In Honor of our Children & More... :) Shangy!
>-->S P E C I A L C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
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To ALL OUR NEW OR 'GONNA BE' GRADS!!
- YOU'RE THE BEST -
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GOD BLESS YOU ON YOUR LIFE JOURNEY!
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>-->In Honor of our Children...
>Hot off the 'Shangy' Press :)
This new one was inspired by our friend Betty J
I loved it and had to do up a page on it so all
could enjoy it!
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God Is Like...
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/godislike.html
God is like
-<>-
>May 25 is National Missing Children's Day
It's a reminder for all parents, guardians, teachers and other role
models to make child safety a priority.
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Take 25 mins. to help make children safer.
Learn More here:
http://www.take25.org/
Take 25
==================================================================
>-->As little children we learned
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Many of us leaned about God and Jesus Christ at a very young age.
We were taught that Jesus loves us. The scripture we were taught and
the picture we were shown was of Jesus with a group of little children
gathered around Him... Which comes from
Mathew 19:13-14
"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put
his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus
said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for
of such is the kingdom of heaven."
We grew up loving Jesus because we knew He loved us. We learned that
Jesus always did the will of the Father and that is why He was blameless
and sinless and could give His life and blood for the sins of all
mankind. He was God's Lamb, our savior. We learned that God, like Jesus,
loves us because we learned that God let His only begotten son whom He
loved with all His heart, be crucified, tortured, and humiliated for our
sakes so we could be saved.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
We then grew to love God because God first loved us. We learned that to
please God we should be like Jesus and always do the Will of God.
Romans 12:2
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
These things also we learned about God...
Deuteronomy 4:24
"the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."
Exodus 20:3
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
So, that brings us to todays question. When we pray, is it OK to pray
to Jesus or is it against the Will of God? We know God wishes us to
give Him the praise and Glory as is rightly due Him. [Acts 12:23]
Today we have a wonderful full teaching on this...
>From CES Can We “Pray” to Jesus Christ?
There is a controversy among Christians who believe that Jesus is not
God but the Son of God, about whether or not we can pray to Jesus. The
only definitive place to go for an answer to that question is the Word
of God. It is important when trying to answer such an important question
that we do not base our position upon only one Greek word or one verse.
Rather, we must examine the scope of Scripture to see what it says. We
believe that the Bible makes it clear that one can pray to Jesus, but
does not have to, and we will do our best to show why that is.
There are many points of logic in understanding why we can pray to
Jesus. Before we delve into the issue, however, it is important to
understand that the basic and fundamental definition of “prayer” is
“asking.” Our prayers may also include some praise, but in every
language, prayer is fundamentally asking for something, as is clear from
studying the Hebrew and Greek words translated prayer, and even looking
up “prayer” in an English dictionary. Below are some points of logic and
Scripture that indicate we can pray to Jesus.
1) Jesus is Lord of all (Acts 10:36; Rom. 10:12), and has all authority
in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). How can he be “Lord” in any real
sense if we cannot ask him for things? Now that the Lord Jesus has all
authority, it makes even more sense that we petition him, even as it
made sense that people petitioned him when he was alive in his earthly
ministry. Hundreds, even thousands, of people asked Jesus for things
when he was on earth. Does it make sense that someone could ask Jesus
for something 2000 years ago, but cannot do so now?
2) We are to have fellowship with the Son (1 John 1:3). How can we have
fellowship with Jesus, which clearly indicates being in relationship
with him, but not ask him for anything? We have fellowship with God and
ask Him for things, and we have fellowship with other Christians and ask
them for things, so does it make sense that we are to have fellowship
with Jesus but not ask him for anything?
3) Jesus said that his followers could ask him for things.
John 14:13 and 14
(13) And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may
bring glory to the Father.
(14) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
These verses become especially enlightening when they are read as they
were written in the original text, which was without punctuation: “…I am
going to the Father and I will do whatever you ask in my name…you may
ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” It is clear from
these verses that Jesus knew he was going to the Father, and wanted
people to ask him for what they needed. Their doing so is a prayer,
whether it is formally in a church building or informally as one is
going about his or her daily business.
4) The Word of God makes it clear that believers in the early Church
thought it normal to talk with the exalted Lord Jesus Christ.
A) After his ascension, the disciples prayed to Jesus about choosing a
replacement for Judas. This was logical because they understood it was
Jesus who had originally chosen the twelve.
Acts 1:24 and 25
(24) Then they prayed [proseuchomai], “Lord, you know everyone’s
heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
(25) to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go
where he belongs.”
Although some have contended that the Lord in the above verse is God, it
is more logical that it refers to Jesus. He was the one who chose Judas,
and he was addressed as “Lord” by all the apostles over and over in the
New Testament.
B) Stephen called upon Jesus, not God, when he was being stoned.
Acts 7:59 and 60a
(59) While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed [epikaleo= “calling
upon”], Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
(60a) Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold
this sin against them.”
C) Paul pleaded with the Lord Jesus about his “thorn in the flesh,” as
is clear from the context of the following verses.
2 Corinthians 12:8 and 9
(8) Three times I pleaded [parakaleo=to beseech] with the Lord to
take it away from me.
(9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
5) Verses such as Acts 9:34 and 1 Timothy 4:17 show that as the Head of
the Body, the Lord Jesus is actively involved in healing and sustaining
its members. It is our contention that any Christian can ask the Lord
Jesus to do for him anything that would help him do the works that Jesus
did. As Head of the Body, he converses with believers and asks things of
them. It is only logical that we would also ask things of him. The New
Testament tells us of his personal interaction with Stephen (Acts 7:56);
Saul/Paul (Acts 9:1-9; 23:11; Gal. 1:12; 2 Cor. 12:9); Ananias (Acts
9:10-16); Peter (Acts 10:9-22; 2 Pet. 1:14); [1] and John (Rev. 1:9-18).
E) Since Pentecost, many things come to the Body via the Head, Jesus
Christ. It is he who:
* Pours out the gift of holy spirit (Acts 2:33)
* Gives us grace (Rom. 1:5; 16:20; 1 Cor. 16:23; 2 Cor. 8:9; 13:14;
Gal. 1:6; 6:18; Eph. 4:7; Phil 4:23; 1 Thess. 5:8; 2 Thess 1:12; 3:18)
* Gives us peace (2 Thess. 3:16)
* Gives us mercy (1 Cor. 7:25)
* Blesses us (Rom. 10:12; 15:29)
* Nurtures and cares for the Church, holds it together and causes it
to grow (Eph. 5:29; Phil 1:19; Col. 1:17; 2:19)
* Directs us (1 Cor. 16:7; 2 Thess. 3:5)
* Is interceding for us (Rom. 8:35)
* Gives the leadership ministries to the Church (Eph. 1:1; 4:8,11)
* Gives revelation (2 Cor. 12:1; Gal 1:12)
* Will transform our bodies at his appearing (Phil 3:21)
* Will judge, reward, and punish people, according to what they
deserve (John 5:21,22; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 6:8; Col. 3:23-25; 1 Thess.
4:6; 2 Thess 1:8)
Could it really be that with such an intimate connection to the members
of his Body, the Lord Jesus could then not be addressed by his Church?
Surely we can ask our Lord and Head for whatever that we need.
6) Calling on the Name of the Lord One evidence in Scripture that people
can pray to Jesus is seen by paying attention to the phrase, “call upon
the name of the Lord.” Through the Old Testament, when people “called
upon the name of the Lord,” it was to pray to, appeal to, or ask for
help from God.
Abraham was in the habit of praying to God, and though there are many
examples in Scripture, one will suffice.
Genesis 12:8
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched
his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an
altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal as to who was the true God and
who was not. He and they each prayed to their god, and the one who
answered by fire would be known to be God. They prayed, which in the
Hebrew idiom is to “call upon the name….”
1 Kings 18:24
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name
of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people
said, “What you say is good.”
Naaman, the great Syrian general who was also a leper, expected Elisha
to come out and pray for him. He expresses his thought about prayer by
the phrase, “call on the name of the Lord.
2 Kings 5:11
But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely
come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave
his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
In Psalm 99 we see that when the great men of God prayed to God (“called
on the LORD”), He answered them.
Psalm 99:6
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who
called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them.
God tells the people that when they pray to Him (“call upon my name”) He
will answer.
Zechariah 13:9
This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like
silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will
answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The
LORD is our God.’”
Just as the Old Testament records people calling upon the name of the
Lord in prayer, so the Church Epistles use the same terminology to
record people praying to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus
and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
This is clearly the same phrase used in the Old Testament, and is
applied to Jesus as well as God. Vincent writes:
“It is used of worship, and here implies prayer to Christ.” [2]
R. C. H. Lenski writes:
“‘To call on him’ means to praise, bless, thank, worship him, and to
ask of him all that we need for body and for soul.” [3]
It seems clear that even as the Old Testament believers called upon God,
we today can call upon Jesus, and that means we can pray to him and
expect him to answer our requests. Calling upon Jesus, our Lord, also
occurs in Romans 10:12-14 and 2 Timothy 2:22.
7) It is honoring to God when we honor Jesus.
John 5:22 and 23
(22) Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all
judgment to the Son,
(23) that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He
who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
The first thing we notice about these verses is that God’s intent is
that people honor the Son just as they honor Him. More than that, if we
do not honor the Son, we do not honor the Father. The pertinent question
we must ask ourselves is, “How do we honor the Father?” Surely one way
we honor Him is by our praise and thanksgiving to him, and by our
prayers to Him. According to Scripture, we are to honor the Son in the
same way.
8) There is no verse, and nothing in the scope of Scripture, that
forbids us from praying to Jesus. This is important, because God’s
prohibitions in Scripture are quite plain. Since we can ask both God and
other people for things we need, it is only logical that if we could not
ask our living Lord Jesus for things, the Bible would say that
somewhere. However, no verse prohibits us from asking Jesus for things
or thanking him for what he has done for us.
Thanking Jesus
Not only can we ask Jesus for things, we can thank him for what he did
and is doing for us, and that is only logical. Think about it. Jesus is
alive. He is Head of the Body of Christ. He is our Lord. How could we
not be able to lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving for what he
has done? We thank God for all kinds of things, and we thank other
people for their acts of kindness to us. We are also able to, and
should, thank Jesus Christ for what he did and is doing, even as Paul
did.
1 Timothy 1:12
I thank [charin] Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,
that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
Praising Jesus
Jesus is worthy of our praise. On this earth we praise men who have done
far less for us than Jesus ever did. We throw them parties, give them
certificates and medals, and sing them songs. Surely Jesus is worth at
least that much praise, and Scripture says he will get it. Jesus is
lauded and praised by the 24 elders (Rev. 5:8-10); by the multitudes of
angels (Rev. 5:11, 12), and by all God’s created things (Rev. 5:13). If
we are going to praise him in the future, surely it is not out of bounds
to praise him now for what he has done for us.
Worshiping Jesus
Many verses show that people worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ. This was
natural because it was very common to worship (i.e., pay homage to) men
of a higher status. This is hard to see in the English translations of
the Bible. The translators usually render the Hebrew or Greek word as
“worship” when it involves God or Jesus, but in some other way, such as
“bow before,” or “pay homage to,” when it involves men. Nevertheless,
“worship” is clearly used in the Hebrew and Greek texts, and that is how
it should be understood. For example:
* Lot “worshipped” the two strangers who came to Sodom (Gen. 19:1)
* Abraham “worshipped” the pagan leaders of the land in which he
lived (Gen. 23:7)
* Jacob “worshipped” his older brother when they met after being
apart for years (Gen. 33:3)
* Joseph had a dream that his parents and brothers “worshipped” him
(Gen. 37:10)
* Joseph’s brothers “worshipped” him (Gen. 43:26)
* Joshua fell down and “worshipped” an angel (Joshua 5:14)
* Ruth “worshipped” Boaz (Ruth 2:10)
* David “worshipped” Jonathan (1 Sam. 20:41)
* Abigail “worshipped” David (1 Sam. 25:41)
The above list is a small sampling of all the examples we find in
Scripture. There is a sense, of course, in which there is a very special
worship (homage, allegiance, reverent love, devotion) to be given only
to God, but there is no unique word that represents that special
worship. Rather, it is a posture of the heart. Understanding that both
God and men are worshipped in the Bible forces us as readers to look not
at the specific word for “worship” but rather at the heart of the one
doing the worship. It explains why God rejects the worship of those
whose hearts are not really with Him.
People fell down and worshipped Jesus while he walked the earth and
performed great miracles because they loved and respected him greatly.
It is clear why we are to worship him now: he has earned our love and
our highest reverence. He died to set us free, and God has honored him
by seating him at His own right hand above all other powers and
authorities. Jesus was worshipped by his followers both before and after
his resurrection (Matt. 28:9, 17; Luke 24:52). Thus it seems very
unreasonable to assert that Christians should not worship Jesus today
just as people did when he was on earth: by homage, praise,
thanksgiving, and with requests. [For further study read our article,
Can We Worship Jesus Christ?, posted on our BiblicalUnitarian.com site.]
Conclusion
It seems clear that we can pray to Jesus for things we need. However,
the Bible does not give us clear direction as to when or about what a
believer should talk to Jesus, as opposed to God. Whether a believer
prays to God or Jesus is left up to the individual.
However, the vast majority of scriptures dealing with prayer make it
clear that God is the principal source of all things, and therefore
should be the chief focus of our worship, praise, and supplication.
Those who enthusiastically embrace the idea of praying to the Lord Jesus
must recognize that this practice ought not to be carried out to the
point of distracting one from the worship of the Father. We are sure
that the Lord Jesus would find it ironic indeed if he himself were to
become the principal object of Christian worship and adoration, when his
entire life and ministry was devoted to the glorification of his Father.
We should also make it clear that we are not saying that a Christian
must pray to the Lord Jesus as part of his or her Christian walk.
Because there is no clear command to do so, as there is to God (Eph.
5:19,20; Col. 1:3,9; 4:3), we must never tell anyone they must pray to
Jesus. On the other hand, we shudder at the idea of any Christian
telling another that it is wrong for him to talk/pray to the Lord Jesus.
We would particularly hate to see believers judge one another and
segregate themselves from other Christians over the issue of whether or
not they pray to the Lord Jesus. We think whether or not one prays to
Jesus is a matter of individual conscience, and not an issue about which
believers ought to tyrannize one another.
This fine teaching is from:
http://snipurl.com/pray2Jesus
Can we pray to Jesus?
----
The Teens n 20s Camp early registration deadline is May 25th (forms and
payment are due at the same time) and the final registration deadline is
June 15th.
The 20s Conference final registration deadline is June 1st.
The Expressions of Praise and Worship Conference early registration
deadline is August 2nd.
For more information on these and all our events, please visit
www.STFonline.org/register
Have a great day in the Lord and know we are praying for you!
The Home Office Staff
Spirit and Truth Fellowship International
www.STFonline.org
1-888-255-6189, M-F, 8:30-5 (EST)
International callers use 317-255-6189
====================================================================
>-->From Our Friend Steve :)
>Negative People
by Catherine Pratt
www.Life-With-Confidence.com
negative people are like black holes which just suck all your energy
Negative people. They are like human black holes which suddenly come out
of nowhere and just suck the life out of you. You try to stay positive
and remain strong but their negativity ends up just completely draining
you, you feel exhausted, and you may also start to feel depressed too.
So what can you do? One of the first things to do is to be aware of who
the negative people are in your life. This may not be as easy as you
first think.
Some very nice people are as Judy Orloff says in her book, "Positive
Energy" are really energy vampires. Here's some of the signs she says to
look for:
- you experience a sense of being demeaned, constricted or attacked.
- you intuitively feel unsafe, tense or on gguard.
- you sense prickly, off-putting vibes. You can't wait to get away from
them.
- your energy starts to fizzle. You may feell beleaguered or ill."
She also refers to them by the following names which you might
recognize: the sob sister, the blamer, the drama queen, the constant
talker or joke teller, and the fixer-upper (requires endless help).
Also, pay attention to what the person talks about. Is it always about
how bad things are? Do they just complain and never actually do anything
about what's upsetting them?
----
...Yeah, people are often our problem - or as Paul the Apostle put it -
a thorn in the flesh... 2 Corinthians 12:7
-<>-
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(._\ Y /_.)
(O_`&`_O)
/ / \ \
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`"`"`|`|`|`"`"`
jgs _|_|_|_
(___|___)
The Love Movie:
http://www.thelovemovie.com
Love Movie
...
Very Nice - Thanks Steve!
===================================================================
>-->From InspiredBuffalo:
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Your Sin Will Find You Out
-Author Unknown
When I was a child I lived in a little town in Texas and attended a
small country church. We were encouraged to memorize Bible verses, and
there were two particular verses that made a great impression on me. One
was Numbers 32:23 "Be sure your sin will find you out." The other one
was Proverbs 28:13 "He that covers his sins shall not prosper." I wasn't
clever or devious enough to get away with anything, and it seemed that
every time I did something wrong I was always found out. Each time this
happened I was reminded of those two verses.
But those verses really came to life for me one Wednesday evening when
we were all at church for Prayer Meeting. At that time we had a little
yellow pet canary named Tweetie that we kept in a cage. I especially
loved to hear Tweetie sing, and each night we carefully covered his cage
so he could sleep, and in the morning we put a little bowl of water in
the cage so he could take a bath. He was my special pride and joy.
That night when we returned home we opened the door and heard the
dreaded rattle of a snake. We looked up at Tweetie's cage, and were
horrified to discover that a rattlesnake had crawled into the cage and
swallowed Tweetie whole. Somehow the snake had stretched the bars enough
to crawl through them, but after swallowing the canary, there was a huge
bulge in the snake's belly, and there was not enough room between the
bars for the snake to crawl back out of the cage. So the snake was
trapped inside the cage with its "sin" obvious for all to see. My brave
mother was able to kill the snake, but I grieved over the loss of my
special pet bird.
_.--....
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jgs '--.:::...---'\:'.:`':`':./
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Never again did a snake find its way inside our house, but I always
remembered the lesson learned that day from a snake, for his sin was
found out, and he certainly didn't prosper!
-<>-
_
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jgs|// \\|/// \\\|//\\\|/// \|/// \\\|// \\|// \\\|//
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
BUTTERCUPS By: Joseph J. Mazzella
I am getting a nice patch of buttercups in my front yard this year.
I didn't do anything to help them, though. God planted them there all on
His own. Each morning I admire them as I walk out to get the paper.
Their beauty is a delight to the eyes and their scent is a pleasure to
the nose. Everyday they soak up the morning sun and with each rain they
drink in the moisture. With each passing week the patch seems to grow a
little larger too. I am making an effort to mow around them for as long
as possible. I don't want this beautiful blessing to end. I want to
enjoy these wonderful wild flowers just as God intended. I am sure that
in Heaven the fields are always full of buttercups, dandelions, and
sweet clover, and there is not a lawn mower in sight.
Looking out on these delightful buttercups I am reminded too of all
the wonderful souls out there like them. These are the souls God planted
among us to show us just how beautiful life and living can be. Everyday
that soak up God's love, joy, and light and then share it with the
world. When it rains in their lives they use it to grow bigger, better,
and stronger too. Everyday their numbers grow as well. Just as the
buttercups fill the meadows here with patches of priceless gold these
glorious spirits fill the whole world with golden glimpses of what
Heaven is like. I know too that nothing will keep them from sharing
their gifts of wisdom and happiness for all of their lives. No lawn
mower would even stand a chance against them.
God loves us all and God planted us all here for a season. What we
grow into, however, is up to us. You too can be a wonderful soul
spreading love and light to the world. You too can be a glorious spirit
sharing a little Heaven while still here on Earth. You too can bloom
like a wild flower everyday in beauty, joy, and delight. You too can
stand tall against the lawn mowers of this world. Either that or you can
be a weed. The choice is up to you.
-<>-
>Take A Few Steps
: :
: :
: :
: :
: :
.' :
_.-" :
_.-" '.
..__...____...-" :
: \_\ :
: .--" :
`.__/ .-" _ :
/ / ," ,- .'
(_)(`,(_,'L_,_____ ____....__ _.'
"' " """"""" """ cgm
Take a few steps away from the chatter and confusion to a place where
you can see more clearly. Take a few steps away and give yourself a new
and empowering perspective.
You'll see that much of what concerns you, need not concern you. You'll
see that the problems are more than overwhelmed by all the opportunities
and positive possibilities.
You'll see that many of the things which hold you back do so only with
your consent. You'll see how easy it can be to let them go and to let
yourself move forward.
Take a few steps away, to a place where you can focus on what is truly
important. It's a place where your purpose really matters, where your
efforts truly and easily make a positive difference.
Life is beautiful, and filled with an unending stream of wonderful
possibilities. Take a few steps away from the noise and confusion, and
you'll see the best of those possibilities come clearly into focus.
Ralph Marston
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>My Dad, the Ump Story Editor:
by Trisha Mason Joyce Schowalter
Texas USA
When we were kids my dad sometimes announced our baseball games over the
PA system. He called out the batters' names, the count and the play in
the field in his big friendly voice. In between innings he sang out an
old baseball chant:
"Visit the concession stand,
Get your Pea Corn, Pop Nuts,
Chewing Water and Soda Gum!"
Dad always volunteered to umpire our games. He said he didn't think he
would be a good team coach because he would push us to win all the time
instead of to enjoy the game. So he umpired.
One day in 1968 when he was umpping second base I was at bat. The pitch
came fast and fell right into the sweet spot on my bat. The crack was
wonderful to hear and I was off and running for first base. While racing
for first I saw the centerfielder miss the catch, so when I touched
first I made the curve and headed for second.
Then someone snagged my sleeve and said, "Get back on first!" It was my
Dad. He had seen what I hadn't; the centerfielder had the ball and was
throwing it to second. I quickly backtracked to first base.
I don't remember the rest of the game and probably wouldn't remember
that incident -- except for what happened after the game. My Dad came up
to and apologized. He said what he'd done was wrong, that he had let his
feelings as a father (wanting me to win) get the way of being fair while
umpping a game.
He said it would never happen again because he was going to the
scheduler and have himself taken off of umpiring any of his three
children's games. The rest of that season dad umpired for other teams,
taking time he would have spent with us, because he had promised to ump
a certain number of games.
He never seemed to care if we won or lost, but he always told us, with a
glow of happiness, he only wanted us to enjoy playing and to play fair.
Near the end of my Dad's life he suffered from Alzheimer's and rarely
knew who we were, but one spring day we took him out in the wheel chair
to watch his grandson, my brother's boy, play baseball. My brother
announced the game and called out his son's name when it was his turn to
bat.
My father saw his grandson Aaron walk up to the plate and his eyes
perked up, he smiled and said, "Go, Stan!" my brother's name. Tears ran
down my Mom's face between innings, when my bother's voice on the PA
sang out:
"Visit the concession stand,
Get your Pea Corn, Pop Nuts,
Chewing Water and Soda Gum!"
My dad had faithfully coached us at home: how to throw, catch, bat and
run the bases, how to win and lose with grace. He also taught me a
lesson in integrity I will never forget.
----
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>-->From SermondFodder:
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{
THE SEED
A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was
time to chose a successor to take over the business. Instead of
choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do
something different.
He called all the young executives in his company together.
"It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO," he
said. "I have decided to choose one of you."
The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am
going to give each one of you a seed today - a very special seed. I
want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year
from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I
will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will
be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others,
received a seed.
He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him
get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.
Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After
about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about
their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept
checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now,
others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant
and he felt like a failire.
Six months went by - still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had
killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had
nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just
kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to
grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company
brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife
that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be
honest about what happened.
Jim felt sick at his stomach. It was going to be the most
embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right.
He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was
amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They
were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the
floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young
executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back.
"My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the
CEO.
"Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with
his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the
front.
Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe
he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his
seed. Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and
then announced to the young executives, "Here is your next Chief
Executive! His name is JIM!"
Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could
he be the new CEO the others said?
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this oom a
seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it
back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead -
it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.
"When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted
another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the
courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore,
he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.
If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest.
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will
reap later.
Two thousand years ago Paul wrote to the church at Galatia the same
story but with fewer words, "What you sow, so shall you reap" (Gal.
6:7).
"We are grass that will wither and die but the incorruptible seed of
God's Word will live forever - sow it daily into the life of your
family! (1 Peter 1: 23 - 25).
--Author Unknown
>From http://akako.wordpress.com/
=====================================================================
>-->From Heartwarmers:
| ____.......__
|\ .' _.--""''`` ``''--._
| \ .'/ ..--'` .-'`
.._ | \.' / ..-'' .-'
'.`'"-: ' .-'` .-'
'. __...----""""""""""--.. \
- ..-'' ``""-._ \
.' _. \ `"- \
_.-'` | /-. \ `-. \
| / `. \ wkm `.\
|/ `-\ `.
|
>STAR IN MY DAUGHTER'S EYES by Michael Segal
"You know there might be some movie stars in the audience," my
wife Sharon told my 13-year-old daughter, Shawn.
"I know, but I'm only going to L.A. to hear and support Dad.
Celebrities are just people too," replied Shawn.
That was a conversation made after I was invited to speak at a
synagogue in Los Angeles during the holiday of Yom Kippur -- one of
the holiest days for the Jewish people.
I had been somewhat hesitant to accept the invitation to speak
in California as my father is a Rabbi in Houston, my hometown, and
family is very important to me, especially during the holidays.
However, my parents, as well as my wife's family, said, "Go, enjoy
the holidays in California."
So, my wife, daughter, and I spent Yom Kippur in Tinsel-Town.
I spoke before 2000 members of the congregation in the Wilshire
Theater where the services were conducted. As we entered the
beautiful theater we noticed the marquee. On one side it read,
"Coming Soon: The Graduate" while on the other side it read, "High
Holiday Service." We chuckled as we walked into the theater and
thought, "Only in Los Angeles."
The services were beautiful, filled with inspirational readings
and music. You could feel the spirit in the synagogue -- I mean
inside the theater. The rabbi preached a beautiful and uplifting
sermon, and then it was my turn to speak.
I spoke on resiliency, hope, and overcoming obstacles. When I
concluded my talk, 2000 people spontaneously gave me a standing
ovation. (Perhaps, they all had to stretch their legs.) I looked
down at my wife and daughter, and both appeared to be so very proud.
I thought, "It's amazing. There are many celebrities here, however,
my family is thinking only about me, even Shawn."
The services, both evening and day services, flew by quickly.
My wife was correct. There were many celebrities who did
inspirational readings as well as inspirational songs. The services
were beautiful. However, I was even happier when I realized that my
13-year-old daughter was in Los Angeles to hear and support me. What
a feeling!
After services were concluded, my family, as well as
approximately 100 guests, was invited to the rabbi's beautiful home
to "break the fast." (On Yom Kippur, a Jewish person over the age of
13 is obliged to fast 24 hours so that he/she should concentrate on
the meaning of Yom Kippur and not on the food.)
The rabbi came up to us at his home and thanked us for coming to
California "to help make the services so special."
I quickly replied, "The services were so beautiful, so
uplifting, and so full of spirit."
The rabbi thanked me and then quickly turned to Shawn, my 13
year old daughter, stating, "Shawn, it's a shame Jennifer (the
rabbi's step-daughter) became ill. Ordinarily, she would have been
here tonight. If she would have been here, her boyfriend, Tobey
Maguire would have also been here."
My daughter's face dropped and she quickly began screaming, "ARE
YOU KIDDING ME? MOM, IS HE KIDDING ME?"
People all around the room began wondering what was wrong when
they heard Shawn yelling. However, soon, people realized that
nothing was wrong -- that is, except for my deflated ego as I
realized that Shawn was more excited about the possibility of having
been in the same room of a "movie star" than supporting her father.
I quickly regained my confidence when I thought of a phrase made
just a few months earlier by someone whom I admire, respect, and
love. I remembered the wise quote: "They're just people, too."
I smiled as I secretly asked the rabbi if he could possibly
arrange for an autographed photo for Shawn. A few weeks later Shawn
received something in the mail from Los Angeles -- the autographed
photo of Tobey Maguire.
As I sit in my office I wonder which photo Shawn, the 13 year
old teenager, keeps closer to her bed -- Tobey Maguire, the actor, or
me, her father?
-- Michael Segal
___________________________________________
Shot in the head as an innocent witness to a robbery, Michael defied
all odds by returning to college, earning two degrees with honors,
marrying his highschool sweetheart, Sharon, and together with her
becoming a parent to their daughter, Shawn. Mike now works as a
social worker at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, is an
inspirational/motivational speaker and an author. You can visit his
website here: http://www.InspirationByMike.com
=====================================================================
The nice thing about being a celebrity is
that when you bore people, they think it's
their fault.
-- Henry Kissinger
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