A CONSPIRACY THEORY
Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening
address to his evil angels, he said, "We can't keep
the Christians from going to church. We can't keep
them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth.
We can't even keep them from forming an intimate,
abiding relationship experience in Christ.
If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power
over Them is broken. So let them go to their churches;
let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal
their time, so they can't gain that relationship with
Jesus Christ."
"This is what I want you to do, angels. Distract them
from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that
vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" shouted his angels. "Keep
them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent
innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he
answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend,
and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go
to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7
days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford
their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time
with their children. As their family fragments, soon,
their home will offer no escape from the pressures of
work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear
that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio
or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the
TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their
home and see to it that every store and restaurant
in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This
will jam their minds and break that union with
Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.
Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade
their driving moments with billboards. Flood their
mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,
sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and
promotional offering free products, services and false
hopes." "Keep skinny, beautiful models on the
magazines so the husbands will believe that external
beauty is what's important, and they'll become
dissatisfied with their wives. Ha! That will fragment
those families quickly!"
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have
them return from their recreation exhausted,
disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don't
let them go out in nature to reflect on God's wonders.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events,
concerts and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy,
busy!
And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve
them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with
troubled consciences and unsettled motions." "Go
ahead, let them be involved in soul winning; but crowd
their lives with so many good causes they have
no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be
working in their own strength, sacrificing their
health and family for the good of the cause." "It will
work!" "It will work!"
It was quite a convention. The evil angels went
eagerly To their assignments causing Christians
everywhere to get more busy and more rushed, going
here and there. I guess the question is:
Has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be
the judge! Does "busy" mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
"When Jesus Looks"
(by Chick Velasco)
When Jesus looks upon my life,
What picture does He see?
Does He see His own reflection,
Or does He just see me?
Does He see His likeness,
The product of His hand?
Or just another Christian,
Who never took a stand?
Does He see a child of God,
A child that He set free,
Living life to honor Him,
Or does He just see me?
What about the other folks,
I meet along the way?
Do I show them Jesus,
To brighten up their day?
When someone looks into my eyes,
Can they truly see,
That calm and gentle peace of God,
That dwells inside of me?
When I reach out and shake a hand,
Is He right there in my grip?
Can they feel that strength from God,
That steadies when I slip?
When folks are in my presence,
Do they know His Spirit's there?
Can they see that He's the one,
Who guides me everywhere?
When other people think of me,
What is on their mind?
Do they think of Jesus Christ,
So gentle and so kind?
I try to be like Jesus,
Every single day.
Spreading love and kindness,
All along my way.
I'm afraid that I have failed,
I could not pass the test.
Deep inside my heart I know,
I haven't done my best.
I have had to fight my flesh,
Since the day that I was born.
It's always causing trouble,
And being such a thorn.
That's why His Spirit dwells in me,
He's helping me to learn.
In every situation,
Where I need to turn.
He knew I'd never pass the test,
That's why He took my place.
He gave His life to save my soul,
He suffered my disgrace.
Now I try to be like Him,
I must present Him well.
So other folks will want His gift,
And turn their backs on hell.
Other folks should see the joy,
That Christ has given me.
They should want to have it too,
Especially since it's free.
They should begin to ask me,
What is it they must do?
Just how it is they go about,
Getting Jesus, too?
Then I get to tell them,
This wondrous gift is free.
It only takes a humble heart,
A prayer on bended knee.
Someday when I'm face to face,
With the Lord who set me free.
Will He see His own reflection,
Or will He just see me?
It's an inexplicable dilemma
how two people can hear the same words
and see the same Savior,
and one see hope
and the other see nothing but himself."
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him:
'Aren't You the Christ? Save Yourself and us!
But the other criminal rebuked him."
(Luke 23: 39-40)
Easter
The Lady's name was Edith Burns. She was a wonderful Christian who
lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a fine Christian doctor
by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw
patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.
One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because
of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith
with her big black Bible in her lap. She was earnestly talking to a
young mother sitting beside her. Dr. Phillips knew why Edith was there
and what she was doing. You see, Edith Burns had a habit of introducing
herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in
Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times
people would be saved.
Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse
Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood
pressure. Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you
believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do
you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts,
going to church, and dressing up." Well Edith
kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her
to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite
yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.
After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when
she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad?
Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"
Dr. Phillips said, "Now Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient."
With a heavy heart he said, "your lab report came back and it says you
have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long." Edith
said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God
makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord
Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am
going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving
me my ticket!"
Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith
Burns is!" Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips every day. Christmas
came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the
office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith
called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her
story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you
make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to
know about Easter.
Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room
with Edith. Many women were gloriously saved. Everybody on that floor
from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started
calling her Edith Easter; everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head
nurse.
She made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she
was a "religious nut."
She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard
it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three
times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book. Well, one
morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had
the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a
flu shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and
said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying
for you." Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, you
religious nut, it won't work. I'm not interested." Edith said, "Well, I
will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come
into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because
that will never happen." She walked out of the room.
Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into that room and Edith would say,
God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One
day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a
magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said,"I'm
so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special
day." Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the
question, 'Do you believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me."
Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait
until you asked, and now that you have asked..." Edith Burns took her
Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death,
burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you
believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that
He wants to live in your heart?" Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to
believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life."
Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her
heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital
room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.
Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what
day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday." Edith
said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"
Well, two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did
some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got
some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give
her those Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into
Edith's room, Edith was in bed.
That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible and
there was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up
Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John
14:
In my Father's house are manymansions. I go to prepare a place for
you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you
may be also."
Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every
tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away." Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then
lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here
cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith Burns - Happy Easter!"
Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a
table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is
Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?
Thousand Marbles
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the
quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the
unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few
hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming cup
of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a
typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life
seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it.
I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday
morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You
know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business
himself.
He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom." I was
intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.
"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they
pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your
family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty
or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your
daughter's dance recital."
He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped
me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he
began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average
person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some
live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."
"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the
number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.
Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part."
"It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in
any detail," he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over
twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be
seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy."
"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I
ended up having to visit three toy stores to roundup 1000 marbles. I took
them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right
here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have
taken one marble out and thrown it away."
"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the
really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time
here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take
my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last
marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday
then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved
ones......
"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your
loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"
You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show's
moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave
us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning,
then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a
kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."
"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.
"Oh, nothing special," I said. " It has just been a long time since we
spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store
while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."
MAY ALL YOUR SATURDAYS BE SPECIAL AND MAY YOU HAVE MANY HAPPY YEARS
AFTER YOU LOSE ALL YOUR MARBLES.
The Mom
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently
completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every
human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was
called "Smile."
The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and
document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always
smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of
cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest
son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just
our way of sharing special play time with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a
sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my
husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of
panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell,
and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was
"smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he
searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins
he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood
behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient and
the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at
the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all
Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to
sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something.
He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost
reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when
I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every
action.I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more
breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to
the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put
the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold
hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank
you."
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do
this for you.
God is here working through me to give you hope." I started
to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my
husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey. To
give me hope."
We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only
because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are
not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure
Light of God's sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with
this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it.
Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She
began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being
part of God,share this need to heal people and be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my
husband,son,instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the
last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the
biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. Much love and
compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn
how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
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