A RIVER OF THOUGHTS

2009-04-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

I welcome the day!

Today I know I can make a difference:
I begin the day with a big smile on my face,
and deliver a message that today is like
no other day! It is different than the rest.

With soothing praise, I share my compliments
to those who seem hopeless and in despair.
I bring the message of peace and assure
the guiding hands of God despite unrest.

Today is indeed different because the sun above
glows warmly with God's presence
undisclosed in nature's ways.

The silent language in a smile is easily understood
by all and without delay we set a world full of
joy; for a simple smile is contagious and
creates a world of difference.

I bless the day aright with a simple word of assurance
that a day can never be the same until we decide to
make a difference. Today is the best day ever!

I bless this day aloud with God's ever presence.

2009-02-01T06:25:00.000-08:00

The Power of the Word

In the beginning was the Word
The Word was with God and
The Word was God (Jn 1:1).

We have become what have been foretold about what we would be.

If we are attentive today and we try to ponder what we have become at this moment,
We can never deny the fact that we have become who we are because of the Word deeply
expressed by someone who wants us to succeed in life.

The Word was a mantra. We say the Word and its power like a magnet can work wonders.

Looking back, I cannot imagine the numerous changes that have taken place in my life .
I am not talking about physical changes, but the whole scenario of living. It is like a dream
to see the many changes and here I am, the same person who has been a recipient of the magic and the power of the Word uttered by persons dear to me.

I was seven years old when I was hit by a car while crossing the street. I survived the accident but my left ankle was partly damaged that I had to walk with crutches for the next three months. I stopped going to school because I needed to recover from the said accident. I did not know what hope is all about. Much more, I did not even know if I had another chance to walk in a normal way again.

My mom was pounding heavens with her prayers. She believed in Miracles and believed that she could witness it. My mom was making compromises with God - Whatever it was, I would never know. It was between God and Her.

There were times I uttered words that could have dismayed my mom. I simply said that I thought I would not continue to go to School because I would be walking with crutches, like a cripple and many children would be laughing behind my back. My mom kept her Words within her heart.

This was the time an elderly lady said with emphatic words that I would be the luckiest child in the family. She was talking to my hopeful dad. She said that someday her words would be true. I listened with intent ears and I believed her.

Three months later, I learned to walk again. Learning to walk takes a miracle, one step at a time. The mantra of the Words, uttered and thought within the hearts of people who cared, took its effects in that first step. Finally, the journey of life mattered so much that day. It was the first step that was the hardest. The rest of the steps made all the difference.

What has become of me after that first step? I am shy to say. All that matters now is one big difference. I can walk again. Since then, I have walked in a normal way, like any other person with hopes and dreams. Many years had gone by and yet the experience remains fresh in my mind. Counting those years, I have walked millions of miles around the globe and I have seen so many historical events in my lifetime.

I do believed that God intended to put special people to utter those precious Words in a right time and on a right place. With God on our side, miracles can take place because He supplies the Word to say. I thank God and I thank everyone who have been instrumental to forecast the word. And that makes the Miracle.

There is power in the Word. Its mantra lingers forever.
[Franz]

2009-01-30T09:09:00.000-08:00

Waking Up Early

An early bird catches the worm first.

Time and again, I often wonder why waking up early is inherent
to my nature.

At exactly 6 am, every morning, I am wide awake regardless
whether I sleep early or later. I wonder because even if I wish
to extend my sleep I cannot. The innate clock tells its toll.
I am set for the day and ready to face what lies ahead.
There is no leisure time for a lazy bone.

I remember with vivid memory: As a child, I was always forced
to wake up as early as 5:30 am to do some chores at home.
My father would never tolerate any of his children to stay longer
on bed before the sun rose. I always resented it.

There were times that I cried and complained. Nothing was heard
except that I had to wake up early and did the chores I was assigned
to do even if it was contrary to my intended schedule. The rest of
the siblings had their own responsibilities to fulfill and I believed
they, too, had the same sentiments as I had. However, with heavy
hearts, we were compelled to accomplish whatever responsibilities
assigned to us in order to make mom and dad happy. I never knew
if they were pleased at all.

As a family, we had accomplished so much in a whole day.
My mom would always attest that she would not have any problems
with washing and ironing clothes, nor with cooking and setting table
for lunch or dinner, nor with many other chores to be done at home
as many mothers would complain. All the siblings were the working
force of the house. Household help was not needed at all. Everything
was done by the children. We were always together doing endless
chores at home. Beyond any doubt, we were always proud of our
daily accomplishments. We had so much fun and laughter
despite the presence of some hardships and innuendos
of resentments or complaints. We had had a whole family,
working together. Having many children was a treasure
as my father would always brag to his friends.

We never realized its value until many years later.

Some people may call it, child-labor or others may mention,
abuse of parental authority, but I would say those years were
precious moments of bonding and formation.

Young siblings were trained to face the future, even if sometimes
the road ahead could be rough and tough.

Sometimes I often wonder how come I have a high capacity for
tolerance. I looked back and I realized that I had a good training
here. Right now, I feel very grateful and am very fortunate.
Otherwise, I would have been a different person.
I have the capacity to work hard and the vital energy to cope
with any situation. Where did I get them? I just wonder.

Reminiscing, I say today, thanks to those years of waking up
early and trying to find the food first as an early bird.

Now, here is a whole lifetime ahead. Beyond doubt, I say I am ready.
I can say this, time and again, I have been taught to look beyond
lifetime.

The day starts with waking up early and facing the sun ahead.

Did the early bird really capture the worm first?
I presume, the older mother bird retains the answer.

[Franz]

2008-12-21T03:27:00.000-08:00

These Are My Wishes For You

May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.

May the pain you have known
and the conflict you have experienced
give you the strength to walk through life
facing each new situation with courage and optimism.

Always know that there are those
whose love and understanding will always be there,
even when you feel most alone.

May a kind word,
a reassuring touch,
and a warm smile
be yours every day of your life,
and may you give these gifts
as well as receive them.

May the teachings of those you admire
become part of you,
so that you may call upon them.

Remember, those whose lives you have touched
and who have touched yours
are always a part of you,
even if the encounters were less than
you would have wished.
It is the content of the encounter
that is more important than its form.

May you not become too concerned with material matters,
but instead place immeasurable value
on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see beauty and love
in the world around you.

Realize that what you feel you lack in one regard
you may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled
with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.

May you find enough inner strength
to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent
on another's judgment of your accomplishments.

May you always feel loved.

[Sandra Sturtz Hauss]

2008-08-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

A Million Dollar Question:
Why do bad things happen to good people?

Many tragic stories raise a vexing question
which we rarely find answers: why does God
let misfortune wreck the lives of so many good
people? why does he let suffering bring tears to
the eyes of so many fine individuals? The reasons
indeed are mysterious and only fools can define
the reasons which the wise may not.

Jesus gives us a hint: Whoever loses his life for
my sake will find it. Whoever accepts suffering
and misfortune for His sake will find a whole new life,
a far richer and meaningful life. God can use tragedy
and misfortune to guide us into a newer and better lives.

Today, whatever situations we are in - financial difficulties,
family problems and personal tragedy - we pick up our
cross and follow Jesus. He can mend our broken dreams
and lead us into a renewed appreciation of life that we
never dream possible. We trust in His assurance: whoever
loses his life for my sake will find it. We may never
understand the mystery of misfortune in this life but
certainly we will in the later years of our lives.

An old Poem: "The Folded Page"

Up in the attic of an old house, as raindrops pattered
on the roof, I sat paging through my old schoolbook.

I came to a page that was folded down. Across it was
written in my childish hand: "The teacher says we
should leave this for now. It's hard to understand."

I unfolded the page and read it. Then I smiled and
nodded my head and said: "The teacher was right;
now I understand."

There are many pages in the book of life that are
hard to understand. All we can do is fold them down
and write: "The Master says to leave this for now.
It's hard to understand."

Then, someday, somehow, in heaven, we 'll unfold
the pages , reread them and say, "The Master was
right; now I understand." [Unknown]

Crosses can turn out to be blessings in disguise
if we then understand. It really takes awhile.

If we pick up the cross and follow in the footsteps
of Jesus, our cross can become a blessing and a
stepping stone to greater things. Our cross can
serve as an agent of life - fullness of life.

The consolation of Jesus can be summarized in this poem:

I asked for health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise
of men; I was given weakness, that I might feel
the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing I asked for, but everything I hoped
for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers
were answered. I am among all men most richly
blessed. [Unknown]

2008-08-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

F A M I L Y
Author Unknown

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said good-bye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice
came to me and said, "While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use, but the children you love,
you seem to abuse. Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small, And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed; "Wake up, little one, wake up,"
I said. "Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree. I picked 'em
because they're pretty like you. I knew you'd like 'em,
especially the blue." I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way
I acted today; I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too, and I do like the flowers,
especially the blue."

2008-08-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

Courage
Wish Belkin

When evening comes the shadows grow, as the sun begins to set.
Take care that you don't come to know, a thing that's called regret.
Not what you try or what you do, throughout a carefree youth.
It's what you don't you'll come to rue, when time reveals it's truth.

There is wisdom to be had from mistaken words and acts.
You'll find that failure's not so bad, it strengthens you in fact.
Rejection's fear or the fear of failure, that paralizes you.
Is the stuff of tears and that which keeps you dreams from coming true.

It takes a certain kind of nerve to tell someone you care.
But then nature tends to serve the person who would dare.
Bravery isn't something you can cultivate from seed.
It must be conjured up anew each time that there's a need.

So take these words and hold them close,
it's certain you'll find that, one second of courage to speak
from the heart will result in you hearing them back.

2008-08-29T21:08:00.000-07:00

Believe
Wish Belkin

Believe in rewards that await you,
believe in the harvest in store.
Believe that the spring will awaken,
believe you'll be sowing once more.
Believe that there's a tomorrow,
where no one cares if you can't dance.
Believe in the future's promise,
each new day brings a new chance.
Believe you can make you goals happen,
they're just dreams with a deadline attached.
Believe that you have the power,
believe that you're more than a match.
Believe in a shared existence,
you're not alone this is true.
Believe that right now there is someone,
who believes in the wonder that's you.

2008-08-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

Believe in yourself

There may be days when you get up in the morning
and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be,....
that's when you have to tell yourself that things will get better.

There are times when people disappoint you
and let you down, but those are the times
when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments
and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself
and all that you are capable of.

There will be challenges to face and changes to make
in your life,and it is up to you to accept them.
Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you.
It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle
you will find a stronger sense of who you are,
So when the days come that are filled with frustration
and unexpected responsibilities,
remember to believe in yourself
and all you want your life to be,
because the challenges and changes
will only help you to find the goals
that you know are meant
to come true for you.
Keep believing in yourself.

2008-08-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

Sculptor's Attitude
[Author Unknown]

"I woke up early today, excited over all I get
to do before the clock strikes midnight.
I have responsibilities to fulfill today.
I am important.
My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy
or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money
or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan
my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health
or I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all that my parents
didn't give me when I was growing up
or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today I can cry because roses have thorns
or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.
Today I can mourn my lack of friend
or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.
Today I can whine because I have to go to work
or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.
Today I can complain because I have to go to school
or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.
Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework
or I can feel honored because the Lord has provide
shelter for my mind, body and soul.
Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped.
And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.
What today will be like is up to me.
I get to choose what kind of day I will have!
Have a GREAT DAY……unless you have other plans."

2008-08-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

If You Wish
Joseph Addison

If you wish success in life,
Make perseverance your bosom friend,
Experience your wise counselor,
Conscience your elder brother,
And hope your guardian genius.

Success Quote

"Success is to be measured
Not so much by the position that one has reached in life
As by the obstacles
Which he has overcome while trying to succeed."
[Booker T. Washington]

Achievement
Robert Louis Stevenson

That man is a success who has lived well,
Laughed often and loved much;
Who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children;
Who has filled his nice and accomplished his task;
Who leaves the world better than he found it,
Whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem or a rescued soul,
Who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it;
Who looked for he best in others and gave the best he had.

Success Quote

"Would you like me to give you a formula for...success?
It's quite simple, really.
Double your rate of failure...
You're thinking of failure as the enemy of success.
But it isn't at all...
You can be discouraged by failure-or you can learn from it.
So go ahead and make mistakes.
Make all you can.
Because, remember that's where you'll find success.
On the far side."
[Thomas John Watson, Sr]

The Real Successes
Edgar A. Guest

You think that the failures are many,
You think the successes are few,
But you judge by the rule of the penny,
And not by the good that men do.
You judge men by standards of treasure
That merely obtain upon earth,
When the brother you're snubbing may measure
Full-length to God's standard of worth.
The failures are not in the ditches,
The failures are not in the ranks,
They have missed the acquirement of riches,
Their fortunes are not in the banks.
Their virtues are never paraded,
Their worth is not always in view,
But they're fighting their battles unaided,
And fighting them honestly, too.
There are failures to-day in high places
The failures aren't all in the low;
There are rich men with scorn in their faces
Whose homes are but castles of woe.
The homes that are happy are many,
And numberless fathers are true;
And this is the standard, if any,
By which we must judge what men do.
Wherever loved ones are awaiting
The toiler to kiss and caress,
Though in Bradstreet's he hasn't a rating,
He still is a splendid success.
If the dear ones who gather about him
And know what he's striving to do
Have never a reason to doubt him,
Is he less successful than you?
You think that the failures are many,
You judge by men's profits in gold;
You judge by the rule of the penny-
In this true success isn't told.
This falsely man's story is telling,
For wealth often brings on distress,
But wherever love brightens a dwelling,
There lives; rich or poor, a success.

2008-08-28T07:42:00.001-07:00

Reach
Trixie Asirvatham

Dreams, aspirations, goals ...
they are the guiding forces
that propel you through life,
through the realm of thought.
The Inner Dialogue is where it all begins.
It shapes your actions and your life.
Catch your thinking when it gets into the grey, dark,
negative area, and talk to yourself with uplifting thoughts.
In a world that is artificial and self-serving,
you need to be true to yourself
and to invest in real and rewarding relationships.
This will give you the inner strength
you need to withstand life's challenges.
This poem/song expresses the yearning for
self-actualisation, which is a God-sent feeling
that encourages you as an individual to reach
your highest state. You have God within you
and have immense potential.
You are capable of huge achievements
if you use the opportunities and talents given to you by Him.

Reachin' up, reachin' high
Reachin' higher than the sky
Reachin' out for a goal you've never tried before
Push your body to the brink
You've got more strength than you think
You've got it in you, you're gonna make it if you try.
And when the going gets rough
And when the playing gets tough
Just keep on trying...
For life is a game and the aim is to succeed
And when you reach your dream, it's not the end
There's another goal beyond the bend...
Another race to run, another hill to climb
And you can do it all over again"
Cause you've got what it takes,
You've got what it takes to succeed.

Reachin' out - reachin' wide
Reachin' wider than the oceanside
Reachin' out to others to give and to receive
Put away your foolish pride
Let their counsel be your guide
And you can ride their strength as you ride the ocean-tide
And when the strong winds blow
And when the waves lash below
You'll keep on sailing
For their strength is yours if you only will receive
And when they let you down
Don't let it get you down,
they're only human, just like you,
Leave the hurt behind
Look around, you'll find
You can love all over again
Because you've got what it takes,
You've got what it takes to give.

Reachin' down, deep inside
Into the hidden wealth of your mind
Where your thoughts and feelings and hopes and dreams abide...
You could come up with mud or slime
Or you could strike gold in time
In the dark you'll see your true self shining through.
And when problems surround you,
Don't let them confound you,
Look within you...
You know that steel is melted in the furnace before it's strong;
So work on your weakness, and build on your strengths
There's no end to what you can do
You've got a lot to give
You've got a lot to live
And you can do it all over again
'Cause you've got what it takes,
You've got what it takes to be you.
Reachin' up -
reachin' higherReachin' out -
reachin' widerReachin' in - deep within you
You can do it ...all over again
Because you've got what it takes
You've got what it takes to be you.

Every Minute has a Lot of Livin' in It
Trixie Asirvatham

Every minute, every minute
Has a lot of livin' in it
I make the most of everything
Catch opportunity on the wing
I'm getting closer to my dreams, oh…
Every minute, every minute
Has a lot of living in it.

Give Me Dreams
Trixie Asirvatham

Think of all the songs and poems written about dreams.
Endlessly fascinating, aren't they?
A dream is where your life actually begins taking shape.
It stirs your emotions, fills you with inner longings
and the urge to make your dreams manifest.
In fact all action and human achievement begins with a dream.
In a material world filled with cynicism, we need a return to the pure,
unspoilt dreams of our childhood, where we listened
to the voice of God revealed in the shape and scope of our imagination.
Give me dreams!

Give me dreams.
Give me the roseate hue of sunrise on the clouds.
The silver of stardust in the velvet blue sky.
The eager hope in a youthful face.
The spirit to tackle problems unknown.
The fire in the heart, the joy in the soul.
Give me these … I'd take them all
Rather than the dull clods of reality
that keep me fixed in status quo.
Give me make-believe.

The mischievous pranks of an elfin sprite.
The daring exploits of Captain Midnight.
Give me walks on the planets with Mr. Spock
Or the bold and brave world of Wonder Woman.
Far better these, than the dreary tread of habit
Leading time apace into one more day that's gone,
With nothing accomplished, nothing done.
Give me romance.

The tenderness of a loved one's touch;
Stars spangled on a princess' dress
A prince of men, handsome and loving
And happily-ever-aftering.
Far better these, than hurtful words
Abuses, curses, blood and tears
Cold indifference, trembling fears.
Give me music.

The melody that calls to mind
The whisper of wind on mountain pine
That soothes you by its lilting sound
Or lifts you up like an eagle proud.
I'd rather have these than the noise and shriek
The mad frenzy of today's sound… the dull drugged rhythm
of the stoned ---or raucous voices raised up to enflame.

Give me dance.
The liquid grace of a swan poised for flight.
The breathless wonder of a pirouette,the leaps and lifts,
the synchrony
Of dancers floating butterfly-light on air.
Give me these, than vulgar gyrations'
mid psychedelic lights and ear-shattering din.
Give me friendship.
The uncritical mindset that accept you as you are
The faith and trust that tells you you'll go far…
The happy times, the laughter and the chatter
Companionship that understands when you want to be alone.
I'd rather have a few friends like these
Than a hundred smooth-tongued flatterers
That tell me what I want to hear, when they need me,
And leave me flat when things go wrong and I need them.

Give me life.
For there must be more to life than
back-and-forthingnine-to-five-ingand conniving
penny-pinchingmoney-splurgingladder-climbingorder-giving
and all the humdrum nitty-gritty of everyday living.
Give me the pulsing, throbbing, heady excitement
of climbing the mountain and crossing the sea;
The uncertainty of new discovery---
The hopes, the fears, the dreams.
Yes, were I bereft of all the world has to give,
I would still dare to dream… and breathe life into my dreams

2008-08-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

JESUS IS MY HERO

The Lord gave me this wonderful dream
When no one is there to help me
He will be the one to carry me on
And help me in time of troubles
I must be faithful to my Lord
I know He cares for me
Even thousand years He will there
And he will bless me a hundred times
Jesus is my wonderful hero.

2008-08-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

Heart Prints
Author Unknown

Whatever our hands touch...we leave
fingerprints on.
On walls, on furniture, on door knobs,
dishes and books.

As we touch we leave our identity..
Oh please where ever I go today...
help me leave heart prints.
Heart prints of compassion,
understanding and love.

Heart prints of kindness and genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor...
or a runaway daughter...
or an anxious mother...
or perhaps a dear friend!
I shall go out today...
to leave heart prints...
and if some one should say...
"I felt your touch!"

2008-08-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

The Swan
Rilke

There's a faith in loving fiercely the one who is rightfully yours
especially if you have waited years and especially if part of you never
believed you could deserve this loved and beckoning hand held
out to you this way.

I am thinking of faith now and the testaments of loneliness
and what we feel we are worthy of in this world.
Years ago in the Hebrides I remember an old man
who would walk every morning on the gray stones
to the shore of baying seals, who would press his hat to his chest
in the blustering salt wind and say his prayer to the turbulent
Jesus hidden in the waters.

And I think of the story of the storm and the people
waking and seeing the distant, yet familiar figure,
far across the water calling to them.
And how we are all preparing for that abrupt waking
and that calling and that moment when we have to say yes!

Except it will not come so grandly, so Biblically,
but more subtly, and intimately in the face
of the one you know you have to love.
So that when we finally step out of the boat
toward them we find, everything holds us,
and everything confirms our courage.

And if you wanted to drown, you could,
But you don't, because finally, after all
this struggle and all these years,
you don't want to anymore.
You've simply had enough of drowning
and you want to live, and you want to love.
And you'll walk across any territory,
and any darkness, however fluid,
and however dangerous to take the one
hand and the one life, you know belongs in yours.

2008-08-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

IF
Joseph Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold-on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

2008-07-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

THE DISAPPOINTED

There are songs enough for the hero
Who dwells on the heights of fame;
I sing of the disappointed -
For those who have missed their aim.

I sing for the breathless runner,
The eager, anxious soul,
Who falls with his strength exhausted,
Almost in sight of the goal;

For the hearts that break in silence,
With a sorrow all unknown,
For those who need companions,
Yet walk their ways alone.

There are songs enough for the lovers
Who share love's tender pain,
I sing for the one whose passion
Is given all in vain.

And I know the solar system
Must somewhere keep in space
A prize for that spent runner
Who barely lost the race.

For the plan would be imperfect
Unless it is held some sphere
That paid for the toil and talent
And love that are wasted here.
[Ella Wheeler Cox]

2008-07-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

YOU

It isn't the money you are making,
It isn't the clothes you wear;
It isn't the skill of your good right hand
That makes folks really care.
But it's the smile on your face
And the light of your eyes,
And the burdens that you bear;
It's how do you live, and neighbor,
It's how d you work and play,
And it's how do you say "Good morning"
To the people along the way;
And it's how do you face your troubles
Wherever the skies are gray.
[Byrne]

2008-05-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

HOW TO BE RICH
(In all the ways that matter most)

Always take time for...

Big Smiles. Sunday mornings. Long walks.
Warm appreciation. Precious memories. Things
that bring a sense of joy to your heart. Stay in touch...
With people who will always mean so much.

Find a way to...

Be good to yourself (really good.)
Build the bridges that will take you everywhere
you've ever wanted to go. Write out your own
definition of success, and then do your absolute best
to make that story come true. Get closer and closer
to the summit of every mountain you've ever wanted
to climb. Make the most... of your moment...
of this moment in time.

Make plans to...

Slow down the days. Find your perfect pace.
Be strong enough. Be gentle enough.
Reap the sweet rewards that will come from
all the good things you do and all the great things
you give. Keep things in perspective.

Remember to...

Invest wisely in the best riches of all.
Share invaluable words over warm cups in quiet places.
Treasure time spent in heart-to-heart conversations.
Laugh a lot. Work it all out. Move ahead every worry.
Move beyond any sorrows. Have yourself a wealth of
beautiful tomorrows.

And (last, but not least,)
Never underestimate the power of...
Friendship. Family. Chocolate.
And love.
[Douglas Pagels]

2008-05-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

HOPE'S SONG

I hear it singing, singing sweetly,
Softly in an undertone, -
Singing as if God had taught it,
"It is better farther on!"

Night and day it sings the same song,
Sings it while I sit down,
Sings so that the heart may hear it,
"It is better farther on!"

Sits upon the grave and sings it,
Sings it when the heart would groan,
Sings it when the shadows darken,
"It is better farther on!"

Farther on? Oh, how much farther?
Count the milestone one by one -
No, not counting, only trusting,
"It is better farther on!'
[Anonymous]

2008-05-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

THE TIDE WILL WIN

On the far reef the breakers
Recoil in shattered foam,
While still the sea behind them
Urges its forces home;
Its song of triumph surges
O'er all the thunderous din,
The wave may break in failure;
But the tide is sure to win!

The reef is strong and cruel;
Upon its jagged wall
One wave, a score, a hundred,
Broken and beaten fall;
Yet in defeat they conquer,
The sea comes flooding in,
Wave upon wave it routed,
But the tide is sure to win.

O mighty sea! thy message
In clanging spray is cast;
Within God's plan of progress
It matters not at last
How wide the shores of evil,
How strong the reefs of sin,
The wave may be defeated,
But the tide is sure to win!
[Priscilla Leonard]

2008-05-17T10:25:00.000-07:00

THE ARROW

The life of men
Is an arrow's flight,
Out of darkness
Into light,
And out of the light
Into darkness again;
Perhaps to pleasure,
Perhaps to pain.

There must be Something,
Above, or below;
Something unseen
A mighty Bow,
A Hand that tires not,
A sleepless Eye
That sees the arrow
Fly, and fly;
One who knows
Why we live - and die.
[Richard Henry Stoddard]

2008-05-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

LITTLE ROADS TO HAPPINESS

The little roads to happiness,
they are not hard to find;
They do not lead to great success -
but to a quiet mind.
They do not lead to mighty power,
nor to substantial wealth.
They bring one to a book, a flower,
a song of cheer and health.
The little roads to happiness
are free to everyone;
They lead one to the wind's caress,
to kiss of friendly sun.
These little roads are shining white,
for all the world to see;
Their sign-boards, pointing left and right,
are love and sympathy.
The little roads of happiness have this
most charming way;
No matter how they may digress throughout
the busy day;
No matter where they twist and wind
through fields of rich delight,
They're always of the self same mind to
lead us home at night.
[Wilhelmina Stitch]

2008-05-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

PROFIT AND LOSS

I counted dollars while God counted crosses;
I counted gains while He counted losses!
I counted my worth by things gained in the Store,
But He sized me up by the scars that I bore;
I coveted honors and sought for degrees;
He wept as He counted the hours on my knees.
And I never knew till one day by a grave
How vain are the things that we spend life to save.
I did not yet know until Jim went above
That richest is he who is rich in God's love!
[Anonymous]

2008-01-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

ON YOUTH

The whole secret of remaining young in spite of years,
and even of gray hairs, is to cherish the enthusiasm in
oneself, by poetry, by contemplation, by charity -
that is, in fewer words, by the maintenance of harmony
in the soul. When everything is in its right place within us,
we ourselves are in equilibrium with the whole work of God.
Deep and grave enthusiasm for the eternal beauty and
the eternal order, reason touched with emotion and
a serene tenderness of heart - these surely are
the foundations of wisdom.
[Henri Frederic Amiel]

2007-12-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

HEALTH

To insure good health, eat lightly,
breathe deeply, live moderately,
cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain
an interest in life.

The only way for the a rich man
to be healthy is by exercise and
abstinence, to live as if he were
poor.

2007-12-01T17:10:00.000-08:00

DAILY DOZEN

1. Make up your mind to be happy. Learn
to find pleasure in simple things.
2. Make the best of your circumstances.
No one has everything, and everyone
has something of sorrow intermingled
with the gladness of life. The trick is
to make the laughter outweigh the tears.
3. Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't
think that somehow you should be
protected from misfortunes that befall
others.
4. You can't please everybody. Don't let
criticism worry you.
5. Don't let your neighbors set your standards.
Be yourself.
6. Do the things that you enjoy doing, but
stay out of debts.
7. Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary burdens
are harder to bear than the actual ones.
8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish
enmities or grudges. Avoid people who make
you unhappy.
9. Have many interests. If you can't travel,
read about new places.
10. Don't hold postmortems. Don't spent your
life brooding over sorrows and mistakes.
Don't be one who never gets over things.
11. Do what you can for those less fortunate
than yourself.
12. Keep busy at something. A busy person
never has time to be unhappy.

2007-12-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

HAPPINESS

Real happiness is more of a habit
than a goal, more of an attitude than
an attainment. It is the companion
of cheerfulness, not the creature
of circumstances. Happiness is what
overtakes us when we forget ourselves,
when we learn to open our eyes in
optimism and close the door in
the face of defeat. We win happiness
when we lose ourselves in service
to others. (Ward)

2007-11-19T19:38:00.000-08:00

ATTENTIVENESS

Attentiveness helps us to recognize the meaningful
from the meaningless. In fact our souls are hungry
for meaning more than anything else. "Our souls
are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have
figured out how to live so that our lives matter, so
that the world will be at least a little bit different
for our having passed through it." [Kushner]

2007-11-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

REFLECTIVE DISPOSITION

Your soul suffers if you live superficially.
People need times in which to concentrate
when they can search their inmost selves.
It is tragic that most men have not achieved
this feeling of this self-awareness. And finally
when they hear the inner voice they do not
want to listen anymore. They carry on as
before so as not to be constantly reminded
of what they have lost.
[Albert Schweitzer]

2007-11-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

THE MATCHSTICKS

The match sticks were looking for the light
as it was so inside the match box. They
decided to get out of the matchbox in order
to look for the light outside. One day, a man
struck one matchstick into light. The match
stick was so surprised to discover that
the light is right inside itself. He returned
to the matchbox and told the other matchsticks,
"Do you know that we have to get out of the matchbox
to discover the light? There is light in each one of us."

There is a light within us. We have to bring it out
for others to see.

2007-11-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Consult not your fears
But your hopes and dreams.

Think not about your frustrations,
But about your unfulfilled potential.

Concern yourself not with what you tried
and failed in, but with what is still possible
for you to do. (Pope John XXIII)

2007-11-19T10:49:00.000-08:00

EMPOWERING BELIEFS

When doubts are replaced with faith;
When mistrust is replaced with trust;
When fear is replaced with acceptance,
Then it is easier for us to grow into what
God has envisioned us to become: FULLY
ALIVE PERSONS.

2007-11-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

THE POWER OF THE MIND

"Fill your minds with everything that is true,
everything that is noble, everything that is good
and pure, everything we love and honor, and
everything that can be thought virtuous or
worthy of praise." (Phil 4:8-9)

We are what we think.

Change your thoughts and you change the world.

2007-11-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

RAISING OUR STANDARDS

Raising our standards often has something

to do with changing one's attitude. Life has

taught us that there are situations and

circumstances we cannot control. There

are people who could not be persuaded

to change. But there is something

we can control and change and that is

the way we respond to certain situations

or persons.

Make a choice: "Two roads diverge in

the woods, and I, I have chosen the less

travelled by ... and that made all the

difference."

2007-11-19T10:11:00.000-08:00

RIGHT ATTITUDE

There are three ways in which a man can go about
performing a good deed. If he says "I shall do it soon,"
the method is poor. If he says, "I am ready to do it now,"
the method is average quality. If he says, "I am doing it,"
the method is praise worthy.

2007-11-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

SOAR HIGH

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm

is approaching long before it breaks? It is said that

the eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for

the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets

its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it

up above the storm. While the storm rages below,

the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape

the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher.

It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

If we keep our ideals high, we soar high like an eagle

even in the midst of the storms of life. It is not

the burdens of life that weigh us down; but the attitude

that we have when we handle them.

2007-11-12T11:38:00.000-08:00

WEST POINT MOTTO

Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible.

2007-11-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

RAISE YOUR IDEALS

One definition of Insanity is doing the same thing
over and over again and expecting a different result.

We cannot expect a higher and better result, if we refuse
to raise our standards or if we keep doing things which
do not bring about change in the quality of our lives.

Raising your standard means, raising what you demand
from yourself. It means a constant dissatisfaction with
what we have done and what we are and continue to strive
to surpass ourselves. We can declare to ourselves: "We can do
better than that." (L. Ortega)

2007-11-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

FAMILY

When it's family,
You forgive them for they know not what they do.
When it's family,
You accept them, 'cause you have no choice but to,
When it's family, They're a mirror of the worst and the best in you,
And they always put you to the test,
And you always try to do your best,
And just pray to God to do the rest, when it's family.
And when it's family,
You trust them. And your heart is an open door.
When it's family, You tolerate, what you'd feel others for.
When it's family,
You love and hate and take, then give some more.
Somehow you justify mistakes,
Try to find some better way to solve
The day to day problems in the family.
(Dolly Parton)

2007-10-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

UNFOLD A ROSEBUD

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
It is not known to such as I.
God opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think, I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine;

So, I trust Him for His leading
Each moment of everyday
I look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way;

The pathway that lies before me
Only my Heavenly Father knows
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose.
(Unknown)

2007-10-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

WHICH ARE YOU?

An attender or an absenter?
A pillar or a sleeper?
A wing or a weight?
A power or a problem?
A promoter or a provoker?
A giver or a getter?
A goer or a gadder?
A doer or a deadhead?
A booster or a bucker?
A supporter or a sponger?
A soldier or a slacker?
A worker or a worrier?
A lighter or a leaner?
A friend or a faultfinder?
A helper or a hinderer?

Taking the line of least resistance
makes rivers and men crooked.

2007-10-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

THE KEY TO ACHIEVING GOALS

All human beings have the need for constant, never ending
improvement. There is power in the pressure of dissatisfaction,
in the tension of temporary discomfort. This is the kind of pain
you want in your life, the kind of pain that you immediately
transform into positive new actions.

This kind of pressure is known as EUSTRESS, opposed to stress.

EUSTRESS can be a driving, positive force that pushes you
forward to constantly increase the quality of your life for
yourself and all those you have the privilege to touch.

Many people try to avoid pressure, yet the absence of any
tension or pressure usually creates a sense of boredom and
the lackluster experience of life that so many people complain
about.

Use EUSTRESS to drive you in the direction you desire; it can
generate tremendous transformation within you.

By learning to utilize pressure and make it your friend instead
of your foe, you can truly hone it into a tool
that assists you in living life to the fullest.

FAILING TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL CAN MEAN ACHIEVING
YOUR REAL GOALS. What is most important in life: It is not
just getting a goal that matters but the quality of life you experience
along the way.
(Awaken the Giant Within)

2007-10-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

2007-10-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

CONFIDENCE

Unshakeable confidence is the sense of certainty
we all want. The only way you can consistently
experience confidence, even in an environment
and situations you have never previously encountered,
is through the power of faith.

When you are confident, you are willing to experience,
to put yourself on the line.

Practice confidence by using it consistently,
and you will be amazed at the dividends it reaps
in every area of your life.

The source of success for outstanding achievers
often finds its origin in a set of nurtured beliefs
for which that individual had no references.

2007-10-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

CHEERFULNESS

There is a big difference between being happy
on the inside, and being outwardly happy.

Cheerfulness enhances your self-esteem,
makes life more fun, and makes people
around you feel happier as well.

You have achieved cheerfulness the day
you realize that no matter what's happening
around you, being anything other than cheerful
will not make it better.

Being cheerful means you are incredibly intelligent
because you know that if you live life
in a state of pleasure - one that is so intense
that you transmit a sense of joy to those around you -
you can have the impact to meet virtually any
challenge that comes your way.

2007-10-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

HOW QUICKLY LIFE PASSES

When I was a CHILD, I laughed and wept.
Then, time crept.

When I was a YOUTH, I became more bold
Then, I strolled.

When I grew up, I became a MAN.
Then, time ran.

Finally, into the ripe age, OLD AGE I grew.
Then, time flew.

Soon I shall be passing on
Then, time will be gone.

O JESUS, when death comes
Nothing will matter, but YOU!
(Unknown)

2007-10-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice.
It is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express.
It is not a gift that gets delivered to our door step
each morning, nor does it come through the window.
And I am certain that our circumstances are just
a small part of what makes us joyful.
If we wait for them to get just right,
we will never find lasting joy.

The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey.
Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code
that will determine behavior like bank vaults
awaiting deposits. If we regularly deposit positive,
encouraging and uplifting thoughts,
if we continue to bite our lips just before we begin
to grumble and complain,
if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative
thought as it germinates, we will find
that there is so much to rejoice about.

If by the mere fact, you are healthy,
consider yourself a blessed one.
SMILE. BE POSITIVE.
(Unknown)

2007-10-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

MODERN TRANSLATION of PSALM 23

The TV is my shepherd
I shall not want.
It makes me lie down on a sofa.
It leads me away from faith.
It destroys my soul.
It leads me into the paths of sex and violence
for the sponsor's sake.
Yeah, though I walk in the shadow
of Christian responsibilities, there will be
no interruptions, for the TV is with me.
Its cable and remote control -
they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial before me
in the presence of my worldliness.
It anoints my head with humanism
and consumerism.
My coveting runneth over.
Surely laziness and ignorance
shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house watching
TV forever.
(Unknown)

2007-10-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

KEEP WATCH

If you love something, you must set it free.
If you set it free and it comes back to you
then you know it is yours.
But if you set it free
and it doesn't come back to you
then you know it wasn't yours to begin with.

God deals with us this way:
He has set us free.
He doesn't force His help upon us.
He makes it available to us
and leaves us free to use it or not.

God treats us like His partners.
God gives us all the ordinary resources
We need for our daily living.

Only when these ordinary resources fall short
in emergency situations do we normally think
of turning to God for help.

When we do turn to God in these situations
we can be sure of His help for He is
Our Father and we are His children.

THE FIVE "WATCHES"

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

2007-10-11T10:04:00.001-07:00

EIGHT GIFTS THAT DON'T COST A CENT

The Gift of LISTENING
But you must really listen, no interrupting,
no daydreaming, no planning your response.
Just listening.

The Gift of AFFECTION
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses,
pats on the back and handholds. Let these
small actions demonstrate the love you have
for family and friends.

The Gift of LAUGHTER
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories.
You gift will say: "I love to laugh with you."

The Gift of a WRITTEN NOTE
It can be simple "Thanks for the help"note or
a full sonnet. A brief handwritten note may be
remembered for a lifetime, and even change a life.

The Gift of a COMPLIMENT
A simple and sincere: "you look good in red,"
"you did a superb job" or "that was a wonderful
meal" can make some one's day.

The Gift of a FAVOR
Everyday, go out of your way to do
something kind.

The Gift of SOLITUDE
There are times that we want nothing
better than to be left alone. Be sensitive
to those times, and give the gift of
solitude to others.

The Gift of CHEERFUL DISPOSITION
The easiest way to feel good is to extend
a kind word to someone, really it's not that
hard to say, "Hello" or "thank you."

2007-10-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

FACETS OF LIFE

Marry the right person.
Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.
Give people more than they expect, and do it cheerfully.
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
Be generous.
Have a grateful heart.
Persistence. Persistence. Persistence.
Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
Commit yourself to constant improvement.
Commit yourself to quality.
Understand that happiness is not based on possessions,
power or prestige, but on relationship with people,
you love and respect.
Be loyal.
Be honest.
Be a self-starter.
Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life,
you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
Take good care of those you love.
Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

2007-10-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSHIP

Always be honest.
Be there when they need you.
Cheer them on.
Don't look for their faults.
Every chance you get, call.
Forgive them.
Get together often
Have faith in them.
Include them
Just listen.
Know their dreams.
Love them unconditionally.
Make them feel special.
Never forget them.
Offer to help.
Praise them honestly.
Quietly disagree.
Rescue them often.
Say you're sorry.
Talk frequently.
Use good judgment.
Vote for them.
Wish them good luck.
X-ray yourself first.
Your words count.
Zip your mouth when told a secret.
(Unknown)

2007-09-30T23:58:00.000-07:00

REFLECTION

Never think that geographical distance can ever separate souls

whom God has united by the ties of His love. The children of

the world are separated from one another because their hearts

are in different places; but, the children of God, having their hearts

where their treasure is, and sharing only one treasure - which is

the same God - are consequently always UNITED

and JOINED TOGETHER.

2007-09-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

2007-09-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

THE CRY GOD CAN'T DENY

God does not hide so that He can't be found;

He hides so that He can be found. In good times

we tend to seek Him too casually, as if we don't

really need His help.

It is in those moments that we begin to sense

His conspicuous absence from our day to day

routines and rituals. If we are wise, we begin

to cultivate our hunger anew. If we are foolish,

we grow hardened and accustomed

to the absence of His manifest presence,

as if it doesn't matter.

In the hard times, when we are helpless, lost

and feel totally unable to find Him in our pain;

when the only cry we can offer Him is an urgent

plea of desperation or a sharp cry of pain,

He comes suddenly in answer to the cry

He can't deny.

2007-09-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

UNAFRAID

Afraid? Of What?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of What?
Afraid to see the Savior's face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash - a crash - a pierced heart;
Darkness - light - O heaven's art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To enter into Heaven's rest,
And yet to serve the Master blest,
From service good to service best?
Afraid -- of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not -
Baptize with death a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from that spot?
Afraid -- of that?
(E H Hamilton)

2007-09-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

PHILOSOPHY

Laugh a little - Love a little
As you go your way!
Work a little - Play a little,
Do this everyday!

Give a little - Take a little,
Never mind a frown --
Make your smile a welcomed thing
All around the town!

Laugh a little - Love a little
Skies are always blue!
Every cloud has silver linings --
But it's up to you!
(Phillips)

2007-09-24T04:50:00.000-07:00

DO NOT LET YOURSELF

WORRY when you are doing your best.
HURRY when success depends upon accuracy.
THINK evil of a friend until you have the facts.
BELIEVE a thing is impossible without trying it.
WASTE time on peevish and peeving matters.
IMAGINE that good intentions are a satisfying excuse.
HARBOR bitterness in your soul toward God and man,

2007-09-24T04:29:00.000-07:00

A GARDEN IS A HOLY PLACE

A garden is a holy place
For springtime from the sod.
Are plants for every season
Wrought by the hands of God.
Fair daffodils and poppies,
No mortals fashioned these
Or placed a choir of songbirds
In budding springtime trees.
Tall hollyhocks and roses
That grace a summer day,
No mortal can take credit
For sending them my way,
Although we tend our gardens
God sends the sun and rain
Or there would be no orchids,
No golden fields of grain.
Our lives are like the seasons
Ever changing day by day
Bearing fruit to share with others
Before we fade away.
The earth is God's creation,
It's He who owns the land,
For every leaf and blade of grass
Was fashioned by His hands!
(Clay Harrison)

2007-09-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

GIVE ME HARD TASKS

Give me hard tasks,
With strength that shall not fail;
Conflict, with courage that shall never die!
Better the hill-path, climbing toward the sky,
Than languid air and smooth
sward of the vale!

Better to dare the wild wrath of the gale
Than with furled sails in port forever lie!
Give me hard tasks,
With strength that shall not fail;
Conflict with courage that shall never die!

Not foe a light load fitting shoulders frail,
Not for an unearned victory I sigh;
Strong is the struggle that wins triumph high,
Not without loss the hero shall prevail;
Give me hard tasks,
With strength that shall not fail!
(Unknown)

2007-09-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

STEADFAST HEART

I've dreamed many dreams that never came true.
I've seen them vanish at dawn,
But I've realized enough of my dreams,
Thank God,
To make me want to dream on.

I've prayed many prayers when no answers came,
Though I waited patient and long,
But answers have come to enough of my prayers,
To make me keep praying on.

I've trusted many a friend that failed,
And left me to weep alone,
But I've found enough of my friends
True blue, to make me keep trusting on.

I've sown many seeds that fell by the way,
For the birds to feed upon,
But I've held enough golden sheaves
In my hands,
To make me keep sowing on.

I've drained the cup of disappointment and pain
And gone many ways without song,
But I've sipped enough nectar
from the roses of life,
To make me want to live on.
(Unknown)

2007-09-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

LEARN TO GIVE THANKS

When the door of happiness closes, another opens
but often times, we look so long at the closed door
that we don't see the one that has been opened for us.

Maybe the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit
on a porch and swing with, never say a word,
and then walk away feeling like it was
the best conversation you have ever had.

Maybe God wanted us to meet the wrong people
before meeting the right one so that when we
finally meet the right person, we will know
how to be grateful for that gift.

It only takes a minute to get a crush on someone,
an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone
but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best
of everything; they just make the most of everything
that comes along their way.

The happiest future will always be based on
a forgotten past. You can't go on well in life
until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

Appreciate life and gifts that are ours for the taking.
We can especially identify with our own thankfulness.
(Unknown)

2007-09-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS HOPE?

Hope is knowing that a positive outcome awaits.

Hope is not only expecting a dream to come true
but having a deep assurance that it is within your reach.

Hope is knowing that you can improve and
that you always get better with practice.

Hope is knowing that you can achieve your goals
through hard work and persistence.

Hope is looking for the future with joy
and having an expectation of better things to come.

Hope is the knowledge that life is everlasting,
and that miracles happen everyday.

Hope is something that never abandons you,
even when your life is filled with sadness
and disappointment, a spark remains inside
to help you get through the rough times.

Hope is one of God's greatest gifts to you,
because it is the magic that inspires you
to keep trying, learning, loving and living.
(Babette Bryan)

H is for heaven. We aspire to be home at last.
O is for organization. Instituted and formed
to bring us to the place we belong.
P is for peace. The longing and the aspiration to reach
a place of destiny. Peace comes naturally.
E is for evangelization. The inspiration and dream may allow us
to proclaim to the world this good news.

2007-09-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

OPTIMIST'S CREED

Promise Yourself:

- To be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
- To talk health, happiness and prosperity to everyone you meet today.
- To make all your friends feel there is something special in them.
- To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
- To think only the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
- To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
- To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the greater achievement of the future.
- To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and t0 give every living creature
you meet a smile.
- To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time
to criticize others.
- To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear;
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
(Unknown)

2007-09-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

ON CHURCH BUILDING

God builds no churches! By His plan,
That labor has been left to man.
No spires miraculously rise,
No little mission from the skies
Falls on a bleak and barren place
To be a source of strength and grace.
The humblest church demands its price
In human toil and sacrifice.

Men call the church the House of God,
Toward which the toil stained pilgrims plod
In search of strength and rest and hope,
As blindly through life's mist they grope,
And there God dwells, but it is man
Who builds that house and draws its plan;
Pays for the mortar and the stone
That none need seek for God alone.

There is no church but what proclaims
The gifts of countless generous names.
Ages before us spires were raised
'Neath which Almighty God was praised
As proof that He was then, as now.
Those sacred altars, where men bow
Their heads in prayer and sorrow lifts
Its heavy weight, are Christian gifts!

The humblest spire in mortal ken,
Where God abides, was built by men.
And if the church is still to grow,
Is still the light of hope to throw
Across the valleys of despair,
Men still must build God's house of prayer.
God sends no churches from the skies,
Out of our hearts must they arise!
(Edgar A. Guest)

2007-09-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS

O where are kings and empires now,
Of old that went and came?
But, Lord, Thy church is praying yet,
A thousand years the same.

We mark her goodly battlements,
And her foundations strong;
We hear within the solemn voice
Of her unending song.

unshaken as eternal hills,
Immovable she stands,
A mountain that shall fill the earth,
A House not made with hands.
(A Cleveland Coxe)

2007-09-20T11:25:00.001-07:00

2007-09-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

THE SINCERE MAN

What gifts of speech a man may own,
What grace of manners may appear,
Have a little worth unless his heart
Be honest, forthright and sincere.

The sincere man is like a rock,
As true as time; with honest eye
He looks you squarely in the face
Nor turns aside to make reply.

Nothing is hidden; there is no sham,
No camouflage to caution care,
No ifs or buts to haunt the mind,
Or secret doubts to linger there.

A crystal candor marks his speech,
With conscience clear he goes his way,
He does the thing he thinks is right
Nor cares a whit what others say.

Give me a man that is sincere,
And though a wealth of faults attend,
I shall clasp his hand in mine
And claim him as a trusted friend.
(Alfred Grant Walton)

2007-09-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

PAIN

Why must I be hurt?
Suffering and despair,
Cowardice and cruelty,
Envy and injustice,
All of these hurt.
Grief and terror,
Loneliness and betrayal
And the agony of loss or death -
all these things hurt.
Why? Why must life hurt?
Why must those who love generously,
Live honorably, feel deeply
All that is good - and beautiful
Be so hurt, While selfish creatures
Go unscathed?
That is why -
Because they can feel.
Hurt is the price to pay for feeling.
Pain is not accident,
Nor punishment, or mockery
By some savage god.
Pain is part of growth.
The more we grow
The more we feel-

The more we feel - the more we suffer,
For if we are able to feel beauty,
We must also feel the lack of it -
Those who glimpse heaven
Are bound to sight hell.
To have felt deeply is worth
Anything it costs
To have felt Love and Honor,
Courage and Ecstasy
Is worth - any price.
And so - since hurt is the price
Of larger Living, I will not
Hate pain, nor try to escape it
Instead I try to meet it.
Bravely, bear it proudly;
Not as a cross, or misfortune,
but an opportunity, a privilege,
a challenge - to the God that
gropes within me.
(Elsie Robinson)

2007-09-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

THE HARD JOB

It's good to do the hard job,
for it's good to play the man,
For the hard job strengthens
courage which the easy never can.
And the hard job, when it's over,
gives the man a broader smile -
For it brings the joy of knowing
that's he's done a thing worth while.

Oh, stand you to your hard job with
the will to see it through,
Be glad that you can face it
and be glad it's yours to do;
It is when the task is mighty
and the outcome deep in doubt,
The riches joys are waiting
for the man who'll work it out.

Beyond the gloom of failure
lies the glory to be won,
When the hard job is accomplished
and the doubtful task is done;
For it's manhood in the making
and its courage put to test -
So buckle to the hard job -
it's your chance to do your best.
(Edgar A. Guest)

2007-09-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

2007-09-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

ENCOURAGEMENT

I hold him dearest who aspires
To kindle in my heart the fires
Of best desires.

I hold the man of all most dear
Who, when I stumble, draweth near
With words of cheer.

I hold that man of best interests
Who giveth me not paltry pence,
But confidence.

For there are men who quick caress
Will give to laurel-crowned success -
To nothing less.

But, oh, how dearer far are they
Who help me on the upward way
When skies are gray.

If so it be that I attain
The mountain peak, and leave the plain
And paths of pain,
My prayers shall first be upward sent
For those dear frieds of mine who lent
Encouragement.
(Douglas Malloch)

2007-09-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

SEE IT THROUGH

When you're up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through.

Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don't let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through.

Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through.
(Edgar A. Guest)

2007-09-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

TEAM WORK

It's all very well to have courage and skill

And it's fine to be counted a star,

But the very single deed with its touch of thrill

Doesn't tell the man you are;

For there's no lone hand in the game we play,

We must world to a bigger scheme,

And the thing that counts in the world to-day

Is, How do you pull with the team?

They may sound your praise and call you great,

They may single you out for fame,

But you must work with your running mate

Or you'll never win the game;

Oh, never the work of life is done

By the man with the selfish dream,

For the battle is lost or the battle is won

By the spirit of the team.

You may think it fine to be praised for skill,

But a greater thing to do

Is to set your mind and set your will

On the goal that's just in view;

It's helping your fellowman to score

When his chances hopeless seem;

Its forgetting self till the game is o'er

And fighting for the team.

(Edgar A. Guest)

2007-09-07T09:37:00.001-07:00

AT THE DOOR

Children are at the door.
Shall I let them in?
If I let them in, I can do no more
The work I love;
If I bid them go, I then can work no more
For thinking that I should have let them in
And worked no more.

Duty is at the door.
Shall I let her in?
If I let her in, my life must change
Its course;
If I bid her go, my life will change itself
For thinking that I should have let her in
And followed her.

Love is at the door.
Shall I let him in?
If I let him in, my heart's content may cease;
If I bid him go, I may weep bitter tears
For thinking that I should have to let him in
To wound me
With an arrow from his sheath.
(Lillie Fuller Merriam)

2007-09-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO YOU

There's a sweet old story translated for men,
But writ in the long, long ago -
The gospel according to Mark, Luke, Matthew
And John -
Of Christ and His mission below.
You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day,
By deeds that you do, by words that you say.
Men read what you write, whether faithless or true.
Say, what is the gospel according to you?

"Tis a wonderful story, the gospel of love,
As it shines in the Christ-life divine,
And oh, that its truth might be told again
In the story of your life and mine!

Unselfish mirrors in every scene,
Love blossoms on every sod,
And back from its vision the heart comes to tell
The wonderful goodness of God.

You are writing each day a letter to men;
Take care that the writing is true.
"Tis the only gospel some men will read,
That gospel according to you.

2007-09-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

2007-09-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

LINES FOR DOUBTERS

I write these lines for doubting men:
Of self-timidity beware.
One never knows the moment when
A flash of pluck will banish care.
Hold fast and give no heed to fear;
Battle the stream until you sink;
Failure is never quite near
As frightened people seem to think.

If now disaster sweeps away
The little grain you thought to hold,
While still in health and strength you stay
Your history's only partly told
There still are left new goals to gain;
'Tis only those who cease to strive
For whom no future hopes remain.
Don't die while you are yet alive.

Grieve if you must a little while
O'er what has happened, but return
Head high and brave and with a smile
The lesson of your loss to learn
Forget the past and face today
With courage and with mind alert.
Who comes a victor from the fray
Remembers not that he was hurt.

Before you lies another year
And somewhere is your chance to win.
(Edgar A. Guest)

2007-09-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

FAITH

The strength of a man is the faith he holds
And the courage that this faith gives;
It makes him true to himself, and moulds
The shape of the life he lives.
It keeps him steadfast and of good cheer,
And the road of his life is straight.
He moves with a splendid lack of fear,
As he laughs at the stings of fate.

He faces the future with calm clear eyes
And a purpose that naught can dim.
It seems that the distant starlit skies
Are near to the heart of him.
Though the rest be blind, yet he can see
By a faith that can never fail,
And patience will his watch word be
To the end of his earthly trail.

He fills his mission and will not swerve
Though a legion bar the way
He marches on, and will take no curve
Just because of what others say.
So give me that man whose faith declines
To be hostage to any fears.
For he sees that a radiant beauty shines
Down the slope of the changing years.
(Lyda Smathers Holtzclaw)

2007-09-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

LIVING

If through the years we're not to do
Much finer deed than we have done;
If we must merely wander through
Time's garden, idling in the sun;
If there is nothing big ahead,
Why do we fear to join the dead?

Unless to-morrow means that we
Shall do some needed service here;
That tasks are waiting you and me
That will be lost, save we appear;
Then why this dreadful thought of sorrow
That we may never see to-morrow?

If all our finest deeds are done,
And all our splendor's in the past;
It there's no battle to be won,
What matter if to-day's our last?
Is life so sweet that we would live
Though nothing back to life we give?

It is not greatness to have clung
To life through eighty fruitless years;
The man who dies in action, young,
Deserves our praises and our cheers,
Who ventures all for one great deed
And gives his life to serve life's need.
(Edgar A. Guest)

2007-09-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

AN INSPIRATION

However the battle is ended,
Though proudly the victor comes
With fluttering flags and prancing nags
And echoing roll of drums,
Still truth proclaims this motto,
In letters of living light -
No question is ever settled,
Until it is settle right.

Though the heel of the strong oppressor
May grind the weak to dust,
And the voices of fame with one acclaim
May call him great and just,
Let those who applaud take warning,
And keep this motto in sight, -
No question is even settled
Until it is settled right.

Let those who have failed take courage;
Tho' the enemy seems to have won,
Tho' his ranks are strong, if he be in the
wrong
The battle is not yet done;
For, as sure as the morning follows
The darkest hour of the night,
No question is even settled
Until it is settled right.

O man bowed down with labor!
O woman, young, yet old!
O heart oppressed in the toiler's breast
And crushed by the power of gold!
Keep on with your weary battle
Against triumphant might;
No question is even settled
Until it is settled right.
(Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

2007-09-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

BETTER THAN GOLD

Better than grandeur, better than gold,
Than rank and titles a thousand fold,
Is a healthy body and a mind at ease,
And simple pleasures that always please.
A heart that can feel for another's woe,
And share his joys with a genial glow;
With sympathies large enough to enfold
All men as brothers, is better than gold.

Better than gold is a conscience clear,
Though toiling for bread in a humble sphere,
Doubly blessed with content and health,
Untried by the lusts and cares of wealth,
Lowly living and lofty thought
Adorn and ennoble a poor man's cot;
For mind and morals in nature's plan
Are the genuine tests of an earnest man.

Better than gold is a peaceful home
Where all the fireside characters come,
The shrine of love, the heaven of life,
Hollowed by mother, or sister, or wife.
However humble the home may be,
Or tried with sorrow by heaven's decree,
The blessings that never were bought or sold,
And center here, are better than gold.
(Abram Joseph Ryan)

2007-09-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

THE MOST VITAL THING

When you feel like saying something
That you know you will regret,
Or keenly feel an insult
Not quite easy to forget,
That's the time to curb resentment
And maintain a mental peace,
For when your mind is tranquil
All your ill-thoughts simply cease.

It is easy to be angry
When defrauded or defied,
To be peeved and disappointed
If your wishes are denied;
But to win a worthwhile battle
Over selfishness and spite,
You must learn to keep strict silence
Tough you know you're in the right.

So keep your mental balance
When confronted by a foe,
Be it enemy in ambush,
Or some danger that you know.
If you are poised and tranquil
When all around is strife,
Be assured that you have mastered
The most vital thing in life.
(Grenville Kleiser)

2007-09-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

2007-09-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

SPEAK GENTLY

Speak gently; it is better far
To rule by love than fear
Speak gently; let no harsh word mar
The good we may do here.

Speak gently to the little child;
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild;
It may not long remain.

Speak gently to the young; for they
Will have enough to bear;
Pass through this life as best they may,
"tis full of anxious care.

Speak gently to the aged one.
Grieve not the careworn heart;
Whose sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart.

Speak gently, kindly to the poor,
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word.

Speak gently to the erring; know
They must have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
Oh, win them back again.

Speak gently; Love doth whisper low
The hearts that true hearts bind.
And gently Friendship's accents flow;
Affection's voice is kind.

Speak gently; 'tis a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy that it may bring
Eternity shall tell.
(G. W. Langford)

2007-09-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

THE POWER OF LITTLE THINGS

The memory of kindly word
For long gone by,
The fragrance of a fading flower
Sent lovingly,
The gleaming of a sudden smile
Or sudden tear,
The warm pressure of the hand,
The tone of cheer.
The note that only bears a verse
From God's own Word: -
Such tiny things we hardly count
As ministry,
The givers deeming they have shown
Scant sympathy;
But when the heart is overwrought,
Oh, who can tell
The power of such tiny things
To make it well!
(Francis Ridley Havergal)

2007-09-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

ON FILE

If an unkind word appears,
File the thing away.
If some novelty it jeers,
File the thing away.
If some clever little bit
Of a sharp and pointed wit,
Carrying a sting with it -
File the thing away.

If some bit of gossip come,
File the thing away
Scandalously spicy crumb,
File the thing away.
If suspicion comes to you
That your neighbor isn't true
Let me tell you what to do -
File the thing away.

Do this for a little while,
Then go out and burn the file.
(John Kendrick Bangs)

2007-09-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

TAKE TIME TO LIVE

Take time to live;
The world has much to give,
Of faith and hope and love:
Of faith that life is good,
That human brotherhood
Shall no illusion prove;
Of hope that future years
Shall bring the best, in spite
Of those whose darkened sight
Would stir our doubts and fears;
Of love, that makes of life,
With all its griefs, a song;
A friend, of conquered wrong;
A symphony, of strife.
Take time to live,
Nor to vain mammon give
Your fruitful years.

Take time to live;
The world has much to give
Of sweet content; of joy
At duty bravely done;
Of hope, that every sun
Shall bring more fair employ.
Take time to live,
For life has much to give
Despite the cynic's sneer
That all's forever wrong;
There[s much that calls for song.
To fate lend not your ear.
Take time to live;
The world has much to give.
(Thomas Curtis Clark)

2007-09-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

THE TONE OF VOICE

It's not so much what you say
As the manner in which you say it;
It's not so much the language you use
As the tone in whihc you convey it;
"Come here!" I sharply said,
And the child cowered and wept.
"Come here," I said -
He looked and smiled
And straight to my lap he crept.
Words may be mild and fair
And the tone may pierce like a dart;
Words may be soft as the summer air
But the tone may break my heart;
For words come from the mind
Grow by study and art -
But tone leaps from the inner self
Revealing the state of the heart.
Whether you know it or not,
Whether you mean or care ,
Gentleness, kindness, love and hate,
Envy, anger, are there.
Then, would you quarrels avoid
And peace and love rejoice?
Keep anger not only out of your words -
Keep it out of your voice.

2007-09-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

A GREATER PLAN

There is a plan far greater than the plan you know;

There is a landscape broader than the one you see;

There is a heaven where storm-tossed souls may go.

You call it death - we, immortality!

You call it death, this seeming endless sleep.

We call it birth, the soul at last set free.

'Tis hampered not by time or space - you weep.

Why weep at death? 'Tis immortality!

Farewell, dear voyageur; 'twill not be long.

You work is done - now may peace rest with thee.

Your kindly thoughts and deeds, they will live on.

This is not death - 'Tis immortality!

Farewell, dear voyageur. The river winds and turns.

The cadence of your song wafts near me.

And now you know the thing that all men learn:

There is no death - there's immortality!

2007-09-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

GUESTS OF GOD

From the dust of the weary highway,

From the smart of sorrow's rod,

Into the royal presence,

They are bidden as guests of God.

The veil from their eyes is taken,

Sweet mysteries they are shown,

Their doubts and fears are over,

For they know as they are known.

For them there should be rejoicing

For them, the festal array,

As for the bride in her beauty

Whom, love hath taken away;

Sweet hours of peaceful waiting,

Till the path that we have trod

Shall end at the Father's gateway,

And we are the guests of God.

(Anonymous)

2007-04-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

ONE LINERS

Man's way leads to a hopeless end.
God's way leads to an endless hope.

A lot of kneeling will keep you in
good standing.

He who kneels before God can stand
before anyone.

Don't put a question mark
where God puts a period.

Are you wrinkled with burden?
Come to the Church for a face lift.

When praying - don't give God
instructions - just report for duty.

Don't wait for six men to take you to Church.

We don't change God's message.
His message changes us.

Worry is the darkroom in which
negatives can develop.

Never give the devil a ride -
He will always want to drive.

2007-04-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

WORDS

The six most important words are: "I admit I made a mistake."
The five most important words are: "You did a good job."
The four most important words: "What is your opinion?"
The three most important words: "If you, please!"
The two most important words: "Thank You!"
The least important word is: "I."

2007-04-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

IT TAKES COURAGE...

To refrain from gossip when others

about you delight in it.

To stand up for an absent person

who is being abused.

To live honestly within your means

and not dishonestly on the means

of others.

To be talked about and yet remain

silent when a word would justify you

in the eyes of others, but which

you cannot speak without injury

to another.

To be a real man, a true woman,

by holding fast to your ideas when

it causes you to be looked upon as

strange and peculiar.

To refuse to do a thing which is

wrong, though others desire it.

To live always according to your

convictions.

(The Trumpeter)

2007-04-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

COMPLAINING

Sure, this world is full of trouble -

I ain't said it ain't.

Me, I've had enough and double

Reason for complaint;

Rain and storm have come to fret me,

Skies are often gray;

Thorns and brambles have beset me

On the road - but say,

Ain't it fine today?

What's the use of always weepin'

Making trouble last?

What's the use of always keepin'

Thinkin' of the past?

Each must have his tribulation -

Water with his wine;

Life, it ain't no celebration,

Trouble - I've had mine -

But today is fine!

It's today that I am livin'

Not a month ago.

Havin'; losin'; takin'; givin';

As time wills it so.

Yesterday a cloud of sorrow

Fell across the way;

It may rain again tomorrow,

It may rain - but say,

Ain't it fine today?

(Douglas Malloch)

2007-04-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

THE BOOZE BAR

A bar to heaven, a door to hell,
Whoever named it, named it well.
A bar to manliness and wealth,
A door to want and broken health.
A bar to honor, pride and fame,
A door to want and grief and shame.
A bar to hope, a bar to prayer,
A bar to darkness and despair.
A bar to honored, useful life,
A bar to brawling, senseless strife.
A bar to all that's true and brave,
A bar to every drunkard's grave.
A bar to joy that home imparts,
A door to tears and aching hearts.
A bar to heaven, a door to hell,
Whoever named it, named it well.

(Unknown)

2007-04-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

2007-04-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

THE PRAYER OF A FATHER

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud and unbending in defeat, but humble and gentle in victory. A son who will know that to know himself is the foundation stone of all true knowledge. Rear him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenges. Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm... here, let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men. Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high. One who will learn to laugh. Yet, never forget how to weep. One who will reach into the future and yet never forget the past. And after all these are his, add, I pray, enough of sense of humor so that he may always be serious yet never take himself seriously. A touch of humility, so that he will always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. Then, I, his father will dare in the sacred recesses of my heart to whisper: "I have not lived in vain."

(Unknown)

2007-04-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

A diamond in the rough

is a diamond sure enough.

For, before it ever sparkled,

It was made of diamond stuff.

Of course, someone must find it

Or it will never be found;

And then, someone must grind it,

Or it will never be ground.

But when it is found

And when it is ground

And when it is burnished bright,

That diamond is everlasting,

Flashing out its radiant light.

O Christian, please, who ever you be,

Don't say you have done enough,

That worst man on the street may be,

A diamond in the rough.

(Unknown)