Food for Thought

“Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick

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Say What?

At an Optometrist's Office:

“If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.”

On a Taxidermist's window: “We really know our stuff.”

On a Fence: “Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!”

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The Hillbilly's Ten Commandments

-(posted on the wall at First Baptist Church in Summersville, West Virginia)

(1) Just one God

(2) Put nothin' before God

(3) Watch yer mouth

(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin'

(5) Honor yer Ma & Pa

(6) No killin'

(7) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal

(8) Don't take what ain't yers

(9) No tellin' tales or gossipin'

(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Now that's kinda plain an' simple, don't ya think?
Y'all have a nice day!

Peace starts with a smile.

Prayer Calendar for the Persecuted Church

Greetings! I meant to take the Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Calendar with me to Brazil to continue the weekly postings, but it got "lost" in the packing process. I just found it ~ PTL! Since I normally post these weekly on Sundays, please receive this listing for today through Saturday, August 2. Thank you for interceding for our dear brothers and sisters in Christ who are paying a high price for their faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. God Bless you! ~ Bob

For the Saints of Mindanao, the Philippines

July
25 - More than 200 Christian missionaries serve in Mindanao, at great risk.
26 - The Abbu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are drawing many into Islam.
27 - Pray the president's Christian influence will bring favor and growth to God's kingdom.
28 - Many in the Higgaunon tribe believe in sacrifices. Pray they accept Christ.
29 - More than 95% of the T'boli people still practice their animist beliefs.
30 - In some areas children must attend school and laborers must work on Sundays.
31 - Pray for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Pray for the Saints of Morroco

August
1 - The Morrocan church is emerging at great cost. Approximately 20 small groups exist.
2 - VOM projects include taking more than 1000 study Bibles to pastors and nationals.

In the Lamb ~ Bob Preston
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work." - John 4:34

Food for Thought

“I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within.” – General Douglas MacArthur

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Sometimes a Little Comparison Helps You Feel Just a Little Smarter!

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff."
--Mariah Carey

"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of yourlife."
--Brooke Shields, during an interview to become Spokesperson for federal anti- smoking campaign

"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body," -- Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward .

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."
--Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC .

Hmmmmmm!


HUMOR FOR LEXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS):

The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work. To write with a broken pencil is pointless. When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis. The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large. A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

Food for Thought

“Culture is to know the best that has been said and thought in the world.”
– Matthew Arnold
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The Concert

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. To her horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit . . . Keep playing." Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played ~ only the classic, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don’t quit . . . Keep playing." May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.' Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire. So touch someone by sharing this little message. May God bless you and be with You always!

And Remember, "Don't Quit! ~ Keep Playing!"

If the church wants a better pastor,
it only needs to pray for the one it has.

Food for Thought

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001 .
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.'
I held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him the peace to say,
'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK...I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help.
'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there,
comforting and assuring them that
their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name - though not all know Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them
through the smoke and flames;
“Come to Me... this way... take my hand.”
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day.
You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time,
would you have reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end.
And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found!
Then, at any moment, you know you are “ready to go.”

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:22

Food for Thought

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:22
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THINK ABOUT IT:

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
Never miss a good chance to shut up.

* * * * * * * * * * *

An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%. The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.” The gentleman replied, “Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!”

Food for Thought

“Everyone is a genius at least once a year; a real genius has his original ideas closer together.”
– Georg Lichtenberg
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THE MOST FAMOUS MAN

One day at kindergarten, a teacher said to the class of 5-year-olds, "I'll give $5 to the child who can tell me who was the most famous man who ever lived."

A little Irish boy put his hand up and said, "It was St. Patrick."

The Teacher said, "Sorry Sean, that's not correct."

Then a little Scottish boy put his hand up and said, "It was St. Andrew."

The Teacher replied, "I'm sorry, Hamish, that's not right either."

Finally, a little Jewish boy raised his hand and said, "It was Jesus Christ."

The teacher said, "That's absolutely right, Marvin. Come up here and I'll give you the $5."

As the Teacher was giving Marvin his money, she said, "You know, Marvin, since you're Jewish, I was very surprised you said 'Jesus Christ '."

Marvin replied, "Well. In my heart, I knew it was Moses, but business is business."

Hmmmmm!


When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking of Christ.
When we speak about virtue, we are speaking of Christ.
When we speak about justice, we are speaking of Christ.
When we speak about peace, we are speaking of Christ.
When we speak about truth and life and redemption,
we are speaking of Christ.

St. Ambrose (c. 339-397)
Bishop of Milan and Church Father

Food for Thought :)

“The same people who can deny others everything are famous for refusing themselves nothing.” – Leigh Hunt

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Say What?

In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
“Drive carefully. We'll wait.”

In a Non-Smoking Area:
“If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.”
On a Maternity Room door: “Push. Push. Push.”><><><><><><


FRED

A cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh Amarillo Theater. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the cowboy, “Sorry, sir, but you're only allowed one seat.”
The cowboy groaned, but didn't budge. The usher became more impatient. “Sir, if you don't get up from there, I'm going to have to call the manager.”
Once again, the cowboy just groaned. The usher marched briskly back up the aisle and in a moment, he returned with the manager. Together, the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police. The Texas Ranger surveyed the situation briefly and then asked, “All right buddy, what's your name?”
“Fred,” the cowboy moaned. “Where ya’ from, Fred?” asked the Ranger.
With terrible pain in his voice and without moving a muscle, Fred replied, “the balcony.”