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WITandWISDOM(tm) - July 20, 2000 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: "Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records." - William A. Ward Source: Inspiration A Day!, inspiration_a_day- subscribe@listbot.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it 'was too crowded'. "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus. Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kind-hearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school." For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. But the story does not end there! A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for a 57 cent payment. Church members made large subscriptions. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00 - a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends. When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300, and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday scholars, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside at Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds." ~~~ There is a kernel of truth to the story, but it has been overly romanticized. For example, the landowner didn't sell the land on which The Baptist Temple stands for 57 cents, but for $10,000 with a down-payment of 57 cents and a mortgage of 5%. The $10,000 was later paid by separate donations. Still, it's a story with lots of preachability. - Desmond Daly Source: Monday Fodder dgaufaaa@iohk.com?subject=Subscribe_Monday_Fodder via http://www.witandwisdom.org Submitted by: Desmond Daly ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: THE GENTLEMAN CAT 1. A Gentleman Cat always has an immaculate shirtfront and paws at all times. 2. A Gentleman Cat allows no constraint of his person, even loving restraint. 3. A Gentleman Cat does not mew except in extremity. He makes his wishes known and waits. 4. When addressed, a Gentleman Cat does not move a muscle. He looks as if he hadn't heard. 5. When frightened, a Gentleman Cat looks bored. 6. A Gentleman Cat takes no interest in other people's affairs, unless he is directly concerned. 7. A Gentleman Cat approaches food slowly, however hungry he may be, and decides at least three feet away whether it is Good, Fair, Passable, or Unworthy. If Unworthy, he pretends to scratch earth over it. 8. A Gentleman Cat gives thanks for a Worthy meal by licking the plate so clean that a person might think it had been washed. 9. A Gentleman Cat is never hasty when choosing a housekeeper. Source: The Funnies, andychaps_the-funnies-subscribe@egroups.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: It was mealtime during our trip on a small airline in the Northwest. "Would you like dinner?" the flight attendant asked the man seated in front of me. "What are my choices?" he asked. "Yes or no," she replied. Source: The Funnies, andychaps_the-funnies-subscribe@egroups.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Why do people love gold so much? . . . Gold has been considered the extreme precious metal since before the early Egyptians, despite the fact that other metals are rarer. But gold has beauty and many practical applications, a combination that has brought home the blue ribbon in most cultures. Gold conducts electricity well, and unlike other conductors, does not corrode or tarnish over time. Gold's softness also makes it easy to work with - amounts as small as 15 grams can be beaten into a sheet 160 feet in area or pulled into 20 miles of wire. Nevertheless, gold's true value may not stem as much from its rarity or usefulness as it does from the fact that we believe it is valuable, which ultimately makes it so. From: Why in the World? Reader's Digest Source: MailBits.com Copyright (c) 1998-2000. All rights reserved. Trivia-subscribe@mailbits.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org |