> Numerous spaces remain for this summer's Spiritual
> Growth Camp for youth, scheduled for July 29-Aug 4
> at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind. Sponsored by the
> "God-Centered Life" program of the General
> Board's Youth/Young Adult Ministries office and
> Shepherd's Spring Outdoor Ministries Center,
> registration is only $100 due to scholarships.
> Annual Conference moderator-elect Paul Grout will
> lead the event. Call 800-323-8039 or e-mail
> cdouglas_gb@... for more details.
>
  - Newsline: May 4, 2001


__________________________________________________
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> About 175 youth and advisors from the Midwest
> gathered April 20-22 in North Manchester, Ind. for
> Manchester College's annual Regional Youth
> Conference.
>
> Jeff Carter, a pastor at the Manassas (Va.) Church
> of the Brethren, served as keynote speaker on the
> theme "Be An Example." Carter addressed the issues
> of choices, purity, faith, and love as areas in
> which youth can exemplify Christian conduct. He
> used Powerpoint presentations, movie clips, stories,
> and wrestling with current issues to make his
points.
>
> "The true test of a person's character is what you
> do ... when you're alone, when no one's looking,"
> Carter said. In a time when brand names often appear
> prominently on clothing, he asked youth "What have
> you chosen to exemplify? Will you wear Jesus'
> name? ... You are the ones who can make the
> difference. What is the choice of the new
> generation?"
>
> Another highlight of the weekend was a concert and
> other special music by noted musician Ken Medema.
> Medema focused his Saturday night concert on the
> theme of dancing, comparing learning to dance with
> learning to grow as a Christian.
>
> "When you learn the advanced steps, that's when it
> gets interesting," Medema said. "The more you learn,
> the more exciting it is."
>
> The conference also featured games, small-group
> sharing, workshops, college Peace Week activities,
> energetic worship and singing led by Joseph Helfrich
> and a band, early-morning devotions and Bible study,
> service projects, and a performance by Manchester's
> "Controlled Catastrophe" improv drama troupe.

  - Newsline: May, 4 2001

__________________________________________________
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> The May 18-20 workcamp is cancelled due
> to ZERO registrations by May 1st. Was it
> the timing (May 20), was it no interest?
> It's anyone's guess.

We would like to remind you of this upcoming event.

Youth Sunday

Date: Sunday, May 6, 2001
Time: All Day

May 6th is National Youth Sunday

We would like to remind you of this upcoming event.

Regional Youth Conference

Date: Friday, April 20, 2001
Time: All Day

RYC is at Manchester College on April 20-22.

Heaven's Grocery Store
>
> A two minute read.......
> Read this story, and follow the recommendation
> at the end......
>
> As I was walking down life's highway
> many years ago
> I came upon a sign that read
> Heavens Grocery Store.
>
> When I got a little closer
> the doors swung open wide
> And when I came to myself
> I was standing inside.
> I saw a host of angels.
>
> They were standing everywhere
> One handed me a basket
> and said "My child shop with care."
>
> Everything a human needed
> was in that grocery store
> And what you could not carry
> you could come back for more
>
> First I got some Patience.
> Love was in that same row.
> Further down was Understanding,
> you need that everywhere you go.
>
> I got a box or two of Wisdom
> and Faith a bag or two.
> And Charity of course
> I would need some of that too.
>
> I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
> It was all over the place.
> And then some Strength
> and Courage to help me run this race.
>
> My basket was getting full
> but I remembered I needed Grace,
> And then I chose Salvation for
> Salvation was for free
> I tried to get enough of that to do
> for you and me.
>
> Then I started to the counter
> to pay my grocery bill,
> For I thought I had everything
> to do the Masters will.
>
> As I went up the aisle
> I saw Prayer and put that in,
> For I knew when I stepped outside
> I would run into sin.
>
> Peace and Joy were plentiful,
> the last things on the shelf.
> Song and Praise were hanging near
> so I just helped myself.
>
> Then I said to the angel
> "Now how much do I owe?"
> He smiled and said
> "Just take them everywhere you go."
>
> Again I asked "Really now,
> How much do I owe?"
> "My child" he said, "God paid your bill
> a long long time ago."
>
> This poem has been sent to you
> with love and for good luck.
> It originated in the Netherlands
> and has been around the world 9 times.
> The luck has now come to you and
> you will receive good luck in the mail
> within six days of receiving this letter
> providing you sent it out to someone else.
>
> Do not send money as this message
> has no price. Do not keep this letter.
>  Of course, good luck is just another way of saying
> blessings.
>
> Send 5 copies within 9 minutes of
> reading this and see what happens
> in six days.

We should all practice this, life would be a lot better I'm sure.


I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he
had
just finished a rough first day on the job: (a flat tire made him lose
an hour of work & his electric drill quit) his ancient one ton truck
refused to start.   While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.
On
arriving he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the
front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of
the
branches with both hands.  When opening the door he underwent an
amazing
transformation.  His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged
his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.  Afterward he walked
me
to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me.
I
asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.  Oh, that's my trouble
tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job,
but
one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my
wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night
when I come home and ask God to take care of them.  Then in the
morning
I pick them up again." Funny thing is," he smiled", when I come out in
the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember
hanging up the night before."

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and
challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood
up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned
around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a
smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name
is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old.
Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of
course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in
college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly
replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple
of children, and then retire and travel." "No seriously," I asked. I
was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this
challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education
and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the
student union building and shared chocolate milkshake. We became
instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave
class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to
this
"time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over
the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made
friends wherever she went.She loved to dress up and she revealed in
the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She
was living itup.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football
banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and
stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared
speech,she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated
and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply
said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery.
I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never
get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." As
we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing
because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are
only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving
success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to
have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We
have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know
it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and
don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I
am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do
anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That
doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always
finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly
usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we
did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She
challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our
daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she
had begun all those years ago. One week after
graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand
college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful
woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you
can possibly be.

When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of
advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it! These
words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS
OPTIONAL

> > >> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE TIME WHEN......
> > >>
> > >> Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!"
> > >>
> > >> Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker
in "Monopoly."
> > >>
> > >> Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.
> > >>
> > >> It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
> > >>
> > >> Being old referred to anyone over 20.
> > >>
> > >> The net on a tennis court was the perfect height to play
> > >>
> > >> volleyball and rules didn't matter.
> > >>
> > >> The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was
> > >>
> > >> "cooties".
> > >>
> > >> It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb.
> > >>
> > >> It was unbelievable that dodgeball wasn't an Olympic event.
> > >>
> > >> Having a weapon in school, meant being caught with a
slingshot.
> > >>
> > >> Nobody was prettier than mom.
> > >>
> > >> Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
> > >>
> > >> It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big
> > >>
> > >> people" rides at the amusement park.
> > >>
> > >> A foot of snow was a dream come true.
> > >>
> > >> Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare."
> > >>
> > >> Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute ads for action
figures.
> > >>
> > >> No shopping trip was complete, unless a new toy was brought
home.
> > >>
> > >> "Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense.
> > >>
> > >> Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for
> > >>
> > >> giggles.
> > >>
> > >> The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
> > >>
> > >> War was a card game.
> > >>
> > >> Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.
> > >>
> > >> Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a
> > >>
> > >> motorcycle.
> > >>
> > >> Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin.
> > >>
> > >> Ice cream was considered a basic food group.
> > >>
> > >> Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the
fiercest
> > >>
> > >> protectors.
> > >>
> > >> If you can remember most or all of these, then you have
lived!!!!
> > >>
> > >> Pass this on to anyone who may need a break from their "grown
up"
> > >>
> > >> life....
> > >>
> > >> I double dog dare ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We would like to remind you of this upcoming event.

Christian Citizenship Seminar

Date: Saturday, March 31, 2001
Time: All Day

CCS is the 3/31 through 4/5.

The 2001-02 National Youth Cabinet gathered for the
first time Feb. 9-12, meeting at the Church of the
Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., to begin
planning the 2002 National Youth Conference.

Highlighting a lengthy agenda was the selection of a
theme for NYC '02. After many hours of discussion, the
cabinet agreed on "... For Such a Time As This," based
on Esther 4:14. The cabinet expressed hopes that the
theme, "with its qualities of immediacy and purpose,
will encourage youth to consider the challenges in
their everyday lives with an attitude of greater
faithfulness," according to NYC coordinator Becky Ullom.

The cabinet also began brainstorming types of service
projects to be offered, possible speakers, workshop
ideas, morning devotions, a theme song, and other
logistical details. Registration fee for NYC '02 will
be $350, including food, lodging, and all program fees.
The conference will be held July 16-21, 2002, at
Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.

The next meeting for the cabinet, which is sponsored by
the General Board's Youth/Young Adult Ministries
office, will be held in Colorado in September.

- Newsline: March 2, 2001

YOUR DAILY MOMENT OF ZEN
>  >
>  >   1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of
>  me,
>  >   for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either.
>  >  Just leave me the hell alone.
>  >
>  >   2. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your
>  >   neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
>  >
>  >   3. Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any.
>  >
>  >   4. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their
>  >shoes.
>  >   That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have
>  >their shoes.
>  >
>  >   5. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to
>  >     fish, and he will sit in a boat & drink beer all day.
>  >
>  >   6. If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was
>  >     probably worth it.
>  >
>  >   7. Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side & a dark side,
>  >     and it holds the universe together.
>  >
>  >   8. There are two theories to arguing with women.  Neither one works.
>  >
>  >   9. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is
>  >moving.
>  >
>  >  10. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
>  >
>  >   11. We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then things get worse.

This came from Gene Schmidt. Please enjoy.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gene Schmidt [mailto:schmidt@...]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 11:29 PM
To: Aaron Gerdes; Mike & Sara Garner; Merle McCaffrey; James Osborn; Pat
Saunders; Callie Surber; Bill Williams; Jim Miner; Steve Obendorf; R.E.
and Deb Schell; Ron and Carolyn Morse; Teresa Otake; Tom Powers
Subject: Fw: Neat Thoughts


Subject: Neat Thoughts


>
>
> >
> > Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the
> > sun
> > .
> > Birthdays are good for you: the more you have the longer you live.
> >
> > How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're
on.
> >
> > I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier
> > than the people who have to wait for them.
> >
> > If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?
> >
> > Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
> >
> > If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing in the store
> > is free yet?
> >
> > You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world
to
> > one person.
> >
> > Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
> >
> > Don't cry because its over; smile because it happened.
> >
> > We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some
> > are
> > dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors ...but they
all
> > have to learn to live in the same box.
> >
> > Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.
> >
> > A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
> >
>
>
>

God's Boxes
> > > > > > > > I have in my hands two boxes,  Which
> God gave me to hold.
> > > > > > > >He said, "Put all your sorrows in the
> black box,
> > > > > > > >And all your joys in the gold." I
> heeded His words, and in the
> > > > > > > >two boxes, both my joys and sorrows I
> stored.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >But though the gold became heavier each
> day, The black was
> > > > > > > >as light as before. With curiosity, I
> opened the black, I
> >wanted
> > > > > > > >to find out why, and I saw, in the base
> of the box, a hole by
> > > which
> > > > > > > >my sorrows had fallen out.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >I showed the hole to God, and mused,
> > > > > > > >"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
> > > > > > > >He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me."
I asked, "God, why give me the boxes,
Why the gold, and the black with the
hole? My child, the gold is for you to
count your blessings, The black is for you to let go."
We should consider all of our friends a
blessing. Send this to a friend today just to let
them  know you are thinking of them and that they are a
joy in your life: A ball is a circle, no beginning, no
end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends,
But the treasure inside for you to see
Is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.
Today I pass the friendship ball to
you.  Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you...
Ok, here goes, instantly when you
receive  this letter,  you're
requested to send it to at least 10
people,  including the
person who sent it to you.

CHRISTMAS LOVE
> >
> >Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.
> >
> >I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing,
> >endless
> >baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself
> >exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of
> >course,
> >the true meaning of Christmas.
> >
> >My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting
> >season
> >for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his
> >school's
> >"Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the
> >night
> >of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with
> >his
> >teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the
> >presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to
> >come
> >then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
> >
> >So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in 10 minutes early,
> >found a
> >spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several
> >
> >other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the
> >students
> >were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat
> >cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform
> >
> >their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring
> >to the holiday as "Christmas", I didn't expect anything other than fun,
> >commercial entertainment -- songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes
> >and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love",
> >I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as
> >were
> >all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and
> >bright
> >snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row -- center stage --
> >held
> >up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the
> >
> >class would sing "C is for Christmas", a child would hold up the letter
> >C.
> >Then, "H is for Happy", and on and on, until each child holding up his
> >portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love".
> >The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her --
> >a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down
> >--
> >totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st
> >through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake.
> >But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so
> >she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to
> >
> >shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was
> >raised,
> >and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began
> >
> >to widen. In that instant, we understood -- the reason we were there,
> >why we
> >celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there
> >was a
> >purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the
> >
> >message read loud and clear: CHRIST WAS LOVE.
> >
> >And, I believe, He still is.
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
>

1. At least 5 people in this world
love you so much
they would die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world
love you in some
way.
3. The only reason anyone would
ever hate you is
because they want to be just like
you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness
to anyone,
even if they don't like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks
about you before they
go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. If not for you, someone may
not be living.
8. You are special and unique.
10. Someone that you don't know
even exists loves you.
11. When you make the biggest mistake
ever, something
good comes from it.
12. When you think the world has
turned its back on
you, take a look: you most likely
turned your back on
the world.
13. When you think you have no
chance at getting what
you want, you probably won't get
it, but if you
believe in yourself, you probably
sooner or later will
get it.
14. Always remember complements
you received. Forget
about the rude remarks.
15. Always tell someone how you
feel about them; you
will feel much better when they
know.
16. If you have a great friend,
take the time to let
them know that they're great.
"Whoever you are, there is some
younger person who
thinks you are perfect. There
is some work that will
never be done if you don't do
it. There is someone who
would miss you if you were gone.
There is a place that
you alone can fill."
--Jacob M. Braude
**SEND THIS LETTER TO AS MANY PEOPLE
AS YOU CARE
ABOUT.
YOU WON'T GET ANY GOOD LUCK, AND
YOUR CRUSH WON'T
SUDDENLY LIKE YOU, BUT YOU'LL
BRIGHTEN UP SOMEONE'S
DAY, AND MIGHT CHANGE THEIR PERSPECTIVE
ON LIFE FOR
THE BETTER**

Bill Williams
Lindgren, Callihan, Van Osdol & Co., Ltd.
403 E. Third St.
Sterling, IL  61081
wwilliams@...

WHERE IS GOD'S PERFECTION?

        In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning

disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire
school
career, while others can be mainstreamed into conventional schools. At
a
Chush fundraising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech
that
would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the
school and

its dedicated staff, he cried out, "Where is the perfection in my son
Ryan?

Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot
understand

things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures
as
other children do. Where is God's perfection?" The audience was shocked
by
the question, pained by the father's anguish and stilled by the
piercing
query. "I believe," the father answered, "that when God brings a child
like

this into the world, the perfection that he seeks is in the way people
react

to this child." He then told the following story about his son Ryan:
        One afternoon Ryan and his father walked past a park where some
boys

Ryan knew were playing baseball. Ryan asked, "Do you think they will
let me

play?" Ryan's father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that
most

boys would not want him on their team. But Ryan's father understood
that if

his son was chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of
belonging.
        Ryan's father approached one of the boys in the field and asked
if
Ryan could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates.

Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said "We are
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 up to bat in the ninth inning." Ryan's father
was
ecstatic as Ryan smiled broadly.
        Ryan was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center
field.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ryan's team scored a few runs but
was
still behind by three. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Ryan's team
scored

again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential
winning

run on base, Ryan was scheduled to be up. Would the team actually let
Ryan
bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game?
        Suprisingly, Ryan was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was
all
but
impossible because Ryan didn't even know-how to hold the bat properly,
let
alone hit with it. However as Ryan stepped up to the plate, the pitcher
moved
a few steps closer to lob the ball in softly so Ryan should at least be
able

to make contact. The first pitch came in and Ryan swung clumsily and
missed.
        One of Ryan's teammates came up to Ryan and together they held
the
bat
and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again
took a
few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Ryan. As the pitch
came in,

Ryan and his teammate swung at the bat and together they hit a slow
ground
ball to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could
easily
have thrown the ball to the first baseman.
        Ryan would have been out and that would have ended the game.
Instead,

the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field,
far
beyond reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling, "Ryan, run
to
first. Run to first." Never in his life had Ryan run to first. He
scampered

down the baseline wide-eyed and startled. By the time he reached first
base,

the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the
second

baseman who would tag out Ryan, who was still running. But the right
fielder

understood what the pitcher's intentions were, so he threw the ball
high and

far over the third baseman's  head. Everyone yelled, "Run to second,
run to

second." Ryan ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him
deliriously
circled the bases towards home. As Ryan reached second base, the
opposing
short stop ran to him,  turned him in the direction of third base and
shouted, "Run to third." As Ryan rounded third, the boys from both
teams ran

behind him screaming, "Ryan run home." Ryan ran home, stepped on home
plate

and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as
he
had just hit a "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
        "That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down
his
face, "those 18 boys reached their level of God's perfection."
        Funny how this is so true and shame on us! Funny how simple it
is for

people to trash God and then wonder why the world is going to hell.
Funny
how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible
says.
Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread
like
wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding God and
something
good, people think twice about sharing. Funny how the lewd, crude,
vulgar
and
obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of
God is

suppressed in the school and workplace. Funny isn't it?
        Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send
it
to
many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or
what

they will think of you for sending it to them. Funny how I can be more
worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.
Funny
isn't it?
        This is not a chain letter, nothing bad will happen if you
delete it.

Send it to as many people as you wish or no one at all.



Bill Williams
Lindgren, Callihan, Van Osdol & Co., Ltd.
403 E. Third St.
Sterling, IL  61081
wwilliams@...

A new pastor moved into town and went out one Saturday to visit his
>  "parishioners." All went well until he came to one house. It was obvious
>  that someone was home, but no one came to the door, even after he knocked
>  several
>  > times.
>  >
>  > Finally, he took out his card, wrote on the back "Revelation 3:20" and
>  stuck it in the door.
>  >
>  > The next day as he was counting the offering he found his card in the
>  collection plate. Below his message was the notation "Genesis 3:10."
>  >
>  >
>  > Revelation 3:20 reads: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If
>  anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him
>  and he with me."
>  >
>  > Genesis 3:10 reads "And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I
>  was afraid, because I was naked."




NO EXCUSE SUNDAY
> >
> >The First Church of Home Town, USA, announced that they were going to
> >host a "No Excuse Sunday." The announcement read likethis:
> >
> >"To make it possible for everyone to attend church this Sunday, there
> >will be a special 'No Excuse Sunday.'
> >
> >Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say 'Sunday is my only
> >day to sleep in.'
> >
> >We will have steel helmets for those who say, 'The roof would cave in if
>I
> >ever went to church.'
> >
> >Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold and
> >fans for those who think the church is too hot.
> >
> >We will have hearing aids for those who say the preacher speaks too
> >softly and cotton for those who say he preaches too loudly.
> >
> >Score cards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites
> >present.
> >
> >Some relatives will be in attendance for those who like to go visiting
> >on Sunday.
> >
> >There will be TV dinners for those who can't go to church and also plan
> >dinner.
> >
> >One section will be devoted to trees and grass for all those who like to
>see
> >God in nature.
> >
> >Finally, the sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias
> >and Easter lilies for those who have never seen the church without them.
> >
> >Well, see you in church!"

-----Original Message-----
From: MARTHA TAYLOR [mailto:mjtaylor1000@...]
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2000 4:10 PM
To: MAUDE1000@...; TIMMATT2@...; TWISTED1964@...;
TWITLEY@...; BABYWIPES10@...; MARYO@...;
WMS108@...
Subject: The Poem



> >    THE POEM
> >
> >   I knelt to pray but not for long,
> >
> >   I had too much to do.
> >
> >   I had to hurry and get to work
> >
> >   For bills would soon be due.
> >
> >   So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
> >
> >   And jumped up off my knees.
> >
> >   My Christian duty was now done
> >
> >   My soul could rest at ease.
> >
> >   All day long I had no time
> >
> >   To spread a word of cheer.
> >
> >   No time to speak of Christ to friends,
> >
> >   They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
> >
> >   No time, no time, too much to do,
> >
> >   That was my constant cry,
> >
> >   No time to give to souls in need
> >
> >   But at last the time, the time to die.
> >
> >   I went before the Lord,
> >
> >   I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
> >
> >   For in his hands God held a book;
> >
> >   It was the book of life.
> >
> >   God looked into his book and said
> >
> >   "Your name I cannot find.
> >
> >    I once was going to write it down...
> >
> >    But never found the time"
> >
> >    Now do you have the time to pass it on?
> >
> >
> >_________________________________________________________________________
> >Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
> >
> >Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
> >http://profiles.msn.com.
> >
> >
>

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.

Something to ponder.........
>
>  As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to
> me,
> even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for
> something good that happened in your life yesterday.
>
>  But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to
> wear.
> When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a
few
>
> minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were to busy.  At one
> point
> you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a
> chair.
> Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me
> but
> you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip
> instead.
>
>  I watched patiently all day long.  With all your activities I guess
you
> were
> too busy to say anything to me.  I noticed that before lunch you looked
> around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you
didn't
> bow
> your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some
of
> your
> friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't.  That's
> okay.
> There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet.
>
> You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a
> few of
> them
> were done, you turned on the TV.  I don't know if you like TV or not,
> just
> about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front
> of it
> not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show.  I waited
patiently
>
> again as you watched the
> TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.  Bedtime I guess
> you
> felt too
> tired.  After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed
and
> fell
> asleep in no time.
>
>  That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for
you.
>
> I've got patience, more than you will ever know.  I even want to teach
> you
> how to be
>  patient with others as well. I love you so much that I wait everyday
> for a
> nod, prayer or thought or a thankful part of your heart.  It is hard to
> have
> a one-sided conversation.
>
>  Well, you are getting up once again.  And once again I will wait, with
> nothing but love for you.  Hoping that today you will give me some
time.
>
> Have a nice day!
>
>     Your friend,
>
>
>     GOD
>
>     P.S. - Do you have enough time to send this to another person?  If
> you
> aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions.  Jesus said,
> "If you
> are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father."  Not
> ashamed--pass this on . . . only if you mean it.
>
> Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. He keeps
me
>
> functioning each and everyday.  Without Him, I will be nothing. Without
> him,
> I am
> nothing; but with Him I can do all things through Christ that
> strengthens me.
>
>     Phil 4:13
>
>     This is the simplest test . . . if you    Love God, and are not
> ashamed
> of all the marvelous things he has done for you.  Send this to ten
> people and
> the person who
> sent it to you!

Congratulations!
>
> You have just received the new "Amish Virus."
>
> As the Amish have no programming experience, this
> virus works on the
> honor
> system. Please delete all the files from your hard
> drive. Hand-copy and
> manually forward this virus to everyone on your
> mailing list.
>
>
> Thank you for your cooperation,
> Amish Computer Engineering Dept



Bill Williams
wwilliams@...

Bill Williams
Lindgren, Callihan, Van Osdol & Co., Ltd.
403 E. Third St.
Sterling, IL  61081
wwilliams@...