A Wise Pencil Maker
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Submitted by: Amy Hunt
A pencil maker told the pencil five important lessons just before putting it in the box:
1. Everything you do will always leave a mark.
2. You can always correct the mistakes you make.
3. What is important is what is inside of you.
4. In life, you will undergo painful sharpenings, which will only make you better.
5. To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.
We all need to be constantly sharpened. These five lessons may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed. Like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are is what's inside of you.
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It is no wonder the bald eagle has scriptural references and such a significant symbolism to our country. When it rains, most birds head for shelter. The eagle is the only bird that in order to avoid the rain, starts flying above the clouds. The eagle can probably identify a rabbit moving almost a mile away. An eagle flying at an altitude of 1,000 feet over open country could spot prey over an area of almost 3 square miles from a fixed position. No wonder God wants us to spread our wings and soar like eagles.
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With our government debt projected to be nearly 15 trillion dollars soon, do you know just how much is a trillion?
If you went back in time 1 million seconds, you'd go back 12 days. If you went back in time 1 billion seconds, you'd go back 30 years. If you went back in time 1 trillion seconds, you'd go back 32,000 years! Not scared enough yet? Multiply it out and 15 trillion seconds equals 480,000 years!
Another way to look at our government debt….If Bill Gates gave every penny of his fortune to the U.S. government; it would only cover the U.S. budget deficit for just 15 days.
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2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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I want to wish a Happy Birthday to our Pastor Brian Hauk on August 28th. This is a poem that I thought Brian might like because he likes to laugh.
Let Your Pastor Know
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Submitted by: Lela Farlow Trotter
Mrs. Huff is up the miff tree
On a seat fixed good and firm,
And she'd like to tell the pastor
A few things, and make him squirm.
Mrs. Huff was sick abed, sir,
Yes sir, sick abed a week;
And the pastor didn't call, sir,
Never even took a peek.
Wasn't that enough, enough sir,
To provoke a saint to wrath
And to make a Christian pilgrim
Wander from the churchly path?
When I asked her if the doctor
Called to see her, she said, "Sure";
And she looked as if she thought I
Needed some good strong mind cure.
Then I asked her how the doctor knew
That sickness laid her low,
And she said that she had called him
On the phone and told him so.
So the doctor called to see her,
But the pastor didn't go
For the doctor knew that she was ill,
And the pastor didn't know.
Now the doctor gets his bill paid
With a nicely written check,
But the pastor - for not knowing,
Simply 'gets it in the neck.'
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Thank you to my dear friends at Mountain View Church. Thanks for remembering me during the ten days I was in Duke Hospital. The cards and calls meant so much. But the most important thing to me was your prayers. Please continue to remember us as we have more health issues we have to take care of. We love you.
Our prayers are with you. Thank you also Pastor Brian.
Lela and Virgil Trotter
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James 5:16 KJV
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
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Our Meeting
Written by: Pat Lewallen
on March 5, 2011
In loving memory of Brad Lewallen
We met her today at a restaurant you like.
It was good to once again see our friend.
We couldn’t remember since we last met,
The number of years it had been.
We were so glad to see each other.
She said, “I haven’t seen you folks in years.”
She asked how things were going with us.
She asked about you; our eyes filled with tears.
Daddy and I told her the sad news,
From this life you’d been called away.
She was so shocked and surprised,
“I am so sorry,” was all she could say.
She remembered you from years ago.
She called you our little blond headed boy.
The one that liked to order his own meal,
And play the claw machine; trying to win a toy.
I know you’d remember the lady.
Her girls were close to the age of you.
Both her girls are grown now,
And she’s become a grandma too.
I sure wish you could have seen her today.
She was as thoughtful as ever too.
“I’ll remember you in my prayers,” she said.
We thanked her and said, “Please do.”
One day, these tears will be left behind.
And from this pain, we’ll be set free!
One day, we’ll get to meet again -
You, your brother, Daddy and me!
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What God is doing you may not know now
But someday you’ll understand why.
Questions that taunt you and trouble your mind
Will one day have heaven’s reply. — Hess
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1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
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Two Brothers
By: Author Unknown
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Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's tool box. "I'm looking for a few days' work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you."
"Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor; in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better."
"See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore." The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was
coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.
They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to build.”
1 John 4:20 (KJV)
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
