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WITandWISDOM(tm) - November 16, 2000 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Life is like tennis -- a player who does not serve well often loses. - Unknown Source: Thought for Today, thoughtfortoday-subscribe@egroups.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: The following story occurred in Central Africa a couple of years ago amidst the fighting that involved many African countries. Tutsi soldiers had broken down the door of a young pastor's house and stood poised to slaughter by machine gun fire, him and his entire family right where they sat. Their intent was to massacre the civilians in this Hutu village. "Wait! the young man implored, would you not allow my family and I a moment to pray before we die? I can almost picture the sneers on the face of these soldiers as they watched this family, an African couple and their young children soberly kneel, arm in arm, in a circle on the floor and pray to God for mercy. The remarkable thing is that the expected shots never came. After praying, the family slowly stood up and saw that the soldiers were gone, not only out of their house but away from their village as well. It was not until several months later they found out just what had happened. At a church meeting in another town where Christians from both sides had gathered to pray, this young pastor told his story and the seemingly miraculous way in which the soldiers "just disappeared from his house and village." "I think I can explain," came a quiet voice from the back of the room . . . spoken by one of the Tutsi soldiers who had been there that fateful day. "You see," said the soldier, "I was there when we broke into your house. I was one who had your children lined up in my rifle site as you kneeled and prayed . . . when suddenly a wall of fire, fierce and ferocious, jumped up and surrounded the lot of you. We couldn't even see beyond the flames. Due to the intense heat and fire, we knew the house would burn down so we fled. When we went outside and saw your home consumed by fire and yet not destroyed, we fled the village as well. Later I realized that this was not the type of fire we are familiar with but a fire sent by God. If this is how your God responds, I want to know Him too! I am tired of the fighting and the killing . . . this is why I came tonight." Miracles abound in war torn Central Africa . . . By Dr. Bill Clemmer, Evangelical Hospital Vanga, Democratic Republic of Congo Source: Awakening via http://www.witandwisdom.org Submitted by Edie Ridenour ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: MOM'S SURVIVAL TIPS Don't try to live with anyone who insists on alphabetizing your spice rack. If you are lavishly praised, enjoy the taste but don't swallow it whole. After a certain age, if you say something outrageous, everyone will think it's cute. Take advantage of this. Your children may leave home, but their stuff will be in your attic and basement forever. If you wouldn't want to see it in a newspaper or on the evening news, don't do it. Don't let a child with the stomach flu sleep on the top bunk. If you humiliate yourself, be consoled with the thought that you probably made someone else's day . . . maybe even their week. Think of your humiliation as an act of charity. Avoid marrying anyone who deliberately flushes the toilet when you're taking a shower. It's a proven fact that zipping up a small child's snowsuit will cause her to wet her pants. There is no known cure for this. If you want to hide candy bars so you can eat them after the kids are in bed, put the candy in the freezer in a paper bag labeled "Fish." And know when to leave the stage, Like right now. Source: The Funnies, andychaps_the-funnies-subscribe@egroups.com via http://www.witandwisdom.org ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: My ministerial colleague was conducting his first wedding ceremony. Stressed out and nervous because just a few days before he had conducted his first funeral, he began the wedding ceremony, "I would like to welcome this grieving congregation. . . ." - By Krzysztof Szema, Poland From: "Seasoned with Laughter, A Tossed Salad of Tales about Parsonage Pandemonium and Ministerial Mayhem." by Sharon M. Cress, Copyright (c) 1999. This book was provided courtesy of the publisher and is available for $6.95 at http://www.ministerialassociation.com/resources/books/laugh.html ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Sir John Bowring was a very gifted naturalist, linguist, statesman and financier. He could write in thirteen languages and dialects. At one time he was the Governor of Hong Kong. On one occasion when he was in the Orient, he was viewing an area of devastation caused by an earthquake. What stood out in stark contrast to the destruction that surrounded him in every direction was the tower of a church standing tall among the ruins of the city and on the top of the tower was a lone cross. Sir John was so moved by this overpowering sight he was inspired to write the words of the well-known hymn, "In the Cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time." Source: Daily Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright 2000, www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm via http://www.witandwisdom.org |