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WITandWISDOM(tm) - July 4, 2005 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: The kind of beauty I want most is the hard-to-get kind that comes from within strength, courage, dignity. - Ruby Dee Source: Quote Lady's Quote of the Day, mailto:quote-a-day-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: I was adopted by missionaries, and I grew up in Africa and Lebanon. When I came back to the United States, I started hanging around with the wrong crowd, and I’m now in prison for something I’m not responsible for. The prison assigned me to work in the kitchen. Another inmate - a big man - also worked there, and he didn't like me. One day he told me that if I came back to work the next morning, he would beat me up bad. Later I told my cellmate and another inmate what had happened, and they asked me what I planned on doing about the threat. I said I didn't know, but I did plan on going to work. My cellmate told me I had better take his shank (knife) to work for protection. I thanked him, but that night I had a dream that gave me the impression I should pray about the situation. I wasn't much for praying, but I did anyway. The next morning when I got up, I was feeling pretty good until my cellmate gave me the shank. Instantly I had a strong feeling that if I expected God to help me, I should trust Him. And what better way than to go to work without the knife? So I gave it back. My cellmate warned me that I was being stupid. I was scared when I went to work. When my persecutor caught me alone, he asked why in the world I had come back after what he had said. Trying not to show my fear, I looked him right in the eye and said, "You are a bully, and me and bullies have never gotten along very well!" He looked like somebody had just whipped him. I learned that day that I did not have to resort to violence. All I had to do was ask for help from "the Man upstairs." Now I thank Him every time I pray. By John T. Chase, Crowley, Colorado Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) February 2005, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: The Edge Index Percentage of Americans who don't know all the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner": 61 Average number of Americans injured by fireworks accidents each year: 10,000 Dollars in damage incurred annually by fireworks in America: 8 million Average cost of a 20-minute professional pyrotechnics display: $40,000 Number of blows from a cane you'll receive for smuggling fireworks into Singapore: 6 Source: The Oregonian, Copyright (c) July 1, 2004, http://www.oregonian.com/ Submitted by Barbara Henry ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: I've tried to find a suitable exercise video for people my age.. But, they haven't made one called "Buns of Putty." You mean to tell me that "Running Late" is not considered exercise? So you don't think those two are funny? Well you know, the first thing dieters lose is a sense of humor. Source: Molly's Quotes of the Day, mailto:rheamo@centurytel.net?subject=Subscribe_Quotes_of_the_Day ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: The Freecycle Network? is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is run by a local volunteer moderator (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by clicking on the region on the right. It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for your local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. Or, go directly to the Web site for your local group by clicking on your community's link on the left. Can't find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on "Start a Group" for instructions). Have fun! The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson's downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items. One person's trash can truly be another's treasure! When you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door -- you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of your Freecycle group. Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure. One main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. Non-profit organizations also benefit from The Freecycle Network. Post the item or items you want to give away and a local organization can help you get it to someone in need. http://www.freecycle.org/ Submitted by the North Family