by Inspiration | Jun 9, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Inspiration, Parenting
I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game – a serious game – two… I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game – a serious game – two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn’t know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing – I wished the parents and coaches could have done the same. The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient. They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at the ball and missed it but they didn’t seem to care. They were having fun. In the second quarter, the Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put in the scrubs, except for his best player who now guarded the goal. The game took a dramatic turn. I guess winning is important even when you’re five years old — because the Team Two coach left
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by Inspiration | Jun 8, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat… A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.” As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice on the intercom said, “We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.” And then the storm broke… The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash. The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He
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by Inspiration | Jun 7, 2023 | Archives, Attitude, Featured
A young man was walking through a supermarket to pick up a few things when he noticed an old lady following him around. Thinking nothing of it, he ignored her… A young man was walking through a supermarket to pick up a few things when he noticed an old lady following him around. Thinking nothing of it, he ignored her and continued on. Finally, he went to the checkout line, but she got in front of him. “Pardon me,” she said, “I’m sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable. It’s just that you look just like my son, who just died recently.” “I’m very sorry,” replied the young man, “is there anything I can do for you?” “Yes,” she said, “As I’m leaving, can you say `Good bye, Mother!’? “It would make me feel so much better.” “Sure,” answered the young man. As the old woman was leaving, he called out, “Goodbye, Mother!” As he stepped up to the checkout counter, he saw that his total was P4,500. “How can that be?” he asked, “I only purchased a few things!” “Your mother said that you would pay for her,” said the clerk. Do you know that you can tell a lot about a person’s character by how he or she acts at the supermarket? Michael Josephson
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by Inspiration | Jun 6, 2023 | Archives, Attitude, Featured
Sister is a dog. I didn’t say my sister was a dog, no she is my sister-in-law, and she’s an angel! But my friend Curtis has a dog he named… Sister is a dog. I didn’t say my sister was a dog, no she is my sister-in-law, and she’s an angel! But my friend Curtis has a dog he named Sister, which leads to some fairly amusing sentences. When Curtis and Sister first arrived in our area, Sister lived in this big fenced in area outside the house. But Curtis got a nice doghouse for Sister, the dog, and went to work making it a nice winter home for her. He installed 2 inches of insulation, put in a new floor, he even put a waterbed heater under the floor and some zip-lock bags with water for the heater to heat. Sister basically has a warm home with her own waterbed. But for the first couple of weeks after her home was completed, she wouldn’t go in it! Curtis was away for the weekend and asked a friend to check on Sister. Well, one of those days was a day a powerful northeastern storm hit our area – with drenching rain. And when Curtis’ friend visited Sister, there was that dog running around outside the doghouse in the wind and
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by Inspiration | Jun 5, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Relationship
“Home at last,” said city Squirrel. He had been in the open lands to the south. He had wanted to see where oranges came from. The new place was terrifying… “Home at last,” said city Squirrel. He had been in the open lands to the south. He had wanted to see where oranges came from. The new place was terrifying at first. He had always thought that being from the city made him tougher and smarter than country animals. He remembered telling the first mouse he met, “Where I come from you have to be on your toes. Never look anyone in the eye or act friendly or you’ll be done in.” The southern animals were so familiar with Squirrel. They touched too much – patted backs, hugged strangers. They pried into one’s affairs, forever asking how things were going and what you had for breakfast. Having been amid strangers, dodging thieves and con artists, Squirrel was wary of this “friendliness.” A possum came by with a loaf of bread as a gift. Squirrel nearly slammed the door in his face. “What do you want,” he demanded. “Are you trying to sell me something? Do you own a bakery? Is this one of those free samples to lure me in?” The possum laughed, “Man you sure are a jumpy one.
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by Inspiration | Jun 4, 2023 | Archives, Business, Career, Featured
Many years ago in a small village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a female village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old, fat… Many years ago in a small village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a female village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old, fat and ugly, fancied the farmer’s handsome son. So she proposed a bargain. She said she would forego the farmer’s debt if she could marry his son. Both the farmer and his son were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning female moneylender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter. She told them that she would put a black Pebble and a white pebble into an empty moneybag. Then the son would have to pick one pebble from the bag. If he picked the black pebble, he would become her husband and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If he picked the white pebble he need not marry her and his father’s debt would still be forgiven. But if he refused to pick a pebble, his father would be thrown into Jail They were standing on a pebble-strewn path in the farmer’s field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As she picked them up,
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