JOSHUA TIME 444

They’re one of the worst teams in professional sports. They play their games in a half-filled arena and are rumored to be struggling just to pay their players. Not only do they lose games, they lose money as well: $4 million just last year. Times are so tough that a group of area merchants banded together and held a telethon just to keep the team alive. Observers say the team is worth less than any other team in its league. What possible future could a basement-dwelling bunch like this have? After all, don’t you eventually just get too bad to change?
Actually no. The year was 1992, and the team was, in fact, the Indiana Pacers. One year later, the Pacers were almost sold to a group of Canadian investors (how does "Toronto Pacers" sound?) before beginning a steady turnaround which led to several divisional championships and this year's appearance in the NBA finals. Today, the Pacers are worth more than four times their value of eight years ago and are a recognized powerhouse in the NBA. Quite a turnaround.
A house can reach the point of no return, a state of disrepair so advanced that it is actually less expensive to tear it down and start over. A car can become so rust-eaten and unsafe that repairing it actually costs more than buying a new one. A lawn can become so weed-infested that the most logical solution is to spray herbicide on everything, killing both weeds and grass, and start over next spring. Most things in this life can become so run-down that repairing them is actually more expensive and more time-consuming than just throwing them away and buying a new one. Most things....
But not human beings. When you and I give up on people, God is still willing to give them another chance. When we write people off as "unchangeable," God says "No problem, I've handled worse before." When we give up on ourselves, concluding that we are too bad to ever change, God says "Wait a minute. I made you and I still see what you can become. You can’t change yourself, but I can change you if you will let me."
God is in the people-changing business. He’s never met one yet that he couldn't fix.
Please pass Daily-Blessings on to your friends, family, and co-workers!! !
http://www.daily-blessings.com/bless4338.htm?id=slicric147%40yahoo.com

JOSHUA TIME 443

This 85-year-old couple, having been marriedalmost 60 years, died in a car crash. Theyhad been in good health the last 10 years,mainly due to her interest in health food andexercise.When they reached the pearly gates, St. Petertook them to their mansion, which was deckedout with a beautiful kitchen, master bathsuite and Jacuzzi.As they oohed and aahed, the old man askedPeter how much all this was going to cost. "It'sfree," Peter replied. "This is Heaven."Next they went out back to survey thechampionship golf course in the backyard. Theywould have golfing privileges every day, andeach week the course would change to a new one,representing the great golf courses on Earth.The old man asked, "What are the greens fees?"Peter's reply, "This is Heaven -- you play for free."Next they went to the clubhouse and saw thelavish buffet lunch with the cuisines of theworld laid out."How much to eat?" asked the old man."Don't you understand yet? This is Heaven, it'sFREE!" Peter replied with some exasperation."Well, where are the low-fat and low-cholesteroltables?" the old man asked timidly.Peter lectured, "That's the best part -- you caneat as much as you like of whatever you like andyou never get fat and you never get sick. This isHeaven."With that the old man went into a fit of anger,throwing down his hat and stomping on it, andshrieking wildly.Peter and his wife both tried to calm him down,asking him what was wrong. The old manlooked at his wife and said, "This is all yourfault. If it weren't for your blasted bran muffins,I could have been here 10 years ago!"

don't forget to pass this on!

http://www.daily-blessings.com/humor21.htm

JOSHUA TIME 442

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
Michael replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or . . . you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or . . . I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.""Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested."Yes, it is," Michael said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."I reflected on what Michael said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied. "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place."The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be-born daughter," Michael replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or . . . I could choose to die. I chose to live.""Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Michael continued, ". . . the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action.""What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Michael. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.'
Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'" Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.
Attitude, after all, is everything.author unknown
Please pass Daily-Blessings on to your friends, family, and co-workers!! !
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JOSHUA TIME 441

What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today? What if God couldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday?What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain?What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day? What if, God took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today?What if, God took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger?.....THINK ABOUT THIS ONE.....What if, God didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?What if, the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart? What if, God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?What if, God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him?What if, God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?What if, God met our needs the way we give Him our lives???What if, we failed to send this message on??THIS IS A SIMPLE TEST.......If you love Jesus, send this to ten people and the one who sent it to you.

JOSHUA TIME 440

Old one, but a good one.> > Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She> picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she> looked>>> >>>> >> at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no > postmark, only her>>> >>>>name>>> >>>> >> and address. She read the letter:>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Dear Ruth:>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> I`m going to be in your neighborhood> Saturday afternoon and I'd like to > stop by for a visit.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Love Always,>>> >>>> >> Jesus>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on> the table.>> "Why>>> >>>> >> would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody> special. I don't have>>> >>>> >> anything to offer. With that thought, Ruth > remembered her empty>>> >>>> >> kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't> have anything>> to>>> >>>> >> offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy> something for dinner.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> She reached for her purse and counted out its> contents. Five dollars>>> >>>> >> and forty cents. Well, I can get some bread and> cold cuts, at least.>>> >>>> >> She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A> loaf of French>>> >>>>bread,>>> >>>> >> a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of> milk...leaving Ruth>>> >>>>with>>> >>>> >> grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her> meager>> offerings>>> >>>> >> tucked under her arm.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Hey lady, can you help us,lady?">>> >>>> >> Ruth had been so absorbed in her> dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed> two figures huddled in the alleyway.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> A man and a woman, both of them> dressed in little more than rags.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya> know, and my wife and I have been> living out here on the street, and,> well, now it's getting cold and we're> getting kinda hungry and, well, if you> could help us. Lady, we'd really> appreciate it.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Ruth looked at them both.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> They were dirty, they smelled bad and> frankly, she was certain that they> could get some kind of work>>> >>>> >> if>>> >>>> >> they really wanted to.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a> poor woman myself.>>> >>>> >> All I have is a few cold cuts and some> bread, and>> I'm>>> >>>> >> having an important guest for dinner> tonight and I>> was>>> >>>> >> planning on serving that to Him.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand.> Thanks>> anyway.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> The man put his arm around the woman's> shoulders, turned and headed back into > the alley.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a> familiar twinge in her heart.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Sir, wait!">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> The couple stopped and turned as she>>> >>>> >> ran down the alley after them.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Look, why don't you take this food.>>> >>>> >> I'll figure out something else to> serve my guest.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> She handed the man her grocery bag.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Thank you lady. Thank you very much!">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Yes, thank you!" It was the man's> wife, and Ruth could see now that she> was shivering.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "You know, I've got another coat at home.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Here, why don't you take this one.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped> it over the woman's shoulders.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Then smiling, she turned and walked> back to the>>> >>>> >> street...without her coat and with> nothing to serve her guest.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Thank you lady!>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Thank you very much!">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Ruth was chilled by the time she> reached her front door, and worried> too.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> The Lord was coming to visit and she> didn't have anything to offer Him.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> She fumbled through her purse for the> door key. But as she did, she noticed > another envelope in her mailbox.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "That's odd. The mailman doesn't> usually come twice in one day.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Dear Ruth:>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> It was so good to see you again.>>> >>>> >> Thank you for the lovely meal.>>> >>>> >> And thank you, too, for the beautiful> coat.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Love Always,>>> >>>> >> Jesus>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> The air was still cold, but even> without her coat, Ruth no longer> noticed.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> If you love Jesus, send this to ten> people. Do not keep this message.> >

JOSHUA TIME 439

Perfect Mistake
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My Mother's father worked as a carpenter..
On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages 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 had 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 its 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." 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.
There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking him! May GOD bless your week. Look for the perfect mistakes. "People are like tea bags- - you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are." Now "ain't" that just like God to do something like that????????

JOSHUA TIME 438

GOD WANTED ME TO TELL YOU THIS > > > >It shall be well with you this year. No matter how much your enemies try > >this year, they will not succeed. You have been destined to make it and you > >shall surely achieve all your goals this year. > > > >For the remaining months of the year, All your agonies will be diverted and > >victory and prosperity will be incoming in abundance. > > > >Today God has confirmed the end of your sufferings sorrows and pains > >because HE that sits on the throne has remembered you. He has taken away > >the hardships and given you JOY. He will never let you down. > > > >I knocked at heaven's door today, God asked me... My child..What can I do > >for you? And I said, Father, please protect and bless the person reading > >this message... Godsmiled and answered... Request granted. > > > >If you believe, send it to seven persons and the one who sent it to you. By > >doing this you have succeeded in praying for eight people today. > > > >Have a Blessed Day

JOSHUA TIME 437

Monday, May 8, 2006

THE RELATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Since 1947 we have often heard, when the political realm is being referred to, the phrase “separation of church and state.” It has been promoted as meaning the church has no right to influence the government. The offshoot of that has been the effort to remove every expression of Biblical faith from the public realm.

While the Founders of America did believe that civil government should be separate from church government, they did not believe that civil government should be stripped of the influence of Bible references and principles. Their belief about this could better be described as the relation of church and state. They believed all authority, including governmental authority, flowed from God.

Romans 13 was one of the Biblical passages they based this on. It says, “…there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God…For he [a government servant] is God’s minister to you for good.” (verses 1 and 4)

Chief Justice John Marshall, who served from 1801-1835 and who did more than any other to shape the Supreme Court, echoed this relationship between church and state in a letter he wrote on May 9, 1833. He stated:

"The American population is entirely Christian, and with us Christianity and Religion are identified. It would be strange indeed, if with such a people, our institutions did not presuppose Christianity, and did not often refer to it, and exhibit relations with it."

LET US PRAY that we as Americans will embrace again the principle of the relationship of church and state which our Founders believed in---and laid down their lives for.

JOSHUA TIME 436

Honoring a trador

IF YOU NEVER FORWARDED ANYTHING IN YOU LIFE FORWARD THIS SO THAT EVERYONEWILL KNOW!!!!!!....... She really was a traitor A TRAITOR IS ABOUT TO BE HONORED KEEP THIS MOVING ACROSS AMERICA This is for all the kids born in the 70's who do not remember, and didn't have to bear the burden that our fathers, mothers and older brothers and sisters had to bear. Jane Fonda is being honored as one of the "100 Women of the Century" BY BARBRA WALTERS Unfortunately, many have forgotten and still countless others have never known how Ms. Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our country, but specific men who served and sacrificed during Vietnam. The first part of this is from an F-4E pilot The pilot's name is Jerry Driscoll, a River Rat In 1968, the former Commandant of the USAF Survival School was a POW in Ho Lo Prison the "Hanoi Hilton." Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell, cleaned, fed, and dressed in clean PJ's, he was ordered to describe for a visiting American "Peace Activist" the "lenient and humane treatment" he'd received. He spat at Ms. Fonda, was clubbed, and was dragged away. During the subsequent beating, he fell forward on to the camp Commandant's feet, which sent that officer berserk. In 1978, the Air Force Colonel still suffered from double vision (which permanently ended his flying career) from the Commandant's frenzied application of a wooden baton. From 1963-65, Col. Larry Carrigan was in the 47FW/DO (F-4E's). He spent 6 years in the "Hanoi Hilton",,, the first three of which his family only knew he was "missing in action". His wife lived on faith that he was still alive. His group, too, got the cleaned-up, fed and clothed routine in preparation for a "peace delegation" visit. They, however, had time and devised a plan to get word to the world that they were alive and still survived. Each man secreted a tiny piece of paper, with his Social Security Number on it, in! the p! a lm of his hand. When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a cameraman, she walked the line, shaking each man's hand and asking little encouraging snippets like: "Aren't you sorry you bombed babies?" and "Are you grateful for the humane treatment from your benevolent captors?" Believing this HAD to be an act, they each palmed her their sliver of paper. She took them all without missing a beat. At the end of the line and once the camera stopped rolling, to the shocked disbelief of the POWs, she turned to the officer in charge and handed him all the little pieces of paper. Three men died from the subsequent beatings. Colonel Carrigan was almost number four but he survived, which is the only reason we know of her actions that day. I was a civilian economic development advisor in Vietnam, and was captured by the North Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam in 1968, and held prisoner for over 5 years. I spent 27 months in solitary confinement; one year in a cage in Cambodia; and one year in a "black box" in Hanoi. My North Vietnamese captors deliberately poisoned and murdered a female missionary, a nurse in a leprosarium in Ban me Thuot, South Vietnam, whom I buried in the jungle near the Cambodian border. At one time, I weighed only about 90 lbs. (My normal weight is 170 lbs.) We were Jane Fonda's "war criminals." When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi, I was asked by the camp communist political officer if I would be willing to meet with her. I said yes, for I wanted to tell her about the real treatment we POWs received... and how different it was from the treatment purported by the North Vietnamese, and parroted by her as "humane and lenient." Because of this, I spent three days on a rocky floor on my knees, with my arms outstretched with a large steel weights placed on my hands, and beaten with a bamboo cane. I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda soon after I was released. I asked her if she would be willing to debate me on TV. She never did answer me. These first-hand experiences do not exemplify someone who should be honored as part of "100 Years of Great Women." Lest we forget..." 100 Years of Great Women" should never include a traitor whose hands are covered with the blood of so many patriots. There are few things I have strong visceral reactions to, but Hanoi Jane's participation in blatant treason, is one of them. Please take the time to forward to as many people as you possibly can. It will eventually end up on her computer and she needs to know that we will never forget. RONALD D. SAMPSON, CMSgt, USAF 716 Maintenance Squadron, Chief of Maintenance DSN: 875-6431 COMM: 883-6343 PLEASE HELP BY SENDING THIS TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE SEE THIS MAYBE HER STATUS WILL CHANGE

JOSHUA TIME 435

Each Day is a Gift> > > >>> > This 102 year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who> is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his> hair fashionably coifed and face shaved perfectly, even> though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.> His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move> necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the> lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his> room was ready.>>> >>>> > As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a> visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet> sheets that had been hung on his window.>>> >>>> > "I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an> eight-year-old having just been presented with a new> puppy.>>> >>>> > "Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.">>> >>>> > "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied.>>> >>>> > "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.> Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the> furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I> already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every> morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the> day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts> of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be> thankful for the ones that do.">>> >>>> > Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus> on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored> away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a> bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.>>> >>>> > So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of> happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for> your part in filling my memory bank. I am still> depositing.>>> >>>> > Remember the five simple rules to be happy:>>> >>>> > 1. Free your heart from hatred.>>> >>>> > 2. Free your mind from worries.>>> >>>> > 3. Live simply.>>> >>>> > 4. Give more.>>> >>>> > 5. Expect less.>>> >>>> > Peace and Blessings

JOSHUA TIME 434

God still sits on the throne. Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith. My instructions were to pick four (4) people that I wanted God to bless, and I picked you. Please pass this to at least four (4) people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.The prayer: Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, famili! es, finances, their goings and their comings. In Your name. Amen.(If the Lord lays upon your heart to send this to more than four "4" people, you are truly blessed).if