Don't under estimate someone because they are not like you
because they can be a blessing to you.

While checking the church storeroom, the Pastor discovered
several cartons of new Bibles that had never been opened and
distributed.

So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the
congregation who would be willing to sell the Bibles door-to-
door for $10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the
church.

Jack, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the
task. The minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living
as salesmen and were likely capable of selling some Bibles. But
he had serious doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who
had always kept to himself because he was embarrassed by his
speech impediment.

Poor Louie stuttered badly. But, not wanting to discourage
Louie, the minister decided to let him try anyway.

He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars
stacked with Bibles.

He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their
door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday.

Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister
immediately asked Jack, "Well, Jack, how did you make out
selling our Bibles last week?"

Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, "Using
my sales prowess, I was able to sell 20 Bibles, and here's the
$200 I collected on behalf of the church."

"Fine job, Jack!" The minister said, vigorously shaking his
hand. "You are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is
indebted to you."

Turning to Paul, "And Paul, how many Bibles did you sell for the
church last week?"

Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied,
"I am a professional salesman. I sold 28 Bibles on behalf of the
church, and here's $280 I collected."

The minister responded, "That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You
are truly a professional salesman and the church is also
indebted to you."

Apprehensively, the minister turned to Louie and said, "And
Louie, did you manage to sell any Bibles last week?" Louie
silently offered the minister a large envelope.

The minister opened it and counted the contents. "What is this?"
the minister exclaimed. "Louie, there's $3200 in here! Are you
suggesting that you sold 320 Bibles for the church, door to
door, in just one week?"

Louie just nodded. That's impossible!" both Jack and Paul said
in unison. "We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have
sold 10 times as many Bibles as we could."

"Yes, this does seem unlikely," the minister agreed. "I think
you'd better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie."
Louie shrugged. "I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know f-f-
f-for sh-sh-sh-sure," he stammered.

Impatiently, Peter interrupted. "For crying out loud, Louie,
just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!"

"A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was," louie replied, "W-w-w-w-
would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this
b-b-b-b-bible f-f-for t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks ---o-o-o-or--- wo-wo-
would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-
here and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you??"

AND GOD SAID...
===============

I said, "God, I hurt."
And God said, "I know."

I said, "God, I cry a lot."
And God said, "That's why I gave you tears."

I said, "God, I am so depressed."
And God said, "That's why I gave you sunshine."

I said, "God, life is so hard."
And God said, "That's why I gave you loved ones."

I said, "God, my loved one died."
And God said, "So did mine."

I said, "God, It is such a loss."
And God said, "I saw mine nailed to a cross."

I said, "God, where are they now?"
And God said, "Mine is on my right and yours is in the light."

I said, "God it hurts."
And God said, "I know."

~ by K.C. and Myke Kuzmic~

It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.
~William Blake~ (1757-1827)

Do more than exist
...live.

Do more than touch
...feel.

Do more than look
...observe.

Do more than read
...absorb.

Do more than hear
...listen.

Do more than think
...ponder.

Do more than talk
...say something.

~John H. Rhoades~

When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to
pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it.

We went to the service department and found a mechanic working
feverishly to unlock the driver's side door. As I watched from
the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and
discovered that it was unlocked.

"Hey," I announced to the technician, "its open!"

To which he replied, "I know - I already got that side."