Prior Date

Archive Index

Next Date

WITandWISDOM(tm) - September 7, 2006 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Write your plans in pencil... and then give God the eraser. Submitted by B. B. ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Many years ago, while watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of it's senior pastors who had been retired many years... He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age. After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak.... "When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... the only thing that would comfort was this verse... "Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, We are weak but he is strong..... Yes, Jesus loves me... The Bible tells me so." When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it. ~~~~~~~ Senior version of Jesus Loves Me For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this version of "Jesus Loves Me". JESUS LOVES ME Jesus loves me, this I know, Though my hair is white as snow. Though my sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in Him. (CHORUS) YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TEL LS ME SO. Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His I'll go On through life, let come what may, He'll be there to lead the way. (CHORUS) Though I am no longer young, I have much which He's begun. Let me serve Christ with a smile, Go with others the extra mile. (CHORUS) When the nights are dark and long, In my heart He puts a song. Telling me in words so clear, "Have no fear, for I am near." (CHORUS) When my work on earth is done, And life's victories have been won. He will take me home above, Then I'll understand His love (CHORUS) I love Jesus, does He know? Have I ever told Him so? Jesus loves to hear me say, That I love Him every day. Submitted by Orvie Jensen ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: My son and I celebrated our mutual birth date by treating each other to dinner. When we arrived at our favorite restaurant, we were delighted to see a large sign at the entrance proclaiming that each birthday person, upon presentation of suitable I.D., was entitled to a free meal. When it was time to pay the bill, I felt guilty that we were paying for only our drinks and offered to pay for at least one of the meals. "Not at all!" our genial maitre d' exclaimed. "That's the deal. But you must have friends? Other children?" "Well," I replied, "my daughter usually comes with us on this date to celebrate..." "There!" he said. "Bring her next year. She'd be most welcome." "That's great!" my son exclaimed. "My twin sister loves prime rib!" Submitted by Lorraine ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A couple were vacationing in Yosemite. The wife expressed her concern about camping because of bears and said she would feel more comfortable in a motel. The husband said that he'd like to camp and to calm her concerns, they'd talk to the park ranger to see what the likelihood of a bear encounter would be. The ranger told them, "Well, we haven't seen any grizzlies in this area so far this year, or black bears, for that matter." The wife shrieked, "There's TWO types of bears out here? How can you tell the difference? Which one is more dangerous?" The ranger replied, "Well, that's easy, see, if the bear chases you up the tree and it comes up after you, it's a BLACK bear. If it SHAKES the tree until you fall out, it's a grizzly." The motel room was quite nice. Source: Laugh & Lift, http://www.premiumhealth.com/laughlift/ ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: "Your Identity" By Zelig Pliskin From: Shaar Press Your identity has a tremendous influence on your behavior. What we do readily or refuse to do is strongly connected with how we identify who we are. We tend to say, "I’ll do that. That’s who I am." Or, "I would never think of doing that. I’m not that kind of person." This pattern can work for us or against us depending on the nature of our subjective identity. There was a famous study designed to illustrate the power of our sense of identity. "Can we place this large billboard with the words: DRIVE CAREFULLY on your front lawn?" a number of homeowners were asked. Unbeknown to them the question was posed by a student working on a research project. Understandably, most people answered, "No." They didn’t want unsightly signs on their expensive front lawns. This same request was then posed in two steps. The house owners were asked, "Are you for safe driving?" Everyone replied, "Of course, yes." "Then would you please sign this petition for safe driving." Most agreed to sign. Several weeks later those who signed were approached again. "You signed a declaration that you are for safe driving. Are you still for safe driving today?" "Yes. I haven’t changed my mind," was the unanimous response. "Since you are a person who cares about safe driving, could you please allow us to place this billboard with a DRIVE CAREFULLY message on your front lawn?" Most agreed. Why? Because once they identified themselves as individuals who cared about safe driving, they acted consistently with their new identity. Previously even if they agreed, they might have done so reluctantly. Now that they were acting in a way consistent with their identity as being concerned about safe driving, they felt good about doing their part to help save lives. This principle applies to all areas. Source: Kind Words, mailto:Kindness-subscribe@PartnersInKindness.org