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How Life is Measured
I had a very special teacher
in high school many years ago whose husband unexpectedly and
suddenly died of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she
shared some of her insight with a classroom of students.
As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in
through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she
moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down
there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused
and said, "Before class is over, I would like to share with all of
you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very
important."
"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share,
love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this
fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment.
Perhaps this is a way of telling us that we must make the most out
of every single day."
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, So I
would like you all to make me a promise.
From now on, on your way to school, or on your way
home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be
something you see, it could be a scent - perhaps of freshly baked
bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of
the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way
the morning light autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground.
Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it
may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The
little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we
often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them,
"for at any time...it can all be taken away." The class was
completely quiet.
We all picked up our books and filed out of the
room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way
home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in
awhile, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression
she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things
that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see on your
lunch hour today. When you go home, Go barefoot. Or walk on the
beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a
double-dip ice cream cone. "For as we get older, it is not the
things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."
If you like this, please pass it on to a friend,
if not just delete it.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we
take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
-- contributed by Tom Denchy |
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A sobbing little girl stood near a small
church from which she had been turned away because it "was
too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the
pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the
pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her
inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The
child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of
the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Some two years later, this child lay dead in
one of the poor tenement buildings, and the parents called
for the kind-hearted pastor, who had befriended their
daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor
little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was
found, which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash
dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish
handwriting, which read, "This is to help build the little church
get bigger so more children can go to Sunday School."
For two years she had saved for this
offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note,
he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and
the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story
of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons
to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.
But the story does not end there! A newspaper learned of the
story and published it. It was read by a Realtor who offered
them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that
the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents.
Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and
wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a
huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her
unselfish love had paid a large dividend.
When you are in the city of
Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating
capacity of 3,300, and Temple University, where hundreds of
students are trained. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan
Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses
hundreds of Sunday Schoolers, so that no child in the area
will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.
In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture
of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially
saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a
portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author
of the book, "Acres of Diamonds"
A story based upon the life and early death
of Hattie May Wiatt, which goes to show what God can do with 57
cents.
-- contributed by Bev Reynolds
(Footnote: Hattie May
Wiatt was a real person! Download
and read the sermon about her by Russell Conwell - PDF, 100 kB)
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-- contributed by Bev Reynolds
"Don't grieve that your roses
have thorns. Rejoice instead that your thorns have roses."
For many years I grieved because of the thorns in my life. Yes,
there were a few roses, but I was so busy seeing the thorns I
never saw them.
One day, someone grew tired of my negative attitude and asked
me "Why don't you give thanks that your thorns have roses?"
I was dumfounded. Never before, when looking at a
rose, had I perceived that even though the rose bush had thorns and was ugly and
spindly, it still produced a bloom of radiant beauty.
"Why," I asked myself, "should I concentrate on the
thorns when I could .see the beauty instead?"
We can't change the reality that life is full of pain and
suffering.
Life has dealt some of us bad hands, but we can change the way
we look at "bad luck." Our lives, for the most part, are
governed by factors beyond our control, but we can control our
attitudes. The freedom to choose our thoughts is really the only
freedom we have. God blessed America in that our forefathers
recognized this when they drew up our constitution. It does not
guarantee happiness, it does grant the right to pursue happiness
through freedom of speech and religion.
We need to learn how to fail. It is not the failing that
destroys, but how we handle the failure. Some people seem to be
born winners. For most of us, failure will be a greater part of
our lives than victory.
The same is true of pain, both physical and emotional. Pain is
inevitable. The more we love and are involved with other people,
the more pain we will have. The joy and love that comes from these
relationships are the roses among the
thorns. As we age, physical pain is inevitable.
We can decide if the pain rules us or we rule the pain. Pain is
a thorn, but if we rise above it, the roses
there are sweeter and more fragrant because of the price paid for
them.
The pessimist looks at the flower garden and sees the weeds
growing. He looks at the clouds and despairs that it is going to
rain. Two people can live in the same world with the same set of
circumstances: for one, it can be exciting, joyous and hopeful.
For another, it is a sorrowful, limiting and painful one. Each can
view a rose. One sees a rose with thorns. The other sees that the
thorns have roses.
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WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
-- contributed by Tom Denchy
When you thought I wasn't looking ...
I saw you hang my first painting on
the refrigerator, and I wanted to
paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking ...
I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought
it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking ...
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.
When you thought I wasn't looking ...
I heard you say a prayer, and I believed
there is a God I could always talk to.
When you thought I wasn't looking ...
I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved.
When you thought I wasn't looking ...
I saw that you cared and I wanted
to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking ...
I looked and wanted to say thanks for
all the things I saw when you thought
I wasn't looking.
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Everything I need to know,
I learned from Noah's Ark.
-- contributed by Tom Harrington
ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to
do something really big. :)
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs
to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board
with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float a while.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by
professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always
a rainbow waiting. :):)
TWELVE: Send this to people that you want God to bless.......... I
picked you! :):):)
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- forwarded by Bev Reynolds
What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? (Answer - Psalms
117)
What is the longest chapter in the Bible? (Answer - Psalms 119)
Which chapter is in the center of the Bible (Answer - Psalms
118)
Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
Add these numbers up and you get 1188
What is the center verse in the Bible? (Answer - Psalms 118:8)
Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect
will for our lives? The next time someone says they would like to
find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be
in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His
Word!
Psalms 118:8 (NKJV) "It is better to trust in the LORD
than to put confidence in man."
Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the
center of it
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- forwarded by Bev Reynolds
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
No one can go back and make a brand new
start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. God
didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun
without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for
the tears, and light for the way.
Disappointments are like road humps, they
slow you down a bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards.
Don't stay on the humps too long. Move on!
When you feel down because you didn't get
what you want, just sit tight and be happy, because God has
thought of something better to give you. When something happens to
you, good or bad, consider what it means. There's a purpose to
life's events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too
hard.
You can't make someone love you, all you can
do is be someone who can be loved, the rest is up to the person to
realize your worth. It's better to lose your pride to the one you
love, than to lose the one you love because of pride.
We spend too much time looking for the right
person to love or finding fault with those we already love, when
instead we should be perfecting the love we give.
Never abandon an old friend. You will never
find one who can take his place. Friendship is like wine, it gets
better as it grows older.
Pass it on to your dear friends . . .
Take care and take prayer.
May the Lord look upon you kindly and give
you peace.
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-- forwarded by Dick Angel
At a fundraising dinner for a school that
serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the
school's students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten
by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated
staff, he offered a question. "Everything God does is done
with perfection. Yet, my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other
children do. He cannot understand things as the children do. Where
is God's plan reflected in my son?"
The audience was stilled by the query. The
father continued. "I believe," the father answered,
"that when God brings a child like Shay into the world, an
opportunity to realize the Divine Plan presents itself. And it
comes in the way people treat that child." Then, he told the
following story:
Shay and I walked past a park where some
boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you
think they will let me play?"
Shay's father knew that most boys would not
want him on their team. But the father understood that if his son
were allowed to play it would give him a much-needed sense of
belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field
and asked if Shay could play.
The boy looked around for guidance from his
teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and
said, "We are losing by six runs, and the game is in the
eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put
him up to bat in the ninth inning. In the bottom of the eighth
inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by
three. At the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and
played in the outfield. Although no hits came his way, he was
obviously ecstatic just to be on the field, grinning from ear to
ear as his father waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's
team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the
potential winning run was on base. Shay was scheduled to be the
next at-bat. Would the team actually let Shay bat at this juncture
and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.
Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay
didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect
with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the
pitcher moved a few steps closer to lob the ball in softly so Shay
could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and
Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps
forward to toss the ball softly toward Shay. As the pitch came in,
Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have
thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and
that would have ended the game.
Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw
it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first
baseman. Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first. Run
to first."
Never in his life had Shay ever made it to
first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and
startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to
second!" By the time Shay was rounding first base, the right
fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second
baseman for a tag. But the right fielder understood what the
pitcher's intentions had been, so he threw the ball high and far
over the third baseman's head. Shay ran towards second base as the
runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home.
As Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him,
turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run
to third!" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams
were screaming, "Shay! Run home!" Shay ran home, stepped
on home plate and was cheered as the hero, for hitting a
"grand slam" and winning the game for the team.
"That day," said the father
softly, with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from
both teams helped bring a piece of the Divine Plan into this
world."
And now, a footnote to the story. We all
send thousands of jokes through e-mail without a second thought,
but when it comes to sending messages regarding life choices,
people think twice about sharing. The crude, the vulgar, and
sometimes the obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public
discussion of decency is too often suppressed in school and the
workplace. If you are thinking about forwarding this message, you
are probably thinking about which people on your address list
aren't the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of
message. The person who sent this to you believes that we can all
make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities a day to
help realize God's plan. So many seemingly trivial interactions
between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a
spark of the Divine? Or do we pass up that opportunity, and leave
the world a bit colder in the process?
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The Good Old Days
One evening a boy was talking to his grandfather about current
events. He asked what he thought about the shootings at schools,
computer age, and just things in general.
The granddad replied, "Well, let me think a minute...I was
born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods,
Xerox, Contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There weren't
things like radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens.
Man had not invented pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers,
electric blankets, air conditioners, and he hadn't walked on the
moon.
Your Grandmother and I got married first - then
lived together. Every family had a father and a mother, and
every boy over 14 had a rifle that his dad taught him how to use
and respect.
Until I was 25, I called every man older than I,
'Sir' - and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and
every man with a title, 'Sir.' In our time, closets were for
clothes-not for 'coming out of.' Sundays were set aside for
going to church as a family, helping those in need, and just
visiting with family or neighbors. We were before gay-rights,
computer-dating, dual careers, day care centers, and group
therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good
judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the
difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take
responsibility for our actions.
Serving your country was a privilege; living here
was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate
during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting
along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed
their front doors when the evening breeze started.
Time-sharing meant time the family spent together
in the evenings and weekends-not condominiums. We never
heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters,
yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands,
Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on radio. I don't ever
remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy
Dorsey.
If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' on it, it
was junk.
The term 'making out' referred to how you did on
your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were
unheard of. We had 5 & 10-cent stores where you could
actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice cream cones, phone
calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And
if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on
enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.
You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, but who
could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon. In
my day, 'grass' was mowed, 'coke' was a cold drink, 'pot' was
something your mother cooked in, and 'rock music' was your
grandmother's lullaby. 'Aids' were helpers in the
Principal's office, 'chip' meant a piece of wood, 'hardware' was
found in a hardware store, and 'software' wasn't even a word.
And we were the last generation that was so dumb as
to think a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder
people call us old and confused-and say there is such a
generation gap.
And I'm only
60 years old!
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... Contributed by
John Brown |
This was written by a teen in Bagdad,
Arizona.
Now I sit me down at school,
Where praying is against the rule.
For this great nation under God,
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange, or
green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like
freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth
controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
When I say, "I am a
Christian,"
I'm not shouting "I am saved."
I'm whispering "I was lost";
That is why I chose this way.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble,
And need someone to be my guide.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak,
And pray for strength to carry on.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed,
And cannot ever pay the debt.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are too visible,
But God believes I'm worth it.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches,
Which is why I speak His name.
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority;
I only know I'm loved.
(This article was forwarded from the
Internet)
Guess our national leaders didn't
expect this, hmm? On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott,
a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado,
was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee. What
he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress
was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor
was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher,
every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every
so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are
powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God
sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a
portion of the transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there
has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all
contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my
wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic
teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their
blood cries out for answers."
"The first recorded act of
violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain
was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club
Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could
only be found in Cain's heart.
"In the days that followed the
Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed
at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a
hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the
NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's
death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I
believed they had anything to
do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent."
"I am here today to declare that
Columbine was not just a tragedy - it was a spiritual event that should be
forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies
here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of
the accusers themselves."
"I wrote a poem just four nights
ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I
would be speaking here today."
Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
"Men and women are three-part
beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to
acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows
evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual presences
were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's
history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This
is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused
to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence.
And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs - politicians
immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to
pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and
private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws."
"Eric and Dylan would not have
been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone
who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies
within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are
not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a
spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not
need more religion. We
do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious
garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while
people with basic needs are being ignored."
"We do need a change of heart and
a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of
simple trust in God! As my son Craig lay under that table in the school
library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not
hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that
right!"
"I challenge every young person in
America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at
Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let
the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into
the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates
your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would
point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge.
"Dare to examine your own heart
before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain!
The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
Do what the media did not - - let
the nation hear this mans speech. Please send this out to everyone you
can! |
