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A PSALM OF SUMMER
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Now it came to pass that spring turned to summer. God's people raised their voices and said:
Recreation is my shepherd; I shall not stay at home; He maketh me to lie down in a sleeping bag. He leadeth me down to the interstate each weekend. He restoreth my suntan; He leadeth me to state parks for comfort's sake. Even though I stray on the Lord's Day, I will fear no reprimand For thou art with me, my rod and reel they comfort me. I anointeth my skin with oil, my gas tank runneth dry; Surely my trailer shall follow me all the weekends this summer.
By Johnny The Baptist
www.johnnythebaptist.org
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Kroger Shoot Out
The Big Bang!
When I was in college at Tennessee Temple around 1985 or 1986 a friend and I were going to go to pick-up some snacks at Kroger. When we got there we went our separate ways to get what we wanted. I was just about finished so I headed for the check out. When all of a sudden I heard gun shots and people were running. Right in front of me was a lady and a small infant. Before I knew it they both were shot and fell to the floor. People came flying by me screaming and crying and saying, “He’s got a gun and he’s shooting people.” About that time more shots were fired. I turned and ran in the deli area behind the counter. There were a lot of women in there hiding and I was the only guy. Naturally, they were all crying and scared, and so was I. I said to myself, “great this is all I need right now is a bunch of emotional women.” I told everybody to shut-up and be quiet. I was not brought up to tell my elders to shut-up, but at the moment someone had to take “charge.” Some of the women were trying to crawl and hide in cabinets, some were saying, “Were going to die.” More shots were fired, but no one knew where the killer was. All we knew was that we didn’t want him to come to the deli area. From where I was I could see down two or three aisles because of the position of the deli in the store. I began to worry about my friend Joe. You see, Joe wasn’t the brightest star in the sky. By the providence of God I saw Joe. Joe was not hiding or running you see, he was shopping for some milk (got milk?). “What is he doing,” I said to myself. I began to try and get his attention by waving my arms and jumping up and down, without making any noise. Nothing seemed to work so I hollered for him. He turned and looked at me kinda funny, and said, “What are you doing in there Marc?” I said to myself, “I’m better off with the women.” I motioned for him to come there. He came and I asked him did he hear the gun shots and he said, “I thought they were balloons popping. So we hid and stayed very quit until more shots were fired. They seemed as if they came from the back of the store. We thought that maybe he was going through the store killing people. Women continued to cry and try to hide. I was scared as much as them but tried not to show it. I began to think about life and death, because it was starring me in the face. I didn’t want to die! I wanted to live, just like anybody. I thought about my best friend, my fiancé’, Beth, and how much I loved her. Maybe I’ll never see her again and be able to tell her how much I love her. Tears began to flow, not because I was scared, but because of my love for my future wife. We continued to sit quietly waiting and not knowing what to expect. Joe and I began to talk between us that there must be cops outside by now for, sure. We continued to look down the few aisles that we could see, to see if we could see anyone. About that time we saw more people running down more aisles, as if they were running for their life. And I guess they were. A few more minutes went by and we saw a cop coming toward the deli when all of a sudden he told us to stay down. He said that they were not sure where the man was at. Before long there was about forty-five police officers forming a solid line of protection, with their guns pulled, standing shoulder to shoulder, motioning for us to run behind them. I thought to myself, “These men are willing to die for me, and they don’t even know me. Some of them are married and have children at home.” Tears filled my eyes (and still does to this day) as I saw this courageous act of bravery. The officer in charge told us to run as fast as we could, and to stay behind the wall of men. We took off and ran out the store to safety. We later found out that the man had shot and killed himself in the back of the store. The only two people that were shot were his girlfriend and their baby. Both of them lived.
My story ends, but the lessons I learned that day have never ceased. Fear was real and death starred me in the face. It was kinda like being in the movies, except I was playing the part. I found out that day I truly loved my future wife, because I was thinking of her the whole time. I also learned to truly respect police officers and the job that they have chosen to have. Their wives and families ought to be proud of them each day. I am. When I owned a Locksmith business in South Carolina, just about every month a sheriff deputy or city police officer wanted me to cut them a personal key. I never charge them, but thank them for their service and their willingness to die for me and my family. Finally, that God is in control. That killer could have come into the deli just as easy as he went to the back of the store, but God directed him somewhere else. I could have been shot instead of the young girl in front of me, and possibly killed. But God wasn’t through with me yet. You see, he wanted me to write this story and share it with others. Paul said in Philippians 1:16 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” God’s not through with me yet. Neither is God through with you yet either. God had a divine plan for your life, with a divine purpose. You may feel like God would never use you, but He can and He will if you let Him.
By Marc Grizzard
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Ministry Of Jesus In 1999
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If Jesus were to do His same ministry on earth in 1999, He would be wanted by....
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the FDA for turning water into wine without a license ...
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the EPA for killing fig trees ...
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the AMA for practicing medicine without a license ...
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the Dept. of Health for asking people to open graves, for raising the dead and for feeding 5,000 people in the wilderness ...
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the NEA for teaching without a certificate ...
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OSHA for walking on water without a life-jacket and for flying without an airplane ...
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the SPCA for driving hogs into the sea ...
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the NATIONAL BOARD of PSYCHIATRISTS for giving advice on how to live a guilt-free life ...
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the INTER-FAITH MOVEMENT for condemning all other religions ...
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and by the ZONING DEPT. for building mansions without a permit.
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My Mother
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A teacher asked a boy this question: "Suppose your mother baked a pie and there were seven of you--your parents and five children. What part of the pie would you get?" "A sixth," replied the boy. "I'm afraid you don't know your fractions," said the teacher. "Remember, there are seven of you." "Yes, teacher," said the boy, "but you don't know my mother. Mother would say she didn't want any pie."
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No One Cared For My Soul
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"I walked down the street,
Christians passing me by,
No one cared for my soul.
I stopped at a house,
I knocked at the door,
There was no anser
And though I knocked more.
No one cared for my soul.
I turned toward the church,
My feet getting faster,
For I was seeking a pastor,
But as I reached there
I found the door latched.
No one cared for my soul.
I turned in my grief and cried,
"O what shall I do?"
"O where shall I go?"
But as I looked around,
I heard a Voice saying,
"I care for your soul!"
I shouted for joy,
For I knew at last,
No doubt remained,
That Someone, Jesus, cared for my soul.
By Samuel Weller Gray
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Taxes
TAXES
A tax assessor came one day to a poor Christian to determine the amount of taxes he would have to pay. The following conversation took place:
'What property do you possess?' asked the assessor.
'I am a very wealthy man,' replied the Christian.
'List your possessions, please,' the assessor instructed.
The Christian said:
'First, I have everlasting life, John 3:16
Second, I have a mansion in heaven, John 14:2
Third, I have peace that passes all understanding, Philippians 4:7
Fourth, I have joy unspeakable, 1 Peter 1:8
Fifth, I have divine love which never fails, 1 Corinthians 13:8
Sixth, I have a faithful wife, Proverbs 31:10
Seventh, I have healthy, happy obedient children, Exodus 20:12
Eighth, I have true, loyal friends, Proverbs 18:24
Ninth, I have songs in the night, Psalms 42:8
Tenth, I have a crown of life, James 1:12'
The tax assessor closed his book, and said, 'Truly you are a very rich man, but your property is not subject to taxation.'
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The Bible vs The TV Guide
The Bible Vs. The TV Guide

On the table side by side,
The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride,
But that one is not the Bible, it's the TV Guide.
As the pages are turned what shall they see?
It doesn't matter, just turn on the TV.
Then is the confusion started for they can't all agree,
What they shall watch on that old TV.
So they refer to the Book in which they all confide,
But it's not the Bible, it's the TV Guide.
The Word of God is seldom read,
Maybe a verse or two just before bed.
Exhausted and sleepy, tired as can be,
Not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV.
Then back to the table, side by side,
The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word.
The plan of salvation is seldom heard.
Forgiveness of sin so full and free,
We find in the Bible and not on TV.
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The Call Of Death

THE CALL OF DEATH
What is this that I can't see?
With icy hands taking hold of me?
"I am Death; none can excel,
I open the doors to heaven and hell.
"I'll fix your feet so you can't walk,
I'll lock your jaws so you can't talk,
I'll shut your eyes so you can't see;
This VERY HOUR come go with me."
"O Mother, come to my bed,"
She placed a cold towel on his head,
"My head is hot, my feet are cold,
Death is putting shackles on my soul."
"You heard God's people sing and pray,
You would give no heed, but you walked away,
You would not give your hand and bow your knee,
But now you MUST come and go with me."
"Oh, Death, consider my age,
Please do not take me in this stage,
My wealth is all at your command,
If you'll just lift your icy hand."
"The old, the young, the rich, the poor,
They all alike with me must go;
No land, no silver, no wealth, no gold,
Nothing satisfies me but your soul."
"Oh, Death, how you are treating me,
You are shutting my eyes so I can't see,
You are stretching my limbs, you're making me cold,
You are robbing my body of my soul."
"Oh, yes, I come to get your soul,
To rob the body, and leave it cold,
To drop the flesh from off your frame,
The earth and worms both have a claim."
"Too late! too late! to all farewell;
My doom is fixed, I'm forced to tell,
As long as God in heaven shall dwell,
My soul, my soul shall burn in hell."
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The Devil's Vision

The Devil's Vision
The devil once said to his demons below,
"Our work is progressing entirely too slow.
The holiness people stand in our way
Since they do not believe in the show or the play.
They teach that the carnival, circus and dance,
The tavern and honky-tonk with game of chance,
Drinking and smoking, these things are all wrong;
The Christians don't mess with the ungodly throng.
They are quick to condemn everything that we do
To cause unbelievers to be not a few.
They claim that these things are all of the devil;
That Christian folks live on a much higher level.
Now fellows, their theology, while perfectly true
Is blocking the work we are trying to do.
We will have to get busy and figure a plan
That will change their standards as fast as we can.
Now I have a vision of just what we can do.
Harken, I'll tell this deception to you.
Then find ye a wise, but degenerate man
Whom I can use to help work out this plan.
There's nothing so real as the things that you see;
The eyes and the mind and the heart will agree.
So what can be better than an object to view?
I say, it will work and convince quite a few.
The home is the place for this sinful device;
The people deceived will think it quite nice.
The world will possess it, most Christians can't tell
That it is all of the devil and plotted in hell!
We'll sell them with pictures of the latest news;
While they're still looking, we'll advertise booze.
At first it will shock them; they'll seem in a daze;
But soon they'll be hardened and continue to gaze.
We'll give them some gospel that isn't too strong,
And a few sacred songs to string them along.
They'll take in the ads, with the latest of fashions,
Soon watching the shows that will stir evil passions.
Murder and love-making scenes they'll behold
Until their souls will be utterly cold.
The old family altar which once held such charm
Will soon lose its place without much alarm.
Praying in secret will also be lost
As they look at the screen, not counting the cost.
Compromise preachers, who don't take their stand
Will embrace this new vision and think it is grand.
They'll help fool the people and cause them to sin
By seeking this evil and taking it in.
Influence is great and this you can see;
Just look at my fall and you'll have to agree.
It won't take too long, my demons, to tell
That the vision of Satan will populate Hell!
Divorce will increase, sex crimes will abound;
Much innocent blood will be spilled on the ground.
The home will be damned in short order I say
When this vision of mine comes in to stay.
Get busy, my cohorts, and put this thing out;
We'll see if the church can continue to shout.
The holiness people who stand in our way
Will soon hush their crying against show and play.
We'll cover the earth with this devil vision.
Then we'll camouflage it with the name television.
The people will think they are getting a treat
Till the Antichrist comes and takes over his seat.
He'll rule the world while the viewers behold
The face of the beast, to whom they were sold.
We'll win through deception, this cannot fail;
Though some holiness preachers against it will rail."
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The Duck & The Devil
The Duck & the Devil
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.
Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!
In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes' But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.' Then she whispered to him, 'Remember the duck?' So Johnny did the dishes.
Later that day, Grand pa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.'
Sally just smiled and said, 'Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help' She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.
Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done...and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.).. .whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.
He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.
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THE PREACHER'S WIFE
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THE PREACHER'S WIFE
You may talk of the work of the greatest of man, You may rave about statesmen and teachers; You may tell all about their achievements, and then, Let me tell you of the wives of the preachers.
No Martyr was ever more steadfast and true No soldier was ever more brave; She's a genius at home, she's a diplomat, too; And the Best Mother God ever gave.
She has met disappointments with courage so high; She has battled grim poverty, too. With a smile on her face and a light in her eye, And a hope each morning that's new.
She is often alone, but she'll never complain; And she cheerfully stays by the stuff; Knowing well that her loss is her dear Master's gain, And His smile of approval's enough.
She never gets all the credit that's due, For most of it goes to the preacher; Few know of the faith and courage so true, Of this gentle and wonderful creature.
There is coming a day when the whole world shall hear From the lips of the Crucified One, Her story in full, told in words sweet and clear, Hear Him say to her softly, "well done."
And I think that when all of their labors are o'er, And we know all their unselfish lives, We'll honor more highly than ever before The preachers' most wonderful wives.
Author unknown
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TV Or Not TV?
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The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never never never let
Them near your television set.
Better yet just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we been
We've seen them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
Past week we saw at someones place,
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.
They sit and stare and stare and sit,
until they're hypnotized by it.
Until they're absolutly drunk,
With all that shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill.
They never fight or kick or punch.
They leave you free to cook the lunch
and wash the dishes in the sink,
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
this does to your beloved tot.
It rots the senses in the head.
It kills imagination dead.
It clogs and clutters up the mind.
It makes a child so dull and blind.
He can no longer understand
A fanstasy a fairyland.
His brain becomes as soft as cheese.
His powers of thinking rust and freeze.
He cannot think he only sees.
Alright you'll cry alright you'll say.
But if we take the set away ,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain.
We'll answer this by asking you
what use't the darling once to do?
How use't they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?
Have you forgotten don't you know
We'll say it very loud and slow.
THEY USED TO READ THEY'D READ AND READ
AND THEN PROCEED TO READ SOME MORE.
Great Scott! Gadzooks!!
One half thier lives was reading books
The nursery shelves held books galore.
Books cluttered up the nursery floor
And in the the bedroom by the bed ,
More books were waiting to be read.
The younger ones had beardrichs potter,
With Mr. Todd the dirty rotter.
And squirrle napkin, pigling bland,
And Mrs. Figgywinkle, and
Just how the camel got his hump,
And how the monkey lost his rump,
And Mr. Toad and bless my soul,
Was Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole
Oh books what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago
So please oh, please we beg we pray,
Go throw your T.V. set away.
And in it's place you can install,
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams, the yells, the bites, the kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks.
Fear not because we promise you
That in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start Oh boy! Oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts they'll grow so keen.
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridicules machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive, television screen.
And later each and every kid,
Will love you more for what you did.
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What Is A Sex Sin?
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"Father, what is sex sin?"
My father turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor.
"Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?" he said. I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.
"It's too heavy," I said.
"Yes," he said. "And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you."
And I was satisfied. More than satisfied -- wonderfully at peace. There were answers to this and all my hard questions -- but now I was content to leave them in my father's keeping.
Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place.
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