Free from Sin not Free to sin

Amazing Grace

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 22:05:09

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Red Skelton pledge of allegiance

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:08:22

All I can say is watch this.

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9 days until Thanksgiving

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:08:09

Nine days to go and I am within 2 lbs of my goal.

Have a great day. God Bless.

Sal C

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16 days until Thanksgiving

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:01:08

16 days until Thanksgiving and my goal is to get as close to 150 lbs as I can.Then see what my weight is on 1/03/09 to see what damage the holidays have done.LOL

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DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, December 3, 2007 23:08:07

I have reached my final goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prayer in Time of War

A young guy in a two-engine fighter was flying escort for a B-52 and generally being a nuisance, acting like a hotdog, flying rolls around the lumbering old bomber.

The hotdog said over the air, "Anything you can do, I can do better."

The veteran bomber pilot answered, "Try this hot-shot." The B-52 continued its flight, straight and level.

Perplexed, the hotdog asked, "So? What did you do?"

"I just shut down two engines, kid."

I suppose you may heard something in the news the past few days about a war going on in Iraq. These are difficult times, and we all feel the urgent need to spend more time with God in prayer. We pray for the safety of our troops. We pray for a quick end to the conflict. But, beyond that, what should we pray for?

Ron Hutchcraft recently sent out an e-mail entitled "10 Ways to Pray in Times Like These" (http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm/editorials/waystopray.php). Here are seven of his good suggestions:

1. "Lord, do something that will show people Your glory over all the earth."

This is a moment for God to do something that no diplomat, no world leader, no army could possibly do - so all will know that "the Lord He is God."

2. "Lord, use these anxious and uncertain times to bring many to Christ."

God can use this fearful time to reach the hearts of many - in Iraq, in America, across the Middle East, among the young men and women of the military.

3. "Lord, guide our leaders to be instruments of Your will on earth."

"I urge ... that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority." (I Timothy 2:1-2)

4. "Lord, protect the innocent."

5. "Pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27)

Jesus has charged us to represent even our enemies before His Throne of Grace.

6. "Lord, help Your people model peace in these troubled times, pointing the people around them to Jesus - at a time when hearts are soft."

This uncertain time is a life-saving moment - when those who belong to Jesus have an unusual window to introduce Him to those who don't. But the window may not be open for long.

7. "Lord, bring peace out of all that's happening."

God has told us that the result He desires in answer to our prayers for our leaders is a climate where peace and righteousness can flourish (I Tim. 2:2).

My appreciation goes out to Ron Hutchcraft for his article, and I hope that his prayers will be yours as well. We live in troubled times that serve as a reminder of just how much we need God.

Have a great week! Alan Smith

You can find the archive at

http://www.tftd-online.com/content.asp?ListSG=411

GOD BLESS ,

Sal

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The Final part cont.

Sunday, December 2, 2007 23:07:08

Two pounds to lose to complete the final part.

A Minivan Funny

A man was driving down the highway late one night when his minivan broke down. He turned on his flashers and tried to get someone's attention to help him. Eventually a Lamborghini Countach pulls up.

"Any chance I could get a lift into town?" said the minivan driver.

"I can do better than that," the man driving the Countach replied. "I've got a V-12 under this hood, I can tow you to the nearest town, no problem. Just honk your horn and flash your lights if I start going too fast."

They head off down the road and eventually come to a stop light and up pulls a Ferrari F40 with a V-10. The F40 began to rev its engine to get the Countach to race. The Countach revs its engine and the light turns green. They fly out of there, and about a half a mile down the road they pass a speed trap.

The officer there watches them pass and radios to base saying, "Base, you will not believe what I just saw. A F40 and a Countach were driving down the road doing about 120 with a minivan honking its horn and flashing its lights trying to pass them!"

Mikey's Funnies (http://www.mikeysFunnies.com) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)

GOD BLESS

Sal

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The final part starts today

Sunday, December 2, 2007 23:00:08

Today starts the final part today with only 5 pounds to get to my goal of 150 pounds.I have changed the tracker to show from the start of my weight loss.

An Amazing Love

Here is the entire text of a love letter intercepted by a second grade schoolteacher, passed on to a parent:

"Dear Billy, if you don't say you love me and walk to the bus stop with me I will kill myself and beet you up. I love you and wan to marry you soon. Suzy"

The little girl was eight at the time. The parent showed the preacher the letter at the rehearsal dinner the day before Suzy married Billy. Suzy was twenty-four. During the wedding service, he shared the letter with the guests, and in her vows, had Suzy repeat these words: "I, Suzy, promise you, Billy, never to kill myself or beat you up."

He later said, "If the marriage lasts as long as her love, and her love is as large as the laughter in the ceremony, the odds are good for a happy ever after."

We'll do some amazing things in the name of love, won't we? And the deeper our love, the more extreme our willingness is. That's why a mother is willing to stay up all night tending to a sick child. It's why a godly husband will sacrifice all that he holds dear to care for his wife (Eph. 5:25-28). And, in the most extreme example, it's why Jesus Christ was willing to give up his very life for us when we least deserved it.

"Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us." (Romans 5:6-8, GOD'S WORD)

May God's example of love motivate us to have a stronger love in our marriages, our families, our churches and all of our other relationships.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

You can find the archive at

http://www.tftd-online.com/content.asp?ListSG=411

GOD BLESS ,

Sal

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Part 6 Finished

Monday, December 3, 2007 00:08:07

I have reached the ened of part 6 and the final part will start on Monday

3/08/08.

How Rumors Get Started

The executive secretary passed the order on to the company commander: "By order of the Colonel, tomorrow at 2000 hours, Haley's Comet will appear above the battalion area. If it rains, fall the men out in fatigues, then march to the theater where the rare phenomenon will take place, something which happens only once every 75 years."

The company commander passed the order on to the lieutenant: "By order of the Colonel in fatigues at 2000 hours tomorrow evening, the phenomenal Haley's Comet will appear in the theater. In case of rain in the battalion area, the Colonel will give another order, something which happens once every 75 years.

The lieutenant told the sergeant: "Tomorrow at 2000 hours, the Colonel in fatigues will appear in the theater with the phenomenal Haley's Comet, something that happens every 75 years. If it rains, the Colonel will order the comet into the battalion area."

The sergeant gave the following order to the squad: "When it rains tomorrow at 2000 hours, the phenomenal 75-year-old General Haley, accompanied by the Colonel, will drive his Comet through the battalion area theater in fatigues."

Unfortunately, many rumors get started in much the same way. What begins as an innocent statement can quickly transform into an ugly lie after being passed along by several "well-meaning" people. That's why the scriptures warn so strongly about the sin of gossip.

"Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop. Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going, a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going. The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food; people like to gobble them up." (Proverbs 26:20-22, NCV)

Father, please forgive me of those times when I have been so eager to "gobble up" negative information about others. May I not be so quick to listen to gossip. Keep me from the sin of spreading gossip, even in the name of "good intentions." In Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

You can find the archive at

http://www.tftd-online.com/content.asp?ListSG=411

GOD BLESS ,

Sal

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Part 6 continued

Saturday, December 1, 2007 22:02:08

Under 160 and at 159 and only 9 more pounds to go to get to my final goal of 150.

The Great Physician

The following statements are reported to have been found on patients' charts during a recent review of medical records. These statements were written by various health care professionals including a doctor or two at several major hospitals:

"The patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch."

"She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until 1989
when she got a divorce."

"The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran
out of gas and crashed."

"I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical
therapy."

"She is numb from her toes down."

"While in the emergency room, she was examined, X-rated and sent home."

"The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a
stockbroker instead."

"When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room."

"Patient has been married twice, but denies any other serious illnesses."

Dictated: "Patient had a Pap smear today"
Transcribed: "Patient had a Pabst Beer today."

"Patient experiences difficulty swallowing tires easily."

"History: Patient was shot in the head with .34 caliber rifle. Chief
complaint -- headache."

"Patient was struck by an auto while she was walking across the street at
approximately 45 miles per hour."

"Skin somewhat pale but present."

"Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year-old white male, mentally alert but
forgetful."

"The patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year."

"On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it had
completely disappeared."

"By the time she was admitted to the hospital, her rapid heart had stopped,
and she was feeling much better."

"Discharge status: Alive but without permission."

Though we often complain about such things as the expense of doctor visits and the amount of time spent in the waiting room, we are greatly indebted to our doctors for the care they have given us over the years. Many of us (myself included) owe them our very lives. How appropriate that Jesus would use that imagery to describe his relationship with us.

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Luke 5:31-32)

All of us are sick (though some may not yet realize it or admit it), and spiritual healing comes from only one source. Thank you, Father, for sending the great Physician in our time of deepest need!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

You can find the archive at

http://www.tftd-online.com/content.asp?ListSG=411

GOD BLESS ,

Sal

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Start of part 6

Saturday, December 1, 2007 23:05:08

Part 6 strats today and I have only 13 pounds left to lose to get to my total wieght loss goal.This part will end when I get to 157.

What's in the Box?

A new minister had recently been married. Upon returning home from their honeymoon, the young wife turned to her husband with a box in her hand. She said to her husband, "Please promise, dear, that no matter what, you will never look in this box." Although this seemed like a very strange request, the minister assured his wife that he would never look in the box.

Twenty years went by and the seasoned minister was looking around his closet. He came across the box which, to him, had been long forgotten. He looked at the box and said to himself, "Surely after all these years, it must be okay to peek inside." He opened the box and inside found $1,200 and three eggs. Just then, his wife entered the room.

"I thought I asked you never to look inside!" she demanded. Looking just a bit sheepish, the minister apologized to his wife but then said that since he had peeked inside, would she mind explaining the contents.

"Well," replied his wife. "If you must know, every time you preached a bad sermon, I put an egg in the box." The minister thought about that for a moment and figured that he had been preaching for twenty years so three eggs wasn't bad at all.

"That explains the eggs," he replied, "but what about the $1,200?"

His wife replied, "Every time I got a dozen, I sold them."

Ouch! Perhaps I should give special thanks to God for a wife who doesn't keep count of such things. On the other hand, imagine the nice computer I could buy with the money if she had! :-)

Isn't it great, though, that we have a God who doesn't "keep count"! What if God had a box where he kept a running total of all the times you messed up? I realize that God does keep a record, but when we take steps to receive his forgiveness, the box is thrown out. He doesn't overlook sin, but He is willing to forgive sin.

"He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)

How marvelous is God's ability (and willingness) to forgive!

Have a great day!

You can find the archive at

http://www.tftd-online.com/content.asp?ListSG=411

GOD BLESS ,

Sal

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