First - Here's a story for you - Original Ownership A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client. He was told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the lawyer 3 months to track down. After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply ... (actual letter): "Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented an application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear title back to its origin." Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows (actual letter): "Your letter regarding title in Case 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than in the years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased by the U.S. from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application. For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. The land came into possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the reigning monarch, Isabella. The good queen, being a pious woman and careful about titles, almost as much as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to fund Columbus' expedition. Now the Pope, as I'm sure you know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that He also made that part of the world called Louisiana. He, therefore, would be the owner of origin. I hope to heavens you find His original claim to be satisfactory. Now, may we have our loan?" They got it! >From Brother Tim and the guys over at Pearly Gates. ----------------- Being A Good OVERSEER by emb ... Remember WHERE YOUR wonderful land, house, clothes, etc. ORIGINATED from and treat it properly. Not as a fool who cannot be trusted to take care of it for someone else. Jas.1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Whatever you own you cannot take with you. You are simply to take care of it for Father for the next one He chooses to give it to (if it is a lasting item like land, house, jewelry, precious metals, coins, etc). Those who take good care of what Father gives them are more apt to be trusted with it again and again. That is why you so often see collectors with so many of the same thing. (Remember IF IT IS GOOD or PERFECT it IS from God). They overseer their charge well and are trusted with more of the same to bless them and in turn they bless God. For Example: How many times have you given the same child an expensive toy only to find out that child destroyed it in a matter of just a couple hours or days? Probably not many times! You wouldn't trust giving that same child ANYTHING expensive until they could prove to you they could be responsible with it. So it is with our Father. Be responsible with ANYTHING you are given and watch. You'll see, Father will give you more. :) Notice I did NOT say FUGAL - some how people associate the two - responsible with fugal. NO. And even 'Waste not want not' is NOT the same - though close. I am talking CARE - real, thoughtful, CARE - the kind that says 'God is TRUSTING ME to take real good care of it'. That kind of responsible. ...AND For all the bible teachers, Preachers, Ministers, Reverends, ETC out there, you have even MORE responsibility in what God is trusting you to overseer! Acts.20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 1Pet.5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ---The Bible is not talking bread type food here! Luke.4:1 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. God is trusting YOU to feed them with The WORD Of GOD. A Big responsibility - Because to show yourself Approved before God, You must: 2Tim.2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. You have to Rightly divide the word of truth. That means you can't just put God's Word together to fit your theories and ideas and then force- feed it to God's flock. You need to STUDY to make sure it is the right and true Word Of God that fits together precisely without contradictions and then Feed God's Flock. That is the workman that is not ashamed by his works and wins God's Approval! Overseer what God gives us. That's the awesome responsibility of ALL God's chosen! Cool Huh? ... :)