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A Perfect Mistake(2/1/2002)
Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day,
he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to some
orphanage in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find
his glasses, but they were gone.
When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what
happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into
one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading
for China!
The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six
children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by
the thought of having to buy another pair.
"It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very
faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this."
The Rest of the Story
Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on
furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that
supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small
church in Chicago.
The missionary began by thanking the people for their
faithfulness in supporting the orphanage.
"But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses
you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the
orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses.
I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no
way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I
experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about
this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a
pair of glasses lying on top.
The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in.
Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I
tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I
want to thank you for being a part of that."
The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses.
But the missionary surely must have confused their church with
another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent
overseas.
But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his
face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an
extraordinary way.
Copyright 1999 Gibson Productions
Bulletin Bloopers (4/2000)
(Ed. note: These are not from OUR bulletins!)
Ushers will eat latecomers.
During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed
the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J. F.
Stubbs supplied our pulpit.
Ladies, don't forget the yard sale. It's a
good chance to get rid of some of those things not worth
keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Next Thursday, there will be tryouts for the
choir. they need all the help they can get.
Today the pastor will preach his farewell
Message after which the choir will sing, Break Forth into
Joy.
Life is Precious
(4/2000)
Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth
time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?
When his car had slowed to 10 miles an
hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the Cop
worry about the potential traffic hazard.
Bob? Bob from church? Jack sunk farther
into his
trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket.
A Christian cop catching a guy from his own church.
A guy who happened to be a little eager
to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was
about to play golf with tomorrow. Jumping out of the car, he
approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he’d never
seen in uniform.
“Hi,
Bob. Fancy meeting you like this.” “Hello, Jack.” No
smile. “Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my
wife and kids.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Bob seemed
uncertain. Good.
“I’ve seen some long days at the
office lately. I’m afraid I bent the rules a bit-just this
once.” Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement. “Diane
said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know
what I mean?”
“I know what you mean. I also know
that you have a reputation in our precinct."
Ouch. This was not going in the right
Direction. Time to change tactics. “What’d you clock me
at?”
"Seventy-one. Would you sit back
in your car, please?”
“Now wait a minute here, Bob. I
checked as soon as I saw you. I was barely nudging 65.”
The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.
“Please, Jack, in the car.”
Flustered, Jack hunched himself through
the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the
dash-board. He was in no rush to open the window. The
minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why
hadn’t he asked for a driver’s license? Whatever the
reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat
near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to
the left. There was Bob, a folded paper in his hand.
Jack rolled down the window a mere two
inches, just enough room for Bob to pass Him the slip.
“Thanks.” Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his
voice. Bob returned to his car without a word. Jack watched
his retreat in the mirror.
Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How
much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was
this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began
to read:
Dear
Jack, once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when
killed by a car. You guessed it - a speeding driver. A fine
and three months in jail, and the man was free. Free to hug
his daughters. All three of them. I only had one, and I’m
going to have to wait until heaven before I can ever hug her
again. A thousand times I’ve tried to forgive that man. A
thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to
do it again. Even now. Pray for me. And be careful. My son
is all I have left, Bob.
Jack twisted around in time to see
Bob’s car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched
until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he, too
pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness
and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.
Life is precious. Drive safely and
carefully.
And God Said NO (1998)
I asked God to take away my pride. And God said, "No."
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said, "No."
He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience. And God said, "No."
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness. And God said, "No."
He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain. And God said, "No."
He said suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said, "No."
He said I must grow on my own. But he will prune me to make me fruitful.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said, "No."
He said I will give you life, that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me.
And God said, "Ah, finally you have the idea."
by - Claudia Minden Welcz -
