121. A Child's Explanation of God

This was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista , CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well ?

EXPLANATION OF GOD:
'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista ... At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God.. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But.....you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God.'

 

116. Quotes from Mother Theresa

Quotes From Mother Theresa

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it."

"What can you do to promote world peace?
Go home and love your family."

“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep,
for every dream precedes the goal.”

115. New Immigrants

This is a very good letter to the editor. This woman made some good points...
For some reason, people have difficulty structuring their arguments when arguing against supporting the currently proposed immigration revisions.. This lady made the argument pretty simple. NOT printed in the Orange County Paper...................

Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published; but, with your help it will get published via cyberspace!

 

Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.

Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer.. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.

They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.

Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany , Italy , France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan . They were defending the United States of America as one people.

When we liberated France , no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty , it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.

(signed)
Rosemary LaBonte

114. What is Love

WHAT IS LOVE?
An answer straight from the Bible.

LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND
LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR BOASTFUL
IT IS NOT ARROGANT OR RUDE
LOVE DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY
IT IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL
IT DOES NOT REJOICE AT WRONG, BUT REJOICES IN THE RIGHT
LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS
BELIEVES ALL THINGS
HOPES ALL THINGS
ENDURES ALL THINGS

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7

113. Happy Valentines Day

Red and Warm
Right in the middle of winter,
Tucked between snowstorms and hanging icicles,
Peeking out from woolen scarves and thermal boots
Showing a lacy patch of red and warm
And lighting spirits young and old, near and far,
Comes Valentines Day -
A time to let your heart shine most clearly
To open it for all to see
That special day to dance, to sing, to laugh, to love.
So, I searched for something to give you,
But, cards seemed plain and did not contain the fullness of my feelings,
Glittery, sparkly diamonds were far beyond my means,
And, then, I turned my eyes to the heavens
And I saw just what there was for you . . .
The sparkling stars are so much brighter in the evening sky
Their glittering glory is yours to have, to admire, to feel, to share
I thought of flowers,
But, all of them paled to the rainbow and God's verdant fields,
And they are all there for you, too, in everyday abundance.
I thought of sending something sweet -
But how could I match the joy in a childish giggle,
The warmth of a baby's smile, or the loving care of a mother's touch ?
Candy is gone in an instant, but God and His world are eternal
So, on this Valentine's Day, I offer all of this to you
Embrace His creation
Celebrate His worth
And wrap yourself in His glory !
?
Happy Valentine's Day

111. Poetry is Like a River.

POETRY IS LIKE A RIVER

by Dr. C. B. Skelton

 

Poetry is like a river winding

through the countryside.

When its banks are steep and binding,

it may be deep . . . not wide.

But when it flows through level ground

and not much holds it in,

quite wide places may be found

and depth might be quite thin.

When it flows through regions icy,

a river will be cold;

but if the land is hot and spicy,

its heat may rise three-fold.

 

Because it’s not so deep and rushing,

must it not be a river?

Are only words so deep or gushing

in a poet’s quiver?

Can only issues flaming hot,

like passion and desire,

or war or peace or patriots

ignite a poet’s fire?

Must all rivers be the same

throughout all God’s creation

or poets play the same old game

the breadth of our nation.

 

All poets seek those words sublime.

Some may choose to meter;

others like to work in rhyme;

some think free-verse is neater.

With all kinds of poetic form

and subjects we might choose,

there is, of course, no single norm

that every poet must use.

One final point this writer makes

before his fond ‘Adieu,’

The form a poem or a river takes

depends on what it flows through.

 

110. Grumbling

Grumbling

The best definition of grumbling, it seems to me,
says simply "to mutter discontentedly."
Protesting against something in a bad-tempered way
is a thing most humans practice each day
and, in most cases, choose a subliminal voice
in stating our objections to an undesired choice.

Grumbling does not require intelligence,
neither a large measure of common sense.
It demonstrates no great ability,
and is common in those with low mentality.
In fact, among grumblers, you will hardly find
a person with a truly open mind.

Great character is never shown by grumbling,
nor will it guide one's path to prevent stumbling.
Never will it call for self denial --
it always is the other man on trial.
Simple grumbling never solves one's problems,
and never leads one to the means to solve them.

Constructive criticism is the way
that can lead to a better and happier day.
Being willing to step forward and state your case
is the best way to see your desires in place.
So, enough of your moaning and groaning and grumbling.
All of these partner with mumbling, stumbling and fumbling.

105. Will you give this to my daddy


Will you give this to my daddy?

As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support 'Red Fridays.'

Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed One of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.

When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and Cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.

Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our Service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi...'

The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her...

The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.

The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.

When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second... Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it..

After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'

The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.

As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.

RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.

Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday - and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.

If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED.