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WITandWISDOM(tm) - July 20, 2006 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it. - Mark Twain Source: Carol's Thought for Today, http://users.adelphia.net/~mrs.carol ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: In the early pioneer days around Chicago there lived a fine Quaker family by the name of Hartman. John, one of the sons, had grown to manhood, and was then about nineteen years of age. One day he and his father had a violent quarrel, which was a very unusual occurrence in that family of peace-lovers. It was so serious that the father ordered the son to leave home. John, then as large and as tall as his father, arose and promised, “Father, I’ll go and will never return until I have a personal invitation from you.” John decided to go West in search of work, and so with pick and shovel he found a wagon train that was heading out for California, where gold had been discovered. Only a few days had passed when the heartbroken father came to himself and remorsefully acknowledged his mistake. He decided to go in search of his son. He sold some of his stock to provide means for his wife and family and for him to make the trip. He learned that his boy had gone West; heading for California. Soon he was tramping from one camp to another, only to find that his John had left each camp just ahead of him. Finally, with money spent, he realized that he must return home. But an idea came to him as he rounded a bend and noticed an overhanging ledge of rock. “I will paint a message upon the rocks inviting John to come home,” he thought. And so he did—again and again and again. With a prayer in his heart that his son would come along that trail before the wind and the weather effaced the writing, the father headed back to Chicago. By providence, young John was making his way along the trail when suddenly he noticed the words: “John Hartman, your father loves you. Come home!” He bit his lip and went on stubbornly, but there it was again: “John Hartman, your father loves you. Come home!” The message got to him. “Father must have loved me a great deal to come way out here and write this message where everyone could see it,” John opined. “I’m going home!” And he did. Friend, Jesus Christ came a lot farther than from Chicago to California to save you. He came all the way from the glory world down to this sin-cursed earth. Upon every blade of grass, every tree, and every flower He has written the message: “Your heavenly Father loves you. Come home!” Finally with His own blood on Calvary’s cross He wrote it: “Your Father loves you. Come home!” By L. E. Tucker Source: These Times, Copyright (c) November 1974, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: A woman has set up websites to find dates for her mum and sister. Georgia Edmunds was sick of Corrie, 27, and Vicki, 54, complaining about their love lives so she created the internet sites http://www.datemysister.co.uk and http://www.datemymother.co.uk Both sites get at least 1,000 visitors a day reports The Sun. Corrie is currently weighing up "a number" of potential boyfriends. And Vicki, 54, is also planning on finding lasting love. Georgia said: "Corrie has been a bit unlucky with relationships, but she is such a smashing person that I decided to help her out. I set up the website so we can both run the rule over men who want to take her out. "But as soon as she started getting asked out on dates, mum asked if I'd do the same for her." Corrie from Bridgend, South Wales said: "A relationship is the only thing that's missing in my life. I want someone who is quite strong, who is comfortable with themselves, who will listen, and who is honest. "I'm hoping the website will give me a chance to vet potential boyfriends because I've had my fair share of dating disasters in the past." Vicki is described on the site as "young at heart and full of fun". She said: "My husband died five years ago and it's time I had some fun. When I saw the site was working for Corrie I thought, 'That's for me'." Source: Ananova http://www.ananova.com ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: After being laid off, I papered the town with my resume. Days passed and I hadn't received a single phone call, so I decided to take a closer look at the copies my husband had printed at his real estate office. I quickly realized he hadn't put blank paper in the machine. At the bottom of each copy, written in bold, was a common real estate disclaimer: "The information contained herein, while deemed to be accurate, is not guaranteed." Contributed to "All In a Day's Work" by Mary Chisholm Source: Beliefnet Presents, http://www.beliefnet.com/user/newsletter_choose.asp ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Get answers for your everyday mysteries: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/archive.html Source: The Pocket Newsletter, Copyright ©1996-2005, All Rights Reserved, http://thepocket.com