Compiled and Edited by: Rev. Dr. HONEY CABRAL B.D., M.Th., Th.M.,D.Th.

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51. DREAM OF THE WEEK

The grass dreams a dream in the soil. Then has sprouts, flowers and fruits. By autumn the leaves of grass fall. Then it is as if the dreams of the grass have gone. Yet the seeds dropped beside the old stalk dream the dream the following year.
One grass dies in one year, the next grass will die within the year. Grass after grass repeats the dream timelessly. The grass never gives up the dream. Does not consider it's dream only as it's own. The dream is dwelling in successive dreams. Dream the dream of the time; how they will be a million years later.
Yoshinei Miya.

52. LIVE IN FREEDOM

"Live, live in this world. This world is so marvelously beautiful. It is our world, our earth to live upon, but we do not live. We are narrow, we are separate, we are anxious, we are frightened human beings, and therefore we do not live, we have no relationship, we are isolated, despairing human beings. We do not know what it means to live in that ecstatic blissful sense.
I say one can live that way only when one knows how to be free from all the stupidities of one's life. To be free from them is only possible in becoming aware of one's relationship, not only with human beings, but with ideas, with nature, with everything".

53. ON EDUCATING WOMEN

Jawahar Lal Nehru : "Education of a boy is the education of one person, but education of a girl is the education of the entire family".

Chinese saying : If you want to plan for a year plant wheat, if you wish to plan for ten years grow trees. But if you want to plan for one hundred years educate your women.

54. LITTLE WORDS FOR HUMAN RELATIONS

The most important six words "I admit I made a mistake"
The most important five words "I am proud of you"
The most important four words "What is your opinion"
The most important three words "If you please"
The most important two words 'Thank You"
The most important one word "We" And the least important word, U.

55. THE SILVER LINING

After taking the children to school one rainy morning, I stopped at a fast food restaurant and ordered breakfast. Except for some un cleaned paper cups, boxes and potato chips littering the tables, there was no sign of other customers in the restaurant.
A young woman walked in with a boy, aged five or six. They had no sooner sat down to order than a man, slightly hunched and wearing a tottered coat, came in. He inched towards a littered table and slowly examined each of the boxes, looking for leftovers. When he picked up a cold french fry and put it to his mouth, the boy whispered to his mother, "Mum, that man is eating other's food".
"He is hungry and doesn't have any money, the mother whispered back.
"Can we buy him a burger? "No, I think he'll take only what others don't want", the mother replied.
When the waiters handed mother and son two take out bags and they approached the door to leave, the boy suddenly removed a burger from his bag and took a small bite from it. Then he ran back to where the man sat and placed it on the table before him.
Surprised, the vagrant looked gratefully at the boy as he turned and disappeared. As I left the restaurant, I saw that the blue sky was coming out from' under the leaden clouds.

56. FOOTPRINTS

Lives of great men all remind us: We can make our lives sublime And departing, leave behind us Foot prints on the sands of time.

57. WITHOUT YOU - GOD - I'M NOTHING

 

I am a spark, make me a Flame
I am a string, make me a Lute
I am an anthill, make me a Mountain
I ! am a drop, make me an Ocean
I am a feather, make me a Wing
I am a beggar, make me a King
For, without you, we can do nothing.

58. REPENTANCE

If there is no repentance, there can be no pardons. Some years ago a murderer was sentenced to death. The murderer's brother to whom the state was deeply indebted to for former service, besought the governor of the state for his brother's pardon. The pardon was granted, and the man visited his brother with the pardon in his pocket. "What would you do", he said to him "if you received a pardon". "The first thing I would do he answered, "is to track down the judge who sentenced me, and murder him; and the next thing I would do is to track down the chief witness and murder him".

The brother rose, and left the prison with the pardon in his pocket.

59. ON SERMON

"How late do you usually sleep on Sunday morning?"
"It all depends"
"On what?
"The length of the sermon"

60. I KNOW THE BIBLE

A small girl told her pastor that she knew everything in the Bible. The pastor was amused and remarked that she might know a few things, but not quite well. "Oh yes, 'was the quick reply, "I do know all that is in it".
Her mother, who had been listening rebuked the child for saying such a thing. The daughter was persistent and said, "But mother I do". There is grand mothers favorite picture, three dead leaves, a lock of Bobby's hair when he was a baby, a love letter from daddy, and a recipe for brown bread. That's all there is in the Bible".

61. NOT AFRAID OF POMPOUS RELIGION

About a hundred years ago, England was to send a very important Anglican Church dignitary as metropolitan of Calcutta. The Brahmin priests got wind of it. They were perturbed. This foreign religion might become a threat to their own tradition. They must investigate. So they sent one of their men to assess the situation. He wandered around the city till he came to the Bishop's residence. It was a vast sprawling, opulent mansion. As the man stood at the gate, the Bishop walked down the steps, arrayed in his magnificent robes. He stepped, into the waiting carriage drawn by two horses, with a position sitting at the rear. "Have no fear", one priest said "This is not a religion we need fear".
The priests were relieved, and rightly relieved, for the pomp and splendor of organized Christianity holds no appeal for any genuine seeker after truth.

62. ON CHRISTMAS

Christmas! But where is the spirit of Christmas in human hearts. Men and Women feast upon rich food amid bursts of laughter. There are not even the least sentiments of the eternal at the bottom of their hearts, neither the bright serenity of joy, nor the depth of devotion, what a great difference, in the religious feast of our country.
Rabindranath Tagore

63. PALM MONDAY

The donkey awakened. His mind savoring something pleasant, He arched his neck and walked around with mincing steps.
"That group of people by the well", he said. "I'll go and show myself to them".
They took no notice "Throw your garments down, he said crossly "Don't you know who I am?"
They stared at him in amazement. Someone threw a stone,
"Miserable infidels"! he muttered as he turned away in rage, "I'll go down to the market. Some good people are sure to be there. But it was the same.
"The palm branches! Where are the palm branches?" he shouted - "Have you forgotten?"
Dazed he returned to his mother "Foolish child", she said gently. "Without him you can do nothing".

64. A CHILD'S PRAYERS

Morning
I thank Thee Lord, for sleep and rest, For all the things that I love best, Now guide me through another day, And bless my work and bless my play, Lord, make me strong for noble ends, Protect and bless my loving friends, Of all humankind good Christians make, All this I ask for Jesus sake. Amen
Evening
Lord, send me sleep that I may live, The wrong I've done this day forgive, Bless every deed and thought and word, I've rightly done, or said, or heard, Bless relatives and friends always. Teach all the world to watch and pray, My thanks for all my blessings take, And hear my prayer for Jesus's sake Amen

65. STOPPING TO LISTEN

A man working in an ice plant amid the ice, and the sawdust in which it was stored, lost a valuable watch. His fellow workmen searched with him for more than two hours, but were unable to find it. They left the plant for lunch and returned to find a little boy with the watch in his hand. "How ever did you find it?" they inquired. He replied, "I just lay down in the sawdust and heard it' ticking. We, too, cannot find God by intensive, bustling search, but must be still, and (know that I am God).

66. LIVE IN PRESENT

Trust no future, however pleasant. Let the past bury it's dead! Act - act in the living present! Hearts within and God overhead.
N.W. Longfellow

67. HE'S SWIMMING-WITH GOD

The goldfish died after living in a bowl that was in the family lounge. The first time the baby sitter came over after the fish died, she immediately noticed the empty bowl, "Where's the fish? she asked Without hesitating, the family's three year old shot back, "Oh, he's swimming with God".

68. FOOT PRINTS IN THE SAND

By Mary Stevenson
written in 1936

One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that
During the low periods of my life when I was
Suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me,
Lord, that if I followed You,
You would walk with me always.
But I noticed that during the most trying periods
Of my life there have only been
One set of prints in the sand.
Why, When I have needed You most,
You have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
Is when I carried you.

69. GOOD LUCK? BAD LUCK? WHO KNOWS?

There is a Chinese story of an old farmer who had an old horse for tilling his fields. One day the horse escaped into the hills and when all the farmers neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?" A week later the horse returned with a head of wild horses from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, "Good luck? Bad luck? Who Knows?". Then when the farmer's son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this very bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was "Bad luck? Good luck? Who Knows?". Some weeks later the army marched into the village and conscripted every able - bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg they let him off. Now was that "Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows? "

70. HE CHANGED ME

Bishop Emerson Colaw writes that during one Lenten season he went to see a drama that portrayed the life of Jesus. "The man Born to be King reached it's climax in the crucifixion scene. The three Marys entered and approached the Roman guards. Mary, the mother of Jesus, spoke to the Captain requesting permission to minister to the needs of her son. He roughly pushed her away. Then one of the other women came forward and sought permission, adding, "For old times sake". The captain refused her request also. Then with a sweeping motion of her hand she loosed her golden hair so that it could cascade down her back. "Mercellus", she asked, "have you ever seen hair like this" And then she thrust out a foot and asked, "And have feet ever danced for you like these feet?"
Incredulity was on his face. In amazement he said, "Mary Magdalene how you have changed!" Slowly, with dramatic emphasis, she turned so that her back was to the audience and she was facing Christ on the cross and slowly said, "Yes, Mercellus, I have changed, He changed me!".

71. "I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO LOVE ME" '

The story is told about a childless couple who wanted to adopt a little boy approximately six years old. They had visited several adoption agencies and finally found a child that was a match for their family. As they visited the child the wife said, "If you would come and live with us you could have your own private room, a nice yard with play equipment and all the toys and clothes you could ever want. Would you like to come and live with us? The little boy hesitated a moment and said, "No, I don't think so."
The couple was stunned. They felt that they had offered the child everything a child could want. The husband said to the boy, "We've offered you everything anyone could want. What more do you want? In words far beyond his years the child replied," I just want someone to love me".

72. I WENT THE WAY BEFORE YOU

'The road is rough, dear Lord," I said, "There are stones that hurt me so" "Yes, child", He answered, "I understand For I walked it long ago".
"But there is a cool green path," I said, "Let me walk in it for a time" "No child," He answered, 'The green path doesn't climb".
My burden Lord is far too great, How can I bear it so" "Yes, child, I remember its weight, for I carried my cross you know".
But I wish there were friends with me, who would make my way their own" "Yes child", He answered, "Gethsemane was hard to face alone".
And then I picked my burden up, content at last to know, That where he had not been I would not need to go,
And strangely then, I found new friends, my burden seemed less sore, When I remembered long ago, He went that way before!

73. WE'RE FREE IN CHRIST

The mother of one of our members was confined to a bed in a nursing home. She was ill, and there were times when she became overwrought. In order to keep the mother from falling out of the bed she was kept strapped in. Above the bed was a sign that read, "This patient must be restrained at all times". The daughter said this broke her heart. And every time the daughter went to see her mother asked her to be released, so that she might be free from the bondage of the bed. The mother died. .
The daughter said the first thing she did when her mother died was to walk into that room, take the sign off the wall, tear it up, throw it away, and say, "Thank you God, She is free at last".
That is what our Christian faith says to us about death - thank God, we are free at last. We have no fear of death. Death holds no fear for the Christian. Because Christ lives. We live also. What we celebrate in the Easter Resurrection is a victory over the grave, a victory over death.

74. WHEN THE KING GOES A - BEGGING

"I had gone - begging from door to door in the village path. When Thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream and I wondered who was this King of all Kings! My hopes rose high and I thought my evil days were at an end I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust. The chariot stopped where I stood. Thy glance fell on me and thou earnest down with a smile. I felt that the luck of my life had come at last. Then all of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand and say: "What hast thou to give to me".
"Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg? I was confused and stood undecided, and then from my wallet I slowly took the least little grain of corn and gave it to Thee".
"But great my surprise when at the day's end I emptied my bag on the floor to find a least little grain of gold among the poor heap! I wept bitterly and wished that I had the heart to give Thee my all.
Rabindranath Tagore., Gitanjali

75. THREE THINGS THAT DO NOT COME BACK

Remember three things come not back:
The arrow sent upon it's track
It will not swerve,
it will not stay it's speed,
it flies to wound or slay.
The spoken word, so soon forgot By thee,
but it has perished not In other hearts it is living still
And doing work for good or ill
And the lost opportunity
That comes back no more to thee
In vain thou weepest In vain dost yearn,
These three shall never more return.

76. GAINING LIFE THROUGH SACRIFICE

From Sadhu Sundar Singh we have the famous illustration of the two travelers to Tibet. As they were climbing the mountains, unexpectedly they encountered a snow storm. Both began to hurry for a safe position. As they proceeded along, they found one traveler who had gone before them lying on the road. One of the travelers wanted to help the helpless man. But the other man hurried along saying, if they did not reach the village quickly their fate would be the same. But the first traveler could not go without helping the fallen man. So he took him on his shoulders and moved with great effort. As they were about to reach the village they saw somebody fallen dead on the road. It was the other traveler who had hurried to save his life. He could not withstand the cold. But the other man who carried the fainted man could keep himself warm. The man who hurried for his own safety lost his life. But he who was guided by the principle of the cross could gain his life as well as that of his brother.

77. WIDENING THE FENCE

This is one of the incidents that happened at the time of the second world war. One evening a few soldiers brought the dead body of their comrade who was a Christian. They approached the priest to bury him inside the Christian cemetery, along with the rituals. But the priest was reluctant to bury the dead body on the pretext that the deceased did not belong to his denomination. Finally he said that, they were allowed to bury him outside the cemetery fence. Their friends did the same and went away. The next day, when the friends of the deceased warrior came to see their friends graveyard, they were puzzled. They couldn't find their friends body out of the fence. Rather they could find that the fence was extended from where it was. Only then did they find that, the priest had gone through a sleepless night and in the middle of the night woke up removed the old fence, extended the same and made it possible to bring the comrades body inside the territory of the graveyard.

78. ALMIGHTY - THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS

There was a man who used to grumble about his poverty. He used to compare with others who had more material benefits. He complained saying, how a poor man like him could not live in' happiness without having the prime necessities of life.
One day his friend suggested him to meet a sage, who used to meditate every morning near the river side. As per his suggestion the man met the sage and narrated his plight and helplessness. He pleaded with the sage to show him the way to be rich. After listening to his ambitions, the sadhu showed him a tree,
and told him, "Friend, there lies a white stone, which I have hidden under the tree. When you find it, hold the stone in your hand and ask for any wish and it will be realized. Go and get it. The man went in a hurry, dug the place and finally got the stone. Even without saying a word of "thanks" to the sage he ran homewards to show the miracle to his wife and children. But as he was hurrying home suddenly a thought struck him. He said to himself, "If this stone has the power to fulfill all my wishes, why did the sage hide the stone under the tree. He came back to the sage. Returning the stone he pleaded with the swamy, I do not want this stone. Show me the source from which you have such joy and peace. Now give me that which has kept you calm, agile and happy. The sage said, "Go do your dharma. Try to find out happiness by remembering the gifts of the Almighty. Do not only waste your time in thinking about you. Serve others. Do not grumble for the things which others have. strive for divine happiness and heavenly bliss. Only then will you be happy and contented.
Rabindranath Tagore

79. PREACH WHAT YOU PRACTICE

A troubled mother one day came to Gandhiji along with her daughter and explained to him that her daughter had the habit of eating, more sweet food than was good for her. "Please, she asked Gandhiji, "would you speak to the girl and persuade her to give up this harmful habit? Gandhiji sat for a while in silence and then said, "Bring your daughter back in three weeks time and then I will speak to her. The mother went away as she was told, and then came back after three weeks. This time Gandhiji quietly took the daughter aside and in a few simple words pointed out to her the harmful effects of indulging in sweet food. He urged her to abandon the habit. Thanking Gandhiji for giving her daughter such good advice, the mother then said to him in a puzzled voice, "Still I would like to know, Gandhiji, why did you not just say these words to my daughter three weeks ago when I first brought her to you. Gandhiji replied, "Three weeks ago I myself was still addicted to eating sweet foods. It took three weeks for me to come out of this bad habit."

80. THE TWO PAINTINGS

Many years ago in India, a certain Rajah (King) conducted a competition of artistic skill between two great artists. The two men began their task. The one immediately started the outline of his drawing but the other commenced to polish his allotted wall. The picture of the former man took shape from day-to-day, but the second man still kept on polishing his wall. After a while the first artist became suspicious of the intentions of his competitor. "You're just trying to copy my picture," he angrily accused. And so he had a wall erected between the two walls so that the other artist could not see what he was doing. But the latter still kept on polishing and polishing right up to the day of inspection appointed by the Rajah. The day before the fixed date the Rajah had the middle wall torn down so that he would be able to view both pictures from the Centrex of the room and then more easily contrast the two paintings and pass judgment.
But when the Rajah stood in the center and looked, behold, the same picture confronted him from each wall!. The second artist had so polished his wall that it perfectly reflected the picture of his competitor. The Rajah was unable to tell which was the original and which the reflection, and therefore was unable to decide which was the better picture.
God wants us to be pictures, reflections of, the Lord Jesus Christ. But first the middle wall of partition must be broken down -All that is contrary to His will and nature must be removed. And remember! Only the King of kings is able to remove the wall.

81. SOWING & REAPING

On a certain farm the father one day called his little son after school, and giving him a bag full of seeds, told him to go into one section of the field and plant the seeds. It was evening and therefore play time, so that the little fellow's mind was more on his games and playmates than on the work allotted to him. So very reluctantly he began to finish up the work quickly and join his pals in play. But though he worked fast, it seemed like the seeds would never end. So after planting many of the seeds very neatly in straight rows, he finally became impatient and disgusted and simply dug a large hole and dumped the rest of the seeds therein. Then he ran off to join his comrades in sport.
Several weeks passed. The seeds sprang up and harvest time was drawing near. The father one day said to his son, "Son, let's go out and see how your crop is coming along". So they walked together down every row to see the results. The first few rows had grown very evenly and neatly. The father was pleased and said, "Son, you did a fine job with the sowing" But, a little further on, the plants were not so even and in several spots nothing had grown up at all. "What could have happened here?" asked the father, "Oh, daddy", the boy answered, "I guess the seed here was not so good!" Still further on there was a bare stretch and then in one corner the plants had grown up closely together in one huge bush;
"What in the world is that?" questioned the father, looking rather suspiciously at his son. And then the young lad knew he was caught and very shamefacedly confessed to his father all the details of the sowing.
St. Paul reminds us, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that also shall be reaped", Be sure that one day your sins shall find you out. You deceive no one but yourself.

82. "PRAISE THE LORD AMEN"

There was a man who had a horse. Due to financial strain he decided to sell his horse to a prospective customer. Finally he found one. Before handing over the horse he told his customer, "Friend, I have used two commands, whenever you want this horse to move say, "Praise the Lord", when you want to stop the horse you should say "Amen".
In haste and curiosity the new horse owner, climbed the horse. As soon as he commanded 'Praise the Lord" it galloped in speed. The man was frightened. He wanted to stop the horse. In his anxiety he couldn't remember the command 'Amen'. Speedily, the horse was moving towards a hill which was steep. Finally, it reached the top of the hill. Suddenly, the rider remembered the key and he said 'Amen'. The horse stopped on the edge of the hill. When the rider looked down into the deep valley without his knowledge, remembering God's great saving act, he exclaimed "Praise the Lord". Instantly, the horse moved towards the deep valley.

83. DEALING WITH THE UNLOVELY

The following short story may be helpful to grasp the beauty of a loving attitude in dealing with the unlovely. The father of a certain almost grown boy had reached the end of his patience with his rebellious and arrogant son. Night after night, this son would come home drunk, staggering around the house and abusing his parents with language that would pierce their hearts. The father finally washed his hands off the whole matter, but the mother's love continued.
One day this boy came home at night, reeling with alcohol again, shouting his usual obscenities. He stumbled off to his room and fell across the bed. His mother went in to check on him. When she didn't return, her husband went in to see what was keeping her. And there she was sitting on the bed with this big boy in his lap, with both arms around him, rocking him back and forth as if he were a baby. The father stared disbelievingly at this spectacle, "How can you do that?" The mother replied, "Oh! this is the only time he will let me love him" - and she loved him. This mother refused to break off the flower, she would not give in and blow out the candle, for the boy was her own flesh and blood.

84. NUTS IN THE ATTIC.

A Christian who was born and raised in a log house visited his boyhood home after being away for 35 years. As he walked up to the now deserted cabin, he remembered that as a youngster he had planted some walnuts along a stream that ran through the farm. When he went down to the creek, he discovered a beautiful row of stately walnut trees. The he recalled that he had also hidden some nuts in the attic. He was curious to see what had happened to them, so he climbed into the dark attic and poked around in a corner until he found them. What a difference! Those he had stored were nothing but dry, dust covered nuts, while the ones he had planted had become flourishing green trees! Immediately the words of Jesus came to his mind with new meaning "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain" (Jn. 12:24)

85. LIVING PEACEFULLY

Once a boy asked his dad, "How do wars begin? The father replied, "well, World War I began because Germany invaded Belgium". At this point his wife interrupted. "Tell the boy the truth. It began because somebody was murdered". The husband quickly retorted, "Are you answering the question or am I? The wife stormed out of the room and slammed the door as hard as she could. When the room stopped vibrating, an uneasy silence followed. The son then said, "Daddy, you don't need to tell me how wars begin. Now I know"
"If it possible as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men," Romans 12:18

86. THE BEGGAR

A beggar lived near the Kings palace. One day he saw a proclamation outside the palace gate. The king was giving a great dinner. Anyone dressed in royal garments was invited to the party.
The beggar went on his way. He looked at the rags he was wearing and sighed. Surely only kings and their families wore royal robes, he thought. Slowly an idea crept into his mind. The audacity of it made him tremble. Would he dare?
He made his way back to the palace. He approached the guard at the gate. "Please sir, I would like to speak to the king" "Wait? here," the guard said. In a few minutes he was back. "His majesty will see you", he said and led the beggar in.
"You wished to see me?" asked the king.
"Yes, your majesty, I want so much to attend the banquet, but I have no royal robes to wear, please, sir, I may be so bold. may I have one of your old garments so that I too, may come to the' banquet?"
The beggar shook so hard that he could not see the faint smile that was on the king's face, "You have been wise in coming to me", the king said. He called to his son, the young prince, "Take this man to your room and array him in some of your clothes". The prince did as he was told and soon the beggar was standing before a mirror, clothed in garments that he had never dared hope for, "You are now eligible to attend the king's banquet tomorrow night,";
said the prince. But even more important, you will never need any' other clothes. These garments will last for ever"
The beggar dropped to his knees, "Oh, thank you" he cried, But as he started to leave, he looked back at his pile of dirty rags on the floor. He hesitated. What if the Prince was wrong? What if he would need his old clothes again? Quickly he gathered them up.
The banquet was far greater than he had ever imagined, but he couldn't enjoy himself as he should. He had made a small bundle of his old rags and it kept falling off his lap. The food was passed quickly and the beggar missed some of the greatest delicacies.
Time proved that the prince was right. The clothes lasted forever. Still the poor beggar grew fonder and fonder of his old rags.
As time passed people seemed to forget the royal robes he was wearing. They saw only the little bundle of filthy rags that he clung to wherever he went. They even spoke of him as the old man with the rags.
One day as he lay dying, the king visited him. The beggar saw the sad look on the King's face when he looked at the small bundle of rags by the bed. Suddenly the beggar remembered the Princes words and he realized that his bundle of rags had cost him a life time of true royalty. He wept bitterly at his folly and the king.

87. SHOULDN'T WE LOOK UP TOO?

A father and son were driving down a country road and saw a watermelon patch a little way off the highway. The father said to the boy, "Keep a lookout here while I go get a melon". He sneaked into the patch, lifted a choice melon from the vine, and then called to the boy, "Is anyone coming? Look both ways" The little fellow wisely responded, "But Daddy, shouldn't we look up too?"
Yes, that is the most important place to look. 'How do you behave when no one is looking but God?

88. IMMANUEL - MARY'S CHILD

Outside grand central station
a shoe - shine boy was shining shoes
As he whipped his shine cloth, again and again,
over his customer's shoes a silver medal danced about on his neck. "Sonny", asked a big man, smoking a cigar, "What's the hardware around your neck?'
"It's a medal of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the boy answered.
"But why her medal?" asked the man,
"She's no different, kid, from your own mother"
"That's right mister", answered the boy.
"But there's a hell of a difference
between her son and me"
The big man took a puff from his cigar,
flipped the boy a quarter, and walked on.

89. THE PRAYERS I LIKED THE MOST

O Thou, great chief,
light a candle in my heart,
that I may see
what lies there in,
and sweep the rubbish
from Thy dwelling place
- An African Prayer

Lord, I seek from Thee
no other gift, but Thyself, who are
the giver of life and all its blessings
From Thee I ask not for the world or its treasures
Thee alone do I desire and long for:
the hunger and thirst of my heart
can only be satisfied with Thee
who has given it birth
Fill me with Thy spirit
abide in my heart
and make it true to Thee
- Sadhu Sundar Singh

Our labor is hard, Lord, Fill our souls with your peace :
May we know your grace
which never ceases
So often, our hearts are full of pain and suffering
Father, never depart from us
Keep,us poor folk in your kind heart
God give us grace and gladness
May our lives be filled with joy
despite our troubles,
and may your mercy be our stay every day
- a prayer from laborers in China

Unless Thou lead me, Lord,
The road I journey on is all too hard
Through trust in Thee alone
Can I go on
Yet not for self alone, thus do I groan;
My people's sorrows are the load I bear,
Lord, hear my prayer
May Thy strong hands
Strike off all chains
That load my well-loved hand
God, draw me close to Thee
- Toyohiko Kagawa a great Saint of the Japanese poor

Lord Lead me
from death to life
from falsehood to truth
Lord lead me
from despair to hope
from fear to trust
Lord Lead me
from hate to love
from war to peace
Lord Lead me
let peace fill our heart
Our world, our universe
Teach us, good Lord, to
serve you as you deserve,
to give, and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to seek for rest,
to labor and to look for no reward,
save that of knowing
that I do your holy will
-The International Prayer for Peace

90. THE MASK

I never knew that being dead would be like this!. Yet here l am at my own funeral. I am free at last! I have passed through the veil of tears and now, on the other side I pause to look back through the veil of laughter, the veil of life. What is this behind the veil? Is it ugly or is it beautiful? There's my body, lying there in a fine sandalwood coffin, kept on a pile of chipped ice, I mean me, to
keep from spoiling under that heat of the Indian Sun. Its quite a large crowd for the funeral of an old retired teacher. I didn't expect to see so many former students and my old neighbors come out to pay, their respects! Even old George made it. I am so pleased. But who's that in the front row? She's making such a scene! Sobbing and wailing! Why , its my daughter-in law! why on earth would she be crying? I thought she would be dancing around my coffin laughing with joy to see me dead; and I can't believe what she is saying!
"Oh Mother! Oh my dearest Mother! Oh, how I shall miss you! why even these pieces of ice remind me how you used to love ice and how fond you were of ice water. Oh! How I shall miss those times when you would come over to our house and I would make for you big glasses of water with lots of ice cubes. Oh! How I shall miss those days!
Ha......Ha.......Ha...... I can't help laughing at this. Can you
believe this? I've never heard such lies!. I remember coming to your house, that sweltering day. It was so hot that I thought I would die of thirst! Oh well better late than never! Anyway, I remember going to your refrigerator for a glass of ice water but I accidentally dropped the ice jar. I will never forget when you came running from the other room shouting."What did you break this time? You must be the meanest, clumsiest, sourest old woman I've ever known! Whose house is this anyway? Get away from the refrigerator! If I didn't know better, I would think old women couldn't live if they didn't have ice cubes to sharpen their fangs with!"
What a hypocrite you are, my daughter-in-law! Stop this masquerade! And there's your husband, my only son. He's talking to my neighbor George. What is he saying?
"I cannot tell you, George, how much I love Mother! She meant
so much to me. It was because of the upbringing she gave me that I am the manager of the sandalwood products factory today. I couldn't have made it without her and now all I can give her is this sandalwood coffin."
Oh, my son! Aren't you piling it on a bit too thick? I seem to recall a time, not so long ago, when I cut my finger and I asked you for a little, tiny piece of sandalwood to rub over the wound to take the pain away. Do you recall what you said then? You yelled "Oh Mother, how can you be so silly? Do you think they made me manager of the factory to rub sandalwood on your finger?"
Oh no, my children! You may fool my neighbors but you don't fool me; I may be dead but I'm not stupid! I see behind your masks, its quit ironic. I am free from my body, my mask, but will you ever be free from yours???????????

91. ANGELA "Christ Holding me"

There was an atheist couple who had a child .The couple never told their daughter anything about the Lord. One night when the little girl was 5 years old, the parents fought with each other and the dad shot the mom, right in front of the child. Then, the dad shot himself. The little girl watched it all. She then was sent to a foster home. The foster mother was a Christian and took the child to church. On the first day of Sunday School, the foster mother told the teacher that the girl had never heard of Jesus, and to have prayer with her. The teacher held up a picture of Jesus and said,"Does anyone know who this is?" The little girl said, "I do, that's the man who was holding me the night my parents died.

92. "PUPPIES"

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about railing it to a post on the

93. 'TWAS THE NIGHT JESUS CAME

Twas the night Jesus came and all through the house,
not a person was praying, not one in the house.
The bible was left on the shelf without care,
for no one thought Jesus would ever come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
not once ever kneeling or bowing their head.
And Mom in the rocking chair with baby on her lap,
was watching the late show as I took a nap.
When out of the east there rose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what's the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash tore open the shutters,
and lifted the sash When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but Angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning just like He'd said
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life, which he held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as he searched for my name,
When He said," It is not here" I hung my head in shame.
The people, whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound,
While all the others were left standing around.
I fell to my knees but it was too late
I waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and, I cried as they rose out of sight,
Oh, if only I'd know that this was the night.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear
The coming of Jesus is now drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find out that the Bible was true after all.......

94. MEALS

An unknown person wrote a letter to the editor of the news paper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time 1 have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me I can't remember a single one of them. So I think I'm wasting my time and the preachers are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall what the menu was for a single one of those meals. But Ido know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be dead already."
No comments were made on the sermon contents anymore.

95. BEING CRITICAL OF OTHERS

An elderly man who was very near sighted thought of himself as an expert in evaluating art. One day he visited a museum with some friends. He had forgotten his glasses and couldn't see the pictures clearly, but that didn't stop him from airing his strong opinions.As soon as they walked into the gallery, he began critiquing the various paintings . Stopping before what he thought was a full-length portrait, he began to criticize it. With an air of superiority he began, "The frame is altogether out of keeping with the picture. The man is too homely and shabbily dressed. In fact, it was a great mistake for the artist to select such a shoddy subject for his portrait."
The old fellow was babbling on and on when his wife finally managed to get to him and pull him aside. She whispered to him, "My dear,you are looking in a mirror."
Our own faults, which we are slow to recognize, seem so big when we see them in others. Instead of being experts in criticizing the shortcomings of others, let's look in the mirror closer so that we can see our own faults more clearly.

96. THE BOX IS LOCKED, IT IS DANGEROUS

"Look out for danger - that's a live wire!
You wouldn't want to get shocked or catch on fire!"
I shouted to Nisha, my new wedded wife.
She laughed, "I just wanted some light in my life."
She said this withdrawing her hand from the switch.
We'd rented a run-down apartment -not rich.
We were newly-weds, it was what we could afford,
And our love was what mattered - life's greatest reward.
We were still unpacking when I saw the locked box.
"What's that?" I asked, "Behind my old socks."
Nisha smiled, "oh, it's nothing for you or for me."
That's all she would say, but I noticed the key
She kept on a string that she wore on her belt.
All my sweet bribes would not her heart melt.
We'd married while young and though there'd been others.
Twas Nisha I'd wanted for my children's mother.
No secrets we'd had all throughout college
But with my degree I still had no knowledge ;
Of why she might have something to hide.
It was not in her nature - she would not have lied.
But then my chance came at least to resolve
The mystery that caused my brain to revolve.
She went with a friend to a meeting one night
And left that key lying on our dresser in sight
Temptation was great and at last I gave in
What harm could it do? It wasn't a sin.
I unlocked the box and there found typed letters
from unknown men claiming their hearts were in fetters.
To the one they named "Sweet-Heart", "Darling", and "Honey".
Was I betrayed for my lack of money?
I started to pace, as if in a cage.
My love for her withered and turned into rage.
How could she mock my love .and compassion?
My anger went wild and I started to fashion
A plan for revenge on that faithless one.
She had led me a chase, but I had her outrun.
I made a short circuit should the light be turned on
And I knew she'd forget and her life would be gone.
She came back from her trip and found me in the dark.
She called out my name - and then there was a spark
No tears at the funeral since I felt I'd been right
To act as I had when faced with my plight.
Nisha had her just desserts for taking her lovers.
And now above me let her fouled spirit hover.
It was a great shame, all my friends said
"An accident like that - to someone just wed"
"Time heals all wounds." They tried to console,
So playing the victim became my new role.
A few weeks passed and I bid grief farewell.
Then a friend came to visit. I answered the bell
A friend of Nisha's of yore
Had come for the box she'd asked Nisha to store.
Love letters from a love to this girl long ago.
I ran for the box, for the truth I did know.
"Is this it?" I cried and I wept when she nodded.
I withdraw from the box - from the folly I'd plotted.
He was the lover I'd been jealous of.
She was the unfaithful and not my lost love.
"Isn't it locked?" She asked.
Yes, the box is locked," I replied, "but it is dangerous"

97. TENDING HOPE

A wealthy merchant named Hapton who enjoyed all kinds of comfort once challenged his faithful servant. "If you can stand all night long on top of mouth Sululta, our highest mountain, without clothing or food or blankets or fire, and survive, I will give you home and land and your freedom. More than anything else, Arha longed for freedom. So he accepted the challenge. Immediately he began to wonder how he would endure the long, cold night. He went to his friend Hailu who gave him encouragement. He said, "Across the valley from mount Sululta is a high rock which can be seen in the day time. Tomorrow as the sun goes down, I will build a fire there so that you can see it from where you stand. All night long you must watch the light of my fire. Thinking of its warmth and thinking of me, your friend sitting there tending it for you. If you do this you will survive, noi matter how bitter the night wind".
Arha thanked his friend and left. The next afternoon, unto the watchful eyes of Hamptom's other servants, he climbed Mount Sululta. And as night fell, he took off his clothes and stood on the firm rock. And as the wind began to whip around him and as the sun began to go down, he looked across the valley and saw on the other mountain the light of his friend's fire.
The rock grew cold. But all through the dark night, he kept his eyes on the fire and he thought about his friend, even when he began to shiver, freeze and grow numb, he continued to keep his eyes on the mountain.
And the night passed. He put on his clothes and went down the mountain. Haptom was indeed surprised to see Arha and wondered how he had survived.
"I simply watched the light of a friends fire on a distant hill", said Arha. Friends tending the fire of hope is one of the things that friends can do for one another, in fact it is one of the best things friends can do.

98. RESPONSIBILITY

Long ago, two boys plotted to outdo an old man who was noted for his great wisdom. They caught a small bird that could be concealed in the hand and approached the old man with a question "What do I have in my hand?" "Why, you have a bird, for I see one of his feathers". Thay said "Yes! but is he dead or alive?" (They had conspired to make certain the old man was wrong. For if he said "dead" they would release the bird to fly away. If he said "alive" they could crush the bird and present him dead) The old man answered, "As you will it, boys"
"As you will it", How true this is of so many things in life. It reminds us of the responsibility that makes our life either meaningful or meaningless. Our commitment to others, work and God either futile or successful! This is not to leave God out of the picture. It simply illustrates our role of responsibility for what takes place in our lives. We need to quit blaming others and rationalizing our failure. It's God's will that we live faithful to him to the best of our ability. But what you choose to do is up to you.

99. A TALE OF TWO BROTHERS

There is an old rabbinic story about how God decided on the place to build the Temple.
Two brothers were partners in a grinding mill in Jerusalem. At the end of each day they took the grain they had milled and divided it equally into two separate sacks. One night the bachelor brother thought, "This is not right. I am alone and don't need much, but my brother has a wife and a family. He deserves the larger share. So, sneaking back to the mill each night he took part of the share poured into his brother's sack.
The married brother also thought one night "This is not right. When I am old, I will have children to support me, but my brother will be all alone. He deserves the larger share. "So, sneaking back to the mill each night, he took part of his share and poured it into his brother's sack. They thought it a miracle to find their sacks refilled each morning.
One night, however, the brothers left home at the same time to sneak back to the mill, and by co-incidence, met on the streets with their sacks in hand. Instantly, they knew what was happening and fell into each other's arms weeping.
God looked down upon the scene, according to the story, and said, "Here is where love meets. Here I will build my temple".

100. REAL BEAUTY

"Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold ol cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out of the tall hospital
window.
The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was marred. When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother's arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heart breaks. He blurted out the tragedy. "A boy, a big boy.....called me a freak."
He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that.He developed a gift,a talent for literature and music. "You might mingle with other young people," his mother reproved him, but felt a tenderness in her heart.
The boy's father had a session with the family physician. Could nothing be done?
"I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be procured" the doctor decided. Whereupon the search began for a person who could make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by.
Then, "You are going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret" said the father.
The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged.
His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service.
But I must know! "He urged his father." Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him." "I do not believe you could," said the father, but the agreement was that you are not to know......not yet."
The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come.......one of the darkest days that ever pass through a son.
He stood with his father over his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to reveal...... that the mother had no outer ears. "Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," he whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, diJ they?
Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what can be seen, but what cannot be seen.Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what is done but not known.

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