Pray for Him.....Prayer is what it's going to take.

Folks, If you have not noticed.....few Presidents have ever worked this hard for our country, having to deal with such hatred and ill-will. Many wonder, does he ever sleep? Only God can sustain such energy, knowledge and person.. Will you please join in this prayer?

Lord,

We pray for optimum health, mental clarity and political prosperity for President Barack H. Obama. We pray that what he lacks in political 'experience' you make up for with supernatural wisdom and power..

We also pray that when his enemies come upon him they will stumble and fall; and that your love will fill his heart to the end that 'Your will' be done through him.

We pray mightily for his protection. As we plead the Blood of your son, Jesus, over him and his family. We reverently ask you to dispatch legions of angels to protect them from all hurt, harm, danger as he serves as the President of the United States of America

We thank you and praise you for answering our sincere prayers, in Jesus's precious name,
AMEN

Is There a God?

Does God exist? Here are six straight-forward reasons to believe that God is really there.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Marilyn Adamson

Just once wouldn't you love for someone to simply show you the evidence for God's existence? No arm-twisting. No statements of, "You just have to believe." Well, here is an attempt to candidly offer some of the reasons which suggest that God exists.

But first consider this. If a person opposes even the possibility of there being a God, then any evidence can be rationalized or explained away. It is like if someone refuses to believe that people have walked on the moon, then no amount of information is going to change their thinking. Photographs of astronauts walking on the moon, interviews with the astronauts, moon rocks...all the evidence would be worthless, because the person has already concluded that people cannot go to the moon.

When it comes to the possibility of God's existence, the Bible says that there are people who have seen sufficient evidence, but they have suppressed the truth about God.1 On the other hand, for those who want to know God if he is there, he says, "You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you."2 Before you look at the facts surrounding God's existence, ask yourself, If God does exist, would I want to know him? Here then, are some reasons to consider...

1. Does God exist? The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today.

Many examples showing God's design could be given, possibly with no end. But here are a few:

The Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter.3 Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.

The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.

And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents.4

Water...colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water). You'll see why the characteristics of water are uniquely suited to life:

It has an unusually high boiling point and freezing point. Water allows us to live in an environment of fluctuating temperature changes, while keeping our bodies a steady 98.6 degrees.

Water is a universal solvent. This property of water means that thousands of chemicals, minerals and nutrients can be carried throughout our bodies and into the smallest blood vessels.5

Water is also chemically neutral. Without affecting the makeup of the substances it carries, water enables food, medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used by the body.

Water has a unique surface tension. Water in plants can therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the tallest trees.

Water freezes from the top down and floats, so fish can live in the winter.

Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is in the oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed which removes salt from the water and then distributes that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over the land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a system of purification and supply that sustains life on this planet, a system of recycled and reused water.6

The human brain...simultaneously processes an amazing amount of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.

The human brain processes more than a million messages a second.7 Your brain weighs the importance of all this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This screening function is what allows you to focus and operate effectively in your world. The brain functions differently than other organs. There is an intelligence to it, the ability to reason, to produce feelings, to dream and plan, to take action, and relate to other people.

The eye...can distinguish among seven million colors. It has automatic focusing and handles an astounding 1.5 million messages -- simultaneously.8 Evolution focuses on mutations and changes from and within existing organisms. Yet evolution alone does not fully explain the initial source of the eye or the brain -- the start of living organisms from nonliving matter.

2. Does God exist? The universe had a start - what caused it?

Scientists are convinced that our universe began with one enormous explosion of energy and light, which we now call the Big Bang. This was the singular start to everything that exists: the beginning of the universe, the start of space, and even the initial start of time itself.

Astrophysicist Robert Jastrow, a self-described agnostic, stated, "The seed of everything that has happened in the Universe was planted in that first instant; every star, every planet and every living creature in the Universe came into being as a result of events that were set in motion in the moment of the cosmic explosion...The Universe flashed into being, and we cannot find out what caused that to happen."9

Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in Physics, said at the moment of this explosion, "the universe was about a hundred thousands million degrees Centigrade...and the universe was filled with light."10

The universe has not always existed. It had a start...what caused that? Scientists have no explanation for the sudden explosion of light and matter.

3. Does God exist? The universe operates by uniform laws of nature. Why does it?

Much of life may seem uncertain, but look at what we can count on day after day: gravity remains consistent, a hot cup of coffee left on a counter will get cold, the earth rotates in the same 24 hours, and the speed of light doesn't change -- on earth or in galaxies far from us.

How is it that we can identify laws of nature that never change? Why is the universe so orderly, so reliable?

"The greatest scientists have been struck by how strange this is. There is no logical necessity for a universe that obeys rules, let alone one that abides by the rules of mathematics. This astonishment springs from the recognition that the universe doesn't have to behave this way. It is easy to imagine a universe in which conditions change unpredictably from instant to instant, or even a universe in which things pop in and out of existence."11

Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize winner for quantum electrodynamics, said, "Why nature is mathematical is a mystery...The fact that there are rules at all is a kind of miracle."12

4. Does God exist? The DNA code informs, programs a cell's behavior.

All instruction, all teaching, all training comes with intent. Someone who writes an instruction manual does so with purpose. Did you know that in every cell of our bodies there exists a very detailed instruction code, much like a miniature computer program? As you may know, a computer program is made up of ones and zeros, like this: 110010101011000. The way they are arranged tell the computer program what to do. The DNA code in each of our cells is very similar. It's made up of four chemicals that scientists abbreviate as A, T, G, and C. These are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. There are three billion of these letters in every human cell!!

Well, just like you can program your phone to beep for specific reasons, DNA instructs the cell. DNA is a three-billion-lettered program telling the cell to act in a certain way. It is a full instruction manual.13

Why is this so amazing? One has to ask....how did this information program wind up in each human cell? These are not just chemicals. These are chemicals that instruct, that code in a very detailed way exactly how the person's body should develop.

Natural, biological causes are completely lacking as an explanation when programmed information is involved. You cannot find instruction, precise information like this, without someone intentionally constructing it.

5. Does God exist? We know God exists because he pursues us. He is constantly initiating and seeking for us to come to him.

I was an atheist at one time. And like many atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life.

I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them.

I am not the only one who has experienced this. Malcolm Muggeridge, socialist and philosophical author, wrote, "I had a notion that somehow, besides questing, I was being pursued." C.S. Lewis said he remembered, "...night after night, feeling whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England."

Lewis went on to write a book titled, "Surprised by Joy" as a result of knowing God. I too had no expectations other than rightfully admitting God's existence. Yet over the following several months, I became amazed by his love for me.

6. Does God exist? Unlike any other revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God revealing himself to us.

Why Jesus? Look throughout the major world religions and you'll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Moses all identified themselves as teachers or prophets. None of them ever claimed to be equal to God. Surprisingly, Jesus did. That is what sets Jesus apart from all the others. He said God exists and you're looking at him. Though he talked about his Father in heaven, it was not from the position of separation, but of very close union, unique to all humankind. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father, anyone who believed in him, believed in the Father.

He said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."14 He claimed attributes belonging only to God: to be able to forgive people of their sin, free them from habits of sin, give people a more abundant life and give them eternal life in heaven. Unlike other teachers who focused people on their words, Jesus pointed people to himself. He did not say, "follow my words and you will find truth." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."15

What proof did Jesus give for claiming to be divine? He did what people can't do. Jesus performed miracles. He healed people...blind, crippled, deaf, even raised a couple of people from the dead. He had power over objects...created food out of thin air, enough to feed crowds of several thousand people. He performed miracles over nature...walked on top of a lake, commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends. People everywhere followed Jesus, because he constantly met their needs, doing the miraculous. He said if you do not want to believe what I'm telling you, you should at least believe in me based on the miracles you're seeing.16

Jesus Christ showed God to be gentle, loving, aware of our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet deeply wanting a relationship with us. Jesus revealed that although God views us as sinners, worthy of his punishment, his love for us ruled and God came up with a different plan. God himself took on the form of man and accepted the punishment for our sin on our behalf. Sounds ludicrous? Perhaps, but many loving fathers would gladly trade places with their child in a cancer ward if they could. The Bible says that the reason we would love God is because he first loved us.

Jesus died in our place so we could be forgiven. Of all the religions known to humanity, only through Jesus will you see God reaching toward humanity, providing a way for us to have a relationship with him. Jesus proves a divine heart of love, meeting our needs, drawing us to himself. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, he offers us a new life today. We can be forgiven, fully accepted by God and genuinely loved by God. He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."17 This is God, in action.

Does God exist? If you want to know, investigate Jesus Christ. We're told that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."18

God does not force us to believe in him, though he could. Instead, he has provided sufficient proof of his existence for us to willingly respond to him. The earth's perfect distance from the sun, the unique chemical properties of water, the human brain, DNA, the number of people who attest to knowing God, the gnawing in our hearts and minds to determine if God is there, the willingness for God to be known through Jesus Christ. If you need to know more about Jesus and reasons to believe in him, please see: Beyond Blind Faith.

If you want to begin a relationship with God now, you can.

This is your decision, no coercion here. But if you want to be forgiven by God and come into a relationship with him, you can do so right now by asking him to forgive you and come into your life. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. He who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him [or her]."19 If you want to do this, but aren't sure how to put it into words, this may help: "Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. You know my life and that I need to be forgiven. I ask you to forgive me right now and come into my life. I want to know you in a real way. Come into my life now. Thank you that you wanted a relationship with me. Amen."

God views your relationship with him as permanent. Referring to all those who believe in him, Jesus Christ said of us, "I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand."20

So, does God exist? Looking at all these facts, one can conclude that a loving God does exist and can be known in an intimate, personal way.

Hope 4 Girls

This is one of the sites where I found information after viewing the documentary of Mobolaji Akiode and her effort to start a girl's basketball camp in Nigeria. I was moved to the point of tears and would like to help her in her cause. Since I don't have money, I am requesting that you pass this message on and help as you are able. Any other ideas you may have to raise interest to this cause would be appreciated.


http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/03/espn’s-her-story-celebrating-women-in-sports/


Donate here:



http://www.hope4girlsafrica.org/Press.html


Thanks,


Claudette

Expectant mothers in Haiti need your help

While in Haiti, Pastor Soaries met with the Haitian Minister of Social Affairs, who is responsible for orphans, the handicapped and other exceptionally marginal Haitians.

The Minister asked Pastor Soaries for some special help that is compelling and very specific. There are pockets of displaced people living in large “tent villages.” In one such place, 68,000 people are living together. In this one area, there are 2,000 expectant mothers. These people exist beneath the radar of the large relief efforts since they have yet to give birth.

The Minister would like to help them by providing every newly delivered child with a “new birth kit” that helps the mother with the basics to tie her over until her new child is “in the system.” The kits should include anything that a newborn needs, from bottles, powered milk to cloth diapers, onsies, hats and blankets.

The Minister would like to start with the 2,000 women in this particular tent village and hopefully attract enough attention to take this nationwide.

If you have any interest in this effort or if you know a company that can help us with this undertaking, please contact Linda Bennett at lbennett@fbcsomerset.com and express your interest and capacity. My goal is to find a sponsor for this pilot effort and to send the kits to Haiti.

Click on the link below to donate to FBCLG's ongoing Haitian Relief Efforts.

http://fbcsomerset.com/donations/HaitiResponse.asp

Must See: Dog Tricks:

This is absolutely precious -- tell the puppy to sneeze and see what he does! You will love it!!

I have no idea how they do this:

Type in a command and see what happens... sit, roll over, down, stand, sing, dance, shake, fetch, play dead, etc., and... it's also very cute if you type in a command that's not recognized.. .!!! Make sure you type in 'Kiss' too, but do that last.


Click on the link below:

http://www.idodogtricks.com/index_flash.html

How It Works - inLife Journey Coffee & Tea

inLife Journey Coffee & Tea embody our inLife philosophy: A better alternative to an existing product. Let’s face it, most people drink coffee. Coffee is a part of our daily lives. The average coffee drinker drinks 3.2 cups of coffee a day and has never tasted a true “fresh roasted” cup of coffee.

At inLife, we took it a step further. Foods rich in antioxidants have been proven scientifically to help the body in maintaining its health and wellness. In doing so, they also assist the body in its fight against damaging Free Radicals, which have been linked to harmful diseases. Fortunately, antioxidants have proven to be an effective weapon by helping neutralize the effects of free radicals. Drinking inLife Journey Coffee and Tea can help restore the body to its proper balance, leading back to health and well being.

Journey-Coffee & Tea: http://terencew1960.myinlife.com/dist_site/coffee.html

http://terencew1960.myinlife.com

Church

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this! If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it. If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope!

Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. 'I've gone for 30 years now,' he wrote, 'and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.'

This started a real controversy in the 'Letters to the Editor' column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

'I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!' When you are DOWN to nothing... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

All right, now that you're done reading, send it on! I think everyone should read this! 'When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, 'Jesus, could you get that for me?

Read this....It could save your life!! EATING FRUIT...

It's long but very informative

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.



What is the correct way of eating fruits?



IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.



If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.



FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.



In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil....



So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!



Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.



There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.



When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.



But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!



KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.



APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.



STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.



ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.



WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher.. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.



GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes..



Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.



A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack . Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...

Awesome story .. please read ..

Two Choices
>
> What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
>
> At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
>
> 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
>
> Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
>
> Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
>
> The audience was stilled by the query.
>
>
> The father continued... 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
>
> Then he told the following story:
>
>
>
> Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.... Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
>
>
>
> I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
>
>
>
> Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
>
> In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
>
> In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
>
> In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
>
> Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
>
>
>
> At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
>
> Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
>
>
>
> However, as Shay stepped up to the
>
> plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
>
> The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
>
> The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
>
> As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
>
>
>
> The game would now be over.
>
> The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
>
> Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
>
>
>
> Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
>
> Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
>
> Run to first!'
>
> Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
>
> He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
>
>
>
> Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
>
> Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
>
> B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
>
> He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
>
> Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
>
>
>
> All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
>
>
>
> Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
>
> Shay, run to third!'
>
>
>
> As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
>
> Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
>
>
>
> 'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
>
> Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
>
> AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
>
> We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.
>
> The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
>
>
> We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'
>
> So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
>
> Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
>
> A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
>
> May your day, be a Shay Day

Judgement Day

After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time on earth came to the end.

The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.

The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.

As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor.'

He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.

The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes.

He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn't take my eyes off of Him.

As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, 'Let us begin.'

The prosecutor rose and said,

'My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this woman belongs in hell...'

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and In the past when I cheated others Satan told of other horrible Perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there
Silently not Offering any form of defense at all.

I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, 'This woman belongs in hell, she is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.'

When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward.

As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty.

I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, 'Hi, Dad,' and then He turned to address the court.

'Satan was correct in saying that this woman had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this woman deserves to be punished.'

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, 'However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and she has accepted Me as her Savior, so she is Mine.'

My Lord continued with, 'Her name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch her from Me.

Satan still does not understand yet. This woman is not to be given justice, but rather mercy.'

As Jesus sat down,

He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, 'There is nothing else that needs to be done.'

'I've done it all.'

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down.. The following words bellowed from His lips..

'This woman is free.'

The penalty for her has already been paid in full.

'Case dismissed.'

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, 'I won't give up, I will win the next one.' I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, 'Have you ever lost a case?'

Christ lovingly smiled and said,

'Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you,

~Paid In Full~

Scripture and Thought for Today, Saturday, 03/13/2010

FAITH


Hbr 11:1-3 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.


Here we have, I. A definition or description of the grace of faith in two parts. 1. It is the substance of things hoped for. Faith and hope go together; and the same things that are the object of our hope are the object of our faith. It is a firm persuasion and expectation that God will perform all that he has promised to us in Christ; and this persuasion is so strong that it gives the soul a kind of possession and present fruition of those things, gives them a subsistence in the soul, by the first-fruits and foretastes of them: so that believers in the exercise of faith are filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Christ dwells in the soul by faith, and the soul is filled with the fullness of God, as far as his present measure will admit; he experiences a substantial reality in the objects of faith. 2. It is the evidence of things not seen. Faith demonstrates to the eye of the mind the reality of those things that cannot be discerned by the eye of the body. Faith is the firm assent of the soul to the divine revelation and every part of it, and sets to its seal that God is true. It is a full approval of all that God has revealed as holy, just, and good; it helps the soul to make application of all to itself with suitable affections and endeavours; and so it is designed to serve the believer instead of sight, and to be to the soul all that the senses are to the body. That faith is but opinion or fancy which does not realize invisible things to the soul, and excite the soul to act agreeably to the nature and importance of them.

II. An account of the honour it reflects upon all those who have lived in the exercise of it (v. 2): By it the elders obtained a good report—the ancient believers, who lived in the first ages of the world. Observe, 1. True faith is an old grace, and has the best plea to antiquity: it is not a new invention, a modern fancy; it is a grace that has been planted in the soul of man ever since the covenant of grace was published in the world; and it has been practiced from the beginning of the revelation; the eldest and best men that ever were in the world were believers. 2. Their faith was their honour; it reflected honour upon them. They were an honour to their faith, and their faith was an honour to them. It put them upon doing the things that were of good report, and God has taken care that a record shall be kept and report made of the excellent things they did in the strength of this grace. The genuine actings of faith will bear to be reported, deserve to be reported, and will, when reported, redound to the honour of true believers.

III. We have here one of the first acts and articles of faith, which has a great influence on all the rest, and which is common to all believers in every age and part of the world, namely, the creation of the worlds by the word of God, not out of pre-existent matter, but out of nothing, v. 3. The grace of faith has a retrospect as well as prospect; it looks not only forward to the end of the world, but back to the beginning of the world. By faith we understand much more of the formation of the world than ever could be understood by the naked eye of natural reason. Faith is not a force upon the understanding, but a friend and a help to it. Now what does faith give us to understand concerning the worlds, that is, the upper, middle, and lower regions of the universe? 1. That these worlds were not eternal, nor did they produce themselves, but they were made by another. 2. That the maker of the worlds is god; he is the maker of all things; and whoever is so must be God. 3. That he made the world with great exactness; it was a framed work, in every thing duly adapted and disposed to answer its end, and to express the perfections of the Creator. 4. That God made the world by his word, that is, by his essential wisdom and eternal Son, and by his active will, saying, Let it be done, and it was done, Ps. 33:9. 5. That the world was thus framed out of nothing, out of no pre-existent matter, contrary to the received maxim, that "out of nothing nothing can be made,’’ which, though true of created power, can have no place with God, who can call things that are not as if they were, and command them into being. These things we understand by faith. The Bible gives us the truest and most exact account of the origin of all things, and we are to believe it, and not to wrest or run down the scripture-account of the creation, because it does not suit with some fantastic hypotheses of our own, which has been in some learned but conceited men the first remarkable step towards infidelity, and has led them into many more.

Pastor Larry Collins

Today's Daily Word - March 11, 2010

In the Flow

I am in the flow of divine abundance.
When walking the beach at low tide, I may find dry sand where an hour before the waves washed over my toes. Yet, there's no worry; the tide will return. Similarly, I need not worry about the temporary appearance of lack in my life, because I know there is abundant supply.

Worry does not change the tide nor can it change my circumstances. Matthew 6:26 reminds me to "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns.... Are you not of more value than they?" I realize my worth and claim my good. I allow blessings to flow to me, and I freely draw from the limitless ocean of good. As I deepen my trust, I am in the flow of divine abundance.

If God so clothes the grass of the field ... will he not much more clothe you?--Matthew 6:30

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Today's Daily Word - March 1, 2010

Faith

I walk by faith, not by sight.
Today I stand firmly in my faith. I meet life courageously and confidently, seeing beyond appearances to the underlying good. Through faith I overcome every limitation. I know that God's power in me is greater than any situation I may have to meet or overcome; God is greater than any condition or circumstance.

Through faith I am fearless and free. Faith dispels fear, for faith knows the nothingness of fear. Faith reminds me that God is the only presence and power in my life.

Through faith I am steady and strong. I am assured that with God there is always a way, with God there are always right answers.

Through faith I walk in the light. I am shown the way of my highest good. I am healed. I am blessed.

We walk by faith, not by sight.--2 Corinthians 5:7

Today's Daily Word - February 26, 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010
Protected

I am confident and secure in the presence of God.
If I am feeling discouraged or disappointed about any circumstance in my life, I take time now to become centered in prayer, to be at peace in the presence of God. No matter where I am or what is happening, I still my thoughts and move into a quiet place of communion with God.

In this place of serenity, I remember the truth of my being, the part of me that never changes. I say to myself: "I am God's beloved today and always. The Christ Spirit is within me. Everything that is true about me remains. All the power of the universe is in me."

Returning to my day, I feel my confidence restored and my sense of peace renewed. I remain in the strong and protected presence of God as I get back up and begin again.

The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone.--John 8:29

.All About YOU: 3 Heart-Healthy Foods

Three things you should feed your heart every day.

Nuts -- eat at least a handful a day. Nuts are an excellent source of healthful fats and protein. In the Iowa Nurses Study and three other studies, an ounce a day cut the incidence of heart disease by 20 percent to 60 percent. The best nuts (those highest in omega-3 fatty acids) are walnuts, but all nuts are good for you.

More heart-smart foods:
Olive oil -- be sure it and other healthy fats (like those in nuts) make up about 25 percent of your daily calories. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats, which raise your HDL ("healthy") cholesterol. This good cholesterol actually helps clean out your arteries as it moves through your body. That's why when it comes to HDL, higher is better.

Flavonoids -- get 31 milligrams a day. What are flavonoids? Powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that occur in many plant foods, including -- yes, nuts -- plus tea (any kind), red wine, grapes, berries, cranberry juice, orange juice, onions, tomatoes, and tomato juice. You can get your daily dose by drinking two-and-a-half glasses of cranberry juice or several cups of tea.

RealAge Benefit: Eating a diverse diet that is low in calories and high in nutrients can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.

King left a great legacy of honor, not celebrity

By THE REV. DR. DEFOREST • B. SOARIES JR. • January 21, 2010


Ten years ago, I made my second visit to Israel. During this trip, one of my stops was at a school located in the northern part of the country on a mountain that had biblical significance.

It is believed that it was on this mountain - Mount Carmel - that the prophet Elijah summoned divine power to defeat the power of a pagan god. Today, this mountain is home to a boarding school that houses almost 500 students that need a place to call home.

What was immediately striking and impressive about this institution was the cultural diversity of its students and staff. Not only did the student body consist of young people who had been born and raised in Israel, but there were also a sizeable numbers of students whose families had immigrated from Russia and Ethiopia.

Apparently, it was a rather big deal for many of the African students that their community had a black visitor. Such an encounter for them was a rare experience. They were so excited that I was there that they insisted on taking pictures with me. The place they chose for their photographs was in front of their dormitory.

These were not children sent to boarding school by wealthy families. Rather, they were orphans, homeless children and other students for whom this institution had become their only home. The administrators of the school have intentionally created an environment to make them feel at home.

In the case of these Ethiopian students - many of whom had been airlifted by the Israeli government to save them from anti-Jewish persecution in their homeland - this meant designing a dormitory that resembled an Ethiopian habitat with as many of the attending architectural and aesthetic features that were practical for this environment. I was struck by the extent to which these educational leaders had sought to embrace and affirm the cultural identity of these students. I was even more struck by the name these Ethiopian students had chosen for their dormitory: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

These Ethiopian children in northern Israel recognized King as a great man and their hero.

I shared this story with Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr., a few years before she died. Although Mrs. King had accumulated an impressive list of schools, streets and other entities that bore the name of her slain husband, she had no knowledge of this dormitory in Israel. And when I told her, she seemed genuinely surprised, as if she still had to get accustomed to the fact that she had been married to someone who had become so famous.

King's name is engrained in our national culture. But in an age when the notion of celebrity seems to dominate that culture, the fact that King has become famous can be a disingenuous distraction more than it is an historic honor. Our society is so mesmerized by famous people - celebrities and stars - that we must be careful to distinguish between the meaning of King's fame versus our tabloid notions.

Unfortunately, we now seem to equate greatness with fame. Celebrity status seems to bestow upon our cultural icons such unearned adoration and significance that the celebrity "class" seems to rule the day. It does not seem to matter how people attain their fame. The mere fact of notoriety seems to be sufficient to become a member of this class with all of the stature, influence and access that goes along with it.

No field of endeavor is out of bounds for someone who wants to become a star. In fact, star status can enhance one's ability to be credible and successful in areas that once required intelligence, integrity and ingenuity. Our ever-present infatuation with the "rich and the famous" has made name recognition and celebrity status ends unto themselves, not just for entertainers and athletes but also politicians, preachers, physicians and business executives. Everyone is now a brand.

That is why it can be difficult to preserve the legacy of King - or George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt or any other historically significant person - as seen through the lens of our current understanding of "famous." While today we ascribe greatness to those who are famous simply because they are famous, people like King were actually famous because they were great.

Anyone who attracts sufficient media attention can become famous despite the nature of their deed. But to be great, one must do something so meaningful that it adds meaning to someone else's life and its benefits outlive that person's life. Often, these deeds go unnoticed, and their virtual anonymity prevents them from ever being considered great.

In honoring Martin Luther King Jr., those Ethiopian children remind us that King was not great because he was famous - rather he was famous because he was great.

If we look hard enough, we may find that the truly great people are not famous, but - like King before he was famous - are making someone's life better and leaving a legacy for the benefit of others.

HELP HAITI -Will You Help?

Some of us are having financial difficulties.
Some are in a dire situation.

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Scripture and Thought for Today, Wednesday, 01/13/2010

“ONLY TWO PERCENT!”

Matthew 6:12-15

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. . . For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”


“I asked for John to forgive me and he has not spoken to me since. That’s what I get for trying to make things right between us. He knows how much more guilty he is than I am, so he can just forget thinking I will speak to him again!”

Please read the above paragraph once more. You may or may not have had a similar reaction when you asked someone to forgive you. I want to stress the fact that you may be feeling that you are more the victim than the offender. That being the case, you no doubt are reluctant about asking Mr. 98% to forgive you, instead of him asking you for forgiveness.

I was attending a Basic Life Seminar many years ago and heard Bill Gothard speak about this very area. I was impressed by the wisdom of his teaching on asking others to forgive you. He mentioned wrong wording and right wording.

Wrong wording: 1. “You know, John, we both have been at fault in this matter, but I want to ask your forgiveness for my part.” Beep! You can just imagine how John is going to react to that! That is a sure way to cause bitter feelings. 2. “John, if you feel that I have done something wrong, I want you to forgive me.” In both instances there is a question that you are sincerely sorry for your actions.

Godly actions and right wording: 1. Pray sincerely and ask the Lord to show you how you have been at fault. Ask the Lord to forgive you before you ask the one you offended to forgive you. 2. Word your apology something like this: “John, the Lord has revealed to me that I was wrong in _________. I am truly sorry for what I have done. I have come to ask you to please forgive me.

Remember, you feel that John is 98% wrong in what he has done, but leave that in the hands of the Lord. Allow the Holy Spirit to do the work of bringing John to the place of seeking restoration.

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!



- - - Pastor Cecil