Inspirational

[kong]

A Deep Truth
=============

This is one of those statements.

Few will understand it.
Fewer still will agree with it.
Even fewer will be able to digest it and make it practical.

In the early hours of prayer God spoke this to me.

I didn't understand it at first because things of the world hold
a strong grip on us all.

As years rolled by, its meaning and truth became clearer.
Deep truth is like that. It becomes clearer in time.

Don't ask me to explain it;
some truth is realized more than explained.

This is the statement, just as God spoke it word for word early
one morning in the darkness of the dawn in prayer.



"Anything beyond sufficiency is insignificant."

[kong]

FOUR WORDS
==========

A king called all of his wise men and counselors together for a
meeting. He addressed them and said, "I want you to go and
think, read, and research. Consult the wisest and most learned
men in the land. Spare no expense."
"I want you to find the ONE statement that will get me through
all situations in life. Whether I am on top of the world or in
the pits, find that statement."
"I don't want to learn long and complicated philosophies.
I want one simple statement. Find it or write it; I don't care,
just bring me the statement."
The men left and consulted for months.
They finally returned and handed the King a scroll.
The King unrolled the scroll. On it was written four words.
"THIS TOO SHALL PASS"
That was it.
The wise men explained.
When you are on top of the world, that is but a fleeting
moment, things change, always remember, this too shall pass.
When you are in the pits, all nights are followed by day, at
your lowest moments remember also, this too shall pass.
All external circumstances and material things change.
No matter what your circumstances, remember,
THIS TOO SHALL PASS!
The wise men reminded the great King that this would get him
through his earthly things but the truly wise knew there were
things beyond this earth and life. . .
Things that were eternal.
True wisdom they reminded the King was in the ability to
recognize the fleeting temporal things of the material world
from the truly eternal things.
O Great King they said, "Most of the things that you worry or
gloat about are temporary and our four words apply."
For most of your situations. . .
THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

[kong]

You are not alone.

You are not alone in suffering.
Most of us suffer in one form or another.
So says scripture:
"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble."
(Job 14:1 KJV)
"Seventy years are given to us! Some may even reach eighty.
But even the best of these years are filled with pain and trouble;
soon they disappear, and we are gone." (Psalms 90:10 NLT)
You are not alone.
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask
the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you
forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him,
because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for
he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:15-17 NIV)
You are not alone.
God sees, hears, and forgives you.
Often our problem is not with God forgiving us,
but in us forgiving ourselves.
God has forgiven us long ago, but we still carry the guilt.
Life is not futile, it is full.
It's just that everything in life is not pleasant.
You have considered ending it all.
What you have not considered is that ending it may put you in a
far worse place.
Believe it, there are much worse places and conditions.
You are ready to give up because you think no one cares.
You honestly feel that you are alone.
If only you could see the angels that surround you.
If only you knew the things that you have been kept from.
If only you knew the disasters you have been protected against.
Soldiers in the natural and the spiritual realms are on duty
right now to protect YOU.
When my 13-month-old son is sick, he feels terrible.
He wonders why he is sick.
He is unaware of all of the love that surrounds him because he
can only feel the pain of his sickness. When he is congested
and has trouble breathing; all he knows is that he feels like
he is suffocating.
Each breath that you take is a gift.
Even when it is hard to breathe,
you are still surrounded by love.
You are not alone. Know this.
To the person who submitted a prayer request to MountainWings
in desperation and despair, (you know who you are)
and to all others this applies to
...this is for you.

You are not alone.

[kong]

Heroes and Hoodlums
===================

Throughout this whole day constant trouble had been experienced
owing to the large number of drunken people along the waterfront.
My force was unarmed with the exception of the officers, who
carried revolvers; and the police, of whom I only saw two, were
absolutely helpless.
The crowds rushed saloon after saloon and looted the stocks
becoming intoxicated early in the day. In my opinion great loss
of life resulted from men and women becoming stupefied by liquor
and being too tired and exhausted to get out of the way of the fire.
During this whole day we needed unarmed men to rescue women and
children in the neighborhood of Rincon Hill, the fire having
made a clean sweep of this poor residence district in about an
hour's time. The most heartrending sights were witnessed in
this neighborhood, but with my handful of men we could not do as
much for the helpless as we wished.
Able-bodied men refused to work with the fire department,
stating that they would not work for less than forty cents an
hour, etc. Men refused to aid old and crippled men and women
out of the way of the fire and only thought of themselves.
~excerpted verbatim from the account of Frederick N. Freeman
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, Commanding U.S.T.B.D. Perry~
This was an excerpt from the report of a naval officer involved
in the rescue and fire fighting operations of one of the
greatest U.S. natural disasters ever, the San Francisco
earthquake and resulting fire in April, 1906.
That was 99 years ago.
People are the same, yesterday, today, and most likely tomorrow.
There will always be heroes and hoodlums.


Be a hero.

[kong]

The Pink Dress

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park.
Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad.
Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by.
She never tried to speak.
She never said a word.
Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.
The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there.
Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes.
Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl.
For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone.
As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress.
It was grotesquely shaped.
I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her.
Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different.
As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare.
As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly.
She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form.
I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk.
I sat down beside her and opened with a simple,
"Hello".
The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi"; after a long stare into my eyes.
I smiled and she shyly smiled back.
We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty.
I asked the girl why she was so sad.
The little girl looked at me with a sad face said,
"Because, I'm different".
I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled.
The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."
"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."
She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"
"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by."
She nodded her head yes, and smiled.
With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am."
I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye......
I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things.
She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself.
My job here is done".
I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?"
She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone.
And with that, my life was changed dramatically.
So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.
Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you.
Make sure you send it back to the person who sent it to you, to let them know you're glad they care about you.
Like the story says, we all need someone...
And, every one of your friends is an Angel in their own way.
The value of a friend is measured in the heart.
I hope your Guardian Angel watches over you always.

[kong]

Choose Your Words Well
=======================
A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best friend of many years. She regretted it immediately and would have done anything to have taken the words back. But they were said impulsively in a moment of thoughtlessness, and as close as she and her friend were, she didn't consider the effects of her words before hand.
What she said hurt the friend so much that this good woman was herself hurt for the pain she caused. In her effort to undo
what she had done, she went to an older, wiser woman in the village, explained her situation, and asked for advice.
The older woman listened patiently in an effort to determine just how sincere the younger woman was, how far she was willing to go to correct the situation. She explained that sometimes, in order to put things back in order, great efforts must be made.
She then asked, "Just what would you be willing to do to repair the harm done?" The answer was heartfelt. "Anything!"
Listening to her, the older woman sensed the younger woman's distress and knew she must help her. She also knew she could
never alleviate her pain by living her life for her, but she could teach, if the younger woman would first listen and then
learn. She knew the outcome would depend solely on the character of the younger woman. She said, "There are two things you need to do to make amends. The first of the two is extremely difficult.
Tonight, take your best feather pillows and open a small hole in each one. Then, before the sun rises, you must put a single
feather on the doorstep of each house in town. When you are through, come back to me. If you've done the first thing completely, I'll tell you the second."
The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore, even though the pillows were very dear to her and very expensive.
All night long, she labored alone in the cold. She went from doorstep to doorstep, taking care not to overlook a single
house. Her fingers were frozen, the wind was so sharp it caused her eyes to water, but she ran on through the darkened streets, thankful there was something she could do to put things back the way they once were.
Finally as the sky was getting light, she placed the last feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose, she returned to the older woman.
She was exhausted but relieved that her efforts would be rewarded.
"My pillows are empty. I placed a feather on the doorstep of each home." "Now," said the wise woman, "Go back and refill your pillows. Then everything will be as it was before."
The young woman was stunned. "You know that's impossible! The wind blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps! You didn't say I had to get them back! If this is the second requirement, then things will never be the same."
"That's true," said the older woman. "Never forget. Each of your words is like a feather in the wind. Once spoken, no
amount of effort, regardless how heartfelt or sincere, can ever return them to your mouth. Choose your words well and guard
them most of all in the presence of those you love."

Author Unknown

[kong]

Did God create everything that exists?


A University professor at a well-known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?" A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!" "God created everything?" The professor asked. "Yes sir, he certainly did," the student replied. The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil. And, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."
The student became quiet and did not answer the professor's hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that religious faith was a myth.
Another student raised his hand and said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"
"Of course", replied the professor. The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?" "What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?" The other students snickered at the young man's question.
The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat." The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?" The professor responded, "Of course it does." The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?" Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil. To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God."
"God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down. The young man's name? -- Albert Einstein.


Share your faith with others!

[Oldschool]

Great read :)

[kong]

thanks

[kong]

REMEMBER
=========


* Remember that your presence is a present to the world.

* Remember that you are a unique and unrepeatable creation.

* Remember that your life can be what you want it to be.

* Remember to take the days just one at a time.

* Remember to count your blessings, not your troubles.

* Remember that you'll make it through whatever comes along.

* Remember that most of the answers you need are within you.

* Remember those dreams waiting to be realized.

* Remember that decisions are too important to leave to chance.

* Remember to always reach for the best that is within you.

* Remember that nothing wastes more energy than worry

* Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a
wonderful stroke of luck.

* Remember that the longer you carry a grudge,
the heavier it gets.

* Remember not to take things too seriously.

* Remember to laugh.

* Remember that a little love goes a long way.

* Remember that a lot goes forever.

* Remember that happiness is more often found in giving than
getting.

* Remember that life's treasures are people, not things.

[kong]

Watch the Hoodlums
===================

Many of you have heard newscasters say that Katrina is the worst U.S. disaster since 1906. The San Francisco earthquake and fires were in 1906. The above issue, "Heroes and Hoodlums" included an excerpt from a Navy Lieutenant detailing the mob
that looted saloons and became so drunk and disorderly that many men and women died in the fires that destroyed the city because they were drunk. They refused to help unless they were paid forty cents an hour.
People may think that when disaster strikes that humans sink to their lowest levels of morality and behavior. Not so.
You find both heroes and hoodlums in disaster.
You will notice one common factor in the 1906 San Francisco drunken mobs and the 2005 New Orleans group causing trouble.
The New Orleans group has a large percentage of blacks.
The San Francisco group was all white.
Race was NOT the common factor.
It was not religion. The dominate religion of both was Christian.
There was no hip-hop music, no TV, no heavy metal music, no crack cocaine or other modern drugs in 1906.
But there was a common factor.
From the Lieutenant's report, "this poor residence district...""The most heartrending sights were witnessed in this neighborhood." The common factor was poor neighborhoods.
Both groups felt oppressed, deprived, overlooked, misused, and mostly abandoned by society. You have to be in the situation to really understand the emotions that feeling oppressed can breed. It doesn't just last for a few days either. Often you are born into it and realize that most likely you will die in it.
Poor
When the earthquake hit San Francisco 99 years ago, some took to the streets and looted saloons and got drunk.
When Katrina hit New Orleans some took to the streets and took items they thought were of material value.
The thing that most don't see and that the news does not emphasize is that it is NOT most of the people, only a minority.
Most of the people from the neighborhood in San Francisco did not loot the saloons, only a portion, but it was that portion
and minority who got written up and talked about in the Lieutenant's report because they were out front causing trouble.
Some would not help others unless they were paid because they felt society had been robbing them all along and they weren't
going to help "those" folks unless someone paid them.
I don't condone what either group did, but I can understand how feeling oppressed, misused, and abandoned can create pent up hostility and resentment. I sold newspapers when I was a boy in both the rich and poor neighborhoods of Atlanta. I had the ability to feel the spirit in the house the minute the door was opened. There was joy and depression, good and bad, in both rich and poor areas but economic strife born of oppression and hopelessness adds an extra layer of stress that multiplies problems. Perhaps the real disaster was neither Katrina nor the earthquake. It was the conditions that created such neighborhoods in the first place while all around them was excessive wealth.
Perhaps that is the real disaster, and perhaps the real hoodlums don't live in poor neighborhoods. The real hoodlums don't use ghetto guns. They don't shoot at helicopters; they own them. There is nothing wrong with being rich. But there is something wrong with getting richer and exploiting others to make yourself wealthier beyond what you will ever need or spend. Tell me if you don't feel robbed when you fill up your car. Tell me if you don't feel robbed when you get your heating bill this winter and it is double the high bills of last year. Tell me if you don't feel robbed when you can't afford the gas
to get to work or to take your child to baseball practice. If you can't afford the gas to get to work, guess which
neighborhood you are headed to? While you were watching people wade down the street with a few purloined items, did you notice that YOUR wallet was much lighter? A real good pickpocket takes your money, and you don't realize he's got it.
It's called the art of distraction.
So sit back in your easy chair, and watch the hoodlums.

[kong]

Once upon a time...................
There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men. He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times. Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her. One day, the merchant fell ill.
Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!" Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold. He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help & you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came
like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated. Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!"
Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives . . .
The 4th wife is our body.
No matter how much time & effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
Our 3rd wife?
Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
The 1st wife is in fact our Spirit, often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure.
Guess what?
It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go.
Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament the neglect . . .

Today is a good day to start courting the real first lady.

[kong]

Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world.

- Etty Hillesum,
died in Auschwitz in 1943 at the age of 29.