"Christian Voices"

December 29, 2010

HUMOR

It was 6 p.m., and I was about to leave the coin laundry where I was employed. My boss called me over and asked if I would mind dropping off someone's laundry on my way home. "It's for my cousin," she apologized, "who's eight months pregnant and can't get out much anymore."

I cheerfully agreed and, driving to the address, knocked at the door. A little girl, the sister-to-be, answered.

"Hi, there," I said with a big smile. "Is your mommy home?" Holding up the white bundle of clothes, I explained, "I have a delivery for her."

The child's mouth dropped, and her eyes went wide. "Mom!" She shrieked,
"come quick! It's the stork!"

.....Mikey's Funnies (funnies-owner@lists.MikeysFunnies.com) by way of

"Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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THOUGHT PROVOKING – INSPIRATIONAL

A Stroke of Good Fortune

My friend of 30 years...we have gone though many tough times. His tough times, not so much mine. He had a bad marriage and was unable to forgive his wife. He descended into drugs, spiraling out of control, losing his home, his car, his self-esteem. Several times I took him to the hospital, flushed pills down the toilet, but when a person does not care, there is little help one can offer.

He loved my children. No matter what, he would give them presents at Christmas time. He painted their room, spending over forty hours doing so. Not just painting their room, but painting it with cartoon characters

My friend had a talent. He is an artist.

About two years ago while trying some bad drugs he suffered a stroke at the age of 49. Now he is in a nursing home with his left side paralyzed. His mind is clear after these decades of drug influence. He wants to speak to children about the dangers of drugs, but I want to wait a while. He needs to understand more. He has gone to church with me many times. My friend Gary, cannot walk. He has to use a wheelchair. However, during the last church visit and while singing the last song, he stood up and sang with the congregation. When he did, I had tears in my eyes. The song leader could not sing any more. The effort to stand and to remain standing is beyond our understanding, yet he did so. My friend is finally realizing his place in life.

Perhaps the stroke was needed to humble him, to show him the Way. His journey is not complete, but I am proud of my friend for taking the first step.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my

name, shall humble themselves, and pray, seeking my face
(which is turning from their wicked ways) then will I hear
from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

.....BJ Cassady, Guthrie, Oklahoma (bj.cassady@af-group.com) by way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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(Publisher's Note: The following story is very old and has been around the circuit many times. Yet, as we begin a New Year - it is again very appropriate.)

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

The sound of Martha's voice on the other end of the telephone always brought a smile to Brother Jim's face. She was not only one of the oldest members of the congregation, but one of the most faithful.

Aunt Martie, as all of the children called her, just seemed to ooze faith, hope, and love wherever she went. This time, however, there seemed to be an unusual tone to her words. "Preacher, could you stop by this afternoon? I need to talk with you." "Of course, I'll be there around three. Is that ok?"

It didn't take long for Jim to discover the reason for what he had only sensed in her voice before. As they sat facing each other in the quiet of her small living room. Martha shared the news that her doctor had just discovered a previously undetected tumor. "He says I probably have six months to live". Martha's words were naturally serious, yet there was a definite calm about her. "I'm so sorry to...." but before Jim could finish, Martha interrupted. "Don't be. The Lord has been good. I have lived a long life. I'm ready to go. You know that." "I know," Jim whispered with a reassuring nod.

"But I do want to talk with you about my funeral. I have been thinking about it, and there are things that I know I want." The two talked quietly for a long time. They talked about Martha's favorite hymns, the passages of Scripture that had meant so much to her through the years, and the many memories they shared from the five years Jim had been with Central Church.

When it seemed that they had covered just about everything, Aunt Martie paused, looked up at Jim with a twinkle in her eye, and then added, "One more thing, preacher. When they bury me, I want my old Bible in one hand and a fork in the other". "A fork?" Jim was sure he had heard everything, but this caught him by surprise. "Why do you want to be buried with a fork?"

"I have been thinking about all of the church dinners and banquets that I attended through the years," she explained, "I couldn't begin to count them all. But one thing sticks in my mind -- At those really nice get-togethers, when the meal was almost finished, a server or maybe the hostess would come by to collect the dirty dishes. I can hear the words now. Sometimes, at the best ones, somebody would lean over my shoulder and whisper, 'You can keep your fork.' And do you know what that meant? Dessert was coming! "It didn't mean a cup of Jell-O or pudding or even a dish of ice cream. You don't need a fork for that. It meant the good stuff, like chocolate cake or cherry pie! When they told me I could keep my fork, I knew the best was yet to come!

"That's exactly what I want people to talk about at my funeral. Oh, they can talk about all the good times we had together. That would be nice. But when they walk by my casket and look at my pretty blue dress, I want them to turn to one another and say, 'Why the fork'? That's what I want you to say, I want you to tell them, that I kept my fork because the best is yet to come!"

Truly, for a child of God, the best is yet to come.

.....Unknown by way of Alan Smith, Helen Street Church of Christ, Fayetteville, North Carolina (alansmith.servant@gmail.com) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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Cards, notes and contributions are always welcome! Our address is: “Christian Voices”, P.O. Box, 1002, La Vergne, TN 37086. We would truly enjoy hearing from you from all over the world.

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