Some Assembly Required

From the Pastor's Parlor:

many of us have purchased at least one of those boxes marked 'some assembly required', and for some it led to the promise to never do it again. With each one comes a book, or sheet of basic instructions for assembly before use. After my first few purchases of such products I found that it was beneficial (to say the very least) to read the instructions before attempting to assemble the product. One of these first purchases was a simple wagon for one of my children, and the parts were few in number, so in my wisdom I glanced at the booklet (three pages) set it aside, and proceeded to the task. The tires all looked the same, and indeed they were, except there was an inside and an outside aspect to each one I failed to notice. After the wheels were put on there was a "locking nut" to be driven on the axle's end to hold it there, and as I later found out, there is a very good reason they called it a "locking nut". The evidence of my folly was made clear as my child pulled the wagon down the sidewalk, because the front wheel on one side and the back wheel on the other were not working well with the others. What had I done wrong? Though the mishap was possibly unnoticed by the children, it was clear to me, so while they played, I went in and read the instructions, only to find that I had to turn the two odd wheels around. That's when the problems started! It seems those "Locking Nuts" don't come off as easily as they go on! After much ado (and completely destroying one of those "nuts"), I sought the help of my father, hoping he had assembled a couple in his days, and in time, with expense (a new nut) he solved the problem. This all may seem a little trivial, but the importance of reading the instructions before, and during the assembly process is anything but trivial dear ones, it is necessary. There can be no doubt that we are 'some assembly required' at our birth, and believe it, there is a manual! Its called the Bible, or "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. It is true that the parts don't come off as easily as they are put on, and that for all of us, some have been installed without the use of the manual. Some by ourselves, and some by others helping us along the way, but from my experience I can assure each of you repair is possible. Lean not unto your own understanding, but in all ways seek the knowledge and the help of the Lord our God; He is the manufacturer! Read the book! Find the many mistakes and then trust the Father who has fixed so many of His children's mistakes. We didn't read the instructions first, but the "Book" is still here, and will forever be here for us. Our assembly remains incomplete, and it remains good counsel to refer to the manual often as the assembly progresses. The book is complete to be sure, all the instructions are there, yet the Fathers wisdom is found in discussions with Him, when we do not understand the manual. There is no new error which He has not solved, or that He would have to look into, after all, He wrote the "Book". "Let not a man think more of himself (herself) then he ought", but so many do, casting aside the instructions, and going through life with wobbly wheels; let us each resolve to set aside a time each day to read the manual, AND seek our Fathers help through prayer. Perhaps our play will be a little easier as our "life's wagon" becomes a little more manageable through attention to the "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" (B-I-B-L-E!) each day.  many of us have purchased at least one of those boxes marked 'some assembly required', and for some it led to the promise to never do it again. With each one comes a book, or sheet of basic instructions for assembly before use. After my first few purchases of such products I found that it was beneficial (to say the very least) to read the instructions before attempting to assemble the product. One of these first purchases was a simple wagon for one of my children, and the parts were few in number, so in my wisdom I glanced at the booklet (three pages) set it aside, and proceeded to the task. The tires all looked the same, and indeed they were, except there was an inside and an outside aspect to each one I failed to notice. After the wheels were put on there was a "locking nut" to be driven on the axle's end to hold it there, and as I later found out, there is a very good reason they called it a "locking nut". The evidence of my folly was made clear as my child pulled the wagon down the sidewalk, because the front wheel on one side and the back wheel on the other were not working well with the others. What had I done wrong? Though the mishap was possibly unnoticed by the children, it was clear to me, so while they played, I went in and read the instructions, only to find that I had to turn the two odd wheels around. That's when the problems started! It seems those "Locking Nuts" don't come off as easily as they go on! After much ado (and completely destroying one of those "nuts"), I sought the help of my father, hoping he had assembled a couple in his days, and in time, with expense (a new nut) he solved the problem. This all may seem a little trivial, but the importance of reading the instructions before, and during the assembly process is anything but trivial dear ones, it is necessary. There can be no doubt that we are 'some assembly required' at our birth, and believe it, there is a manual! Its called the Bible, or "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. It is true that the parts don't come off as easily as they are put on, and that for all of us, some have been installed without the use of the manual. Some by ourselves, and some by others helping us along the way, but from my experience I can assure each of you repair is possible. Lean not unto your own understanding, but in all ways seek the knowledge and the help of the Lord our God; He is the manufacturer! Read the book! Find the many mistakes and then trust the Father who has fixed so many of His children's mistakes. We didn't read the instructions first, but the "Book" is still here, and will forever be here for us. Our assembly remains incomplete, and it remains good counsel to refer to the manual often as the assembly progresses. The book is complete to be sure, all the instructions are there, yet the Fathers wisdom is found in discussions with Him, when we do not understand the manual. There is no new error which He has not solved, or that He would have to look into, after all, He wrote the "Book". "Let not a man think more of himself (herself) then he ought", but so many do, casting aside the instructions, and going through life with wobbly wheels; let us each resolve to set aside a time each day to read the manual, AND seek our Fathers help through prayer. Perhaps our play will be a little easier as our "life's wagon" becomes a little more manageable through attention to the "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" (B-I-B-L-E!) each day.

a sweet story

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right?  When can I see him?'

 

The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.' 

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care anymore? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?' 

 
The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.' 

 
Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to her son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair... 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally. 

 

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could..' 

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. 

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings , and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

 

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lays down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep. 

 

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said: 

'Dear Mom, 

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.

 

Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him.  Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for  me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great. 

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that? 

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me. 

Written by a Police Officer (or so it says)

This is one of those things that goes around the internet that you don't know where it comes from or how accurate it is.  However, the message to be ever vigilant is always a good one.

WRITTEN BY A POLICE OFFICER Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this.

In daylight hours, refresh yourself

of these things to do

in an emergency situation...

This is for you,

and for you to share

with your wife,

your children,

everyone you know.

After reading these9 crucial tips,

forward them to someone you care about.

It never hurts to be careful

in this crazy world we live in. 

1. Tip fromTae Kwon Do:

The elbow is the strongest point

on your body.

If you are close enough to use it, do! 
2..Learned this from a tourist guide.

If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,

DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.

Toss it away from you....

Chances are that he is more interested

in your wallet and/or purse than you,

and he will go for the wallet/purse.

RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3.If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car,

kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole

and start waving like crazy..

The driver won't see you, but everybody else will.

This has saved lives.

4.Women have a tendency to get into their cars

after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit

(doing their chequebook, or making a list, etc..

DON'T DO THIS!)

The predator will be watching you, and this

is the perfect opportunity for him to get in

on the passenger side, put a gun to your head,

and tell you where to go.

AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR ,

LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.. 

If someone

is in the car

with a gun

to your head

DO NOT DRIVE OFF,

Repeat:

DO NOT DRIVE OFF!

Instead gun the engine

and speed into anything, wrecking the car.

Your Air Bag will save you.

If the person is in the back seat

they will get the worst of it .

As soon as the car crashes

bail out and run.

It is better than having them find your body

in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting

into your car in a parking lot,

or parking garage:

A.)Be aware:

look around you,

look into your car,

at the passenger side floor ,

and in the back seat.

B.)If you are parked next to a big van,

enter your car from the passenger door.

Most serial killers attack their victims

by pulling them into their vans while the women

are attempting to get into their cars.

C.)Look at the car

parked on the driver's side of your vehicle,

and the passenger side... If a male is sitting alone

in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back

into the mall, or work, and get a

guard/policeman to walk you back out.

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6.ALWAYS take the elevator

instead of the stairs.

Stairwells are horrible places to be alone

and the perfect crime spot.

This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7.If the predator has a gun

and you are not under his control,

ALWAYS RUN!

The predator will only hit you (a running target)

4 in 100 times; and even then,

it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ..

RUN, Preferably in a zig-zag pattern!

8.As women, we are always trying

to be sympathetic:

STOP

It may get you raped, or killed.

Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking,

well educated man, who ALWAYS played

on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.

He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often

asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle,

which is when he abducted 
his next victim.

9.Another Safety Point:

Someone just told me that her friend heard

a crying baby on her porch the night before last,

and she called the police because it was late

and she thought it was weird.. The police told her

'Whatever you do, DO NOT

open the door...'

The lady then said that it sounded like the baby

had crawled near a window, and she was worried

that it would crawl to the street and get run over.

The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way,

whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'

He told her that they think a serial killer

has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax

women out of their homes thinking that someone

dropped off a baby... He said they have not verified it,

but have had several calls by women saying that

they hear baby's cries outside their doors

when they're home alone at night.

10. Water scam!

If you wake up in the middle
of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a
burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your
outside taps full ball so that you will go out to investigate and
then attack.

Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbours!

Church Signs with a Sense of Humor

 

 

 

 

 

posted on Flag Day

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER  GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH  LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!   KEEP IT LIT!! KEEP IT LIT! For all of our other military personnel, where ever they may be.  Please Support all of the troops defending our Country.  And God Bless our Military who are protecting our Country for our Freedom. Thanks to them, and their sacrifices, we can celebrate the 4th of July.  We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we have, of which we should be eternally grateful. I watched the flag pass by one day. It fluttered in the breeze. A young Marine saluted it, And then he stood at ease.  I looked at him in uniform; so young, so tall, so proud. With hair cut square and eyes alert, he'd stand out in any crowd. I thought how many men like him had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign soil; how many mothers' tears?  How many pilots' planes shot down? How many died at sea? How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?  NO, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE ! I heard the sound of Taps one night, when everything was still. I listened to the bugler play And felt a sudden chill. I wondered just how many times That Taps had meant 'Amen.' When a flag had draped a coffin of a brother or a friend. I thought of all the children, of the mothers and the wives, of fathers, sons and husbands With interrupted lives. I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea. Of unmarked graves in  Arlington .  NO FREEDOM ISN'T FREE Enjoy Your Freedom and  God Bless Our Troops. When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our servicemen.   Of all the gifts you could give a U.S. Soldier, prayer is the very best one.

A Child's View of a Thunderstorm

A little girl walked to and from school daily.   

Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to school.   

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning.  

  The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school.  She also feared the electrical storm might harm her child.   

Full of concern, the mother got into her car and quickly drove along the route to her child's school.    

As she did, she saw her little girl walking along.  At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile.  More lighting followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.  

 When the mother drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called, "What are you doing?"  

The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture."

 May God bless you today and every day as you face the storms that come your way!    

3-D Artist - Eric Grohe

This would be really great if I could make it so the sidebar didn't block half of it!

Check out Eric Grohe's website to see some of his amazing work

Really, Really Incredible!!! Don't skip this one. Need a good painter? This guy should qualify! Before photo: - A typical concrete & stucco facade Then the wall starts to take on a 3-dimensional appearance: - This is Eric, in his element, 30' off the ground. He does most of the artwork by himself & researches, paints and designs each project from scratch. His wife Kathy, also an artist, serves as project manager. After photo: - Finished product MORE BELOW! Here are some more examples of Eric's projects: - Before photo: - Great American Crossroad - Bucyrus , Ohio After photo: - Before photos: - After photo: - Liberty Remembers Hard to believe you're looking at a flat 2-dimensional wall. How to dress up a drab Shopping Mall in Niagara , NY state Before photo: - After photo: - Also, look at the close-up of the left side: - And the middle: - (I wonder how many birds fly into this wall on a daily basis?) Indoor Murals at the Hallway of Miller Brewery... Before: - Miller Fermenting Rooms Past meets Present in the Miller Brewery Fermenting Rooms. Hooks, clipboards and aprons were added to the surface of the murals to enhance the illusion... After photos: - You're looking at FLAT walls! Detail view looking down the illusional hallway in the previous mural: SIMPLY AMAZING, ISN'T IT? I wonder how many people walk into the walls, while trying to go down a hallway that does not exist!