Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing said to them was: "Don't." "Don't what?" Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said. "Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey, Eve...we got Forbidden Fruit!"
" No way!"
" WAY!"
"Don't eat that fruit!" said God.
"Why?"
"Because I'm your Creator and I said so!" said God, wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants. A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry. "Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" the First Parent asked. "Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you?"
"I dunno," Eve answered.
"She started it!" Adam said.
"Did Not!"
"DID so!"
"DID NOT!!"
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed. But there is a reassurance in this story. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give them wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble handling children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

The Doll and a White Rose

I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department. Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys. And wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, "Are you sure I don't have enough money" She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that you don't have enough money for it. The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I asked the boy who the doll was for. He said,"It is the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it." I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said "No, Santa can't go where my sister is...I have to give the doll to my Mamma to take to her". I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said "She was gone to be with Jesus". My Daddy says that Mama is going to have to go be with her. My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, "I told my Daddy to tell Mama not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store". Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he'd had taken at the front of the store. He said "I want my Mamma to take this with her so she don't ever forget me." "I love my Mama so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me". "But Daddy says she will need to be with my sister." I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking I reached into my purse and pulled out a handful of bills. I asked the little boy, "Shall we count that money one more time?" He grew excited and said "Yes, I just know it has to be enough".So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it. Of course it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, "Thank you Jesus for giving me enough money." Then the boy said "I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so Mama can take it with her to give to my sister." "And he heard my prayer. "I wanted to ask him for enough to buy my Mama a white rose, but I didn't ask him, but he gave me enough to buy the doll and a rose for my Mama." "She loves white roses so very, very much". In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away. I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and the Mother was in serious condition. The family was deciding on whether to remove the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story. Two days later I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I could not help myself and I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And there she was holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll,and the picture of the little boy in the store. I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming. And in a split second a drunk driver had ripped the life of that little boy to pieces.

JUST CHECKING IN ~ ~

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle, The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while.

His shirt was kinda shabby and his coat was worn and frayed. The man knelt, he bowed his head, then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed, each noon time - came this chap, Each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, He decided to stop the man and ask him, "What are you doing here?"

The old man said, he worked down the road - Lunch was half an hour.

Lunchtime was his prayer time, for finding faith, strength and power.

"I stay only moments, see, the factory is so far away; As I kneel here talking to the Lord, this is kinda what I say:

"I just came again to tell you Lord, how happy I have been, Since we found each other's friendship and you took away my sin. Don't know much of how to pray, but I think about you everyday. So, Jesus, this is Jim - just checking in."

The minister feeling foolish, told Jim that was fine. He told the man he was welcome to come and pray anytime.

"Time to go", Jim smiled, and said "thanks" as he hurried to the door.

The minister knelt at the alter, he'd never done that before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there.

As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer:

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim had not come.

As more days passed with no sign of Jim, he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, but Jim had given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them, he brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious - changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand why Jim was so glad, When no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by Jim's bed, he voiced the nurse's concern. No friends came to show they cared, he had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile - "The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that in here all the while,

Everyday at noon - He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:

"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND THIS WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.
I ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
AND I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERY DAY,
AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS ... CHECKING IN."

Saved message From: DKGaasch@aol.com Date: Sat, Jun 5, 1999, 10:37am To: ladomirak@webtv.net Subject: Fwd: Success in Ukraine From: DKGaasch@aol.com Full-name: DKGaasch Date: Sun, May 30, 1999, 12:45pm Subject: Fwd: Success in Ukraine To: ddstockton@juno.com From: DKGaasch@aol.com Full-name: DKGaasch Date: Sun, May 30, 1999, 12:42pm Subject: RE: Success in Ukraine To: nkanstrup@pdq.net Dear Family and Friends,
Home at last! What a trip! What a blessing! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that God would allow me to participate in such an adventure.

Our purpose was not only to bring the message of God's saving grace to the children but to train the people there to use this type of ministry in sharing the gospel. It was definitely a success. We had 1,082 (approx.) children and adults accept Christ while we were there. This included the other ministry teams who were serving in the churches, drug rehabilitation centers and prisons.

There were two teams of us that took part in the children's ministry. Your financial and prayer support helped us to provide two complete puppet ministries for two churches - Second Baptist of Ukraine and Revival Church of Ukraine. The ministry items included portable stages with carrying bags, puppets (both people puppets in costume and animal puppets), complete sound systems, balloons and pumps for balloon animals, gospel bracelets, chalk, easels and paper for story telling, tapes and scripts for puppet bible stories, bibles, toys, candy. Everything was purchased and made here with the intent of providing the Ukrainian churches with the means of carrying on this ministry.

Each team visited schools, health camps, neighborhoods and hospitals to tell stories, share music, and bring gifts. It was awesome to share with these people on the other side of the world a love for a God who made all of this possible. We worked side by side with a common goal - to bring the children of Ukraine the message of God's Love for them.

There were 4 ladies from our team who stayed with our host family, Pavlov (Paul), Tonya, Timothy (12) and Sergey (10). Paul is a deacon at Second Baptist of Ukraine. He does not have a job because he cannot find work as a tile layer, so he works as a translator when work is available. His wife works for the water company. Their apartment is approx. 800 square feet and all 8 of us shared one bathroom. We were lucky because Paul and his sons speak English and Paul had a car to transport us. Others were not as lucky because their host families spoke no English and they had to use public transportation. But no one ever complained because we all had the peace and joy that passes all understanding.

Our food was abundant but not what I would have chosen nutritionally. There were plenty of potatoes, potatoes and more potatoes. Tomatoes and cucumbers were to die for and the cabbage soup was marvelous. The bread was plentiful and hard. There was no water but the coca cola flowed abundantly. There was very little meat and after seeing it in the market place, I think I am glad. I was sure glad to have my broccoli and egg whites this morning!

The children we ministered to ranged in age from pre schoolers to middle school. Some wore uniforms, others wore rags. Some were spotlessly clean, others were filthy and had lice. But they were all God's children. They sang, they laughed, they listened and they welcomed us with open arms. We couldn't talk with them but we could hug them and that was the real communication.

The lady who began this ministry, Linda Summers, was with our team and I praise God for her spirit, her energy and her sincere love for all of God's children. She was not only a real inspiration but a great teacher.

I praise Him and I thank Him for this opportunity. I don't know what He is going to do next in my life but I do know that He is preparing me for something. I have been asked to go back to Ukraine but I will wait to see if that is part of God's plan for me. Until then, I just want to thank each of you for your support. God will bless each of you for your unselfish giving - whether it be by finances or through prayer.

Thank you again. I love each and every one of you. It's good to be home but I am ready to go again, wherever He leads!!!!!

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."
Matthew 9:37-38
In Christ,
Dolly

Saved message From: DKGaasch@aol.com Date: Sat, Jun 5, 1999, 10:36am To: ladomirak@webtv.net Subject: RE: Surprise!

Bet you weren't expecting an e-mail from me. Thought I would surprise you. I would have written it sooner but Lonnie wasn't here to give me your address. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for all of the wonderful cards that you sent to me while I was in the Ukraine. It was so thoughtful of you and I appreciate it so much. I wrote you a card but I don't have your street address to send it. So, it you will give it to me, I will send it on anyway.

I sent your Mom one today. I sent out a follow up e-mail to family and friends telling a little about the trip. I will dig it up and send it to you. Again, thanks. I didn't have anyone to send cards to me and yours were very uplifting and a nice surprise for me.
In Christ,
Dolly

Subject: (Fwd) Al Gore, God says gotcha - 6/22/99 Priority: normal This is great!!! GO GOD!!! g.m. ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- Date sent: 23 Jun 99 11:34:26 +0000 Subject: Al Gore, God says gotcha - 6/22/99 Have any of you heard how Al Gore lives a Christ centered life? He gave a big speech this week about how his faith is so important to him. Well the funny part is, he said his favorite Bible verse is John 16:3. Of course the speech writer meant 3:16 but wasn't familiar enough to catch the error. Well John 16:3 is " And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor me." The Holy Spirit works in strange ways. + + +

Did you hear about the redneck who passed away and left his entire estate in trust for his beloved widow? She can't touch it till she's fourteen.

What's the difference between a good ol' boy and a redneck? The good ol' boy raises livestock. The redneck gets emotionally involved.

What's the most popular pick up line in Arkansas? Nice tooth!

Best bar pick-up line in Kentucky: "Hey, you don't sweat much for a fat girl."

A girl from the South and a girl from the North were seated side by side on a lane. The girl from the South, being friendly and all, said, "So, where ya'll from?"The Northern girl said, "From a place where they know better than to use a preposition at the end of a sentence."The girl from the South sat quietly for a few moments and then replied, "So, where ya'll from, bitch?"

How do you know when your staying in an Arkansas hotel? When you call the front desk and say "I've gotta leak in my sink" and the person at the front desk says "go ahead."

How can you tell if a redneck is married? There is tobacco spit stains on both sides of his pickup truck.

What's the difference between Virginia and West Virginia? In Virginia, Moosehead is a beer. In West Virginia it's a misdemeanor.

What is a Redneck's defense in court? "Honest your Honor, I was just helping the sheep over the fence."

Did you hear that they have raised the minimum drinking age in West Virginia to 32. It seems they want to keep alcohol out of the high schools!

What do they call "Hee Haw" in Arkansas? A documentary.

What do they call it in Kentucky? "Life Styles of the Rich and Famous."

How many rednecks does it take eat a 'possum? Two. One to eat, and one to watch for cars.

Why did God invent armadillos? So that rednecks can have 'possum on the halfshell.

Research had been going on for many years as to the invention of the toothbrush. Researchers knew the purpose of the device, but wanted to know and acknowledge the originating location. After a very long and exasperating study the researchers came to their conclusion as to the origin of the toothbrush. It was decided that the brush was invented in West Virginia. Intrigued with the discovery, the researchers were asked by the media how they came to the conclusion. They all agree it was simple deduction, "If it was invented anywhere else, it would have been called a teethbrush."