tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49664951169819034592024-03-12T17:33:00.101-07:00Hope Chapel KoolauLocated at 281 Ilihau Street in Kailua (Aikahi Elementary School)
P.O. Box 6286 - Kaneohe, Hi 96744
** 723-1610 **
hckoolau@yahoo.com
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.comBlogger310125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-26065802764653324132018-12-21T15:11:00.002-08:002018-12-21T15:11:43.304-08:00An Hour's Wage?<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 1em;">
Fictional story but it certainly makes a point. Author unknown.</div>
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SON: "Daddy, may I ask you a question?"<br />
DAD: "Yeah sure, what is it?"<br />
SON: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"<br />
DAD: "That's really none of your business. Why<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> do you ask?"<br />SON: "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"<br />DAD: "If you must know, I make $100 an hour."<br />SON: "Oh. (With his head down).<br />SON: "Daddy, can I please borrow $50?"<br />DAD: "REALLY?! If you're asking to borrow money for some silly toy or game, you can just march yourself straight to your room to think about why you're being so selfish. I work hard everyday to provide for this family, and this is the thanks I get?"</span></div>
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The little boy went quietly to his room and shut the door.</div>
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The dad sat down and started getting even angrier about his son's questions. "How dare he ask question like that just to get some money?" he stewed.</div>
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After an hour, the dad calmed down, and started to think: "Maybe there was something he really needed the $50 for? He doesn't ask for money often..."</div>
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So, the dad went to his son's door and opened it.</div>
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DAD: "Are you asleep, son?"<br />
SON: "No daddy, I'm awake".<br />
DAD: "I've been thinking, and maybe I was too hard on you earlier. It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $50 you asked for."</div>
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The little boy sat straight up, smiling.<br />
SON: "Oh, thank you daddy!"</div>
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Then, reaching under his pillow, the boy pulled out some crumpled-up dollar bills. When the dad saw the boy already had money, he started getting angry again as the little boy slowly counted out his money and looked up at his father.</div>
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DAD: "Why do you want more money if you already have some?"<br />
SON: "Because I didn't have enough, but now I do. Daddy, I have $100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."</div>
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The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and begged for his forgiveness through a stream of tears.</div>
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Just a reminder to all who are work so hard in life to not let time slip through our fingers without dedicating special time with those who matter most.</div>
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If we die tomorrow, the company we may work for could replace us in a matter of days.... but, loved ones we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives, having only precious memories to hold.</div>
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Priorities. </div>
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Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-20911417450488531222018-12-05T14:57:00.002-08:002018-12-05T14:57:22.127-08:00Romans 13Love fulfills the law. Good scripture to memorize:<br />
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<span class="text Rom-13-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28275I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28275I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rom-13-9" id="en-NIV-28276" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28276a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28276a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+13&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28276a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28276J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28276J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and whatever other command there may be, are summed up<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28276K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28276K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-28276b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-28276b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+13&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28276b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28276L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28276L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rom-13-10" id="en-NIV-28277" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.</span>Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-78266555584612688492018-10-10T12:28:00.002-07:002018-10-10T12:28:45.995-07:00Will You Accept God's Treasure?<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Corbel, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, FreeSans, "Liberation Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
- Author Unknown<br /><br />The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."</div>
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As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.</div>
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Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite." "That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.</div>
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About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. </div>
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A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy, this is for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.</div>
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So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. Isn't God good? Are you holding onto things that God wants you to let go of. Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities that you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing... God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place. </div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-48349818602693225452018-05-31T13:01:00.000-07:002018-05-31T13:01:05.139-07:00The Penalty<h5 style="font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; margin-top: 0px;">
God sees how the world is.</h5>
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<br /><b>God:</b> I made them with the ability to choose to do good or evil, and they chose to do evil...<br />
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God looks off into the distance with a disappointed look on His face.<br />
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<b>God:</b> Being perfectly just, I cannot ignore their blatant evilness.<br />
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<b>God:</b> In my infinite wisdom, I know the only suitable punishment is death. Justice must be served.<br />
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God looks sternly ahead with a clenched fist.<br />
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<b>God:</b> But...<br />
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God's expression becomes troubled.<br />
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<b>God:</b> How can I give them death? I LOVE them. The penalty must be paid. But how can their penalty be paid when the cost is so high?<br />
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God hangs His head and a single tear falls. He then raises His head and looks ahead with conviction through tears.<br />
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<b>God:</b> *I* will pay the penalty.<br />
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And so Jesus was born into this world, to do something for us, something big, something we couldn't do ourselves... Jesus wiped the slate clean.<br />
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Satan sees how the world is.<br />
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<b>Satan:</b> Haha! All these people are sinners! Not a single one is good! They'll all be thrown into the unquenchable fire!<br />
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<b>God:</b> You're wrong, Satan. They're square with the house. Their penalty has been paid in full.<br />
Father and Son, Spirit and Human. Jesus died for us, and it's not just a short bout of pain and suffering to be compared with eons of the comforts of heavenly realms. God is eternal. He's outside of time. Everything He's ever done is part of Him every "instant" for eternity. From God's perspective, Jesus is on the cross forever for us. To speak metaphorically using the concept of time, Jesus' physical pain and suffering and God's heartache of seeing His innocent son crucified are such a vivid "memory" to God, it's as if the crucifixion is happening right now. He made this a part of Himself forever for us even though He knew even the "best" of us would often spit in His face and say, "I don't need your ways. I don't need your love. I can take care of myself."</h5>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-13252646698692696972018-05-02T10:31:00.000-07:002018-05-02T10:31:01.336-07:00The Faithful Couple<a href="http://www.sunrisechurch.org/the-faithful-couple">http://www.sunrisechurch.org/the-faithful-couple</a><br />
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I recently read the account of a family that was on vacation years ago in Yosemite National Park. They were fascinated and awed by the magnificent redwood trees. God’s creative hand and majestic beauty was breathtaking. As they walked among the forest giants, they came to what appeared to be a huge redwood tree about forty feet in diameter. The sign at the base of the tree read, "The Faithful Couple." But they were puzzled because it appeared as though this was a single tree, not a “Couple of Trees.”</div>
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As the family was enjoying their vacation time throughout the week, they encountered a park ranger and they asked about “The Faithful Couple.” He went on to explain that almost fifteen hundred years ago, two trees had sprouted as seedlings. The two trees that began on the forest ground were approximately fifteen feet apart initially. And for several hundred years, the two trees had grown individually. But as the years passed and the trees got larger, their trunks grew closer and closer together. Then sometime around the age of eight hundred years, the trunks literally touched, and the trees began fusing together as one. The trees uniting together as one have withstood the centuries—thereby giving them the title of “The Faithful Couple.”</div>
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Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-43527394792790540402018-04-04T17:31:00.004-07:002018-04-04T17:31:54.562-07:00A Smile At McDonalds<h5 style="font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; margin-top: 0px;">
Author Unknown:</h5>
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I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.</h5>
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<br />Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake.<br />
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Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.<br />
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I did not move an inch. An overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around, I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.<br />
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The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.<br />
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He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm.<br />
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Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.<br />
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I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."<br />
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I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.<br />
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I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way, I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE<br />
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Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.<br />
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To handle yourself, use your head.<br />To handle others, use your heart.<br />
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God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.</h5>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-18287334421090859482018-02-15T12:18:00.000-08:002018-02-15T12:18:01.184-08:00Why?<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Corbel, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, FreeSans, "Liberation Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise.</div>
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Ah the beauty of God's creation is beyond description.</div>
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As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work.</div>
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As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me.</div>
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He asked me, "Do you love me?"</div>
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I answered, "Of course, God! You are my Lord and Savior!"</div>
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Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?"</div>
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I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, "It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You."</div>
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Then the Lord said, "If you were blind, would you still love my creation?"</div>
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How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation.<br />So I answered, "Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you."</div>
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The Lord then asked me, "If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?"</div>
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How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word."</div>
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The Lord then asked, "If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?"</div>
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How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, "Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.</div>
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And the Lord asked, "Do you really love Me?"</div>
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With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!"</div>
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I thought I had answered well, but...</div>
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God asked, "THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?"</div>
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I answered, "Because I am only human. I am not perfect."</div>
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"THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?"</div>
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No answers. Only tears.</div>
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The Lord continued: "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?"</div>
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The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.</div>
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"Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?"</div>
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I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.</div>
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"You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all."</div>
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"DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?"</div>
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I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When I my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, " Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child."</div>
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The Lord answered, "That is My Grace, My child."</div>
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I asked, "Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?"</div>
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The Lord answered, "Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you."</div>
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"When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you.<br />When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.<br />When you are down, I will encourage you.<br />When you fall, I will raise you up.<br />When you are tired, I will carry you.<br />I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever."</div>
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Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God, "How much do You love me?"</div>
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The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior. And for the first time, I truly prayed.</div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-88197156936916845742018-01-10T14:48:00.002-08:002018-02-15T12:14:48.418-08:00Dear Ruth:<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Corbel, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, FreeSans, "Liberation Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again.</div>
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There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:</div>
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Dear Ruth:</div>
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I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stop by for a visit.</div>
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Love Always, Jesus</div>
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Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me?</div>
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I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."</div>
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With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least!"</div>
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She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.</div>
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A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday.</div>
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Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.</div>
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"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"</div>
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Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags</div>
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"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd really appreciate it."</div>
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Ruth looked at them both.</div>
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They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.</div>
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"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have i s a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."</div>
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"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."</div>
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The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley.</div>
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As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.</div>
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"Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest."</div>
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She handed the man her grocery bag.</div>
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"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"</div>
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"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.</div>
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"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"</div>
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Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him.</div>
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She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.</div>
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"That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day." She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.</div>
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Dear Ruth:</div>
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It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.</div>
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Love Always Jesus</div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-41887345030296280012017-08-04T17:27:00.001-07:002017-08-04T17:27:05.665-07:00Ice Cream?Last week, I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads, he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!" <br />
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!" Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart." Then, in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes." Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. <br />
With a big smile, he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes." Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-62572567799805089752017-07-17T11:23:00.003-07:002017-07-17T11:23:45.555-07:00Lessons Learned From Noah's Ark
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Everything I need to
know, I learned from Noah's Ark.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Don't miss the boat.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Remember that we are all
in the same boat.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Plan ahead. It wasn't
raining when Noah built the Ark.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Stay fit. When you're 60
years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Don't listen to critics;
just get on with the job that needs to be done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Build your future on high
ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">For safety's sake, travel
in pairs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Speed isn't always an
advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">When you're stressed,
float awhile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">Remember, the Ark was
built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">No matter the storm, when
you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #eedd82; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">- Author Unknown<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-50353480880945812512017-06-26T13:02:00.002-07:002017-06-26T13:02:59.410-07:00Did You Miss God?
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
man whispered, "God, speak to me"<br />
And a meadowlark sang.<br />
But, the man did not hear. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So
the man yelled, "God, speak to me"<br />
And the thunder rolled across the sky.<br />
But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"God
let me see you."<br />
And a star shined brightly.<br />
But the man did not see. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And,
the man shouted, "God show me a miracle."<br />
And, a life was born.<br />
But, the man did not notice. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So,
the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are
here."<br />
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.<br />
But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little
and simple things that we take for granted even in our electronic age, so I
would like to add one more: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
man cried, "God, I need your help!"<br />
And an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.<br />
But, the man deleted it and continued crying... <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don't
miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-46274311470147819362017-06-06T13:07:00.002-07:002017-06-06T13:09:22.732-07:00The Apples<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a
regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they
would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In their rush, with tickets and briefcases in hand,
moving quickly through the airport terminal, one of these salesmen
inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew
everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the
plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">All but one! He paused, took a deep breath, quickly
assessed the situation -- and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl
whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without
him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at
their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then, he returned
to the terminal where the apples were still all over the terminal floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The man was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl
running the stand, he discovered, was totally blind! She was softly crying,
tears running down her cheeks in frustration, all the while helplessly groping
for her spilled produce as the rushing crowd swirled about her, no one stopping
and no one caring for her plight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">No one else, that is. The salesman knelt on the
floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped
organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become
battered and bruised. These he set aside in another basket. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and
said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are
you okay?" She nodded through her tears. "I hope we didn't spoil your
day too badly," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered
blind girl called out to him, "Mister..." He paused and turned to
look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered, stunned by the words. Then
slowly, he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning in
his soul: "Are you Jesus?"</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-34389672242070917972017-05-19T13:44:00.003-07:002017-05-19T13:46:18.352-07:00He Is With UsA girl went to a party, but she ended up staying longer than planned and had to walk home alone. She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, she asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger. <br />
<br />
When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her. She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection. A comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, and she felt as though someone was walking with her. <br />
<br />
When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely. The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young woman had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there. Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep. <br />
<br />
Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story. The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed. <br />
<br />
The officer thanked her for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask the man one question. She was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her." Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-90167042935583535102017-05-04T12:24:00.002-07:002017-05-04T12:24:49.941-07:00Jesus Checking In
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
minister passing through his church<br />
In the middle of the day<br />
Decided to pause by the altar<br />
And see who had come to pray. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just
then the back door opened,<br />
A man came down the aisle,<br />
The minister frowned as he saw<br />
The man hadn't shaved in a while. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
shirt was shabby, old,<br />
And his coat was worn and frayed.<br />
The man knelt, he bowed his head<br />
Then rose and walked away. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
the days that followed,<br />
Each noon time came this chap.<br />
Each time he knelt just for a moment,<br />
A lunch pail in his lap. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well,
the minister's suspicions grew,<br />
With robbery a main fear.<br />
He decided to stop the man and ask him,<br />
"What are you doing here?" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
old man said he worked down the road.<br />
Lunch was half an hour.<br />
Lunchtime was his prayer time<br />
For finding strength and power. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I
stay only moments, see,<br />
Because the factory is so far away.<br />
As I kneel here talking to the Lord,<br />
This is what I say: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,<br />
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN<br />
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP,<br />
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.<br />
I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,<br />
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.<br />
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM,<br />
CHECKING IN TODAY." <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
minister, feeling foolish,<br />
Told Jim, that was fine.<br />
He told the man he was welcome<br />
To come and pray just anytime. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
to go, Jim smiled, and said "Thanks."<br />
He sped to the door.<br />
The minister knelt at the altar,<br />
He'd never done it before. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
cold heart melted, warmed with love,<br />
And met with Jesus there.<br />
As the tears flowed, in his heart,<br />
He repeated old Jim's prayer: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HOW
HAPPY I'VE BEEN,<br />
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP,<br />
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.<br />
I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,<br />
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY DAY.<br />
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME,<br />
CHECKING IN TODAY." <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Past
noon one day, the minister noticed<br />
That old Jim hadn't come.<br />
As more days passed without Jim,<br />
He began to worry some.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At
the factory, he asked about him,<br />
Learning he was ill.<br />
The hospital staff was worried,<br />
But he'd given them a thrill. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
week that Jim was with them,<br />
Brought changes in the ward.<br />
His smiles, a joy contagious.<br />
Changed people, were his reward. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
head nurse couldn't understand<br />
Why Jim was so glad<br />
When no flowers, calls or cards came,<br />
Not a visitor he had. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
minister stayed by his bed,<br />
He voiced the nurse's concern:<br />
No friends came to show they cared.<br />
He had nowhere to turn. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Looking
surprised, old Jim spoke up<br />
And with a winsome smile;<br />
"The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,<br />
That in here all the while. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everyday
at noon, He's here,<br />
A dear friend of mine, you see,<br />
He sits right down, takes my hand,<br />
Leans over and says to me: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">'I
JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,<br />
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,<br />
SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,<br />
AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.<br />
I ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,<br />
AND I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY DAY,<br />
SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS,<br />
CHECKING IN TODAY.'"</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-11038342807541839162017-04-25T10:57:00.000-07:002017-04-25T10:57:07.075-07:00God Can Use You!The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember... <br />
<ul>
<li>Noah was a drunk.<br />
<li>Abraham was too old.<br />
<li>Isaac was a daydreamer.<br />
<li>Jacob was a liar.<br />
<li>Leah was ugly.<br />
<li>Joseph was abused.<br />
<li>Moses had a stuttering problem.<br />
<li>Gideon was afraid.<br />
<li>Samson had long hair and was a womanizer.<br />
<li>Rahab was a prostitute.<br />
<li>Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.<br />
<li>David had an affair and was a murderer.<br />
<li>Elijah was suicidal.<br />
<li>Isaiah preached naked.<br />
<li>Jonah ran from God.<br />
<li>Naomi was a widow.<br />
<li>Job went bankrupt.<br />
<li>John the Baptist ate bugs.<br />
<li>Peter denied Christ.<br />
<li>The Disciples fell asleep while praying.<br />
<li>Martha worried about everything.<br />
<li>The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.<br />
<li>Zaccheus was too small.<br />
<li>Paul was too religious.<br />
<li>Timothy had an ulcer.<br /> AND...<br />
<li>Lazarus was dead!</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
No more excuses now. God can use you to your full potential. Besides, you aren't the message; you are just the messenger.Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-54731962373594866592017-04-19T12:12:00.002-07:002017-04-19T12:12:37.110-07:00The Empty Birdcage?
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One
Easter Sunday morning, a pastor came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old
bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Several eyebrows were raised and, as if in
response, the pastor began to speak. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I
was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me,
swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild
birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What
you got there son?" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Just
some old birds," came the reply. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What
are you gonna do with them?" I asked. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Take
'em home and have fun with 'em. I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers
to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time." <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"But
you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh,
I got some cats. They like birds. I'll take 'em to them." <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds,
son?" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Huh??!!!
Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds.
They don't sing - they ain't even pretty!" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"How
much?" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?". <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in
the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where
there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door,
and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well,
that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to
tell this story. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One
day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the
Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Yes,
sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used
bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What
are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh,
I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other.
How to hate and abuse each other. How to drink and smoke and curse. How to
invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"And
what will you do when you get done with them?", Jesus asked. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh,
I'll kill 'em." <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"How
much do you want for them?" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh,
you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you take them and they'll
just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you!! You don't want
those people!!" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"How
much?" <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Satan
looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your tears, and all your blood."
Jesus paid the price. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the pulpit.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-24555992341616968972017-04-03T13:22:00.004-07:002017-04-03T13:22:57.052-07:00The Love Of JesusAuthor Unknown<br />
<br />
Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the<br />
Pastor and his 11-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out<br />
Gospel tracts. This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the<br />
Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very<br />
cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his<br />
warmest and driest clothes and said "Okay Dad, I'm ready."<br />
<br />
His Pastor Dad asked, "Ready for what?<br />
"Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out."<br />
Dad responds, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain."<br />
The boy gives his Dad a surprised look, asking, "But Dad, aren't people<br />
still going to Hell, even though it's raining?"<br />
<br />
Dad answers, "Son, I am not going out in this weather."<br />
Despondently the boy asks, "Dad, can I go -- Please?"<br />
His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go. Here's<br />
the tracts; be careful son."<br />
<br />
"Thanks, Dad!" And with that he was off and out into the rain. This<br />
11-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door-to-door and<br />
handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel tract. After 2-hours of<br />
walking in the rain he was soaking bone-chilled wet and down to his very<br />
last tract. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a<br />
tract to but the streets were totally deserted.<br />
<br />
Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk<br />
to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell -- but nobody<br />
answered. He rang it again and again bit still no one answered. He<br />
waited but still no answer. Finally this 11-year-old trooper turned to<br />
leave but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang<br />
the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited,<br />
something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this<br />
time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad<br />
looking elderly lady.<br />
<br />
She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?"<br />
With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy<br />
said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you<br />
that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU! I came to give you my very last Gospel<br />
tract which will tell you all about Jesus and His great love." With that<br />
he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave.<br />
<br />
She called to him as he departed, "Thank you, son! And God bless you!"<br />
Well, the following Sunday morning in church, Pastor Dad was in the<br />
pulpit and as the service began he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony<br />
or want to say anything?"<br />
<br />
Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her<br />
feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her<br />
face. "None of you in this church know me. I've never been here before.<br />
You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband has passed<br />
on, some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday,<br />
being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart<br />
as I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will<br />
to live.<br />
<br />
"So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic<br />
of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then<br />
stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my<br />
neck. "Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about<br />
to leap off when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs<br />
startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go<br />
away.' "I waited and waited -- but the ringing doorbell seemed to get<br />
louder and more insistent and then the person ringing also started<br />
knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this<br />
be?! Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me!' "I loosened the rope<br />
from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang<br />
louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly<br />
believe my eyes! "There on my front porch was the most radiant and<br />
angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life! His smile! Oh, I could<br />
never describe it to you! And the words that came from his mouth caused<br />
my heart, that had long been dead, to leap to life as he exclaimed with<br />
cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY<br />
DOES LOVE YOU.' "Then he gave me this Gospel tract that I now hold in my<br />
hand. As the little angel disappeared back out, into the cold and rain,<br />
I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel tract. Then I<br />
went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them<br />
any more.<br />
<br />
"You see, I am now a happy child of the KING, and since the address of<br />
your church was on the back of this Gospel tract I have come here to<br />
personally say, 'Thank you to God's little angel who came just in the<br />
nick of time, and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in Hell.'"<br />
There were now no dry eyes in the church. As shouts of praise and honor<br />
to the KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad<br />
descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was<br />
seated. He took him in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.<br />
<br />
Probably no church has had a more glorious moment and probably this<br />
Universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor<br />
for his son, except for one: This Father, God, also allowed His Son,<br />
Jesus, to go out into a cold and dark world. He received His Son back<br />
with joy unspeakable, and as all of Heaven shouted praises and honor to<br />
the King, the Father sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all<br />
principality and power and every name that is named. There may be<br />
someone, reading this, who is also going through a dark, cold and lonely<br />
time in your soul. You may be a Christian, for we are not without<br />
problems, or you may not yet know the King. Whatever the case, and<br />
whatever the problem or situation you find yourself in, and no matter<br />
how dark it may seem, I want you to know that I just came to tell you,<br />
<br />
"JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU!"Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-67832912140911361342017-03-14T12:08:00.002-07:002017-03-14T12:11:54.038-07:00What You Do To The Least?Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again.<br />
<br />
There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:<br />
<br />
Dear Ruth:<br />
I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stop by for a visit.<br />
<br />
Love Always, Jesus<br />
<br />
Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me?<br />
I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."<br />
<br />
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least!"<br />
<br />
She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.<br />
"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"<br />
<br />
Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags<br />
<br />
"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd really appreciate it."<br />
<br />
Ruth looked at them both.<br />
<br />
They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.<br />
<br />
"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have i s a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."<br />
"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."<br />
<br />
The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley.<br />
As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.<br />
<br />
"Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.<br />
<br />
"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"<br />
<br />
"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.<br />
<br />
"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"<br />
<br />
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him.<br />
<br />
She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.<br />
<br />
"That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day." She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.<br />
<br />
Dear Ruth:<br />
<br />
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.<br />
<br />
Love Always Jesus<br />
<br />
The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-80841444259805556232017-02-08T10:37:00.002-08:002017-02-08T10:37:26.865-08:00Your Relationship With The Lord?You cannot love someone that you do not know, and you cannot know someone that you don’t spend quality time with.<br />
<br />
To know Jesus is to love Him. To love Him is to trust Him. To trust Him is to obey Him. To obey Him is to be blessed. It begins with a daily, quality communication with the Lord.<br />
<br />
Why is it best to spend time with the Lord in the morning? Because you are getting ready to go on a road trip through life. You don’t take the trip and then read the map, do you?<br />
<br />
How are you starting your mornings? With a cup of coffee and the paper? Or with the pure milk of the Word and the light of His presence?<br />
<em><strong></strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.<br /> Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.<br /> In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.</strong></em> -- Psalm 5:1-3Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-14841140277854855362017-01-09T15:33:00.003-08:002017-01-09T15:33:58.804-08:00The Eyes Of A Child--Author Unknown <br />
<br />
<br />
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, “Hi there.” He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.<br />
<br />
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.<br />
His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,” the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, “What do we do?” Erik continued to laugh and answer, “Hi, hi there.” Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. <br />
<br />
Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, “Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo.” Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door.<br />
“Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,” I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby’s “pick-me-up” position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man’s. Suddenly a veryold smelly man and a very young baby consummated their relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man’s ragged shoulder.<br />
<br />
The man’s eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby’s bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, “You take care of this baby.” Somehow I managed, “I will,” from a throat that contained a stone.<br />
<br />
He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, “God bless you, ma’am, you’ve given me my Christmas gift. You see, m’am, I never saw my child grow up. My wife and son were taken from me in an automobile accident when they were both too young. I was never able to get over it.”<br />
<br />
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks and “I’m sorry to hear that.” With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, “My God, my God, forgive me.” I had just witnessed Christ’s love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, “Are you willing to share your son for a moment?” when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me...Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-3831628037827329352016-12-05T08:53:00.002-08:002016-12-05T08:53:52.207-08:00Merry Christmas From HC Koolau!In those days Caesar Augustus<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24975A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24975A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24975B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24975B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> <span class="text Luke-2-2" id="en-NIV-24976"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>(This was the first census that took place while<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-24976a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-24976a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+2&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24976a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> Quirinius was governor of Syria.)<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24976C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24976C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text Luke-2-3" id="en-NIV-24977"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>And everyone went to their own town to register.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-2-3"></span><br />
<span class="text Luke-2-4" id="en-NIV-24978"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24978D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24978D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-5" id="en-NIV-24979"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24979E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24979E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> and was expecting a child.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-6" id="en-NIV-24980"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,</span> <span class="text Luke-2-7" id="en-NIV-24981"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-2-7"></span><br />
<span class="text Luke-2-8" id="en-NIV-24982"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-9" id="en-NIV-24983"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>An angel<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24983F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24983F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-10" id="en-NIV-24984"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24984G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24984G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup> I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.</span> <span class="text Luke-2-11" id="en-NIV-24985"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>Today in the town of David a Savior<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24985H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24985H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup> has been born to you; he is the Messiah,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24985I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24985I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup> the Lord.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24985J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24985J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text Luke-2-12" id="en-NIV-24986"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>This will be a sign<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24986K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24986K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup> to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-2-13" id="en-NIV-24987"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-2-13"></span><br />
<div class="poetry top-05">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Luke-2-14" id="en-NIV-24988"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>“Glory to God in the highest heaven,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Luke-2-14">and on earth peace<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-24988L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24988L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup> to those on whom his favor rests.”</span></span></div>
</div>
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-10118300493024245022016-11-10T10:27:00.002-08:002016-11-10T10:27:16.604-08:00The Invisible Letter-- Author Unknown<br />
<br />
Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating<br /> room. She said: "How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right?<br /> When can I see him?" The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we<br /> could, but your boy didn't make it." Sally said, "Why do little<br /> children get cancer? Doesn't God care anymore? Where were you, God,<br /> when my son needed you?" The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time<br /> alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes,<br /> before he's transported to the university." Sally asked the nurse to<br /> stay with her while she said goodbye to her son.<br />
<br />
She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. "Would<br /> you like a lock of his hair?" the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The<br /> nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed<br /> it to Sally. The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body<br /> to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. "I<br /> said no at first, but Jimmy said, "Mom, I won't be using it after I die.<br /> Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his<br /> Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of<br /> someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could." <br />
<br />
Sally walked out of Children's mercy Hospital for the last time, after<br /> spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with<br /> Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home<br /> was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She<br /> carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his<br /> hair to her son's room. She started placing the model cars and other<br /> personal things, back in his room exactly where he had always kept them.<br /> She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to<br /> sleep.<br />
<br />
It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed<br /> was a folded letter. The letter said: <br /> <br />
Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will<br /> ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm<br /> not around to say I LOVE YOU. I will always love you, Mom, even more<br /> with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if<br /> you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay<br /> with me. He can have my room, and old stuff to play with. But, if you<br /> decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things<br /> us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, y'know.<br />
"Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma<br /> and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but<br /> it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I<br /> love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like<br /> any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus<br /> himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's<br /> knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told<br /> Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you goodbye and<br /> everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. <br /> <br /> "Well, y'know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal<br /> pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel<br /> who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give<br /> you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him - 'Where was He<br /> when I needed him?' God said He was in the same place with me, as when<br /> His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is <br /> with all His children. <br />
<br />
"Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you.<br /> To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool?<br /> I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more<br /> names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus<br /> for supper. I'm sure the food will be great. Oh, I almost forgot to<br /> tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad<br /> because I couldn't stand that pain anymore ... and God couldn't stand to<br /> see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to<br /> come get me. The Angel said I was Special Delivery! How about that? <br />
<br />
<br />
Signed with Love,<br />
<br />
<br />
God, Jesus & Me<br />
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Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-90249821708387606622016-10-13T17:46:00.000-07:002016-10-13T17:46:10.009-07:00The Wooden Bowl
<br />
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year
old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his
step faltered. The family ate together at the table, but the elderly
grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled
off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the
tablecloth. <br />
<br />
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do
something about Grandfather," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled
milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a
small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the
family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was
served in a wooden bowl.<br />
<br />
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in
his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were
sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old
watched it all in silence.<br />
<br />
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps
on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just
as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and
Mama to eat your food when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went
back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then,
tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew
what must be done. <br />
<br />
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the
family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family.
And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a
fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. <br />
<br />
Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever
listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us
patiently provide a happy home atmosphere, they will imitate that attitude for
the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building
blocks are being laid for the child's future. Let's be wise builders and role
models.<br />
<br />
~Author Unknown~<o:p></o:p><br />
Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-49058430128394028722016-09-19T11:23:00.001-07:002016-09-19T11:23:09.931-07:00Satan's Convention?Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from conservative values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can't gain that experience in Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do, angels. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!" <br />
<br />
"How shall we do this?" shouted his angels. <br />
<br />
"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds" he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend then borrow, borrow, borrow. Convince the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work six or seven days a week, ten to twelve hours a day so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work." <br />
<br />
"Overstimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive, to keep the Internet, TV, VCR, CD's and their PC's going constantly in their homes. And see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ." <br />
<br />
Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering, free products, services and false hopes." <br />
<br />
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted, and unprepared for the coming week. Don't let them go out in nature to reflect on God's wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotion." <br />
<br />
"Let them be involved in soul-winning. But crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family unity for the good of the cause." <br />
<br />
It was quite a convention in the end. And the evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy and rush here and there. <br />
<br />
Has the devil been successful at his schemes? You be the judge.Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966495116981903459.post-69214079663707031432016-08-24T11:08:00.002-07:002016-08-24T11:08:27.415-07:00Speeding?-- Author Unknown<br />
<br />
Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?<br />
<br />
When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.<br />
<br />
Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own church. A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.<br />
<br />
"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."<br />
<br />
"Hello, Jack." No smile.<br />
<br />
"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."<br />
<br />
"Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.<br />
<br />
"I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit - just this once."<br />
Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?" <br />
<br />
"I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct." Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.<br />
<br />
"What'd you clock me at?"<br />
<br />
"Seventy. Would you sit back in your car, please?"<br />
<br />
"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as saw you. I was barely nudging 65." The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.<br />
<br />
"Please, Jack, in the car"<br />
<br />
Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.<br />
<br />
The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad.<br />
Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?<br />
<br />
Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in hand Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.<br />
<br />
"Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.<br />
<br />
Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost?<br />
<br />
Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke?<br />
<br />
Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:<br /> "Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it- a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.<br />
<br />
A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left." -- Bob<br />
Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.Hope Chapel Koolauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13802002158327101261noreply@blogger.com0