1 posted on 03/22/2004 5:01:29 AM PST by The Mayor

To: ST.LOUIE1; Aquamarine; Billie; dansangel; dutchess; Mama_Bear; FreeTheHostages; .45MAN; Aeronaut; ..

The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. -Proverbs 10:7

I'd rather die than bring disgrace
Upon my Lord, His name debase;
So I will live my life each day
To honor Christ and walk His way. Hess

When others think of you, do they think of Jesus?

2 posted on 03/22/2004 5:02:22 AM PST by The Mayor (Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve)

GOOD MORNING ((((TM))))!

Can't talk now, LTTRM! LOL!

LTTRM+ Liberal to the right of me.

3 posted on 03/22/2004 5:05:41 AM PST by Pippin (Each day is a gift from God. ---That's why it's called the PRESENT!)

4 posted on 03/22/2004 5:06:21 AM PST by W04Man (Bush2004 Grassroots Campaign visit W-04.com for FREE STICKERS)

To: The Mayor; ST.LOUIE1; Aquamarine; Billie; dansangel; dutchess; Mama_Bear; FreeTheHostages; LadyX; ..

Morning everybody; hope you have a wonderful day and great week!

5 posted on 03/22/2004 5:08:18 AM PST by nicmarlo

6 posted on 03/22/2004 5:10:08 AM PST by Pippin (Each day is a gift from God. ---That's why it's called the PRESENT!)

To: All; The Mayor; Billie; Pippin; dutchess; mountaineer; dansangel; ohioWfan; DollyCali; WVNan; ...

Military Monday salute to you Mayor, everyone!

Okay, the calendar says "It's Spring!", for pete's sake!!!

7 posted on 03/22/2004 5:16:44 AM PST by Molly Pitcher

To: Major Matt Mason; birdsman; Victoria Delsoul; nicmarlo; deadhead; DollyCali; eleni121; rocky88; ...

Good Morning to Western New York !

8 posted on 03/22/2004 5:20:06 AM PST by The Mayor (Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve)

To: Pippin; W04Man; nicmarlo; Molly Pitcher

9 posted on 03/22/2004 5:22:43 AM PST by The Mayor (Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve)

Good morning Mr. Mayor.

10 posted on 03/22/2004 5:28:23 AM PST by Aeronaut (John Kerry's mother always told him that if you can't say anything nice, run for president. ....)

To: Molly Pitcher

the calendar says "It's Spring!", for pete's sake!!!

Darn right! We got only about an inch of snow - er, I mean spring - last night, but we should thaw out by the end of the week.

11 posted on 03/22/2004 5:34:36 AM PST by mountaineer

Mornin Aeronaut !

You post some kool stuff at the foxhole..

12 posted on 03/22/2004 5:37:23 AM PST by The Mayor (Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve)

To: mountaineer; Molly Pitcher

Look at the blasted temp ! 17 degrees on Mar 22,
had 14" of snow last week on Stpaddys day

13 posted on 03/22/2004 5:42:05 AM PST by The Mayor (Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve)

You post some kool stuff at the foxhole..

Thanks. It's kinda fun to find the "unusual."

14 posted on 03/22/2004 5:42:56 AM PST by Aeronaut (John Kerry's mother always told him that if you can't say anything nice, run for president. ....)

To: ST.LOUIE1; Aquamarine; Billie; dansangel; dutchess; Mama_Bear; FreeTheHostages; .45MAN; Aeronaut; ..

March 22, 2004

Making A Name

Read: Proverbs 10:1-17

The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. —Proverbs 10:7

Bible In One Year: Joshua 10-12; Luke 1:39-56

In the mid-1800s, Texas rancher Samuel Augustus Maverick refused to brand his cattle. When neighboring cowboys came upon a calf without a brand, they called it a "maverick." The word entered the English language and came to refer to a person who takes an independent stand and refuses to conform.

Other names have become words that describe a person's character and behavior: Judas and Benedict Arnold both mean "traitor." An Einstein is a genius, while a Solomon is a wise man.

Few of our names will become part of a language, but they signify who we are and how we have lived—today and for generations to come. Solomon said, "The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. . . . He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known" (Proverbs 10:7,9).

When we think of someone we know and admire, the words we associate with that person's name are usually the character traits we'd like to have as well. Honesty, generosity, and love often head the list. We see these in our Lord Jesus Christ, who allows us as Christians to bear His name.

Today, the Lord wants to work in us to make our name one that points to Him. —David McCasland

I'd rather die than bring disgrace
Upon my Lord, His name debase;
So I will live my life each day
To honor Christ and walk His way. —Hess

When others think of you, do they think of Jesus?

15 posted on 03/22/2004 5:45:44 AM PST by The Mayor (Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve)

Kool shot of the MOAB

16 posted on 03/22/2004 5:49:05 AM PST by The Mayor (Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve)

To: The Mayor; mountaineer

:-))..As the radio announcer said this a.m.... "Spring is eluding us."

Not for much longer, I hope!

Tis true, Mayor.... whenever I want to feel better in the winter, I think of Buffalo. Sorry!

17 posted on 03/22/2004 5:50:41 AM PST by Molly Pitcher

To: The Mayor; Billie; Mama_Bear; dansangel; dutchess; Aquamarine; SpookBrat; LadyX; nicmarlo; ...

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Monday !
________________________________________________________

18 posted on 03/22/2004 5:52:35 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (The Democrats say they believe in CHOICE. I have chosen to vote STRAIGHT TICKET GOP for years !!)

THE CHOICE

He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on
the ground.

All of the Garden's inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks
hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on
petals and watched.

"You will love me, creation," God said. "I made you that way. You will
obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my
glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be
like me. This one will be able to choose."

All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed
something yet unseen. A seed. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice."

Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form.

An angel spoke, "But what if he..."

"What if he chooses not to love?" the Creator finished. "Come, I will
show you." Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of
tomorrow. "There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet
and the bitter."

The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion.
Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the
love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters.

He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and
marveled at the warmth.

"Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your
greatest creation."

"Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter." A stench
enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, "What
is it?"

The Creator spoke only one word: "Selfishness."

The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of
repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths.

"This is the result of choice? the angel asked.

"Yes."

"They will forget you?"

"Yes."

"They will reject you?"

"Yes."

"They will never come back"?

"Some will. Most won't."

"What will it take to make them listen?"

The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future,
until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him.

With another step into the future, he paused before another tree. It
stood alone, a stubborn ruler on a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the
wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon he would be hung on it.

He felt the wood rub against a back he did not yet wear.

"Will you go down there?" the angel asked.

"I will."

"Is there no other way?"

"There is not."

"Wouldn't it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn't it be easier
to not give the choice?"

"It would," the Creator spoke slowly. "But to remove the choice is to
remove the love."

He look around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on
three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind. Men clad in soldier's garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.

Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant,
cocky. They had protected God, they thought by killing this false one.

Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless.
Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly, "I will stay."

All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity
poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.

"It must be done...," he said, and withdrew.

But as he stepped in time, he heard the cry that he would someday
scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He wrenched at tomorrow's agony.

The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful........"

The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love."

They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the
clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him. God's form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened.

But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of
the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped. Perhaps it was the wind that said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it:

"It looks like ... it appears to so much like ... it is him!"

The angel wasn't speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He
was looking inside - at the soul.

"It's eternal!" gasped another.

Within the man, God has placed a divine seed. A seed of himself (A
seed of choice). The God of might had created earth's mightiest... And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.

Now it's our choice.

-- Author Unknown

19 posted on 03/22/2004 6:10:53 AM PST by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)

20 posted on 03/22/2004 6:22:28 AM PST by The Mayor (Instead of grumbling because you don't get what you want, be thankful you don't get what you deserve)

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