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WITandWISDOM(tm) - May 4, 2005 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important. - T.S. Eliot Source: ToInspire Newsletter, http://www.toinspire.com ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. John 12: 36-37 It's been said that miracles are God's signature. Last July first, a minister speaking at the First Baptist church of Forest, Ohio, asked for a "sign from God." What he got was a flashing billboard. A visiting evangelist was preaching about penance and in a prayer started asking for a sign. Worshipers were left stunned when a lightening bolt struck the church just moments later. According to an account in the Findlay, Ohio, Courier, the church's steeple was hit by lightning at about 7:45 p.m., setting the church on fire and blowing out the sound system. "It was awesome, just awesome," church member Ronnie Cheney, 40, of rural Forest, was quoted as saying. Cheney was in the church at 206 N. Martin St. when the lightning struck. "You could hear the storm building outside. He (the evangelist) just kept asking God what else he needed to say," Cheney said. "He was asking for a sign and he got one." The bolt of lightning hit the church steeple and surged through the electrical wiring. When it blew out the sound system, Cheney said the lightning traveled through the microphone and enveloped the preacher in blue flame. The evangelist was not injured. Afterward, services resumed for about 20 minutes until members of the congregation smelled smoke and realized that the church was on fire. They wisely evacuated the building. "Why doesn't God answer our prayers that directly all the time? Why doesn't He respond so visibly every time we seek Him? Perhaps if He did things like that every day, we wouldn't have to exercise faith as much. Faith is a key part of what God asks of us, and He even gives us a measure of that. Damage to the church was estimated at about $20,000. I expect those who were present believe it was worth every penny to have a front row seat when God chose to "give us a sign." When was the last time you asked for a sign? Special thanks to the Findlay Ohio Courier http://www.thecourier.com/ And http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3044178.stm Source: Sermon Fodder, http://www.sermonfodder.com ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Children ages eight through ten were asked what they thought about death, and these are some of their answers: "When you die, they bury you in the ground and your soul goes to heaven, but your body can't go to heaven because it's too crowded up there already." (Jimmy, 8) "Only the good people go to heaven. The other people go where it's hot all the time like in Florida." (Judy, 9) "Maybe I'll die someday, but I hope I don't die on my birthday because it's no fun to celebrate your birthday if you're dead." (Jon, 9) "I'm not afraid to die because I'm a Boy Scout." (Kevin, 10) "Doctors help you so you won't die until you pay their bills." (Stephanie, 9) Steve Goodier is the editor of The Life Support System, a motivational e-newsletter delivered daily to 85,000 subscribers in over 100 nations. His inspirational newsletter and books are available through his website at http://www.lifesupportsystem.com Source: Life Support System, mailto:LifeSupport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: My pastor was about to take offering and asked if anyone would like to sing a special. My friend's six-year-old daughter raised her hand. Her mother reached out to grab her hand and pull it down but it was too late. The pastor saw it... called out to her and asked her to come forward and share her song. She stood up straight and grabbed the microphone and proceeded to sing..."I wish they all could be California girls". Source: Gracemail, mailto:gracemail-subscribe@MyInJesus.com ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia whose entries are written by a worldwide community of users. Constantly adding and refining entries, this community has created an encyclopedia that rivals any other ever written. http://www.wikipedia.org Source: Good Experience, http://www.goodexperience.com/signup.php