Last update: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 02:23 PM |
Last update: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 02:23 PM |
| Thanks to SJM for sharing this interesting view of the
eternal Gospel in a "new wine-skin!" The original author is unknown. Blessings ... God On-Line God has a great computer, Somewhere, beyond the sky; It was booted-up the day, Our Savior, Jesus died. He's always up there on-line; Your buddy he will be. The password is very simple: Christ died for you and me. The chat room is always open, IM him anytime ... He never will ignore you; He's always there on-line. Even when we turn him off, The powers always there ... He'll send an instant message, To show you that he cares. He keeps the lines all open, Don't worry 'bout your mail, The porno doesn't phase him, He sends it straight to Hell. Accept his offer promptly, You know he does not lie ... The price for being on-line Was paid the day Christ died. |
| Mary Knew ... She held the tiny baby close, gazing into his eyes … and she knew. She watched as he took his first, tentative steps … and she knew. She laughed as he toddled among the flowers, chasing butterflies … and she knew. She listened as he spoke of “his father’s work” … and she knew. She leaned upon his strong shoulder as her life’s companion was buried … and she knew. She rejoiced at his workmanship as he labored in the carpenter’s shop … and she knew. She felt his presence and his power as his callused hands gripped hers … and she knew. She wept inside as she watched him walk from the carpenter’s shop for the last time … and she knew. She marveled as she heard … the blind see, the lame walk, the dead live … and she knew. She worried as the rumors moved to and fro … would he come to Jerusalem … and she knew. She stood looking into his face … remembering the tiny babe, the happy toddler, the eager youth, the strong adult … her son … crucified ... and she felt his pain because … she knew. She hardly dared believe and yet … there he stood, the babe, the toddler, the youth, the man … the Word become flesh … and she beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father ... Alive! … and she knew. And once again the words tumbled from her mouth … "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name …” and his name is “Jesus!” “Yeshua!” “Messiah!” “Savior!” “Lord!” “Adonai!” … and she knew! |
| ROSES FOR ROSE Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose. And every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows. The year he died, the roses were delivered to her door. The card said, "Be my Valentine," like all the years before. Each year he sent her roses, and the note would always say, "I love you even more this year, than last year on this day." "My love for you will always grow, with every passing year." She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear. She thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day. Her loving husband did not know, that he would pass away. He always liked to do things early, way before the time. Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine. She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase. Then, sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face. She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair. While staring at his picture, and the roses sitting there. A year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate. With loneliness and solitude, that had become her fate. Then, the very hour, as on Valentines before, The doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door. She brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock. Then, went to get the telephone, to call the florist shop. The owner answered, and she asked him, if he would explain, Why would someone do this to her, causing her such pain? "I know your husband passed away, more than a year ago," The owner said, "I knew you'd call, and you would want to know." "The flowers you received today, were paid for in advance." "Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance." "There is a standing order, that I have on file down here, And he has paid, well in advance, you'll get them every year. There also is another thing, that I think you should know, He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago." "Then, should ever, I find out that he's no longer here, That's the card...that should be sent, to you the following year." She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard. Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card. Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note. Then, as she stared in total silence, this is what he wrote... "Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've been gone, I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome." "I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real. For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel. The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life. I loved you more than words can say, you were the perfect wife." "You were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need. I know it's only been a year, but please try not to grieve. I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears. That is why the roses will be sent to you for years. "When you get these roses, think of all the happiness, That we had together, and how both of us were blessed. I have always loved you and I know I always will. But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still." "Please...try to find happiness, while living out your days. I know it is not easy, but I hope you find some ways. The roses will come every year, and they will only stop, When your door's not answered, when the florist stops to knock." "He will come five times that day, in case you have gone out. But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt, To take the roses to the place, where I've instructed him, And place the roses where we are, together once again." (Contributed by Serenity) |
| On Tuesday, January 12, it will be my privilege to
conduct the funeral service of my grandmother, Willie Roye Prater. With your kind
indulgence, I'd like to share a part of that service with you ... Willie Roye Prater was born March 11, 1899, the daughter of John and Lucy Roye. Her life began in a log cabin in Pontotoc Country, Mississippi and spanned almost 100 years. From birth her life was intertwined with that of her future husband, Rufus Baze Prater, born June 9, 1892, in Monroe Country, Mississippi, the son of John and Annie Prater. According to various relatives, Rufus was brought by his mother, Annie, to visit the Roye’s new baby. From that time on he kept his eye on that little blond-haired girl. A product of a different age, a true romantic, in 1970, Mamaw Willie wrote a short account of her life and love for the little boy who came to visit and who eventually would become her life companion. According to her account, some time during either late August or early September of 1917, Rufus came calling and asked for her hand in marriage she consented to marry him upon his return from the war then raging in Europe. In her own words … “Tuesday Oct 2 1917 at 10 o’clock Rufus and Chester with a lot of boys were to report at Pontotoc Court house and board the train at one o’clock to be enducted (sic) into the United States Army.” And concerning their last visit …“Rufus ask(ed) Willie if she was going to Pontotoc to see him off on the train. With tears running down her face she said do you want me to go. Rufus said no I cant (sic) tell you good by (sic) get on that train and have you standing there for I would see you there ever time I thought of you … He told her he loved her more than any thing and would come back if it was the Lord’s will.” And their parting … “Rufus said now I must do the hardest thing I ever done is tell you good by. So he took her hand in his and said good by (sic) and may God bless and keep my darling … till we meet again.” And her reaction … “When Rufus started to turn her hand aloose (sic) she laid her other hand on his arm and said Rufus please dont (sic) go just now. Then he laid his arm around her slinder (sic) shoulders and she laid her head on his breast and wept great bitter tears.” On October 11, 1918, Rufus was wounded by machine gun fire and carried to a field hospital. Among his personal things that he managed to hold on to were two pictures of Willie, her last letter to him, and a New Testament that she had given him. After the war ended, Rufus returned to Pontotoc on April 29, 1919 and on December 25, 1919, he gave Willie an engagement ring and finally on January 12, 1921, at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon Rufus and Willie were married. On January 5, 1922, their first child born and named Harvey Lee. Then on June 11, 1924, a second son was born, John Oren, and a third son was born on July 30, 1926, Marvin Rufus. And then tragedy … in her words … Feb 18 1932 another baby boy was born but God saw fit to take this tiny rosebud away to bloom in heaven.” A daughter, Rubenia, was born October 12, 1939. Having waited for her beloved to return from the Great War, Willie faced the prospect of her sons going to fight in a second world war. Harvey in 1942, Oren in 1943, and Marvin in 1944 went off to war. She tells about her sons’ return home …“… at the first of Oct 1945 Willie and Rufus were picking cotton. Willie said she felt that some one was slipping up on her she looked up there stood their oldest son Harvey and his young wife Pauline Jaggers Prater not but a few feet away. Then next Feb John Oren sent a telegram from New York to meet him in Tupelo … Then in July Rufus and Willie had worked very hard sidedressing cotton and about 12 o’clock that night there was a nock (sic) at the door Rufus got up to see who was there. Marvin was standing there in the door.” This would not be the end however, for both John Oren and Marvin later served in Korea and a great-grandson Captain Timothy Lee Prater presently serves in Germany. Life goes on … she tells of her loss …“Jan 16 1959 God called Rufus home to heaven. Willie lives alone and keeps a home for her children to come home to. She never tires of telling anyone who will listen what a wonderful man she married … she feels that Rufus is near to watch over her to keep all harm away.” She concluded this extraordinary account with these words …“This is a true story of a man and woman that God surely joined together. Written by Willie Roye Prater, 1970. As a family we have been blessed by this woman her courage, her grace, her romantic spirit has touched us all and helped to shape us into the people that we are today. She had two great passions in her life her husband and family, and her quilts. How many stitches, how many long hours, how many thoughts as she sat working remembering loving loving each of you children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one and all, she loved you. The life of Willie Roye Prater was no accident. She was part of God's plan. The beauty of her experience may be found in a life well-lived, a family well-molded, a church well-served, and a community forever touched. We are here to celebrate that life, and that is a cause for joy, not sadness. Thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts with you ... may we each be challenged to so live and love! |
| Well folks, these have been busy days for us! Since
we last visited much has happened. We have had times of joy and times of sadness. The life
of a pastor is never dull ... never boring ... when the phone rings ... there is always
the question ... what has happened? There have been trips to the hospital, visits in the
nursing home, sharing with families, the loss of a dear friend and member of our
community, the excitement of worship, the wonder of prayer, and the joy of fellowship. In
the midst of all this, there was a major clean-up effort in our community to remove the
debris from the ice storm. Things are slowly getting back to normal, at least as normal as
they can be here at GreyOaks! Here is a delightful story shared by Captain Bill Campbell, one of our correspondents in Germany ... this story really makes you think! Charles Plumb, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a jet fighter pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a Communist prison. He survived that ordeal and now lectures about lessons learned from that experience. One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today." Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform-a Dixie cup hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom trousers. I wondered how many times I might have passed him on the Kitty Hawk. I wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you,' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute? Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day." Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory-he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. His experience reminds us all to prepare ourselves to weather whatever storms lie ahead. A Thought: Look around you and take note of the people who pack your parachute, take time to say, "Thank you!" Be strengthened to face the days ahead. |
| This will certainly be a Christmas that we will long
remember! A busy week of pastoral responsibilities that began with a great day of worship
on Sunday, December 20. Our Chancel Choir presented their Christmas music, our children
sang like angels, and, on Sunday night we went caroling and afterwards returned to the
church for Christmas stew. Monday and Tuesday was filled with trips to the hospital,
administrative tasks, checking on folks, and then came Wednesday ... and ice. Having
endured several ice storms before, we were well-prepared ... food at hand, extra drinking
water, plenty of candles and lamp oil ... and, at 7:05 PM, Wednesday, December 23, as the
ice continued to accumulate ... power outage! While Linda manned the phone and kept things
going at the house, I joined members of the Inverness Volunteer Fire Department in
checking for broken power lines, surveying the damage and praying while our stalwart mayor
Bill Lang and crew fired up the generator to keep the well pumping water ... by midnight
Wednesday, Inverness was in the grip of a major ice storm ... damage everywhere. Thursday, Christmas Eve, found our community cold, cold, but still holding on ... again, joining the members of the Inverness Volunteer Fire Department (I serve as chaplain) we gathered supplies and equipment to clear the drives of widows and the elderly ... most yards looked like a war zone. Before we were able to do anything, pagers went off and we headed to a fire in an apartment building in south Inverness. Here's where things get interesting ... "Miss" Linda has gotten her favorite "fireman" a set of light-weight turnouts for his birthday ... and was I a sight to behold ... helmet, turnouts, and helping to pull hose to the hydrant! And yes, there was a patch of ice, and yes, I found it and yes, it's true, when you fall down your feet can go higher than your head ... there I lay, flat on my back, new turnouts broken in, a two-inch hose lying on my chest and two throbbing wrists that most certainly had been stressed! I survived and after the fire was quickly extinguished helped gather the hose and equipment ... but as the scene cleared ... I found that painful wrists make it difficult to remove turnouts ... open truck doors ... even drive ... but I managed to get to the house where I blew the horn until "Miss" Linda came to my rescue. Having checked with my personal trainer ... "Dr." Jody Evans, I applied ice and an Ace bandage and was soon functioning at top speed ... well, maybe not quite top speed. Christmas Day we opened gifts by lamplight and were pleased and excited by interesting gifts from Tim and Marty in Germany and of course from each other ... "Miss" Linda thought I needed a "real" toy and I found a radio controlled HumVee under the tree ... just one problem ... it had a rechargeable battery and we didn't have electricity. We cooked Christmas dinner on our camp stove ... stewed potatoes, mustard greens, fried ham, and hot corn bread ... as we sat eating ... we just had to stop and thank the Lord for our many blessings. And then, at 1:30 PM, while we were talking to Tim and Marty in Germany ... the electricity came back on! There was much rejoicing and lights on all over the house. The rest of the day was quiet, except for a fire at Moorhead, and so FD 21 with "Miss" Linda's help (remember the sore wrists) loaded "Ole Grey" with water and Gatorade and chocolate candy and with his red light flashing headed north ... served all the candy and most of three gallons of Gatorade to firemen from Moorhead and Inverness. Back home to hot biscuits, fried ham, and delicious homemade jelly for Christmas Day supper. We even "rigged" an antenna so we have two channels of TV and radio and now that the power has stabilized, we can go online ... collected a "ton" of email this morning and thought we'd better "report in ..." All is well here at "GreyOaks," the wrists are working, the lights are on, "Miss" Linda is puttering in the kitchen, life is good ... |
| Here are a few
"thought provokers ..." shared by the old "Moledigger ..." Stretch you
mind a little today ... don't just read ... think and make an application in your
own life. Honesty...Jeff was writing a check at a lawn-and-garden store, and he pulled out his driver’s license for identification. "Don't need it," the proprietor said. "In all my years of business, nobody ever wrote me a bad check when they were buying something to work with." Priorities...One day four employees from different departments rushed to use the copier at the same time. The person from accounts payable said, "We have to get our bills paid, so I should go first." Accounts receivables countered, "If we don't get our receivables collected, you won't have the money to pay the bills." The product manager said, "Unless I sell something, there won't be any receivables to collect to pay the bills, so I should go first." The last person mentioned was from payroll—and everyone swiftly cleared for her a path to the copier. Respect...Matt found a new young doctor for his 90-year-old mother, whose family physician had died. After the examination the doctor called them into his office, and ignoring Mat’s mother, proceeded to give him the results. Mat’s mother interrupted and said, "Doctor, do you do crossword puzzles?" "Yes, I do," he replied. She then asked, "Do you do them with pencil or pen?" "Why, with a pencil," said the doctor. "Well, I do mine with a pen." she said, "So you can talk to me." Rules...(where they come from) The new signs in the apartment building’s parking lot read: "Speed Limit—11 mph." When Ralph spotted the groundskeeper, he asked, "How come 11 mph.? Why not 10 mph.?" His reply, "An eleven is easier to paint." The Race...Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle: When the sun comes up, you'd better be running! |
| What a joy and delight to
share with our children this morning in Chapel ... kindergarten through ninth grade ... a
former student sang carols and I shared the Christmas story ... and, then at the close ...
we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus! We had our senior adult (Second Milers) Christmas party today at noon. Linda and I had prepared a delicious two-day stew ... we call it a two-day stew because it takes two days of preparation. The stew contained beef, chicken, and pork, Italian-style tomatoes and chicken broth in equal amounts, Veg-All, onions, and egg noddles. We served it with hot corn bread and iced tea or coffee. Dessert was ice cream and cake. Linda had decorated the Fellowship Hall with a beautiful Christmas tree, garland, and wreaths over the kitchen window and over the worship center. Gifts were exchanged and we shared the Christmas story. Our Second Milers are a special group of people ... they have touched many lives and contributed much to our community ... they are part of our family! We sure hope that you have a loving family to share with during this blessed season. Lots of folks have shared lots of love with us over these past few days ... isn't it wonderful to be loved and to be able to love in return! I guess this "love" is what makes Christians folks a little different! Our prayer for you during these days of Advent is that the love of God would fill your hearts to the overflowing ... that you would have the joy of sharing that love with others ... that you and your family would truly be prepared for the coming anew of Christ at Christmas! Peace and blessings, |
| Folks, the following story
will tug at your heart ... it's timely with all the hustle and bustle going on these days
... I have not been able to verify the author ... seems like we saw this last year but
I've checked through old "Ramblings" and haven't been able to find it ... it's a
good story worth reading ... The Gold Slippers
|
| Thanks to our correspondent for sharing the
following powerful Christmas story ... The Little Golden Box (Author Unknown) Some time ago a friend of mine punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put it under their Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you Daddy." The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and again begged her forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. No more precious possession could anyone hold.
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