More Blessed

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the millions who will not survive the week.

If you have never experienced the dangers of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost 3 billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish some place, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over 2 billion people in the world who cannot read anything at all.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

Anonymous

Half-Full or Half-Empty?

Positive beliefs come from you. You may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can control how you will respond. You can choose to be optimistic and upbeat and see the glass as half-full. Or, you can be pessimistic and unsure and see the glass as half-empty.

I enjoyed reading these half-full/half-empty perspectives from the website www.businessballs.com.

• The engineer says the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

• The bar fly says it's not about whether the glass is half-full or half-empty, it's about who is paying for the next round.

• The consultant says let's examine the question, prepare a strategy for an answer, and all for a daily rate of ...

• The worrier frets that the remaining half will evaporate by tomorrow.

• The fanatic thinks the glass is completely full, even though it isn't.

• The entrepreneur sees the glass as undervalued by half its potential.

• The computer specialist says that next year the glass capacity will double and will cost half the price.

• The Buddhist says don't worry, remember the glass is already broken.

• The personal coach knows that the glass goes from full to empty depending on the circumstances and reminds the drinker that he/she can always fill the glass when he/she wishes.
  

Healing

There is so much we fight.

The fight against cancer, heart disease, diabetes...

If we look closely we can see that all of our attention is upon the disease and not upon the cure.

All of our energy is spent in aggression and not in love.

For there is a softness to healing.

A sacredness to our pain.

A sweetness to our sorrow.

And it is in these moments that we dive low into the depths of our spirits,

And when we emerge from our journey to the scared centers of our source

We are grounded, stronger, and full of hope.

There is no fight there for, in truth, we would be fighting against ourselves.

There is acceptance.

An embrace of love.

And in that moment, we shall find healing.

By Ian Paul Marshall

A Bit of Humour

A Sunday school teacher was asking her students some questions after a series of lessons on God's omnipotence. She asked, "Is there anything God can't do?"

All was silent. The teacher was disappointed that they had missed the point of the lesson. Finally, one boy held up his hand. She sighed and asked, "Well, what do you think God can't do?"

The boy replied, "He can't please everybody."

Source: God Jokes

A Bit of Humour

Two little boys were best friends at church, but they both had a reputation for getting into trouble. One Sunday, one of the boys was sick and stayed home. The other boy went to church and was twice as bad as normal.

After church, the pastor grabbed him and asked in an angry voice, "Where's God?"

The little boy was frightened and didn't know what to say.

The pastor continued, "I want you to go home and think about it. I don't want you to come back until you can tell me where God is."

The boy went home and called his sick friend on the telephone. "Guess what," he said. "They've lost God, and they're trying to blame that one on us, too."

God Jokes

In A Hole...

Two men rest under a tree after a long week of digging dry wells. One man who keeps digging the same hole deeper and deeper proclaims that his is the best way to dig a well. The second man, who digs many shallow holes, argues with equal force that his is the best way to find water. Their discussion grows louder. The two voices carry across the dry landscape into the ears of an approaching traveler.

"Pardon me, but I could not help overhearing your conversation," the traveler says, not wanting to eavesdrop.

The two men stop arguing long enough to look at the stranger, a woman dressed in the orange robes of an ascetic. "Then maybe you can help us," the first man addresses the traveler. "Who do you think is right about the best way to dig a well?"

"I am not an expert in these matters," the woman answers.

"But you must have an opinion."

The traveler offers a slight bow. "I would not choose one or the other method."

"What are you talking about?" the second man asks.

"Either way," the traveler replies, "are you not each still standing in a hole?"

Source: "The Guru Question" by Jeff Martens

A Bit of Humour

A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. All of a sudden he said out loud, "Lord, grant me one wish."

Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and in a booming voice the Lord said, "Because you have had the faith to ask, I will grant you one wish."

The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii, so I can drive over anytime I want to."

The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the logistics of that kind of undertaking: the supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific, the concrete and steel it would take. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of another wish, a wish you think would honor and glorify me."

The man thought about it for a long time. Finally he said, "Lord, I have been married and divorced four times. All of my wives said that I am uncaring and insensitive. I wish that I could understand women. I want to know how they feel inside, what they are thinking when they give me the silent treatment, why they cry, what they mean when they say "nothing" and how I can make a woman truly happy?"

After a few minutes God said, "You want two lanes or four on that bridge?"

God Jokes

Simplicity

I want more simplicity in my life.

Instead of making a number of resolutions, I have decided to use the following checklist provided by Deepak Chopra in his latest book, The Ultimate Happiness Prescription:

1. Declutter your surroundings.
2. If you buy something, give something away.
3. Spend money to help the environment, returning a fraction of Nature's gifts to you.
4. Do something that's not for profit.
5. Be generous.
6. Be lavish in your giving, particularly with intangibles.
7. Nourish your body instead of defiling it.

(Picture taken near Rankin Road off old Highway 69)

A Christmas Poem

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves,
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.

This is excerpt from the poem, Amazing Peace, that was read by Maya Angelou at the lighting of the National Christmas Tree (2005).

Are You A Carrot, Egg, Or Coffee Bean?

When life throws you in hot water, you can choose to be a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean.

The carrot goes in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softens and becomes weak.

The egg is fragile: its thin outer shell protects its liquid center. But, after sitting in boiling water, its insides harden.

The ground coffee beans are unique. They change the boiling water.

When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?

Are you like the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, wilts and becomes soft?

Are you like the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat and acquires a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or, are you like the coffee bean that actually changes the hot water--the very circumstances that bring the pain? If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.

A Bit of Humour

Children were lined up in the cafeteria for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. Someone had written a note and placed it next to the apples. It read, "Take only one. God is watching."

A large platter of chocolate chip cookies was placed at the opposite end of the table. One little boy wrote the following note and placed it next to the cookies, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

Source: God Jokes

A Bit of Humour

A man was lying on the grass and looking up at the clouds. He was identifying shapes when he decided to talk to God. "God," he asked, "how long is a million years?"

God replied, "In my frame of reference, it's about a minute."

The man asked, "God, how much is a million dollars?"

God replied, "To Me, it's a penny."

The man then asked, "God, may I have a penny?

God replied, "In a minute."

Source: God Jokes

A Bit of Humour

A man sees a beautiful woman at the end of the bar. He walks up to her and asks, "Where have you been all my life?"

"Well," she says, "for the first half of it, I wasn't even born."

Source: Readers' Digest

A Bit of Humour

A rabbi and a priest met at the town's annual picnic. They were old friends and began their usual banter.

"This ham is delicious," the priest teased the rabbi. "Your really ought to try it. I know it's against your religion, but you haven't lived until you've tried Mrs. Hall's prized Virginia ham. Tell me, when are you going to break down and have some?"

The rabbi looked at his friend with a big grin and said, "At your wedding."

Source: Readers' Digest

A Bit of Humour

An elderly woman is being examined by a young physician. After about 4 minutes, she bursts out of the examination room. Spotting an older doctor, she tells him what happened.

Astounded, the doctor marches down the hallway towards his younger colleague. "What' s the mater with you?" he demands. "That woman is 74. Why would tell her she's pregnant?"

The young doctor asks, "Well, does she still have the hiccups?"

Source: Readers' Digest

If Students Wrote the Bible...

Instead of God creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh, He would have put it off until the night before and pull an all-nighter.

The Last Supper would have been eaten the next morning--cold.

The Ten Commandments would actually be only five--double-spaced and written in a large font.

To limit reselling, a new edition would be published every two years.

Forbidden fruit would have been eaten because it wasn't cafeteria food.

Paul's letter to the Romans would become Paul's email to abuse@romans.gov.

Reason Cain killed Abel: they were roommates.

Reason why Moses and followers walked in the desert for 40 years: they didn't want to ask directions and look like freshmen.

Source: Inspirational Jokes

A Bit of Humour

A man was driving down the street in a lather because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking space.

Looking up to heaven, he said, "Lord, take pity on me. If you find me a parking space, I promise to give up swearing and go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life.

Miraculously, a spot opened right in front of the building.

The man looked up and said, "Never mind. I found one."

Source: Readers' Digest, August 2009

A Bit of Humour

A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him, "I'll make a deal with you. If you bring your grades up, study your bible a little, and get your hair cut, we'll talk about it.

After about a month, the boy returned to his father's study and asked if they could discuss the use of the car. The father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you've studied your bible diligently, but you didn't get your hair cut!"

The young man waited a moment and replied, "You know Dad, I've been thinking about that. Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair...

His father replied, "Yes, and they WALKED everywhere they went!"

A Bit of Humour

A few months before celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, a couple died in a car crash. They had been in good health mainly due to her interest in health food and exercise, especially over the past ten years.

When they reached the pearly gates, St. Peter took them to their mansion, which had a beautiful kitchen, master bath, and Jacuzzi. As they oohed and aahed, the old man asked Peter, "How much does this cost?"

"It's free," St. Peter replied, "this is Heaven."

Then they went to survey the nearby championship gold course, where they would have golfing privileges each day. The old man asked, "What are the green fees?"

St. Peter said, "This is heaven; you play for free."

They visited the club house and saw the lavish buffet lunch with all the cuisines of the world laid out.

"How much is it to eat?" asked the old man.

"Don't you understand? This is heaven; it's free!" St. Peter replied with some exasperation.

"Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol tables?" asked the old man timidly.

St. Peter lectured, "That's the best part...you can eat as much as you like of whatever you like and never get fat. And, you never get sick in heaven."

The old man had a fit of anger, shrieking, throwing down his hat and stomping on it. St. Peter and his wife both tried to calm him down.

St. Peter asked, "What is wrong?"

The old man looked at his wife and said, "This is all your fault. It it weren't for your bran muffins, I could have been here ten years ago."

Source: Inspirational Jokes

Cut Clutter

Best-selling inspirational author, Og Mandino said it best...

Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. This applies to play as well as work. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work. No more hiding from success. Leave time, leave space, to grow. Now. Now! Not tomorrow!