YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader.

"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked...."No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their
weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh.." The woman smiled again... "I thought that might make a difference."

She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent... Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry.."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register. I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.."

She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little
advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thnk you?" he asked.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And.....and thank you for the coffee."

"Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don't forget that when you 'cast your bread upon the waters,' you never know how it will be returned to you."

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart. When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only 1 of 2 things will happen: either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!

Protection

I am really amazed on how living things on earth protect themselves in order to survive. Some have the ability to change it’s colour; some can give out a very unpleasant odour, some pretend to be dead and some just retract back to its shell.

Human being, I think is designed very differently! At least in terms on how we protect ourselves. I remember when I was in junior 3, my science teacher said that human being’s protection mechanism can be summarized by using 3 F’s. Fucked, Flight and Fight! Ok, the first F is supposed to be Fright. My version of the theory is- got Fucked, either Flight or flee; or better still Fight the hell out of it! My teacher’s version- got Frighten, either Flight or Flee; or Fight! The above theories are very true in life. Snakes, for instance, try to frighten it, either it will turn the other way or it will bite you!

Although this protection mechanism comes built in when were born, sometimes I think it did more than protecting us, it deprived us of the real world. Living being is mainly selfish and it is not wrong. It cannot be viewed narcissism simply because ewe would do our very best to prevent ourselves from being hurt! However, there are times when we try to protect ourselves; we have given up the experience of feeling something new, some thing we think we felt before. Many a time, we go into protection mode because of out previous experiences said that this situation equals to pain, but as the mater of fact it might not be the same experience at all!

This is very real when it comes to experience related to relationship! Many after experiencing bad relationship consciously try to avoid getting into one. But how can you tell that this relationship is not going to work? I have noticed that many lonely souls out there is too scared to give it a shot, although many really wants to get into a relationship. My suggestion is, if it is only a thought in your mind that you want to give relationship a try without taking action, it will always be a thought in your mind, forever. However, if you think you really want to give relationship a try, take some proactive actions, who knows the fellow is waiting for your move? Do not live in the past, even the flower that was in the garden yesterday will not be the same today; sunsets differ day to day! Give it a shot, do not deprive yourself the privilege to be with the person you really like. And I always believe this, we do not always get the chance to do things that we really want for ourselves, when given a chance do not let it go just like that. And I still stand by my theory- got Fucked by whatever, Fight first before consider to Flee! Or at least lift your middle finger at it and Fuck It!

My Friends

It started during a barbeque at Daniel's,
It moved on to a twice weekly affair;
All were friends who acted like strangers,
Now, there are never single pair of footprints.

Never could I explain the Joy of being there with you,
Whether it's liquor at Jugs or movies in the room,
The only thing that matters is that your shadows were reflected together with mine,
And your smiles and laughter’s faded together with mine as well.

The Journey has just started,
We will be parted,
No matter how great is the distance,
My voice and messages is just a click away.

I don't think I am an extraordinary friend,
And I have never been;
Whatever I could offer to you my friends,
You could offer me back many times more.

If you can't sleep at night,
Or the world has suddenly weigh you down,
I promise I won't sing you a lullaby,
But your text messages will not just go by.

Or if you need someone to drink with you,
To support your friend who sings for a living,
I might not pick up all the bills,
But I would not knock on you mug for a bottomup.

Here I am, counting the hours before departure,
Wondering if the distance would take it's toll on our friendship,
I might be an insignificant character in your book of life,
But every second I spent with you, I treasure it up to this heartbeat.

Thank you doesn't seem to be able to express all the gratitude I have in me,
For your generosity to allow me to step into your world,
To share your thoughts and your feelings,
And grilled stingray and chicken wings.

So long my friends and I hope this relationship doesn't end here,
Looking forward to entertain you in the foreign land,
Please continue to update me with your latest status,
Or at least check your Facebook on a regular basis.

Simplified Ten Commandments

Just saw this in the email, really want to share it.


Some people have trouble with all those 'shall's' and 'shall not's' in the Ten Commandments. Folks just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, in middle Tennessee they translated the 'King James' into ' Jackson County ' language.....no joke (posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro , TN )

(1) Just one God
(2) Put nothin' before God
(3) Watch yer mouth
(4) Get 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 plain an' simple

What goes around comes around?

It is the 3^rd day of the Chinese New Year, one of my good friend has left to attend to her job. Sad to say, this year it seems like everything is at a slower pace. Some say due to the current economy situation, most people prefer to spend thriftier. Some say it is due to the negative news that is being over emphasized, resulting in many have to resort to a more cautious spending. Anyway, Chinese New Year being Chinese New Year, “ang pows” still “ang pows”, “you have gotta give what you gotta give.” To me, shall I say “giving is always better than receiving”. This year, whether it is sub-prime mortgage, recession or some say depression, I have to prepare these little red packets containing the much “scarcely” available resources. Gone were those days where I could sit and count how much I have collected; now is the time to do the opposite, I have to sit and count how much I have contributed to the economy.

This make me think, this bloody phrase “what goes around comes around” really is true! I was having a great time with some friends the day before yesterday, where one of them has to leave us early to have dinner with his parent. The irony is, not so long ago, he prefers to be with friends than family, I am not suggesting anything about me being different, just that the cycle is really amazing! During younger days or rather during those days where you have no driving license and no car, you go around with your parent to visit relatives during festivals, to Chinese, especially Chinese New Year. After you’ve gained your “wings” or you finally found your friends (if I can remember correctly, those days friends are more brother or sister than your own brothers and sisters) you stick to them all the time, even during Chinese New Year when you are supposed to be at home. Family comes second to friends. And then, after a while, you have friends all over the world and you need to know their latest updates by checking into your facebook. The main thing is, when they are around, even though you still have tons to share with each other, even though time is very short, you still prefer to stick with your family than your friends. There it is, FULL CIRCLE! Another "what goes around comes around".

This is only something that I think is very good, family comes first; alright sometimes friends can first as well depending on situation. I truly believe that a true friend will put himself or herself into your situation and think, and a true friend will understand and support you knowing that you have put into consideration about their situation before coming to any decision that involves them and a true friend would want the best for you! Coming back to the point, just few hours ago, I went to my relative’s place to have dinner, my gosh this was the 5^th dinner using Chinese New Year as excuse to gather around to have tons of food that is usually available but normally too lazy to prepare! (Just a little tip if you were to prepare any food for this kind of event, you really don’t have to think of something fancy, just prepare something you are most comfortable with such as steam Chinese Sausage or whatever, because during Chinese New Year everyone have to say “good things” and so, no matter how bad your food taste, still you will receive compliments.)

When my family and I was about to enter t the relative’s house, it was drizzling, a guy with an umbrella came over asking for money. He claimed that he is suffering from bone cancer and have only a few years to live. He seems to me still quite alright, he was not limping while walking, and he speaks fluent Cantonese, that bugger really made me question my ability to speak Cantonese. He asked for money to buy food and for medication, and some of our relatives gave a few ringgit and asked him to leave. He was not satisfied because according to him the amount is not sufficient to buy medication or food. Nobody bothered about him and he left. We quickly closed the gate and proceed to our dinner.

All went well during dinner. After dinner, all of us went into position for the annual showdown of the “King of Gamblers”. Of course the amount involved is not worth mentioning as compared to the amount in movies. The guy who came earlier to ask for money came back with his clothes changed, my guess is that he went home and took a bath. What shocked us is that he let himself into the yard by opening the gate (by the way, the gate was not locked). The same story came out. Someone again gave a few ringgit and asked him to leave, and the same words came out, not sufficient! In the end, he still has to leave us simply because he trespassed into a private property!

The main issue after all these is that when is the right time to give? I was made to question myself about my faith! “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?” “And if you greet only your brothers, what tare you doing more than others?” “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” So now, how??? I always have this policy while giving, I do not give out cash, if I am asked for food, and I shall provide food! If I am asked for medication, I shall provide medication. For too many times my cash is used to support smoking and worse, sometimes drugs. And the irony is I have to quit smoking simply because I can not afford to smoke.

I consider myself to be blessed, really blessed! And it is written “receive freely and you shall provide freely”, what can be done?? It hurts me to see another human being suffer, but on the other hand, I am not willing to be used! And how about “what goes around comes around”? How can this be solved?

By the way, the steamed Chinese sausage that I brought to my relative’s place was finished even before the dinner ends

Some words to ponder upon

The most useless thing to do ...........Worry
The greatest Joy...............................Giving
The greatest loss.................Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait......................Selfishness
The most endangered species...................Dedicated leaders
The greatest "shot in the arm"..................Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome.............Fear
Most effective sleeping pill..............Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease.........Excuses
The most powerful force in life......................Love
The most dangerous pariah.................................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer......The brain!
The worst thing to be without...................Hope
The deadliest weapon.... The tongue.......
The two most power-filled words..............."I Can"
The greatest asset.................Faith
The most worthless emotion................Self-pity
The most prized possession................Integrity
The most beautiful attire...................A SMILE!
The most powerful channel of communication........Prayer
The most contagious spirit.................Enthusiasm
The most important thing in life...............GOD

.................................................................................................................................................................................................

Always love your loved ones & show them how you feel before it's too late.. You will never know when they will be gone from your embrace.. If you were given a time to bestow petals of everlasting compassion & love to your love ones, today is the day. Love them while they are still here...
............................................................................................................................................................

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed, don't you think?

DID I MARRY THE RIGHT PERSON?

This was forwarded to me through an email, just want to share….

During one of our seminars, a woman asked a common question. She said, ‘How do I know if I married the right person?’I noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so I said, ‘It depends. Is that your husband?’ In all seriousness, she answered ‘How do you know?’Let me answer this question because the chances are good that it’s weighing on your mind.

Here’s the answer. EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with your spouse / partner. You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and liked their idiosyncrasies (unconventional behavior/habit).

Falling in love with your spouse wasn’t hard. In fact, it was a completely natural and spontaneous experience. You didn’t have to DO anything. That’s why it’s called ‘falling’ in love… Because it’s happening TO YOU.

People in love sometimes say, ‘I was swept of my feet.’ Think about the imagery of that __expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something came along and happened TO YOU.

Falling in love is easy. It’s a passive and spontaneous experience. But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria (excitement) of love fades. It’s the natural cycle of EVERY relationship. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse’s idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts.

The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you think about your marriage, you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.

At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, ‘Did I marry the right person?’ And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with someone else. This is when marriages breakdown. People blame their spouse for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage for fulfillment.

Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is the most obvious. But sometimes people turn to work, a hobby, a friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances.
But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage. It lies within it. I’m not saying that you couldn’t fall in love with someone else.You could. And TEMPORARILY you’d feel better. But you’d be in the same situation a few years later.

Because (listen carefully to this):
THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT’S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND. SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It’ll NEVER just happen to you. You can’t ‘find’ LASTING love.. You have to ‘make’ it day in and day out. That’s why we have the expression ‘the labor of love.’ Because it takes time, effort, and energy. And most importantly, it takes WISDOM. You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage work.

Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your marriage.

Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships. Just as the right diet and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your marriage stronger. It’s a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable… you can ‘make’ love.
Love in marriage is indeed a ‘decision’… Not just a feeling.

Remember this always:
‘God determines who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.’

Journey- To meet such a Man

received this email years ago...

I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food andthe 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 halfheartedly 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."

Then 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 store front 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 are you headed from here?" I asked.

"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 from 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 bedroll 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.Then 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..."

This Explains LIFE

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"? To this Arthur Ashe replied: The world has over -- 2 billion children, 5 million learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 500 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals. When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD "Why me?" And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?" Happiness keeps u Sweet, Trials keep u Strong, Sorrow keeps u Human, Failure Keeps u Humble, Success keeps u Glowing, But only God Keeps you Going.....

For more information: http://www.laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/february07-03/ashe.htm

Mathematics

Assuming A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

If: H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K = 8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%

And:K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E = 11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But: A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E = 1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D = 12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

GOD IS IN CONTROL‏

I received this mail sometime last year, just wanting to share....

A man from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to share this on Sept 11th, 2001. His name was Robert Matthews.
These are his words: 'A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister.

On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset, we drove home.

I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news for me; he was going to help. 'This is not something. I can't just sit by for I have to do something..' I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to Christ.

After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my grandchild.' Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while helping in the rescue effort.
My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never know his grandfather. My father had never accepted Christ, and I never got to say goodbye.

Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.'

He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to find his wife and free her.

My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life for people like this. He then said, 'there is something else you need to know. His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to heaven, my father will be standing beside Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him themselves. When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the man who gave his life so that mother and baby could live.

This story should help us to realize two things: First- that though it has been seven years since the attacks, we should never let it become a mere tragic memory. And second- but most important- God is always in control. We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever Psalm136:1

ISAIAH 65:24‏

I would love to dedicate this article to my cousin Mei Mei who is currently undergoing theological studies in Korea, who has commited herself to work for GOD.

This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in Africa.

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator) . We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates ). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so inCentral Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. 'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.' While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?' As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!' Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?' Of course, I replied! That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.' 'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another. This awesome prayer takes less than a minute.'Heavenly Father, I ask You to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength. Where there is fear, reveal Your love and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name.. Amen'

A Christmas Story

There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments. One snowy Eve, his wife was taking their children to service in the farm community in which they lived. They were to talk about Jesus' birth. She asked him to come, but he refused."That story is nonsense!" he said. "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That's ridiculous!"So she and the children left, and he stayed home.

A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had! hit the window. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window.In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed. The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them, and they moved further away.

He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread crumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on. Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe."Why don't they follow me?" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?" He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud.

Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn -- and one-by-one, the other geese followed it to safety. He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "If only I were a goose, then I could save them!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!" Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese--blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us. As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished with the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer:"Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!"