Tips On Tuesday - Lessons From a Pencil Maker

5 IMPORTANT LESSONS TOLD BY A PENCIL MAKER :



1.) EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL ALWAYS LEAVE A MARK.

2.) YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE.

3.) WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4.) IN LIFE , YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS,

WHICH WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PERSON.

5.) TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF

TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU.

Scripture On Sundays - Two For One (Respect)

Two for one posting....that is, two weeks worth of readings, because I missed last Sunday.  These readings to me, seemed all about respect....respect for your country, God and your Mother, not necessarily in that order!  In this first reading, the prophet Isaiah "sticks up" for his country, and Israel's righteousness.  In recent news, Israeli doctors have done a great job by saving lives in Haiti.  Israel should get more respect from the world than it does....and the same with the U.S. 

1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.

2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

Isaiah 62:1-2

We are told our gifts and talents are from God, and we're showing respect to God by using them wisely....

1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues (languages), and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.
1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11

The first miracle of Jesus and how His Mother wouldn't take "No" for an answer!  Turning water into wine and "saving the best for last"....

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,

2 and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to Him, "They have no more wine."

4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then He told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so,

9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside

10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

11 This, the first of His miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him.

John 2:1-11

The above were last week's readings.  For this Sunday's first reading, we hear of the respect the people gave to the sacred scrolls, the Law of God, which is good....

 

2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.

3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.

5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:2-4a,5-6,8-10

The second reading is about respect for yourself and everyone else who has faith in God, even if they are a different nationality, we all belong to one body.

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.

19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"

22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,

24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,

25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

31 But eagerly desire  the greater gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Jesus said prophets usually are not accepted, believed, or given any respect in their own hometown.  The people of Nazareth however, were initially impressed with Jesus, until He actually foretold how they would eventually not listen to Him (just as they did not with Elijah and Elisha) and would reject Him too.  He was right, but they didn't realize it.  Three years later when Jesus would be hanging on the cross, the people would still want Him to prove Himself....by saving Himself.  But they didn't understand what needed to be done, for God's will to be accomplished through His death and resurrection.

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through the whole countryside.

15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised Him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. And He stood up to read.

17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written:

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

20 Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him,

21 and He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

22 All spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' "

24 "I tell you the truth," He continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.

26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian."

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

29 They got up, drove Him out of the town, and took Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.

30 But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.

Luke 4:14-30

All Jesus and the rest of His followers can do is "put the Word out there" and if people don't want to listen, Jesus told His disciples to "shake the dust from your feet (from that town) and move on" which is what He did in this last reading.  Another non-Biblical saying that could be used is "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".  I hope most, if not all of you, took the time to read this and take it under consideration.     

 


  

Work On Wednesdays - My Job

1 Timothy 4:16 tells me....
Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Hope you're all listening!  I need to be reminded myself, to tow the line and keep on the straight and narrow.  It's hard work!  But we've got to remember.... 

The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Psalm 147:11

Tips On Tuesdays - Vick's VapoRub

VICKS VapoRub - INTERESTING

During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.

Some of us have used Vicks VapoRub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it seems to work 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why.

To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks VapoRub generously on the soles of your feet, cover with socks, and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly

Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talkingabout why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemicals in them This method of using Vicks VapoRub on the soles ofthe feet was found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bed time. In addition it seems to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes.So she went from; every few seconds uncontrollable coughing, she slept cough-free for hours every night she used it.

If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be amazed at how it works.

TRY IT....THE ONLY THING YOU'VE GOT TO LOSE IS YOUR COUGH!

Money On Mondays - Short & Sweet

Since my postings tend to be a little long, I'm gonna try to keep these next few ones short and sweet.

A penny saved is a penny earned, is that old saying.  So I got this email that I thought I would share. 

A PENNY IN THE PARKING LOT

Remember this every time you pass that little penny in the parking lot.
I always thought that it was for good luck, but I love this version better.

I found a penny today
Laying on the ground.

But it's not just a penny,
This little coin I've found.

Found pennies come from heaven,
That's what Grandpa always told me.

He said Angels toss them down.
Oh, how I loved that story.

He said when an Angel misses you,
They toss a penny down;

Sometimes just to cheer you up,
To make a smile out of your frown.

So, don't pass by that penny
When you're feeling blue.

It may be a penny from heaven
That an Angel's tossed to you.

So now pass this on to people you care about and who you feel are Angels to you.
I just did.  An Angel is now watching over you.
Have A Great Day!

Scripture On Sundays - Teach By Example

This Sunday we commemorate the baptism of Our Lord.  The sermon today was about the parent's job of being the primary teachers of the faith to their children.  After you've taken the time and effort to have your children baptized, it's important to not stop there.  I know it's hard to take young children to church and expect them to sit still.  Attention spans and listening skills are not fully developed in the very young.  Yet we know words are important.  But in addition to that, if the partents set a good example of morality and values in the way they live their lives, that can have just as much of an impact as words, if not more so, in a young child's life.

In the first reading from the Old Testament (before Christ) the prophet Isaiah speaks to the Jews of the coming of the Messiah.

Comfort for God's People

1 Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. 3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,  lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, who rules by His strong arm. See, His reward is with Him, the One who will pay restitution for us accompanies Him.
11 He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40: 3-5,9-11

There was another option for the first reading, also from Isaiah.  I thought it had some insightful and very profound things to say, so I chose to include it.

The Servant of the Lord

1 "Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen One in whom I am pleased; I will put My Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise His voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice on the earth;
4 He will not falter or be discouraged until He establishes justice on the earth. The coastlands will wait for His teaching. In His law, the islands will put their hope."
5 This is what God the LORD says— He who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, Who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
6 "I, the LORD, have called You (Jesus) in righteousness and the victory of justice; I will take hold of Your Hand.  I formed You and set You to be a covenant for the people, and a light for the Gentiles and all the nations,
7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from the prison of their minds, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Isaiah 42: 1-7
 
In the second readings we are into the New Testament and and hear from Titus and the Acts of the Apostles.

What Must Be Taught to Various Groups

1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9 Teach workers to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,
10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Titus 2: 1-15

Doing What is Good

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (baptism),
6 whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. 
Titus 3: 3-4,6-11

You can only teach and warn a person so many times and then if they don't want to heed you, then you should "shake the dust from your feet" and move on.


Peter visits Cornelius, the Italian centurion
 
34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
35 but accepts (good) people from every nation, who fear Him and do what is right.
36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.
Acts 10: 34-38

The gospel from Luke recalls the baptism of Jesus, who is our Teacher and worthy Judge.

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But One more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.



The Baptism of Jesus


21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a Voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased."
Luke 3: 15-18,21-22 

Satire On Saturdays - The irony of it all

We're rich and we don't know it!!  This is more frustrating than
funny, in that we are not taking advantage of what can bring us
out of a bad economy. This is just another example of how our
lawmakers are pulling a sham on us! They all need to go!!!!

READ THIS -- IT WILL BOGGLE YOUR MIND!

Here's an interesting read, important and verifiable information :

About 6 months ago, the writer was watching a news program
on oil and one of the Forbes Bros. was the guest. The host said
to Forbes, "I am going to ask you a direct question and I would
like a direct answer; how much oil does the U.S. have in the
ground? " Forbes did not miss a beat, he said, "more than all the
Middle East put together. "

Please read below.

The U. S. Geological Service issued a report in April 2008 that
only scientists and oil men knew was coming, but man was it big.
It was a revised report (hadn't been updated since 1995) on how
much oil was in this area of the western 2/3 of North Dakota,
western South Dakota, and extreme eastern Montana.
Check THIS out:

The Bakken is the largest domestic oil discovery since Alaska's
Prudhoe Bay, and has the potential to eliminate all American
dependence on foreign oil. The Energy Information Administration
(EIA) estimates it at 503 billion barrels. Even if just 10% of the oil
is recoverable... at $107 a barrel, we're looking at a resource
base worth more than $5.3 trillion.

"When I first briefed legislators on this, you could practically see

their jaws hit the floor. They had no idea.. " says Terry Johnson,

he Montana Legislature's financial analyst.

"This sizable find is now the highest-producing onshore oil field
found in the past 56 years, " reports The Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
It's a formation known as the Williston Basin, but is more
commonly referred to as the 'Bakken'. It stretches from Northern
Montana, through North Dakota and into Canada.

For years, U. S. oil exploration has been considered a dead end.

Even the 'Big Oil' companies gave up searching for major oil

wells decades ago. However, a recent technological breakthrough
has opened up the Bakken's massive reserves....and we now have
access of up to 500 billion barrels. And because this is light,
sweet oil, those billions of barrels will cost Americans just $16
PER BARREL!  That's enough crude to fully fuel the American
economy for 2,041 years straight. And if THAT didn't throw you
on the floor, then this next one should - because it's from 2006!

U. S. Oil Discovery- Largest Reserve in the World

Stansberry Report Online - 4/20/2006

Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains
lies the largest untapped oil reserve in the world. It is more than

2 TRILLION barrels. On August 8, 2005 President Bush mandated
its extraction.  In three and a half years of high oil prices NONE
has been extracted.  With this motherload of oil why are we still
fighting over off-shore drilling?

They reported this stunning news: We have more oil inside our
borders, than all the other proven reserves on earth. Here are the
official estimates:

- 8-times as much oil as Saudi Arabia

- 18-times as much oil as Iraq

- 21-times as much oil as Kuwait

- 22-times as much oil as Iran

- 500-times as much oil as Yemen

- and it's all right here in the Western United States.

HOW can this BE? HOW can we NOT BE extracting this?
Because the environmentalists and others have blocked all efforts
to help America become independent of foreign oil! Again, we are
letting a small group of people dictate our lives and our economy.
WHY?

James Bartis, lead researcher with the study says we've got more

oil in this very compact area than the entire Middle East -more
than 2 TRILLION barrels untapped. That's more than all the
proven oil reserves of crude oil in the world today, reports the
Denver Post.

Don't think OPEC will drop its price - even with this find? Think

again! It's all about the competitive marketplace, - it has to.

Think, could it be possible OPEC just might be funding the

environmentalists?

Got your attention yet?  Many Americans should be demanding

we take advantage of these natural resources that could make us

independent from foreign oil.  We can still continue our research

on renewables like wind and solar, but this new technology has
not yet been developed enough to run our vehicles, homes and

machinery.  So in the meantime, the cry should be renewed....

"DRILL BABY, DRILL!" 

By the way...this is all true. Check it out at the link below!!!

GOOGLE it, or follow this link. It will blow your mind.

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911