Sometimes people come into your life and

you know right away that they were meant to

be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach

you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you

are or who you want to become.

 

You never know who these people may be

(possibly your roommate, neighbor, professor,

long lost friend, lover, or even a complete

stranger), but when you lock eyes with them,

you know at that very moment they will affect

your life in some profound way.

 

And sometimes things happen to you that may

seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first,

but in reflection you find that without overcoming

those obstacles you would have never realized

your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens

by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury,

love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer

stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.

 

Without these small tests, whatever they may be,

life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat

road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable,

but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet

who affect your life, and the success and downfalls

you experience, help to create who you are and who

you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned

from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant

and important ones.

 

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your

heart forgive them, for they have helped you learn

about trust and the importance of being cautious

to when you open your heart. If someone loves you,

love them back unconditionally, not only because

they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching

you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

 

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and

take from those moments everything that you possibly

can for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people that you have never talked to before,

and actually listen.

 

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your

sights high. Hold your head up because you have every

right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual

and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in

yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your

own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no

regrets.

 

Most importantly, if you love someone tell them, for

you never know what tomorrow may have in store. And

learn a lesson in life each day you live.  

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070907/ap_on_re_mi_ea/bin_laden_video



"Bin Laden makes no overt threats and does not directly call for attacks, according to the transcript, which was first posted by ABC News on its Web site.



Instead, he addresses Americans, lecturing them on the failures of their leaders to stop the war in Iraq despite growing public opposition in the U.S.



"There are two solutions to stopping it. One is from our side, and it is to escalate the fighting and killing against you. This is our duty, and our brothers are carrying it out," bin Laden said.



"The second solution is from your side. I invite you to embrace Islam," he said."



EMBRACE ISLAM!! This statement has made me angrier than an old wet hen! Puhleeze, do you not realize who I worship. No, it's not a pedophile, rapist, murderer....



I worship the Lord God Almighty, and my faith is stronger than your retarded advice, Mr. Bin Laden. (whether it actually is him or not, is not yet known, but no matter.) To even suggest I or my family embrace Islam is the most idiotic statement ever.



My God is a loving God, and I don't have to follow a million and one rules to be in his favor. Thanks, friends for letting me blow a little steam off, still not quite deflated. :)





This is how much God loves me.























His arms are always open wide!

Jake is on vacation. Well, he went with his parents. LOL



We asked him where he was going, before he left. He said "I'm going to America." He'll actually be in Nebraska for a family reunion. Most of the relatives haven't met him. I'm sure he'll charm his way into all of their hearts for awhile at least. He pronounced Nebraska, "Brenaska" the first time he heard it, and it wasn't long, of course, knowing him, he could say it fine.



Anyway, we'll be missing the little stinker. Missing him coming up to his Nana and his Papa and saying, Papa/Nana, I ~loooove~ you! Love you baby boy!! See you next Sunday!

What color is God,

Asked the child with skin so fair

Is He white like me,

Does He have light hair?



Is God dark like me,

Asked the child with skin of golden hue

Has He hair that's dark and curly,

Are His eyes black or blue?



I think God is red like me,

The Indian boy is heard to say

He wears a crown of feathers,

And turns our nights to day.



Each one of us knows that God is there,

In all the colors above

But be sure of this, the one color He is,

Is the beautiful color of love.



So when your soul goes to Heaven,

When your life comes to its end

He will be waiting, and His hand to you

Will He extend.



There will be no colors in Heaven,

Everyone will be the same.

You will only be judged by your earthly deeds,

Not your color or your name.



So when your time comes,

And you see God in His Heaven abovve,

Then you will see the only color that counts,

The beautiful color of love.





~Arnold (Sparky) Watts~

Senator - Heaven and Hell



While walking down the street one day, a female senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. Her soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.



"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."



"No problem, just let me in," says the lady.



"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven.Then you can choose where to spend eternity.



"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," says the senator.



"I'm sorry but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts her to the elevator and she goes down to Hell.



The doors open, and she finds herself in the middle of a green golf course.



In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all her friends and other politicians who had worked with her.



Everyone is very happy. They run to greet her, hug her, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at expense of the people.



They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.



Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before she realizes it, it is time to go.



Everyone gives her a big hug and waves while the elevator rises.



The elevator goes up, up, up, and the door reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for her.



"Now it's time to visit Heaven." So 24 hours pass with the head of state joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time, and before she realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.



"Well then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now, choose the place where you want to spend eternity."



She reflects for a minute and then answers: "Well, I would never have said it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell."



So Saint Peter escorts her to the elevator, and she goes down, down, down to Hell.



Now, the doors of the elevator open, and she is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. She sees all her friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags.



The Devil comes over to her and lays his arm on her neck.



"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here, and there was a golf course and club, and we ate lobster and caviar and we danced and had a great time. Now there is a wasteland full of garbage, and my friends look miserable."



The Devil looks at her, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning.



Today, you voted for us!"



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~







Jacob and Rebecca





Jacob age 85, and Rebecca age 79 are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding and on the way home they pass a drugstore. Jacob suggests that they go in.



He addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"



The pharmacist answers: "Yes."



Jacob: "Do you sell heart medication?"



Pharmacist: "Of course we do."



Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"



Pharmacist: "All kinds."



Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"



Pharmacist: "Definitely."



Jacob: "Medicine for memory?"



Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety."



Jacob: "What about vitamins and sleeping pills?"



Pharmacist: "Absolutely."



Jacob: "What about sugar diabetes. We both got bad cases."



Pharmacist: "Oh, but of course. You name it with that condition and we have the works."



Jacob:"You have loose bladder and gas pills?"



Pharmacist: "Yes, there are lots of those with plenty of generics."



Jacob: "Perfect! We'd like to register here for our wedding gifts."



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Eternal Love





He doesn't bring me roses



but He is called the Rose of Sharon.



He doesn't send flowers to my office



but He grows beautiful flowers in my garden.



He doesn't kiss me



but I sense His kiss when I feel sunshine or softly falling rain.



He doesn't give me sparkling diamonds to wear



but the stars He set in the sky shine even more brilliantly.



He doesn't whisper in my ear but His still small voice is ever with me.



He isn't a valentine who has pledged lifelong love



but He is Eternal Love.



He demonstrated it.



Not by gifts or well-intentioned promises



but by offering Himself as the fulfillment of promise.



Not by standing with me at the wedding altar



but by placing Himself on the altar.



That I may know life



That I may know Him



and love Him forever.







Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)



Janice K. Lawrence