[Aquamarine]

Come on in and enjoy another humorous and insightful essay written by JohnHuang2!

[dutchess]

Fabulous job Aqua. Brilliant!!!!!! Thanks!!!!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Aqua.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Thursday !

[GailA]

Good Morning FRiends...another zinger John

Coffee's on

[The Mayor]

Oh, that you would be silent, and it would be your wisdom! —Job 13:5

Listening may be the most loving thing you do today.

[The Mayor]

March 18, 2004

Friends Listen

Read: Job 13:1-9

Oh, that you would be silent, and it would be your wisdom! —Job 13:5

Bible In One Year: Deuteronomy 32-34; Mark 15:26-47

---

It is about 9 in the evening. My wife Ginny and I are sitting in our living room. I'm reading a book. Suddenly she says, "Honey, I want to talk with you for a few minutes." She begins to talk—then she abruptly asks, "Are you listening?"

I'm tempted to reply, "Of course I am. I'm only 2 feet away from you." But actually my mind is still on what I'm reading. I need to close the book and give my full attention to what Ginny is saying. She deserves that from me.

Job too was frustrated because his friends weren't paying attention to what he was saying to them. He sensed that while he was talking they were planning their next response. They were bent on trying to convince him that his suffering was punishment for sin in his life. They were not listening to the deep cry of Job's heart.

Many of us are poor listeners too. Teenagers can be frustrated because their parents always have a quick answer, when actually they just want someone to listen to their struggles and accept them. One teen said, "Sometimes I would just like to talk until I know what I want to say."

Deep relationships are built on acceptance, understanding, and being a good listener. —Herb Vander Lugt

When our friends encounter suffering,
We can help them if we're near;
Some may need a word of comfort,
Others just a listening ear. —Sper

Listening may be the most loving thing you do today.

[FreeTheHostages]

[ST.LOUIE1]

Excellent graphics, Aqua.

Good morning, dear. : )

[Billie]

Okay, every week "This is the best one yet!" I'm not sure how that can be, but it seems to be. :)

Aqua, thank you very, very much for putting this together at the last minute - I hope you know how much I appreciate it, and those pictures! They are again just a super choice to highlight John's words! :)

I love your Welcome graphic! What a cutie!

[Billie]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess; Aquamarine, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son katykelly............................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother kimmie7.....................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons Spruce.....................daughter Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding.....active duty thumperusn.............active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear.........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel..................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son cookcounty..............son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons TexKat..............son, step-son Rose in RoseBear.cousin's hubby Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece Donaeus...............nephew dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son Redhead....step-granddaughter Redhead..step-granddaughter fiance Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy...niece Sunflowergal.......grandson visualops..cousin,adopted Marine

[FreeTheHostages]

Good one, John and Aqua!

Y'all, I don't know if you've gotten a chance but I do commend to you the excellent Christopher Hitchens piece on the Spanish elections, which can be viewed at slate.com

[dutchess]

In the "cult classic" Eddie and the Cruisers, (a must see BTW) reference is made to a writer and musician...the french word "ce seur" (sp) which means "words and music". The same can be said for you two...except for "words and graphics". Excellent essay John...awesome graphics Aqua!

[LadyX]

Evenin' JH - - just gettin' around to my 'Dear John" Letter # 1,020 :

"But have you checked out his party? Oh, just a bunch of appeasers. A moonbat brigade of socialists, just like him. Of 'peace at any price' radicals, just like him. Everything about his party is extreme -- way, way, out on the fringe, just like him. So fringe are he and his party, they seem to think we owe Osama an apology -- for our power, for our freedoms, for our way of life. Can you believe that? It's mindless. Well, anyway, enough about Kerry and the Democrats."

The Democrat/Socialist Party of The First Part it is, hopefully one day to become as extinct as this guy:

Talkin' about fringe, it can easily unravel. . . trouble is, they are risking the unraveling of the American Flag.

We surely need to do everything possible to hold the line, man the ramparts and never relent in holding against their brazen and deadly advances.

If Jean Robespierre LeKerry were to be elected President, Americans would have to place "911" on our individual Speed Dial Lists....

That is a segue into my attempt to be more creative for you, Dear John!
After all, there is news today of the noose narrowing around .

Since The War of 911 began on 9-1-2001 when terrorists attacked the United States, and Osama bin Laden is credited with being its mastermind, I have composed a ditty, based upon the old song, Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey - -

Won't you come home, Bin Laden?
Won't you come home?
We've looked the whole night long - -
We'll do the cookin', honey; we'll pay the rent -
We wanna do you wrooong . . .

`~ ~ U. S. Special Forces ~ ~

P. S. We found Osama's MRE's:

Message to Binny: These guys were sent by me personally - -

~ ~ ~ America Will Not Forget ~ ~ ~

Singin' and signin' off, JH,

LadyX

[Mixer]

Before I go to bed I wanted to wish a Happy FREEPER ANIVERSARY to our very own FReepper Finest member Mama Bear. Sorry so later but better late then not at all.

Good Night everyone.

[Mama_Bear]

I've been having computer problems, sort of limping along here keeping my fingers crossed that I don't crash before I get this posted.

Thank you both for this thread today. Another great essay, John! "Don't ya love it when a plan comes together so beautifully?"....Yes, indeedy I do! LOL.

Aqua, that welcome graphic is just adorable. Even JK said so. ;-)

(((((((((((JH2)))))))))))
((((((((((Aqua))))))))))