unlocked title# metatags# stylesheet#&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& custom#&& background#&&White&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& links#Navy&&Navy&&Navy&&&&&& lock#tablestart#1&&4&&0&&&&&&Black&&&&&&%&¢er&&&&&&% tablerowstart#&& lock#tablecolstart#wrap&&left&&&&&&176&&pixels&&middle&&bkgurl/per_green.gif&&61&&pixels lock#space#1&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& graphic#userurlSunrise.jpg&&&&0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&%&&&&%&& tablespace# tablecolend#&& lock#tablecolstart#wrap&¢er&&&&&&556&&pixels&&middle&&bkgurl/per_orange.gif&&61&&pixels limit#font#Times New Roman&&Blue&&7&&b&& text#Inspirations&&yes&&&&&& tablespace# tablecolend#&& tablerowend#&& tablerowstart# lock#tablecolstart#wrap&&left&&&&&&176&&pixels&&top&&bkgurl/per_blue-bg.gif&&&&% lock#tablestart#0&&0&&4&&&&&&&&&&176&&pixels&¢er&&&&&&% tablerowstart#&& lock#tablecolstart#wrap&&left&&&&&&&&%&&middle&&&&&&% limit#font#Arial&&Black&&2&&b&& text#»&&yes&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& url#userurlHomepage.html&&Homepage&&&&_parent&& break# text#»&&yes&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& url#userurlCalendar.html&&Calendar&&&&_parent&& break# text#»&&yes&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& url#userurlChildren.html&&Children&&&&_parent&& break# text#»&&yes&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& url#userurlYouth.html&&Youth&&&&_parent&& break# text#»&&yes&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& url#userurlYoungatHeart.html&&Young at Heart&&&&_parent&& break# text#»&&yes&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& url#userurlRecipes.html&&Recipes&&&&_parent&& break# text#»&&yes&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& url#userurlLaughter.html&&Laughter&&&&_parent&& break# text#»&&yes&&&&&& url#userurlPastorsPage.html&&Pastor's Page&&&&_parent&& break# tablespace# tablecolend#&& tablerowend#&& tableend#&& break#2&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& font#Arial&&Navy&&2&&b&& align#center&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& counter#4&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& tablespace# tablecolend#&& lock#tablecolstart#wrap&&left&&&&&&556&&pixels&&top&&&&&&% lock#tablestart#0&&0&&0&&&&&&&&&&556&&pixels&¢er&&bkgurl/per_title-bar.gif&&25&&pixels tablerowstart#&& lock#tablecolstart#wrap&&left&&&&&&&&%&&middle&&&&&&% limit#font#Times New Roman&&Blue&&3&&b&& lock#space#1&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& text#Stories & Poems&&yes&&&&&& tablespace# tablecolend#&& tablerowend#&& tableend#&& lock#graphic#imgurl/bus_line.gif&&&&0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&556&&pixels&&1&&pixels lock#tablestart#0&&0&&8&&&&&&&&&&556&&pixels&¢er&&&&&&% tablerowstart#&& lock#tablecolstart#wrap&&left&&&&&&&&%&&middle&&&&&&% limit#font#Times New Roman&&Blue&&3&&&& text#~*~*~*~*~*~££££The Story Behind the Hymn ££"It Is Well with My Soul" ££ ££In the 1870s, Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago lawyer and a close friend of evangelist Dwight L. Moody. Spafford had invested heavily in real estate, but the Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out his holdings. His son had died shortly before the disaster.££££D. L.Moody was to preach in London. Spafford was closely associated with him in music ministry. Spafford and his family desperately needed a rest, so in 1873, he planned a trip to Europe with his wife and four daughters. While in Great Britain, he also hoped to help Moody with his evangelistic tour. Last minute business caused Spafford to delay his departure, but he sent his wife and four daughters on the S.S. Ville Du Havre as scheduled, promising to follow in a few days. On November 22 the ship was struck by the English ship Lochearn, and it sank in twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband the brief message, "Saved alone." ££££He asked the captain of the ship on which he was sailing to notify him when they approached the approximate area where the Ville du Havre went down. Notified that the area was near, Spafford went down into his cabin, and near the scene of his daughters' tragic deaths, he penned the words: ££ ££ When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, ££ When sorrows like sea billows roll, ££ Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ££ It is well, it is well, with my soul. ££ ££The hymn refers to Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." ££££The Spaffords eventually met up with Dwight Moody. "It is well," Spafford told him quietly, "the will of God be done." ££££~*~*~*~*~*~££££Lord, Thank You...££££Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food££to eat.££££Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of££nice clothes to wear.££££And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were££so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.££££My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the££splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are so££convenient.££££Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs cleaning. It££has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and££enough leftovers for two or three meals.££££Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today;££It has baked so many things over the years.££££The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that we all enjoy the££yard. My kids are healthy and able to run and play.££££Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have££richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them££gratefully.££££Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, Thank££you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.££££Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as££possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.££££Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, Thank you, Lord,££that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.££££Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost,££Toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, Thank you,££Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.££££Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in££magazines and the menu is at times not balanced, There are many who are hungry.££££Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous, Thank you,££Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.££££Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my££circumstances were better, Thank you, Lord, for life.££££*****££Remember: Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple,££but only God knows the number of apples in a seed.££££~*~*~*~*~*~££££The Story of Daniel££££His name is Daniel. It was an unusually cold day for the month of May.££Spring had arrived and everything was alive with color. But a cold front room££the north had brought winter's chill back to Indiana. I sat with two friends in££the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town square.££££The food and the company were both especially good that day. As we talked,££my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town,££was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back.££He was carrying a well-worn sign that read, "I will work for food." My heart sank.££££I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around££us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness££and disbelief. We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind.££££We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and££quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square,££looking somewhat half-heartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful,££knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove through££town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back££in my car. Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: "Don't go££back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square."££££And so, with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the££square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the££storefront church, going through his sack. I stopped and looked, feeling££both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking££space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park.££I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.££££"Looking for the pastor?" I asked.££££"Not really," he replied, "Just resting."££££"Have you eaten today?"££££"Oh, I ate something early this morning."££££"Would you like to have lunch with me?££££"Do you have some work I could do for you?"££££"No work," I replied. "I commute here to work from the city, but I would££like to take you to lunch."££££"Sure, "he replied with a smile.££££As he began to gather his things. I asked some surface questions.££££"Where you headed?"££££"St. Louis."££££"Where you from?"££££"Oh, all over; mostly Florida."££££"How long you been walking?"££££"Fourteen years," came the reply.££££I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same££restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38££years. His eyes were dark, yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and££articulation that was startling. He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt££that said, "Jesus is the Never Ending Story."££££Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life.££He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences. Fourteen years££earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach££in Daytona. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large££tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought. He was hired, but the££tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services££he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God.££££"Nothing's been the same since", he said, "I felt the Lord telling me to££keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now."££££"Ever think of stopping?" I asked.££££"Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me.££But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles. That's what's in my££sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit££leads." I sat amazed.££££My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this££way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked:££££"What's it like?"££££"What?"££££"To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your££sign?"££££"Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments.££Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that££certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to££realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts££of other folks like me." My concept was changing, too.££££We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he££paused. He turned to me and said, "Come ye blessed of my Father and inherit££the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food,££when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in."££I felt as if we were on holy ground.££££"Could you use another Bible?" I asked.££££He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too££heavy. It was also his personal favorite. "I've read through it 14 times," he said.££"I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see."££I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed££very grateful.££££"Where you headed from here?"££££"Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon."££££"Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?"££££"No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star££ right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next." He smiled,££and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove££him back to the town square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we££drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.££££"Would you sign my autograph book?" he asked. "I like to keep messages££from folks I meet." I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his££calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him££with a verse of scripture, in Jeremiah, "I know the plans I have for you,"££declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to££give you a future and a hope."££££"Thanks, man," he said.££££"I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you."££££"I know," I said, "I love you, too." "The Lord is good."££££"Yes. He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?" I asked.££££"A long time," he replied.££££And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and££ I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed. He put his££things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, "See you in the New££Jerusalem."££££"I'll be there!" was my reply.££££He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his££bed roll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, "When you see££something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"££££"You bet," I shouted back, "God bless."££££"God bless."££££And that was the last I saw of him.££££Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong.££The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to££my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them....a££pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the££handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands££would stay warm that night without them. I remembered his words: "If you££see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?"££££Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They help me to see the world££and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with££my unique friend and to pray for his ministry.££"See you in the New Jerusalem," he said.££££Yes, Daniel, I know I will.££££~*~*~*~*~*~££££The Old Mule££££ A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.££ The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard££ the mule 'braying' or whatever mules do when they fall££ into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the££ farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that££ neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of££ saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and££ told them what had happened, and enlisted them to££ help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put££ him out of his misery.££££ Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer££ and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit££ his back, a thought struck the mule. It suddenly dawned££ on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on££ his back, he should shake it off and step up! This he did,££ blow after blow.££££ "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake££ it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself.££ No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation££ seemed, the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on££ shaking off the dirt and stepping up.££££ It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted,££ stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well. What seemed££ like it would bury him, actually blessed him, all because of the££ manner in which he handled his adversity.££££ That's life. If we face our problems and respond to££ them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness,££ or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us££ usually have within them the potential to benefit and££ bless us. Remember that forgiveness, faith, prayer,££ praise and hope are all excellent ways to "shake it off££ and step up" out of the wells in which we find ourselves.££££~*~*~*~*~*~££££The Lesson of the Homeless Man££ Author Unknown££££ It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the ££church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car fellow ££church members were whispering among themselves as they walked in the ££church. As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside ££the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep.££ ££ He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a ££hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore ££shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all ££over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and ££asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church.££ ££ We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up ££the man laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one ££bothered to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later ££church began. We all waited for the preacher to take his place and to ££give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened.££ ££ In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head ££down. People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his way down ££the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My ££heart sank.££ ££ There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man." No one ££said a word. The preacher took his Bible and laid it on his stand. ££"Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about ££today."££££ If you judge people, you have no time to love them.££££~*~*~*~*~*~££££If I Had My Life to Live Over££by Erma Bombeck££££I would have talked less and listened more.££££I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained££and the sofa faded.££££I would have eaten the popcorn in the "GOOD" living room and worried much ££less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.££££I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about££his youth.££££I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer££day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.££££I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted££in storage.££££I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about££grass stains.££££I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while ££watching life.££££I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the££earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.££££I would never have bought anything just because it was practical,££wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.££££Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished ££every moment realizing that the wonderment growing inside me was the ££only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.££££When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later.££Now go get washed up for dinner."££££There would have been more "I love yous" ...more "I'm sorrys"££££But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.....look££at it and really see it ... live it ... and never give it back.££££~*~*~*~*~*~££££Sez I To Myself££££Sez I to myself, as I grumbled and growled ££"I'm sick of my church," and then how I scowled! ££The members unfriendly, the sermons too long-- ££In fact, it seems that everything's wrong. ££££"I don't like the singing; the church--a disgrace, ££For signs of neglect are all over the place. ££I'll quit going there, I won't give a dime; ££I can make better use of my money and time." ££££Then sez my conscience to me, sez he, ££"The trouble with you is, you're too blind to see ££That your church reflects you, whatever it be. ££Now, come, pray and pay and serve cheerfully. ££££"Stop all your fault-finding and boast it up strong; ££You'll find you'll be happy and proud to 'belong' ££Be friendly and willing and sing as you work, ££For churches aren't built by members who shirk." ££££Author Unknown ££££~*~*~*~*~*~££££No Time££££I knelt to pray but not for long,££I had too much to do.££I had to hurry and get to work££For bills would soon be due.££££So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,££And jumped up off my knees.££My Christian duty was now done££My soul could rest at ease.££££All day long I had no time££To spread a word of cheer.££No time to speak of Christ to friends,££They'd laugh at me I'd fear.££££No time, no time, too much to do,££That was my constant cry,££No time to give to souls in need££But at last the time, the time to die.££££I went before the Lord,££I came, I stood with downcast eyes.££For in His hands God held a book;££It was the Book of Life.££££God looked into his book and said££"Your name I cannot find.££I once was going to write it down...££But never found the time"££££~*~*~*~*~*~££££££££&&yes&&&&&& break#20&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& tablespace# tablecolend#&& tablerowend#&& tableend#&& tablespace# tablecolend#&& tablerowend# tableend#&&