The Forgiveness Flower

One day a missionary was walking along a trail in East Africa with friends when he became aware of a delightful odor that filled the air. He looked up in the trees and around at the bushes in an effort to find where the smell was coming from. Then his friends told him to look down at the small blue flowers that were growing along the path. Each time they crushed the tiny blossoms under their feet, they released more of their sweet fragrance into the air.

They went on to explain that it was called "the forgiveness flower" because it does not wait until we ask forgiveness for crushing it. It does not release its fragrance in measured doses. It does not ask for an apology. It merely lives up to its name and forgives freely, fully and richly every time.

More Mosques than Churches

The United Kingdom’s Church bosses are all set to close down a Christian district in Bradford because numbers show that it has more Muslim worshippers than Anglican worshippers.

Experts are predicting that this will become the ‘norm’ across the U.K. in the next decade as Mosques around the country are packed full to capacity whilst the Christian Churches are pretty much empty.

How sad!

Waterpark w/ Students

Thanksgiving

It's always hard to be away from home this time of year. Especially in a foreign country that doesn't even celebrate the holiday. They all just go about their business, while you are thinking of everything that is going on at home. I.e. the turkey, the football game, the family, etc... However, its always easier to spend it with others and we did just that. We had a huge Thanksgiving dinner at the Bible College. It was unbelievable. The food and the fellowship were awesome. Thank you Lord!

NIV 2011

Major group says it cannot endorse NIV 2011 Bible

The Story of Jonah

The Story of Jonah

"Democracy in America"

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess (generous gifts) out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy." This is a quote from "Democracy in America" which was written by Alexis de Tocqueville in 1835.

Jordanian Mangagment Consultants

TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph
Woodcrafters Carpenter Shop
Nazareth

FROM: Jordanian Management Consultants
Jerusalem

Dear Sir:
Thank you for submitting the résumés of the twelve men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have not taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully. As part of our service and for your guidance, we make some general comments, much as an auditor will include some general statements. This is given as a result of staff consultation and comes without any additional fee.

It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have team concept. We recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alpheaus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your comptroller and right-hand man. All the other profiles are self-explanatory.

We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sincerely Yours,
Jordanian Management Committee

Outward Religiosity

He made free use of Christian vocabulary. He talked about the blessing of the Almighty and the Christian confessions which would become the pillars of the new government. He assumed the earnestness of a man weighed down by historic responsibility. He handed out pious stories to the press, especially to the church papers. He showed his tattered Bible and declared that he drew the strength for his great work from it as scores of pious people welcomed him as a man sent from God. Indeed, Adolf Hitler was a master of outward religiosity--with no inward reality!

The Shepherd

A story is told about a dinner party where the guests were expected to stand after the meal and recite something for the group. A famous actor was present, and he recited the twenty-third Psalm with great dramatic flair and emotion, and sat down to great applause. Then a very simple man got up and began to recite the same Psalm. He wasn’t very eloquent, so at first people thought it was a little funny. But his presentation was straight from his heart, so when he finished, the group sat in respectful silence. It was obvious that the simple man’s presentation was more powerful than the actors, and afterwards the actor told him: “I know the Psalm, but you know the Shepherd.”

Examples to our Children

A study once disclosed that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful. If only Dad, 55% remain faithful. If only Mom, 15%. If neither attended regularly, only 6% remain faithful. The statistics speak for themselves--the example of parents and adults is more important than all the efforts of the church.

The Proper Way to Pray

"The proper way for man to pray," said Deacon Lemuel Keyes; "The only proper attitude is down upon his knees." "Nay, I should say the way to pray," said Reverend Doctor Wise, "Is standing straight with outstretched arms with rapt and upturned eyes." "Oh, no, no, no," said Elder Snow, "such posture is too proud." A man should pray with eyes fast-closed and head contritely bowed." "It seems to me his hands should be austerely clasped in front. With both thumbs pointing to the ground," said Reverend Doctor Blunt." "Last year I fell in Hodgkin's well headfirst," said Cyril Brown. "With both my heels a-stickin' up, my head a-pointing' down; And I done prayed right then and there; best prayer I ever said, The prayin'est prayer I ever prayed, a-standin' on my head."