After The Storm & More ... :) Shangy! >Baubie's Guest Story Editor: by Nathan Stolov Joyce Schowalter Missouri, USA When my late grandmother was in her late 60's she was quite independent. She handled all her own cooking, cleaning, and shopping, living in a second-floor apartment. She drew a small Social Security pension -- thus barely had enough money to live on. She accepted little financial help from her grown children, most with families of their own. Baubie awoke early one morning, thinking she heard a noise on her balcony. From the balcony door, she saw nothing had been disturbed. The next morning, the same thing happened. Baubie wasn't a person with an overly active imagination, so she set her alarm clock to wake up early the following day. Arising, she quietly went to the balcony door and discovered a poorly dressed man sleeping on her balcony. His alarm clock went off, he went over the balcony rail and disappeared down the street. Baubie wasn't a person to wish anyone harm. She knew the man must be in very bad financial trouble to secretly live on her poor balcony, and she was certain he wasn't dangerous. After all, he hadn't tried to break into her apartment! _ // // _______________//__ .(______________//___). | / | |. . . . . . . / . . .| \ . . . . . ./. . . . / | / ___ | _.---._ |::......./../...\.:| _.-~ ~-._ |::::/::\::/:\::::::| _.-~ ~-._ |::::\::/::::::X:/::| _.-~ ~---.;:::::::/::\::/:::::| _.-~ ~\::::::n::::::::::| .-~ _.;::/::::a::::::::/ :-._ _.-~ ./::::::::d:::::::| `-._~-._ _..__.-~ _.-~|::/::::::::::::::| / ~-._~-._ / .__..--~----.YWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWP' \_____(_;-._\. _.-~_/ ~).. . \ /(_____ \`--...--~_.-~______..-+_______) .(_________/`--...--~/ _/ /\ /-._ \_ (___./_..-~__.....__..-~./ `-._~-._ ~\--------~ .-~_..__.-~ _.-~ ~-._~-._ ~---------' / .__..--~ ~-._\. _.-~_/ \`--...--~_.-~ `--...--~ That evening, after dinner, she put out a package of leftovers for her "balcony guest." The following morning she found the leftovers had been eaten, and her guest had left money for the food. She put his money safely under a spare pillow and blanket, along with a dinner that night -- and many other nights. Because food was expensive, she finally allowed her children to help buy food, which she insisted that she prepare. This went on several weeks, with Baubie's guest finally giving up on leaving money for anything! One day, without a word, her guest was gone. She worried that something had happened to him. One evening a few days later, there was a knock at her front door. Upon answering, Baubie was greeted by her guest. He was wearing a clean used suit, carrying a bouquet of flowers for her. He was a businessman who had lost his business after an employee stole money from him. He had sent his family to live with his wife's parents and worked to make good his losses. Having paid off his employee's thievery, he was working for another business as a manager, was now able to look his ex-business associates in the eyes. His first goal after paying off his business debts was to repay "his grandmotherly angel" for her generous kindness, but Baubie wouldn't have it. His words and knowing he was well were enough. She invited him to dinner, insisting he repay his wife's parents with the money he had saved, which he agreed to. She said it wouldn't be proper for her to take his money, because "parents are supposed to help their children". In her mind, in the way she was brought up, this perfect stranger, this gentleman who was near her children's ages, was a "temporary son" given her to watch over. As she did. ------------- HeroicStories has the greatest readers in the World Including *YOU*! Thank you for being here. Our readers are our primary source of support. If you're able, please pitch in a bit: http://www.HeroicStories.com/fund.html =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our friend John-Paul :) >AFTER THE STORM After the storm, A rainbow appeared. Brillant streamers formed, And as they neared, ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" _oOoOoOo_ .-.-. (oOoOoOoOo) ( : ) )`"""""`( .-.`. .'.-. / \ (_ '.Y.' _) | | ( .'|'. ) \ / '-' | '-' jgs `=========` I rushed to find a pot of Gold. It's at the end I've been told. But, when I peered Into the potted vase, I looked upon your lovely face. With hands extented, I pulled you free. Of all the gold, YOU MEAN MORE TO ME! Always~~~~~~~John-Paul~ -<,,>- MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM ::::. `::::::. :::::. :::::: ::::: ::::: :::::: .::::: .::::::' .:::: ::::::. ::::::: `::::: :::::. :::: :::: .::::: :::::' ::::::: .:::::: `:::::::.`::::::.`::::: `` '' :::::'.::::::'.:::::::' . `:::::::.`:::::.`` ..:oo888888888888oo:.. ''.:::::'.:::::::' . ::. `:::::::.`` ..oo8888"""" """"8888oo.. ':'.:::::::' .:: :::::.`::::' .oo888""" If the Earth """888oo. ':::::'.::::: `::::::.`` o888"" were only a few feet in ""888o :'.::::::' . `::::` .o88"" diameter and floating a few feet ""88o '::::' . :::. ` o88" above a field somewhere, people would "88o ' .::: ::::` o88" come from everywhere to marvel at it. People "88o ':::: `::` o88" would circle around it, marveling at its large "88: '::' :. o88 pools of water, at its little pools, and all the 88o .: :` o88' water flowing between the pools. They would marvel `88o ': : :88" at the very thin layer of special gases surrounding "88: : . o88' it, and at all the water suspended within the gases. `88o . .88o People would marvel at all the many creatures walking o88. :.88o about the surface of the ball, and also the many more o88.: ::88o creatures in the water. The people would then declare o88:: :'88o the ball supremely precious, because it was the only o88': '888. one they would ever have, and they would protect it, 888' . "88: so that it would never be harmed. The ball would be :88" . : `88o the greatest wonder known, and people would come to o88' : :. "88. behold it, be healed by it, to gain its knowledge, .88" .: '. 888. to feel its beauty and to wonder how it could be. .888 .` .:: 888. People would love it, and defend it with their .888 ::. :::: `888. very lives, because they would each somehow .888" :::: :::'. "88o realize their lives, their own roundness, o88" ..`::: ' .:::. "88o. could not exist without it. If the .o88" .::::. ` ::::::::'. `888o.. Earth were only a few feet ..o888' .`:::::::: ::::::'.:::. `"888oo... in diameter. ...oo888""' .:::.`:::::: :::'.:::::::'.. `""8888oo:.... ....:oo88888""' ..`:::::::.`::: ' .:::::::'.::::: .. `"""88888MJittlov88888"""' .. ::::::.`:::::::. ` ::::::::'.:::::'.::::. :..... .... .... ....: .::::.`::::::.`:::::::: ::::::'.::::::'.::::: .::::: .:::: ::::. ::::. :::::.`:::::::.`:::::: ---- -------- ------- ------ ----- ----- ------- ------- -------- ---- // //////// /////// /////// |||||| |||||| \\\\\\\ \\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\ \\ /////// ////////aa%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%aa\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\ /// ///a@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@a\\\ \\\ ///a@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@a\\\ /////@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@\\\\\ //////////@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%\\\\\\\\\\\ /////////////////////@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%@%\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW The above inscription is at the center of Wells Cathedral in Wells, England, and typeset within a two-foot circle. Although no author is credited, it's positioned next to a photo of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, smiling amid a cheering crowd. I copied it down, in Oct'95, and ascii-transcribed it for the Internet. Pass it on... Mike Jittlov WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW >AWESOME IS OUR GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS O, please let me try, As Eternity grows neigh. If only in words, I could explain, To utter HIS praises, oh, but, not in vain, Still a humble soul I must remain. To cry out to the world, my feeble reframe. I stand upon the Earth`s created sod, And cry out to JESUS, the SON of God. Now in layman's words let me proclaim with all known adjectives, And HIS many Names. HIS greatness, HIS virtue, HIS love so true. The Awesome God, May I present to you. SO, LET IT BE KNOWN He is the First and Last, The Beginning and the End The keeper of Creation, And the Creator of all He is the Architect of the universe, And the Manager of all times and things. He always was, He always is, And He always will be. Unmoved, Unchanged, And Undefeated, He was bruised, And brought healing He was pierced, And eased pain He was persecuted, And brought freedom He was dead, And brought life He is raised, And brings power He reigns, And brings Peace The world can't understand him. The armies can't defeat Him, The schools can't explain Him, And The leaders of the World, can't ignore Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, And the people couldn't hold Him Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him. The New Age can't replace Him, And greatest of men can't explain Him away He is, Light, Love, Longevity, And `Lord`. He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, And the SON of God. He is Holy, Righteous, Mighty, powerful, Pure, And the Truth. His word is eternal, His will is unchanging, And His mind is on me. He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior, He is my guide, And He is the peace in my Soul He is my Joy My comfort My Lord And He rules my life! I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, And His goal for me is `Abundant Life`. I follow Him because He is the Wisdom of All Wise The power of the powerful The ruler of rulers The leader of leaders the overseer of the over comers And the sovereign Lord Of all that Was, Is, And is to come. Impressive? His goal is a relationship with ME He will never leave me, Never forsake me, Never forget me, And never cancel my appointment in His appointment book When I fall, He lifts me up When I fail, He forgives When I am weak, He is strong When I am lost, He is the way When I am afraid, He is my courage When I stumble, He steadies me When I am hurt, He heals me When I am broken, He mends me When I am blind, He leads me When I am hungry, He feeds me When I face trials, He is with me When I face persecution, He shields me When I face problems, He comforts me When I face loss, He provides for me When I face Death, He carries me Home I am His, And He is mine So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure He said it and that settles it God is in control I am on His side and That means all is well with my soul Everyday is a blessing for GOD IS! I love the Lord with all my heart and thank Him for all that he has done and doing, in my life, Yes, Jesus is my source of existence, My Savior, and He keeps me going each, and everyday. Without Him, I am nothing, But with Him I can do all things. Philippians 4:13 May GOD Bless and Keep You JOHN-PAUL --- ...And you too! AMAN - Thanks John-Paul! ========================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: >SEND THE ELEVATOR DOWN by Joe McKeever, Guest Columnist "It is our opportunity and responsibility to send the elevator back down," said actor Kevin Spacey the other day. At the top of his profession, Spacey is now turning to producing and directing movies and seems intent on helping unknown actors to have the same opportunities he received. Who among us has not benefited from an older, wiser, stronger person who saw something promising in us and lent a hand. When I was in my late 20's and struggling to lead a little church in the Mississippi Delta, a neighboring pastor recommended me to the largest church in the state for an opening on their staff. Before we moved, he came over to our home and brought with him seven of the nicest suits you've ever seen. He had bought some new ones, he said, and wondered if I could use these. _ ///-._ ////////-._ /////////////-. ////////////////`. //////////////// .'`. //////////////// . '.'`. '|`'//////////// . .'.::|` : `'/////// . '.':| | . . `'// ' _|- ::| |. .-._ . | . | .':: | |:|:| | ' ' '.::| | |:|:| :. . .'.':| | . |:|:| . | .._.::: : `':| | ' ////-:| |. . | '/////////-._ | . . : .//////////////-._ : : ///////////////////-._ |. |////////////////////////-._ | . . :`'//////////////////////////-._ | . _.-\\\\``'//////////////////////////-._ | /\\\\\\\\..``'//////////////////////////". : . . /. \\\\\\\\\. .``'///////////////////// .'`. : / _ \\\\\\\\\. ``'//////////////// . .'`. | . / (@) \\\\\\\\\. . . ``'/////////// . '.'::|. {`)._ '| _` .\\\\\\\-`:|#| . . ``'////// '. .'.:| `-{_/`| ||::. \\'`.:|:.|#| |#| . ``'/ ' .##:'::: `-| ||||| |`.'::|::|#| |#| |#| . . '| . .|##|'.:| pils | ||||| : .'::|:.'#| |#| |#| |#| | |##|'::| | ||||| .| .'.:|::.'' '#| |#| |#| . : ' |##|'.:| {`\:|||| : .'::|:_.:. . '#| |#| | .|##|'::: `-{_/'|_ |_.-'/}_/'-._ '#| :. |##:'.:| `'{._('}_)-' `-}_}(-._ . . | ' '` .'::| `-' `-.} /-._ . : .'.'_:-'\ `-}_}(-._ | . _.-')_(-' `-/_)`-.:.-{ \{-' `-{_'_)-'' ^ In the new church, someone remarked that I was the best-dressed minister on staff. Three years later, I left to pastor one of the finest churches in that state. While there, that same friend gave my name to a committee looking for a trustee to serve on our denomination's mission board. I put in four life-changing years with that organization which oversees the work of thousands of missionaries all over the globe, even traveling to Southeast Asia and drawing an evangelistic comic book for the churches there. I am forever grateful for such a friend. In the Bible, a disciple nicknamed Barnabas sent the elevator back down for a new believer named Saul. In his earlier life, Saul had been a terrorist wreaking havoc in the Christian community, so church leaders were understandably suspicious of his new confession. Barnabas spoke out on his behalf and encouraged the churches to believe in him. Saul was so bold in his preaching he enraged the very community he was trying to evangelize and left Jerusalem just ahead of a lynch mob. He languished for several years in his hometown of Tarsus in Asia Minor, making tents by day and doubtless listening to relatives' recriminations at night. Then one day, Barnabas arrived with good news. God was doing a new work among Jews and Gentiles in the Syrian city of Antioch. Barnabas had been there and had noted that this was the very kind of ministry Saul was called to do. Perhaps the most pivotal sentence in Christian history is Acts 11:25, which reads, "Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul." He was sending the elevator down. Sometime later, Barnabas and Saul were sent out as missionaries by the same church in Syria. In their first engagement on the island of Cyprus, Saul rose to the forefront, had his name changed to Paul, and became the leader of their ministry. Give Barnabas credit; he let his student blossom to his full powers. Next time, Barnabas took his nephew John Mark -- a young man in desperate need of encouragement -- while Paul worked with a newcomer named Silas. As I say, Barnabas was his nickname. His parents had named him Joseph, but the early Christians nicknamed this Joe "Bar-Nabas." It means "son of encouragement", but I know some scholars who just call him "Mister Encourager." For my money, they could have named him "Otis." You know, the elevator man. ======================================================================= >-->From Our friend Becky :) >Hi There! Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to talk to? THAT'S GOD waiting for you to talk to Him. Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them? THAT'S GOD. It was certainly not a coincidence. Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you needed, but couldn't afford? THAT'S GOD giving you the desires of your heart. Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it was going to get better, how the hurting would stop, how the pain would ease, but now you can look back on it? THAT'S GOD helping us pass through tribulation to see a brighter day. Do you think that this e-mail was accidentally sent to you? NO! I was thinking of you!! 00000 0000 n########n s 000000||000000 O ## ^ ^ ## s 00000000||000000 ## -- -- ## ====#=== ####0##0# 000000000|00000000 O ## ) () ( ## ,, #] ##0#0 #### # 00000000||0000000 O## O ##==" #] ##0# * * #00# # 00000000|0000000 [##-------##nnn###] #00 O ### ""mm#0000000||00000 * [##### ###"""" 000#0 #00 ## 00000||0000 *** [## |##-------####n ##000##00### ## 0000|000 ... [##w-### #mmm ""###""" # ##"#" 00000 nHHHn==[#### ###------------] "m ### # ## 00 mmmmmmmmm[##nn########## ]mm ## m" """## HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH[-----]## ##"" ##""# n HHH%%%%%HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH[ ]HHHHH ## "nn" HHH%%%%%HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH[-----]HHHHH ## HHH%%%%HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH[ ]HHHHHH ##nn"nn""nHHH%%%HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH[___]HHHHHHHHH ## HHH%%%%HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ## HHHH%%%HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH "nn## %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ## n" IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII||||||||000IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ## n" n" "n ||||||00000 "n ## nn" ##" "n" """n |||||000000 ###" n" ANSI/ASCII-cfbd- " The Caterpillar from Alice In Wonderland " Keep this going. You have no idea which one of Your e-mail buddies could use a little hope today. So to you, my friends, .-. __/ ( , '-.____\ u=='/ \ /_/ \ .-'' | ( ____/_____ _>_/.-------- \/// // snd // I would like to say, Thank you for being a part; Of all my daily contacts, This comes right from my heart. --- ...Sweet! Thanks Becky! =============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Steve :) One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't anymore. ,;;;;;;;, ;;;;;;;;;;;, ;;;;;'_____;' ;;;(/))))|((\ _;;((((((|)))) / |_\\\\\\\\\\\\ .--~( \ ~)))))))))))) / \ `\-(((((((((((\\ | | `\ ) |\ /|) | | `. _/ \_____/ | | , `\~ / | \ \ / | `. `\| / | ~- `\ / \____~._/~ -_, (\ |-----|\ \ ';; | | :;;;' \ | / | | | | | -Tua Xiong | `. / No more hugs, No more special moments to celebrate together, No more phone calls just to chat, No more "just one minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, or say "I love you." So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage .... and old cars .. and children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what. Life is important, like people we know who are special. And so, we keep them close! I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way. Now it's your turn to send this to all those people who are "keepers" in your life, including the person who sent it if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them? I was thinking... I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships ( . ) ) ( ) . ' . ' . ' . ( , ) (. ) ( ', ) .' ) ( . ) , ( , ) ( . ). , ( . ( ) ( , ') .' ( , ) (_,) . ), ) _) _,') (, ) '. ) ,. (' ) jgs^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said. Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do. And just in case the unexpected happens... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$'`$$$$$$$$$$$$$'`$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$ '$/ `/ `$' .$$$$ $$$$$$$$. i i /! .$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$.--'--' $$$$$$ $$^^$$$$$' J$$$$$$ $$$ ~"" `. .$$$$$$$ $$$$$e, ; .$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$.' $$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$. $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $by&TL$ ------------------------- I LOVE YOU ------------------------- I LOVE YA!!! Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised -<,,>- A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - . `:. `:. .:' ,:: .:' ;:' :: ;:' : .:' `. :. _________________________ : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : ,---:".".".".".".".".".".".".": : ,'"`::.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.::' `.`. `:-===-===-===-===-===-:' `.`-._: : `-.__`. ,' met. ,--------`"`-------------'--------. `"--.__ __.--"' `""-------------""' porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. --- ...Wonderfully said! Thanks Steve! ====================================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: >LEAVE YOUR LIGHT ON ..---.. / \ | | : ; \ \~/ / `, Y ,' |_|_| |===| |===| \_/ Peter Punk By: Joseph J. Mazzella My blinking buddies are back for the Summer again. For several years now I have had the pure delight of watching the fireflies gather in my backyard at night and share their light. I enjoy standing there watching them blink on and off as sun sets, the stars rise, and the air cools in the evening. What I love the most is seeing a lone firefly sharing its light only to be answered by first one and then another and another. Soon dozens are flashing their lights on and off in perfect unison. It is then when my whole backyard becomes a symphony of light and Earth feels a lot closer to Heaven. It is then when I joyously remember all the light we can share too. We all have one advantage over my blinking buddies, though. We can leave our lights on. We can shine them in the darkest night and add light to the sunniest day. We can light up the hearts around us with our love and brighten every soul we meet with our happiness. We can shine our goodness, kindness, and oneness with God so that everyone can see. And just like my firefly friends we can help others to get their lights shining as well. Don't be afraid to shine your light. Don't be afraid to leave it on even when the world around you seems dark. Shine it brightly. Shine it joyously. Shine it lovingly. Let it glow in oneness with God's light as well. Before you know it you will no longer be a lone firefly in the darkness. Before you know it others all around you will begin to shine their own lights as well. Before you know it you will be making this world a better, brighter, and more beautiful place. In this life you have two choices. You can sit in the darkness or you can help God to light up the universe. If a few dozen lightning bugs can make my backyard a Heavenly symphony of light then just imagine what God could do with you. Have a bright, shining, and glorious day then and always remember to leave your light on. -<,,>- >Alcohol Always Lied to Me -Author Unknown o /\,_\ Cheers... ) _ "\ o * \ (__Y.__ )/ \_/ _________// _|, /______` \ /_-_) ______ _// / . . \ // * |`- .\_/ ,\ / /\ '/ |______,-\\\(; / , / \/ _ / __ / \_/ \_/ __( /\( \\ ___|___|_.__\___ o // \\ \\ |_____ _________ // )) )) | ' // // // o | `. (/ //_ //__ | .__________ .- b'ger --(__\\\ _\\\. - --|_|-. I Drank for Courage... and woke up night after night horrified. I Drank for Sophistication... and became crude. I Drank to find Peace... and ignited a war within myself. I Drank to be Friendly... and became argumentative and nasty. I Drank to be Sexy... and turned people off. I Drank so that I could Relate to Others... and I babbled. I Drank to put down Loneliness... and found myself retreating more and more into my shell. I Drank to Relax... and woke up tense. I Drank to be Entertaining... and became an obnoxious clown. I Drank to Live More Fully... and contemplated suicide. I Drank for Adventure... and discovered disaster. I Drank to be more Honest... and insulted my friends. I Drank to Quiet my Nerves... and woke up with hangover jangles. I Drank to Feel Better... and ended up sick and throwing up. I Drank to have Fun... and passed out in the middle of the party. I Drank to Pep Myself Up... and ended up exhausted. I Drank to feel Successful... a Big Shot... but ended up a failure. I Drank for Security... and became afraid of my shadow. I Drank to Feel Better about Myself... and ended up hating me. I Drank to Prove I could handle Alcohol... and ended up knowing it controlled me. A Friend asked... "But surely, now that you've been Sober awhile, it would take a lot of alcohol to put you back in that condition." "Just One Drink," I answered! -<..>- >A HUGE HELPING OF __________ |DAILY NEWS| |&&& ======| |=== ======| |=== == %%$| |[_] ======| |=== ===!##| ejm97 |__________| GOOD NEWS by Steve Goodier Have you had a large helping of good news lately? A woman called her pastor. "We just won $100 million in the lottery!" she exclaimed. "But I'm afraid to tell my husband. He has a weak heart and I'm afraid he may have a heart attack. Pastor, would you be able to tell him for me?" she asked. The clergyman thought that perhaps he could, so he came right over and sat down with the man. "What would you do," he began, "if you were to win $500,000 in the lottery?" "My wife could quit her job and I could work less and relax more," the man said. "What would you do if you were to win one million dollars in the lottery?" the pastor asked. "If I were to win that much we could both retire," the man said. "Life would be good." The pastor forged on. "Well, what would you do if you were to win five million dollars?" "We could do anything we wanted!" he exclaimed. "We could travel, live anywhere in the world and enjoy a life we never dreamed we could live!" Finally the clergyman got to it. "Tell me...what would you do if you won ten million dollars in the lottery?" "Ten million dollars? Why, if I ever won that much, Pastor, I'd give half of it to you and the church!" The pastor had a heart attack. Too much of a good thing? Most news, good and bad, does not come served in such large helpings. But that's OK ... there is plenty of good news available in smaller portions to keep me satisfied. A day nibbling on bite-sized bits of encouragement and kindnesses from others, as well as passing it along, can fill my life so full that I lose appetite for the negative. It's a diet for health and happiness. --- Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com We look forward to seeing you there! =================================================================== >-->From Our friends Del, Casey & Mr.Wu :) >WRITE IT ON THE BACK OF YOUR ENVELOPES ! __________ __________ |`. ,'| | ()[]| | `.__.' | | ____ | | | | ==== | |__________| |__________| (c)Mike'97 I THINK THIS A GREAT IDEA. I WILL START WRITING THIS ON FRONT OF ALL MY ENVELOPES, TOO! You may have heard in the news that the Post Office has been forced to take down small posters that say "IN GOD WE TRUST . " The law, they say, is being violated. Anyway, I heard proposed on a radio station show, that we should all write "IN GOD WE TRUST " on the back of all our mail...after all, that IS our national motto, and it's on all the money we use to buy those stamps. I think it is a wonderful idea. We must take back our nation from all the people who think that anything that offends them should be removed. If you like this idea, please pass it on. It has been reported that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the pledge of Allegiance. Could it be that WE just need to take action and tell the 14% to sit down and shut up? If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. -<>- >ACLU defends "rights" of illegal aliens There is an untold story behind the current immigration crisis in our nation. I'm talking about the role the ACLU is playing in advancing the so-called "rights" of illegal aliens. Go here for more: http://www.libertyaction.org/8081/offer.asp?11737726 Thank you in advance for your help, and may God bless our land. Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel P.S. Go here to help me stand up to the ACLU's attacks on your citizenship and to receive immediate access to my newest briefing: "Flawed Immigration Policy Threatens America's Future": http://www.libertyaction.org/8081/offer.asp?11737726 + + Comments? Questions? http://www.libertyaction.org/email.asp?ind=10 Liberty Counsel, with offices in Florida, Virginia and Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit litigation, education and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the traditional family. Liberty Counsel . PO Box 540774 . Orlando, FL 32854 . 800-671-1776 ===================================================================== >-->FUN Places to Net Visit :) Jesus Laughing Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html UPDATED: Shangy FUN List On Line http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Virtual Fireworks http://www.cyberfireworks.com/ Print Our Flag http://printourflag.tripod.com/ourFlag.gif KidsSoup - Taste the Fun of Learning! http://www.kidssoup.com/ Brenda w/Turning of the Key http://www.sassy4daze.com/Poetry2/Poem144.html Ex-Marine, 72, pummels pick-pocket http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070626/ap_on_fe_st/odd_pickpocket_pummeled July 4th Animations: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/agifs_f-j.html Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP How-to Center http://tinyurl.com/ybp48j Cleaning An Infected Computer http://www.computerninja.net/Cleaning.htm If You haven't joined LynnLynn's mailing List yet, send a blank e-mail to LynnLynns-links-subscribe@Yahoogroups.com =========================================================== Matt.9 [14] Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 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