DIDN'T HAVE THE GREEN THING

Thought this one was worth reading...a lot I forgot but it does make sense How Wasteful the Older Generation Was ... In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.” The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment." He was right, that generation didn’t have the green thing in its day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But they didn’t have the green thing back in that customer's day. In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks. But she was right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day. Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts – wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right, they didn’t have the green thing back in her day. Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she’s right, they didn’t have the green thing back then. They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But they didn’t have the green thing back then. Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?

Psalm 91:4

Reminds me of Psalm 91:4, He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. The photographer caught this special moment, what a privilege to see.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain" There is absolutely nothing to fear about tomorrow; for God is already there.

This will give you chills!

This will give you chills!



AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,

THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,

BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,

HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER

WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE

CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS

ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND

THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS

TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER

HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE....



WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE

PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.



'A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE

SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST ,' HE BEGAN.

'WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY

ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.


THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE

FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT

KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT

INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED.'


THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,

MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,

LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY..




THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,


'GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE

MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY

WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.
HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.

THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND

HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT..

THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY

THE TORRENT OF WAVES.


AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!'

HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.

BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK

TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH

THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER
RECOVERED.

BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP

STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT

WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.


'THE FATHER,' HE CONTINUED, 'KNEW HIS SON WOULD

STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT

BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO

AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED

HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. '


HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE

SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY

BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO

ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE

LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE.'

WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN

HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.


THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND

DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE

END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.


WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO

TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.


'THAT WAS A NICE STORY,' POLITELY STATED ONE OF

THEM,'BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A

FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT

THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN.'


'WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE,' THE OLD MAN REPLIED,

GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED

HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS

AND SAID, 'IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT,

I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES

ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD>

TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.


YOU SEE...


I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND.'

The Rain

This is Awesome !!!
The Rain



It was a busy
Morning, about 8:30, when an elderly
Gentleman in his 80's arrived to have
Stitches removed from his thumb.
He said he was in a hurry as he had an
Appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital
Signs and had him take a seat,
Knowing it would be over an hour
Before someone
Would to able to see him.
I saw him looking at his watch and
Decided, since I
Was not busy with another patient,
I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was
Well healed, so I talked to one of the
Doctors, got the needed supplies to
Remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of
His wound, I asked him if he
Had another doctor's appointment
This morning, as
He was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he
Needed to go to
The nursing home to eat breakfast
With his wife. I inquired as to her
Health.

He told me that she had been there
For a while and that she
Was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we
Talked, I asked if she would be
Upset if he was a bit late.

He
Replied that she no longer knew
Who he was, that she had not
Recognized him in
Five years now.




I was surprised, and asked him,
'And you still go every
Morning, even though she
Doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he
Patted my hand and said,

'She doesn't
Know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back
Tears as he left, I had goose bumps
On my arm, and thought,

'That is
The kind of love I want in my life.'



True love is
Neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an
Acceptance of all that is,
Has been, will be, and will not
Be.

With all the jokes
And fun that are in e-mails,
Sometimes there is one that comes
Along that has an
Important message..
This one I thought I could share with you.

The
Happiest people don't necessarily
Have the best of everything;
They just make
The best of everything they have.

I hope you share this with someone you
Care about. I just did..



'Life isn't about
How to survive the storm,
But how to dance
In the rain.'
We are all getting Older
Tomorrow may be our turn.

YOU TOOK MY PARKING SPACE AT CHURCH

YOU TOOK MY PARKING SPACE AT CHURCH

This should wake us up.

One day, a man went to visit a church, He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, " I always park there! You took my place!"

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, " That's where I always sit! You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still he said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."

wicker basket

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of
eastern Kentucky with his young grandson.

Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting
at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could..
One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book.
What good does reading the Bible do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this old wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out be fore he could get back to the house.
The grandfather laughed and said, "You will
have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the old wicker
basket was empty before he returned home.
Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it wasimpossible to carry water in a basket, and he went
to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water;
I want a basket of water. You can do this.
You're just not trying hard enough,"
and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all.
The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" the old man said.
"Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different.
Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible.
You might not understand or remember everything,
but when you read it, it will change you
from the inside out."

Moral of the wicker basket story:
Take time to read a portion of God's word each day;
it will affect you for good even if you don't retain a word.

Thought for Today: God's Love is like the ocean, you can see its beginnings
but not its end.

I really like this story because I don't retain things too well
anymore...old age may have something to do with it but I just figure my brain just gets overloaded!
God isn't concerned about my brain anyway;
He's more concerned about my heart

USPS Letter (This is great!)]

-

USPS Letter (This is great!)]





"Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God" Anonymous

We don't know who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.





Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:


Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

Attitude

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood
and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how
he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'



He was a natural motivator.



If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee
how to look on the positive side of the situation.



Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked
him, 'I don't get it!'



'You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?'
He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two
choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or...you can choose
to be in a bad mood



I choose to be in a good mood.'




Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or..I can
choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.




Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their
complaining or...I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the
positive side of life..




'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.



'Yes, it is,' he said. 'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all
the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to
situations. You choose how people affect your mood.



You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your
choice how you live your life.'



I reflected on what he said.. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry
to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him
when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.




Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident,
falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.


After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released
from the hospital with rods placed in his back.



I saw him about six months after the accident.




When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be
twins...Wanna see my scars?'



I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his
mind as the accident took place.




'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my
soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied. 'Then, as I lay on the ground, I
remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or....I could
choose to die. I chose to live.'




'Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?' I asked.



He continued, '...the paramedics were great.



They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me
into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and
nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I
knew I needed to take action.'



'What did you do?' I asked.



'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John.
'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors
and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep
breath and yelled, 'Gravity''



Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live.. Operate on me
as if I am alive, not dead.'



He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his
amazing attitude....I learned from him that every day we have the choice
to live fully.



Attitude, after all, is everything.



Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' Matthew 6:34

The Brick

The Brick!!!
PLEASE
Read It.








Read this today and
don't delete it even if
you are too busy!! You'll
see..








THE BRICK


A young and successful
executive was traveling down a neighborhood street,
going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was
watching for kids darting out from between parked
cars and slowed down when he thought he saw
something.



As his car passed, no children appeared.
Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to
the spot where the brick had been thrown.



The angry
driver then jumped out of the
car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up
against a parked car shouting,




'What was that all about and who are you? Just what
the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that
brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.. Why
did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic.
'Please, mister....please, I'm sorry but I didn't
know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the
brick because no one else would stop...' With tears
dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth
pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my
brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell
out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him
up.'


Now sobbing, the boy
asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help
me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and
he's too heavy for me.'


Moved beyond words,
the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling
lump in his throat.. He hurriedly lifted the
handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took
out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh
scrapes and cuts.. A quick look told him everything
was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless
you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too
shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy!
push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk
toward their home..


It was a long, slow
walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very
noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair
the dented side door. He kept the dent there to
remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life
so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to
get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and
speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have
time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's
our choice to listen or
not.


Thought for the
Day:


If God had a
refrigerator, your picture would be on
it.



If He had a wallet,
your photo would be in
it.


He sends you flowers
every spring.



He sends you a sunrise
every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about
you!



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.




Read this line very
slowly and let it sink
in...


If God brings you to
it, He will bring you through
it.

The Bible or a Diamond Ring?

The Bible or a Diamond Ring?


A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband. For many months she had admired a beautiful diamond ring in a showroom, and knowing her husband could afford it, she told him that was all she wanted. As her birthday approached, this lady awaited signs that her husband had purchased the diamond ring.
Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband calledher into his study. Her husband told her how proud he was to have such a good wife, and told her how much he loved her.. He handed her a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Curious, the wife opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the wife's name embossed in gold. Angrily, she raised her voice to her husband and said, 'With all your money you give me a Bible?'

She stormed out of the house, permanently leaving her husband. Many years passed and the lady was very successful in business. She managed to settle for a more beautiful house and a wonderful family, but realized her ex-husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go to visit him. She had not seen him for many years.

But before she could make arrangements, she received a telegram telling her that her ex-husband had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to her. She needed to come back immediately and take care of things.

When she arrived at her ex-husband's house, sudden sadness and regret filled her heart. She began to search through her ex-husband's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as she had left it years before.

With tears, she opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. Her ex-husband had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11,
'And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him?'

As she read those words, a tiny package dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a diamond ring, with her name engraved on it -- the same diamond ring which she saw at the showroom.

On the tag was the date of her birth, and the words. 'LUV U ALWAYS'.

How many times do we miss God's blessings, because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. Pass it on to others.

Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not; but, remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.


We should ALL grow in the Word to improve and to better OURSELVES so that we can be used by God and be a blessing to others.


IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKAGED THE WAY YOU WANT IT,
IT'S BECAUSE IT MAY BE BETTER PACKAGED THE WAY IT IS.

ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS; THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO BIGGER and BETTER THINGS..

'The best and most beautiful things in the world sometimes cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.'