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God's Busy!If you don't know GOD, don't make stupid remarks!!!!!!!

A United States Navy SEAL was attending some college courses between assignments.  He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU.

One day the professor shocked the class when he came in He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform, I'll give you exactly 15 minutes."

The lecture room fell silent.  You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God, I'm still waiting."

It got down to the last couple of minutes when the SEAL got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The SEAL went back to his seat and sat there, silently.

The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence.

The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the SEAL and asked, "What the heck is the matter with you?" "Why did you
do that?"

The SEAL calmly replied, "God was too busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like an idiot, So, He sent me."

Submitted by Wayne Riddell

Our Men and Women in the Military

Related: The Ultimate Sacrifice

Thought For The Day WHAT WILL MATTER

By Michael Josephson

Ready or not some day it will come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned or what your were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.

So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won't matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on.

At the end it won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter?

How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what your bought,

But what you built, not what you got.

What will matter is not your success,

But your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned,

But what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched,

empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence,

But your character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew,

But how many will feel a lasting loss when you are gone.

What will matter are not your memories,

But the memories that live in those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.

It is not a matter of circumstance but of choice

Choose to live a life that matters.

Thought for the Day:New School Prayer

Since the pledge of Allegiance and the "Lords Prayer" are not allowed in most public schools anymore because the word "GOD" is mentioned...A Kid in Arizona wrote the following:

"NEW SCHOOL PRAYER"!

NOW I SIT ME DOWN IN SCHOOL WHERE PRAYING IS AGAINST THE RULE

FOR THIS GREAT NATION UNDER GOD FINDS MENTION OF HIM VERY ODD 

IF SCRIPTURE NOW THE CLASS RECITES IT VIOLATES THE BILL OF RIGHTS. 

AND ANYTIME MY HEAD I BOW BECOMESE A FEDERAL MATTER NOW

OUR HAIR CAN BE PURPLE, ORANGE OR GREEN, THAT'S NO OFFENSE

IT'S A FREEDOM SCENE.

THE LAW IS SPECIFIC THE LAW IS PRECISE. PRAYERS SPOKEN ALOUD ARE A SERIOUS VICE.

FOR PRAYING IN A PUBLIC HALL MIGHT OFFEND SOMEONE WITH NO FAITH AT ALL.

IN SILENCE ALONE WE MUST MEDITATATE; GOD'S NAME IS PROHIBITED BY THE STATE.

WE'RE ALLOWED TO CUSS AND DRESS LIKE FREAKS, AND PIERCE OUR NOSES, TONGUES AND CHEEKS.

WE CAN ELECT A PREGNANT SENIOR QUEEN, AND THE UNWED DADDY, OUR SENIOR KING.

Its "INAPPROPRIATE" TO TEACH RIGHT FROM WRONG,

WE'RE TAUGHT THAT SUCH "JUDGEMENTS" DO NOT BELONG.

WE CAN GET OUR CONDOMS AND BIRTH CONTROLL,

STUDY WITCHCRAFT, VAMPIRES AND TOTEM POLES.

BUT

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED, NO WORD OF GOD MUST REACH THIS CROWD.

IT'S SCARY HERE I MUST CONFESS, WHEN CHAOS REIGNS THE SCHOOL'S A MESS.

SO, LORD, THIS SILENT PLEA I MAKE:

SHOULD I BE SHOT; MY SOUL PLEASE TAKE!

Signed a 15-Year-Old- Arizona Student

Thought for the Day:Yesterday When I Was Young

Written by: Charles Aznavour

English translation by: Herbert Kretzmer

(Roy Clark sang this song at Mickey's Funeral in 1995.  Mickey had heard Roy sing it before and thought it depicted his life so well that he specifically asked Roy to someday sing it at his funeral) 

 

Yesterday when I was young  

The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue  

I teased at life as if it were a foolish game  

The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame  

The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned  

I always built, alas, on weak and shifting sand  

I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day  

And only now I see how the years ran away  

Yesterday when I was young  

So many drinking songs were waiting to be sung  

So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me  

And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see  

I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out  

I never stopped to think what life was all about  

And every conversation I can now recall  

Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all  

Yesterday the moon was blue  

And every crazy day brought something new to do  

I used my magic age as if it were a wand  

And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond 

The game of love I played with arrogance and pride  

And every flame I lit too quickly, quickly died  

The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away  

And only I am left on stage to end the play  

There are so many songs in me that won't be sung  

I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue 

The time has come for me to pay for yesterday when I was young 

Related: category Thought for the  Day

 

Thought for the Day: Am I A Bad American!

YES, I'M A BAD AMERICAN by: George Carlin

I Am Your Worst Nightmare. I am a BAD American. I am George Carlin.

I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some mid level governmental functionary be it Democratic or Republican!

I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!

I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer; it makes you a smart American.

I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and does not entitle you to anything.

I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac, do it in English.

I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and where they want to.

My heroes are John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and whoever canceled Jerry Springer.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.

I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it.

I've never owned a slave, or was a slave, I haven't burned any witches or been persecuted by the Turks and neither have you! So, shut up already.

I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where you came from and change your own country! This is AMERICA.

I want to know which church is it exactly where the Reverend Jesse Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution. Can I get an AMEN on that one?

I think the cops have every right to shoot your sorry rear if you're running from them...

I also think they have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are.

And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my driver's license. I think it's good..... And I'm proud that "God" is written on my money.

I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years.

I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me stuff or trying to guilt me into making "donations" to their cause.

I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents.

And what is going on with gas prices... again?

I believe "illegal" is illegal no matter what the lawyers think.

I believe the American flag should be the only one allowed in AMERICA!

If this makes me a BAD American, then yes, I'm a BAD American.

Thought for the Day:This pastor has guts

It seems prayer still upsets some people. Please read.....

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard;

'Heavenly Father,

We come before you today  To ask your forgiveness and To seek your direction and guidance.

We know Your Word says,  'Woe to those who call evil good'

But that is exactly what we have done.   

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium And reversed our values.


We have exploited the poor and  Called it the lottery.


We have rewarded laziness And called it welfare.


We have killed our unborn and called it choice.


We have shot abortionists And called it justifiable.


We have neglected to discipline  Our children and called it Building self esteem.


We have abused power And called it politics.


We have coveted our neighbor's Possessions and called it ambition.


We have polluted the air  With profanity and  Pornography and called it Freedom of speech and expression.


We have ridiculed the time Honored values of our Forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, And know our hearts today;

Cleanse us from every sin And set us free. Amen!'


The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked Out during the prayer in protest.


In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 Of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India , Africa and Korea.
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio Program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.


With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our Nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'one nation under God.'


If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. 'If you  don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.'

(submitted by Chalie The Clip) 

Thought for the Day: REMEMBER our Troops, and do not forget them LATER

You stay up for 16 hours

He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a 'headache', and call in sick..

He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

 

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash about your 'buddies' that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

 

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He doesn't get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

 

He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

 

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.

 

 

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.

He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the broken bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.

 

 

 

He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.

REMEMBER our Troops, and do not forget them LATER

(submitted by Hank Miller Jr.)

 

 

 

Thought for the Day: Just Stay

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.  

'Your son is here,' she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.All throug h the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. 

Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.  

He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

'Who was that man?' he asked.  

The nurse was startled, 'He was your father,' she answered.  

'No, he wasn't,' the Marine replied. 'I never saw him before in my life.'
'Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?'
'I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here.  

When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.'

The next time someone needs you ... just be there.  Stay.

WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY
HUMAN EXPERIENCE. (think about it)

Author unknown

Related: Thought for the Day
 

 

Thought for the Day: Keep Your Fork; the Best is yet to Come

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.

'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply.

'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork  ...the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears
of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ... being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

author unknown

submitted by KenMac

I Have A Dream

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

~Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963, Washington, DC

Thought for the Day: SAND & STONE

 
TWO    FRIENDS    WERE    WALKING THROUGH    THE    DESERT.
DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY  HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE.
 
THE    ONE    WHO    GOT    SLAPPED WAS    HURT, BUT    WITHOUT SAYING    ANYTHING, WROTE    IN    THE    SAND:

TODAY    MY    BEST    FRIEND SLAPPED   ME    IN    THE    FACE.

THEY    KEPT    ON    WALKING, UNTIL    THEY    FOUND    AN    OASIS, WHERE    THEY    DECIDED TO   TAKE    A     BATH
THE    ONE     WHO    HAD    BEEN SLAPPED! GOT    STUCK    IN    THE MIRE    AND    STARTED    DROWNING, BUT    THE    FRIEND SAVED    HIM.

AFTER    HE    RECOVERED   FROM THE    NEAR    DROWNING, HE    WROTE    ON    A    STONE:

"TODAY    MY    BEST    FRIEND SAVED    MY    LIFE ".

THE    FRIEND    WHO    HAD    SLAPPED AND    SAVED    HIS    BEST    FRIEND ASKED    HIM,   
"AFTER I HURT    YOU,
YOU    WROTE    IN    THE    SAND    AND    NOW, YOU    WRITE    ON    A     STONE,    WHY?"

THE   FRIEND    REPLIED "WHEN    SOMEONE   HURTS   US WE    SHOULD    WRITE    IT    DOWN IN    SAND,
WHERE    WINDS    OF FORGIVENESS    CAN     ERASE    IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOME ONE    DOES SOMETHING    GOOD    FOR    US,
WE    MUST    ENGRAVE    IT   IN    STONE WHERE    NO    WIND CAN    EVER    ERASE    IT."

LEARN    TO    WRITE YOUR    HURTS    IN THE    SAND    AND    TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS    IN    STONE.

THEY    SAY    IT    TAKES   A MINUTE    TO    FIND    A    SPECIAL PERSON, AN    HOUR    TO APPRECIATE    THEM,
A    DAY TO    LOVE    THEM, BUT    THEN AN    ENTIRE LIFE TO    FORGET    THEM.

SEND    THIS     PHRASE    TO THE    PEOPLE    YOU'LL   NEVER FORGET.  I JUST DID.

Submitted by John Rhoda, Gloucester City High School Class of 1961 (Born June 6, 1943 Died November 22, 2007)

 

Thought for the Day: The Second Amendment

To all you old law dogs now just lying' in the shade, current pistoleros and other fervent Second Amendment believers: This is the law:
The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either.
The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental. As a wise man once said:

1. Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.

2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

3. I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.

4. America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall.

5. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away. (So shoot first then call 911)

6. A reporter did a human interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him "Why do you carry a 45?" The Ranger responded with, "Because they don't make a .46."

7. An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.

8. An old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm. "Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?" "No Ma'am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle."

9. Beware the man who only has one gun. He probably knows how to use it.

10. A "soccer mom" once asked me if I had a gun in the house to which I replied I in fact did. She said, "Well, I certainly hope it isn't loaded!" To which I said, "Of course it's loaded." She then asked, "Are you that afraid of someone evil coming into your house?" My reply was, "No, not at all. I'm not afraid of the house catching fire either, but I have fire extinguishers around, and they're all loaded."

11. We had a nice old couple in Phoenix.  Someone decided to break down their door one night.  Like good citizens without a clue, they called 911. They were only dead about 20 minutes when the cops arrived.  If they had a gun they would be alive and the bad guys would be dead. The killers were never caught.

12. Last summer a killer chased a man into a convenience store and shot him.  Then he killed the clerk because he was a witness.  The first victim lived.  Had the clerk had a weapon, the bad guy would be dead and both victims would be alive.

13. At a business or a church, school or college, where guns are banned only the bad guys have guns and the do-gooders that prevent good people from defending themselves by carrying a weapon are not the victims often enough.

14. And, why should I defend someone that won't defend themselves.  The cops will take care of the bodies when they get there. Of course that's after the two hours they waste making sure they are in no danger.

15. The second amendment is your right.  Protect it or lose it.

(Submitted by Brother George)

Related:  Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day: Coffee

Remember - the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.............

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general...

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups:
porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the
small gathering... ''You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones.
While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems! "

He continued...''Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink.
What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each other's cups....''

''Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us. God brews the coffee, but He does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!''

The happiest people don't have the best of everything - they just make the best of everything they have... So please remember: Live simply.
Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly. Leave the rest to God.

And remember - the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

(author unknown)

Submitted by Joanne D'Ambra

Thought for the Day: Daddy’s Poem

Daddy's Poem
   

(author unknown)
   

Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow.
  Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.

  But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home.
  Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.
 
  But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
  What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.
 
  But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
  And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.
 
  But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.
  About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls. 
There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.
  Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats
 
  One by one the teacher called a student from the class.
  To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
 
  At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
  Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there.
 
  "Where's her daddy at?"  She heard a boy call out.
  "She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout.
 
  And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say,
  "Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."
 
  The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom.
  And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
  And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.
  And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.
 
  "My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.
  But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.
 
  And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know.
  All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.
 
  He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike.
  He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.
 
  We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.
  And though you cannot see him.  I'm not standing here alone.
 
  "Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart
  I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart"
  With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest.
  Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.
 
  And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
  her mother stood in tears.  Proudly watching her daughter,
  who was wise beyond her years.

  For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life.

Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.
 
  And when she dropped her hand back down,
  staring straight into the crowd.  She finished with a voice so soft,
  but its message clear and loud.
 
  "I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star.
  And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far.
 
  You see he is a Marine and died just this past year
  when a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught Americans to fear.
  But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away."
  And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.
 
  And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise.
  A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.
 
  Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
  Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
 
  "I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out.
  And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.
 
  Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.
  But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
 
  And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star.
  And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far. 

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them,
  a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Take the time...to live and love.   Until eternity. God bless! 

 

Thought for the Day....Overdose Victims! This did Not have to happen

Because the holiday season is approaching, I'm sending these graphic pictures of overdose victims not for shock value, but rather in the hope that you will have a frank discussion with friends and family about respecting moderation, understanding limits, and knowing when to just walk away.


Remember...


This did NOT have to happen ...

(parental discretion advised)

 

 

 

 

submitted by Catherine Gottert

Thought for the Day: YOU CAN'T STEAL MY CHRISTMAS x

Poem by Sharon Steege


I don't know who they are
Saying I can't greet the crowd
the way that I want to
can't say **CHRISTMAS** out loud.


I walk into a business place
See things that I rather not see
But dare I not say **CHRISTMAS**
and ask for a "holiday" tree.


What happened to freedom of speech
and living in the land of the free
How can they take my **CHRISTMAS** money
But can't say **MERRY CHRISTMAS** to me.


Men and women have given their lives
so we could still go free
I wonder how they would feel
at saying HOLIDAY TREE.




Come on AMERICA let's wake up
don't let our freedom escape
If they get by with doing this
what else will they take.


This is starting to get out of hand,
And I've begun to keep track
Well I've just about had enough
I'M TAKING CHRISTMAS BACK.*


So MERRY CHRISTMAS AMERICA**
I hope this gets all over the net
If we all stand united and take freedom back
'Twill be our best  CHRISTMAS YET! 

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!  

submitted by Charlotte Fabrico, Gloucester City

 

Thought for the Day: WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN?

Submitted by Catherine Gottert

 

    This is one of the nicest Emails I have read in some time; and is so true:

 

    I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.

    My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This Is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received."

    I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

    Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

    The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them."

    I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being

packaged for delivery to Earth

    Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the Door of a very small station to my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section," My angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed "How is it that there is no work going on here?" I asked.

    "So sad,"   the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments."   

    "How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" I asked.

    "Simple," the angel answered.   Just say, "Thank you, Lord."

    "What blessings should they acknowledge?"  I asked.

    "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world.  If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy."

    "And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."

    Also......

    "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day."

    "If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation. You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."

    "If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people  in the world."

 

    "If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare."

 

    "If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair."

    Ok, what now?   How can I start?

    If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

    Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

    ATTN:     Acknowledge Dept.:    "Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people to share it with."

 

 

The Law is the Law So Be It!

 

So if the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then,so be it.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that  smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions.

I would like to think that those people have the American public's best interests at heart. BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot post His Commandments in Government buildings, I don't believe the Government and its

employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life.

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the " US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays." After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter. It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct."

In fact....

I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day....

What do you all think????

 

If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the "minority opinions" and begin, once again, to represent the "majority" of ALL of the American people.

SO BE IT...........

 

Please Dear Lord, Give us the help needed to keep you in our country! 'Amen' and 'Amen'

Submitted by Pastor Jim Doster, Gloucester City

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the Day: I LOVE YA!!!

One-day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more 'just one minute.' Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, or say 'I love you.'

So while we have it, its best we love it, care for it, fix it when it is broken and heal it when it is sick. This is true for marriage.... In addition, old cars ... And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people, we know who are special. Therefore, we keep them close!

I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way. Now it is your turn to send this to all those people who are 'keepers' in your life, including the person who sent it if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?

I was thinking... I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.

Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they do not love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do.

And just in case GOD calls me home.

I LOVE YA!!!

Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.

Submitted by Gary Belfiglio, former owner of GARYBEE's, Gloucester City

Thought for the Day: Maybe it is time to take down the bird feeder

I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and filled it with seed.

Within a week I had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.

But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue.

Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table...everywhere.

Then some of the birds turned mean: They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket.

And others birds were boisterous and loud:
They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food.

After a while, I couldn't even sit on my own back porch anymore.
I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone.

I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio.

Soon, the back yard was like it used to be...... quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.

Now let's see....... our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, free education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen.

Then the illegal's came by the hundreds of thousands.

Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families: you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor: your child's 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn't speak English: Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to press 'one' to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than Our Flag are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.

Maybe it's time for the government to take down the bird feeder.

submitted by John Hillman

 

Thought For the Day: Paul Harvey’s on Air Prayer!

 'Heavenly Father,

We come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. 

We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,'  but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values o f our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

 

  Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God.'

 

  If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. 'If you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything.'