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WITandWISDOM(tm) - July 11, 2000 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: If you don't invest very much, then defeat doesn't hurt very much and winning is not very exciting. - Dick Vermeil Source: The Motivation Mailer, motivational_mailer- subscribe@topica.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: I couldn't believe it. Of all times for this to happen . . . a flat tire. But when is a good time for a flat tire? Not when you are wearing a suit and you have been traveling for nearly five hours and, adding to this bleak picture, nightfall is approaching. Wait did I mention that I was on a country road? Okay, now you have the picture. There was only one thing to do. Call AAA. Yeah, right. The cell phone I bought for security and protection from moments like this isn't in range to call anyone. "No Service" is says. No kidding! I sat for a few minutes moaning and complaining. It's a male thing. Then I began emptying my trunk so that I could get at the tire and tools needed to get the job done. I carry a large plastic container filled with what I call "Just-in-case-stuff". When I am training or speaking I love to have props with me. I hate leaving anything home so I bring everything . . . just in case. Cars buzz by me. A few beep sarcastically. I hear the horn saying "ha ha!" I say, "You'll get yours!" Darkness begins to settle in. It's becoming a bit difficult to see. The tire is on the passenger side, thank God, away from all the traffic, but making it difficult to benefit from the headlights of passing cars. Suddenly a car pulls off the road behind me. In the blinding light I see a male figure approaching me. "Hey, do you need any help?" "Well, it certainly isn't easy doing this with a white dress shirt and suit on," I said. Then he steps into the light. I literally was frightened. This young guy was dressed in black. Nearly everything imaginable was pierced and tattooed. His hair was cropped and poorly cut. He had leather bracelets with spikes on each wrist. "How about I give you a hand?" he said. "Well, I don't know . . . I think I can . . ." "Come on, it will only take me a few minutes." He took right over. While watching him I happened to look back at his car and noticed for the first time someone sitting in the passenger seat. That concerned me. I suddenly felt outnumbered. Thoughts of car jackings and robberies flashed through my mind. I really just wanted to get this over and survive it. Then, without warning, it began to pour. The night sky had hidden the approaching clouds. It hit like a waterfall and made it impossible to finish the tire change. "Look, my friend, just stop what you're doing. I appreciate all your help. You better get going. I'll finish after the rain stops," I said. "Let me help you put your stuff back in the trunk. It will get ruined," he insisted. "Then get in my car. We'll wait with you." "No, really. I'll take care of everything," I said. "You can't get in your car with the jack up like that. It will fall. Come on. Get in," he said as he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the car. "Crack! Boom!" Lightening and thunder roared like a freight train. I literally jumped in his car. "Oh, God protect me!," I thought to myself. Wet and tired I settled into the back seat. Suddenly a small frail voice came from the front seat of the car. "Are you alright?", she said as she turned around to face me. "Yes, I am," I replied with much relief seeing the old woman there. It must be his Mom. "My name is Beatrice and this is my neighbor Joey," she said. "He insisted on stopping when he saw you struggling with the tire." "I am grateful for his help," I said. "Me, too!" she said with a laugh. "Joey takes me to visit my husband. We had to place him in a nursing home and it's about 30 minutes away from where I live. So, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we have a date." She laughed and shook her head. "We're the remake of the Odd Couple," Joey said as he joined in laughing. "Joey, that's incredible what you do for her. I would never have guessed, well, ah, you know I . . ." I stumbled with the words. "I know. People who look like me don't do nice things." he said. Silence. I really felt uncomfortable. I never believed that I judged people by the way they dressed. I was angry with myself for being so stupid. "Joey is a great kid. I'm not the only one he helps. He's a volunteer at our church. He also works with the kids in the learning center at the low income housing unit in our town," said Beatrice. "I'm a tutor" Joey said quietly as he stared at my car. Silence again played a part now in a moment of reflection rather than the uncomfortable feeling that I had insulted someone. He was right. What he wore on the outside was a reflection of the world as he saw it. What he wore on the inside was the spirit of giving, caring and loving the world he wanted to see. The rain stopped and Joey and I changed the tire. I tried to offer him money and of course he refused it. As we shook hands I began to apologize for my stupidity. He said, "I experience that same reaction often. I actually thought about changing the way I look. But then I saw this as an opportunity to make a point. So I'll leave you with the same question I ask everyone who takes time to know me. If Jesus returned tomorrow and walked among us again would you recognize Him by what He wore or by what He did?" He walked to his car and as they drove off Beatrice smiled and waved as she began to laugh again. I could almost hear her saying, "You got another one Joey. You got another one." "You got another one, Joey!" by Bob Perks copyright 2000 Bob is a Professional Speaker and Author, member National Speakers Assoc. and National Writers Assoc. Sign up for Bob's FREE weekly message, "I Believe in YOU!" visit http://www.BobPerks.com ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: MORE INTERESTING NAMES Part 2 of 4 [Jun 29, Jul 11, 21, 31] Contributed by subscribers of WITandWISDOM(tm) Mailto:subscribe-wit-wisdom@xc.org Copyright by Richard Wimer 2000 Richard@witandwisdom.org Our preacher's name in Hawaii was Pastor Anger and then when we moved to New Mexico, our preacher's name was Pastor Love. Also, our pediatrician's name at HAFB is Dr. Fearnow. Submitted by Cheryl Seppala I often wonder if people look at my book proposal and sample chapters and dismiss it as a joke. The book I wrote? A theological look at Santa Claus. It might "seem" strange that such a book is written by a person with the last name "Hoh." Submitted by John Hoh There is a police officer in Texas who gets complaints to his administration for being sarcastic. His name is Johnny Law. Submitted by Gary W Wilson I know of a evangelist who used to be a pastor named Pastor Parsons. Submitted by Trent Riley There is a dentist in Albuquerque, NM whose name is Dr. Ken Hurt. Submitted by John Echols My son had his tonsils out by Dr. Short and his dentist is Dr. Long. Submitted by jpinck There is and eye doctor, optometrist, in Ferndale, MI by the name of Dr. I. Doctor. Submitted by Lyn Jolley There was a Pastor Sinner in Richmond, CA. And I worked with a Pastor Scripture in FBC Napa in the 80's. Everything was "Scriptural." Submitted by Richard Frazer My husband, Donald Flowers, has been a landscape gardener for 50 years. Mr Flowers tends the flowers. :) Submitted by Margery Flowers My husband used to have a family doctor by the name of Dr. Horsely. He shared an office with Dr. Hay, and they made their office in an old funeral parlor. Submitted by Linda Hennig ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: When I was new to the ministry, I was making a hospital call on a new mother who happened to be a member of my congregation. I always wore the clerical collar as a uniform when making that sort of visit. I stepped off the elevator on the maternity floor and turned in the direction of the room when I heard a female voice behind me: "I'm sorry, sir, but men aren't allowed . . ." When I turned around, the nurse, suddenly flustered and embarrassed, blurted out, "Oh, I'm sorry, Father. I thought you were a man!" It really did happen (at Kent County Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island, where a year or so later my second son was to be born. By (The Rev.) Bob Hargreaves, Jefferson, Maine Source: Sermon Fodder, Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@onelist.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: The Order of St. John began in 1014 with the building of a hospital in Jerusalem, and their influence spread throughout the Middle East and Europe. In 1300, during the Crusades, their headquarters moved to the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean where they were forced to form an army to defend their hospital. The Order was committed to one principle: "We will never, never yield one foot of our territory to any enemy!" In 1480 the Turks invaded Rhodes with 70,000 men and 50 ships. The 2,000 men from the Order of St. John defeated them! The Sultan of Turkey was so impressed that he gave the Order a relic from their treasury - the bones of St. John the Baptist. The admiration didn't last too long. Turkey launched two more large-scale battles - and again the vastly outnumbered army of the Order won. Finally, in 1522, Turkey invaded Rhodes with 200,000 men and 700 ships. Yet the small band of soldiers from the Order of St. John refused to yield. The war lasted from July until December. Then, on the day after Christmas, when the Turks were about declare victory, the Sultan ordered the invasion to stop. He had such admiration for these heroic men, he allowed the Order to depart with honor. They were escorted to the Island of Malta and continued their noble work. By Neil Eskelin in Neil Eskelin's Daily Jump Start(tm), Copyright (c) 2000, www.neileskelin.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org |