The Villagers of Stiltsville - by Max Lucado

Mom thought I said "Mash Potato"... um, close... I like reading books by Max Lucado.

(pg. 17-20 & 27 of "Fearless" by Max Lucado)

The Villagers of Stiltsville

Perhaps you don't know
then, maybe you do,
about Stiltsville, the village,
(so strange but so true)

where people like we
some tiny, some tall,
with jobs and kids
and clocks on the wall

keep an eye on the time
For each evening at six,
they meet in the square
for the purpose of sticks,

tall stilts upon which
Stiltsvillians can strut
and be lifted above
those down in the rut:

the less and the least,
the Tribe of Too Smalls,
the not cools and have-nots
who want to be tall

but can't, because
in the giving of sticks,
their name was not called.
They didn't get picked.

Yet still they come
when villagers gather;
they press to the front
to see if they matter.

to the clique of the cool,
the court of high clout,
that decides who is special
and declares with a shout,

"You're classy!" "You're pretty!"
"You're clever" or "Funny!"
And bequeath a prize,
not of medals or money,

not a freshly baked pie
or a house someone built,
but the oddest of gifts -
a gift of some stilts.

Moving up is their mission,
going higher their aim.
"Elevate your position"
is the name of their game.

The higher-ups of Stiltsville
(you know if you've been there)
make the biggest to-do
of the sweetness of thin air.

They relish the chance
on their high apparatus
to strut on their stilts,
the ultimate status.

For isn't life best
when viewed from the top?
Unless you stumble
and suddenly are not

so sure of your footing.
You tilt and then sway.
"Look out bel-o-o-o-w!"
and you fall straightaway

into the Too Smalls,
hoi polloi of the earth.
You land on your pride -
oh boy, how it hurts

when the chic police
in the jilt of all jilts,
don't offer to help
but instead take your stilts.

"who made you king?"
you start to complain
but then notice the hour
and forget your refrain.

It's almost six!
No time for chatter.
It's back to the crowd
to see if you matter.

Stiltsvillians still cluster,
and crowds still clamor,
but more stay away.
They seem less enamored

since the Carpenter came
and refused to be stilted.
He chose low over high,
left the system tip-tilted.

"You matter already,"
he explained to the town.
"Trust me on this one.
Keep your feet on the ground."

Others

This is a poem that my grandmother had as a bookmark in her Bible. It fit her life so incredibly well. I just have to share it.

“Others”
By Charles D. Meigs (written sometime between 1890 and 1902)

Lord help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for – Others.

Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true
And know that all I do for you
Must needs be done for – Others.

Let “Self” be crucified and slain
And buried deep; and all in vain
May efforts be to rise again
Unless to live for – Others.

And when my work on earth is done
And my new work in heaven’s begun
May I forget the crown I’ve won
While thinking still of – Others.

Others, Lord, yes others
Let this my motto be
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.

Need

Remember those in need ...

Because need knows no season, we ring.
Because seniors are lonely, we ring.
Because men are out of work and have no place to sleep, we ring.
Because women are forced to raise their children on their own, we ring.
Because children go hungry, we ring.

This poem was written by Kevin Bickford, Dec. 2010. I understand it is being made into a commercial! Way to go Kevin!

Merry Christmas Everyone !!!

I'm sharing this because I'm honored to be Kevin's sister and I love him for who he is and for being there for so many others! I also love the Salvation Army for what they stand for.

Freedom OF Religion not Freedom FROM Religion

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. - Habakkuk 1:4

A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work. - Proverbs 16:11

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*This story was checked at snopes.com and it is true. Here is the link to check it for yourself or read about it's origins:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/mcloud.asp


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Speech of Tennessee High School Principal, Jody McLoud:

(This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee by school Principal Jody McLoud, on Septerber 1, 2000.)


"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country.

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law.

As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it an alternate life style, and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it safe sex. If someone is offended, that's OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a viable means of birth control. If someone is offended, it's no problem.

I can designate a school day as earth day and involve students in activities to religiously worship and praise the goddess, mother earth and call it ecology.

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional, Christian convictions as simple minded and ignorant and call it enlightenment.

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.

Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone except God and His Commandments.

Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules that they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and refrain from praying at this time. However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God, and ask Him in the name of Jesus to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law--yet."

AND ... one by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another, and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand. And they prayed in the Announcer's Box. The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America--the seat of "justice" in the one nation under God.

Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee, remembered what so many have forgotten...we are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion.


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Important Recall

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed "Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some of the symptoms include:

1. Loss of direction

2. Foul vocal emissions

3. Amnesia of origin

4. Lack of peace and joy

5. Selfish or violent behavior

6. Depression or confusion in the mental component

7. Fearfulness

8. Idolatry

9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.
The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Patience

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Gentleness

9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!

Sincerely,
GOD

P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'!

Because He Lives!

On Letting Our Kids Down by Carol Orsborn, Ph. D.

A friend sent this article to me and I just have to share it. I hope it helps someone who's too hard on themselves to find some peace and serenity in the midst of their struggles. Love is so powerful! We WANT to give so much more than we are able. Just remember God knows our hopes and desires and He is the one in control. One day He will restore all things! - Acts 3:21.
God Bless You, - Just Me.


"On Letting Our Kids Down" - by Carol Orsborn, Ph.D.:

Once a month, I gather with a group of us who are on track to being trained as spiritual directors. While we come from different ages and stages in life, when we dig deep enough, we find we have much in common.

Sometimes, what we address are the joyful themes. But at this weekend's gathering, our conversation turned somber, as we began sharing about various flavors of disappointment regarding our relationships to our children.

Of course, there are children who haven't fulfilled their potential, having difficulty establishing an adult life, doing drugs and worse. But disappointment goes both ways. Adult children as well as their parents express sadness over having lost the closeness they had as a family growing up — or never having been close in the first place. Some feel estranged from family members who live across the country. And then, there are those who do live in close proximity but who still find ways to disappoint one another.

Frankly, by the session's end, I was disturbed. What are we supposed to do with all this disappointment? I asked the group leader if we could speak privately for a few minutes. She readily agreed. We walked together from the meeting room to her private office. I immediately noticed that there were framed photos of her adult children and grandchildren lovingly scattered about. Surely, she would have the answer.

And in fact, she did. But it wasn't what I expected.

"You hope to find the direction you can turn in regards to your children that will not carry with it some degree of disappointment. But no matter how hard you try, it won't be enough. For beneath the push and pull of all the, I wants, I didn'ts, and if onlys, there is an existential disappointment that underlies all the others."

In a nutshell, here's what she told me. There are limitations to what any one can do for anybody else, including one's beloved child. We can not stop them from having pain; create for them a safe, easy world. In fact, we can't deliver on virtually any of the hopes and promises we made in our hearts for our children as we birthed, raised and grappled with the challenge of releasing them to their destinies. The only hope and promise that we can hold onto, through all the disappointments of life, is that we love them no matter what.

I heard her, and it was a lot to take in. But it was getting late, and my guide indicated that it was time to go. As I lingered in front of one of the framed photos, she realized that I still wasn't sure.

We stood there quietly for a moment, and then she started to talk.

"This one..." she said pointing to the photo "is disappointed in me because I'm not as available to her to baby sit as often as she'd like. This one..." she said pointing to another "needs more financial support than I'm able to give. I'd love to be able to send my grandchild to private school, and it hurts that I've had to say I can't." She sighed deeply.
"That is what we women do...our particular greatness. We endure."

I suddenly got what she was trying to tell me. The time had come for me to stop trying to address the problem of disappointment by attempting to defy the core limitations that are built into the human condition.

The only way to do this is to stop attempting to solve disappointments as if they were a problem, and to willingly provide loving space for everything — including our disappointments — in our hearts.

It wasn't the answer I'd been hoping for, but as I noted the unshakeable look of peace on her face as she studied the photos, patted her own heart and hugged me goodbye, strangely, it did not disappoint.

My Name Is Pride - by Beth Moore

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny . . . because

you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment . . . because you

"deserve better than this."

I cheat you of knowledge . . . because you already

know it all.

I cheat you of healing . . . because you're too full of

me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness . . . because you refuse to

admit when you're wrong.

I cheat you of vision . . . because you'd rather look

in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship . . . because

nobody's going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love . . . because real romance

demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven . . . because you

refuse to wash another's feet on earth.

I cheat you of God's glory . . . because I convince

you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I'm always looking

out for you. Untrue.

I'm looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry . .. .

If you stick with me

You'll never know.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~