Be who you are and say what you feel... because those that matter don't mind... and those that mind don't matter!

Read This Slowly
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?

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..

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..




Jumping out of the car,
He approached a man he saw every Sunday,
A man he'd never seen in uniform.


'Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this.'


'Hello, Jack.' No smile.




'Guess you caught me red-handed
In a rush to see my wife and kids.'



'Yeah, I guess.' Bob seemed uncertain.
Good.



'I've seen some long days at the office lately.
I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once.'


Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement.
'Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight.
Know what I mean?'






'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.



'What'd you clock me at?'



'Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?'



'Now wait a minute here, Bob.
I checked as soon as I saw you.
I was barely nudging 65.'
The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.



'Please, Jack, in the car'


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.


The minutes ticked by.
Bob scribbled away on the pad..


Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?


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.


'Thanks..'
Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.



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?


Wait a minute.
What was this? Some kind of joke?


Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read:



'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.


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'



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...



Life is precious.
Handle with care.
This is an important message;
please pass it along to your friends.
Drive safely and carefully.
Remember, cars are not the only things
recalled by their maker.



Pass this on,
you may save a life.
Maybe not,
but we'll never know if we don't try.



May today there be peace within you.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
'I believe that friends are quiet angels
who lift us to our feet
when our wings
have trouble remembering how to fly.'




The life you save may be .....

Your own child or grandchild.

"Common cause, common sense & common courtesy...
Too bad they're no longer common." - Ken Chiatello

Snow Plow

I need to get the hubs to get his welder going! I am tired of the snow, how about you?

Bible VS. Cell Phone

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing.

Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
Disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

When Jesus died for us, he was thinking of you!

If you are one of the 7% who will stand up for
Him, forward this.
93% of the people won't forward it.

PSA

Visualizing Obama's budget cuts. Student Explains Obamanomics in 1 Minute

Only 31 Words

Only 31 words --- Think about it Isn't life strange? I never met one Veteran who enlisted to fight for Socialism. 86% will send this on. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG,OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL! If Muslims can pray on Madison Avenue, why are Christians banned from praying in public and erecting religious displays on their holy days? Tell me again, whose country is this? Ours or the Muslims? I was asked to send this on if I agree, or delete if I don't. It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'In God! We Trust' on our money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance. I believe it's time we stand up for what we believe! If you agree, pass this on, if not, delete

Things to Remember During a War

1. The only things more accurate than enemy fire is friendly fire.
2. Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo.
3. Teamwork is essential. It gives them more targets to shoot at.
4. No inspection-ready unit ever passed combat.
5. No combat-ready unit ever passed inspection.
6. Remember: your aircraft was made by the lowest bidder.
7. Never draw fire, it will irritate the rest of your formation.
8. Never share a cockpit with someone braver than you.
9. You are not Tom Cruise.
10. SAMs and AAA have the right-of-way.
11. If you aren't sure, the SAMs are pointed at you.
12. If hit, landing near the people that just shot you down is not a good idea.
13. Close only counts in horseshoes, nukes and proximity-fused missiles.
14. Smart bombs have bad days too.
15. The best defense is to stay out of range.
16. If you are short on everything but enemy, you are in combat.

Thank you, to all our military for your service to our country!

Test

RETIREE BATHTUB TEST

During a visit to my doctor, I asked him, "How do you determine whether or not a retiree should be put in an old age home?" "Well," he said, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the retiree and ask him or her to empty the bathtub. "Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup." "No" he said. "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?" ARE YOU GOING TO PASS THIS ON, OR DO YOU WANT THE BED NEXT TO MINE?

Testing

A lawyer boarded an airplane in New Orleans with a box of frozen crabs and asked a blonde flight attendent to take care of them for him.

She took the box and promised to put it in the crew's refrigerator. He advised her that he was holding her personally responsible for them staying frozen, mentioning in a very haughty manner that he was a lawyer, and proceeded to rant at her about what would happen if she let them thaw out.

Needless to say, she was annoyed by his behavior. Shortly before landing in New York, she used the intercom to announce to the entire cabin, "Would the lawyer who gave me the crabs in New Orleans please raise your hand."

Not one hand went up .... so she took them home and ate them.

Two lessons here:

1. Lawyers aren't as smart as they think they are.

2. Blondes aren't as dumb as some folk think.

From Z

Senility

A Senior Moment at Church:

A Preacher was explaining that he must move on to a larger
congregation that could pay him more. There is a hush within the
congregation. No one wants him to leave.

Joe Smith, who owns several car dealerships in the city, stands up
and proclaims, "If the Preacher stays, I will provide him with a new
Cadillac every year, and his wife with a Honda mini-van to transport
their children!" The congregation sighs in relief, and applauds.

Sam Brown, a successful entrepreneur and investor, stands and says,
"If the Preacher will stay on here, I'll personally double his
salary, and also establish a foundation to guarantee the college
education of all his children!" More sighs and loud applause.

Joe Tavares stands up and says, "If the preacher stays I will provide
him with all the wine he wants."

Sadie Jones, age 88, stands and announces with a smile, "If the
Preacher stays, I will give him sex!"

There is total silence. The Preacher, blushing, asks her, "Mrs.
Jones, whatever possessed you to say that?"

Sadie's 92 year old husband Jake is now trying to hide, holding his
forehead with the palm of his hand and shaking his head from side to
side, while his wife replies, "Well, I just asked my husband how we
could help, and he said, 'Screw him!'"

Isn't senility wonderful? Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder
with your hand over my mouth!!

Sorry, folks, but I had to share with you!

Quote of the Day

The Wrong Funeral

I've seen this before, but received it again this morning, and was blessed again. I hope you are too! THIS IS CUTE, THE OPENING PARAGRAPH MAKES THE PROPER STATEMENT TO SET THE MOOD. AND WE THINK GOD DOESN'T TALK TO US? **AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ** Consumed by my loss, I didn't notice the hardness of the pew where I sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend - my mother. She finally had lost her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense; I found it hard to breathe at times. Always supportive, Mother clapped loudest at my school plays, held box of tissues while listening to my first heartbreak, comforted me at my father's death, encouraged me in college, and prayed for me my entire life. When mother's illness was diagnosed, my sister had a new baby and my brother had recently married his childhood sweetheart, so it fell on me, the 27-year-old middle child without entanglements, to take care of her. I counted it an honor. 'What now, Lord?' I asked sitting in church. My life stretched out before me as an empty abyss. My brother sat stoically with his face toward the cross while clutching his wife's hand. My sister sat slumped against her husband's shoulder, his arms around her as she cradled their child... All so deeply grieving, no one noticed I sat alone. My place had been with our mother, preparing her meals, helping her walk, taking her to the doctor, seeing to her medication, reading the Bible together. Now she was with the Lord. My work was finished, and I was alone. I heard a door open and slam shut at the back of the church. Quick footsteps hurried along the carpeted floor.... An exasperated young man looked around briefly and then sat next to me. He folded his hands and placed them on his lap. His eyes were brimming with tears. He began to sniffle.. 'I'm late,' he explained, though no explanation was necessary.. After several eulogies, he leaned over and commented, 'Why do they keep calling Mary by the name of ' Margaret?'' 'Because, that was her name, Margaret. Never Mary, no one called her 'Mary,'' I whispered. I wondered why this person couldn't have sat on the other side of the church. He interrupted my grieving with his tears and fidgeting. Who was this stranger anyway? 'No, that isn't correct,' he insisted, as several people glanced over at us whispering, 'Her name is Mary, Mary Peters.' 'That isn't who this is.' 'Isn't this the Lutheran church?' 'No, the Lutheran church is across the street.' 'Oh.' 'I believe you're at the wrong funeral, Sir.' The solemnness of the occasion mixed with the realization of the man's mistake bubbled up inside me and came out as laughter. I cupped my hands over my face, hoping it would be interpreted as sobs. The creaking pew gave me away. Sharp looks from other mourners only made the situation seem more hilarious. I peeked at the bewildered, misguided man seated beside me.. He was laughing; too, as he glanced around, deciding it was too late for an uneventful exit. I imagined Mother laughing. At the final 'Amen,' we darted out a door and into the parking lot. 'I do believe we'll be the talk of the town,' he smiled. He said his name was Rick and since he had missed his aunt's funeral, asked me out for a cup of coffee. That afternoon began a lifelong journey for me with this man who attended the wrong funeral, but was in the right place. A year after our meeting, we were married at a country church where he was the assistant pastor. This time we both arrived at the same church, right on time... In my time of sorrow, God gave me laughter. In place of loneliness, God gave me love. This past June, we celebrated our twenty-second wedding anniversary. Whenever anyone asks us how we met, Rick tells them, 'Her mother and my Aunt Mary introduced us, and it's truly a match made in heaven.' If you Love God for all the marvelous things he has done for you, send this on to others. REMEMBER, God doesn't make mistakes. He puts us where we are to be.

---

---

Women are like the apples on trees.

The best ones are at the top of the tree.

The boys don't want to reach or climb for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and

getting hurt.

Instead they choose the rotten apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy.

So the apples at the top think there is something wrong with them, when in reality they are amazing.

They have to wait for the right guy to come along.

The one who is brave enough to climb to the the top of the tree.

So to all you amazing apples out there, hang in there!

H/T Raquel

What A Day....

Thanks, Brian, for sharing this with us! What a day that will be!!

Another Super Bowl Idea....

Happy 100th Birthday, President Reagan!

We All Have Days Like This....

Five Lessons...

I've read this before, and maybe you have too, but it is always nice to be reminded!

Five lessons about the way we treat people...

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read

The last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely, " said the professor.. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant.. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello.."

I've never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached..

It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along..

Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's' bedside just before he passed away... God Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those w

ho serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Twenty-five cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient..

"Twenty cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two dimes and five pennies.

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the King's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.. Many loudly blamed the

King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the

person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a

hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who

was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only

chance of recovery appeared to be a blood

transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had

miraculously survived the same disease and had

developed the antibodies needed to combat the

illness. The doctor explained the situation to her

little brother, and asked the little boy if he would

be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a

deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save

her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed

next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing

the color returning to her cheek. Then his face

grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a

trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away"?

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the

doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his

sister all of his blood in order to save her.

We can ALL learn from these... Nuff said...

H/T Old NFO

The Best Poem In The World

The Best Poem In The World

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

as I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

by the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

who made me sputter and gasp--

the thieves, the liars, the sinners,

the alcoholics, the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought

was rotting away in hell,

was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must've made a mistake.

And why's everyone so quiet,

so somber? Give me a clue."

"Hush, child," said He "They're all in shock.

No one thought they'd see you."

Judge NOT.

---

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee Beans

Carrots, Eggs & Coffee Beans

A certain daughter complained to her father about her life and how things
have been so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make
it and she wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.
It seemed that just as one problem was solved another arose.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen, filled three pots with water and
placed the fire on high. Soon the three pots came to a boil. In one he placed
carrots, in the other he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee
beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently wondered what he was trying
to do. She had problems, and he was making this strange concoction. In half
an hour he walked over to the oven and turned down the fire. He pulled the
carrots out and placed them in the bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed
them in the bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her he asked. "Darling what do you see?"
Smartly, she replied. "Carrots, eggs, and coffee."

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and
noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break
it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled
egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee.
Her face frowned from the strength of the coffee.

Humbly, she asked. "What does it mean Father?"
He explained. "Each of them faced the same adversity,
212 degrees of boiling water. However each reacted differently."
"The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after going
through boiling water, it softened and became weak."

"The egg was fragile. A thin outer shell protected a liquid center. But
after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened."
"The coffee beans are unique however. After they were in the boiling
water, it became stronger and richer."

"Which are you," he asked his daughter. When adversity knocks on your door,
how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with the smallest amount of pain,
adversity, heat you wilt and become soft with no strength?
Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart?
A fluid spirit. But after a death, a breakup, a divorce, a
layoff you became hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but you
are so bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart, internally.

Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean does not get its peak flavor
and robust until it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water gets
the hottest, it just tastes better. When things are there worst, you get
better. When people talk the most, your praises increase. When the hour
is the darkest, trials are their greatest, your worship
elevates to another level. How do you handle adversity?
Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not
in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
II Corinthians 4:8-9

"Prayer Changes Things!"

This was shared with me today, and I thought you might enjoy it too!