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt,
he bowed his head, then rose and walked away. In the days that
followed, each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just
for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap.
Well, the minister's suspicions grew. With robbery a main fear,
he decided to stop the man and ask him "What are you doing
here?"
The old man said, he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time, for finding strength and power.
"I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far
away;
as I kneel here talking to the Lord, this is kinda what I say:
"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN."
The minister feeling foolish, told Jim, that was fine. He told
the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime. Time to
go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks". He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before. His
cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer:
"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME
CHECKING IN."
Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry some. At the
factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill. The hospital
staff was worried, but he'd given them a thrill. The week that
Jim was with them, brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a
joy contagious. Changed people, were his reward. The head nurse
couldn't understand why Jim was so glad, when no flowers, calls
or cards came, not a visitor he had. The minister stayed by his
bed, he voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared He had no where to turn.
Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile;
"the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that in here all
the while everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you
see, He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to
me:
"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,
AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.
ALWAYS LOVE TO HERE YOU PRAY,
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,
AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN."
130. THE NIGHT THE CHIMES RANG
It is better, much better, to have wisdom and knowledge than gold
and silver.
Prov. 16:16
Once, long ago, a magnificent church stood on a high hill in a
great city. When lighted up for a special festival, it could be
seen for miles around. And yet there was something even more remarkable
about his church than its beauty: the strange and wonderful legend
of the bells.
At the corner of the church was a tall gray tower, and at the
top of the tower, so people said, was a chime of the most beautiful
bells in the world. But the fact was that no one had heard the
bells for many years. Not even on Christmas. For it was the custom
on Christmas Eve for all the people to bring to the Church their
offerings to the Christ child. And there had been a time when
a very unusual offering laid on the altar brought glorious music
from the chimes far up in the tower. Some said that the wind rang
them, and others that the angels set - them swinging. But lately
no offering had been great enough to deserve the music of the
chimes.
Now a few miles from the city, in a small village, lived a boy
named Pedro and his little brother. They knew very little about
the Christmas chimes, but they had heard of the service in the
church on Christmas Eve and they decided to go to see the beautiful
celebration.
The day before Christmas was bitterly cold, with a hard white
crust on the ground. Pedro and his little brother started out
early in the afternoon, and despite the cold they reached the
edge of the city by nightfall. They were about to enter one of
the great gates when Pedro saw something dark on the snow near
their path. It was a poor woman, who had fallen just outside the
city, too sick and tired to get in where she might have found
shelter. Pedro tried to rouse, her, but she was barely conscious.
"It's no use little brother. You will have to go along."
"Without you?" cried the little brother. Pedro nodded
slowly. "This woman will freeze to death if nobody cares
for her. Everyone has probably gone to the church now, but when
you come back, be sure and bring someone to help her. Iwill stay
here and try to keep her from freezing, and perhaps get her to
eat the roll I have in my pocket." "But I can't leave
you!" cried his little brother. "Both of us need not
miss the service", said Pedro. "You must see and hear
everything twice, once for you and once for me. I am sure the
Christ child knows how I would love to worship him. And if you
get a chance, take this silver piece of mirte and when no one
is looking, lay it down for my offering".
In this way he hurried his little brother off to the city, and
winked hard to keep back the tears of disappointment. The great
church was a brilliant place that night; it had never looked so
beautiful. When the organ played and the thousands of people sang,
the walls shook with the sound. At the close of the service came
the procession with the offerings to be laid on the altar. Some
brought jewels, some heavy baskets of gold. A famous writer laid
down a book he had been writing for years. And last of all walked
the King of the country, hoping with all the rest to win for himself
the chime of the Christmas bells.
A great murmur went through the church as the King took from his
head the royal crown, all set with precious stones, and laid it
on the altar. "Surely", everyone said, "we will
hear the bells now'." But the cold wind was all that was
heard in the tower.
The procession was over, and the choir began the closing hymn.
Suddenly the organist stopped playing. The singing ceased. Not
a sound could be heard from anyone in the church. As all the people
strained their ears to listen, there came softly - but distinctly
- the sound of the chimes in the tower. So far away and yet so
clear, the music seemed so much sweeter than anything ever heard
before. Then they all stood up together and looked at the altar
to see what great gift had awakened the long silent bells. But
all they saw was the childish figure of Pedro's little brother,
who had crept softly down the aisle when no one was looking and
laid Pedro's little piece of silver on the altar.
Raymond Me Donald Alden
131. WHY?
"On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a
thin dress,
with little hope of a decent meal.
I became angry and said to God:
'Why did you permit this?
Why don't you do something about it?'
For awhile God said nothing.
That night he replied, quite suddenly:
"I certainly did something about it. I made you."
Author Unknown Submitted by Sister Mary Rose Me Geady,
Covenant House
132. AN EXCHANGE OF GIFTS
Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it
from themselves
Sir James Matthew Barrie
I grew up believing that Christmas was a time when strange and
wonderful things happened, when wise and royal visitors came riding,
when at midnight the barnyard animals talked to one another, and
in the light of fabulous star God came down to us as a little
child. Christmas to me has always been a time of enchantment,
and never more so than the year that my son Marty. was eight.
That was the year that my children and I moved into a cozy trailer
home in a forested area just outside of Redmond, Washington. As
the holiday approached, our spirits were light, not to be dampened
even by the winter rains that swept down Puget Sound to douse
our home and make our floors muddy.
Throughout that December, Marty had been the most spirited, and
busiest, of us all. He was my youngest; a cheerful boy, blond-haired
and playful, with a quaint habit of looking up at you and cocking
his head like a puppy when you talked to him. Actually, the reason
for this was that Marty was deaf in his left ear, but it was a
condition that he never complained about.
For weeks, I had been watching Marty. I knew that something was
going on with him that he was not telling me about. I saw how
eagerly he made his bed, took out the trash, and carefully set
the table and helped Rick and Pam prepare dinner before I got
home from work. I saw how he silently collected his tiny allowance
and tucked it away, spending not a cent of it. I had no idea what
all this quiet activity was about, but I suspected that somehow
it had something to do with Kenny. Kenny was Marty's friend, and
ever since they had found each other in the springtime, they were
seldom apart. If you called to one, you got them both. Their world
was in the meadow, a horse pasture broken by a small winding stream,
where the boys caught frogs and snakes, where they would search
for arrowheads or hidden treasure, or where they would spend an
afternoon tending peanuts to the squirrels.
Times were hard for our little family, and we had to do some scrimping
to get by. With my job as a meat wrapper and with a lot of ingenuity
around the trailer, we managed to have elegance on a shoestring.
But not Kenny's family. They were desperately poor, and his mother
was having a real struggle to feed and clothe her two children.
They were a good, solid family. But Kenny's mom was a proud woman,
very proud, and she had strict rules.
How we worked, as we did each year, to make our home festive for
the holiday. Ours was a handcrafted Christmas of gifts hidden
away and ornaments strung about the place.
Marty and Kenny would sometimes sit still at the table long enough
to help make cornucopias or weave little baskets for the tree.
But then, in a flash, one would whisper to the other, and they
would be out the door and sliding cautiously under the electric
fence into the horse pasture that separated our home from Kenny's.
One night shortly before Christmas, when my hands were deep in
Peppernoder dough, shaping tiny nut like Danish cookies heavily
spiced with cinnamon, Marty came to me and said in a tone mixed
with pleasure and pride, "Mom, I've bought Kenny a Christmas
present. Want to see it?" So that's what he's been up to,
I said to myself. "It's something he's wanted for a long,
long time, Mom". '
After carefully wiping his hands on a dish towel, he pulled from
his pocket a small box. Lifting the lid, I gazed at the pocket
compass that my son had been having all those allowances to buy.
A little compass to point an eight-year-old adventurer through
the woods. "It's a lovely gift, Martin," I said, but
even as I spoke, a disturbing thought came to mind. I knew how
Kenny's mother felt about their poverty. They could barely afford
to exchange gifts among themselves, and giving presents to others
was out of the question. I was sure that Kenny's proud mother
would not permit her son to receive something he could not return
in kind. Gently, carefully, I talked over the problem with Marty.
He understood what I was saying.
"I know, Mom I know!... But what if it was a secret? What
if they never found out who gave it?"
I didn't know how to answer him. I just didn't know. The day before
Christmas was rainy and cold and gray. The three kids had all
but fell over one another as we elbowed our way about our little
home, putting finishing touches on Christmas secrets and"
preparing for family and friends who would be dropping by. Night
settled in. The rain continued. I looked out the window over the
sink and felt an odd sadness. How mundane the rain seemed for
a Christmas Eve! Would any royal men come riding on such a night?
I doubted it. It seemed to me that strange and wonderful things
happened only on clear nights, nights when one could at least
see a star in the heavens.
I turned from the window, and as I checked on the ham and lease
bread warming in the oven, I saw Marty slip out the door. He wore
his coat over his pajamas, and he clutched atiny, colorfully wrapped
box in his hand.
Down through the soggy pasture he went, then a quick slide under
the electric fence and across the yard to Kenny's house. Up the
steps on tiptoes, shoes squashing; open the screen door just a
crack; place the gift on the doorstep, then a deep breath, a reach
for the doorbell, and a press on it hard.
Quickly Marty turned, ran down the steps and across the yard in
a wild race to get away unnoticed. Then, suddenly, he banged into
the electric fence. The shock sent him reeling. He lay stunned
on the wet ground. His body quivered and he gasped for breath.
Then slowly, weakly, confused and frightened, he began the grueling
trip back home.
"Marty", we cried as he stumbled through the door, "what
happened?" His lowerd lip quivered, his eyes brimmed.
"I forgot about the fence, and it knocked me down!"
I hugged his muddy little body to me. He was still dazed and there
weas a red mark beginning to blister on his face from his mouth
to his ear. Quickly I treated the blister and, with a warm cup
of cocoa soothing him, Marty's bright spirits returned. I tucked
him into bed and just before he fell asleep, he looked up at me
and said, "Mom, Kenny didn't see me. I'm sure he didn't see
me".
That Christmas Eve I went to bed unhappy and puzzled. It seemed
such a cruel thing to happen to a little boy while on the purest
kind of Christmas mission, doing what the Lord wants us all to
do - giving to others - and giving in secret at that. I did not
sleep well that night. Somewhere deep inside I think I must have
been feeling the disappointment that the night of Christmas had
come and it had been just an ordinary, problem - filled night,
no mysterious enchantment at all. But I was wrong. By morning
the rain had stopped and the sun shone. The streak on Marty's
face was very red, but I could tell that the burn was not serious.
We opened our presents, and soon, not unexpectedly, Kenny was
knocking on the door, eager to show Marty his new compass and
tell about the mystery of its arrival. It was plain that Kenny
didn't suspect Marty at all, and while the two of them talked,
Marty just smiled and smiled.
Then I noticed that while the two boys were comparing their Christmases,
nodding and gesturing and chattering away , Marty was not cocking
his head. When Kenny was talking, Marty seemed to be listening
with his deaf ear. Weeks later a report came from the school nurse,
verifying what Marty and I already knew. "Marty now has complete
hearing in both ears."
The mystery of how Marty regained his hearing, and still has it,
remains just that - a mystery. Doctors suspect, of course, that
the shock from the electric fence was somehow responsible. Perhaps
so. Whatever the reason, I just remain thankful to God for the
good exchange of gifts that was made that night.
So you see, strange and wonderful things still happen on the night
of our Lord's birth. And one does not have to have a clear night,
either, to follow a fabulous star.-
- 133. MOST RICHLY BLESSED
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for-
But everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my
unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men,
Most richly blessed.
Anonymous Confederate Soldier
134. FAITH
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith
is to see what we believe.
- Saint Augustine
The fields were parched and brown from lack of rain, and the crops
lay wilting from thrist. People were anxious and irritable as
they searched the sky for any sign of relief. Days turned into
arid weeks. No rain came. The ministers of the local churches
called for an hour of prayer on the town square the following
Saturday. They requested that everyone bring an object of faith
for inspiration.
At high noon on the appointed Saturday the towns people turned
out en masse, filling the square with anxious faces and hopeful
hearts. The ministers were touched to see the variety of objects
clutched in prayerful hands holy books, crosses, rosaries.
When the hours ended, as if on magical command, a soft rain began
to fall. Cheers swept the crowd as they held their treasured objects
high in gratitude and praise. From the middle of the crowd one
faith symbol seemed to overshadow all the others. A small nine-year-old
child had brought an umbrella.
Laverne W. Hall
135. THE BIBLE
Dear Abby:
A young man from a famous family was about to graduate from high
school. It was the custom in that affluent neighborhood for the
parents to give the graduate an automobile. Bill and his father
had spend months looking at cars, and the week before graduation
they found the perfect car. Bill was certain that the car would
be his on graduation night.
Imagine his disappointment when, on the eve of his graduation,
Bill's father handed him a gift-wrapped Bible! Bill was so angry,
he threw the Bible down and stormed out of the house. He and his
father never saw each other again. It was the news of his father's
death that brought Bill home again.
As he sat one night, going through his father's possessions that
he was to inherit, he came across the Bible his father had given
him. He brushed away the dust and opened it to find a cashier's
check, dated the day of his graduation, in the exact amount of
the car they had chosen together.
Beckah Fink
Sometimes the GIFTS may not come in the Wrappings that we expect.
136. GRADUATION CAR
A high school senior went to his father in January of the year
he was to graduate. "Dad", he said, "for graduation,
I think I deserve a new car".
His father thought a minute and replied, "Son, I'll get you
that new car, but first you must do three things - bring your
grades up, read the Bible more and get a haircut".
In May, just before graduation, his son went to his father and
asked, "How am I doing? Am I going to get a new car for graduation?"
"Son, you've brought your grade average up from a C to an
A. that's great", answered the father. "I've also noticed
that you've been studying the Scriptures every morning before
school. That's wonderful. But you still haven't had a haircut".
"But, Dad, the son retorted, "while studying the Bible,
I've noticed that Moses is always depicted in the illustrations
as having long hair. Even Jesus had long hair". At that,
the father replied, "Son, you must remember that Moses and
Jesus walked everywhere they went and so will you, unless you
get a haircut!"
137. DOCTRINE AND DISCERNMENT
-
-
There were once two men, both seriously ill, in the same small
room of a great hospital. Quite a small room. just large enough
for the pair of them - two beds, two bedside lockers, a door opening
on the hall, and one window looking out on the world.
One of the men, as part of his treatment, was allowed to sit up
in bed for an hour in the afternoon, (something that had to do
with draining the fluid from his lungs) and his bed was next to
the window.
But the other man had to spend all his time flat on his back -
and both of them had to be kept quiet and still. Which was the
reason they were in the small room by themselves, and they were
grateful for peace and privacy - none of the bustle and clatter
and prying eyes of the general ward for them.
Of course, one of the disadvantages of their condition was that
they weren't allowed much to do: no reading, no radio, certainly
no television - they just had to keep quite and still, just the
two of them.
They used to talk for hours and hours - about their wives, their
children, their homes, their former jobs, their hobbies, their
childhood, what they did during the war, where they had been on
vacations - all that sort of thing. Every afternoon, when the
man in the bed next to the window was propped up for his hour,
he would pass the time by describing what he could see outside.
And the other man began to live for those hours.
The window apparently overlooked a park with a lake where there
were ducks and swans, children throwing them bread and sailing
model boats, and young lovers walking hand in hand beneath the
trees. And there were flowers and stretches of grass and games
of softball, people taking their ease in the sunshine, and right
at the back, behind the fringe of the trees, a fine view of the
city skyline.The man on his back would listen to all of this,
enjoying every minute - how a child nearly fell into the lake,
how beautiful the girls were in their summer dresses, and then
an exciting ball game, or a boy playing with his puppy. It got
to the place that he could almost see what was happening outside.
Then one fine afternoon, when there was some of parade, the thought
struck him: Why should the man next to the Window have all the
pleasure of seeing what was going on? Why shouldn't he get the
chance?
He felt ashamed and tried not to think like that, but the more
he tried, the worse he wanted to change. He'd do anything to have
the bed next to the window.
In a few days he had turned sour. He should be by the window.
And he brooded and couldn't sleep, and grew even more seriously
ill - which none of the doctors understood.
One night, as he stared at the ceiling, the other man (the man
next to the window) suddenly woke up coughing and choking, the
fluid congesting in his lungs, his hands groping for the button
that would bring the night nurse running. But the man watched
without moving.
The coughing racked the darkness - on and on - choked off - then
stopped. The sound of breathing stopped - and the man continued
to stare at the ceiling.
In the morning, the day nurse came in with water for their baths
and found the other man dead. They took away his body, quietly,
no fuss.
As soon as it seemed decent, the man asked if he could be moved
to the bed next to the window. And they moved him, tucked him
in, and made him quite comfortable, and left him alone to be quiet
and still.
The minute they'd gone, he propped himself up on one elbow, painfully
and laboriously, and looked out the window. It faced a blank wall.
138. GROWING UP
The first day of College, our professor introduced himself and
challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I
stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up
at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'am eighty -seven
years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically
responded , "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant
squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent
age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet
a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then
retire and travel". "No seriously", I asked. I
was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge
at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education
and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked
to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months
we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerised
listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom
and experience with me. Over -the course of the year, Rose became
a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She
loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon
her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football
banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced
and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared
speech, she frustrated and a little embarrassed leaned into the
microphone and simply said I'am sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up
beer for lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my
speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not
stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and
achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humor every
day. "You've got to have a dream, when you lose your dreams,
you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and
don't even know it!" "There is a huge difference between
growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and
lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing,
you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty - seven years old
and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty
- eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent
or ability.
The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change".
"Have no regrets. The elederly usually don't have regrets
for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only
people who fear death are those with regrets".
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose".
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out
in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college
degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation
Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
139. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
A 12 year old boy was a key witness in a lawsuit. One of the lawyers,
after intense questioning, asked, "Your father told you what
to say, didn't he?"
"Yes", answered the boy.
"Now tell us", pursued the lawyer, "what were his
instructions?"
"Well", replied the boy, "Father told me the lawyers
would try to tangle me in my testimony; but if I would just be
careful and tell the truth, I could say the same thing every time."
A truthful person has nothing to hide, but the person who lies
pays an awful price for his dishonesty. One lie leads to another
to cover up the previous one, and eventually the liar is caught
in his own web of deceit. Proverbs 19:5 says, "A false witness
will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape".
For a follower of Christ, however, the most important consideration
is that truthfulness reflects our relationship with the Lord.
Lying is the language of the devil (Jn. 8:44), but those who belong
to Christ are to be known as people of truth (Eph. 4:15; Col.
3:9).
Lying may seem like a convenient way out, but it's really a dead-end.
The right and sensible choice, therefore, is to speak the truth
- all nothing but the truth.
140. CHOOSING A GOOD LEADER
I was having coffee at Me Donald's when I noticed a man walk in
who was holding a white cane. He had his hand on a young boy's
shoulder and appeared to have complete trust in his ability to
guide him.
Jesus spoke about leaders who couldn't be trusted. He called the
religious leaders of His day "hypocrites" and "blind
leaders of the blind" (Mt. 15:7-14). The scribes and Pharisees
were teaching man-made traditions, not God's commands (vv.3-9).
Today many voices are crying out from radio, TV, and the pulpit:
"Follow me! I have the truth". It is a cacophony of
confusion that often leads people astray. The apostle John anticipated
such a time when he wrote, "Do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 Jn. 4:1).
How do we "test the spirits"? By asking these questions:
Does the teacher's life reflect the life of Christ? Does the teacher
proclaim salvation by grace through faith - not by works? Reliable
teachers and leaders will always point us to Jesus, the way, the
truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6), and not to themselves. Otherwise,
they are merely blind leaders of the blind.
Let's choose with great care the leaders we follow.
- 141. Can I buy a day of your time?
-
A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his
5-year old son waiting for him at the door. "Daddy, may I
ask you a question?" "Yeah sure, what is it?" "Daddy,
how much do you make an hour?" "That's none of your
business. Why do you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily.
"I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make
a day" pleaded the little boy "If you must know, I make
$100 per day". Oh, "the little boy replied, with his
head down, thinking. Then looking up, he said, "Daddy, may
I please borrow $10?" The father was furious, "It the
only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to
buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself
straight to your room and go to bed. I work long hard hours everyday
and don't have time for such childish behaviour." The little
boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. After about an
hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think that
he may have been a little hard on his son. May be there was something
he really needed to buy with that $10. So the man went to the
door of his little boy's room and opened the door. "Are you
asleep, son?" he asked. "No Daddy, I'am awake, "replied
the boy. "I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you
earlier," said the man. "It's been a long day, and I
took out my aggravation on you. Here's that $10 you asked for".
The little boy sat straight up, smiling, "Oh, thank you Daddy!"
he yelled. Then reaching under his pillow he pulled out some money,
the man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get
angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money. "Why
did you want more money if you already have some?" the father
grumbled. "Because I didn't have enough, but now I do, "the
little boy replied, "Daddy, I have $100 now. Can I buy a
day of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like
to spend a full day with you".
Dear friends, It's just a short reminder to all of us working
so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers
without having spent some time with those who really matter to
us, those close to our hearts.
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