Think it more satisfactory to live richly than die rich.
-Sir Thomas Browne
Friday, December 02, 2005
Remember My Birthday?
Remember My Birthday????!!!!!!
As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there
are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.
It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.
I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite
and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.
The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face......... and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"... as if the party were in his honor ! At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other ; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and .... do you know .... no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all you heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation, will be left outside. Do you know how you can answer this invitation? it is by extending it to others whom you care for... I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year...
See you soon .... I love you !
-Jesus-
"Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth." Psalm 46:10
As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there
are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.
It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.
I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite
and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.
The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face......... and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"... as if the party were in his honor ! At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other ; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and .... do you know .... no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all you heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation, will be left outside. Do you know how you can answer this invitation? it is by extending it to others whom you care for... I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year...
See you soon .... I love you !
-Jesus-
"Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth." Psalm 46:10
Subject: Your Cup of Coffee ~ From Clinton and Joanna
Subject: Your Cup of Coffee
Your Cup of Coffee
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to
visit their old University of Notre Dame lecturer. Conversation soon
turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and returned
with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic,
glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them
to help themselves to hot coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer said: "If
you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving
behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want
only the best for yourselves, that may be the source of your problems and
stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you
consciously went for the better cups and are now eyeing each other's cups."
"Now, if life is coffee, then the jobs, money, and position in society are
the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality
of life doesn't change."
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee
in it.
Your Cup of Coffee
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to
visit their old University of Notre Dame lecturer. Conversation soon
turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and returned
with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic,
glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them
to help themselves to hot coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer said: "If
you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving
behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want
only the best for yourselves, that may be the source of your problems and
stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you
consciously went for the better cups and are now eyeing each other's cups."
"Now, if life is coffee, then the jobs, money, and position in society are
the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality
of life doesn't change."
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee
in it.
From Uncle Ivan...
Stan: Got home 11-30-05 am doing good so far but sure am weak from the hospital, came home last night then your Aunt Freda came down with the 24 hour virus she was so sick. But some better this morning.
Will try to send you more later. Uncle Ivan
Will try to send you more later. Uncle Ivan
Jim Rowland update...... From Cousin Joanna... Many thanks for the informtaion...
Hi, Just thought you would like to know.............
Jim finally got out of ICU about midnight last night. He is now in a room and seems to be feeling much better. I think he is hoping to get to go home today, but we'll have to wait and see. Doris spent the night with us last night and has now gone up to see him. I think it was to his advantage that he stayed in ICU so long. His Dr. seems to stay pretty busy and just doesn't get around to his patients until late in the evening, then there was also the problem of finding a room, anyway it looks like he is doing well. Hope youall are also doing well. We think of you often, just don't take time to let you know it. :)
I also talked with Freda last night, they are doing better too. She wasn't feeling well the night Ivan came home from the hospital, but was doing much better last night.
Jim finally got out of ICU about midnight last night. He is now in a room and seems to be feeling much better. I think he is hoping to get to go home today, but we'll have to wait and see. Doris spent the night with us last night and has now gone up to see him. I think it was to his advantage that he stayed in ICU so long. His Dr. seems to stay pretty busy and just doesn't get around to his patients until late in the evening, then there was also the problem of finding a room, anyway it looks like he is doing well. Hope youall are also doing well. We think of you often, just don't take time to let you know it. :)
I also talked with Freda last night, they are doing better too. She wasn't feeling well the night Ivan came home from the hospital, but was doing much better last night.
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