the buzzard.....the bat......the bumblebee.........and people

THE BUZZARD, THE BAT & THE BUMMBLEBEE

The Buzzard:

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open
at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute
prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the
ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit,
it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a
small jail with no top.

The Bat:

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in
the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor
or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt,
painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw
itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

The Bumblebee:

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies,
unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but
persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom.
It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

People:

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We
struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that
all we have to do is look up! That's the answer, the escape route and the
solution to any problem! Just look up!

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, but faith looks up!

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and trust in our
Creator who loves us.

-- Author Unknown

the Master's Card...........

THE MASTER'S CARD

By now you have probably seen the catchy television commercials for
MasterCard. They start by identifying some things that people can buy with
their MasterCard, then show a moment that is priceless and end by saying,
"There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's
MasterCard."

For example, in one such commercial there is a man and his young son headed
to the baseball park. The commercial shows the dad buying his son a hot dog
and you hear the words, "Hot dog at the big league game...$3.00. "

The next scene shows the dad buying a game program and the words,
"Program...$ 6.00." Then, one of those large, orange hands with the fingers
forming a #1 is shown and you hear something like, "Large, orange
hand...$15.00. " The commercial finishes by showing the father explaining
some important aspect of the game to his son, who is listening intently as
he looks up at his father with excitement in his eyes, "Meaningful
conversation between a father and a son... priceless."

"There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's
MasterCard."

Friends, I'm not unlike those agencies promoting their favorite credit card.
I'm here to advertise. You see, my life is a commercial for others to see.
I'm a card carrying representative for the Master's Card. That's right, the
MASTER'S CARD. Let me tell you about it. There are no finance charges, no
payments due. My bill has already been covered...it' s a prepaid deal. I
couldn't afford the price, so Jesus stepped in and paid it for me. My Name
is written on the card for all to see.

It is accessible twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world. The
MASTER'S CARD has so many benefits it's hard to list them all. Let me share
some of them with you...you might want to apply for a personal card
yourself. Just for starters there is UNLIMITED GRACE. That's right, there is
no preset limit to the amount of grace you receive from the MASTER'S CARD.
Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? Then, look no
farther than the MASTER'S CARD. It offers the greatest rate on love that has
ever been offered.

The MASTER'S CARD gives you access to many "members only" benefits. Want
real joy despite the difficulties of life? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD. Want
a lasting peace? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD.

Want real joy despite the difficulties of life? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD.
Want a lasting peace? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD. Looking for something you
can always rely on in a jam? The MASTER'S CARD is perfect for you.

Another great thing about the MASTER'S CARD is that it never expires. Once
you're a member, you're a member for life...eternal life, that is.
Membership has its privileges, you know.

How do you receive the MASTER'S CARD. Dial 1-800-ROMANS10: 9 "if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Jesus is standing
by right now to take your call. Don't delay. This great offer won't last
forever. Peace, joy and hope: Invaluable. Faith, contentment and assurance:
Inestimable. Salvation: Priceless.

There are some things money can't buy. For those, there's the Master's Card.
Christian, why not be an advertisement for the MASTER'S CARD. Let your life
be a commercial today for Jesus Christ.

-- Author Unknown

the Mountain Climber.......

THE MOUNTAIN CLIMBER

They tell the story of a mountain climber, who desperate to conquer the
Aconcagua, initiated his climb after years of preparation. But he wanted
the glory to himself, therefore, he went up alone. He started climbing and
it was becoming later, and later. He did not prepare for camping but
decided to keep on going. Soon it got dark...

Night fell with heaviness at a very high altitude. Visibility was zero.
Everything was black. There was no moon, and the stars were covered by
clouds. As he was climbing a ridge at about 100 meters from the top, he
slipped and fell. Falling rapidly he could only see blotches of darkness
that passed. He felt a terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity.

He kept falling....and in those anguishing moments good and bad memories
passed through his mind. He thought certainly he would die. But then he
felt a jolt that almost tore him in half. Yes!! Like any good mountain
climber he had staked himself with a long rope tied to his waist.

In those moments of stillness, suspended in the air he had no other choice
but to shout, "HELP ME GOD", "HELP ME!"

All of a sudden he heard a deep voice from heaven..."What do you want me to
do?"

"SAVE ME"

"Do you REALLY think that I can save you?"

"OF COURSE, MY GOD"

"Then cut the rope that is holding you up."

There was another moment of silence and stillness. The man just held tighter
to the rope.

The rescue team says that the next day they found, a frozen mountain climber
hanging strongly to a rope... TWO FEET OFF THE GROUND.

How about you? How trusting are you in that rope? Why don't you let it go?
I tell you, God has great and marvelous thing for you.

CUT THE ROPE AND SIMPLY TRUST IN HIM...

-- Author Unknown

the Old Man and the Sea..........

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once
again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief
introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up
to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were
sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm
blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even
though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat
upright, and the three were swept into the ocean."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers
who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat
interested in his story. He continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father
had to make the most excruciating decision of his life....to which boy he
would throw the other end of the line. He only had seconds to make the
decision.

The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his
son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the
torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' he threw
the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the
capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the
black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting
for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The father," he
continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could
not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without
Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that
He should do the same for us." With that, the old man turned and sat back
down in his chair as silence filled the room.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old
man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the boys, "but
I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's life
in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his
worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked
up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm
standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of what
it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me."

"You see....I was that father, and your pastor was my son's friend."

-- Author Unknown

the Perfect Mistake........

THE PERFECT MISTAKE

My Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was
building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in
China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his
glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions,
he realized what had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket
unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His
brand new glasses were heading for China!

The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six children. He had
spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the thought
of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home
in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to
your work, and now this."

Months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United
States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so
he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather' s small church in Chicago. The
missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting
the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses
you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the
orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate.
Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses.
Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so
my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived.
When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on top.

The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still
gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the
glasses, it was as though they had been custom made just for me! I want to
thank you for being a part of that."

The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary
surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There
were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting
quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary
carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary
way.

There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking him! Perhaps it is
something we ought to try more often, "Thank you God for not allowing my car
to start this morning." He may have been saving your life from a car
accident. "Lord Jesus, thank you for letting me lose my glasses; I'm sure
they'll be put to good use or there is a lesson to be learned."

-- Author Unknown