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Net Inspiration

Collected by Michael L. White

This is only a part of my collection of inspirational anecdotes, quotes, and stirring testimonies. I've amassed these stories, etc. from inumerable emails I've received (some many times!) over the past few years. Now, enjoy yourself, and God bless!!

Michael L. White


"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Edmund Burke



When Pastor Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate on January 23, 1996, everyone was expecting the usual politically correct generalities. But what they heard instead was a stirring prayer, passionately calling our country to repentance and righteousness.

The response was immediate - with a number of legislators walking out during the prayer. In six short weeks, Central Christian Church logged more than 5,000 phone calls, with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. Commentator Paul Harvey aired Pastor Joe Wright's prayer on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other program Paul Harvey has ever aired. In addition, Central Christian Church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea.

The prayer is reprinted here as an encouragement and challenge for each of us to stand for the truth of the Gospel wherever the Lord gives us opportunity. [Joe Wright is Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church, Witchita, Kansas.]

* * * * * * *
"Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe on those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.

We confess that:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism;
We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism;
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle;
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery;
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation;
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare;
We have killed our unborn and called it choice;
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable;
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem;
We have abused power and called it political savvy;
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition;
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression;
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefather and called it enlightenment;

'Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.'

Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state. Grant them Your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will. I ask it in the name of Your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen."

Parents Certainly Are Misunderstood!

By Steven C. Staats

You thought you were happily smiling at your child from a hard stadium seat
or a hot packed auditorium, But your child looked at your face and saw
approval of him and joy in what he was doing.

You thought that you were just patting him on the back or on the head, or
just ruffling his hair, But your child cherished the warm loving touch and
his heart was brightened.

You thought you were reading a bedtime story with all the funny and scary
voices, But your child enjoyed the fact you read every word even though he
had heard them a hundred times before.

You thought you were letting your child help paint the house even though
the paint got kind of runny and drippy in places, But your child knew that
you were working together as a family and felt a sense of accomplishment
as a family.

You thought you were singing silly songs or counting the cows on a long
boring trip, But your child learned that it was fun being together no
matter where you were.

You thought you were spending a few minutes of your time by throwing a ball
in the back yard or baking some cookies, But your child, who realized that
your time is precious, knew you were investing it in him.

You thought that you asked your child's opinion about something that wasn't
too important, But your child thought you asked because his opinions and
thoughts were important.

You thought you were being a good host by inviting your child's friends in
for a cool snack on a warm summer day, But your child knew that his friends
were important to you and always welcome in your home.

You thought the tears in you eyes went unnoticed when your child
accomplished an important goal in his life, But your child knew that he was
deeply imbedded in your heart and you sensed his accomplishment.

You thought that the refrigerator was as good of a place as any for hanging
all the art work and "well done" papers that came home from school,
But your child felt important when he came home from school each day
with something to show you and tack up in his personal hall of fame.

You thought you gave your child some simple chore or job to do and told
him, "Well done," with a smile when he did it, But your child learned
responsibility and began to realize he could tackle even tougher things.

You thought you were helping a troubled restless child get some sleep by
fixing a cup of hot cocoa, But your child felt that you were opening your
heart around a kitchen table and making all the problems a lot smaller.

You thought the vacation wasn't much of a success because the fish didn't
bite and the sun didn't shine, But your child still remembers everything
that happened and he still laughs at all of the funny parts.

You thought you were just pointing out the words in the church hymn book
with your child's finger as he tried to sing along, But your child learned
that singing praises to God in worship was important.

You thought you were just giving him a quick hug at a special moment or
"just because," But your child carried it with him for a long time, because
what you really said was, "I'm proud of you!" or "I love you!"

You thought you were just giving him a little kiss on the cheek to tell him
good bye as he left for school, But your child felt warm and loved because
he knew there would be another one waiting for him when he got home.

Come to think of it, there are a lot of times when parents really are
misunderstood!

(This may be copied, reproduced, or freely distributed for all non profit
purposes without consent of author as long as the author's name remains attached.)

______________________________________________________________________

A Few Good Quotes

"Life is a GREAT big canvas, throw ALL the paint on it you can."

--Danny Kaye

...

"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it."-Max Lucado

...

"God needs spiritual fruit, not religious nuts."

...

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might just be the world.

...

"Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger."

...

"Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side."

--Michael W. Smith

...

"If you're living like there is no God ... you better be right!"

...

"Live your life so you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."

-Will Rogers Jr.

...

"True prayer is asking God what He wants."

-William Barclay

...

"Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words."

--Meister Eckhart

...

"Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you respond to it."

--Charles Swindoll

...

"Did it ever occur to you that nothing ever occurs to God."

...

"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."

...

"When God gets ready for you, you better be ready for Him."

-J. D. Sumner

...

"His strength is perfect when our strength is gone, He'll carry us when we can't carry on."

-Steven Curtis Chapman

...

"There are two things I've learned: There is a God. And, I'm not Him."

...

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace."

-Jerry Bridges

 

Can You Guess This Riddle?

88% of kindergarten students got this one within 5 minutes, while only 17% of Stanford seniors did. See how you do!

What is greater than God

More evil than Satan

Poor people have it

Rich people need it

If you eat it you will die

Scroll down for the answer, if you must!






















Answer is: "nothing"

 

EASTER COOKIES

To be made the evening before Easter. You need:

1 c. whole pecans

1 t. vinegar

3 egg whites

1 pinch of salt

1 c. sugar zipper baggie

wooden spoon

wax paper covered cookie sheet

tape

Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 t. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30 Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 min. until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60 Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9. HE HAS RISEN!!!!!!!