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There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak...
I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked,
"What you got there, son?"
"Just some old birds," came the reply.
"What are you gonna do with them?" I asked.
"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."
"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. Then what will you do?"
"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."
The pastor was silent for a moment.
"How much do you want for those birds, son?"
"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"
"How much?" the pastor asked again.
The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said,
"$10?"
The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.
Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.
One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting.
"Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"
"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.
Satan replied,
"Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"
"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked.
"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.
"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked
"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"
"How much?" He asked again.
Satan looked at Jesus and sneered,
"All your blood, tears and your life."
Jesus said,
"DONE!"
Then He paid the price.
The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.
Why is it so hard to tell the truth but yet so easy to tell a lie?
Why are we so sleepy in church but right when the sermon is over we suddenly wake up?
Why is it so hard to talk about God but yet so easy to talk about nasty stuff?
Why is it so boring to look at a Christian magazine, but yet so easy to look at a nasty one?
Why is it so easy to not read a Godly bulletin, but yet we repost all of the nasty ones?
Why are the churches getting smaller but yet the bars and dance
clubs are getting larger?
Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to trash God, and then wonder why the world's going to hell?
Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan? (who, by the way, also "believes" in God).
Isn't it funny how you can repost a thousand jokes through bulletins and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending bulletins regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing?
Isn't it funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me?
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Close up these eyes, try not to cry;
All that I've got to pull me through is memories of you.
Does it hurt when you think about me,
And how broken my heart is..
How am I supposed to feel about the things I've done?
I don't know if I should stay or turn around and run.
I know that I hurt you, things will never be the same.....
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| wow! I just got back from an AMAZING week at cowen! This week has been the BEST week of cowen by far! I met SOOOO many awesome ppl! My cabin was unreal! And God just blows my mind. I cant begin to explain how wonderful I feel. But my goodness I miss everyone so much already. I feel so alone here! Like I went out to eat with my family tonight and I kept looking around expecting to see someone from camp! I feel like I'm the only one living for God in my town. I dont have anyone in P-burg except for my sister, and she's leaving. And I wont get to spend any time with her till next summer, if that. Everyone lives sooo far away and my heart aches for them. Because at cowen we were all striving for the same thing, and then I have to come back into the cold crazy world where no one cares! And it stinks!! I feel like a little girl curled up in a little ball holding onto my teddy bear as tight as I can, watching everyone speed around me in a big fuzz. Scared to death to even move. I know that God is with me always, and that I dont ever need to feel alone; b/c I'm not. But it sure would help to have someone here to help me through it, someone to keep me going.
I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise
Jesus bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus bring the rain
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty | | |
| So school is over! No more Jackson. I'm not too sure how I feel about this yet. I'm excited to "experience new things." But I'm going to miss my lovely teachers at Jackson, and the closeness of everyone. But hopefully high school will be loads better than I'm expecting it to be. I am excited for more freedom though! haha I remember when I came to Jackson, I was like its so cool here, we can talk as loud as we want to in the halls, we can sit anywhere in the lunch room and all kinds of stuff. Hopefully I'll meet some new people and make some good friendships, but still keep my old ones! Thats one thing that is lame about summer; not seeing your friends. I miss my friends a lot! And I'd like to be able to hang out with them, but they're eaither at practice for their sports, at work, or I have practice!  Hopefully it will slow down a little bit in July!!
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| Imagine responding to life’s trials like Cheerios in milk—totally unsinkable. No matter what is thrown at you, you bob right back up to the surface with an enormous smile. Whether you are tortured, imprisoned, or even robbed of life itself, you respond with perfect peace and unwavering joy.
Imagine your soul blazing with the passionate fire of God. You possess an unearthly confidence that strikes fear into anyone who opposes the Truth you stand for. You have nothing to loose, because you have already lost everything. To you, suffering for Christ is the highest honor, the ultimate opportunity to express your adoration and devotion to Him.
Imagine never having to seek human comfort and ease. Rather, you long to be broken bread and poured-out wine for you majestic Lover and Lord. You don’t strive for the approval of men, but live for the applause of your King alone. You aren’t driven by ordinary human ambition; you are driven by God-built ambition. You wait for the command of your master and commander, and you instantly obey Him with delight, no matter the degree of difficulty or challenge of the given task.
Imagine God being near you every second of the day. To you, Jesus Christ is not just a historical figure found in the pages of the Bible, but real and dear, an intimate Lover, sharing every waking moment of your life with you. His touch upon you heart is the purest delight. His voice is more familiar to you than your closest friend’s, and the scent of His presence wafts through your inner being like sweet perfume. To you, worship is never-ending. Your heart and mind stand in awe of the infinite beauty and grandeur of almighty God.
Image being unconcerned with superficial things. You don’t worry about clothes, food, relationships, or money. You are captivated by Jesus Christ, and everything else fades into oblivion. To you, heaven is far more real than your earthly life. Worshiping your Prince for all eternity is your greatest desire.
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