CREATE TABLE `main` (
  `Number` int(6) NOT NULL auto_increment,
  `Title` text NOT NULL,
  `Author` text NOT NULL,
  `Story` text NOT NULL,
  `Source` text NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY  (`Number`)
) TYPE=MyISAM AUTO_INCREMENT=359;

INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (21, 'Big Difference', 'Author Unknown', 'The Boss drives his men, The Leader inspires them..\r\nThe Boss depends on authority, The Leader depends on goodwill..\r\nThe Boss evokes fear, The Leader radiates love..\r\nThe Boss says \\"I\\", The Leader says \\"We\\"..\r\nThe Boss shows who is wrong, The Leader shows what is wrong..\r\nThe Boss knows how it is done, The Leader knows how to do it..\r\nThe Boss demands respect, The Leader commands respect', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (28, '\\"Want to!\\", The', 'Neil Eskelin,', 'I remember the night in Miami when our son, Ian, was just five years old. We were staying with relatives and it was his bedtime. When I looked at the living room floor, I knew we had a problem. Toys were all over the place. \\"Ian,\\" I said, \\"you need to pick up all those toys before you go to bed.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Daddy,\\" he said, \\"I\\''m too tired to pick up my toys.\\" \r\n\r\nMy immediate inclination was to force him to clean up the room. Instead, I went into the bedroom, laid down, and said, \\"Ian, come here. Let’s play Humpty Dumpty.\\" \r\n\r\nHe climbed up on my knees and I said, \\"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.\\" And he fell. Ian laughed and said, \\"Let\\''s do it again.\\" Well, after the third \\"fall,\\" I said, \\"Okay, but first go pick up those toys.\\" \r\n\r\nWithout thinking, he ran into the living room and in ninety seconds he finished a job that could have taken half an hour. Then he jumped back on my knees and repeated, \\"Daddy, let’s do it again.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Ian, I thought you were too tired to pick up those toys.\\" He answered, \\"I was, daddy, but I just wanted to do this!\\" \r\n\r\nWe can finish any job when we have the \\"Want to!\\" \r\n', 'source unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (29, '\\"Want to!\\", The', 'Neil Eskelin,', 'I remember the night in Miami when our son, Ian, was just five years old. We were staying with relatives and it was his bedtime. When I looked at the living room floor, I knew we had a problem. Toys were all over the place. \\"Ian,\\" I said, \\"you need to pick up all those toys before you go to bed.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Daddy,\\" he said, \\"I\\''m too tired to pick up my toys.\\" \r\n\r\nMy immediate inclination was to force him to clean up the room. Instead, I went into the bedroom, laid down, and said, \\"Ian, come here. Let’s play Humpty Dumpty.\\" \r\n\r\nHe climbed up on my knees and I said, \\"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.\\" And he fell. Ian laughed and said, \\"Let\\''s do it again.\\" Well, after the third \\"fall,\\" I said, \\"Okay, but first go pick up those toys.\\" \r\n\r\nWithout thinking, he ran into the living room and in ninety seconds he finished a job that could have taken half an hour. Then he jumped back on my knees and repeated, \\"Daddy, let’s do it again.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Ian, I thought you were too tired to pick up those toys.\\" He answered, \\"I was, daddy, but I just wanted to do this!\\" \r\n\r\nWe can finish any job when we have the \\"Want to!\\" \r\n', 'source unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (30, '\\"Want to!\\", The', 'Neil Eskelin,', 'I remember the night in Miami when our son, Ian, was just five years old. We were staying with relatives and it was his bedtime. When I looked at the living room floor, I knew we had a problem. Toys were all over the place. \\"Ian,\\" I said, \\"you need to pick up all those toys before you go to bed.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Daddy,\\" he said, \\"I\\''m too tired to pick up my toys.\\" \r\n\r\nMy immediate inclination was to force him to clean up the room. Instead, I went into the bedroom, laid down, and said, \\"Ian, come here. Let’s play Humpty Dumpty.\\" \r\n\r\nHe climbed up on my knees and I said, \\"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.\\" And he fell. Ian laughed and said, \\"Let\\''s do it again.\\" Well, after the third \\"fall,\\" I said, \\"Okay, but first go pick up those toys.\\" \r\n\r\nWithout thinking, he ran into the living room and in ninety seconds he finished a job that could have taken half an hour. Then he jumped back on my knees and repeated, \\"Daddy, let’s do it again.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Ian, I thought you were too tired to pick up those toys.\\" He answered, \\"I was, daddy, but I just wanted to do this!\\" \r\n\r\nWe can finish any job when we have the \\"Want to!\\" \r\n', 'source unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (31, 'Ants and the Grasshopper, The', 'Author Unknown', 'The Ants were spending a fine winter\\''s day drying grain collected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him, \\"Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?\\'' He replied, \\"I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in singing.\\" They then said in derision: \\"If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.\\" \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (32, 'Ass and the Mule, The', 'Author Unknown', 'A Muleteer set forth on a journey, driving before him an Ass and a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself: \\"I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well.\\" \r\n\r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (33, 'Busy', 'Stephen Covey', 'Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter ask for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. The paid was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. \r\n\r\nHis boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. \r\n\r\nThe first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees \r\n\r\n\\"Congratulations,\\" the boss said. \\"Go on that way!\\" \r\n\r\nVery motivated for the boss’ words, the woodcutter try harder the next day, but he only could bring 15 trees. The third day he try even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees.Day after day he was bringing less and less trees. \r\n\r\n\\"I must be losing my strength\\", the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. \r\n\r\n\\"When was the last time you sharpened your axe?\\" the boss asked. \r\n\r\n\\"Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees...\\" \r\n', '7 Habits of Highly Effective People');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (34, 'Creating Opportunity', 'Jim Rohn', 'An enterprising person is one who comes across a pile of scrap metal and sees the making of a wonderful sculpture. An enterprising person is one who drives through an old decrepit part of town and sees a new housing development. An enterprising person is one who sees opportunity in all areas of life. \r\n\r\nTo be enterprising is to keep your eyes open and your mind active. It\\''s to be skilled enough, confident enough, creative enough and disciplined enough to seize opportunities that present themselves... regardless of the economy. \r\n\r\nA person with an enterprising attitude says, \\"Find out what you can before action is taken.\\" Do your homework. Do the research. Be prepared. Be resourceful. Do all you can in preparation of what\\''s to come. \r\n\r\nEnterprising people always see the future in the present. Enterprising people always find a way to take advantage of a situation, not be burdened by it. And enterprising people aren\\''t lazy. They don\\''t wait for opportunities to come to them, they go after the opportunities. Enterprise means always finding a way to keep yourself actively working toward your ambition. \r\n\r\nEnterprise is two things. The first is creativity. You need creativity to see what\\''s out there and to shape it to your advantage. You need creativity to look at the world a little differently. You need creativity to take a different approach, to be different. \r\n\r\nWhat goes hand-in-hand with the creativity of enterprise is the second requirement: the courage to be creative. You need courage to see things differently, courage to go against the crowd, courage to take a different approach, courage to stand alone if you have to, courage to choose activity over inactivity. \r\n\r\nAnd lastly, being enterprising doesn\\''t just relate to the ability to make money. Being enterprising also means feeling good enough about yourself, having enough self worth to want to seek advantages and opportunities that will make a difference in your future. And by doing so you will increase your confidence, your courage, your creativity and your self-worth, your enterprising nature. \r\n\r\n\r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (35, 'Jessie\\''s Glove', 'Rick Phillips', 'I do a lot of management training each year for the Circle K Corporation, a national chain of convenience stores. Among the topics we address in our seminars is the retention of quality employees - a real challenge to managers when you consider the pay scale in the service industry. During these discussions, I ask the participants, \r\n\r\n\\"What has caused you to stay long enough to become a manager?\\" Some time back a new manager took the question and slowly, with her voice almost breaking, said, \\"It was a $19 baseball glove.\\" \r\n\r\nCynthia told the group that she originally took a Circle K clerk job as an interim position while she looked for something better. On her second or third day behind the counter, she received a phone call from her nine-year old son, Jessie. He needed a baseball glove for Little League. She explained that as a single mother, money was very tight, and her first check would have to go for paying bills. Perhaps she could buy his baseball glove with her second or third check. \r\n\r\nWhen Cynthia arrived for work the next morning, Patricia, the store manager, asked her to come to the small room in back of the store that served as an office. Cynthia wondered if she had done something wrong or left some part of her job incomplete from the day before. She was concerned and confused. \r\n\r\nPatricia handed her a box. \\"I overheard you talking to your son yesterday,\\" she said, \\"and I know that it is hard to explain things to kids. This is a baseball glove for Jessie because he may not understand how important he is, even though you have to pay bills before you can buy gloves. You know we can\\''t pay good people like you as much as we would like to; but we do care, and I want you to know you are important to us.\\" \r\n\r\nThe thoughtfulness, empathy and love of this convenience store manager demonstrates vividly that people remember more how much an employer cares than how much the employer pays. An important lesson for the price of a Little League baseball glove. \r\n\r\n', 'Heart At Work');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (36, 'Just Do It', 'Neil Eskelin/Elbert Hubbard', 'Author Elbert Hubbard told the story of an incident during the Spanish-American War. It was imperative that the president get a message to the leader of the insurgents. His name was Garcia and he was known to fighting somewhere in the mountains of Cuba, but no mail or telegraph could reach him. Someone said, \\"There\\''s a fellow by the name of Rowan who will find Garcia for you if anybody can.\\" \r\n\r\nRowan took the letter without hesitation. He sealed it in a leather pouch strapped over his heart. He landed in the dark of night off the coast of Cuba and make his way to the mountains, and after much difficulty, found Garcia. He handed him the letter, turned around and headed home. Hubbard tells this story in \\"A Letter to Garcia.\\" Rowan didn\\''t ask, \\"Exactly where is he?\\" or \\"I doubt if I can do it.\\" There was a job to be done and he did it. \r\n\r\nInstead of making a dozen excuses why you can\\''t complete the task, think about Rowan. Deliver the goods! \r\n \r\n\r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (37, 'Keep Marketing You', 'Neil Eskelin', 'Rejection and job searching go hand in hand. As a writer, I can tell you something about disappointment. I had enough \\"reject\\" slips from New York publishers to start a bonfire. Then one day, an editor said, \\"Yes,\\" and my world was drastically transformed. \r\n\r\nKen Taylor began re-writing the Bible in a contemporary translation and had more than 60 rejections. He finally decided to self-publish \\"The Living Bible\\" and it became one of the greatest best-sellers in publishing history. \r\n\r\nIf you\\''re qualified for a particular job, never stop interviewing -- even if you return to the same companies five or six times. Meanwhile, you need to accept an interim position to keep yourself gainfully employed. When you add lack of funds to job rejection, it\\''s a double-whammy. Never overlook working for a \\"temporary\\" employment agency. It gives you a chance to demonstrate your skills to a number of companies and can open some exciting doors. As a last resort, start free-lancing your skills. Who knows? You may wind up with your own business and be your own boss! \r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (38, 'Lesson from a Rainy Day', 'Grace ?', 'August 26, 1999 is a day that many New Yorkers would probably like to forget. However, this New Yorker will always remember that day because that is the day that I learned what a powerful gift appreciation can truly be. \r\n\r\nOn August 26, 1999, New York City experienced a torrential downpour. The relentless rain caused the streets to flood. New York City\\''s subway system came to a screeching halt as the subway stations were inundated with water. Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. \r\n\r\nMany people who were going to work were stranded and forced to go home. Some battled with fellow New Yorkers to hail a cab or to get on a bus. Still others braved the storm, walking miles to get to work. \r\n\r\nI happened to be one of people on her way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most service had stopped. After running around like crazy and making my way through crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was operating. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to board the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the platform. Undaunted and determined to get to work, I decided to take the train uptown several stops and then switch back to the downtown train. It was a hassle, but it paid off. However, the train got more packed at each stop. People pushed and shoved. I was constantly hit with elbows and bags. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the train reached my stop. \r\n\r\nBut the journey was not over yet. I would still have to walk several blocks to get to my office. The rain had intensified, and no umbrella was enough to withstand the forces of Mother Nature. When I finally got to work, I was completely soaked and left a puddle of water everywhere I sat. I was also exhausted and discouraged from my commute. \r\n\r\nMy coworkers and I spent most of the day drying off. When 5:00 rolled around, I was ready to go home. I was about to log off my computer when I received an email from Garth, my Deputy Director. I opened the email and found the following message: \r\n\r\nI would like to thank all those associates who made the effort and eventually reported to work. It is always reassuring, at times like these, when employees so clearly demonstrate their dedication to their jobs. Thank you. \r\n\r\nAs you can see, Garth\\''s email was short, but I learned more from that brief message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of appreciation can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the transit troubles had made me miserable and weary. But Garth\\''s words immediately invigorated me and put a smile back on my face. \r\n\r\nGarth\\''s actions also made me realize that words of appreciation not only make you feel good but it also motivates and inspires you. After reading his email, I felt that coming to work that day was an accomplishment that I should be proud of. Suddenly getting drenched and the extremely long commute did not seem so bad. As a matter of fact, his email made the whole subway ordeal all worthwhile. \r\n\r\nSometimes we are so wrapped up in our lives that we forget the magical power of appreciation. Garth had been caught in the rain like the rest of us. He had to tend to his responsibilities. He also had to cope with the numerous absences in the five areas that he manages. And he had to take on his boss\\'' responsibilities, as she was unable to get to work. Yet, he still found time to send an email thanking his employees for their dedication and the extra effort they had made to get to work. Garth taught me that I should never be too busy to show people my appreciation and to acknowledge the positive things they do. This was the most valuable lesson that anyone could ever give me. And for that, I will always be grateful to Garth. \r\n\r\nAugust 26, 1999 may have been one of the darkest days in New York City history, but it was one of the brightest days in my life thanks to Garth. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (41, 'Hospital Windows', 'Author Unknown', 'Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room\\''s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.\r\n\r\nAnd every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.\r\n\r\nThe window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.\r\n\r\nAs the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.\r\n\r\nOne warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn\\''t hear the band - he could see it in his mind\\''s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed.\r\n\r\nOne morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.\r\n\r\nIt faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, \\"Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.\\"\r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (42, 'The Cleaning Lady', 'Joanne C. Jones ', 'During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: \\"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?\\" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?\r\n\r\nI handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.\r\n\r\n\\"Absolutely,\\" said the professor. \\"In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant.\r\n\r\nThey deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say \\''Hello\\''.\\"\r\n\r\nI\\''ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was \\''Dorothy\\''.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (43, 'Three Stringed Violin', 'Author Unknown', 'On November 18th, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.\r\n\r\nIf you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and so he has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches. To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully and slowly, is an awesome sight.\r\n\r\nHe walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair. Then he sits down, slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin, nods to the conductor and proceeds to play.\r\n\r\nBy now, the audience is used to this ritual. They sit quietly while he makes his way across the stage to his chair. They remain reverently silent while he undoes the clasps on his legs. They wait until he is ready to play.\r\n\r\nBut this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke. You could hear it snap - it went off like gunfire across the room. There was no mistaking what that sound meant. There was no mistaking what he had to do.\r\n\r\nWe figured that he would have to get up, put on the clasps again, pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage - to either find another violin or else find another string for this one. But he didn\\''t. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again.\r\n\r\nThe orchestra began, and he played from where he had left off. And he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before.\r\n\r\nOf course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. I know that, and you know that, but that night Itzhak Perlman refused to know that.\r\n\r\nYou could see him modulating, changing, re-composing the piece in his head. At one point, it sounded like he was de-tuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before.\r\n\r\nWhen he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room. And then people rose and cheered. There was an extraordinary outburst of applause from every corner of the auditorium. We were all on our feet, screaming and cheering, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done.\r\n\r\nHe smiled, wiped the sweat from this brow, raised his bow to quiet us, and then he said - not boastfully, but in a quiet, pensive, reverent tone - \\"You know, sometimes it is the artist\\''s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.\\"\r\n\r\nWhat a powerful line that is. It has stayed in my mind ever since I heard it. And who knows? Perhaps that is the definition of life - not just for artists but for all of us.\r\n\r\nHere is a man who has prepared all his life to make music on a violin of four strings, who, all of a sudden, in the middle of a concert, finds himself with only three strings; so he makes music with three strings, and the music he made that night with just three strings was more beautiful, more sacred, more memorable, than any that he had ever made before, when he had four strings.\r\n\r\nSo, perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (44, 'Serious Business ', 'Author Unknown', 'Let me take you back a couple years. Come with me as we relearn a lesson; one that has stuck with me, in my present memory, and inspires me yet. I don\\''t remember exact conversation, but bear with me as I supply something that would sound normal. \r\n\r\nWe walk into Elida Road Hardware. An old fashioned hardware store. No automatic door, not a computer in the building. Nothing unusual about the day, or the fact that we go to that store. It is one that I go to fairly often. As we enter the door, two sounds greet us. The sleigh bells of yesteryear, the ones that make that sweet, peaceful tinkle as we open the door. The other sound is the electronic beeper that alerts Andy of our presence. \r\n\r\n\\"Good afternoon, Ryan,\\" comes the cheerful acknowledgment. Andy Bianco is a very friendly sort of proprietor. He is of medium build and height, we\\''ll say about 50, and the smile on his face welcomes us. \r\n\r\nWe walk across the old wood floor -- destitute of stain or varnish, and worn smooth -- with its squeaky spots, and uneven joints. Andy asks us what he can help us with. I tell him we are looking for a spring. He very patiently replies \\"I carry lots of springs, you\\''re going to need to be more specific.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Beats me what they\\''re called; just a spring for an old-fashioned screen door.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"That\\''s it. A screen door spring. Right down there.\\" We turn to where he is pointing, and sure enough, there they are. Andy knows his store, and his products. That\\''s why I come here instead of Meijer. The service can\\''t be beat. The price, Yes. But service and satisfaction; No. \r\n\r\nI pick up one and follow him to the counter. A keg of peanuts sits beside the counter, and beside it, another for the hulls. Let me know when Lowes does that. Covering the counter is a piece of Plexiglas, and under it, all manner of business cards. \r\n\r\n\\"Hey got a card? Put one under here. Free advertising space.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Thanks Andy, but I already have one. See, over here.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Well, I\\''ll be; you do.\\" \r\n\r\nHe figures up the price, doing the math in his head. \\"$1.88, with Uncle Sam\\''s share comes to $1.99\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Put it on Pop\\''s account.\\" \r\n\r\nHe nods and smiles, remembering that this is the third item this week that received that verdict. \r\n\r\n\\"Good ole\\'' Pop\\''s account.\\" He chuckles. \\"I don\\''t know what you boys would do without Pop\\''s account!\\" \r\n\r\nHe hands me the ticket and as I sign it I ask rhetorically, \\"You really trust my signature?\\" \r\n\r\nHis reply startles, yet gladdens me. \\"When I can\\''t trust Jerry Hoover\\''s boys; I can\\''t trust nobody!\\" \r\n\r\nWe leave, and the brain immediately starts to forget things, in order of importance. But what Andy Bianco said that day, rang in my ears. And it rings in my ears today. That\\''s a tall order to live up to. It\\''s a high standard of integrity. My father made a reputation for that name, and I get to enjoy the benefits thereof. But by the same token, I must maintain that reputation. And that\\''s serious business. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (45, 'Flowers on the Bus', 'Author', 'We were a very motley crowd of people who took the bus every day that summer 33 years ago. During the early morning ride from the suburb, we sat drowsily with our collars up to our ears, a cheerless and taciturn bunch. \r\n\r\nOne of the passengers was a small grey man who took the bus to the centre for senior citizens every morning. He walked with a stoop and a sad look on his face when he, with some difficulty, boarded the bus and sat down alone behind the driver. No one ever paid very much attention to him. \r\n\r\nThen one July morning he said good morning to the driver and smiled short-sightedly down through the bus before he sat down. The driver nodded guardedly. The rest of us were silent. \r\n\r\nThe next day, the old man boarded the bus energetically, smiled and said in a loud voice: \\"And a very good morning to you all!\\" Some of us looked up, amazed, and murmured \\"Good morning,\\" in reply. \r\n\r\nThe following weeks we were more alert. Our friend was now dressed in a nice old suit and a wide out-of-date tie. The thin hair had been carefully combed. He said good morning to us every day and we gradually began to nod and talk to each other. \r\n\r\nOne morning he had a bunch of wild flowers in his hand. They were already dangling a little because of the heat. The driver turned around smilingly and asked: \\"Have you got yourself a girlfriend, Charlie?\\" We never got to know if his name really was \\"Charlie\\", but he nodded shyly and said yes. \r\n\r\nThe other passengers whistled and clapped at him. Charlie bowed and waved the flowers before he sat down on his seat. \r\n\r\nEvery morning after that Charlie always brought a flower. Some of the regular passengers began bringing him flowers for his bouquet, gently nudged him and said shyly: \\"Here.\\" Everyone smiled. The men started to jest about it, talk to each other, and share the newspaper. \r\n\r\nThe summer went by, and autumn was closing in, when one morning Charlie wasn\\''t waiting at his usual stop. When he wasn\\''t there the next day and the day after that, we started wondering if he was sick or -- hopefully -- on holiday somewhere. \r\n\r\nWhen we came nearer to the centre for senior citizens, one of the passengers asked the driver to wait. We all held our breaths when she went to the door. \r\n\r\nYes, the staff said, they knew who we were talking about. The elderly gentleman was fine, but he hadn\\''t been coming to the centre that week. One of his very close friends had died at the weekend. They expected him back on Monday. How silent we were the rest of the way to work. \r\n\r\nThe next Monday Charlie was waiting at the stop, stooping a bit more, a little bit more grey, and without a tie. He seemed to have shrinked again. Inside the bus was a silence akin to that in a church. Even though no one had talked about it, all those of us, who he had made such an impression on that summer, sat with our eyes filled with tears and a bunch of wild flowers in our hands. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (46, 'Small Victories ', 'Mary-Ellen Grisham', 'Standing in the noisy cafeteria of the old school, I was watching the students line up for lunch. Having wearied of trying to \\"cut\\" in line on each other, they were intently moving toward the food. As I continued to watch their progress, I began to remember scenes from my own grade school days. This old school building was somewhat similar to mine. \r\n\r\nI could still remember coming into the warm building with the funny smells of furnace heat and cleaning liquids. I visualized the rooms, heated with old-fashioned steam pipe radiators and the hand-turn heat regulators. I could picture the Spartan desks in long straight rows, with scratched and scared surfaces, and the small cloak closets with wood doors folding in along the back of the room. \r\n\r\n\\"Teacher,\\" a small hand tugged my wrist, \\"I can\\''t eat my lunch,\\" complained a small Asian American boy, standing behind me. My thoughts abruptly returned to the present in the cafeteria of the old school where I was substitute teaching. \r\n\r\n\\"What\\''s wrong?\\" I replied as I watched the last of the lunch line disappear into the kitchen. \\"Why not?\\" I asked as I turned to face the cafeteria at large. \r\n\r\n\\"Jamal and Anthony keep poking at my food. I don\\''t want to eat it!\\" \r\n\r\nMaking my way to his lunch table, I took up Lee\\''s cause. I admonished the children, \\"Keep your hands to yourselves and eat properly!\\" \r\n\r\nMy repeated warnings went unheeded, and I began to move the children to different spots at the table. To no avail--as soon as Lee sat down, the pestering began again. As the hearty children began finishing their food, I urged Lee to go back to the kitchen to get a second lunch, promising I would speak to the cooks for him. When I went out to playground duty, he was still sitting in front of his second tray, picking at the food. I tried not to worry about the thin child because I remembered that I had not always eaten my cafeteria lunches and I survived. \r\n\r\nI substituted frequently at this school, and in a few weeks, I was back in Lee\\''s small class. Both the teacher and the assistant were absent. The children in this room had some learning difficulties, and each child had different instructions and activities. I soon realized that Lee had a problem with staying on task and with anger. As I moved through the room, I stopped by each child to check on progress and to help with work. Lee was working with educational coloring sheets, and I let him work on his pictures in sequence rather than finishing one at a time. Doing a part of each until all were completed seemed to suit his temperament. He began to smile as if he and I shared a huge joke. \r\n\r\nThis time, I did not have lunch duty, so I lined the children up and led them to the cafeteria where another teacher took charge of their progress through the line. I went back to the room to check each child\\''s work again and eat a quick sandwich. In fifteen minutes, Lee was back in the room, unable to eat lunch again, having left the cafeteria without permission. I gave him some money, the cost of an alternate lunch, and walked him down to the cafeteria. At the end of lunch, Lee was back in the room with the young man assigned to the room as psychological counselor. Evidently, a cafeteria supervisor sent him to be counseled about his difficulties with eating. \r\n\r\nSlowly, with shyness and pride, he handed me my money back and told me what he and the counselor had rehearsed. \\"Thank you, Mrs. Grishan (his pronunciation), but my mom and dad will not let me accept money. They provide my food.\\" \r\n\r\nI smiled, accepted the money, and watched Lee go with the counselor for further discussion. When he returned, the counselor stayed with him to keep him sweet and on task. \r\n\r\nLater in the year, I was back at the same school to substitute with a large fourth grade class for a week. The day I had lunch duty, I noticed as I glanced quickly around the cafeteria that Lee\\''s table was at peace. They were eating quietly and were not teasing each other. Lee was eating too, and as he looked at me intensely, I glanced away because I did not want to interfere with his concentration on his food. I know, though, that I was smiling, and my heart was singing. I thought of the phrase, \\"all the little children of the world, brown and yellow, black and white,\\" and these precious children were all getting along just fine. I knew that major work by persistent teachers, a dedicated counselor, fine administrators, and parents willing to partner with the school had wrought a change in the life of these troubled children. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (47, 'Cheering Me On', 'Heartwarmers4u.com', 'I close my eyes as tight as they can go. \r\n\r\nThe lights go off, and my imagination switches on. Pictures flash through my mind like an old film from the fifties. \r\n\r\nI remember driving home by myself for the first time. Now, I look into the future and imagine that I am walking across the stage to receive my college diploma. The years pass, and I hear my fianc é say \\"I do.\\" I look further and listen to the gentle gurgles coming from my baby\\''s nursery. A smile discreetly appears as memories past and thoughts of the future travel through my soul. \r\n\r\nI journey to memories of my high school graduation, and a tear suddenly trickles down my cheek. I look into the bleachers packed with families and friends. I see my parents wrapped in pride, and I look to their side for Katie and Kevin\\''s approval. But Katie, my older sister, is not there. \r\n\r\nMy eyes abruptly open as I am snapped back into reality. I remember being called out of Spanish class in tenth grade and taken to the hospital to see Katie, who had cancer, for the final time. It was an excruciating task, but I found the good in Katie\\''s tragic death. \r\n\r\nKatie\\''s room is exactly the way she left it on a Friday night in September, 1993, when she was carried to the ambulance on a stretcher. Her James Dean poster hangs on one wall; her elementary school track ribbons and collection of porcelain masks hangs on the others. Her bed is neatly made and lined with stuffed animals -- typical of a girl who would visit her sloppier friends and, without prompting, start vacuuming their rooms. \r\n\r\nKatie died just a few weeks into her freshman year at the University of Miami. At eighteen she was 5\\''5\\''\\'' tall and had straight shoulder length blond hair, big blue eyes, and pale clear skin. Her senior year in high school, Katie was the varsity cheerleader captain and valedictorian. \r\n\r\nMore importantly, though, she was my best friend. After all, when she was six years old, she had declared herself old enough to take care of her little sister and brand new baby brother, because she thought our mother was not sharing us enough with her. This caring attitude continued throughout her life. Katie would always braid my hair, go shopping with me, and let me go out with her and her friends when I was lonely and bored. Katie would always tutor Kevin, who has a learning disability, when he needed help with his homework. She would continually drill him on his studies until he got it right. Afterwards, she would take him to go get ice cream as a reward. Clearly, Katie was not just our older sister. She was also our teacher, friend, and second mother. \r\n\r\nKatie always surrounded herself with friends. She was constantly opening her ears, heart, and arms to someone in need. The phone was constantly ringing and her room was always crowded with people in it. Now, my house is silent. \r\n\r\nI realize that getting caught in a pool of depression only leads to drowning. I live by looking for the positive in the worst situations. I now have a relationship with my parents and brother that means everything to me. I know what is important in life, and it is not always partying and getting A\\''s. But most of all, I know that I can handle anything. Life is not easy, but I overcame one of its toughest obstacles. \r\n\r\nI believe, the hardest part of death is the experiences it steals. Katie will not be clapping for me when I finally get my college diploma or giving me advice on my wedding day. My children will only hear stories of the girlhood of their aunt, both stories of reality and an imagined future. \r\n\r\nI close my eyes as tight as they can go. \r\n\r\nA diploma is placed in my hand. \\"I do\\" echoes from a distance. Katie says she loves me and hugs me tight on a September afternoon in 1993. Just before I cross my high school auditorium stage, I look out at the spectators in the bleachers, and I see mother and father and Kevin. \r\n\r\nKatie is sitting right beside them, cheering me on. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (48, 'Acorns and Pumpkins', 'Author Unknown', 'An old poem describes a woman walking through a meadow, meditating on nature. While strolling about, she came upon a field of golden pumpkins. In the corner of the field stood a majestic, huge oak tree. \r\n\r\nShe sat under the oak tree musing on the strange twists in nature which put tiny acorns on huge branches and huge pumpkins on tiny vines. She thought to herself, \\"God blundered with Creation! He should have put the small acorns on the tiny vines and the large pumpkins on the huge branches.\\" \r\n\r\nNodding off, the woman stretched out under the oak tree for a nap. A few minutes after falling asleep she was awakened by a tiny acorn bouncing off her nose. Chuckling to herself, she rubbed her nose and thought, \\"Maybe God was right after all!\\" ', 'More Sower\\''s Seeds');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (49, 'Always There', 'Author Unknown', 'Hello God, I called tonight\r\nTo talk a little while\r\nI need a friend who\\''ll listen\r\nTo my anxiety and trial. \r\n\r\nYou see, I can\\''t quite make it\r\nThrough a day just on my own...\r\nI need your love to guide me,\r\nSo I\\''ll never feel alone. \r\n\r\nI want to ask you please to keep,\r\nMy family safe and sound.\r\nCome and fill their lives with confidence\r\nFor whatever fate they\\''re bound. \r\n\r\nGive me faith, dear God, to face\r\nEach hour throughout the day,\r\nAnd not to worry over things\r\nI can\\''t change in any way. \r\n\r\nI thank you God, for being home\r\nAnd listening to my call,\r\nFor giving me such good advice\r\nWhen I stumble and fall. \r\n\r\nYour number, God, is the only one\r\nThat answers every time.\r\nI never get a busy signal,\r\nNever had to pay a dime. \r\n\r\nSo thank you, God, for listening\r\nTo my troubles and my sorrow.\r\nGood night, God, I love You, too,\r\nAnd I\\''ll call again tomorrow! ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (50, 'Atheism', 'Anthony de Mello', 'To the disciples\\'' delight the Master said he wanted a new shirt for his birthday. The finest cloth was bought. The village tailor came in to have the Master measured, and promised, by the will of God, to make the shirt within a week. \r\n\r\nA week went by and a disciple was dispatched to the tailor while the Master excitedly waited for his shirt. Said the tailor, \\"There has been a slight delay. But, by the will of God, it will be ready by tomorrow.\\" \r\n\r\nNext day the tailor said, \\"I\\''m sorry it isn\\''t done. Try again tomorrow and, if God so wills, it will certainly be ready.\\" \r\n\r\nThe following day the Master said, \\"Ask him how long it will take if he keeps God out of it.\\" \r\n', 'One Minute Wisdom');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (51, 'Barriers to God', 'Anthony de Mello', 'The Master would insist that the final barrier to our attaining God was the word and concept \\"God.\\" \r\n\r\nThis so infuriated the local priest that he came in a huff to argue the matter out with the Master. \r\n\r\n\\"But surely the word \\''God\\'' can lead us to God?\\" said the priest. \r\n\r\n\\"It can,\\" said the Master calmly. \r\n\r\n\\"How can something help and be a barrier?\\" \r\n\r\nSaid the Master, \\"The donkey that brings you to the door is not the means by which you enter the house.\\" ', 'One Minute Wisdom ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (52, 'Be Still With God', 'Nancy B. Gibbs', 'All day long I had been very busy; picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing floors. My grown children were coming home for the weekend. I went grocery shopping and prepared for a barbecue supper, complete with ribs and chicken. I wanted everything to be perfect. \r\n\r\nSuddenly, it dawned on me that I was dog-tired. I simply couldn\\''t work as long as I could when I was younger. \\"I\\''ve got to rest for a minute,\\" I told my husband, Roy, as I collapsed into my favorite rocking chair. Music was playing, my dog and cat were chasing each other and the telephone rang. \r\n\r\nA scripture from Psalm 46 popped into my mind. \\"Be still, and know that I am God.\\" I realized that I hadn\\''t spent much time in prayer that day. Was I too busy to even utter a simple word of thanks to God? Suddenly, the thought of my beautiful patio came to mind. I can be quiet out there, I thought. I longed for a few minutes alone with God. \r\n\r\nRoy and I had invested a great deal of time and work in the patio that spring. The flowers and hanging baskets were breathtaking. It was definitely a heavenly place of rest and tranquility. If I can\\''t be still with God in that environment, I can\\''t be still with Him anywhere, I thought. While Roy was talking on the telephone, I slipped out the backdoor and sat down on my favorite patio chair. I closed my eyes and began to pray, counting my many blessings. \r\n\r\nA bird flew by me, chirping and singing. It interrupted my thoughts. It landed on the bird feeder and began eating dinner as I watched. After a few minutes it flew away, singing another song. \r\n\r\nI closed my eyes again. A gust of wind blew, which caused my wind chimes to dance. They made a joyful sound, but again I lost my concentration on God. I squirmed and wiggled in my chair. I looked up toward the blue sky and saw the clouds moving slowly toward the horizon. The wind died down. My wind chimes finally became quiet. \r\n\r\nAgain, I bowed in prayer. \\"Honk, honk,\\" I heard. I almost jumped out of my skin. A neighbor was driving down the street. He waved at me and smiled. I waved back, happy that he cared. I quickly tried once again to settle down, repeating the familiar verse in my mind. Be still and know that I am God. \r\n\r\n\\"I\\''m trying God. I really am,\\" I whispered. \\"But you\\''ve got to help me here.\\" \r\n\r\nThe backdoor opened. My husband walked outside. \\"I love you,\\" he said. \\"I was wondering where you were.\\" I chuckled, as he came over and kissed me, then turned around and went back inside. \r\n\r\n\\"Where\\''s the quiet time?\\" I asked God. My heart fluttered. There was no pain, only a beat that interrupted me yet again. This is impossible, I thought. There\\''s no time to be still and to know that God is with me. There\\''s too much going on in the world and entirely too much activity all around me. \r\n\r\nThen it suddenly dawned on me. God was speaking to me the entire time I was attempting to be still. I remembered the music playing as I\\''d begun my quiet time. He sent a sparrow to lighten my life with song. He sent a gentle breeze. He sent a neighbor to let me know that I had a friend. He sent my sweetheart to offer sincere sentiments of love. He caused my heart to flutter to remind me of life. While I was trying to count my blessings, God was busy multiplying them. \r\n\r\nI laughed to realize that the \\"interruptions\\" of my quiet time with God were special blessings He\\''d sent to show me He was with me the entire time. ', 'Source Unknown ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (53, 'Black and Gold Boxes', 'Author Unknown', 'I have in my hands two boxes\r\nWhich God gave me to hold\r\nHe said, \\"Put all your sorrows in the black,\r\nAnd all your joys in the gold.\\" \r\n\r\nI heeded his words, and in the two boxes\r\nBoth my joys and sorrows I store\r\nBut though the gold became heavier each day\r\nThe black was as light as before. \r\n\r\nWith curiosity, I opened the black\r\nI wanted to find out why\r\nAnd I saw, in the base of the box, a hole\r\nWhich my sorrows had fallen out by. \r\n\r\nI showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,\r\n\\"I wonder where my sorrows could be.\\"\r\nHe smiled a gentle smile at me.\r\n\\"My child, they\\''re all here with me.\\" \r\n\r\nI asked, \\"God, why give me the boxes,\r\n\\"Why the gold, and the black with the hole?\\"\r\n\\"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,\r\nthe black is for you to let go.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (54, 'Blessings Great and Small', 'Betty King', 'Here in the Arizona desert where shades of browns, grays, blacks and muted greens at first appear to dominate the landscape, I live and expand my appreciation for God\\''s canvas. \r\n\r\nJust today before day relinquished its light, on the horizon where the mountains loomed in the distance, God painted a sunset, its beauty taking my breathe away. Wispy, swept clouds, delicately brushed, completed the Master Piece; some things defy words, remaining in crevices of the mind, long after miracles have passed and moments acknowledged. \r\n\r\nI am reminded too of springtime when the mountains burst forth in the brightness of sunshine as they are enveloped by wild flowers that have been sprinkled there not by accident or by the hands of man but by God and His glory. \r\n\r\nToo, I marvel at the giant Saguaro Cactus that stands tall and proud and the ever yielding variety of colors from the Bougainvillea. Tasty fruit from the Pomegranate the orange and lemon trees linger on my pallet as I think of their contribution in feeding humanity. \r\n\r\nToday unlike so many yesterday\\''s that have skipped by unnoticed, I paused to reflect on a gift so often unopened, by we who are given greatness beyond measure by God the giver of all gifts great and small. I stopped, accepting this wonder of wonders and asked that my eyes be opened to minute blessings sent to me daily. I want not to miss the smallest of blessings for in doing so in the future I may reflect back, seeing them as they truly are, my Biggest, Richest Blessings. \r\n\r\nEvery landscape scattered across our nation, our world our universe is unique in and of it\\''s own self; like each individual person we have our own gift and purpose, we have our own contributions. God has given to us that we might give back of ourselves and brighten the life of another. \r\n\r\nAs I reached over and felt the warmth of my husband\\''s hand, saw his eyes upon me and heard the words, \\"I love you baby,\\" I thanked God for all of His Blessings, even those I so often take for granted. ', 'Source Unknown ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (55, 'Blind Men and the Elephant, The', 'Author Unknown', 'There is an analogy to how differently we each understand or experience God in a classic story about three blind men and the elephant. As each of the three blind men are trying to understand exactly what the elephant is like, but experiencing different parts of the same thing. \r\n\r\nThe first blind man is feeling all over the leg of the elephant and says to the others, \\"It is like a strong tree.\\" But, the second is holding the trunk, explaining, \\"It is like an ever changing vine.\\" \r\n\r\nStill, the third blind man is running his hands across the large body of the elephant, exclaiming, \\"No, it is endless, like a wide mountain.\\" ', 'Source Unknown ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (56, 'Comprehension', 'Anthony de Mello', '\\"Every word, every image used for God is a distortion more than a description.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Then how does one speak of God?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Through Silence.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Why, then, do you speak in words?\\" \r\n\r\nAt that the Master laughed uproariously He said, \\"When I speak, you mustn\\''t listen to the words, my dear. Listen to the Silence.\\" ', 'Source Unknown ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (57, 'Elimelech and the Blessing', 'Jeffery Kanter', 'A Bracha, (a blessing), what is a blessing? \r\n\r\nWe Jewish people have been making blessings for thousands of years. But what is a blessing. Are we giving a blessing to G-d for what he has given us? \r\n\r\nWhen we give a blessing to a friend, it\\''s like wishing that good things should happen to him. Is this the same towards G-d? Can we do such a thing? What is it that G-d lacks, that our blessing can do something? \r\n\r\nTo answer these questions, there is a famous story about Rabbi Elimelch, the Rabbi of Lesinsk who lived about two hundred years ago. Another Rabbi came to visit Rabbi Elimelch, who was known far and wide for being a Tzaddik (a pure and righteous man). \r\n\r\nAs they sat together conversing, the visiting Rabbi, who was a distinguished scholar, yet did not achieve the level of holiness and saintliness that Rabbi Elimelch had reached. \r\n\r\n\\"Tell me, Rabbi Elimelch, we both are scholars, well versed in the Jewish law. Yet you have reached a level of saintliness and holiness far beyond me. Explain to me, please, what is the difference between us? What is it that you possess that I don\\''t?\\" \r\n\r\nRabbi Elimelch pointed to the bowl of fruit, set before them on the table. \\"When you want to eat an apple, do you make a blessing to G-d?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Certainly I do!\\" the visiting Rabbi answered. \r\n\r\n\\"Ah, that\\''s the difference. You see, when I want to make a blessing to G-d, I eat an apple. When you want to eat an apple you first make a blessing. That is the difference.\\" \r\n\r\nWhat this story is coming to tell us is that blessing is a method that we can use to become close to the creator of the world. True, it thanks him for His goodness. But it can also bring us to a higher level of consciousness in being aware of G-d. \r\n\r\nThe visiting Rabbi used the blessing to thank G-d for His goodness, which is quite acceptable and commendable. But Rabbi Elimelch used the blessing in a different way. He used it to get close to G-d. The apple was just a medium for being able to do this. \r\n\r\nWe too, when the opportunity comes for making a blessing, we can use it to increase our awareness of the Supreme Power of the universe. The more blessings that we make, the more we can increase our awareness. \r\n\r\nThat\\''s the point of making a blessing. It is like we do something for G-d; we cause him to be with us down here on earth instead of hidden up there in the heavens. ', 'Jewish Magazine ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (58, 'Finding God Within and Without', 'Author Unknown', 'How do I find You God? \r\n\r\nGod is Love.\r\nIf you have ever loved,\r\nIf you have ever been loved,\r\nYou have experienced God\r\nfrom Within and Without \r\n\r\nGod is Truth.\r\nIf you have ever told the truth,\r\nIf you have ever discovered Truth,\r\nYou have experienced God\r\nfrom Within and Without \r\n\r\nGod is Beauty.\r\nIf you have ever helped to create something beautiful,\r\nIf you have ever witnessed beauty in any of it\\''s myriad forms,\r\nYou have experienced God\r\nfrom Within and Without \r\n\r\nGod is Good.\r\nIf you have ever done or thought something good,\r\nIf you have ever recognized goodness in or through another,\r\nYou have experienced God\r\nfrom Within and Without \r\n\r\nAll of those experiences, those gifts,\r\nof Love, Truth, Beauty and Goodness\r\nwere directly from God through you. or to you. \r\n\r\nGlad to Meet You God. let\\''s hang out together. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (59, 'God Is Like...', 'Author Unknown', 'A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results: \r\n\r\nGod is like BAYER ASPIRIN -- He works miracles. God is like a FORD -- He\\''s got a better idea. \r\nGod is like COKE -- He\\''s the real thing. \r\nGod is like HALLMARK CARDS -- He cares enough to send His very best. \r\nGod is like TIDE -- He gets the stains out that others leave behind. \r\nGod is like GENERAL ELECTRIC -- He brings good things to life. \r\nGod is like SEARS -- He has everything. \r\nGod is like ALKA-SELTZER -- Try him, you\\''ll like Him. \r\nGod is like SCOTCH TAPE -- You can\\''t see him, but you know He\\''s there. \r\nGod is like DELTA -- He\\''s ready when you are. \r\nGod is like ALLSTATE -- You\\''re in good hands with Him. \r\nGod is like VO-5 Hair Spray -- He holds through all kinds of weather. \r\nGod is like DIAL SOAP -- Aren\\''t you glad you have Him. Don\\''t you wish everybody did. \r\nGod is like the U.S. POST OFFICE -- Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination. \r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (60, 'Packing Parachutes', 'Author Unknown', 'Charles Plumb, a US Navy Academy graduate, was a jet fighter pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile.\r\n\r\nPlumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent the next six years in a Communist prison. \r\n\r\nHe survived that ordeal and now lectures about lessons learned from that experience.\r\n\r\nOne day, when he and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, \\"You\\''re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Nam from the carrier, Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!\\"\r\n\r\n\\"How in the world did you know that?\\" asked Plumb.\r\n\r\n\\"Oh, I was the one who packed your parachute,\\" the man replied.\r\n\r\nPlumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man smiled and said, \\"Yep, I guess it worked!\\"\r\n\r\nPlumb assured him, \\"It sure did work -- if your chute hadn\\''t worked, I wouldn\\''t be here today.\\"\r\n\r\nPlumb couldn\\''t sleep that night, thinking about the man who has packed his parachute. Plumb kept wondering what the man might have looked like in a Navy uniform.\r\n\r\n\\"I wondered how many times I might have passed him on the Kitty Hawk. I wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything, because you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor.\\"\r\n\r\nPlumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands the fate of someone he didn\\''t know. \r\n\r\nNow Plumb asks his audiences, \\"Who\\''s packing your chute?\\" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day.\r\n\r\nPlumb also points out that we all need many kinds of parachutes. We need mental, emotional and spiritual parachutes as well.\r\n\r\nWhile a prisoner of war, Plumb called on all of these supports before reaching safety. His experience reminds us all to prepare ourselves to weather whatever storms lie ahead -- and to recognize and appreciate all of those people who pack our parachutes everyday, for they are the ones who truly deserve the credit for our survival. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (61, 'Start Over', 'Author Unknown', 'When you\\''ve trusted God and walked his way,\r\nWhen you\\''ve felt his hand lead you day by day,\r\nBut your steps now take you another way.....\r\nStart Over\r\n\r\nWhen you\\''ve made your plans and they\\''ve gone awry,\r\nWhen you\\''ve tried your best and there\\''s no more try,\r\nWhen you\\''ve failed yourself and you don\\''t know why......\r\nStart Over\r\n\r\nWhen you\\''ve told your friends what you plan to do,\r\nWhen you\\''ve trusted them and they didn\\''t come through;\r\nAnd now you\\''re all alone and it\\''s up to you.....\r\nStart Over\r\n\r\nWhen you\\''ve failed your kids and they\\''re grown and gone,\r\nWhen you\\''ve done your best but it\\''s turned out wrong,\r\nAnd now your grandchildren have come along......\r\nStart Over\r\n\r\nWhen you\\''ve prayed to God so you\\''ll know his will,\r\nWhen you\\''ve prayed and prayed and you don\\''t know still,\r\nWhen you want to stop cause you\\''ve had your fill......\r\nStart Over\r\n\r\nWhen you think you\\''re finished and want to quit,\r\nWhen you\\''ve bottomed out in life\\''s deepest pit,\r\nWhen you\\''ve tried and tried to get out of it.....\r\nStart Over\r\n\r\nWhen the year has been long and successes are few,\r\nWhen December comes and you\\''re feeling blue,\r\nGod gives a January just for you....\r\nStart Over\r\n\r\nStarting over means \\"Victories Won\\";\r\n\r\nStarting over means \\"A Race well run\\";\r\n\r\nStarting over means \\"God\\''s Will Be Done\\";\r\n\r\nDon\\''t just sit there...\r\n\r\nSTART OVER.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (62, 'A Little Fellow Follows Me', 'Author Unknown', 'A careful man I ought to be,\r\nA little fellow follows me.\r\nI dare not go astray,\r\nFor fear he\\''ll go the self-same way.\r\n\r\nI cannot once escape his eyes,\r\nWhatever he see me do, he tries.\r\nLike me, he says, he\\''s going to be,\r\nThe little chap who follows me.\r\n\r\nHe thinks that I am good and fine,\r\nBelieves in every word of mine.\r\nThe base in me he must not see,\r\nThat little fellow who follows me.\r\n\r\nI must remember as I go,\r\nThru summers\\'' sun and winters\\'' snow.\r\nI am building for the years to be,\r\nIn the little chap who follows me.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (63, 'A Tear to the Eye', 'Author Unknown', 'Barbara was driving her six-year-old son, Benjamin, to his piano lesson.\r\n\r\nThey were late, and Barbara was beginning to think she should have cancelled it. There was always so much to do, and Barbara, a night-duty nurse at the local hospital, had recently worked extra shifts.\r\n\r\nShe was tired. The sleet storm and icy roads added to her tension. Maybe she should turn the car around.\r\n\r\n\\"Mom!\\" Ben cried. \\"Look!\\" Just ahead, a car had lost control on a patch of ice. As Barbara tapped the brakes, the other car spun wildly rolled over, then crashed sideways into a telephone pole.\r\n\r\nBarbara pulled over, skidded to a stop and threw open her door. Thank goodness she was a nurse - she might be able to help these unfortunate passengers.\r\n\r\nThen she paused. What about Ben? She couldn\\''t take him with her. Little boys shouldn\\''t see scenes like the one she anticipated. But was it safe to leave him alone? What if their car were hit from behind?\r\n\r\nFor a brief moment Barbara considered going on her way. Someone else was sure to come along. No! \\"Ben, honey, promise me you\\''ll stay in the car!\\"\r\n\r\n\\"I will, Mommy,\\" he said as she ran, slipping and sliding toward the crash site. It was worse than she\\''d feared. Two girls of high school age are in the car. One, the blonde on the passenger side, was dead, killed on impact.\r\n\r\nThe driver, however was still breathing. She was unconscious and pinned in the wreckage. Barbara quickly applied pressure to the wound in the teenager\\''s head while her practiced eye catalogued the other injuries. A broken leg, maybe two, along with probable internal bleeding. But if help came soon, the girl would live.\r\n\r\nA trucker had pulled up and was calling for help on his cellular phone. Soon Barbara heard the ambulance sirens. A few moments later she surrendered her lonely post to rescue workers.\r\n\r\n\\"Good job,\\" one said as he examined the driver\\''s wounds. \\"You probably saved her life, ma\\''am.\\" Perhaps.\r\n\r\nBut as Barbara walked back to her car a feeling of sadness overwhelmed her, especially for the family of the girl who had died. Their lives would never be the same. Oh God, why do such things have to happen?\r\n\r\nSlowly Barbara opened her car door. What should she tell Benjamin? He was staring at the crash site, his blue eyes huge. \\"Mom,\\" he whispered, \\"did you see it?\\"\r\n\r\n\\"See what, Honey?\\" she asked.\r\n\r\n\\"The angel, Mom! He came down from the sky while you were running to the car. And he opened the door, and he took that girl out.\\"\r\n\r\nBarbara\\''s eyes filled with tears. \\"Which door, Ben?\\"\r\n\r\n\\"The passenger side. He took the girl\\''s hand, and they floated up to Heaven together\\"\r\n\r\n\\"What about the driver?\\"\r\n\r\nBen shrugged. \\"I didn\\''t see anyone else.\\"\r\n\r\nLater, Barbara was able to meet the families of the victims. They expressed their gratitude for the help she had provided. Barbara was able to give them something more - Ben\\''s vision.\r\n\r\nThere was no way he could have known what happened to either of the passengers. Nor could the passenger door have been opened; Barbara had seen its tangle of immovable steel herself. Yet Ben\\''s account brought consolation to a grieving family. Their daughter was safe in Heaven. And they would see her again.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (64, 'A Ten-Cent Idea', 'Author Unknown', 'When young F. W. Woolworth was a store clerk, he tried to convince his boss to have a ten-cent sale to reduce inventory. \r\n\r\nThe boss agreed, and the idea was a resounding success. This inspired Woolworth to open his own store and price items at a nickel and a dime. He needed capital for such a venture, so he asked his boss to supply the capital for part interest in the store. \r\n\r\nHis boss turned him down flat. \\"The idea is too risky,\\" he told Woolworth. \\"There are not enough items to sell for five and ten cents.\\" Woolworth went ahead without his boss\\''s backing, and he not only was successful in his first store, but eventually he owned a chain of F. W. Woolworth stores across the nation. Later, his former boss was heard to remark, \\"As far as I can figure out, every word I used to turn Woolworth down cost me about a million dollars.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (65, 'A Tragedy or Blessing? ', 'Author Unknown', 'Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had a dream. Clark and his wife worked and saved, making plans for their nine children and themselves to travel to the United States. It had taken years, but they had finally saved enough money and had gotten passports and reservations for the whole family on a new liner to the United States. \r\n\r\nThe entire family was filled with anticipation and excitement about their new life. However, seven days before their departure, a dog bit the youngest son. The doctor sewed up the boy but hung a yellow sheet on the Clarks\\'' front door. Because of the possibility of rabies, they were being quarantined for fourteen days. \r\n\r\nThe family\\''s dreams were dashed. They would not be able to make the trip to America as they had planned. The father, filled with disappointment and anger, stomped to the dock to watch the ship leave - without the Clark family. The father shed tears of disappointment and cursed both his son and God for their misfortune. \r\n\r\nFive days later, the tragic news spread throughout Scotland - the mighty Titanic had sunk. The unsinkable ship had sunk, taking hundreds of lives with it. The Clark family was to have been on that ship, but because a dog had bitten the son, they were left behind in Scotland.\r\n\r\nWhen Mr. Clark heard the news, he hugged his son and thanked him for saving the family. He thanked God for saving their lives and turning what he had felt was a tragedy into a blessing. \r\n\r\nAlthough we may not always understand, all things happen for a reason. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (66, 'A World of Smile', 'Author Unknown', 'About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college, I was working as an intern at my University\\''s Museum of Natural History. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair. \r\n\r\nAs I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso. She was wearing a little white dress with red polka dots. \r\n\r\nAs the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink. As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the cutest, largest smile I have ever seen. All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world; a world of smiles, love and warmth.\r\n\r\nThat was ten years ago. I\\''m a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (67, 'Alabaster Boxes', 'Author Unknown', 'Do not keep the alabaster boxes of your love and tenderness sealed up, until your friends are dead. \r\nFill their lives with sweetness. \r\n\r\nSpeak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them and while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier by them. The kind things you mean to say when they are gone, say them before they go. \r\n\r\nThe flowers you mean to send-use to brighten and sweeten their homes before they leave them. \r\n\r\nIf my friends have alabaster boxes lay away, full of fragrant perfumes of sympathy and affection I would rather they would bring them out in my weary and troubled hours and open them, that I may be refreshed and cheered when I need them. \r\n\r\nLet us learn to anoint our friends beforehand. Post-mortem kindness does not cheer the burdened spirit. \r\n\r\nFlowers cast no fragrance backward over the weary way.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (68, 'All the Time in the World . . .', 'Author Unknown', 'While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. \\"That\\''s my son over there,\\" she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide. \r\n\r\n\\"He\\''s a fine looking boy,\\" the man said. \\"That\\''s my son on the swing in the blue sweater.\\" Then, looking at his watch, he called to his son. \\"What do you say we go, Todd?\\" \r\n\r\nTodd pleaded, \\"Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.\\" The man nodded and Todd continued to swing to his heart\\''s content. \r\n\r\nMinutes passed and the father stood and called again to his son. \\"Time to go now?\\" \r\n\r\nAgain Todd pleaded, \\"Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.\\" The man smiled and said, \\"Okay.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"My, you certainly are a patient father,\\" the woman responded. \r\n\r\nThe man smiled and then said, \\"My older son Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I\\''d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I\\''ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Todd. \r\n\r\n\\"He thinks he has five more minutes to swing. The truth is . . . \r\nI get five more minutes to watch him play.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (69, 'An Angel', 'Author Unknown', 'An Angel wrote:\r\n\r\nMany people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.\r\n\r\nTo handle yourself, use your head; \r\nTo handle others, use your heart.\r\n\r\nAnger is only one letter short of danger.\r\n\r\nIf someone betrays you once, it\\''s his fault; \r\nif he betrays you twice, it\\''s your fault.\r\n\r\nGreat minds discuss ideas; \r\nAverage minds discuss events; \r\nSmall minds discuss people.\r\n\r\nGod gives every bird it\\''s food, but He does not throw it into it\\''s nest.\r\n\r\nHe who loses money, loses much;\r\nHe who loses a friend, loses more;\r\nHe who loses faith, loses all.\r\n\r\nBeautiful young people are acts of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.\r\n\r\nLearn from the mistakes of others. You can\\''t live long enough to make them all yourself.\r\n\r\nThe tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (70, 'Angels Unaware', 'Author Unknown', 'It was a rainy night in New Orleans\r\nAt a bus station in the town,\r\nI watched a young girl weeping\r\nAs her baggage was taken down.\r\n\r\nIt seems she\\''d lost her ticket\r\nChanging buses in the night.\r\nShe begged them not to leave her there\r\nWith no sign of help in sight.\r\n\r\nThe bus driver had a face of stone\r\nAnd his heart was surely the same.\r\n\\"Losing your ticket\\''s like losing cash money\\" he said,\r\nAnd left her in the rain.\r\n\r\nThen an old Indian man stood up\r\nAnd blocked the driver\\''s way\r\nAnd would not let him pass before\r\nHe said what he had to say.\r\n\\"How can you leave that girl out there?\r\nHave you no God to fear?\r\nYou know she had a ticket.\r\nYou can\\''t just leave her here.\r\n\r\nYou can\\''t put her out in a city\r\nWhere she doesn\\''t have a friend.\r\nYou will meet your schedule,\r\nBut she might meet her end.\\"\r\n\r\nThe driver showed no sign\r\nThat he\\''d heard or even cared\r\nAbout the young girl\\''s problem\r\nOr how her travels fared.\r\n\r\nSo the old gentleman said,\r\n\\"For her fare I\\''ll pay.\r\nI\\''ll give her a little money\r\nTo help her on her way.\\"\r\n\r\nHe went and bought the ticket\r\nAnd helped her to her place\r\nAnd helped her put her baggage\r\nIn the overhead luggage space.\r\n\r\n\\"How can I repay,\\" she said,\r\n\\"the kindness you\\''ve shown tonight?\r\nWe\\''re strangers who won\\''t meet again\r\nA mere \\'' \\''thank you \\'' doesn\\''t seem right.\\"\r\n\r\nHe said, \\"What goes around comes around.\r\nThis I\\''ve learned with time -\r\nWhat you give, you always get back;\r\nWhat you sow, you reap in kind.\r\n\r\nAlways be helpful to others\r\nAnd give what you can spare;\r\nFor by being kind to strangers,\r\nWe help angels unaware.\\" ', 'Auther Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (71, 'Anyway', 'Mother Teresa', 'People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.\r\nLove them anyway.\r\n\r\nIf you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.\r\nDo good anyway.\r\n\r\nIf you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.\r\nSucceed anyway.\r\n\r\nThe good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.\r\nDo good anyway.\r\n\r\nHonesty and frankness make you vulnerable.\r\nBe honest and frank anyway.\r\n\r\nWhat you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.\r\nBuild anyway.\r\n\r\nPeople really need help but may attack you if you help them.\r\nHelp people anyway.\r\n\r\nGive the world the best you have and you\\''ll get kicked in the teeth.\r\nGive the world the best you\\''ve got anyway.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (74, 'A professors thoughts', 'Author Unknown', '\\"At a certain college, there was a professor with a reputation for being tough on Christians.\r\n\r\nAt the first class every semester, he asked if anyone was a Christian and proceeded to degrade and make fun of their belief. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOne semester, he asked the question and young man raised his hand when asked if anyone was a Christian.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe professor asked \\"Did God make everything, young man?\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Yes he did sir,\\" the young man replied.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe professor responded, \\"If God made everything, then God made evil, and if we can only create from within ourselves, then God is evil.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe student didn\\''t have a response and the professor was happy to have once again proved the Christian faith to be a myth.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThen another man raised his hand and asked \\"May I ask you something, sir?\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Yes you may,\\" responded the professor.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe young man stood up and said, \\"Sir, is there such thing as cold?\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Of course there is, what kind of a question is that?  Haven\\''t you ever been cold?\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe young man replied, \\"Actually, sir, cold does not exist.  What we consider to be cold, is really only the absence of heat.  Absolute zero is when there is absolutely no heat, but cold does not really exist.  We have only created that term to describe how we feel when heat is not there.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe young man continued, \\"Sir, is there such thing as dark?\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOnce again, professor responded, \\"Of course there is.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd once again, the student replied, \\"Actually sir, darkness does not exist.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Darkness is really only the absence of light. Darkness is only a term man developed to describe what happens when there is no light present.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinally, the young man asked, \\"Sir, is there such thing as evil?\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe professor responded, \\"Of course, we have rapes, and murders and violence everywhere in the world, those things are evil.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe student replied, \\"Actually, sir, \\"Evil is not a substance but a corruption of the good substance that God made.   Evil is like rust to a car or rot to a tree.  It is a lack in good things, but it is not a thing in itself.  Evil is like a wound in an arm or moth-holes in a garment.  It exists only in another but not in itself.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGod did not create evil.  It isn\\''t like truth, or love, which exist as virtues like heat and light. Evil is simply the state where Good is not present, like cold without heat or darkness without light.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe professor had nothing to say.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (75, 'Build me a Temple', 'Author Unknown', 'Build Me a temple that Holy and new, \r\n\r\nBuild Me a temple to dwell in with you; \r\n\r\nCleanse this new temple from all previous sin, Open the doors wide place My love within; Invite My Spirit to dwell in this place, \r\n\r\nLet Him come in to fill every space. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis temple I need is not stone or brick, \r\n\r\nNot made of wood, canvas, or stick; \r\n\r\nThe temple I want is the one I gave you, \r\n\r\nSo long ago when you were brand new; \r\n\r\nThe temple I ask is the body you wear, \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt\\''s a temple you have that is always right there. So build Me your temple that Holy and new, Build Me a temple to dwell with you;\r\n\r\nBuild Me a temple and you will see, That together forever we\\''ll always be.\r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (76, 'Death Row', 'Author Unknown', 'A letter written to a man on death row by the Father of the man whom the man on death row had killed: \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYou are probably surprised that I, of all people, am writing a letter to you, but I ask you to read it in its entirety and consider its request seriously.  As the Father of the man whom you took part in murdering, I have something very important to say to you.  I forgive you.  With all my heart, I forgive you.  I realize it may be hard for you to believe, but I really do.  At your trial, when you confessed to your part in the events that cost my Son his life and asked for my forgiveness, I immediately granted you that forgiving love from my heart. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI can only hope you believe me and will accept my forgiveness.  But this is not all I have to say to you.  I want to make you an offer:  I want you to become my adopted child. You see, my Son who died was my only child, and I now want to share my life with you and leave my riches to you. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis may not make sense to you or anyone else, but I believe you are worth the offer. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI have arranged matters so that if you will receive my offer of forgiveness, not only will you be pardoned for your crime, but you also will be set free from your imprisonment, and your sentence of death will be dismissed.  At that point, you will become my adopted child and heir to all my riches. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI realize this is a risky offer for me to make to you -- you might be tempted to reject my offer completely -- but I make it to you without reservation.  Also, I realize it may seem foolish to make such an offer to one who cost my Son his life, but I now have a great love and an unchangeable forgiveness in my heart for you. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFinally, you may be concerned that once you accept my offer you may do something to cause you to be denied your rights as an heir to my wealth.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  If I can forgive you for your part in my Son\\''s death, I can forgive you for anything.  I know you never will be perfect, but you do not have to be perfect to receive my offer. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBesides, I believe that once you have accepted my offer and begin to experience the riches that will come to you from me, that your primary (though not always) response will be gratitude and loyalty.  Some would call me foolish for my offer to you, but I wish for you to call me your Father. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLove, \r\n\r\nGod', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (77, 'Eternal Ink', 'Author Unknown', 'I dreamed I was in heaven\r\n\r\nWhere an angel kept God\\''s book.\r\n\r\nHe was writing so intently\r\n\r\nI just had to take a look.\r\n\r\nIt was not, at first, his writing\r\n\r\nThat made me stop and think\r\n\r\nBut the fluid in the bottle\r\n\r\nThat was marked eternal ink.\r\n\r\nThis ink was most amazing,\r\n\r\nDark black upon his blotter\r\n\r\nBut as it touched the parchment\r\n\r\nIt became as clear as water.\r\n\r\nThe angel kept on writing,\r\n\r\nBut as quickly as a wink\r\n\r\nThe words were disappearing\r\n\r\nWith that strange eternal ink.\r\n\r\nThe angel took no notice,\r\n\r\nBut kept writing on and on.\r\n\r\nHe turned each page and filled it\r\n\r\nTill all its space was gone.\r\n\r\nI thought he wrote to no avail,\r\n\r\nHis efforts were so vain\r\n\r\nFor he wrote a thousand pages\r\n\r\nThat he\\''d never read again.\r\n\r\nAnd as I watched and wondered that\r\n\r\nThis awesome sight was mine,\r\n\r\nI actually saw a word stay black\r\n\r\nAs it dried upon the line.\r\n\r\nThe angel wrote and I thought I saw\r\n\r\nA look of satisfaction.\r\n\r\nAt last he had some print to show\r\n\r\nFor all his earnest action.\r\n\r\nA line or two dried dark and stayed\r\n\r\nAs black as black can be,\r\n\r\nBut strangely the next paragraph\r\n\r\nBecame invisible to see.\r\n\r\nThe book was getting fuller,\r\n\r\nThe angel\\''s records true,\r\n\r\nBut most of it was blank, with\r\n\r\nJust a few words coming through.\r\n\r\nI knew there was some reason,\r\n\r\nBut as hard as I could think,\r\n\r\nI couldn\\''t grasp the significance\r\n\r\nOf that eternal ink.\r\n\r\nThe mystery burned within me,\r\n\r\nAnd I finally dared to ask\r\n\r\nThe angel to explain to me\r\n\r\nOf his amazing task.\r\n\r\nAnd what I heard was frightful\r\n\r\nAs the angel turned his head.\r\n\r\nHe looked directly at me,\r\n\r\nAnd this is what he said...\r\n\r\nI know you stand and wonder\r\n\r\nAt what my writing\\''s worth\r\n\r\nBut God has told me to record\r\n\r\nThe lives of those on earth.\r\n\r\nThe book that I am filling\r\n\r\nIs an accurate account\r\n\r\nOf every word and action\r\n\r\nAnd to what they do amount.\r\n\r\nAnd since you have been watching\r\n\r\nI must tell you what is true;\r\n\r\nThe details of my journal\r\n\r\nAre the strict accounts of YOU.\r\n\r\nThe Lord asked me to watch you\r\n\r\nAs each day you worked and played.\r\n\r\nI saw you as you went to church,\r\n\r\nI saw you as you prayed.\r\n\r\nBut I was told to document\r\n\r\nYour life through all the week.\r\n\r\nI wrote when you were proud and bold,\r\n\r\nI wrote when you were meek.\r\n\r\nI recorded all your attitudes\r\n\r\nWhether they were good or bad.\r\n\r\nI was sorry that I had to write\r\n\r\nThe things that make God sad.\r\n\r\nSo now I\\''ll tell the wonder\r\n\r\nOf this eternal ink,\r\n\r\nFor the reason for its mystery\r\n\r\nShould make you stop and think.\r\n\r\nThis ink that God created\r\n\r\nTo help me keep my journal\r\n\r\nWill only keep a record of\r\n\r\nThings that are eternal.\r\n\r\nSo much of life is wasted\r\n\r\nOn things that matter not\r\n\r\nSo instead of my erasing,\r\n\r\nSmudging ink and ugly blot.\r\n\r\nI just keep writing faithfully and\r\n\r\nLet the ink do all the rest\r\n\r\nFor it is able to decide\r\n\r\nWhat\\''s useless and what\\''s best.\r\n\r\nAnd God ordained that as I write\r\n\r\nOf all you do and say\r\n\r\nYour deeds that count for nothing\r\n\r\nWill just disappear away.\r\n\r\nWhen books are opened someday,\r\n\r\nAs sure as heaven is true;\r\n\r\nThe Lord\\''s eternal ink will tell\r\n\r\nWhat mattered most to you.\r\n\r\nIf you just lived to please yourself\r\n\r\nThe pages will be bare,\r\n\r\nAnd God will issue no reward\r\n\r\nFor you when you get there.\r\n\r\nIn fact, you\\''ll be embarrassed,\r\n\r\nYou will hang your head in shame\r\n\r\nBecause you did not give yourself\r\n\r\nIn love to Jesus\\'' Name.\r\n\r\nYet maybe there will be a few\r\n\r\nRecorded lines that stayed\r\n\r\nThat showed the times you truly cared,\r\n\r\nSincerely loved and prayed.\r\n\r\nBut you will always wonder\r\n\r\nAs you enter heaven\\''s door\r\n\r\nHow much more glad you would have been\r\n\r\nIf only you\\''d done more.\r\n\r\nFor I record as God sees,\r\n\r\nI don\\''t stop to even think\r\n\r\nBecause the truth is written\r\n\r\nWith God\\''s eternal ink.\r\n\r\nWhen I heard the angel\\''s story\r\n\r\nI fell down and wept and cried\r\n\r\nFor as yet I still was dreaming\r\n\r\nI hadn\\''t really died.\r\n\r\nAnd I said: O angel tell the Lord\r\n\r\nThat soon as I awake\r\n\r\nI\\''ll live my life for Jesus-\r\n\r\nI\\''ll do all for His dear sake.\r\n\r\nI\\''ll give in full surrender;\r\n\r\nI\\''ll do all He wants me to;\r\n\r\nI\\''ll turn my back on self and sin\r\n\r\nAnd whatever isn\\''t true.\r\n\r\nAnd though the way seems long and rough\r\n\r\nI promise to endure.\r\n\r\nI\\''m determined to pursue the things\r\n\r\nThat are holy, clean and pure.\r\n\r\nWith Jesus as my helper,\r\n\r\nI will win lost souls to Thee,\r\n\r\nFor I know that they will live with Christ\r\n\r\nFor all eternity.\r\n\r\nAnd that\\''s what really matters\r\n\r\nWhen my life on earth is gone\r\n\r\nThat I will stand before the Lord\r\n\r\nAnd hear Him say, well done.\r\n\r\nFor is it really worth it\r\n\r\nAs my life lies at the brink?\r\n\r\nAnd I realize that God keeps books\r\n\r\nWith His eternal ink.\r\n\r\nShould all my life be focused\r\n\r\nOn things that turn to dust?\r\n\r\nFrom this point on I\\''ll serve the Lord;\r\n\r\nI can, I will, I must!\r\n\r\nI will NOT send blank pages\r\n\r\nUp to God\\''s majestic throne\r\n\r\nFor where that record\\''s going now\r\n\r\nIs my eternal home.\r\n\r\nI\\''m giving all to Jesus\r\n\r\nI now have seen the link\r\n\r\nFor I saw an angel write my life\r\n\r\nWith God\\''s eternal ink.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (78, 'God said...I said', 'Author Unknown', 'GOD SAID: Nice touch. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI SAID: Thanks. But...what are we talking about? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThat WWJD bracelet you\\''re wearing. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOh, Yeah.  I\\''ve got five. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI know.  You can match \\''em with just about anything in your closet can\\''t you? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYeah. Cool, huh? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYou\\''ve got a pretty good collection. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYep. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nToo bad it\\''s not more. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWell I\\''ll get a few more-eventually.  After all they do cost. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNo, I\\''m not talking about adding more bracelets to your collection.  But you\\''re right-there is a cost involved. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUh oh.  I\\''ve got a feeling we\\''re not on the same page, are we, God? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNope. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLook, I\\''m kind of in a hurry, Lord.  So if You have something to say, could you just say it? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI already have. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGuess I didn\\''t catch it. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLet\\''s go through it again okay?  Check out 1 John 2:4-5. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUh.  All right.  Gimmie a sec. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt\\''s under your bed. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYour Bible. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHow\\''d you know that\\''s what I was look- \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI\\''m God, remember?  I know everything. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOh, yeah.  Okay here we go: \\"Someone may say, \\''I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.\\''  But if he doesn\\''t do what Christ tells him to, he is a liar.  But those who do what Christ tells them to will learn to love God more and more.  That is the way to know whether or not you are a Christian.\\"  So...lay it on me, God.  What are you saying? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI\\''m saying it sure would be nice if that WWJD bracelet you\\''re wearing was more than a fashion statement.  But if it were....it would cost. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHey, wait a sec!  I\\''m not just wearing this as a fad!  I know what it stands for.  I believe in it. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBelieving in a phrase....and living the lifestyle are two different things. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI\\''m listening. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWell, to really live out the WWJD lifestyle may cost you some dates. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGuys? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd maybe some friends. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe girls? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd maybe your time. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMy TV shows? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWWJD means asking yourself \\"What would Jesus do\\" before anything and everything you do. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWell, yeah...technically. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nExcuse me? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI mean, yeah...we all know what the letters stand for.  But... \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut to take it seriously.  I mean to actually ask ourselves that question...well, that would change everything -or at least a lot!  Check out 1 John 2:6. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOkay. Got it right here.  \\"Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did\\" Hmmm. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSo what\\''s it gonna be?  A fashion statement or a lifestyle backed with commitment? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut, God, I\\''m not sure You really understand, If I truly asked what You do..well, You probably wouldn\\''t go to the movie I\\''m gonna see this Friday with Brian. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNot that particular one; no. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd you probably wouldn\\''t want me hanging out with Kari as much. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nShe shoplifts.  And since you\\''re not doing anything to confront her or trying to introduce her to Me, she\\''s pulling you down, Yeah I\\''d like you to quit spending so much time with her. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGod, If I start asking myself that question... \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIf you don\\''t, and you continue to wear that bracelet you\\''re a phony. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThat\\''s harsh don\\''t You think? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRead my words again.  The ones in 1 John 2:4. Read the last part of the verse. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"But if he doesn\\''t do what Christ tells him to, he is a liar\\" Ouch. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYes...ouch.  I died for those words. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI know. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI also died to give you the power you need to put those words into practice. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI\\''m not that strong, God. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI know.  I made you, remember?  I realize you\\''re weak.  I know your temptations.  But I can equip you with everything you need to become all you need to be. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYou know what this means, don\\''t you?  There maybe be Friday nights I\\''m home alone. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNo, not alone.  I\\''ve promised to never leave you.  I would love to spend this Friday night with you. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIs this for real? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSo I shed my real blood. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut....Friday night...alone with GOD? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOh, my child, the things I want to do in your life.  The dreams I want to give you!  The vision I want to create with you.  I have so much in store for you, your mind couldn\\''t comprehend it if I told you everything right now. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWow.  For me?  That\\''s kind of exciting! \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFor you.  You\\''re that special.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI\\''m pretty good at dreaming too, God. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYes you are.  But My dreams are even bigger then your Imagination! Check out Ephesians 3:20. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOkay, here it is: \\"Now glory be to GOD who by his mighty power at work within us in able to do far more than we would ever dare or even dream of beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd what about Jeremiah 29:11? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOld Testament. Got it.  \\"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWow. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMy child, I love you way too much to let you slide.  It hurts me to watch you settle for WWJD being mere piece of fabric wrapped around your wrist when it\\''s meant to be much more. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI\\''m sorry, Father, I never really thought about it. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYou see, I went through more torture than you can even fathom....just so you could live WWJD instead of simply wear it. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThat is a lot to swallow. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd I did it because I love you, \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut Father, I don\\''t deserve love that great. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd you know what?  If you had been the only person in the entire world, I still would have gone through the crucifixion just for you. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJesus, will You forgive me?  I\\''m so sorry.  I never meant to take your death for granted.  I don\\''t want to be a phony.  I want to be genuine and full of You.  I want people to see a difference in my life.  I\\''m sorry.  I\\''ve taken you for granted.  Jesus, fill me.  Let me be putty in Your hands. Remake me in Your image. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYes. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI need to hurry to my piano lesson right now Lord. And as soon as that\\''s over, I have an important appointment. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOh? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWith my Bible and my Heavenly Father.  We need to talk about my friends, my time, and my entertainment. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGuess what? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThat\\''s exactly what Jesus would do! \r\n', 'Auther Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (79, 'Five more minutes', 'Author Unknown', 'The radio blaring startled me awake.  Just five more minutes, I told myself, as I banged around on the headboard and finally found the snooze button. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFour times, I said just five more minutes, only my snooze alarm is random, it goes off at intervals every where from five to nine minutes.  Suddenly it was 33 minutes later than I was supposed to get up and I was in a panic.  The rest of the day was thrown off kilter because of just five more minutes.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI haven\\''t decided if the snooze button is a great invention or a curse.  I know it impacts me, because I\\''ll play mind games with it.  I\\''ll set my alarm ten minutes early because, I can \\"sneak\\" a few extra minutes of sleep in when it goes off.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe quality of the sleep isn\\''t very good, but it seems so much better because it is some sleep I\\''ve managed to \\"steal\\".  Truth be known, I would have slept better if I had set the alarm for the right time and simply got up with it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI wondered this morning how often God had been calling me and I hit my internal snooze button instead.  Just wait a little longer God, just a little longer, just a little longer. Suddenly I\\''m running way behind and I missed out on the opportunity to listen or to serve. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGod puts someone on my heart and says give them a call or drop them a note.  Okay God, just as soon as I .... and then it\\''s weeks later.  I find out that in the interim they had been going through a crisis time and really could have used some encouragement. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWe all do it.  I think I do it less now than I used to earlier in my walk, but I\\''m far from perfect. I\\''m so glad He is a loving, patient and merciful God.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHe\\''s used to people putting other things ahead of time with Him or in obedience to Him. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAs Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord\\''s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, \\"Lord, don\\''t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Martha, Martha,\\" the Lord answered, \\"you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.  Luke 10:38-42 NIV \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMartha would have made time after the house was perfect.  The disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane would have prayed with Jesus after a little nap.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen will you make time to listen and obey?\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUntil next time, may you take the time with Him instead of playing games with life\\''s snooze alarm. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (80, '', '', '', '');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (81, 'The Messenger: A Soulmate Story ', 'Sandy Breckenridge', 'It was a beautiful sunny day in Seattle, which is so unusual for the 4th of July; a day for fireworks and celebration honoring our country\\''s independence. That day, little did I know that I was soon to receive a very special message from the most unusual messenger.\r\n\r\nIt was early in the afternoon and I was seriously busy refinishing some very old windows out on my back porch. All of the doors and windows throughout my home where open, letting in the light and fresh air.\r\n\r\nMy life was certainly going through some changes. Only a month before, I had been struggling with a relationship that I knew needed to change form. A few days earlier I had said my goodbyes. I had always heard that when one door closes another door opens, but I didn\\''t know if I was fully prepared to step into the new door that was presenting itself so quickly. You see, I was finally realizing that the dearest male friend that I had ever known, was the soul mate I had been looking for my entire life. What a shock to my senses this was! I had always thought of myself as an intuitive person, but I didn\\''t see this one coming. It was like I had a veil pulled over my eyes. \r\n\r\nNeedless to say, I was filled with bliss from this new awareness. But also scared and a bit unsure at the same time. They say that the chance of someone single in their mid forties finding true love, is like finding an old vintage \\"oat penny\\" in a jar full of pocket change--highly unlikely. (What do \\''they\\'' know :-)\r\n\r\nI knew in my heart that my friend Kirk was a soul mate, but my head was swimming in some type of fear that I couldn\\''t really fully understand. So, I did what I do when I need to process so many emotions. I worked on something tangible in the physical world that needed to be fixed.\r\n\r\nAs I was refinishing the old window frames, I began to notice layer after layer of different colored paint. It seemed like I was going through the generations of a family tree as each layer was exposed. Each of the colors of paint was sharing a story about different cycles in my life. As each layer exposed itself, I had some sort of revelation. I can\\''t really tell you every thought that went through my mind, but it seemed so very revealing at the time.\r\n\r\nThere came a point when I was so full of thought that I knew I needed to take a break. So, I decided to walk into my magical dining room where the beautiful stained glass windows surrounded my favorite plants. It was at that very moment when something unusual caught my eye. I have always had an affinity for butterflies and love to watch them outside, but this was the first time I had ever seen one indoors. \r\n\r\n\\"Wow!\\", I thought to myself. \\"This is the most unusual looking butterfly.\\" I have seen Monarch butterflies up close, but never one like this before. So I slowly walked up to take a better look. I was in awe. This butterfly was so very large, black, white, and orange and incredibly beautiful. He seemed quite calm really; much calmer than I was for sure.\r\n\r\nI wondered, \\"Now, what does a person do with a butterfly in their home?\\" I can tell you what I thought. I was concerned that he was going to die if he stayed inside any longer. It is unnatural for a butterfly not to be free. So, I wondered what to do.\r\n\r\nJust then I heard thoughts in my head telling me to fill myself with love and then to place my hand beside this radiant butterfly. So I did just that. As I was feeling this incredible sense of love oozing from my being, I watched him so intently while pressing my hand close to him against the window pane. In my amazement he slowly and steadily crept over to my hand and I watched him carefully step right into the center of my palm. I was motionless and in shock. Why would a butterfly as unusually beautiful as this one come inside my home and end up in my palm?\r\n\r\nJust then I heard another thought fill my senses, and this time it seemed to be coming from the Butterfly!\r\n\r\n\\"Trust dear one. Trust your life and trust your heart. Here you are with the door open, and the light is shining the way. I am here to show you that you now have your independence. Do with it as you wish. In going through the door before you, your life will have more freedom than you have ever known before.\\" \r\n\r\nThis was so weird. I had this incredible peace fill every inch of my being. I just knew this butterfly was sent to me as a messenger, to tell me everything was okay; that my love for my wonderful friend and soul mate Kirk, was perfect, so not to fear.\r\n\r\nI slowly walked the twenty-five or so steps through my dining room and out onto my front porch. The butterfly contently lay in the palm of my hand, not about to leave until he knew I received my message. At the point of mutual acknowledgement I raised my hands to the sky and watched as the butterfly so elegantly ascended from my palm up into the sky.\r\n\r\nI stood there for a while and watched him circle the yard, as if he was smiling back at me, saying his goodbyes. I thought to myself, \\"What a magical messenger indeed.\\" From that moment on, I have never turned back.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (82, 'A Letter From Home', 'Author Unknown', 'I had a safe trip. The angels carried me safely into Father Abraham\\''s bosom. Oh, the thrill I felt when I met the one that died for me! \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd no matter what you\\''ve heard, there\\''s just no words to describe the glories that surround him. I\\''m satisfied here; every need\\''s been supplied. Just wait till you see my new home. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI\\''m satisfied because there\\''s no sin here, no murders, no divorce, no abortions, and no need to ever have locks on the doors. Perfect peace reigns here. I\\''m satisfied because there\\''s no sickness. Why, I\\''ve never felt better in my life! I have a brand new body just like Jesus. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd oh, I wish you could hear the singing. David played his harp today, and a great crowd gathered by the river of life and sang a new song. Of course, the angels couldn\\''t sing that song, but they sure were listening. It\\''s really wonderful here, because there are no strangers. Everyone knows me by name. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhy, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego showed me around. Seems like I\\''ve been here forever. The weather is great. There\\''s a cool breeze blowing all the time. And you know one of the nicest things, night and darkness never comes. It\\''s light here all the time, for Jesus himself is the light of the city. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPlease, remember, I\\''m safe, I\\''m satisfied, and I\\''m not sick anymore. There will be no need for me to write again, because I was told today that nothing here ever changes. In closing, the only thing that would make this wonderful place more complete is for all my family and friends to join me here in Heaven. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (83, 'God Hath Not Promised', 'Author Unknown', 'GOD HATH NOT PROMISED \r\n\r\nSKIES ALWAYS BLUE \r\n\r\nFLOWER STREWN PATHWAYS \r\n\r\nALL OUR LIVES THROUGH \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nGOD HATH NOT PROMISED \r\n\r\nSUN WITHOUT RAIN  \r\n\r\nJOY WITHOUT SORROW \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBUT GOD HATH PROMISED LIGHT FOR THE WAY  \r\n\r\nSTRENGTH FOR THE DAY  \r\n\r\nREST FOR THE LABOR \r\n\r\nGRACE FOR THE TRIALS \r\n\r\nUNFAILING SYMPHATY AND UNDYING LOVE', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (84, 'JUST FOR TODAY', 'Author Unknown', 'Trust God one day at a time! \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will begin the day by praying: \\"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.\\" (Psalm 118:24) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today! I will say, \\"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.\\" (Philippians 4:13) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not worry about my needs, for \\"...my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.\\" (Philippians 4:19) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not fear, \\"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity; but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.\\" (II Timothy 1:7) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not harbor doubt and lack faith, for \\"...without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.\\" (Hebrews 11:6) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not lack strength, for \\"...the Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1b) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not admit defeat, for God \\"...always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, ...\\" (II Corinthians 2:14b) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not lack wisdom, for, \\"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask Cod, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.\\" (James 1:5) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not feel condemned, for \\"..., there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.\\" (Romans 8:1) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not be worried or frustrated: \\"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.\\" (I Peter 5:7) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not be depressed, \\"...for his compassion\\''s never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.\\" (Lamentations 3:22b,23) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not feel alone for Jesus said, \\"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\\" (Matthew 28:20b) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not be discontented, \\"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.\\" (Philippians 4:llb) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not feel worthless, for \\"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.\\" (II Corinthians 5:21) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not be confused, \\"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace\\" (I Corinthians 14:33a KJV) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not let the pressures of life bother me, when Christ said, \\"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.\\" (John 16:33) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJust for today!  I will not feel like a failure, when \\"in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.\\" (Romans 8:37) ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (85, 'Be Still', 'Author Unknown', 'Be Still, and Know that I Am God, \r\n\r\nMy Father said to Me, \r\n\r\nAnd I will fill you with My Peace, \r\n\r\nAnd set your Spirit Free. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYou are my Own; I\\''ve Chosen You: \r\n\r\nYou are Precious in My Sight. \r\n\r\nGive Me your Heart and I Promise \r\n\r\nYou I\\''ll be Your Guiding Light. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMy Love for you will Never Fade \r\n\r\nBy your side I\\''ll Always Stay. \r\n\r\nMy Joy will be your Strength and Shield, \r\n\r\nIf you\\''ll let Me have My Way. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI\\''m Standing here with Arms \r\n\r\nOutstretched I want to Touch and make You Whole.  Of My Living Waters, Come and Drink, And I will Quench your Thirsty Soul. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPeace! Be Still! I am with You now, \r\n\r\nAnd no-one could Love You More. \r\n\r\nMy Love for you will never Die \r\n\r\nOf that You can be sure. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThat\\''s what my Father said to Me \r\n\r\nAnd I know His Words are true. \r\n\r\nI know that He has Set me Free \r\n\r\nAnd He\\''ll do the Same for You. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSo just Reach Out, ask Him to Forgive \r\n\r\nAnd Pardon all your Sin. \r\n\r\nAsk Him to be your God and King \r\n\r\nAnd He will take You In. \r\n\r\n(Psalms 46:10)', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (86, 'DON\\''T QUIT', 'Author Unknown', 'When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you\\''re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit... By all means pray, and don\\''t you quit. \r\n\r\nSuccess is failure turned inside out, \r\n\r\nGod\\''s hidden gift in the clouds of doubt. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYou never can tell how close you are, \r\n\r\nIt may be near when it seems afar. \r\n\r\nSo trust in the Lord \r\n\r\nwhen you\\''re hardest hit... \r\n\r\nIt\\''s when things go wrong \r\n\r\nthat you must not quit! ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (87, 'FATHER\\''S ABC\\''S', 'Author Unknown', 'A-lways trust your children to God\\''s care. \r\n\r\nB-ring them to church. \r\n\r\nC-hallenge them to high goals. \r\n\r\nD-elight in their achievements. \r\n\r\nE-xalt the Lord in their presence. \r\n\r\nF-rown on evil. \r\n\r\nG-ive them love. \r\n\r\nH-ear their problems. \r\n\r\nI-gnore not their childish fears. \r\n\r\nJ-oyfully accept their apologies. \r\n\r\nK-eep their confidence. \r\n\r\nL-ive a good example before them. \r\n\r\nM-ake them your friends. \r\n\r\nN-ever ignore their endless questions. \r\n\r\nO-pen your heart to their love. \r\n\r\nP-ray for them by name. \r\n\r\nQ-uicken your interest in their spirituality. \r\n\r\nR-emember their needs. \r\n\r\nS-how them the way of salvation. \r\n\r\nT-each them to work. \r\n\r\nU-nderstand they are still young. \r\n\r\nV-erify your statements. \r\n\r\nW-ean them from bad company. \r\n\r\ne-Xpect them to obey. \r\n\r\nY-earn for God\\''s best for them. \r\n\r\nZ-ealously guide them in Bible truth. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (88, 'I AM GOD', 'Author Unknown', 'My children, I am the Creator of ALL, and ALL power originates with ME! There is no power in heaven or on earth that is able to thwart My purposes for your life as you yield to Me. NONE! \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHave I not promised that as you seek Me, you will find Me, when you seek Me with all of your heart?  Have I not said to ask, and you will receive?  Ask then, and let your hearts run wild and your imagination run vagabond, for you cannot plumb the depths of My planning and provision for My own. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDoes not My Word promise that if you seek My kingdom and My righteousness, all else that is needed will be supplied?  There is no need that I cannot meet, so long as you look to Me to do so.  There is no problem for which I cannot provide a solution.  There is no wound so deep that I cannot heal; and no situation for which there is no remedy.  I AM GOD, IS ANYTHING TOO DIFFICULT FOR ME?! \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI ask of you your all, not some random portion of your affection.  I seek to have precedence over every area of your life.  I, and I alone am to reign supreme in your life.  Yet I would remind you that I have offered to you My all. Yes, for I have made available to you ALL that is needed to walk in victory and to truly reign in this life.  ALL power, ALL wisdom...all that is needed is readily available through My Holy Spirit. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDo you lack anything?  Then come to Me, and I will fill you to overflowing; and in so doing, will satisfy the deepest longings of your soul. True fulfillment is found in Me alone. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHold Me not at arms length, but rather come into My embrace, for I wait with arms open wide. I love you as none other could, and I long to lavish My love upon you. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (89, 'LEARN TO LEAN ', 'Author Unknown', 'It took me forever, Lord, to learn how to lean.  To leave my friends as you lovingly began to wean.  I know I was stubborn, and I dug in my heels, And when you applied pressure did I ever squeal.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt was a concept, Lord, that I just hadn\\''t learned, And obviously . . . I was not too much concerned.  But as my old leaning-posts were taken away, Routine confidence . . . began rapidly to fray.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThen your Holy Spirit, made it abundantly clear, To you alone, Lord, must I unltimately adhere.  Only in your word and Spirit, may I ever grow strong, As you continue to teach me, a blessed new song.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt is not in friends and others, that I will understand.  All my strength and wisdom, must come to me firsthand.  No longer can another, walk me through the task, For only in Your guidance, may I safely bask.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nKeep on teaching me Lord, and keep me close to you.  (For without you beside me  I haven\\''t got a clue.)  I belong to you Lord  I am your creation . . .I want only to praise you without cessation! ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (90, 'The Vessel  ', 'Author Unknown', 'The Master was searching for a vessel to use; On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?  \\"Take me\\", cried the gold one, \\"I\\''m shiny and bright, I\\''m of great value and I do things just right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!\\"  \r\n\r\n                                \r\n\r\nThe Master passed on with no word at all; He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall; \\"I\\''ll serve You, dear Master, I\\''ll pour out Your drink, and I\\''ll be at Your table whenever You dine, My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true, And my silver will always compliment You.\\"                               \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUnheeding the Master passed on to the brass, It was wide mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.  \\"Here! Here!\\" cried the vessel, \\"I know I will do, Place me on Your table for all men to view.\\"                                 \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n\\"Look at me\\", called the goblet of crystal so clear, \\"My transparency shows my contents so dear, Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride, And I\\''m sure I\\''ll be happy in Your house to abide.\\"  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Master came next to a vessel of wood, Polished and carved, it solidly stood. \\"You may use me, dear Master\\", the wooden bowl said, \\"But I\\''d rather You used me for fruit, not for Bread!\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThen the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.  Empty and broken it helplessly lay.  No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose, To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.\r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n\\"Ah! This is the vessel I\\''ve been hoping to find, I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.\\"  \\"I need not the vessel with pride of its self; Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf; Nor the one who is big mouthed and shallow and loud; Nor one who displays his contents so proud; Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right; But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.\\"  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThen gently He lifted the vessel of clay. Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day. Spoke to it kindly.  \\"There\\''s work you must do, Just pour out to others as I pour into you.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (91, 'The Road Of Life', 'Author Unknown', 'At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.  He was out there sort of like a president.  I recognized His picture when I saw it, But I really didn\\''t know Him.   \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.  \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\nI don\\''t know just when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.  When I had control, I knew the way.  It was rather boring, but predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points.   \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBut when He took the lead, He knows the delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!  Even though it looked like madness, He said, \\"Pedal!\\"  \r\n\r\n                                                                         I worried and was anxious and asked, \\"Where are you taking me?\\"  He  \r\n\r\nlaughed and didn\\''t answer, and I started to learn to trust.  I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I\\''d say, \\"I\\''m scared,\\" He\\''d lean back and touch my hand.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHe took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy.  They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord\\''s and mine.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd we\\''re off again. He said, \\"Give the gifts away; they\\''re extra baggage, too much weight.\\"  So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI did not trust him at first, in control of my life. I thought He\\''d wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and  I\\''m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.   \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAnd when I\\''m sure I just can\\''t do anymore, He just smiles and says....  \r\n\r\n\\"Pedal.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (92, 'The Thief Who Was Robbed ', 'Author Unknown', '\\"Be sure your sin will find you out.\\"  Moses (Numbers 32:23) \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe incident took place back in 1887 in a small neighborhood grocery store when a middle-aged gentleman, Emanuel Nenger, gave the assistant a $20 note to pay for the turnip greens he was purchasing.  When the assistant placed the note in the cash drawer she noticed that some of the ink from the $20 came off on her hands which were wet from wrapping the turnip greens. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nShe\\''d known Mr. Nenger for years and was shocked.  She pondered, \\"Is this man giving me a counterfeit $20 note?\\"  She dismissed the thought immediately and gave him his change.  But $20 was a lot of money in those days so she notified the police who, after procuring a search warrant, went to Emanuel Nenger\\''s home where they found in his attic the tools he was using to reproduce the counterfeit $20 notes.  They found an artist\\''s easel, paint brushes, and paints which Nenger was using to meticulously paint the counterfeit money.  He was a master artist. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe police also found three portraits that Nenger had painted, paintings that sold at public auction for a little over $16,000!  The irony was that it took him almost as much time to paint a $20 note as it did to paint those portraits which sold for more than $5,000 each. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe man who robbed Emanuel Nenger was himself.  We do the same whenever we cheat or break the law, including God\\''s law for illegitimate gain.  And while most of us wouldn\\''t rob another person of his or her material possessions, it is very easy to rob a person\\''s reputation through idle gossip. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWe also rob and cheat ourselves when we don\\''t give to God and to others in need; whether it is of our time, talents, resources, or love. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSuggested prayer: \\"Dear God, help me never to rob from any person in any way and help me never to rob from You. Help me, too, to be a giver and not a taker. In Jesus\\'' name. Amen\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (93, 'Abraham Lincoln Quote', 'Abraham Lincoln', 'The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.', 'No Source');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (94, 'Running in the rain', 'Author Unknown', 'She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.\r\nIt was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart.\r\nWe waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.\r\nMemories of running, splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.\r\nHer voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in.\r\n\r\n \\"Mom, let\\''s run through the rain,\\" she said.\r\n\r\n\r\n \\"What?\\" Mom asked. \r\n\\"Let\\''s run through the rain!\\" She repeated.\r\n\\"No, honey.  \r\nWe\\''ll wait until it slows down a bit,\\"\r\nMom replied.\r\nThis young child waited about another minute and repeated:\r\n\\"Mom, let\\''s run through the rain.\\"\r\n\\"We\\''ll get soaked if we do,\\" Mom said.\r\n\\"No, we won\\''t, Mom. That\\''s not what you said this morning,\\" the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom\\''s arm.\r\n\\"This morning? \r\nWhen did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?\\"\r\n\\"Don\\''t you remember? \r\nWhen you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, \r\n\\''If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!\\"\r\nThe entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn\\''t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.\r\nMom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child\\''s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.\r\n\\"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let\\''s run through the rain. If GOD let\\''s us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,\\" Mom said. Then off they ran.\r\nWe all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.\r\nAnd yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. \r\nI needed washing. \r\nCircumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don\\''t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (95, 'Success', 'Author Unknown', 'Success is speaking words of praise,\r\nIn cheering other people\\''s ways.\r\nIn doing just the best you can,\r\nWith every task and every plan.\r\nIt\\''s silence when your speech would hurt,\r\nPoliteness when your neighbor\\''s curt.\r\nIt\\''s deafness when the scandal flows,\r\nAnd sympathy with others\\'' woes.\r\nIt\\''s loyalty when duty calls,\r\nIt\\''s courage when disaster falls.\r\nIt\\''s patience when the hours are long,\r\nIt\\''s found in laughter and in song.\r\nIt\\''s in the silent time of prayer,\r\nIn happiness and in despair.\r\nIn all of life and nothing less,\r\nWe find the thing we call success.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (96, 'The Storm', 'Author Unknown', 'When the tide comes rolling in,\r\nAnd the mighty oceans roar,\r\nIt can go on land so far\r\nThat is all, it goes no more.\r\n\r\nWhen the storm clouds gather round us\r\nAnd  the great big raindrops fall,\r\nJust so much will fall to earth\r\nas it heeds the Master\\''s call.\r\n\r\nWhen the load becomes so heavy\r\nThat the body cries in pain,\r\nRemember that this too will end\r\nLike the ocean and the rain.\r\n\r\nSo adorn thyself with gladness,\r\nRemember God is really there,\r\nHe takes time to feed the sparrow,\r\nAnd He always answers prayer.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (97, 'Awesome', 'Author Unknown', 'No artist on the earth could ever paint\r\nLike Jack Frost of window pane fame,\r\nOf mountains and valleys and lofty clouds,\r\nAnd pathways through the maze.\r\nHave you ever studied the heavens,\r\nWhen the stars were shining bright,\r\nWatching the galaxies and all their brilliance,\r\nWhile stars fall through the night?\r\nDid you ever watch an eagle,\r\nAs it soars in outer space,\r\nIt seems to float to hither and yon,\r\nA thing of beauty and of grace ? \r\nJust think about the northern lights,\r\nAs they race across the sky,\r\nWhy, it\\''s awesome, yes it\\''s awesome,\r\nIn the night as they race on by,\r\n\r\nTo watch a storm approaching, \r\nSeeing clouds fight way up high,\r\nSome rolling this way, some rolling that,\r\nAnd suddenly the centers eye?\r\n\r\nFriend you don\\''t know what you\\''re missing,\r\nWhen you let the world pass  by,\r\nTake time to often look about,\r\nAt what God has made and why.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (98, 'If Tomorrow Never Comes', 'Norma Burnett', 'If I knew it would be the last time \r\nthat I\\''d see you fall asleep,\r\n I would tuck you in more tightly and pray \r\nThe  Lord, your soul to keep.\r\nIf I knew it would be the last time \r\nthat I see you walk out the door, \r\nI would give you a hug and kiss\r\n and call you back for one more.\r\n\r\nIf I knew it would be the last time\r\n I\\''d hear your voice lifted up in praise,\r\n I would video tape each action and word, \r\nso I could play them back day after day.\r\n\r\nIf I knew it would be the last time \r\nI could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say \r\n\\"I love you,\\" \r\ninstead of assuming you  KNOW I do.\r\n \r\n\r\nIf I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day,\r\nI\\''d be sure it was  your best,  before it slipped  away.\r\n\r\nFor surely there\\''s always\r\ntomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we\r\nalways get a second\r\nchance to make everything right. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThere will always be another day to say  \\"I love you\\" \r\nAnd certainly there\\''s another chance to ask\r\n\\"Anything I can do?\\"\r\n \r\n\r\nBut just in case I might be wrong, and\r\ntoday is all I get,\r\nI\\''d like to say how much I  love you \r\nand I hope we  never forget\r\n \r\nTomorrow is not promised to\r\nanyone, young or old alike,\r\nAnd today may be the last chance you get to\r\nhold your loved one tight.\r\n\r\nSo if you\\''re waiting for tomorrow,\r\nwhy not do  it today? \r\nFor if  tomorrow never comes,\r\nyou\\''ll surely regret the day\r\n\r\nthat you didn\\''t  take that extra time\r\n for a smile, a hug, or a kiss.\r\n and you were too busy to grant someone, \r\nwhat turned out to be  their one last wish. \r\nSo hold your loved ones close today,\r\nwhisper in their ear,\r\nTell them how much you love them \r\nand that you\\''ll always hold them dear.\r\nTake time to say \\"I\\''m sorry,\\" \\"please forgive me,\\"\r\n\\"thank you\\" or \\"it\\''s okay.\\"\r\nAnd if tomorrow never comes, you\\''ll have no\r\nregrets about today.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (99, 'Tear Drops', 'Author Unknown', 'They say memories are golden,\r\nWell, maybe that is true;\r\nI never wanted memories,\r\nI only wanted you.\r\n\r\nA million times I needed you,\r\nA million times I cried;\r\nIf love alone could have saved you,\r\nYou never would have died.\r\n\r\nIn life I loved you dearly,\r\nIn death I love you still;\r\nIn my heart you hold a piece\r\nNo one could ever fill.\r\n\r\nBut now I know you want me\r\nTo mourn for you no more,\r\nTo remember the happy times\r\nLife still has much in store.\r\n\r\nSince you\\''ll never be forgotten\r\nI pledge to you today;\r\nA hallowed place within my heart\r\nIs where you\\''ll always stay.\r\n\r\nIf tears could build a stairway\r\nAnd heartache make a lane;\r\nI\\''d walk the path to heaven\r\nAnd bring you back again.\r\n\r\nOur family chain is broken,\r\nand nothing seems the same;\r\nBut as God calls us one by one,\r\nThe chain will link again.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (101, 'Todays Prayers', 'Author Unknown', 'Pardon my muddy feet,\r\nGod of raindrops and wriggle worms.\r\nI\\''ve been outside,\r\nSplashing in puddles like a child,\r\ntrying to rediscover your creations:\r\nCloak of fog, spider web weavings,\r\nBirds of different feathers \r\ndining peacefully together.\r\nI get too busy to enjoy it.\r\nThank you for this mud -luscious day \r\nwhen I am brought to my knees in awe,\r\nThe best place to meet you--\r\nas any child knows.\r\nI plan to pray barefoot from now on,\r\ncurling my toes and stretching toward you,\r\nbecoming like a child,\r\nas you encourage,\r\nso each day can be a whole-body experience.\r\nFor it is because of you, \r\nThat I am.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (102, 'Bike Ride with God', 'Author Unknown', 'When I first met Christ\r\nIt seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,  \r\nBut it was a tandem bike, \r\nAnd I noticed that Christ \r\nWas in the back helping me pedal.  \r\nI don\\''t know just when it was that \r\nHe suggested we change places,   \r\nBut life has not been the same since.\r\nWhen I had control, I knew the way,\r\nIt was rather boring, but predictable...\r\nIt was the shortest distance between two points.\r\nBut when He took the lead,  \r\nHe knew delightful long cuts,  \r\nUp mountains, and through rocky  places,  \r\nAt breakneck speeds,\r\nIt was all I could do to hang  on!\r\nEven though it looked like madness,\r\n  He said, \\"Pedal\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (103, 'Find Joy In The Ordinary', 'Max Lucado - Copyright!', 'We played every game we knew. We ran up and down the hall. We played \\"find me\\" behind the couch. We bounced the beach ball off each other\\''s heads. We wrestled, played tag, and danced. It was a big evening for Mom, Dad, and little Jenna. We were having so much fun that we ignored the bedtime hour and turned off the T.V. And if the storm hadn\\''t hit, who knows how late we would have played. \r\n\r\nBut then the storm hit. Rain pattered, then tapped, then slapped against the windows. The winds roared in off the Atlantic and gushed through the nearby mountains with such force that all the power went off. The adjacent valley acted as a funnel, hosing wind on the city. We all went into the bedroom and lay on the bed. In the darkness we listened to the divine orchestra. Electricity danced in the sky like a conductor\\''s baton summoning the deep kettledrums of thunder. \r\n\r\nI sensed it as we were lying on the bed. It blew over me mixed with the sweet fragrance of fresh rain. My wife was lying silently at my side. Jenna was using my stomach for her pillow. She, too, was quiet. Our second child, only a month from birth, rested within the womb of her mother. They must have sensed it, for no one spoke. It entered our presence as if introduced by God himself. And no one dared stir for fear it would leave prematurely. \r\n\r\nWhat was it? An eternal instant. \r\n\r\nAn instant in time that had no time. A picture that froze in mid- frame, demanding to be savored. A minute that refused to die after sixty seconds. A moment that was lifted off the time line and amplified into a forever so all the angels could witness its majesty. \r\n\r\nAn eternal instant. \r\n\r\nA moment that reminds you of the treasures surrounding you. Your home. Your peace of mind. Your health. A moment that tenderly rebukes you for spending so much time on temporal preoccupations such as savings accounts, houses, and punctuality. A moment that can bring a mist to the manliest of eyes and perspective to the darkest life. \r\n\r\nEternal instants have dotted history. \r\n\r\nIt was an eternal instant when the Creator smiled and said, \\"It is good.\\" It was a timeless moment when Abraham pleaded for mercy from the God of mercy, \\"But if there are just ten faithful.\\" I was a moment without time when Noah pushed open the rain-soaked hatch and breathed in the clean air. And it was a moment in the \\"fullness of time\\" when a carpenter, some smelly shepherds, and an exhausted, young mother stood in silent awe at the sight of the infant in the manger. \r\n\r\nEternal instants. \r\n\r\nYou\\''ve had them. We all have. Sharing a porch swing on a summer evening with your grandchild. Seeing her face in the glow of the candle. Putting your arm into your husband\\''s as you stroll through the golden leaves and breathe the brisk autumn air. Listening to your six-year-old thank God for everything from goldfish to Grandma. \r\n\r\nSuch moments are necessary because they remind us that everything is okay. The King is still on the throne and life is still worth living. Eternal instants remind us that love is still the greatest possession and the future is nothing to fear. \r\n\r\nThe next time an instant in your life begins to be eternal, let it. Put your head back on the pillow and soak it in. Resist the urge to cut it short. Don\\''t interrupt the silence or shatter the solemnity. You are, in a very special way, on holy ground. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (104, 'A Late Bloomer ', 'Author Unknown', 'A cactus stood all alone in the desert, wondering why it was stuck in the middle of nowhere. \r\n\r\n\\"I do nothing but stand here all day,\\" it sighed.  \\"What use am I? I\\''m the ugliest plant in the desert.  My spines are thick and prickly, my leaves are rubbery and tough, my skin is thick and bumpy.  I can\\''t offer shade or juicy fruit to any passing traveler. I don\\''t see that I\\''m any use at all.\\" \r\n\r\nAll it did was stand in the sun day after day, growing taller and fatter. Its spines grew longer and its leaves tougher, and it swelled here and there until it was lumpy and lopsided all over.  It truly was strange- looking. \r\n\r\n\\"I wish I could do something useful,\\" it sighed. \r\n\r\nBy day hawks circled high overhead. \r\n\r\n\\"What can I do with my life?\\" the cactus called.  Whether they heard or not, the hawks sailed away. \r\n\r\nAt night the moon floated into the sky and cast its pale glow on the desert floor. \r\n\r\n\\"What good can I do with my life?\\" the cactus called.  The moon only stared coldly as it mounted its course. \r\n\r\nA lizard crawled by, leaving a little trail in the sand with its tail. \r\n\r\n\\"What worthy deed can I do?\\" the cactus called. \r\n\r\n\\"You?\\" the lizard laughed, pausing a moment.  \\"Worthy deed?  Why, you can\\''t do anything!  The hawks circle way overhead, tracing delicate patterns for us all to admire.  The moon hangs high like a lantern at night, so we can see our ways home to our loved ones. Even I, the lowly lizard, have something to do.  I decorate the sands with these beautiful brushstrokes as I pull my tail along. Buy you?  You do nothing but get uglier every day.\\" \r\n\r\nAnd so it went on, year after year.  At last the cactus grew old, and it knew its time was short. \r\n\r\n\\"Oh, Lord,\\" it cried out, \\"I\\''ve wondered so long, and I\\''ve tried so hard. Forgive me if I\\''ve failed to find something worthy to do.  I fear that now it\\''s too late.\\" \r\n\r\nBut just then the cactus felt a strange stirring and unfolding, and it knew a surge of joy that erased all despair.  At its very tip, like a sudden crown, a glorious flower suddenly opened in bloom. \r\n\r\nNever had the desert known such a blossom.  Its fragrance perfumed the air far and wide and brought happiness to all passing by.  The butterflies paused to admire its beauty, and that night even the moon smiled when it rose to find such a treasure. \r\n\r\nThe cactus heard a voice. \r\n\r\n\\"You have waited long,\\" the Lord said.  \\"The heart that seeks to do good reflects My glory, and will always bring something worthwhile to the world, something in which all can rejoice - even if for only a moment.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (105, '\\"Pao, Senhor?\\" ', 'Max Lucado - Copyright!', 'He couldn\\''t have been over six years old.  Dirty face, barefooted, torn T-shirt, matted hair.  He wasn\\''t too different from the other hundred thousand or so street orphans that roam Rio de Janeiro. \r\n\r\nI was walking to get a cup of coffee at a nearby cafe when he came up behind me.  With my thoughts somewhere between the task I had just finished and the class I was about to teach, I scarcely felt the tap, tap, tap on my hand.  I stopped and turned.  Seeing no one, I continued on my way.  I\\''d only taken a few steps, however, when I felt another insistent tap, tap, tap.  This time I stopped and looked downward.  There he stood.  His eyes were whiter because of his grubby cheeks and coal-black hair. \r\n\r\n\\"Pao, senhor?\\" (Bread, sir?) \r\n\r\nLiving in Brazil, one has daily opportunities to buy a candy bar or sandwich for these little outcasts.  It\\''s the least one can do.  I told him to come with me and we entered the sidewalk cafe.  \\"Coffee for me and something tasty for my little friend.\\"  The boy ran to the pastry counter  and made his choice.  Normally, these youngsters take the food and scamper back out into the street without a word.  But this little fellow surprised me. \r\n\r\nThe cafe consisted of a long bar: one end for pastries and the other for coffee.  As the boy was making his choice, I went to the other end of the bar and began drinking my coffee.  Just as I was getting my derailed train of thought back on track, I saw him again.  He was standing in the cafe entrance, on tiptoe, bread in hand, looking in at the people.  \\"What\\''s he doing?\\" I thought. \r\n\r\nThen he saw me and scurried in my direction.  He came and stood in front of me about eye-level with my belt buckle. The little Brazilian orphan looked up at the big American missionary, smiled a smile that would have stolen your heart and said, \\"Obrigado.\\" (Thank you.) Then, nervously scratching the back of his ankle with his big toe, he added, \\"Muito obrigado.\\" (Thank you very much.) \r\n\r\nAll of a sudden, I had a crazy craving to buy him the whole restaurant. \r\n\r\nBut before I could say anything, he turned and scampered out the door. \r\n\r\nAs I write this, I\\''m still standing at the coffee bar, my coffee is cold, and  I\\''m late for my class.  But I still feel the sensation that I felt half an hour ago. And I\\''m pondering this question: If I am so moved by a street orphan who says thank you for a piece of bread, how much more is God moved when I pause to thank him ---- really thank him ---- for saving my soul?', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (106, 'Wanna Borrow A Jack', 'Author Unknown', 'One day I went to a lawyer friend for advice. \r\n\r\n\\"I\\''m in real trouble\\" I said.  \\"My neighbors across the road are going on vacation for a month; and instead of boarding their dogs they are going to keep them locked up and a woman is coming to feed them, if she doesn\\''t forget.  Meanwhile they\\''ll be lonely and bark all day and howl all night, and I won\\''t be able to sleep.  I\\''ll either have to call the SPCA to haul them away or I\\''ll go berserk and go over there and shoot them and then when my neighbors return, they\\''ll go berserk and come over and shoot me. \r\n\r\nMy lawyer patted back a delicate yawn.  \\"Let me tell you a story,\\" he said.  \\"And don\\''t stop me if you\\''ve heard it because it will do you good to hear it again.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"A fellow was speeding down a country road late at night and BANG! went a tire.  He got out and looked but he had no jack. \r\n\r\n\\"Then he said to himself.  \\''Well, I\\''ll just walk to the nearest farmhouse and borrow a jack.\\''  He saw a light in the distance and said, \\''Well, I\\''m in luck; the farmer\\''s up.  I\\''ll just knock on the door and say I\\''m in trouble, would you please lend me a jack?  And he\\''ll say, why sure, neighbor, help yourself, but bring it back.\\'' \r\n\r\n\\"He walked on a little farther and the light went out so he said to himself, \\''Now he\\''s gone to bed, and he\\''ll be annoyed because I\\''m bothering him so he\\''ll probably want some money for his jack.  And I\\''ll say, all right, it isn\\''t very neighborly but I\\''ll give you a quarter. \r\n\r\nAnd he\\''ll say, do you think you can get me out of bed in the middle of the night and then offer me a quarter?  Give me a dollar or get yourself a jack somewhere else.\\'' \r\n\r\n\\"By the time he got to the farmhouse the fellow had worked himself into a lather.  He turned into the gate and muttered. \\''A dollar!  All right, I\\''ll give you a dollar.  But not a cent more!  A poor devil has an accident and all he needs is a jack. You probably won\\''t let me have one no matter what I give you. That\\''s the kind of guy you are.\\'' \r\n\r\n\\"Which brought him to the door and he knocked angrily, loudly. The farmer stuck his head out the window above the door and hollered down, \\''Who\\''s there?  What do you want?\\''  The fellow stopped pounding on the door and yelled up, \\''You and your stupid jack!  You know what you can do with it!\\''\\" \r\n\r\nWhen I stopped laughing, I started thinking, and I said, \\"Is that what I\\''ve been doing?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Right,\\" he said, \\"and you\\''d be surprised how many people come to a lawyer for advice, and instead of calmly stating the facts, start building up a big imaginary fight; what he\\''ll say to his partner, what she\\''ll say to her husband, or how they\\''ll tell the Old Man off about his will.  So I tell them the story about the jack and they cool off. \r\n\r\n\\"The next time I hear from them, one tells me that the partner was glad to meet him halfway; the gal says she can\\''t understand it, her husband was so reasonable she thought she must have gotten somebody else on the phone; the relatives found out the Old Man had already been asking a lawyer how he could give everything to them before he died, to save them inheritance tax.\\" \r\n\r\nI thought, \\"How true!  Most of us go through life bumping into obstacles we could easily bypass; spoiling for a fight and lashing out in blind rages at fancied wrongs and imaginary foes. \r\n\r\n\\"And we don\\''t even realize what we are doing until someone startles us one day with a vivid word like a lightning flash on a dark night.\\" \r\n\r\nWell, the other night I was driving home from the city.  I was late for dinner and I hadn\\''t phoned my wife.  As I crawled along in a line of cars, I became more and more frustrated and angry. I\\''ll tell her I was caught in the heavy weekend traffic and she\\''ll say, \\"Why didn\\''t you phone me before you left town?\\" \r\n\r\nThen I\\''ll say, \\"What difference does it make anyway, I\\''m here!\\" And she\\''ll say, \\"Yes, and I\\''m here, too, and I\\''ve been here all day waiting to hear from you!\\"  And I\\''ll say, \\"I suppose I haven\\''t anything else to do but call you up every hour on the hour and make like a lovebird!\\"  And she\\''ll say, \\"You mean like a wolf, but you wouldn\\''t be calling me!\\" \r\n\r\nBy this time I am turning into the drive and I am plenty steamed up. \r\n\r\nAs I jumped out and slammed the car door, my wife flung open the window upstairs. \r\n\r\n\\"All right!\\" I shouted up to her, \\"Say it!\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I will,\\" she cooed softly.  \\"Wanna borrow a jack?\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (107, 'The Diploma ', 'Author Unknown', 'I was exhausted from working my two jobs over the weekend and was not looking forward to the graduation ceremony. I have been to many graduations and I know how boring they are for most people. To top everything off, my wife and I had our two kids under the age of three with us. Both of the kids were squirming and whining, and I knew it was going to be a long afternoon. Our sole comic relief came when my three-year-old patted and rubbed the head of a bald man we did not know in front of us. As the ceremony dragged on I kept thinking of all the places I would rather be, and made up my mind that I wasn\\''t going to enjoy myself. \r\n\r\nIt was your ordinary graduation ceremony: a hot, sweaty auditorium filled with people fanning themselves with their programs, listening to speech upon boring speech, and the endless calling of names as each matriculator walked across the stage to grab this piece of paper that symbolized his or her academic accomplishment. It was getting harder and harder to pay attention. Just as my attitude started to go sour, they began calling out the graduate\\''s names. The classmates formed a single file line and made their way up towards the podium. \r\n\r\nThat\\''s when I caught my first close-up glimpse of Kim. She looked up at us and was trying in vain to hold back the tears. She was not doing a good job of it. Believe me, holding back emotions is not something that Kim does very well. There she was, standing in line, about to receive her diploma, and she was probably thinking about a number of things. Maybe her dad who passed away a few years ago and didn\\''t get to see her reach her goal, or her grandmother, who also passed away recently, and who had always wanted to attend college, but her family didn\\''t have the money... For me it was like something from a movie. You know, the dramatic slow motion scene where all the crowd noise grows quiet, and the camera slowly moves up on her face as the tears begin to fall. She was a good distance away from us, but to me it was as if she were standing in front of me. That simple act of looking up at those loved ones who had come to watch her graduate, and gently rubbing the tears of joy, accomplishment, and pride out of her eyes really got through to me.  The selfishness in me melted away, and I realized why I was there and not somewhere else. \r\n\r\n\\"KIMBERLY ANNE CONWAY, GRADUATING MAGNA CUM LAUDE,\\" came booming over the auditorium\\''s sound system, and she walked gracefully across the huge stage and received this piece of paper that symbolized so many things to her. Then just before she walked off the stage, she turned around towards those who had come to share the day with her, and, with the brightest smile on her face, waved and grinned at us like a little girl getting on the school bus for the first time. \r\n\r\nI glanced at my wife, and saw the tear-drops roll gently down as the love she had for her sister manifested itself on her face. \r\n\r\nYou see, Kim is not your ordinary college graduate. She is thirty- eight years old, and has stuck with her goal of graduating from college for the past twenty years. It\\''s not like she is going to look back on that part of her life, sigh, and say, \\"College... the best twenty years of my life!\\" \r\n\r\nShe attended college while working full time, and she studied extremely hard, especially the past couple of years as she pushed toward her goal of a college degree. Many times she felt like quitting, and, if it weren\\''t for her support group of other nontraditional students that cared for her, she would have given up on her goal. Many times she would call one of the other students she knew and tell them she wanted to quit, and would be talked out of it. Then a while later this student would call her and say she wanted to quit and Kim would talk her out of it... (Luckily, they both didn\\''t want to quit at the same time!) \r\n\r\nI have the utmost respect for Kim. It takes a special person to stick with a goal as long as she has. I attended college for three years when I got out of high school, but I stopped when I wasn\\''t sure what I wanted to do with my life. Many times I have looked back and wished that I had stuck with it and gone on to be a high school teacher.  If for no other reason, I wish I had finished something that I had started. \r\n\r\nI know what it feels like to walk out of that last final exam of the semester, breathe in the fresh air just outside the doors of the university, and feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders for at least a little while. I can\\''t even begin to imagine what it felt like for Kim after so many years... \r\n\r\nI love you, Kim, and I want you to know that I admire you for that symbolic piece of paper that will soon adorn a wall in your house. \r\n\r\nIn the words of Caleb, my three-year-old:  \\"HAPPY GRADULATION, AUNT KIMMY!\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (108, 'The Cross Room ', 'Author Unknown', 'The young man was at the end of his rope.\r\n\r\nSeeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.\r\n\r\n\\"Lord, I can\\''t go on,\\" he said.\r\n\r\n\\"I have too heavy a cross to bear.\\"\r\n\r\nThe Lord replied,\r\n\r\n\\"My son, if you can\\''t bear it\\''s weight,\r\n\r\njust place your cross inside this room.\r\n\r\nThen open another door and pick any cross you wish.\\"\r\n\r\nThe man was filled with relief.\r\n\r\n\\"Thank you, Lord,\\"\r\n\r\nhe sighed, and did as he was told.\r\n\r\nAs he looked around the room he saw many different crosses;\r\n\r\nsome so large the tops were not visible.\r\n\r\nThen he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.\r\n\r\n\\"I\\''d like that one, Lord,\\"\r\n\r\nhe whispered. And the Lord replied,\r\n\r\n\\"My son, that\\''s the cross you brought in.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (109, 'A Story To Live By ', 'Ann Wells, Los Angeles Times ', 'My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister\\''s bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. \\"This,\\" he said, \\"is not a slip. This is lingerie.\\" He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. \\"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion.\\" He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. \\"Don\\''t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you\\''re alive is a special occasion.\\" \r\n\r\nI remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister\\''s family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn\\''t seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. I\\''m still thinking about his words, and they\\''ve changed my life. \r\n\r\nI\\''m reading more and dusting less. I\\''m sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. \r\n\r\nI\\''m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I\\''m trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. \r\n\r\nI\\''m not \\"saving\\" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event-such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. \r\n\r\nI wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. \r\n\r\nI\\''m not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends\\''. \r\n\r\n\\"Someday\\" and \\"one of these days\\" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it\\''s worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I\\''m not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn\\''t be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. \r\n\r\nIt\\''s those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with-someday. Angry because I hadn\\''t written certain letters that I intended to write-one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn\\''t tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. \r\n\r\nI\\''m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is... a gift from God. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (110, 'Jack\\''s Lily', 'Author Unknown', 'A barking dog in the distance brought Jack out of his sleep and back into consciousness. He lay in the prison cell and curses the emptiness, the loneliness, the blackness around him. Morning was about to dawn, ushering in the anniversary of Lily\\''s first visit. Lily had been all that mattered to him in the world. From the day when she was born, she was fragile and sweet like the morning breeze blowing through the filed of lilies. No other name would have done her justice. But Lily never had a chance. When she was two, her mother walked out, announcing that she did not want to be tied down to a crippled child. \r\n\r\nJack wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Hatred and self pity overcame him out of the depth of his conscience. He never knew where his wife went, but his life hit a downward path--- too much drinking and gambling, too many fights. He recalled with an oath that the last fight over a game of cards when tempers and blood ran hot together. He was doing time now on a manslaughter conviction. \r\n\r\nLily had lived out her days in a crippled children\\''s home. She never walked in her five short years of life. The only kind spot in Jack\\''s heart was for the nice elderly couple who had cared for Lily in the home. Jack stared at the ceiling remembering every detail of Lily\\''s last visit. Her yellow straw bonnet stuck up just right on top of her yellow curls, making a frame for her doll-like face. Eyes, blue like sapphires, flashed at him behind the wire screen that separated them in the visiting room. Both dimples showed when she smiled. A dress of yellow ruffles and ribbons hid the thinness of her body and made her look every inch of living Lily that she was. \r\n\r\nJack sat up, cringing at the memory of the spotted lily his own Lily had brought him. She had hugged the clay pot before she let go of it. Then she said, \\"Daddy, this is me. I am going to be with you all the time. Every time you see this lily think of me, for I am your Lily!\\" \r\n\r\nLily soon had to wave goodbye, but the blooming lily remained to brightened his world of gloom, filling his cell with the slightest suggestion of perfume, so light, so alive, so pure! Not even the foul prison air stifled it! A thousand times a day Jack had stared at the blossom, looking though misty eyes in to the face of Lily, \\"Daddy, this is me,\\" the silent blossom cried into his heart. Tender care kept the plant alive. Jack dreamed of the day when he would walk from this prison a free man. He would take her away, down south where the sunshine would bring color to her cheeks and a smile to her face. \r\n\r\nHowever, one night Jack\\''s world caved in. The chaplain had tried to soften the shock with words of hope, but it was no use. Lily was dead. Pneumonia. Jack folded the telegram and stalked out of the chaplains office with head held low. From that night on he was like a man walking in his sleep. Nothing had mattered and more. Nothing. \r\n\r\nThe next day, as he moved the fading plant to a sunny spot, his hands trembled and he dropped it. The stem snapped as the pot smashed into pieces on the cement floor. Jack was stunned--- too stunned to move for along time. Then, dropping to his knees,he gathered the fragments of clay, earth, and plant and molded them into a mound in the corner of his cell. Lily was dead--- the mound of dirt was her grave. \\"daddy, this is me.\\" Jack turned away. He could not endure the sight of her lonely grave. \r\n\r\nA buzzer brought Jack out of his memories and to his feet. Lights blinked on as he listened to a shuffle of feet. Then he remembered. There was going to be a sunrise service in the chapel. It was still dark. No service for him he thought. Never! Lily was dead and with her had died all his hopes and dreams.. There was only one thing left for him to do and that was to hang himself. As he walked toward the window Jack glanced down and froze in his tracks. The lily, which had lain in its grave for a year, had burst into life! A lily blossom stood in triumph on the dirt tomb. \\"THIS IS ME, DADDY, THIS IS ME!\\" The words rang like a silver bell in Jack\\''s heart. He bowed his head as hot tears rolled down his face and dropped to the floor. \r\n\r\nJack found a seat in the chapel just as the chaplain rose from behind a bank of lilies, opened his Bible and began to read, \\"Jesus is the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this\\"\\" John 11:25,26 \r\n\r\nJack leaned forward. He did not know the Bible said this. In fact, he never read the Bible. The chaplain explained the way to receive forgiveness of sins. Suddenly Jack felt his sins heavy as mountains weighing down upon him. Would God forgive him? \\"While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.\\" Romans 5:8, explained the chaplain. Jack fell on his knees in earnest prayer and confessed his sins to God and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ who died for him. Romans 10:9 When he rose to his feet, he knew his load of sin and guilt was all gone! He was forgiven! He was filled with peace and joy! \r\n\r\nLater tears of joy filled his eyes as he knelt to pray beside the blooming lily in his cell. Someday he would meet Lily in Heaven. Jack was not alone now. He felt the sweet presence of his Savior who promises to \\"never leave you nor forsake you\\" Hebrews 13:5. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (111, 'Three Cows ', 'Joe Bagby', 'It was a year I will never forget! 1988 would see my family move back to the States after spending eight of the most rewarding years of our lives in the mission field of Thailand. Our departure was more sudden than we had anticipated, as there were problems in our home congregation and the money just was not there. Paula and I prayed for wisdom, and the answer came loud and clear. Yet, we had made so many friends; and it was difficult to pack up eight years into shipping crates and footlockers, get on a train which would take us to an airplane, and just leave! \r\n\r\nBut we did! \r\n\r\nHowever, before we left, we spent several weeks traveling all over the country saying good bye to those we loved so much. It was a difficult assignment, but God provided the grace we all needed. \r\n\r\nI remember one particular good bye that will stay with me forever, or I hope it does. His name was Paw Phim. Paw in the Thai language is a term of respect and endearment for older men. It is equivalent to our \\"Father.\\" \r\n\r\nPaw Phim had become like a second father to me, for it was in his village that I preached my first sermon in Thai. On that particular day, I knew no one understood, but Paw Phim took my hand after the sermon and told me it was one of the finest sermons he had ever heard. \r\n\r\nYears later I would ask Paw Phim if he really understood what I said, and he told me, \\"Of course not, but what your face and heart said on that day spoke much louder than what came out of your mouth. I knew then that you loved the Thai people, and it was then I became to love you like a son.\\" \r\n\r\nWOW! Aren\\''t I a lucky man? \r\n\r\nPaw Phim was the last stop on my circuit of \\"good byes.\\" It was the most difficult. I didn\\''t usually bring food when I went to visit him because it offended him. But I was tired of seeing him get up at 4:00 in the morning and walk over a mile on those swollen, beaten up knees, to go to a small pond to seine a few little fish for me to have in my soup and rice for breakfast. I was tired of seeing his family do without so I could have a little meat with my rice and vegetables at the evening meal. For my last visit, I brought two chickens and a bag full of vegetables and fruit. He didn\\''t like it one bit and accepted it begrudgingly. \r\n\r\nHowever, I was not to outdo Paw Phim! At our last meal, we had roasted beef along with a host of other delicacies. It was unbelievable! We never had beef -- there just wasn\\''t any to be had -- water buffalo, yes, but not real beef from a cow! Yet there it was. \r\n\r\nI asked him where he got it and he told me not to worry about it. I was to eat it and enjoy it for this was the least he could do for me before we had to say our good byes. I kept digging, because I wanted to know what he had just done for me. It was then that my heart began to break, for I found out that Paw Phim had slaughtered his only cow, which gave milk to his grand-kids, so I could have beef at our last meal. \r\n\r\nI gently rebuked him and offered to give him money to buy another cow. It was then that these words poured out of his weather-beaten face, \\"Joe, I didn\\''t give my cow to you, I gave it to God. Do you think I would do that for you?\\" \r\n\r\nAgain, WOW! How does God make people like this? I don\\''t know, but everyone should have a Paw Phim in his or her life! \r\n\r\nThis story came to its powerful conclusion three years later. I went back to visit my second home in Thailand. Of course I went to see Paw Phim. His health was bad, but his mind and heart were the same. He asked me if I remembered that cow he had slaughtered, and I said that I had. He then took my hand and led me to the back of his house. Standing there were three beautiful cows! \r\n\r\nI asked Paw Phim where he got them, and his answer? \\"Where do you think I got them, Joe? God delivered them to me three weeks after you left!\\" No, I didn\\''t buy those cows, but someone did! How God provided those three cows I\\''ll never know, but I don\\''t need to know! \r\n\r\nThe point of this story is not about the cows, but about the faith and trust of a Thai Christian named Paw Phim who lives on the other side of the world, yet still teaches us that faith and trust will always win the day! Thank you Paw Phim! I\\''ll see you soon.\r\n\r\n\r\n~ By: Joe Bagby ~\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNow I want to tell you, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing ... (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (112, 'You Are Loved ', 'Author Unknown', 'One of the warmest Christmas memories that I have was the year that I was Santa Claus. I was a young, substitute teacher with a new family just starting out in life. I was called in to work at the local grade school on the last day before the Christmas holidays. Near the end of the day I was summoned to the principal\\''s office and asked to be the Santa who visited all the classrooms. Being a great lover of both children and Christmas I agreed. \r\n\r\nI can still remember going from classroom to classroom doing my best to sound both old and jolly at the same time. I was about 50 pounds heavier then so I had the round little belly part down fine. My beard, however, was another matter as it kept sliding halfway down my face. I think that more than a few of the kids recognized me, but it didn\\''t matter. They still rejoiced in seeing Santa. They still laughed and delighted in their small gifts and candy canes. They still felt joyous and happy. They still knew that they were loved and that was all that mattered to them. \r\n\r\nIf there is one thing that I could give to each of you at Christmas time and every day of the year, it would be that knowledge that you are loved. You are loved and watched over by a greater love than you could ever imagine. You are loved by God who made you, who delights in you, and who wants you to be happy. In all the difficulties, problems, and heartaches this world brings, you are loved. In all the obstacles you must overcome, challenges you must face, and pain you must go through, you are loved. In all the mistakes you make, times you stumble, and wrong paths you take, you are loved. You are loved every second of everyday of your life with a glorious love that will never end. \r\n\r\nKnow that you are loved. Know that God loves you always. Rejoice in this love with the joyous heart of a child. And then, like a jolly laughing Santa, go out and share it with the world.', '\\''Inspired Buffalo\\'' ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (113, 'A Tug ', 'Lawrence Brotherton', 'In some circles it is not \\"politically correct\\" to be considered a \\"bloody\\" Christian who believes in eternal salvation, but I am guilty of believing that once saved, always saved. I have been cleansed by and washed in the blood of Jesus. Knowing this, gives me a peace of God and peace with God to pillow my head every night knowing that whether I go or whether I stay, I\\''m a winner either way. \r\n\r\nBecause I don\\''t deserve His salvation and did not do anything to earn it, sometimes, though, I wake up not feeling saved and wondering why God it would please God to bruise His Son for me. When I do, I am reminded of a young boy, an older man,  and an out-of-sight kite. \r\n\r\nThe story goes of a young boy flying a kite in the park one windy afternoon. The kite was so small and so high that an elderly man sitting on a bench watching him could not see the kite high in the heavens. After watching him a few minutes, he walked over asking the young boy what he was doing. \r\n\r\n\\"Flying my kite.\\" he replied. \r\n\r\n\\"Are you sure. I don\\''t see anything in the sky? Perhaps, the string broke and the kite is gone.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Nope.\\" the boy said. \\"I still feel a tug.\\" \r\n\r\nThat is the way it is with me. Those mornings when I wake up questioning my salvation, I feel a Heavenly tug in my heart assuring me God\\''s Spirit has removed all condemnation and  made me to  sit in Heavenly places. \r\n\r\nAs long as I feel that Heavenly tug, He assures me I am His and He is mine.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (114, 'Where  \\''Ya  Been? ', 'Author Unknown', 'The story is told of a man named John who had once been faithful to attend his church regularly, but had grown lackadaisical recently. The Pastor knew that he hadn\\''t seen the gentleman in a while, so he went for a visit. \r\n\r\nJohn greeted the Pastor and welcomed him in, directing him to the chair beside the fireplace. He asked the Pastor what brought him to visit, but the Pastor didn\\''t say a word... .he simply grabbed the fireplace tongs, picked up a hot coal from the fire, and set it away from the fire, out on the hearth. Both men then watched the coal. \r\n\r\nWhile the fire roared on, the coal which had been red hot began to lose it\\''s heat. It gradually lost it\\''s red color, and then cooled off so that it became cool to the touch. The Pastor picked up the coal, and handed it to John for a moment... neither man said a word. \r\n\r\nThen the Pastor reached out and took the coal back from John, and returned it to the roaring fire... and in just a few short moments, the coal once again glowed red hot, as the pile of flaming coals caused it to heat up again. \r\n\r\nThe Pastor then got to his feet, put his hat on, and shook John\\''s hand. At that point, John looked at the Pastor with tears in his eyes, and told him \\"Thank you for coming, Pastor, and I\\''ll be back in church this coming Sunday!\\" \r\n\r\nNow some of you reading this aren\\''t able to attend church services on a regular basis due to poor health. But for those who CAN attend services, but don\\''t for one reason or another, consider this: Do you need to re-examine your reasons for not going? If it\\''s hypocrites, yes the church is filled with them - do you also stay away from your workplace because of hypocrites there? Do you tell yourself that you can worship God just as well camping, or golfing, or on the lake, as you can in church? If so, you aren\\''t fooling anyone but yourself - and definitely Not God! \r\n\r\nIf you feel that God\\''s Word isn\\''t being preached in truth, then find a church where it IS - church isn\\''t a cure-all for all of our problems, but it IS a place that you can be surrounded by those who will listen, and those who will pray for you... and you will hear Bible teaching there that you will not hear on the lake! \r\n\r\nSo again I ask you - what\\''s your excuse? I pray that as you examine this area of your life, that God would move in your heart and give you an intense desire to return to the sanctuary of the church - and that you can once again find the joy of worshipping God with other believers! ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (115, 'Three Marbles ', 'W. E. Petersen ', 'During the waning years of the depression in a small southeastern Idaho community, I used to stop by Mr. Miller\\''s roadside stand for farm-fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used, extensively. One particular day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn\\''t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me. \r\n\r\n\\"Hello Barry, how are you today?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"H\\''lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank \\''ya. Jus\\'' admirin\\'' them peas ...sure look good.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"They are good, Barry. How\\''s your Ma?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Fine. Gittin\\'' stronger alla\\'' time.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Good. Anything I can help you with?\\" \\"No, Sir. Jus\\'' admirin\\'' them peas.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Would you like to take some home?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No, Sir. Got nuthin\\'' to pay for \\''em with.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"All I got\\''s my prize marble here.\\" \r\n\r\nIs that right? Let me see it.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Here \\''tis. She\\''s a dandy.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Not \\''zackley .... but, almost.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller.\\" \r\n\r\nMrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said: \\"There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn\\''t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps.\\" \r\n\r\nI left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys and their bartering. Several years went by each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. \r\n\r\nAhead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ... very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing smiling and composed, by her husband\\''s casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary, awkwardly, wiping his eyes. \r\n\r\nOur turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening she took my hand and led me to the casket. \\"Those three young men, who just left, were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim \\"traded\\" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size... they came to pay their debt. \\"We\\''ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,\\" she confided, \\"but, right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.\\" \r\n\r\nWith loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, red marbles. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMoral: We will not be remembered by our words -- but by our deeds.  Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath, as we help others.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\". . . faith without works is dead\\"   (James 2:20 NKJ)', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (116, 'Three Kernels of Corn Parable', 'Author Unknown', 'Three young men were once given three kernels of corn apiece by a wise old sage, who admonished them to go out into the world, and use the corn to bring themselves good fortune. \r\n\r\nThe first young man put his three kernels of corn into a bowl of hot broth and ate them. The second thought, I can do better than that, and he planted his three kernels of corn. Within a few months, he had three stalks of corn. He took the ears of corn from the stalks, boiled them, and had enough corn for three meals. \r\n\r\nThe third man said to himself, I can do better than that! He also planted his three kernels of corn, but when his three stalks of corn produced, he stripped one of the stalks and replanted all of the seeds in it, gave the second stalk of corn to a sweet maiden, and ate the third. His one full stalk\\''s worth of replanted corn kernels gave him 200 stalks of corn! And the kernels of these he continued to replant, setting aside only a bare minimum to eat. He eventually planted a hundred acres of corn. With his fortune, he not only won the hand of the sweet maiden but purchased the land owned by the sweet maiden\\''s father. And he never hungered again.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe more you give, the more you get. However, that should NOT be the reason for your giving.\r\n\r\nProverbs 11:24 NLT\r\nIt is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything.\r\n\r\nProverbs 11:25 NLT\r\nThe generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.', '\\''Guidewords\\'' ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (117, 'This Is Good ', 'Author Unknown', 'An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, \\"This is good!\\"\r\n\r\nOne day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, \\"This is good!\\" To which the king replied, \\"No, this is NOT good!\\" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.\r\n\r\nAbout a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.\r\n\r\nAs they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. \\"You were right,\\" he said, \\"it was good that my thumb was blown off.\\" And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. \\"And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this.\\"\r\n\r\n\\"No,\\" his friend replied, \\"This is good!\\"\r\n\r\n\\"What do you mean,\\''This is good\\''? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?\\"\r\n\r\n\\"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you.\\" \\"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.\\" (Rom. 8:28)\r\n\r\nSituations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love Him and live our lives according to His precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for His glory and our benefit.\r\n\r\nHold on, God is faithful! May God bless you this week as you seek His will in every situation.\r\n\r\nAddendum -- Genius 50:20 (NIV)   \\"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (118, 'The Year of My Christmas Miracle', 'Dani D\\''Angelo', 'I had smoked ever since I was twelve and by the time I was sixteen, I was given permission to smoke in the house. In those days we had no idea of the dangers of smoking. I am one of those people who does things all the way and so,when I smoked, I really smoked and that meant it was about two packs a day, non-stop, that I was smoking for most of my life. \r\n\r\nWhen I was in my late thirties, I got pregnant and had my two youngest children one right after the other. When I was in my forties I got Breast Cancer and had a mastectomy. The first thing I wanted after my surgery was a cigarette and during my entire stay in the hospital I spent much of my time going downstairs and outside for cigarettes. I went through eight and a half grueling months of chemotherapy and I still didn\\''t quit smoking. When I was about forty five, I was learning just how hard it is trying to get by on disability payments with no child support and yet somehow I still found the money for my cigarettes. \r\n\r\nChristmas was upon me. I was flat broke and very depressed. Fortunately, one of the local churches sponsored families for Christmas and we were picked, so my children would have a Christmas after all. I was grateful. However, I was not in a very festive mood so we didn\\''t take part in the usual Advent preparations that my children were used to that year. On Christmas morning my little boy asked me what I was giving the Baby Jesus for His birthday and I was crushed because I had nothing. I hadn\\''t even baked the birthday cake for baby Jesus and we hadn\\''t saved any good deeds to fill the manger with straw, like in other years. \r\n\r\nYes, I was crushed but the look on his face told me he was even more crushed. The next thing out of my mouth was not at all what was on my mind. I said \\" I know... I am giving the Baby Jesus my smoking habit. The whole thing: the cigarettes, the lighters, the the cravings, the crabbiness, the ashtrays both dirty and clean, everything about smoking is what I am giving to the Baby Jesus\\". He was delighted and ran to tell his sister. They were filled with such joy and here I was stunned and very worried. I was obsessed with cigarettes and I had just told my son that I was giving up smoking as a gift to the baby Jesus. Was I nuts?? Could I do it?? No, I knew in my heart that I could not give up smoking and I also knew that this broken promise to my son, would stay with both of us for years to come. So... I prayed and said \\" Look Jesus I am sorry for jumping the gun here but I made this promise to my child and now I need You to help me keep it\\". \r\n\r\nSuddenly I was filled with a deep sense of peace but I still didn\\''t realize that, because I had stepped out in faith (led there by grace alone) I was on my way to a miracle. \r\n\r\nI jumped up and we all had a ball going from room to room gathering everything to do with cigarettes. There were packs hidden everywhere and five in the freezer alone. We took the cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays and either gave or threw them away. Then I went from room to room taking down curtains and cleaning them. I washed walls, ceilings, clothing and everything I could find from Christmas morning until well into the New Year. \r\n\r\nEach time I would see someone with a cigarette I would privately Thank God for taking the habit from me and ask Him to do the same for them. I do that to this day. I have never once craved a cigarette in seven years. That was one of the biggest steps I had taken on my spiritual journey because I learned through it all that we can do nothing on our own. Only with God is everything possible. I learned that when we step out in faith and expect a miracle that is not contrary to the Will of God then we will be given one. \r\n\r\nThat year changed my life completely. I saw firsthand what Jesus meant when He spoke about having faith the size of a mustard seed. That was the year of my Christmas Miracle. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (119, 'The Winner ', 'Author Unknown', 'I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game - - a serious game _ two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn\\''t know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing - I wished the parents and coaches could have done the same. \r\n\r\nThe teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient. They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at the ball and missed it but they didn\\''t seem to care. They were having fun. \r\n\r\nIn the second quarter, the Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put in the scrubs, except for his best player who now guarded the goal. \r\n\r\nThe game took a dramatic turn. I guess winning is important even when you\\''re five years old -- because the Team Two coach left his best players in, and the Team One scrubs were no match for them. Team Two swarmed around the little guy who was now the Team One goalie. He was an outstanding athlete, but he was no match for three or four who were also very good. Team Two began to score. The lone goalie gave it everything he had, recklessly throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying valiantly to stop them. \r\n\r\nTeam Two scored two goals in quick succession. It infuriated the young boy. He became a raging maniac -- shouting, running, diving. With all the stamina he could muster, he covered the boy who now had the ball, but that boy kicked it to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time he repositioned himself, it was too late -- they scored a third goal. \r\n\r\nI soon learned who the goalie\\''s parents were. They were nice, decent-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office -- he still had his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field and his parents on the sidelines. After the third goal, the little kid changed. He could see it was no use; he couldn\\''t stop them. \r\n\r\nHe didn\\''t quit, but he became quietly desperate futility was written all over him. His father changed too. He had been urging his son to try harder - yelling advice and encouragement. But then he changed. He became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay - to hang in there. He grieved for the pain his son was feeling. \r\n\r\nAfter the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. I\\''ve seen it before. The little boy needed help so badly, and there was no help to be had. He retrieved the ball from the net and handed to the referee - and then he cried. He just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees and put his fists to his eyes - and he cried the tears of the helpless and brokenhearted. \r\n\r\nWhen the boy went to his knees, I saw the father start onto the field. His wife clutched his arm and said, \\"Jim, don\\''t. You\\''ll embarrass him.\\" But he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. He wasn\\''t supposed to - the game was still in progress. Suit, tie, dress shoes, and all - he charged onto the field, and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy, and he hugged him and held him and cried with him. I\\''ve never been so proud of a man in my life. \r\n\r\nHe carried him off the field, and when he got close to the sidelines I heard him say, \\"Scotty, I\\''m so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son.\\" \\"Daddy,\\" the boy sobbed, \\"I couldn\\''t stop them. I tried, Daddy, I tried and tried, and they scored on me.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Scotty, it doesn\\''t matter how many times they scored on you. You\\''re my son, and I\\''m proud of you. I want you to go back out there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can\\''t. And, son, you\\''re going to get scored on again, but it doesn\\''t matter. Go on, now.\\" It made a difference - I could tell it did. \r\n\r\nWhen you\\''re all alone, and you\\''re getting scored on - and you can\\''t stop them - it means a lot to know that it doesn\\''t matter to those who love you. The little guy ran back on to the field - and they scored two more times - but it was okay. \r\n\r\nI get scored on every day. I try so hard. I recklessly throw my body in every direction. I fume and rage. I struggle with temptation and sin with every ounce of my being - and Satan laughs. And he scores again, and the tears come, and I go to my knees - sinful, convicted, helpless. \r\n\r\nAnd my Father - my Father rushes right out on the field - right in front of the whole crowd - the whole jeering, laughing world - and he picks me up, and he hugs me and he says, \\"I\\''m so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son, and because I control the outcome of this game, I declare you -- The Winner.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (120, 'The Water of Life ', 'Author Unknown', 'It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through. Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we didn\\''t see some rain soon... we would lose everything. \r\n\r\nIt was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn\\''t walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. \r\n\r\nMoments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for over an hour: walking carefully to the woods, then running back to the house. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen... as he was obviously doing something important and didn\\''t need his Mommy checking-up on him). \r\n\r\nHe was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked; being very careful not to spill the water he held in them... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked closer as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much greater purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site. \r\n\r\nSeveral large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him... he didn\\''t even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn laying on the ground, obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy\\''s hand. \r\n\r\nWhen the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree. I followed him back to the house; to a spigot that we had shut off the water to. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle of water began to creep out. He knelt there, letting each drip of water slowly fill up his makeshift \\"cup,\\" as the sun beat down on his little back. It was just last week he was punished for playing with the garden hose, and received a stern lecture on the importance of not wasting water. So, I\\''m sure that is why he didn\\''t ask me to help him. \r\n\r\nIt took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him. His little eyes just filled with tears. \\"I\\''m not wasting,\\" was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him... with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away... it was his job. \r\n\r\nI stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save a life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops... and more drops... and more. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, Himself, was weeping with pride. \r\n\r\nSome will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. That miracles don\\''t really happen. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can\\''t argue with that... I\\''m not even going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm... just like the actions of one little boy saved a life. \r\n\r\n\r\nEpilog (SkyWriting.Net editor): I have received this same story from other sources, which do not include the \\"to honor the memory of my beautiful Billy.\\" However, out of respect to the parent(s) that lost a child, I\\''m including it as an addendum; along with my sincere heart felt sympathy. \r\n\r\n\r\nAddendum -- \\"This story is to honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon.... but not before he showed me the true face of God; in a little sunburned body.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (121, 'The Rock / P.U.S.H. ', 'Author Unknown', 'A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. \r\n\r\nSeeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the devil decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man\\''s weary mind \\"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn\\''t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.\\" This gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. \\"Why kill myself over this?\\" he thought. \\"I\\''ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough.\\" And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. \r\n\r\n\\"Lord\\" he said, \\"I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?\\" \r\n\r\nThe Lord responded compassionately, \\"My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? \r\n\r\nLook at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven\\''t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock.\\" \r\n\r\nAt times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.... By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains. You just P.U.S.H.! \r\n\r\nWhen everything seems to go wrong,... P.U.S.H.! \r\n\r\nWhen the job gets you down,... P.U.S.H.! \r\n\r\nWhen people don\\''t react the way you think they should,... P.U.S.H.! \r\n\r\nWhen your money is short and the bills are due,... P.U.S.H.! \r\n\r\nWhen you want to curse them out for whatever the reason,... P.U.S.H.! \r\n\r\nWhen people just don\\''t understand you,... P.U.S.H.! \r\n\r\nP.U.S.H. = Pray Until Something Happens! ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (122, 'The Quilt ', 'Author Unknown', 'As I faced my Maker at the last Judgement, I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt, in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But, as my Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I had endured, which were the largest holes of all. \r\n\r\nI glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. \r\n\r\nMy Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn\\''t had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I had spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully; each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been. \r\n\r\nI rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes wide. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image. The face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, \\"Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.\\" \r\n\r\nMay all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (123, 'The Perfect Mistake ', 'Author Unknown', '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! \r\n\r\nThe Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was really 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.\\" \r\n\r\nMonths 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. \r\n\r\nThe 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 wedged between two blankets. \r\n\r\nThe 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.\\" \r\n\r\nThe 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. \r\n\r\nThere are times we want to blame God instead of thanking him! Perhaps it is something we ought to try more often, \\"Thank you, God, for not allowing my car to start this morning.\\" He may have been saving your life from a car accident. \\"Lord Jesus, thank you for letting me lose my glasses; I\\''m sure they\\''ll be put to good use or there is a lesson to be learned.\\" \r\n\r\nI have to remember this in these times of trial with my own family. \r\n\r\nMay GOD bless your week. Look for the perfect mistakes. \r\n\r\nGod shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - Phil 4:19 ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (125, 'The Parable of the Two Servants ', 'Author Unknown', 'There once was a man who had two indentured servants. One day a disagreement arose between them as to who was the greatest in the eyes of their master. So they went to the master of the house and asked him, \\"My lord, which of us is greater?\\" \r\n\r\nThe master of the house replied, \\"I will let you discover that for yourself. I will ask each of you a question and you must answer truthfully.\\" \r\n\r\nSo the servants stood before him and he started to question them. To the first servant, he asked, \\"What do you do for me?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Sir, I work in the fields all day long to grow wheat for my lord\\''s granary,\\" the first servant replied. \\"Then, at night, I go through the house and fill all the lamps so that my lord will have light. For this you pay me a wage, but I hope that one day that I may earn my freedom.\\" \r\n\r\nThe master nodded his head. He turned to the second indentured servant and asked, \\"And what do you do for me?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Sir,\\" he replied, \\"I am an educated man. I am well-versed in literature, music, mathematics and science. I teach your children all that I know so that one day they may leave your house and make a success in the world. And when they do, I hope that you will grant me my freedom. In the meantime, you give me a wage for what I do.\\" \r\n\r\nAgain, the master nodded. Then he turned to a lowly slave who was standing nearby, and asked, \\"And what do you do for me?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"You know that I love you, my lord, and my only wish is to do whatever you ask,\\" the slave answered without hesitation. \\"You bought me and I know that I will be a slave for life, therefore I earn no wage. But you are kind and merciful to me, and do not beat me as other masters beat their slaves. You are wise and just and kind and that is why I love you.\\" \r\n\r\nThe master of the house smiled. \\"Then you are the greatest of all my servants and I will make you a free man.\\" \r\n\r\nWhen they heard this, the two servants were aghast. \\"Why him?\\" they cried. \\"We do much more work than he does. He waits around for you to give him an order, but we labor in your fields without orders, teach your children, and light your lamps. We work unceasingly and should be rewarded.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Yes,\\" the master of the house replied. \\"You do work in my fields, and do all the other things that you said. But this man wants only to serve me, not himself. He waits patiently until I tell him what I want him to do. His faithfulness has never failed him. He now has his reward -- his freedom. And I will place him as overseer, and you will be his servants. Because of his faithful service to me -- though he was once a lowly slave -- he is truly the greater.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\nObey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. (Ephesians 6:6-8 NIV)', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (126, 'The Parable Of The Two Screws', 'Ed Price', 'Once upon a time there were two screws fastening a vital part of a gasoline engine. One of the screws was haughty and proud of it\\''s shining head. The second screw was quiet, intent only on doing its job to the best of its ability. \r\n\r\nOne day a speck of rust appeared on the head of the second screw. Filled with vain pride of its own beauty, the first screw began to laugh at the second. \\"Your head is tarnished,\\" the first said to the second. \\"Look at you. Your perfect luster is gone.\\" \r\n\r\nThe second screw said nothing. Instead, it concentrated on what it was doing. \r\n\r\n\\"How ugly you have become,\\" the first screw chortled, \\"and how beautiful I have remained.\\" Then it began to laugh so hard at the second screw that it failed to notice that it was working itself loose. Finally it dropped off the engine and plunged into a small pool of dirty oil below. \r\n\r\nWith the first screw no longer holding up its end of the load, the second was faced with doing the work of two. Meanwhile the first screw, now covered with grimy oil, wailed and lamented. \\"Just look at me! I\\''m dirty and filthy and all my beauty is gone. By laughing at the blemish on my friend the second screw, I worked myself loose and fell into the muck. Now I\\''m doomed.\\" \r\n\r\nNow, it just so happened that a short time later the owner of the engine started it up. He immediately noticed that something didn\\''t sound right -- the engine was running rough. When he checked, he instantly saw that one of the two screws holding the vital part was missing. \\"Ah ha!\\" the owner said. \\"One of the screws must have worked itself loose and fell to the ground, but I don\\''t see it. Maybe it fell into that puddle of old oil.\\" \r\n\r\nThe owner reached into the oil and found the missing screw. \\"Look at you,\\" the owner said. \\"You\\''re all covered with grime and oil. How ugly you are. But I will fix that right away.\\" The owner reached for a nearby rag and wiped all the oil and grime off the first screw until it shone even brighter than before. Then he replaced it on the part. Before he turned away, he noticed a little speck of tarnish on the head of the second screw. With the second rag, he wiped the head clean and bright. Then the owner walked away. \r\n\r\nFinally the engine was started. The two screws, now equally beautiful, held the part tight. \\"Forgive me, my friend,\\" the first screw said to the second. \\"In my vanity, I was so busy laughing at your blemish that I did not notice that I was working myself loose.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"And what have you learned?\\" the second screw quietly asked. \r\n\r\n\\"I learned not to judge others because I have my own sins to deal with.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Then,\\" the second screw said, \\"I forgive you.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Thank you, my friend. And rest assured, my vanity will remain forever at the bottom of that dirty puddle of oil.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.\\"   (Psalm 32:1 NIV)', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (127, 'The Parable of the Push-Ups', 'Author', 'There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending school in Utah. Brother Christianson taught at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson\\''s class. Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over. One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, \\"You think you\\''re pretty tough, don\\''t you?\\" \r\n\r\nSteve\\''s answer was, \\"Yeah, I do.\\" \r\n\r\nThen Brother Christianson asked, \\"How many push-ups can you do?\\" \r\n\r\nSteve said, \\"I do about 200 every night.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"200? That\\''s pretty good, Steve,\\" Brother Christianson said. \\"Do you think you could do 300?\\" \r\n\r\nSteve replied, \\"I don\\''t know... I\\''ve never done 300 at a time.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Do you think you could?\\" Again asked Brother Christianson. \r\n\r\n\\"Well, I can try,\\" said Steve. \r\n\r\n\\"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,\\" Brother Christianson said. \r\n\r\nSteve said, \\"Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it.\\" \r\n\r\nBrother Christianson said, \\"Good! I need you to do this on Friday.\\" \r\n\r\nFriday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren\\''t the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited-it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend. \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, \\"Cynthia, do you want a donut?\\" \r\n\r\nCynthia said, \\"Yes.\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, \\"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?\\" \r\n\r\nSteve said, \\"Sure,\\" and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. \r\n\r\nThen Steve again sat in his desk. Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia\\''s desk. Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, \\"Joe do you want a donut?\\" \r\n\r\nJoe said, \\"Yes.\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson asked, \\"Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?\\" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When Bro. Christianson asked, \\"Scott do you want a donut?\\" Scott\\''s reply was, \\"Well, can I do my own pushups?\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson said, \\"No, Steve has to do them.\\" \r\n\r\nThen Scott said, \\"Well, I don\\''t want one then.\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked \\"Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn\\''t want?\\" \r\n\r\nSteve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, \\"HEY! I said I didn\\''t want one!\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson said, \\"Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don\\''t want it.\\" And he put a donut on Scott\\''s desk. \r\n\r\nNow by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson asked Jenny, \\"Jenny, do you want a donut?\\" \r\n\r\nJenny said, \\"No.\\" \r\n\r\nThen Bro. Christianson asked Steve, \\"Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn\\''t want?\\" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut. \r\n\r\nBy now, the students were beginning to say \\"No\\" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved. Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn\\''t bear to watch all of Steve\\''s work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row. \r\n\r\nDuring his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters located on the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. \r\n\r\nSteve asked Bro. Christianson, \\"Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson thought for a moment, \\"Well, they\\''re your pushups.. You can do them any way that you want.\\" And Bro. Christianson went on. \r\n\r\nA few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, \\"NO! Don\\''t come in! Stay out!\\" \r\n\r\nJason didn\\''t know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, \\"No, let him come in.\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson said, \\"You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him.\\" \r\n\r\nSteve said, \\"Yes, let him come in.\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson said, \\"Okay, I\\''ll let you get Jason\\''s out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Yes.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?\\" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down. \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started among those seated on the heaters. Steve\\''s arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room. \r\n\r\nThe very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, \\"Linda, do you want a doughnut? Linda said, very sadly, \\"No, thank you.\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson asked Steve, \\"Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn\\''t want?\\" \r\n\r\nGrunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.. \r\n\r\nThen Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. \\"Susan, do you want a donut?\\" Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, \\"Bro. Christianson, can I help him?\\" \r\n\r\nBro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, \\"No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?\\" \r\n\r\nAs Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor. \r\n\r\nBrother Christianson turned to the room and said. \r\n\r\n\\"And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, \\"Into thy hands I commend my spirit.\\" With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died - even for those that didn\\''t want His gift. And just like some of those in this room, many choose not to accept the gift that was provided for them.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (128, 'The Meadow ', 'YMIRon © YMIRon@aol.com', 'It was a warm breezy summer day in July and a perfect day for a walk. My first thought was to go to the meadow, a place where I feel comfortable and secure as if God\\''s hands are around me. The meadow is a place where you can see all of God\\''s handiwork if you take the time and watch closely, looking beyond the obvious. \r\n\r\nUpon entering the meadow the first thing that caught my eye was the way the winds blew softly across the sea of yellow goldenrods. It was as though each flower was in sync with the other as they moved in unison to and fro in the gentle summer breeze. \r\n\r\nThe time passed quickly as I became mesmerized by the swaying motion of this sea of yellow flowers. I could hear the soft, soothing sounds of the bees as they flew from flower to flower. There was a yellow haze over the flowers as pollen filled the air, and its fragrance was sweet and refreshing. I realized that was God\\''s way of helping the bees do their never ending task of pollinating the flowers of the meadow. \r\n\r\nAs I looked closer I could see the small birds that were clinging to the golden rods. They seem so peaceful as they rode back and forth on the stems, almost as if God had created this motion just for their enjoyment. What was actually happening was, they were being fed by God\\''s handiwork. The wind was causing the bugs that lit on the flowers to become airborne and as they did the birds would feast upon them. It was as though they knew that all this was being done, just for them. \r\n\r\nAt the extreme end of the meadow I noticed several raspberry bushes which were blessed with an abundance of ripened fruit. Looking closer, under the bushes, were rabbits, field mice and woodchucks feeding on the ripened berries that were close to the ground. Just behind them were deer eating the berries, that were higher on the bush. It was obvious at this point that God was providing food for his creatures. \r\n\r\nThe day passed all too quickly but that was of no importance to me. The things I had seen were so beautiful and special that time seemed to have stood still. I had been lost in the overwhelming creations of God, and had learned that he provides for all his creatures no matter what their needs. I felt safe and secure in all that was around me, realizing that I too was a creature of God and that He was providing for me. \r\n\r\nSleep well my friend, wherever you may be . . . ', 'Aiken Drum');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (129, 'The Little Raggedy Girl ', 'Ed Price', 'There was once a little raggedy girl who lived with her widowed mother in what could only be charitably called a shack, just outside of town. She had few clothes to wear and those that she had were worn and patched in many places. She was clean and tidy. Her mother saw to that. But, her schoolmates could not see past her ragged clothing and they enjoyed making fun of her. \r\n\r\nThe little raggedy girl bore the insults of the other children in silence. One little boy, in particular, liked to make fun of the coat she always wore. Like the rest of her clothes, the coat had seen much better days. It was an ugly green color with pulls and rawls all over it. Some places had dark stains that no amount of washing could ever remove. But the coat was warm and it was the only one she had, so the little raggedy girl wore it to school every day. \r\n\r\nChristmas was only a few days away now, and it was the last school day before the long vacation. On her way home that day, a wet snow was falling accompanied by a biting north wind. It was cold and miserable. She was happy about her old coat and the warmth it provided. Still she wanted to get home quickly to the warmth of her house. \r\n\r\nSeveral blocks from the school she saw three boys standing on the sidewalk. They seemed to be arguing, but she couldn\\''t make out the words -- just a lot of shouting. Then one of the boys suddenly snatched the coat off one the other boy\\''s back. The boy tried to hold onto his coat, but the other one was stronger. As soon as the coat was free, he and his friend ran off with it, laughing. The boy started to run after them but, in his haste, slipped and fell in the slushy snow, landing heavily on the sidewalk. The raggedy girl ran up to the boy on the ground. She was startled to find it was the very same boy who had always taunted her about her coat at school. \r\n\r\n\\"What happened?\\" she shouted. \r\n\r\nThe boy on the ground was crying, tears streaming down his face. \\"They took my coat,\\" he wailed. \\"Now I\\''ll freeze to death.\\" \r\n\r\nThe little raggedy girl smiled. \\"I doubt that,\\" she said, \\"but you\\''re going to get mighty cold before you get home. You might catch a bad cold and that\\''s no good around Christmas. \r\n\r\nThen the boy felt a gentle, soft hand wiping the tears from his cheek. \\"Don\\''t cry,\\" she said. \\"Here. Wear my coat until you get home.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"But you\\''ll freeze.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No I won\\''t,\\" the little raggedy girl answered as she took off the coat. \\"Mama always makes me wear this old sweater under my coat for extra protection. It\\''s not much, but it\\''s better than nothing. Now put on my coat and we\\''ll walk over to your house. If we hurry, it won\\''t be so bad.\\" \r\n\r\nTen minutes later, the pair arrived at the boy\\''s house and stepped onto the porch. \\"Can you come in with me?\\" he asked. \\"You look positively frigid. Mom always has some hot chocolate and cookies for me when I get home on days like this.\\" \r\n\r\nThe little raggedy girl felt funny going into such a fine house, but before she knew it the little boy had taken her by the hand and was dragging her through the front door. Inside, the house looked just as nice as it had from the outside. Just as the boy was taking off the ragged coat to return to the girl, his mother met them in the vestibule. \\"Who is this?\\" she asked. \\"And just where is your coat, young man?\\" \r\n\r\nThe little boy then told his mother all that had happened. When he finished, she smiled at the little raggedy girl and said, \\"You are welcome here. Come into the kitchen. I have some hot chocolate and fresh Toll House cookies. Eat with Mike and warm up before you go home. We\\''ll worry about getting his coat back later.\\" \r\n\r\nThe little raggedy girl had never tasted anything so good as the cookies and cocoa in her life. Her mother was far too poor to buy such luxuries. Just before she finished, the mother walked into the kitchen with a huge box wrapped in shiny red ribbon. She placed the box in front of the little raggedy girl. \\"Go on and open it, honey,\\" she said. \\"It\\''s for you.\\" \r\n\r\nThe little raggedy girl opened the box. Her heart leaped into her throat. There, folded neatly inside, was a brand new coat. She looked up at the boy\\''s mother. \\"Go on,\\" the mother urged. \\"It\\''s yours. Try it on. See if it fits.\\" \r\n\r\nThe little raggedy girl took the coat from the box and held it out in front of her. It was beautiful -- bright red with a warm liner and a thick, soft fur hood. And there wasn\\''t a spot on it. She had never seen anything so beautiful in all her life. She looked up at the boy\\''s mother. She was smiling broadly. \\"I had bought that coat for my niece for Christmas, but I think you deserve it much more,\\" she said. \r\n\r\nThen the mother drove the little raggedy girl to her own front door. She thanked the woman, then ran into the house to show her Mama the new coat. After she had finished telling her story, she saw that her mother was crying. She put a small arm around her mother\\''s thin shoulders. \r\n\r\n\\"I thought you would be happy, Mama,\\" she said softly. \\"But if you want, I\\''ll take the coat back. See? I still have my old one.\\" \r\n\r\nThe mother gathered her little daughter on her lap and hugged her. \\"I\\"m not unhappy, honey,\\" she sniffed. \\"I\\''m overcome with joy. I knew that I would never be able to buy you a new coat for Christmas. Even used coats down at the mission cost too much for me. So I prayed to God that he would provide you with a new coat. And He did -- and a finer coat than I ever imagined.\\" \r\n\r\nThe mother kissed her daughter on the cheek. The little girl could feel the warm wetness of her mother\\''s tears against her dry, cool skin. \\"You know,\\" the little ragged girl said as she hugged her mother, \\"I really am so very rich to have a mother like you.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.\\"\r\n(Romans 8:28 NIV)', '\\''Themestream\\''');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (130, 'The Lassie Dog', 'Brian G. Jett ', 'As Kevin sat intently in front of the old 19 inch Zenith television set with \\''rabbit ears\\'' and poor reception, his mother watched her little seven year boy move almost theatrically as he cheered Lassie on. \\"Go get \\''em girl, go get \\''em!\\" He\\''d look forward to each episode as Lassie would save the day on each and every airing of this show. His mother had memorized Kevin\\''s question as it was sure to follow at the end of every episode of \\"Lassie.\\" Per usual, he quickly spun around while sitting \\''Indian Style\\'' on the floor and asked, \\"Mom?, Can I have a Lassie dog? Please mom!?\\" \r\n\r\nAs she gazed into his eager eyes she replied, \\"Honey, I\\''d love to give you a dog like Lassie, but I\\''ve said it before--dogs like Lassie like to be outside and run.\\" Desperately trying to convince him she added, \\"Kevin, I have told you over and over again that our yard is too small for a Lassie dog!\\" \r\n\r\nKevin appeared pensive for a moment and then excitingly exclaimed, \\"I have an idea mom! I\\''ll teach the Lassie dog to stay by me all of the time so she won\\''t get lost or hurt!\\" His mother appeared surprised that Kevin could creatively think on his feet so quickly. \r\n\r\n\\"That\\''s a really neat idea sweetheart, but Lassie is what\\''s known as a Collie and you can\\''t teach a Collie to stay by your side all of the time because they\\''re outside dogs and I\\''m afraid your Lassie dog would run away. Do you understand what I\\''m saying honey?\\" \r\n\r\nKevin looked down and was clearly disappointed by what he felt was his last ditch effort to gain his mother\\''s favor as it would relate to his getting his youthful mind\\''s hero -- a dog and friend like Lassie. \r\n\r\nMonths passed and Kevin stopped asking his mother whether or not he could get a dog like Lassie. She noticed his increasing quietness and sadness with each passing episode and thought back to her childhood. Her parents surprised her one Christmas with a little scroungy mutt that she adored. She got this ugly little dog that Christmas when she was about her son\\''s age and the guilt of not allowing Kevin to have a dog to be his best friend finally got to her. One afternoon after yet another episode of \\"Lassie\\", she decided, right or wrong, to give in to Kevin\\''s earlier repeated desire to have a dog of his own. \\"Kevin?\\", she asked, \\"How about us going down to the dog pound today and getting you a dog? The dog won\\''t be as pretty as Lassie, but I know we can find a dog that you\\''d love.\\" \r\n\r\nKevin\\''s eyes lit up like a 50 watt bulb with no lamp shade as he exclaimed, \\"Really mom?! Yes, I don\\''t care anymore about getting a Lassie dog! Can we go now?\\", he enthusiastically asked. \\"We sure can honey! Put your shoes on and let\\''s go on down to the dog pound and find you the perfect dog!\\" Kevin jumped up and hurriedly put his shoes on and headed directly to the car. \r\n\r\nUpon arriving at the dog pound, she asked the old man who ran the shelter which dog out of all of the dogs there would be the most loyal and well trained dog for her eager little boy. Without a moment\\''s pause, the man replied, \\"Oh, that\\''s an easy question to answer. Follow me back and I\\''ll show you the perfect dog for your son.\\" \r\n\r\nKevin and his mother followed the old man back to the last cage on the right. \\"There she is ma\\''am. This would be the dog I\\''d choose and I\\''d already have her myself but we have a half-dozen dogs at home and just don\\''t have room for \\"Fire.\\" She was taken back as she looked at this homely dog with little hair as the mutt looked like she had been badly burned. After she got over the initial shock of such a sight, she asked, \\"Has this dog been burned and are you sure this would be the right dog for Kevin?\\" The old man looked at Kevin and noticed his eyes were misting with tears. \\"Oh I\\''d bet my life on it ma\\''am!\\", he confidently replied. \r\n\r\n\\"Ma\\''am?\\", he inquired, \\"Did you not hear about the dog that laid on top of the little girl during the forest fire up on Red Bird Mountain? This was the dog that they featured in the local paper. This rascal saved the little girl\\''s life and just about lost her own by covering that little girl with her body!\\" She thought for a bit and answered, \\"Well of course I did! Are you telling me that this is that dog?\\" \\"Yes, it sure is. No one has taken her because of how she looks and I would have put her to sleep but it\\''s hard to end a life that saved one!\\", he somberly replied. \r\n\r\n\\"Do you want this dog Kevin? Sounds like you\\''d have yourself a hero like Lassie if we brought her home.\\" Kevin\\''s eyes had full-blown tears in them now. \\"I want her mom! Can we take her back with us?\\" She quickly glanced at the old man who was moved to tears himself at this point. \\"She\\''s ours sweetheart.\\" \r\n\r\nThey took \\"Fire\\" home and she never left Kevin\\''s side and was his constant companion--never once even attempting to leave the yard or run out of the gate if mistakenly left open. Every night Kevin would say his prayers when his mother would tuck him in and he never failed to pray that \\"Fire\\" would be healed and get her hair back. After about five weeks, Kevin\\''s constant prayers were obviously being answered as the once terribly disfigured mutt\\''s hair rapidly began to grow back. Perhaps it was Kevin and his mother\\''s imagination, but the more \\"Fire\\''s\\" hair grew back, the more she resembled Lassie. \r\n\r\nKevin\\''s mother opted to call the old man at the dog pound as her curiosity was overwhelmingly piqued. \\"Hello,\\" the old man responded on the other end of the phone, \\"Corbin County dog pound. My name is Joe and how can we help you today?\\" \\"Hi Joe, I came in a month or so ago with my son and we got the dog you named \\"Fire.\\" \\"Yes ma\\''am, he replied happily, \\"I\\''m glad you called... been wondering how old \\"Fire\\" has been doing. How can I help you?\\" She took a deep breath and asked, \\"Well Joe, I\\''m curious about just one thing and thought you might know the answer. What kind of mutt is \\''Fire\\''?\\" \r\n\r\nThe old man softly chuckled before replying. \\"Ma\\''am\\", \\''Fire\\'' isn\\''t a mutt.\\" Confused she continued, \\"If she\\''s not a mutt, what kind of dog is she?\\" He chuckled again and replied, \\"Fire\\''s momma\\'' and daddy are both show dogs. \\''Fire\\'' is a full-bred Collie.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (131, 'The Flat Tire ', 'Author Unknown', 'My tire had a staple in it. Of all times for this to happen -- a flat tire. But when is a good time for a flat tire? Not when you are wearing a suit and you have been traveling for nearly five hours and, adding to this bleak picture, nightfall is approaching. \r\n\r\nWait; did I mention that I was on a country road? Okay, now you have the picture. There was only one thing to do: call AAA. Yeah, right. The cell phone I bought for security and protection in moments like this isn\\''t in range to call anyone. \\"No Service\\" it says. No kidding! \r\n\r\nI sat for a few minutes moaning and complaining. It\\''s a male thing. Then I began emptying my trunk so that I could get at the tire and tools needed to get the job done. I carry a large plastic container filled with what I call \\"just-in-case-stuff.\\" When I am training or speaking, I love to have props with me. I hate leaving anything home so I bring everything ...just in case. \r\n\r\nCars buzz by me. A few beep sarcastically. I hear the horn saying \\"ha ha!\\" I say, \\"You\\''ll get yours!\\" Darkness begins to settle in. It\\''s becoming a bit difficult to see. The tire is on the passenger side, thank God, away from all the traffic, but making it difficult to benefit from the headlights of passing cars. \r\n\r\nSuddenly a car pulls off the road behind me. In the blinding light I see a male figure approaching me. \\"Hey, do you need any help?\\" \\"Well, it certainly isn\\''t easy doing this with a white dress shirt and suit on,\\" I said. Then he steps into the light. I literally was frightened. \r\n\r\nThis young guy was dressed in black. Nearly everything imaginable was pierced and tattooed. His hair was cropped and poorly cut. He had leather bracelets with spikes on each wrist. \\"How about I give you a hand?\\" he said. \\"Well, I don\\''t know . . . I think I can . . . \\" \\"Come on, it will only take me a few minutes.\\" He took right over. While watching him I happened to look back at his car and noticed for the first time someone sitting in the passenger seat. That concerned me. \r\n\r\nI suddenly felt outnumbered. Thoughts of car-jackings and robberies flashed through my mind. I really just wanted to get this over and survive it. \r\n\r\nThen, without warning, it began to pour. The night sky had hidden the approaching clouds. It hit like a waterfall and made it impossible to finish the tire change. \\"Look, my friend, just stop what you\\''re doing. I appreciate all your help. You better get going. I\\''ll finish after the rain stops,\\" I said. \r\n\r\n\\"Let me help you put your stuff back in the trunk. It will get ruined,\\" he insisted. \\"Then get in my car. We\\''ll wait with you,\\" he insisted. \\"No, really. I\\''ll take care of everything,\\" I said. \r\n\r\n\\"You can\\''t get in your car with the jack up like that. It will fall. Come on. Get in,\\" he said as he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the car. Crack! Boom! Lightning and thunder roared like a freight train. I literally jumped in his car. \\"Oh, God, protect me!\\" I thought to myself. \r\n\r\nWet and tired I settled into the back seat. Suddenly a small frail voice came from the front seat of the car. \\"Are you all right?\\" she said as she turned around to face me. \\"Yes, I am,\\" I replied with much relief seeing the old woman there. It must be his Mom. \r\n\r\n\\"My name is Beatrice and this is my neighbor Jeff,\\" she said. \\"He insisted on stopping when he saw you struggling with the tire.\\" \\"I am grateful for his help,\\" I said. \\"Me, too!\\" she said with a laugh. \\"Jeff takes me to visit my husband. We had to place him in a nursing home and it\\''s about 30 minutes away from where we live. So, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we have a date.\\" She laughed and shook her head. \r\n\r\n\\"We\\''re the remake of the Odd Couple,\\" Jeff said as he joined in laughing.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Jeff, that\\''s incredible what you do for her. I would never have guessed, well, ah, you know I . . .\\" I stumbled with the words. \r\n\r\n\\"I know. People who look like me don\\''t do nice things,\\" he said. Silence. I really felt uncomfortable. I never believed that I judged people by the way they dressed. I was angry with myself for being so stupid. \r\n\r\n\\"Jeff is a great kid. I\\''m not the only one he helps. He\\''s a volunteer at our church. He also works with the kids in the learning center at the low income housing unit in our town,\\" said Beatrice. \r\n\r\n\\"I\\''m a tutor\\" Jeff said quietly as he stared at my car. Silence again played a part now in a moment of reflection rather than the uncomfortable feeling that I had insulted someone. He was right. What he wore on the outside was a reflection of the world as he saw it. What he wore on the inside was the spirit of giving, caring and loving the world he wanted to see. \r\n\r\nThe rain stopped and Jeff and I changed the tire. I tried to offer him money and of course he refused it. As we shook hands I began to apologize for my stupidity. \r\n\r\nHe said, \\"I experience that same reaction often. I actually thought about changing the way I look. But then I saw this as an opportunity to make a point. So I\\''ll leave you with the same question I ask everyone who takes time to know me. If Jesus returned tomorrow and walked among us again, would you recognize Him by what He wore or by what He did? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1 Samuel 16:7   \\"But the LORD said to Samuel, \\''Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart\\''.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (132, 'The Fence', 'Author Unknown', 'There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.\r\n\r\nFinally the day came when the boy didn\\''t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.\r\n\r\nThe father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, \\"You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won\\''t matter how many times you say I\\''m sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.\r\n\r\nFriends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.\r\n\r\n\r\nAddendum -- Proverbs 12:18 (NIV) \\"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\nEpilog: If only we could all be more \\"Christ like\\" in our behavior... ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (133, 'The Cradle, a Christmas Story ', 'Dr. Ralph F. Wilson', 'They left their home, the new cradle still swinging from the rafters. Night after night the aroma of fresh-cut wood had filled the room as Joseph had patiently fashioned the tiny cradle, using the same chisel and saw he usually put down at dusk. \r\n\r\nNow Joseph wiped the tears from Mary\\''s cheeks and shut the door behind them. \\"It\\''ll be okay,\\" he told her, as he cinched up their belongings on the donkey. \r\n\r\n\\"Joseph, can\\''t we wait a few days? The baby could come any time.\\" She didn\\''t want to leave home. Not now. \r\n\r\n\\"We\\''ve waited for the baby as long as we dare.\\" He was ready to get on the road. \\"We have to leave today or I\\''ll be arrested for not appearing in Bethlehem for the census.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"At least bring the cradle, Joseph,\\" she pleaded. \\"I want the baby to have something nice.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No, it\\''ll have to stay behind. The baby will be rocking in it soon enough.\\" \r\n\r\nJoseph tugged hard at the donkey\\''s halter. No luck. \\"Come on, animal,\\" he shouted, whacking it on the rear end to get it moving. Grudgingly the donkey responded. With one hand Joseph led the donkey, with the other he steadied Mary on the steep incline, slowly enough to accommodate her ungainly progress down the winding road which led from Nazareth\\''s height. In the house above, the cradle hung still. \r\n\r\nFive days and ninety bone-weary miles later, Joseph searched the small stable where they were staying on the outskirts of crowded Bethlehem. Mary\\''s time would be soon now. He was careful to keep his lamp from igniting the old straw. He finally settled on an ancient stone manger for the baby\\''s bed, cut from the wall of the limestone cave which housed the animals. He reached in to scoop the last gritty bits of straw from the manger\\''s dank bottom. \\"That\\''ll have to do,\\" he muttered. He filled the trough with an armful of fresh fodder, which he covered with a folded blanket to keep the animals away. \r\n\r\nIt was well past midnight by the time Mary finished washing and wrapping her new baby. Now she lifted him gently into his new bed. Joseph put his arm around her shoulders as they gazed at the sleeping infant. \r\n\r\nMary touched the tiny fingers. \\"That cradle you spent so much time on would be real nice right now, Joseph.\\" She looked up at the cave\\''s low ceiling. \\"You could hang it somewhere. No baby I know has a cradle like that. It\\''s fit for a king.\\" \r\n\r\nJoseph grinned. \\"Not every boy has a carpenter for a dad,\\" he said. But he wondered. Why couldn\\''t little Jesus be home in that cradle? Why does this special child the angel told Mary and him about have to be born in this smelly stable? A hill-country carpenter\\''s home is bad enough. Why here? Why Bethlehem? \r\n\r\nThe answer wasn\\''t long in coming. An older boy poked his head in the door, startling the couple from their quiet moment. \\"Is there a baby in here?\\" he mumbled apologetically. Then he saw the tiny child. Mary picked her baby up to shield the infant from his eyes. The face disappeared. \r\n\r\nMary\\''s eyes mirrored Joseph\\''s concern. He strode to the cave\\''s opening. He could hear a distant call, \\"Over here, Jake found him!\\" In the darkness, Joseph could make out a handful of forms coming toward him. He gripped his stout wooden staff and stood resolutely at the door. \r\n\r\nAs they approached the stable he could see they were shepherds. Joseph\\''s grip on the staff tightened. The oldest one spoke hesitantly. \\"Can we come in? We have ... ah ... come to see the Christ-child.\\" \r\n\r\nJoseph glanced at Mary. He could feel a tingle move down his spine. This was more than an accident. The whole fantastic course of events was far more than an accident. He nodded and stepped back into the stable. \\"Yes, come in. You are welcome.\\" \r\n\r\nThe shepherds shuffled into the cramped cave. The youngest pushed in alongside the donkey to get a better view. They knelt. \\"God be praised!\\" The old shepherd spoke with deepest reverence. \r\n\r\n\\"It\\''s just like the angel told us,\\" another whispered in awe. \\"\\''Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,\\'' the angel said.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Imagine! An angel . . . talking to us!\\" the old man interjected with rising excitement. \\"None of the uppity-ups in this town would lower themselves to talk to us shepherds,\\" he added. \\"But an angel did . . . And the child is right here in a stable so we can come and see him.\\" Rivulets of tears were inching down the shepherd\\''s weathered face. \r\n\r\nJoseph stared at the old man. \\"How did you find us?\\" he finally asked. \r\n\r\nThe boy who had first peeked in answered. \\"The angel said, \\''Unto you is born ....\\''\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Yes, to us!\\" The beaming old man couldn\\''t contain himself. \r\n\r\nThe boy spoke deliberately, as if to remember the exact words: \\"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior ...\\" \r\n\r\n\\"That\\''s here--Bethlehem--David\\''s birthplace,\\" the littlest boy interrupted. He thrust out his chest proudly. \\"King David was a shepherd, too, you know.\\" \r\n\r\nThe older boy continued. \\" . . . a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"The Christ, the Messiah . . . He\\''s the one!\\" The old man pointed to the baby. \r\n\r\n\\"The angel was very specific,\\" the young man went on. \\"\\''And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.\\''\\" He grinned. \\"How could we miss? We just ran into town and checked every stable until we found you . . . found him.\\" The boy paused. \\"How many newborns in Bethlehem do you know with a cattle manger for a cradle?\\" \r\n\r\nJoseph chuckled. So that was it. The heavenly Father Himself had provided a bed for His child. A special cradle. A sign to these crude shepherds that God cared for them too. \r\n\r\nJoseph squeezed Mary\\''s hand very tightly. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (134, 'The Color Of Friendship ', 'Author Unknown', 'Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite. \r\n\r\nGreen said:\r\n\\"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.\\" \r\n\r\nBlue interrupted:\r\n\\"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.\\" \r\n\r\nYellow chuckled:\r\n\\"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.\\" \r\n\r\nOrange started next to blow her trumpet:\r\n\\"I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don\\''t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.\\" \r\n\r\nRed could stand it no longer he shouted out:\r\n\\"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life\\''s blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.\\" \r\n\r\nPurple rose up to his full height:\r\nHe was very tall and spoke with great pomp: \\"I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey.\\" \r\n\r\nIndigo spoke, more quietly than others, but with determination:\r\n\\"Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.\\" \r\n\r\nAnd so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort. \r\n\r\nIn the midst of the clamor, God began to speak:\r\n\\"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don\\''t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.\\" \r\n\r\nDoing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. \r\n\r\nGod continued:\r\n\\"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.\\" And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (135, 'The Auction', 'Author Unknown', 'The upstate NY man was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses, land antiques and cattle. But though on the outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside. His wife was growing old, and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a little boy to carry on the family legacy.\r\n\r\nMiraculously, his wife became pregnant in her later years, and she gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was five, his mom died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy\\''s birth defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart.\r\n\r\nThe estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the riches.\r\n\r\nFinally, the poor housemaid, who helped raise the boy and loved him, offered $5 for the painting and easily took the bid. To everyone\\''s shock, the auctioneer ripped a hand written will from the back of the picture.\r\n\r\nThis is what it said: \\"To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate.\\"\r\n\r\nThe auction was over. The greedy crowd walked away in shock and dismay.\r\n\r\nHow many of us have sought after what we thought were true riches only to find out later that our Father was prepared to give us His entire estate if we had only sought after His Son alone?\r\n\r\nMatthew 6:33 \\"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.\\" Matthew 6:21 \\"For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (136, 'The Apple Basket ', 'Author Unknown', 'One day an elderly man entered into a hospital. He was grumpy from being on medication and the nurses thought him to be insane, as he yelled for his wife to get the apple basket. By the time they had checked him into his room the nurses were exhausted from the fight he was putting up. \r\n\r\n\\"Sir you have to calm down we are doing everything we can for you\\" they would try to explain. \r\n\r\n\\"I don\\''t need your help\\" the grumpy man would yell \\"I want my apple basket\\". He finally slept. The nurses sighed with relief and talked among themselves whether they should call the hospital psychologist about the old man and his obsession with the apple basket. \r\n\r\nAs they talked and laughed about the situation the wife came in carrying the basket of apples. They looked kind of stunned as she asked if she could see her husband and deliver his basket. Sure, they agreed as they watched her slip past into his room. \r\n\r\nCuriosity consumed them over the next few weeks as they tended to the elderly man. He was eaten with cancer and the doctors had given him no hope of survival. He turned out to be a very calm, happy man once he had his basket. His wife, they noticed, would come in with apples and go out with apples and the curiosity grew even more till one nurse couldn\\''t stand the suspense. \r\n\r\nOne night as he was nearing the end, the nurse sat down in a chair by the wife.\\" May I ask why do you have that apple basket? I just don\\''t understand the significance.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I am an apple farmer by trade he sighed. From the time I was 20 till the day I do die I will forever have my apples.\\" The nurse nodded thinking she understood. He just likes his work, she thought, assured now he was a little bit crazy. \r\n\r\nAs she started to leave, the old man asked her to sit down. \\"At age 20 I was saved, I accepted the Lord as my Savior.\\" Oh no, the nurse thought. Here comes the lecture on religion. The old man continued. \\"The day I accepted the Lord as my Savior I got this basket, and each time I had a problem or concern that I could not handle, I put an apple in the basket un-shined.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Why?\\" the nurse said shaking her head. \r\n\r\n\\"Because it reminded me to give those problems to the Lord for him to shine. See my basket now, he stated. As my problems disappear so do the apples. As I get new problems, ones I cannot handle alone, I put an apple in.\\" \r\n\r\nThe humble nurse looked into the basket... only one apple was there. \r\n\r\nWith that, he took a big breath and grabbed his wife by the hand and faded into eternal sleep. The wife paused for a moment and got up from her place to take from the basket the last remaining apple. She whispered in his ear that his reward awaits him in heaven. \r\n\r\nThe nurse stayed still and asked with tears in her eyes, \\"what do you think his riches will be?\\" \r\n\r\nThe wife knew what they were, eternal life with Jesus Christ. But she could see the concern and sadness upon the young nurses\\'' face and handed her the apple and said \\"the biggest apple pie you can imagine!\\" \r\n\r\nThat was the day the young nurse was \\"saved,\\" and from that day on she too always had a basket of apples by her bed.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (137, 'The Angel Project ', 'Ellie Braun-Haley', 'I held onto the hand of my shivering granddaughter as we waited our turn to get into the huge barn-like building. We couldn\\''t see inside because of the length of the line up and so we passed our time watching the outside lineups. \r\n\r\nVolunteers were busily placing frozen turkeys into bags at the head of one line up and in the other, families and individuals were receiving milk. \r\n\r\nThe parking lot was filled with trucks and cars and still more were waiting to get onto the lot. Strangely, though vehicles were blocked, no one honked nor appeared impatient. It seemed surreal as though everyone had been touched by something magical. \r\n\r\nFinally we could see into the building and I was overcome with emotion as my eyes took in hundreds of overflowing boxes. Each box filled with care represented not only hours of time on the part of volunteers, but the generosity and caring of hundreds of people. The boxes were filled with food for empty stomachs. Some boxes sported brand new toys, gifts from anonymous individuals throughout the town and area, toys for children who might otherwise go without. \r\n\r\nI suddenly felt self-conscious, aware that tears were flowing freely down my cheeks. I was touched by the display of kindness. I turned away from the crowds of people to wipe away the tears, and just as I did I was to see everything in a kind of mist and glow-like appearance. How fitting to see the \\"Angel Project\\" in this way. \r\n\r\nIt was four days before Christmas and today marked the climax of the Angel Project. This was the day that families in need could pick up food hampers and toys. Everything was donated through the generosity of strangers. \r\n\r\nFinally it was our turn at the table and I found it difficult to speak past the lump in my throat. I was overwhelmed by all that was happening around me. Every box in that massive room represented the love of others. Every toy had been carefully selected, to be given away, yet the receiver and the sender would never meet. \r\n\r\nInstead of Christmas shopping or cleaning, instead of baking cookies or decorating a tree, these people had dropped everything to sort, label and number boxes, and to hand out delivery addresses to volunteers to drop off boxes for those who had no transportation. \r\n\r\nI could feel something extraordinary there in that building. It wasn\\''t tangible nor quite definable but there was something special, beyond friendliness and I felt privileged to be there and be a part of it all. \r\n\r\nPeople helped us pack the trunk and back seat of my car with food and toys for the first family and we set off to locate the address. As we drove along I felt blessed to have a tank full of gas and the opportunity to be among the delivery people in the \\"Angel Project.\\" \r\n\r\nI was not prepared for the greeting we were about to receive. I located a basement suite and when no one answered after ringing the bell I ventured down a set of steps and began calling out. \\"Hello, is anyone home?\\" A lady opened a door and as soon as I mentioned who I was and why I was there the woman began to shout. She was overjoyed and was calling out to some unseen person that we were there. Next she ran ahead of me up the stairs calling out to a neighbor, \\"they\\''re here, they\\''re here, the Angel people are here.\\" \r\n\r\nShe ran up to the car, out there in the snow with only socks on her feet and began thanking us. She continued to thank us with each box we unpacked and though we gently reminded her that we were only the delivery people, she could not contain her joy and she continued thanking us again and again. \r\n\r\nAt the second house there were young children and when we introduced ourselves and explained why we were there, the children were sent upstairs and were admonished not to peek. I knew then that what we were about to unload might very well be the total sum of their Christmas presents. \r\n\r\nJani carried in the teddy bears, the huge craft set and the two other toys, all of which had been specifically chosen by Angel Project volunteers for these children. The mother helped me with the heavier food boxes and I knew this abundant supply would last a number of days. \r\n\r\nAs we left we exchanged \\"Merry Christmas\\" greetings. The woman paused just before the door closed. She looked directly at me and her eyes looked misty as she said \\"thank you, so much.\\" \r\n\r\nI shut my car door, fighting tears and a choked up feeling. This giant surge of emotion burst inside of me as I pictured those children on Christmas morning opening the wonderful gifts chosen by strangers. I could imagine tummies filled and good meals throughout the season. All this, because generous individuals opened their hearts and purse strings for people they did not know. \r\n\r\nFor Jani and I, we got to spend a special day together being a part of something beautiful and unforgettable. And though we were delivery people that day, I drove away feeling as though I was the one who had received the gift.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (138, 'Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin Pie ', 'Dr. Ralph F. Wilson', 'Turkeys and cornucopias and pilgrim hats. Seasoned stuffing hot from the oven. Creamed onions, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Uncles and aunts and cousins to play with. Grandmothers and grandfathers with family gathered round. Children waiting for the Great Pumpkin rise over Charlie Brown\\''s pumpkin patch and dads watching college football. A day to relax and maybe rake leaves in the afternoon. \r\n\r\nBut Thanksgiving? How much will our celebrations on Thanksgiving have to do with giving thanks? \r\n\r\nA glance at the first Thanksgiving brings it all back. On December 21, 1620 the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth rock. Through the dead of winter the colony struggled with poor and meager food, strenuous labor, a biting wind that chilled to the bone, and the ravages of disease. Nearly half the 102 Mayflower passengers did not live to see Spring refresh Cape Cod Bay. \r\n\r\nBut God sent Indians--Samoset, Squanto, and Massasoit--to help the English settlers plant and hunt and fish. The bountiful harvest that autumn led Governor Bradford to invite the Indians to celebrate God\\''s goodness. Ninety tall braves accepted the invitation to join the Pilgrims in a feast of Thanksgiving to God for His blessings. \r\n\r\nThe Pilgrims lived close enough to the soil to know how dependent they were on God\\''s Providence. They had learned to thank God in the midst of the bitterness of winter past. And they were quick to thank Him during abundant blessing, too. \r\n\r\nWe teach our children to say \\"please\\" and \\"thank you\\" as the rudiments of courtesy, yet it is so easy to be rude and unthinking toward God. How often we forget to gratefully acknowledge His goodness towards us. \r\n\r\nThis Thanksgiving let your prayers and expressions of love rise toward your Heavenly Father.\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.\\" (Psalm 116:12-13) ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (139, 'Thanks For The Thorns', 'Author Unknown', 'Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a Spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor Automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren\\''t enough her husband\\''s company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What\\''s worse, Sandra\\''s friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. \\"Had she lost a child? -No--she has no idea what I\\''m feeling,\\" Sandra shuddered. \\"Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?\\" she wondered. \\"For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Good afternoon, can I help you?\\" The flower shop clerk\\''s approach startled her. \\"Sorry,\\" said the clerk, Jenny, \\"I just didn\\''t want you to think I was ignoring you.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I.... I need an arrangement.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"For Thanksgiving?\\" \r\n\r\nSandra nodded. \r\n\r\n\\"Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving Special.\\" Jenny saw Sandra\\''s curiosity and continued. \\"I\\''m convinced that flowers tell stories, that each arrangement insinuates a particular feeling. Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Not exactly!\\" Sandra blurted. \\"Sorry, but in the last five months, everything that could go wrong has.\\" Sandra regretted her outburst but was surprised when Jenny said, \\"I have the perfect arrangement for you.\\" The door\\''s small bell suddenly rang. \r\n\r\n\\"Barbara! Hi,\\" Jenny said. She politely excused herself from Sandra and walked toward a small workroom. She quickly reappeared carrying a massive arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Only, the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, no flowers. \\"Want this in a box?\\" Jenny asked. \r\n\r\nSandra watched for Barbara\\''s response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems and no flowers! She waited for laughter, for someone to notice the absence of flowers atop the thorny stems, but neither woman did. \r\n\r\n\\"Yes, please. It\\''s exquisite,\\" said Barbara. \\"You\\''d think after three years of getting the special, I\\''d not be so moved by its significance, but it\\''s happening again. My family will love this one. Thanks.\\" Sandra stared. \\"Why so normal a conversation about so strange an arrangement?\\" she wondered. \\"Ah. . .\\" said Sandra, pointing. \\"That lady just left with, ah. . .\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Yes?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Well, she had no flowers!\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Right, I cut off the flowers.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Off?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Off. Yep. That\\''s the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"But, why do people pay for that?\\" In spite of herself she chuckled. \r\n\r\n\\"Do you really want to know?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I couldn\\''t leave this shop without knowing. I\\''d think about nothing else!\\" \r\n\r\n\\"That might be good,\\" said Jenny. \\"Well,\\" she continued, \\"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today. She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she faced major surgery.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Ouch!\\" said Sandra. \r\n\r\n\\"That same year, I lost my husband. I assumed complete responsibility for the shop and for the first time, spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"What did you do?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I learned to be thankful for thorns.\\" \r\n\r\nSandra\\''s eyebrows lifted. \\"Thorns?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I\\''m a Christian, Sandra. I\\''ve always thanked God for good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why good things happened to me? But, when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the \\''flowers\\'' of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God\\''s comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we\\''re afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort others.\\" \r\n\r\nSandra gasped. \\"A friend read that passage to me and I was furious! I guess the truth is I don\\''t want comfort. I\\''ve lost a baby and I\\''m angry with God.\\" She started to ask Jenny to \\"go on\\" when the door\\''s bell diverted their attention. \\"Hey, Phil!\\" shouted Jenny as a balding, rotund man entered the shop. She softly touched Sandra\\''s arm and moved to welcome him. He tucked her under his arm at his side for a warm hug. \\"I\\''m here for twelve thorny long-stemmed stems!\\" Phil laughed, heartily. \r\n\r\n\\"I figured as much,\\" said Jenny. \\"I\\''ve got them ready.\\" She lifted a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerated cabinet. \r\n\r\n\\"Beautiful,\\" said Phil. \\"My wife will love them.\\" \r\n\r\nSandra could not resist asking. \\"These are for your wife?\\" \r\n\r\nPhil saw that Sandra\\''s curiosity matched his when he first heard of a Thorn Bouquet. \r\n\r\n\\"Do you mind me asking, \\"Why thorns?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"In fact, I\\''m glad you asked,\\" he said. \\"Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but we slogged through, problem by rotten problem. We rescued our marriage, our love, really. Last year at Thanksgiving I stopped in here for flowers. I must have mentioned surviving a tough process because Jenny told me that for a long time she kept a vase of rose stems-stems! - as a reminder of what she learned from \\"thorny\\" times. That was good enough for me. I took home stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks for what the problem taught us. I\\''m pretty sure this stem review is becoming a tradition.\\" Phil paid Jenny, thanked her again and as he left, said to Sandra, \\"I highly recommend the Special!\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I don\\''t know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life,\\" Sandra said to Jenny. \r\n\r\n\\"Well, my experience says that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God\\''s providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, Sandra, Jesus wore a crown of thorns so that we might know His love. Do not resent thorns.\\" \r\n\r\nTears rolled down Sandra\\''s cheeks. For the first time since the accident she loosened her grip on resentment. \\"I\\''ll take twelve long-stemmed thorns, please.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I hoped you would,\\" Jenny said. \\"I\\''ll have them ready in a minute. Then, every time you see them, remember to appreciate both good and hard times. We grow through both.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Thank you. What do I owe you?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Nothing. Nothing but a pledge to work toward healing your heart. The first year\\''s arrangement is always on me.\\" Jenny handed a card to Sandra. \\"I\\''ll attach a card like this to your arrangement but maybe you\\''d like to read it first. Go ahead, read it.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn! I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorn. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear, teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow. -George Matheson\\" \r\nJenny said, \\"Happy Thanksgiving, Sandra,\\" handing her the Special. \\"I look forward to our knowing each other better.\\" \r\n\r\nSandra smiled. She turned, opened the door, and walked toward hope! ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (141, 'Surviving 81st Floor of World Trade Tower Two ', 'Dan Van Veen', 'September 11, 2001 (Tuesday) - For all victims of the terrorism tragedy in the United States of America. \r\n\r\n\r\n* A testimony of God\\''s hand of protection amidst tragedy *\r\n\r\nby the Editors of Religion Today\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, began like any other day for Bethel Assembly of God deacon and Sunday school superintendent Stanley Praimnath of Elmont, Long Island. He got up early, took a shower, prayed, got ready and headed for work. The drive was uneventful. The train ride was the same. Yet, this day he would see the hand of God spare his life. \r\n\r\n\\"For some particular reason, I gave the Lord a little extra of myself that morning {during prayer},\\" Stanley said. \\"I said, \\''Lord, cover me and all my loved ones under your precious blood.\\'' And even though I said that and believed it, I said it over and over and over.\\" \r\n\r\nWhen Stanley arrived at World Trade Center Tower Two, he took the elevator up to his office on the 81st floor. \\"I work for the Fuji Bank Limited,\\" he said. \\"I\\''m an assistant vice president in the loans operations department. The company is located on the 79th through 82nd floors.\\" \r\n\r\nStanley greeted Delise, a woman who had arrived before him. After talking briefly, he headed over to his desk and picked up his phone to retrieve his messages. \r\n\r\n\\"As I\\''m standing there retrieving my messages, I\\''m looking out at the next building, One World Trade, and I saw fire falling through from the roof,\\" Stanley said. \\"Now, this entire building is surrounded by glass, and you can stand up and from there you can see all the buildings, planes and everything flying at the same altitude.\\" \r\n\r\nAs Stanley saw \\"fire balls\\" coming down, his first reaction was to think of his boss who works in that building. He decided to try to call him to see if he was OK. \\"I\\''m dialing his number, and getting no response. So, I say to Delise, the temp, \\''Go, go, go -- let\\''s get out.\\''\\" \r\n\r\nDelise and Stanley got on the elevator and went down to the 78th floor. Some other people were there. The company\\''s president, the CEO, the human resources director and two other men joined the group and headed down to the concourse level of Two World Trade Center. \r\n\r\nIf they had continued on and exited the building, all of their lives would have been spared. As it was, that\\''s not the way it happened. \r\n\r\n\\"As soon as we reached the concourse level, the security guard stopped us and said, \\''Where are you going?\\'' Stanley explained about seeing the fire in Tower One. According to Stanley, the guard said, \\"Oh, that was just an accident. Two World Trade is secured. Go back to your office.\\" \r\n\r\nThat turned out to be fatal advice -- aside from Stanley, Delise was the only one of that group to survive. \r\n\r\n\\"We were joking, and I told {Human Resources Director} Brian Thompson, \\''This is a good time to think of relocating this building -- it\\''s not safe anymore.\\''\\" Stanley headed back to his office, but before he got there, he told Delise, that with the events of the day, she should go home and relax. \r\n\r\nThompson went to the 82nd floor, the president and CEO went to the 79th floor and Stanley got out on the 81st floor. When Stanley got to his office, his phone was ringing. \\"It was someone from Chicago calling to find out if I\\''m watching the news,\\" he said. He told the caller everything \\"was fine.\\" \r\n\r\nBut everything wasn\\''t fine -- far from it. As Stanley was talking, he looked up and saw United Air Lines Flight 175 heading straight for him. \r\n\r\n\\"All I can see is this big gray plane, with red letters on the wing and on the tail, bearing down on me,\\" said Stanley. \\"But this thing is happening in slow motion. The plane appeared to be like 100 yards away, I said \\''Lord, you take control, I can\\''t help myself here.\\'' \\" \r\n\r\nStanley then dove under his desk. \\"My Testament {Bible} was on top of my desk,\\" explained Stanley. \\"I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord was going to take care of me once I got there.\\" As he curled into a fetal position under his desk, the plane tore into the side of the building and exploded. \r\n\r\nMiraculously, Stanley was unhurt. However, he could see a flaming wing of the plane in the doorway of his department. He knew he needed to get out of his office and the building fast. But, he was trapped under debris up to his shoulders. \r\n\r\n\\"Lord, you take control, this is your problem now,\\" he recalled praying. \\"I don\\''t know where I got this power from, but the good Lord, He gave me so much power and strength in my body that I was able to shake everything off. I felt like I was the strongest man alive.\\" \r\n\r\nAll the while, Stanley was asking the Lord to spare his life. \\"I\\''m crying and I\\''m praying, \\''Lord, I have things to do. I want to see my family, Lord, help me through.\\''\\" \r\n\r\nStanley\\''s office resembled a battle zone -- walls flattened into dusty heaps, office equipment strewn violently, flames flickering about and rubble everywhere. \r\n\r\n\\"Everything I\\''m trying to climb on {to get out} is collapsing and I\\''m going down,\\" he said. \\"I\\''m getting cuts and bruises, but I\\''m saying, \\''Lord, I have to go home to my loved ones, I have to make it, You have to help me.\\'' \\" \r\n\r\nSuddenly Stanley saw the light of a flashlight. For a moment, it stunned him. \\"What were the chances of someone bringing a flashlight to this floor?\\" he thought. \\"My first gut reaction was, \\''This is my guardian angel -- my Lord sent somebody to save me!\\'' \\" \r\n\r\nStanley began screaming, \\"I see the light, I see the light.\\" But after clawing his way through the debris, he realized that he couldn\\''t get out - all the exits were blocked and his \\"guardian angel\\" couldn\\''t get to him--a wall was between him and the staircase. \\"He can\\''t get to me and I can\\''t get to him, and by this time I can\\''t breathe,\\" Stanley said. \\"I don\\''t know if it was sulfur or what {burning jet fuel, perhaps}, but I can smell this thing. I got down on my knees and said, \\"Lord, you\\''ve got to help me. You\\''ve brought me this far, help me to get to the staircase.\\" \r\n\r\nBut then Stanley did something surprising. While praying on his knees, he called out to the man behind the wall, \\"There\\''s one thing I got to know, do you know Jesus?\\" The man replied he went to church every Sunday. Then they prayed together to enable them to break through the wall. \r\n\r\n\\"I got up, and I felt as if a power came over me,\\" said Stanley. \\"I felt goose bumps all over my body and I\\''m trembling, and I said to the wall, \\''You\\''re going to be no match for me and my Lord.\\'' \\" Moments later, he punched his way through the wall and, with the help of the man on the other side, was able to squirm his way through the hole in the wall. \\"The guy held me and embraced me and he gave me a kiss and he said, \\''From today, you\\''re my brother for life.\\'' \\" \r\n\r\nBut the danger wasn\\''t over. The man on the other side of the wall, who introduced himself as Brian, was an older man and they still had 81 floors to walk down, with the building on fire and, unknown to them, in danger of collapse. \\"We hobbled our way down, and at every floor we stopped to see if anybody was there, but nobody was, except a man was on the floor, and his back was gone, and he was covered in blood.\\" \r\n\r\nStanley asked to be allowed to carry the man out, but a security guard told him it would be better to send somebody up. When they finally made it down to the concourse, only firefighters were there. \\"They were saying, \\''Run! Run! Run!\\'', they were telling us to run out, but they were not concerned about themselves,\\" he said. \r\n\r\nStanley and Brian would have run from the building, but now the concourse was surrounded with fire. Wetting themselves under the building\\''s sprinkler system, they held hands and ran through the flames to safety at Trinity Church, about two blocks away. \\"I wanted to go to the church to thank God,\\" Stanley explained, \\"As soon as I held onto the gate of that church, the building {World Trade Center Tower Two} collapsed.\\" \r\n\r\nStanley and Brian made their way safely out of the danger area. Before they parted, Stanley gave his business card to Brian in hopes of contact at a later time, and said, \\"If I don\\''t see you, I\\''ll see you in heaven.\\" \r\n\r\nCut and bloodied, with clothes tattered and wearing a borrowed shirt, Stanley finally made it home hours later to his wife, Jennifer, and his two girls, Stephanie, 8, and Caitlin, 4. \\"I held my wife and my two children and we cried,\\" said Stanley. After thanking God for sparing his life, Stanley told God whatever he did, it will always be for His glory. \\"I\\''m so sore, but every waking moment, I say \\''Lord, had you not been in control, I would not have made it.\\'' \r\n\r\n\\"For some divine reason, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the good Lord\\''s mighty hand turned the plane a fraction from where I was standing,\\" said Stanley. \\"Because when it crash-landed, it was just 20 feet from me. I don\\''t care who would rationalize -- what people would say now or years from now, but I know it was the handiwork of the Lord that turned that plane. My Lord Jesus is bigger than the Trade Center and His finger can push a plane aside!\\"', 'Source Unknown ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (142, '\\"SHMILY\\" ', 'Laura Jeanne Allen', 'My grandparents were married for over half a century, and played their own special game from the time they had met each other. The goal of their game was to write the word \\"shmily\\" in a surprise place for the other to find. They took turns leaving \\"shmily\\" around the house, and as soon as one of them discovered it, it was their turn to hide it once more. \r\n\r\nThey dragged \\"shmily\\" with their fingers through the sugar and flour containers to await whoever was preparing the next meal. They smeared it in the dew on the windows over looking the patio where my grandma always fed us warm, homemade pudding with blue food coloring. \\"Shmily\\" was written in the steam left on the mirror after a hot shower, where it would reappear bath after bath. At one point, my grandmother even unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper to leave \\"shmily\\" on the very last sheet. \r\n\r\nThere was no end to the places \\"shmily\\" would pop up. Little notes with \\"shmily\\" scribbled hurriedly were found on dashboards and car seats, or taped to steering wheels. The notes were stuffed inside shoes and left under pillows. \\"Shmily\\" was written in the dust upon the mantel and traced in the ashes of the fireplace. This mysterious word was as much a part of my grandparents\\'' house as the furniture. \r\n\r\nIt took me a long time before I was able to fully appreciate my grandparents\\'' game. Skepticism has kept me from believing in true love - one that is pure and enduring. However, I never doubted my grandparents\\'' relationship. They had love down pat. It was more than their flirtatious little games; it was a way of life. Their relationship was based on a devotion and passionate affection which not everyone is lucky enough to experience. Grandma and Grandpa held hands every chance they could. They stole kisses as they bumped into each other in their tiny kitchen. They finished each other\\''s sentences and shared the daily crossword puzzle and word jumble. My grandma whispered to me about how cute my grandpa was, how handsome and old he had grown to be. She claimed that she really knew \\"how to pick \\''em.\\" Before every meal they bowed their heads and gave thanks, marveling at their blessings: a wonderful family, good fortune, and each other. \r\n\r\nBut there was a dark cloud in my grandparents\\'' life: my grandmother had breast cancer. The disease had first appeared ten years earlier. As always, Grandpa was with her every step of the way. He comforted her in their yellow room, painted that way so that she could always be surrounded by sunshine, even when she was too sick to go out side. Now the cancer was again attacking her body. With the help of a cane and my grandfather\\''s steady hand, they went to church every morning. But my grandmother grew steadily weaker until, finally, she could not leave the house anymore. For a while, Grandpa would go to church alone, praying to God to watch over his wife. Then one day, what we all dreaded finally happened. Grandma was gone. \r\n\r\n\\"Shmily.\\" It was scrawled in yellow on the pink ribbons of my grandmother\\''s funeral bouquet. As the crowd thinned and the last mourners turned to leave, my aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members came forward and gathered around Grandma one last time. \r\n\r\nGrandpa stepped up to my grandmother\\''s casket and, taking a shaky breath, he began to sing to her. Through his tears and grief, the song came, a deep and throaty lullaby. Shaking with my own sorrow, I will never forget that moment. For I knew that, although I couldn\\''t begin to fathom the depth of their love, I had been privileged to witness its unmatched beauty. \r\n\r\nS-h-m-i-l-y: See How Much I Love You. \r\n\r\nThank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for letting me see. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (145, 'Shake It Off and Step Up ', 'Author Unknown', 'A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer\\''s well. The farmer heard the mule \\''braying\\'' -- or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer felt sorry for the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened and asked them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.\r\n\r\nInitially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back: he should shake it off and step up! This is what the old mule did, blow after blow.\r\n\r\n\\"Shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up!\\" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought \\"panic\\" and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up!\r\n\r\nYou guessed it! It wasn\\''t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him, actually end up blessing him. All because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.\r\n\r\n\r\nIn addition to \\"shaking it off and step up,\\" we Christians have our heavenly Father to help get us though rough times. When the going gets rough, keep looking up, and trusting him.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (146, 'Sacrifice Play', 'Author Unknown', 'In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be main streamed into conventional schools. \r\n\r\nAt a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all that attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out, \\"Where is the perfection in my son Jerry? \r\n\r\nEverything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God\\''s perfection?\\" \r\n\r\nThe audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father\\''s anguish and stilled by the piercing query. \\"I believe,\\" the father answered, \\"that when God brings a child like this into the world, the perfection that He seeks is in the way people react to this child.\\" \r\n\r\nHe then told the following story about his son Jerry: \r\n\r\nOne afternoon Jerry and his father walked past a park where some boys Jerry knew were playing baseball. Jerry asked, \\"Do you think they will let me play?\\" Jerry\\''s father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Jerry\\''s father understood that if his son were chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of belonging. \r\n\r\nJerry\\''s father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Jerry could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, \\"We are losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we\\''ll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning \r\n\r\nJerry\\''s father was ecstatic as Jerry smiled broadly. Jerry was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jerry\\''s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Jerry\\''s team scored again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base, Jerry was scheduled to be up. Would the team actually let Jerry bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game? \r\n\r\nSurprisingly, Jerry was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Jerry didn\\''t even know how to hold the bat properly, let alone hit with it. However, as Jerry stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Jerry should at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came in and Jerry swung clumsily and missed. One of Jerry\\''s teammates came up to Jerry and together they held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Jerry. \r\n\r\nAs the pitch came in, Jerry and his teammate swung the bat and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Jerry would have been out and that would have ended the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman. \r\n\r\nEveryone started yelling, \\"Jerry, run to first. Run to first!\\" Never in his life had Jerry run to first. He scampered down the baseline wide eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman that would tag out Jerry, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher\\''s intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman\\''s head. Everyone yelled, \\"Run to second, run to second.\\" \r\n\r\nJerry ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home. \r\n\r\nAs Jerry reached second base, the opposing short stop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, \\"Run to third.\\" As Jerry rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming, \\"Jerry run.\\" \r\n\r\nJerry ran home, stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as he had just hit a \\"grand slam\\" and won the game for his team. \r\n\r\n\\"That day,\\" said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, \\"those 18 boys reached their level of God\\''s perfection.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (147, 'Room At The Table ', 'Author Unknown', 'Have you ever noticed that dining room tables seat six, eight, or twelve-not seven, nine, or thirteen? I\\''ve been single all my life, usually not thinking much of it. But on holidays even the place-settings conspire against me, rendering a silent rebuke against my single status. \r\n\r\nYou can endure holiday dinners two ways if you\\''re single: 1) Bring someone you don\\''t particularly care for; 2) Hear the awful words \\"pull up an extra seat,\\" a euphemism for either a collapsible chair or one that is too high or too low for the table. Either strategy leaves you uncomfortable. \r\n\r\nAt Thanksgiving two years ago, while my calves cramped from straddling the leg of my brother\\''s dining room table, Aunt Nell took the opportunity to ask for details about my love life, which was seriously lacking at the time. The event was excruciating. \r\n\r\nThough I enjoy singlehood in the main, there have been times when I\\''ve worked myself into a mad frenzy looking for someone to fill a void I thought I couldn\\''t satisfy on my own. Someone, anyone with a pulse would do. Over the years, I dated quite a few guys I liked-I was even engaged once but \\"till death do we part\\" seemed a very long time. I always ended up alone again. \r\n\r\nSo holidays, especially with the Aunt Nells of the family, can weaken my confidence, leaving me a little bereft. One day, noting my frustration surrounding the holidays, a friend of mine suggested we try something different on the next such occasion. \r\n\r\n\\"How `bout you and I go down to a homeless shelter and help out? Then maybe we\\''ll be grateful for what we have,\\" she proposed. I had a thousand reasons why this wasn\\''t a good idea, but my friend persisted. The next Christmas I found myself in an old downtown warehouse, doling out food. Never in my life had I seen so many turkeys and rows of pumpkin pies. Decorations donated by a nearby grocery store created a festive atmosphere that uplifted even my reluctant spirit. When everyone was fed, I took a tray and filled a plate with the bountiful harvest. After a few bites, I knew what everyone was carrying on about; the food was really good. \r\n\r\nMy dinner companions were easy company. Nobody asked me why I didn\\''t have a date or when I was going to settle down. People just seemed grateful for a place to sit and enjoy a special dinner. To my surprise, I found I had much in common with my fellow diners. They were people just like me. \r\n\r\nMy experience that Christmas brought me back to the shelter the following year. I enjoyed helping others so much that I began seeking more opportunities to serve. I started volunteering for the Literacy Foundation once a week. I figured I could sit in front of the TV, or I could use those evening hours to help others learn to read. \r\n\r\nCaring for others has abundantly filled the void in my life that I had sometimes interpreted as a missing mate. When I stopped trying to so hard to fit in, I realized I was single for a reason and found my own special purpose. \r\n\r\nThere is room at the table for a party of one. And sometimes \\"just one\\" is the perfect fit.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (148, 'The Road Of Life ', 'Author Unknown', 'At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong; so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was there sort of like a picture of a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn\\''t know Him.\r\n\r\nLater on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life was like a bike ride, on a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don\\''t recall when he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.\r\n\r\nWhen I had control, it was rather boring, and predictable . . . It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew the exciting paths to take, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds -- it was all I could do to just hang on! At times it seemed like madness. He said: \\"Pedal!\\"\r\n\r\nAnd by faith I did, although I worried and was anxious. \\"Where are you taking me?\\" He laughed, but no answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.\r\n\r\nWhen I\\''d say, \\"I\\''m scared,\\" He\\''d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people that had gifts that I needed. Gifts of healing, acceptance, love, and joy. So many priceless gifts to take on my journey -- my Lord\\''s and mine. Then we were off again. He said, \\"Give the gifts away -- they\\''re extra baggage now -- there\\''ll be more gifts to come.\\" So I did, I gave them to people we met, and found that in giving I also received, and my burden was lighter.\r\n\r\nI didn\\''t trust him at first to be in control of my life. I thought He\\''d wreck it -- but I discovered he knows how to handle even the roughest roads in my life. Now I\\''m learning to be quiet and pedal in the strangest places. I\\''m beginning to enjoy the view, the challenge of the ride, as well as the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion -- Jesus Christ.\r\n\r\nWhen it seems I just can\\''t take anymore, I keep my eyes and faith on Him. He looks at me, with a big smile, and says:   \\". . . Keep on Pedaling.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\nAddendum -- Isaiah 41:10 \\"Don\\''t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious hand.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (149, 'Regret City', 'Author Unknown', 'I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. This is my annual \\"Guilt Trip.\\"\r\n\r\nI got tickets to fly there on \\"WISH-I-HAD\\" airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my \\"baggage,\\" which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was loaded down with a thousand memories of \\"what might have been.\\"\r\n\r\nNo one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town. As I checked into the \\"Last Resort\\" Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year\\''s most important event -- the annual \\"Pity Party.\\"\r\n\r\nI wasn\\''t going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there. First, there would be the \\"Done\\" family; you know, \\"Should Have,\\" \\"Would Have\\" and \\"Could Have.\\" Then came the \\"I Had\\" family. You probably know old \\"Wish\\" and his clan. Of course, the \\"Opportunities\\" family; \\"Missed and Lost,\\" would be present. The biggest family there would be the \\"Yesterday\\''s.\\"\r\n\r\nThere are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share. Of course, \\"Shattered Dreams\\" would surely make and appearance. \\"It\\''s Their Fault\\" family would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in their life. Each story would be loudly applauded by the \\"Don\\''t Blame Me\\" and \\"I Couldn\\''t Help It\\" committee.\r\n\r\nTo make a long story short, I went to this depressing party, knowing full well there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that this trip and subsequent \\"pity parties\\" COULD be canceled by ME!\r\n\r\nI started to realize that I did not have to be there. And I didn\\''t have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN\\''T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as being encouraging.\r\n\r\nKnowing this, I left Regret City immediately, and didn\\''t leave a forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I\\''ve made in the past? YES! But there is no way to undo them. So, if you\\''re planning a trip back to Regret City, please cancel all those reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a nice place called: \\"Starting Again.\\"\r\n\r\nI like it so much that I made it my permanent residence. My neighbors, the \\"Been Forgiven\\" and the \\"We\\''re Saved\\" are so very helpful. By the way, you don\\''t have to carry around the heavy baggage anymore either. That load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. Just thank God for salvation.\r\n\r\nIf you need directions, just look into your heart, and enter by \\"Grace Way.\\" No taxes or other cost. God\\''s Son paid the price, in full, for all sins and transgressions, a long time ago. Look me up if you\\''re ready for a total change in your life. I now live on \\"His Will Way.\\" Sincerely, \\"Born Again.\\"\r\n\r\n\r\nAddendum -- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) \\"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (150, 'Puppies for Sale', 'Author Unknown', 'A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read \\"Puppies For Sale.\\" Signs like that have a way of attracting small children and sure enough, a little boy appeared by the store owner\\''s sign.\r\n\r\n\\"How much are you going to sell the puppies for?\\" he asked. The store owner replied, \\"Anywhere from $30-$50.\\" The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. \\"I have $2.37,\\" he said. \\"May I please look at them?\\"\r\n\r\nThe store owner smiled and whistled, out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, \\"What\\''s wrong with that little dog?\\"\r\n\r\nThe store owner explained that the veteriarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn\\''t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.\r\n\r\nThe little boy became excited. \\"That is the little puppy that I want to buy.\\" The store owner said, \\"No, you don\\''t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I\\''ll just give him to you.\\"\r\n\r\nThe little boy got quite upset. He looked into the store owner\\''s eyes, pointing his finger, and said, \\"I don\\''t want you to give him to me. That dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I\\''ll pay full price. In fact, I\\''ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.\\"\r\n\r\nThe store owner countered, \\"You really don\\''t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.\\"\r\n\r\nTo this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, \\"Well, I don\\''t run so good myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (151, 'Pearls', 'Author Unknown', 'Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace, and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, \\"Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I\\''ll tell you what. I\\''ll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don\\''t forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?\\" \r\n\r\nJenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. \r\n\r\nHow Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere-to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands. The only time she didn\\''t wear them was in the shower-her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green! \r\n\r\nNow Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. \r\n\r\nOne night when he finished the story, he said, \\"Jenny, do you love me?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you,\\" the little girl said. \r\n\r\n\\"Well, then, give me your pearls.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!\\" Jenny said. \\"But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Oh no, darling, that\\''s okay.\\" Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. \\"Good night, little one.\\" \r\n\r\nA week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, \\"Do you love me?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Well, then, give me your pearls.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She\\''s my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy,\\" the little girl said to her father. \r\n\r\n\\"No, that\\''s okay,\\" her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. \\"God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams.\\" \r\n\r\nSeveral days later, when Jenny\\''s father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. \\"Here, Daddy,\\" she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father\\''s hand. \r\n\r\nWith one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. \r\n\r\nHe had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing. \r\n\r\nSo it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasure. \r\n\r\nAre you holding onto things which Lord wants you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes, it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing.... \r\n\r\nThe Lord will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.', 'Irene A. Mystery');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (152, 'Paid In Full ', 'Author Unknown', 'A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer\\''s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.\r\n\r\nAs Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man\\''s name embossed in gold.\r\n\r\nAngry, he shouted at his father and said \\"with all your money, you give me a Bible?\\" and stormed out of the house.\r\n\r\nMany years passed and the young man had become very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father now was getting old, and thought perhaps he should go see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.\r\n\r\nWhen he arrived at his father\\''s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father\\''s important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, \\"And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?\\"\r\n\r\nAs he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer\\''s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had wanted. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.\r\n\r\nHow many times do we miss God\\''s blessings because we can\\''t see past our own desires?', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (153, 'Letter From Jesus', 'Author Unknown', '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:\r\n\r\nDear Ruth, \r\n\r\nI\\''m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I would like to visit. \r\n\r\nLove Always,\r\nJesus\r\n\r\nHer 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. \r\n\r\n\\"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.\\" \r\n\r\nShe reached for her purse and counted out it\\''s contents. Five dollars and forty cents. \\"Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least.\\" \r\n\r\nShe 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 of twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm. \r\n\r\n\\"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?\\" \r\n\r\nRuth 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. \r\n\r\n\\"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, it\\''s getting cold and we\\''re getting \\''kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us, lady, we\\''d really appreciate it.\\" \r\n\r\nRuth 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. \r\n\r\n\\"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.\\" \r\n\r\nYeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway.\\" \r\n\r\nThe man put his arm around the woman\\''s shoulders, turned and he headed back into the alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart. \r\n\r\nSir, wait!\\" \r\n\r\nThe 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.\\" \r\n\r\nShe handed the man her grocery bag. \r\n\r\nThank you lady. Thank you very much!\\" \\"Yes, thank you!\\" It was the man\\''s wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. \r\n\r\n\\"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. \r\n\r\n\\"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!\\" \r\n\r\nRuth 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. \r\n\r\nShe 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.\\" She took the envelope out of the box and opened it. \r\nDear Ruth, \r\n\r\nIt was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat. \r\n\r\nLove Always,\r\nJesus\r\n\r\nThe air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (154, 'John  3:16 ', 'Author Unknown', 'In the city of Chicago, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was setting in. A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner, while other people were in and out of the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn\\''t trying to sell many papers. He walked up to a policeman and said, \\"Mister, you wouldn\\''t happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley, and it\\''s awful cold in there at night. It sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay.\\" \r\n\r\nThe policeman looked down at the little boy and said, \\"You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they open the door you just say \\''John 3:16\\'' and they will let you in.\\" \r\n\r\nSo the boy walked up the steps to the door, and knocked on the door and a lady answered. The little boy looked up and said, \\"John 3:16.\\" \r\n\r\nThe lady said \\"Come on in, Son.\\" She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace and she went off. He sat there for a while, and thought to himself \\"John 3:16... I don\\''t understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy feel warm.\\" \r\n\r\nLater she came back and asked him \\"Are you hungry?\\" \r\n\r\nHe said, \\"Well, just a little. I haven\\''t eaten in a couple of days and guess I could stand a little bit of food.\\" \r\n\r\nThe lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn\\''t eat any more. Then he thought to himself \\"John 3:16... Boy, I sure I don\\''t understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy feel full.\\" \r\n\r\nShe took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself, \\"John 3:16... I sure don\\''t understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy feel clean. You know, I\\''ve not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.\\" \r\n\r\nThe lady came in and got him, and took him to a room and tucked him into a big old feather bed and pulled the covers up around his neck and kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he laid in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night he thought to himself, \\"John 3:16... I don\\''t understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy feel rested.\\" \r\n\r\nThe next morning she came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and she got a big old Bible and sat down in front of him and she looked up as she asked, \\"Do you understand John 3:16?\\" \r\n\r\nHe said, \\"No, Ma\\''am, I don\\''t. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to say John 3:16.\\" \r\n\r\nShe opened the Bible to John 3:16 , and she began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there in front of that big old fireplace he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought, \\"John 3:16, I don\\''t understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.\\" \r\n\r\nThe lady then said: \\"You know, I have to confess I don\\''t I understand it either; how God would be willing to send His own Son to die for you and me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don\\''t understand it either, but it sure does make life worth living.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\nAddendum -- John 3:16 (NLT)   \\"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (155, 'Jeremy\\''s  Egg', 'Author Unknown', 'Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a chronic, terminal illness that had been slowly killing him all his young life. Still his parents had tried to give him as normal a life as possible and had sent him to St. Theresa\\''s Elementary School. \r\n\r\nAt the age of 12, Jeremy was only in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy irritated his teacher. \r\n\r\nOne day, she called his parents and asked them to come to St. Theresa\\''s for a consultation. As the Forresters sat quietly in the empty classroom, Doris said to them, \\"Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn\\''t fair to him to be with younger children who don\\''t have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students!\\" \r\n\r\nMrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue while her husband spoke. \\"Miss Miller,\\" he said, \\"there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here.\\" \r\n\r\nDoris sat for a long time after they left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn\\''t fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read or write. Why waste any more time trying? \r\n\r\nAs she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. \\"Oh God,\\" she said aloud, \\"here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared with that poor family! Please help me to be more patient with Jeremy.\\" \r\n\r\nFrom that day on, she tried to ignore Jeremy\\''s noises and his blank stares. Then one day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him. \\"I love you, Miss Miller,\\" he exclaimed loudly enough for the whole class to hear. The other children snickered, and Doris\\''s face turned red. She stammered, \\"Wh-Why, that\\''s very nice, Jeremy. Now please take your seat.\\" \r\n\r\nSpring came, and the chidden talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them of the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. \\"Now,\\" she said to them, \\"I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Yes, Miss Miller!\\" the children responded enthusiastically - all except for Jeremy. He just listened intently, his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus\\'' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them. \r\n\r\nThat evening, Doris\\''s kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy\\''s parents. \r\n\r\nThe next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller\\''s desk. After they completed their Math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. \\"Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life,\\" she said. \\"When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here.\\" A small girl in the first row waved her arms. \\"That\\''s my egg, Miss Miller,\\" she called out. \r\n\r\nThe next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up, \\"We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes that is new life, too.\\" Little Judy smiled proudly and said, \\"Miss Miller, that one is mine.\\" \r\n\r\nNext, Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. \\"My Daddy helped me!\\" he beamed. \r\n\r\nThen Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy\\''s she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. \r\n\r\n\\"Miss Miller, aren\\''t you going to talk about my egg?\\" Flustered, Doris replied, \\"but Jeremy - your egg is empty!\\" He looked into her eyes and said softly, \\"Yes, but Jesus\\'' tomb was empty too!\\" \r\n\r\nTime stopped. When she could speak again, Doris asked him, \\"Do you know why the tomb was empty?\\" \\"Oh yes!\\" Jeremy exclaimed. \\"Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up!\\" \r\n\r\nThe recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away. \r\n\r\nThree months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them empty.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (156, 'Information Please', 'Author Unknown', 'When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember well the polished old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother used to talk to it. Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person - her name was Information Please, and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anybody\\''s number and the correct time. \r\n\r\nMy first personal experience with this genie-in-the-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there didn\\''t seem to be any reason in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway - The telephone! Quickly I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. Information Please I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. \\"Information.\\" \\"I hurt my finger. . .\\" I wailed into the phone. The tears came readily enough now that I had an audience. \\"Isn\\''t your mother home?\\" came the question. \\"Nobody\\''s home but me.\\" I blubbered. \\"Are you bleeding?\\" \\"No,\\" I replied. \\"I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts.\\" \\"Can you open your icebox?\\" she asked. I said I could. \\"Then chip off a little piece of ice and hold it to your finger.\\" \r\n\r\nAfter that I called Information Please for everything. I asked her for help with my geography and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math, and she told me my pet chipmunk I had caught in the park just the day before would eat fruits and nuts. And there was the time that Petey, our pet canary died. I called Information Please and told her the sad story. She listened, then said the usual things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was unconsoled. Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers, feet up on the bottom of a cage? She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, \\"Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in.\\" Somehow I felt better. \r\n\r\nAnother day I was on the telephone. \\"Information Please.\\" \\"Information,\\" said the now familiar voice. \\"How do you spell fix?\\" I asked. All this took place in a small town in the pacific Northwest. Then when I was 9 years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much. Information Please belonged in that old wooden box back home, and I somehow never thought of trying the tall, shiny new phone that sat on the hall table. Yet as I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me; often in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy. \r\n\r\nA few years later, on my way West to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about half an hour or so between planes, and I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, \\"Information Please.\\" Miraculously, I heard again the small, clear voice I knew so well, \\"Information.\\" I hadn\\''t planned this but I heard myself saying, \\"Could you tell me please how-to spell fix?\\" There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, \\"I guess that your finger must have healed by now. I laughed, \\"So it\\''s really still you,\\" I said. \\"I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time. \\"I wonder, she said, if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children, and I used to look forward to your calls. I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister. \\"Please do, just ask for Sally.\\" \r\n\r\nJust three months later I was back in Seattle. . . A different voice answered Information, and I asked for Sally. \\"Are you a friend?\\" \\"Yes, a very old friend.\\" \\"Then I\\''m sorry to have to tell you. Sally has been working part-time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago.\\" But before I could hang up she said, \\"Wait a minute. Did you say your name was Paul?\\" \\"Yes.\\" \\"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down. Here it is I\\''ll read it. \\''Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in. He\\''ll know what I mean\\''.\\" I thanked her and hung up. I did know what Sally meant.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (157, 'It Was In Your Eyes ', 'Author Unknown', 'It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man\\''s beard was glazed by winter\\''s frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north wind.\r\n\r\nHe heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping along the frozen path. Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the first one pass by without an effort to get his attention. Then another passed by, and another. Finally, the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue. As this one drew near, the old man caught the rider\\''s eye and said, \\"Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn\\''t appear to be a passageway by foot.\\"\r\n\r\nReining his horse, the rider replied, \\"Sure thing. Hop aboard.\\" Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination, which was just a few miles away.\r\n\r\nAs they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman\\''s curiosity caused him to inquire, \\"Sir, I notice that you let several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride. I\\''m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you there?\\"\r\n\r\nThe old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the rider straight in the eyes, and replied, \\"I\\''ve been around these here parts for some time. I reckon I know people pretty good.\\" The old-timer continued, \\"I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion were evident. I knew, then and there, that your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need.\\"\r\n\r\nThose heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply.\r\n\r\n\\"I\\''m most grateful for what you have said,\\" he told the old man. \\"May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.\\"\r\n\r\nWith that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (158, 'I know the Shepherd ', 'Author Unknown', 'There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man shows of readings and recitations from the classics. He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23. \r\n\r\nEach night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation - \\"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want\\"..the crowd would listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the Psalm, they wold rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor\\''s incredible ability to bring the verse to life. \r\n\r\nBut one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up. \\"Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23?\\" The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the Psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent. \r\n\r\nWith a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm. When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man\\''s recitation that every eye was full of tears. Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, \\"I don\\''t understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training - but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?\\" \r\n\r\nThe young man quietly replied, \\"Well sir, you know the Psalm... I know the Shepherd.\\"', 'Akin Drum');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (159, 'How Rich Are We? ', 'Author Unknown', 'One day a father and his rich family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be.\r\n\r\nThey spent a day and a night on the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip, the father asked his son, \\"How was the trip?\\"\r\n\r\n\\"Very good Dad!\\"\r\n\r\n\\"Did you see how poor people can be?\\" the father asked.\r\n\r\n\\"Yeah!\\"\r\n\r\n\\"And what did you learn?\\"\r\n\r\nThe son answered, \\"I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars.\r\n\r\nOur patio reaches to the front yard; they have a whole horizon.\\"\r\n\r\nWhen the little boy was finished, his father was speechless.\r\n\r\nHis son added, \\"Thanks, Dad, for showing me how \\''poor\\'' we are!\\"\r\n\r\nIsn\\''t it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life -- you\\''ve got everything!\r\n\r\nYou can\\''t buy any of these things. You may have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc.; but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!\r\n\r\n\r\nAddendum -- 1 Timothy 6:17 (GNB)   \\"Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be proud, but to place their hope, not in such an uncertain thing as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (160, 'A Little Boys Temper', 'Author Unknown', 'There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence.\r\n\r\nThe first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn\\''t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.\r\n\r\nThe days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said \\"you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.\\"\r\n\r\nYou can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won\\''t matter how many times you say I\\''m sorry, the wound is still there.\r\n\r\nMake sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.', 'onesmartclick.com');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (161, 'And A Meadow Lark Sang', 'Author Unknown', '\\"The child whispered, \\''God, speak to me\\'' And a meadow lark sang. The child did not hear. \r\n\r\nSo the child yelled, \\''God, speak to me!\\'' And the thunder rolled across the sky But the child did not listen. \r\n\r\nThe child looked around and said, \\''God let me see you\\'' and a star shone brightly But the child did not notice. \r\n\r\nAnd the child shouted, \\''God show me a miracle!\\'' And a life was born but the child did not know.\r\n\r\nSo the child cried out in despair, \\''Touch me God, and let me know you are here!\\'' Whereupon God reached down And touched the child. \r\n\r\nBut the child brushed the butterfly away And walked away unknowingly.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (162, 'Christmas Time', 'Author Unknown', 'It\\''s christmas time once more\r\nlet\\''s praise the king we adore\r\nraise our hands, loudly sing\r\npraise and honour to the King\r\n\r\nJesus Christ is born today\r\nour light, our life, our way!!\r\nstep back from the busy crowd\r\ntake a breath and say out loud\r\n\r\nAll praise all honor all glory to you\r\nSaviour Jesus we love you\r\nThe greatest gift to give this time\r\nis to share this joy this Glorious time\r\n\r\nthe most perfect gift to give\r\nis the touch of HIS love, HIS life, you live\r\nmore precious than expensive scents and gold\r\njust capture the Christmas Spirit of old\r\n\r\nLet the Spirit of Christmas fall all around\r\nLet The name of the KING be the only sound\r\nLet everything Praise HIM so\r\nJesus \\"we love you so\\"\r\n\r\nReach out, touch that lonely hand\r\nlet them feel you care, let them know\r\nyou can make a difference, spread the glow\r\nof our Savior\\''s love you show\r\n\r\nLORD! fill us with your love, your light!!!\r\nfollowing you, life is so right\r\nLet your Spirit fall on us from above\r\nLet us all spread and spread \\"Christmas Love\\"\r\n\r\nSinging Alleluia Christ is born\r\nAlleluia it\\''s Christmas morn\r\nPraise and Glory to the KING\r\n\r\nthe Angels of Christmas appear\r\nOh how your Glorious Spirit is so near!!!\r\nYour Precious Spirit spreads Glory from above\r\nAnd YOUR LOVE, surrounds us, so awesome, such love.\r\n\r\nSpread HIS LOVE to everyone\r\nShow HIS LOVE this day\r\nLet them know HE IS THE ONE!!!!!\r\nWE LOVE, WE FOLLOW EVERY DAY!!!\r\nAnd raise your hands and proudly say\r\n\\"WE LOVE YOU JESUS\\" HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!\r\n\r\nTo God be the Glory in Jesus name ....AMEN\r\n\r\nMay God Bless YOU and keep you in HIS care\r\nlove your brother in CHRIST', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (184, 'THE OBSTACLE IN OUR PATH', 'Author Unknown', 'In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king\\''s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.\r\n\r\nMany loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.\r\nEvery obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one\\''s condition. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (164, 'A \\"Constructive\\" Criticism Victory!', 'Author Unknown', 'Oh...she was terrible! Her voice was too low and garbled, she did not look up, she was slouched in the chair and her knees were visibly shaking. I can not believe her goal in life was to be a TV anchor woman. Of course, she was only 18 and this was only a Forensic competition. But, it was a District competition and the score I gave her determined if she would make it to the finals.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI had put off doing my duty, as the parent of a speech team member, by being the judge for at least one Speech/Forensics competition. By procrastinating and waiting until the end of the year and judging the districts, little did I know that what I saw...what I heard and the score I gave them could effect the rest of their lives. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAs each student came in to be judged, I explained that, to me, they all deserved to get a (1)! (The perfect score) By the mere fact they were there, impressed the socks off of me. I can not imagine getting up in front of my peers, or complete strangers for that matter, and commanding the room. I did explain that 3 of them would have to get the 6, the 5, and the 4, but that it wasn\\''t personal. I was frantic with my decisions. I did not want to crush one student\\''s spirit. It was the end of the year, so only the best of the best were here. That had to mean something to them.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI joked with them and tried to make them comfortable. I\\''m sure I looked a little goofy because I was so UNcomfortable. Some of these young adults were brilliant. I heard them in the halls talking about which colleges they were attending and what law schools and medical schools they planned to attend. Oh yes...I felt very intimidated at times. But, they were all polite...every last one of them.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAs I pondered the TV anchor lady\\''s performance, I wondered how my words might influence the rest of the day\\''s judging for her. I was only the first round that she would encounter. I thought carefully and ranked her 4th. I wondered if she\\''d ever been ranked higher than 6th? I carefully wrote:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"You have everything it takes to be on TV except confidence in your self. Try looking the next judge in the eye and pretend she is the camera and there is no one else in the room. Straighten your shoulders, lift your head and smile. Show them proudly what kind of spirit you have, girlfriend! Best of luck...I believe in you!\\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI sighed and went on the next competition, which, HEAVEN HELP ME, was pantomime! That\\''s probably the only thing worse than TV anchoring...well, besides poetry! I forgot about the girl~slash~young lady and tried to find my daughter to see how she thought she was doing.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWell, my daughter won first place in HUMOR SOLO. We laughed and clapped and teared up and started for the car.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI heard a voice screaming \\"JUDGE, JUDGE....STOP!\\" I turned around and there was the young lady whose aspirations were beyond my comprehension. \\"Oh, thank you! I won 3rd place in the finals! I\\''m going to STATE and it\\''s all because of you!\\" I stood there stunned and unable to say anything. \\"You are the only judge that ever ranked me higher than a 6. You believed in me and now I\\''m believing in me! Thank you so much, I\\''ll never forget you!\\" Off she ran to join her friends. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSo, I was taught a very valuable lesson about myself. When given a choice...ALWAYS take the high road. It takes very little thought to drag someone down...but, it\\''s worth the added time to give them a few seconds of feeling good about themselves.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI don\\''t even remember her name. Hopefully, I will recognize her on the TV some years from now. I know one thing....she sure made my millennium.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (165, 'The Lonely Ember', 'Author Unknown', 'A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going.\r\n\r\nAfter a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor\\''s visit, the man\r\nwelcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.\r\n\r\nAfter some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.\r\n\r\nAs the one lone ember\\''s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and \\"dead as a doornail.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (166, 'The Minister', 'Author Unknown', 'One of the toughest tasks a church faces is choosing a good minister. The chairman of the official board undergoing this painful process finally lost patience.\r\n\r\n     He\\''d just witnessed the Pastoral Selection Committee reject applicant after applicant for various minor faults -- real or imagined. It was time, he thought, for a bit of soul-searching on the part of the committee. So, after the meeting adjourned, he wrote a letter to the Pastoral Selection Committee, which he stood-up and read at the next Pastoral Selection meeting. Supposedly, the letter was from another Pastoral applicant.\r\n\r\nGentlemen: Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the\r\nposition. I have many qualifications. I\\''ve been a preacher with much success and\r\nalso had some success as a writer. Some say I\\''m a good organizer. I\\''ve been a\r\nleader most places I\\''ve been.\r\n\r\nI\\''m over 50 years of age and have never preached in one place for more than three\r\nyears. In some places, I have had to leave town after my preaching caused riots and\r\ndisturbances. I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not because\r\nof any real wrong-doing. My health is not too good, but I still accomplish a great\r\ndeal. The churches I have preached in have been small, though located in large cities.\r\n\r\nI\\''ve not gotten along well with religious leaders in some of the towns where I have\r\npreached. In fact, some have threatened me, and even attacked me physically. I am\r\nnot too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget whom I have baptized.\r\nHowever, if you can use me, I promise to do my very best for you.\r\n\r\n     The chairman than turned to the other committee members and said, \\"Well, what do you think? Shall we call him?\\"\r\n\r\n     The good church committee members were appalled! Consider a sickly, trouble-making, absent-minded, ex-jailbird? Are you crazy, they asked? Who signed that application? Who had such colossal gall to think we would consider someone like that to be our church minister?\r\n\r\n     The chairman of the board eyed all the committee members keenly before he replied -- \r\n\r\n\\"It\\''s signed: \\''The Apostle Paul.\\''\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (167, 'Justice was Done', 'Author Unknown', 'Several years ago in California, a young woman was stopped for speeding. She was given a ticket and sentenced to appear before the judge. The Judge read off her citation and asked, \\"What is your plea? Guilty or not guilty?\\" \\"Guilty your honor,\\" she replied. The Judge brought down the gavel and said, pay $100 or ten days.\\"\r\n\r\nThen an amazing thing happened. The Judge stood up, took off his robe, went over to the clerk, and paid the fine in full. What’s the explanation for this? The Judge was her father. He loved his daughter, to be sure, but at that moment he was her judge. His daughter had broken the law He couldn’t simply say, \\"Because I love you, I forgive you. You may now leave.\\" If he had done that there would have been a miscarriage of justice in his court. He would not have remained a righteous Judge. By paying the fine himself, the law was satisfied, justice was done, and his daughter was set free.\r\n\r\nIn a similar way, God sat upon his judgment seat. No matter how much God loved man, he was forced to bring down the gavel of death. His justice wouldn’t allow him to do less. Because God loved man so deeply, he came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ and paid off man’s debt in full. He did it by dying as man’s substitute on a hill called Calvary.\r\n\r\nScripture says, \\"Christ appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself....\r\n\r\nHe by the grace of God tasted death for every man\\" (Heb. 2:9; 9:26).\r\n\r\nIt’s true, Christ healed the sick, cast out demons, restored withered hands, cleansed lepers of their disease, caused the lame to walk, and raised the dead to life. But this was not his primary purpose for coming. His primary purpose for coming was to give his life a ransom for sin.., to lay a foundation for God to forgive sin, not at the expense of his righteousness, but in keeping with it.\r\n\r\nAs his earthly ministry drew to a close, Christ took his disciples aside and said:\r\n\r\n‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death. They shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified. But on the third day he shall rise again.\\" Christ set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem even though he knew that cruel mockings, scourgings and death awaited him. The hour had come on the calendar of God when an adequate atonement for sin was to be made.\r\n\r\nFollowing the last supper, Christ took his disciples out to the Mount of Olives.\r\n\r\nHe said, \\"My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.\\" Then going a little further into the garden alone, he fell on his face and prayed: \\"O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. If man’s salvation can be obtained in any other way, spare me the pain and agony of the cross.\\" For three agonizing hours Christ prayed and sweat great drops of blood. Then, knowing that there was no other way for man’s debt of sin to be paid, he looked up to Heaven and said, \\"Thy will be done.\\" Returning to his disciples he said, \\"Rise, let us be going. The hour is come when the son of man is betrayed.\\"\r\n\r\nWhen the unruly mob arrived with spears and clubs, Christ surrendered himself to them, even though he knew 12 legions of angels were standing in the wings of the garden ready to deliver him.\r\n\r\nPeter whipped out his sword and drove the crowd backward. He was ready to take off the head of anyone who laid a finger on Christ. With tenderness Christ touched Peter on the shoulder and said, \\"Peter put your sword away. This is the way it has to be.. for the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many\\" (Matt. 26:52; 20:28).\r\n\r\nThe bloodthirsty mob accused Christ falsely before Pilate, but he opened not his mouth. They said he was worthy to die because he claimed to be the Son of God, and to them that was nothing short of blasphemy\r\n\r\nThey mocked Christ unmercifully, spat in his face, smote him with the palms of their hands, pressed a crown of thorns upon his brow and plucked out his beard. They stripped him of his robe, scourged him unmercifully and hung him up to die. Wagging their heads they cried: \\"He saved others, but he cannot save himself.\\"\r\n\r\nThey didn’t know that if he had saved himself from the agonies of that cross, he would not have been able to save others. God couldn’t pardon man’s sin until its debt had been paid. His holiness wouldn’t allow it.\r\n\r\nThe agony, the pain, the thirst and the loneliness that Christ endured on the cross were awful. \\"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?\\" he cried. Finally, when the debt of sin was fully paid, when divine justice was done and the way of salvation was open to all, Jesus lifted his eyes toward Heaven and said, \\"It is finished,\\" and died.\r\n\r\nWhen Jesus said \\"It is finished\\" on the cross he was announcing that justice had been done, the debt of sin had been paid. God’s righteousness had been satisfied. From that point on God was free to forgive sin, not at the expense of his righteousness, but in keeping with it. The way of salvation has been opened to one and to all, not by the good works that people perform, but by the death of Christ on a hill called Calvary. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (168, 'A Gallon of Milk', 'Author Unknown', 'A young man had been to Tuesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord. The young man couldn\\''t help but wonder, \\"Does God still speak to people?\\" After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several of the people talked about how God had led them in different ways.\r\n\r\nIt was about ten o\\''clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, \\"God...If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen, and I will do my best to obey.\\"\r\n\r\nAs he drove down the main street of his town, he had a strange thought -- stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, \\"God is that you?\\" He didn\\''t get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk.\r\n\r\nThe young man thought of Samuel and how he didn\\''t recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. \\"Okay, God, in case that\\''s you, I will buy the milk.\\" It didn\\''t seem like too hard a test of obedience. Besides, he could always use the milk.\r\n\r\nHe stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he drove passed Seventh street, he felt a strange urge -- \\"Turn down that street.\\" This is crazy he thought, and drove on by the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down seventh street. At the next intersection, he turned around and headed down Seventh street. Half jokingly, he said out loud, \\"Okay, God, I will.\\"\r\n\r\nHe drove several blocks, then suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semi-commercial area of town. It wasn\\''t the best but it wasn\\''t the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark, like the people were already in bed.\r\n\r\nAgain, he sensed something, \\"Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street.\\" The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were gone or already asleep. He started to open the car door and then sat back in the car seat. \\"Lord, this is crazy. Those people are probably asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I\\''ll just look stupid.\\"\r\n\r\nAgain, he felt he should take the milk to the house. Finally, he opened the car door. \\"Okay God, if this is your will, I\\''ll take the milk to the house, even if I end of looking like a stupid fool. I want to be obedient. But if they don\\''t answer right away, I am out of here.\\"\r\n\r\nHe walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man\\''s voice yelled out, \\"Who is it? What do you want?\\" Then the door opened before the nervous young man could run away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He had a strange look on his face and didn\\''t seem happy to have a stranger at his door.\r\n\r\n\\"What is it?\\" The young man handed him the milk. The man took the milk and rushed down a hall way speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk, headed towards the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. While half crying, the man said: \\"We were just praying -- my wife has no milk, and we had some big bills this month, so we ran out of money to buy milk for the baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk.\\" His wife in the kitchen yelled out, \\"I ask Him to send an Angel with some... milk. Are you an Angel?\\"\r\n\r\nThe young man reached for his wallet, and gave the man a few dollars -- all he had. As the young man turned and walked back toward his car, tears were streaming down his face. God still answers prayers! Yes, and God talks to us too. Are you listening?', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (169, 'In Hiding', 'Author Unknown', 'A long time ago, education and religion went hand in hand, therefore many of the teachers were holy men. There once was one who was highly known and respected in his small. village. He had four students, but seemed prouder about one in particular. His other three students sensed this, and therefore one day, questioned him about his apparent show of favoritism. Being old and wise, the teacher decided to give them a test which would help them find their own answers to their question.\r\nHe called all four students together and he gave each one a chicken. He then told them that he wanted each one of them to take their chicken to a place where nobody could see them. Then kill the chicken, hide it, and return to the school. All four students grabbed their chickens and departed, each in a different direction.\r\n\r\n“Well.” It did not take long for the three students who had questioned the teacher, to return. As the day began to drift away, they started to laugh and make fun of the student who had not returned. “They said he was dumb for not being able to complete such a simple task and return.”\r\nFinally, around midnight, the fourth student returned to the school, still carrying his chicken. This really made the other students laugh, and they asked the teacher, “How can this possibly be your favorite and most obedient student?” The teacher turned to the fourth student and said “explain why you are still carrying the chicken.”\r\n\r\nHe replied......“forgive me teacher, but I could not find a place to do as you asked, because everywhere I went, “God” was there watching me!\r\n\r\nThe teacher smiled, and left for bed. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (170, 'A Quiet Voice and The Golden Crane', 'Author Unknown', 'This little story reminds us to listen to that small quiet voice from within -- you never know where it will lead you.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher of origami (the ancient Japanese art of paper folding) at the LaFarge Lifelong Learning Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Art Beaudry was asked to represent the school at an exhibit at a large mall in Milwaukee. He decided to take along a couple hundred folded paper cranes to pass out to people who stopped at his booth.\r\n\r\nBefore that day, something strange happened -- a voice told him to find a piece of gold foil paper and make a gold origami crane. The voice was so insistent that Art actually found himself rummaging through his collection of origami papers at home until he found one flat, shiny piece of gold foil.\r\n\r\n\\"Why am I doing this?\\" he asked himself. Art had never worked with the shiny gold paper; it didn\\''t fold as easily or neatly as the crisp multicolored papers. But that little voice kept nudging. Art tried to ignore the voice. \\"Why gold foil anyway? Paper is much easier to work with,\\" he grumbled.\r\n\r\nThe voice continued. \\"Do it! And give it to a special person.\\" By now Art was getting a little cranky. \\"What special person?\\" he asked the voice. \\"You\\''ll know which one,\\" the voice said.\r\n\r\nThat evening Art carefully folded and shaped the unforgiving gold foil until it became as graceful and delicate as a real crane about to take flight. He packed the exquisite crane in the box along with about 200 other colorful paper cranes he\\''d made over the previous few weeks.\r\n\r\nThe next day at the mall, dozens upon dozens of people stopped by Art\\''s booth to ask questions about origami. He demonstrated the art. He folded, unfolded and refolded. He explained the intricate details, the need for sharp creases.\r\n\r\nThen, suddenly, there was a woman standing in front of Art. Was this that special person? Art had never seen her before, and she hadn\\''t said a word as she watched him carefully fold a pink piece of paper into a crane with pointed, graceful wings.\r\n\r\nArt glanced up at her face, and before he realized it, he found himself reaching for the \\"gold-foil crane\\" he\\''d labored over the night before. Carefully he picked up the gold crane, and gently placed it in the woman\\''s hand.\r\n\r\nArt said: \\"I don\\''t know why, but a voice told me to give you that golden crane. The crane is the ancient symbol of peace,\\" Art said simply.\r\n\r\nThe woman didn\\''t say a word as she slowly cupped her hand around the fragile bird as if it were alive. When Art looked at her face, he saw tears filling her eyes.\r\n\r\nFinally, the woman took a deep breath and said, \\"My husband died three weeks ago. This is the first time I\\''ve been out. Today ....\\" She wiped her eyes with her free hand, still gently cradling the golden crane with the other. Then she said very quietly, as tears streamed down her face. \\"Today would have been our \\''golden\\'' wedding anniversary.\\"\r\n\r\nThen the lady said in a clear voice, \\"Thank you so much for this beautiful gift. Now I know that my husband is at peace.\r\n\r\nDon\\''t you see? The voice you heard, it was the voice of God, and this beautiful crane is a gift from Him. It\\''s the most wonderful 50th wedding anniversary gift I could have received. Thank you for listening to Holly Spirit within your heart.\\"\r\n\r\nAnd that\\''s how Art learned to listen very carefully, when the Holy Spirit speaks to him within, and tells him to do things he may not understand -- now or even later.\r\n\r\nAre you listening, my friend? God may be speaking to you.', 'live4jesus.net');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (171, 'Welcome to Holland', 'Emily Kingsley', 'I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability, to try to help people who haven\\''t shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It\\''s like this...\r\n\r\nWhen you\\''re going to have a baby, it\\''s like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans..the Coliseum, the Michelangelo, gondolas. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It\\''s all very exciting.\r\n\r\nAfter several months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says,\\" Welcome to Holland.\\"\r\n\r\n\\"Holland?\\" you say. \\"What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I\\''m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I\\''ve dreamed of going to Italy.\\"\r\n\r\nBut there\\''s been a change in the flight plan. They\\''ve landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven\\''t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine, and disease. It\\''s just a different pace.\r\n\r\nSo you go out and buy new guidebooks and you must learn a whole new language and you will meet a whole new group of people you would have never met. It\\''s just a different place. It\\''s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you\\''ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around. You begin to notice that Holland has windmills, Holland has tulips, and Holland even has Rembrandts.\r\n\r\nBut everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they\\''re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life you will say, \\"Yes, that\\''s where I was supposed to go. That\\''s what I had planned.\\" And the pain of that experience will never, ever, ever go away. The loss of that dream is a very significant loss.\r\n\r\nBut if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn\\''t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (172, 'You Know You\\''re a Mom When.... ', 'Author Unknown', '1. Your feet stick to the kitchen floor.....and you don\\''t care.\r\n2. When the kids are fighting, you threaten to lock them in a room together and not let them out until someone\\''s bleeding.\r\n3. You can\\''t find your cordless phone, so you ask a friend to call you, and you run around the house madly, following the sound until you locate the phone downstairs in the laundry basket.\r\n4. You spend an entire week wearing sweats.\r\n5. Your idea of a good day is making it through without a child leaking bodily fluids on you.\r\n6. Popsicle become a food staple.\r\n7. Your favorite television show is a cartoon.\r\n8. Peanut butter and jelly is eaten at least in one meal a day.\r\n9. You\\''re willing to kiss your child\\''s boo-boo, regardless of what body part it happens to be on.\r\n10. Your baby\\''s pacifier falls on the floor and you give it back to her after you suck the dirt off of it because you\\''re too busy to wash it off.\r\n11. Your kids make jokes about farting, burping, pooping, etc., and you think it\\''s funny.\r\n12. You\\''re so desperate for adult conversation that you spill your guts to the telemarketer that calls and HE hangs up on YOU!\r\n13. Spit is your number one cleaning agent.\r\n14. You\\''re up each night until 10 PM vacuuming, dusting, wiping, washing, drying, loading, unloading, shopping, cooking, driving, flushing, ironing, sweeping picking up, changing sheets, changing diapers, bathing, helping with homework, paying bills, budgeting, clipping coupons, folding clothes, putting to bed, dragging out of bed, brushing, chasing, buckling, feeding (them, Not you), PLUS swinging, playing baseball, bike riding, pushing trucks, cuddling dolls, rollerblading, basketball, football, catch, bubbles, sprinklers, slides, nature walks, coloring, crafts, jumping rope, PLUS raking, trimming, planting, edging, mowing, gardening, painting, and walking the dog. You get up at 5:30 AM and you have no time to eat, sleep, drink or go to the bathroom, and yet ... you still managed to gain 10 pounds.\r\n15. In your bathroom there is toothpaste on the light fixtures, water all over the floor, a dog drinking out of the toilet and body hair forming a union to protest unsafe working conditions.\r\n16. You buy cereal with marshmallows in it.\r\n17. The closest you get to gourmet cooking is making Rice Krispie bars\r\n18. You count the sprinkles on each kid\\''s cupcake to make sure they \\''re equal.\r\n19. You want to take out a contract on the kid who broke your child\\''s favorite toy and made him/her cry.\r\n20. You have time to shave only one leg at a time.\r\n21. You hide in the bathroom to be alone.\r\n22. You child throws up and you catch it.\r\n23. Someone else\\''s kid throws up at a party and you keep eating.\r\n24. You consider finger paint to be a controlled substance \r\n25. You mastered the art of placing food on a plate without anything touching.\r\n26. Your child insists that you read \\"Once Upon a Potty\\" out loud in the lobby of the doctor office, and you do it.\r\n27. You hire a sitter because you haven\\''t been out with your husband ages, then spend half the night talking about and checking on the kids\r\n28. You hope ketchup is a vegetable because it\\''s the only one your child eats.\r\n29. You can\\''t bear the thought of your son\\''s first girlfriend.\r\n30. You hate the thought of his wife even more.\r\n31. You find yourself cutting your husband\\''s sandwiches into unusual shapes.\r\n32. You fast-forward through the scene when the hunter shoots Bambi\\''s mother.\r\n33. You obsess when your child clings to you upon parting during his first month at school, then obsess when he skips in without looking back the second time.\r\n34. You can\\''t bear to give away baby clothes--it\\''s so final.\r\n35. You hear your mother\\''s voice coming out of your mouth when you say, \\"Not in your good clothes.\\"\r\n36. You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.\r\n37. You read that the average five-year-old asks 437 questions a day and feel proud that your kid is \\"above average.\\"\r\n38. You say at least once a day, \\"I\\''m not cut out for this job,\\" but you know you wouldn\\''t trade it for anything. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (173, 'Jesus in the House', 'Author Unknown', 'Once there was a very wealthy young man. He lived in a great, elaborate house with dozens of rooms. Each room was more comfortable and more beautiful than the one before it. There were paintings and sculptures. Crystal chandeliers, golden, ornate railings on the stairs. More beauty than most have ever seen. \r\nOne day he decided to invite the Lord to come home and stay with him. When the Lord arrived, this young man offered him the very best room in the house. The room was upstairs and at the end of the hall. \r\n\r\n\\"This room is yours,Jesus! Stay as long as you like and you can do whatever you want to in this room, remember Jesus, its all yours.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Thank you\\" the Lord replied, and with that the man shut the door and went about his daily business. \r\n\r\nThat evening after he had retired for the night there came a loud knocking at the front door. The young man pulled on his robe and made his way downstairs. When he opened the door he found that the devil had sent three of his demons to attack the man. He quickly tried to close the door but one of the demons kept sticking his foot in. Sometime later, after a great struggle, he managed to slam the door shut and returned to his room totally exhausted. \r\n\r\nCan you believe that! The man thought. Jesus is upstairs in my very best room sleeping while I am down here battling demons. Oh, well, maybe he just didn\\''t hear. He slept fitfully that night. \r\n\r\nThe next day things went along as normal and, being tired as he was, the young man retired early that evening. Along about midnight, there came such a terrible ruckus at the front door that the young man was sure that whatever it was would tear the door down. He stumbled down the stairs once again and opened the door to find that there were dozens of demons now trying to get into his beautiful home. \r\n\r\nFor more than three hours he fought and struggled against the demons from hell and finally overtook them enough to shut the door against their attack. \r\n\r\nAll energy seemed to fail him. He really didn\\''t understand this at all. Why won\\''t the Lord come to my rescue? Why does he allow me to fight all by myself? I feel so alone. Troubled, he found his way to the sofa and fell into a restless sleep. \r\n\r\nThe next morning he decided to inquire of the Lord about the happenings of the last two evenings. Quietly he made his way to the elegant bedroom where he had left Jesus. \\"Jesus,\\" he called as he tapped at the door. \\"Lord, I don\\''t understand what is happening. For the last two nights I have had to fight the demons away from my door while you laid up here sleeping. Don\\''t you care about me? Did I not give you the very best room in the house? \r\n\r\nHe could see the tears building in Jesus\\'' eyes but continued on, \\"I just don\\''t understand. I really thought that once I invited you in to live with me that you would take care of me and I gave you the best room in my house and everything. What more can I do?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"My precious child,\\" Jesus spoke so softly. \\"I do love and care for you. I protect all that you have released into my care. But when you invited me to come here and stay, you brought me to this lovely room and you shut the door to the rest of your house. I am Lord of this room but I am not Master of this house. I have protected this room and no demon may enter here.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Oh, Lord, please forgive me. Take all of my house - it is yours. I am so sorry that I never offered you all to begin with. I want you to have control of everything.\\" With this he flung open the bedroom door and knelt at Jesus\\'' feet. \\"Please forgive me Lord for being so selfish.\\" Jesus smiled and told him that He had already forgiven him and that He would take care of things from now on. \r\n\r\nThat night as the young man prepared for bed he thought, \\"I wonder if those demons will return. I am so tired of fighting them each and every night.\\" But he knew that Jesus said that he would take care of things from now on. \r\n\r\nAlong about midnight the banging on the door was frightening. The young man slipped out of his room in time to see Jesus going down the stairs. He watched in awe as Jesus swung open the door, no need to be afraid. Satan stood at the door this time demanding to be let in. \\"What do you want, Satan?\\" the Lord asked. The devil bowed low in the presence of the Lord, \\"So sorry, I seem to have gotten the wrong address.\\" And with that, he and the demons all ran away. \r\n\r\nThere is a moral to this tale. Jesus wants all of you, not just a part. He will take all that you give Him but nothing more. How much of your heart have you given to the Lord? Are you keeping a portion of it away from Him? \r\n\r\nPerhaps the attacks are coming more and more each day. Why not let the Lord fight the battles for you? He is always victorious. I have found that God made man simple, all of man\\''s complexities are of his own devising.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (174, 'Who Is Jesus?', 'Author Unknown', 'In Genesis Jesus is the Ram at Abraham\\''s altar.\r\nIn Exodus He\\''s the Passover Lamb.\r\nIn Leviticus He\\''s the High Priest.\r\nIn Numbers He\\''s the Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by night.\r\nIn Deuteronomy He\\''s the City of our refuge.\r\nIn Joshua He\\''s the Scarlet Thread out Rahab\\''s window.\r\nIn Judges He is our Judge.\r\nIn Ruth He is our Kinsman redeemer.\r\nIn 1st and 2nd Samuel He\\''s our Trusted Prophet.\r\nAnd in Kings and Chronicles He\\''s our Reigning King.\r\nIn Ezra He is our Faithful Scribe.\r\nIn Nehemiah He\\''s the Rebuilder of everything that is broken.\r\nAnd in Esther He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate.\r\nIn Job He\\''s our redeemer that ever liveth.\r\nIn Psalms He is my Shepherd and I shall not want.\r\nIn Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He\\''s our Wisdom.\r\nAnd in the Song of Solomon He\\''s the Beautiful Bridegroom.\r\nIn Isaiah He\\''s the Suffering Servant.\r\nIn Jeremiah and Lamentations it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet.\r\nIn Ezekiel He\\''s the Wonderful Four-Faced Man.\r\nAnd in Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace.\r\nIn Hosea He is my Love that is forever faithful.\r\nIn Joel He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.\r\nIn Amos He\\''s our Burden Bearer.\r\nIn Obadiah our Savior.\r\nAnd in Jonah He is the Great Foreign Missionary that takes the Word of God into all of the world.\r\nYou go on and you see in Micah He is the Messenger with beautiful feet.\r\nIn Nahum He is the Avenger.\r\nIn Habakkuk He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival.\r\nIn Zephaniah He is the Lord mighty to save.\r\nIn Haggai He is the Restorer of our lost heritage.\r\nIn Zechariah He is our Fountain.\r\nAnd in Malachi He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings.\r\nIn Matthew Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God.\r\nIn Mark He is the Miracle Worker.\r\nIn Luke He\\''s the Son of Man.\r\nAnd in John He is the Door by which everyone of us must enter.\r\nIn Acts He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus.\r\nIn Romans He is our Justifier.\r\nIn 1st Corinthians our Resurrection.\r\nIn 2nd Corinthians our Sin Bearer.\r\nIn Galatians He redeems us from the law.\r\nIn Ephesians He is our Unsearchable Riches.\r\nIn Philippians He supplies our every need.\r\nAnd in Colossians He\\''s the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily.\r\nIn 1st and 2nd Thessalonians He is our Soon Coming King.\r\nIn 1st and 2nd Timothy He is the Mediator between God and man.\r\nIn Titus He is our Blessed Hope.\r\nIn Philemon He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.\r\nAnd in Hebrews He\\''s the Blood of the everlasting covenant.\r\nIn James it is the Lord that heals the sick.\r\nIn 1st and 2nd Peter He is the Chief Shepherd.\r\nIn 1st, 2nd and 3rd John it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love.\r\nIn Jude He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints.\r\nAnd in Revelation.....\r\nLift up your eyes, Church, for your redemption draweth nigh.\r\n\r\nHe is King of kings and Lord of lords.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (175, 'The True Hero of the Titanic', 'Author Unknown', 'John Harper was born to a pair of solid Christian parents on May 29th, 1872. It was on the last Sunday of March 1886, when he was thirteen years old that he received Jesus as the Lord of his life. He never knew what it was to \\"sow his wild oats.\\" He began to preach about four years later at the ripe old age of 17 years old by going down to the streets of his village and pouring out his soul in earnest entreaty for men to be reconciled to God.\r\n\r\nAs John Harper\\''s life unfolded, one thing was apparent...he was consumed by the word of God. When asked by various ministers what his doctrine consisted of, he was known to reply \\"The Word of God!\\" After five or six years of toiling on street corners preaching the gospel and working in the mill during the day, Harper was taken in by Rev. E. A. Carter of Baptist Pioneer Mission in London, England. This set Harper free to devote his whole time of energy to the work so dear to his heart. Soon, John Harper started his own church in September of 1896. (Now known as the Harper Memorial Church.) This church which John Harper had started with just 25 members, had grown to over 500 members when he left 13 years later. During this time he had gotten married, but was shortly thereafter widowed. However brief the marriage, God did bless John Harper with a beautiful little girl named Nana. \r\n\r\nIronically, John Harper almost drowned several times during his life. When he was two and a half years of age, he almost drowned when he fell into a well but was resuscitated by his mother. At the age of Twenty-six, he was swept out to sea by a reverse current and barely survived, and at thirty-two he faced death on a leaking ship in the Mediterranean. Perhaps, God used these experiences to prepare this servant for what he faced next....... \r\n\r\nIt was the night of April 14, 1912. The RMS Titanic sailed swiftly on the bitterly cold ocean waters heading unknowingly into the pages of history. On board this luxurious ocean liner were many rich and famous people. At the time of the ship\\''s launch, it was the world\\''s largest man-made moveable object. At 11:40 p.m. on that fateful night, an iceberg scraped the ship\\''s starboard side, showering the decks with ice and ripping open six watertight compartments. The sea poured in.\r\n\r\nOn board the ship that night was John Harper and his much-beloved six-year-old daughter Nana. According to documented reports, as soon as it was apparent that the ship was going to sink, John Harper immediately took his daughter to a lifeboat. It is reasonable to assume that this widowed preacher could have easily gotten on board this boat to safety; however, it never seems to have crossed his mind. He bent down and kissed his precious little girl; looking into her eyes he told her that she would see him again someday. The flares going off in the dark sky above reflected the tears on his face as he turned and headed towards the crowd of desperate humanity on the sinking ocean liner. As the rear of the huge ship began to lurch upwards, it was reported that Harper was seen making his way up the deck yelling \\"Women, children and unsaved into the lifeboats!\\" It was only minutes later that the Titanic began to rumble deep within. Most people thought it was an explosion; actually the gargantuan ship was literally breaking in half. At this point, many people jumped off the decks and into the icy, dark waters below. John Harper was one of these people.\r\n\r\nThat night 1528 people went into the frigid waters. John Harper was seen swimming frantically to people in the water leading them to Jesus before the hypothermia became fatal. Mr. Harper swam up to one young Man who had climbed up on a piece of debris. Rev. Harper asked him between breaths, \\"Are you saved?\\" The young man replied that he was not.\r\n\r\nHarper then tried to lead him to Christ only to have the young man who was near shock, reply no. John Harper then took off his life jacket and threw it to the man and said \\"Here then, you need this more than I do...\\" and swam away to other people. A few minutes later Harper swam back to the young man and succeeded in leading him to salvation. Of the 1528 people that went into the water that night, six were rescued by the lifeboats. One of them was this young man on the debris. Four years later, at a survivors meeting, this young man stood up and in tears recounted how that after John Harper had led him to Christ. Mr. Harper had tried to swim back to help other people, yet because of the intense cold, had grown too weak to swim. His last words before going under in the frigid waters were \\"Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.\\"\r\n\r\nDoes Hollywood remember this man? No. Oh well, no matter. This servant of God did what he had to do. While other people were trying to buy their way onto the lifeboats and selfishly trying to save their own lives, John Harper gave up his life so that others could be saved. \r\n\r\n\\"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends...\\" John Harper was truly the hero of the Titanic!\r\n\r\n\r\nSources for this article: \\"The Titanic\\''s Last Hero\\" by Moody Press 1997, Scriptures are quoted from the King James Bible.', 'Moody Press 1997');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (176, 'TABLE FOR TWO', 'Kirsten Burgess', 'He sits by himself at a table for two.\r\n\r\nThe uniformed waiter returns to his side and asks, “Would you like to go ahead and order, sir?” The man has, after all, been waiting since seven o´clock -- almost half an hour.\r\n\r\n“No, thank you,” the man smiles. “I´ll wait for her a while longer. How about some more coffee?”\r\n\r\n“Certainly, sir.”\r\n\r\nThe man sits, his clear blue eyes gazing straight through the flowered centerpiece. He fingers his napkin, allowing the sounds of light chatter, tinkling silverware, and mellow music to fill his mind. He is dressed in a sports coat and tie. His dark brown hair is neatly combed, but one stray lock insists on dropping to his forehead. The scent of his cologne adds to his clean cut image. He is dressed up enough to make a companion feel important, respected, loved. Yet he is not so formal as to make on uncomfortable. It seems that he has taken every precaution to make others feel at ease with him.\r\n\r\nStill, he sits alone.\r\n\r\nThe waiter returns to fill the man\\''s coffee cup. “Is there anything else I can get for you, sir?”\r\n\r\n“No, thank you.”\r\n\r\nThe waiter remains standing at the table. Something tugs at his curiosity. “I don´t mean to pry, but...” His voice trails off. This line of conversation could jeopardize his tip.\r\n\r\n“Go ahead,” the man encourages. He is strong, yet sensitive, inviting conversation.\r\n\r\n“Why do you bother waiting for her?” the waiter finally blurts out. This man has been at the restaurant other evenings, always patiently alone.\r\n\r\nSays the man quietly, “Because she needs me.”\r\n\r\n“Are you sure?”\r\n\r\n“Yes.”\r\n\r\n“Well, sir, no offense, but assuming that she needs you, she sure isn´t acting much like it. She´s stood you up three times just this week.”\r\n\r\nThe man winces, and looks down at the table. “Yes, I know.”\r\n\r\n“Then why do you still come here and wait?”\r\n\r\n“Cassie said that she would be here.”\r\n\r\n“She´s said that before,” the waiter protests. “I wouldn´t put up with it. Why do you?”\r\n\r\nNow the man looks up, smiles at the waiter, and says simply, “Because I love her.”\r\nThe waiter walks away, wondering how one could love a girl who stands him up three times a week. The man must be crazy, he decides. Across the room, he turns to look at the man again. The man slowly pours cream into his coffee. He twirls his spoon between his fingers a few times before stirring sweetener into his cup. After staring for a moment into the liquid, the man brings the cup to his mouth and sips, silently watching those around him. He doesn´t look crazy, the waiter admits. Maybe the girl has some qualities that I don´t know about. Or maybe the man´s love is stronger than most. The waiter shakes himself out of his musings to take an order from a party of five.\r\n\r\nThe man watches the waiter, wonders if he´s ever been stood up. The man has, many times. But he still can´t get used to it. Each time, it hurts. He´s looked forward to this evening all day. He has many things, exciting things to tell Cassie. But, more importantly, he wants to hear Cassie´s voice. He wants her to tell him all about her day, her triumphs, her defeats...anything, really. He has tried so many times to show Cassie how much he loves her.\r\n\r\nHe´d just like to know that she cares for him, too. He sips sporadically at the coffee, and loses himself in though, knowing that Cassie is late, but still hoping that she will arrive.\r\n\r\nThe clock says nine-thirty when the waiter returns to the man´s table. “Is there anything I can get for you?”\r\n\r\nThe still empty chair stabs at the man. “No, I think that will be all for tonight. May I have the check please?”\r\n\r\n“Yes, sir.”\r\n\r\nWhen the waiter leaves, the man picks up the check. He pulls out his wallet and sighs. He has enough money to have given Cassie a feast. But he takes out only enough to pay for his five cups of coffee and the tip. Why do you do this, Cassie, his mind cries as he gets up from the table.\r\n\r\n“Good-bye,” the waiter says, as the man walks towards the door.\r\n\r\n“Good-night. Thank you for your service.”\r\n\r\n“You´re welcome, sir,” says the waiter softly, for he sees the pain in the man´s eyes that his smile doesn´t hide.\r\n\r\nThe man passes a laughing young couple on his way out, and his eyes glisten as he thinks of the good time he and Cassie could have had. He stops at the front and makes reservations for tomorrow. Maybe Cassie will be able to make it, he thinks.\r\n\r\n“Seven o´clock tomorrow for party of two?” the hostess confirms.\r\n\r\n“That´s right,” the man replies.\r\n\r\n“Do you think she´ll come?” asks the hostess. She doesn´t mean to be rude, but she has watched the man many times alone at his table for two.\r\n\r\n“Someday, yes. And I will be waiting for her.” The man buttons his overcoat and walks out of the restaurant, alone. His shoulders are hunched, but through the windows the hostess can only guess whether they are hunched against the wind or against the man´s hurt.\r\n\r\nAs the man turns toward home, Cassie turns into bed. She is tired after an evening out with friends. As she reaches toward her night stand to set the alarm, she sees the note that she scribbled to herself last night. ‘7:00,´ it says. ‘Spend some time in prayer.´ Darn, she thinks. She forgot again. She feels a twinge of guilt, but quickly pushes it aside. She needed that time with her friends. And now she needs her sleep. She can pray tomorrow night.\r\n\r\nJesus will forgive her.\r\n\r\nAnd she´s sure he doesn´t mind. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (177, 'Don\\''t hope, ... decide!', 'Author Unknown', 'While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had one of those life-changing experiences that you hear other people talk about -the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me. \r\n\r\nStraining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jetway, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family. \r\n\r\nFirst he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each other\\''s face, I heard the father say, \\"It\\''s so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!\\" His son smiled somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, \\"Me, too, Dad!\\" \r\n\r\nThen the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping his son\\''s face in his hands said, \\"You\\''re already quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach!\\" They too hugged a most loving, tender hug. \r\n\r\nWhile this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or one-and-a-half) was squirming excitedly in her mother\\''s arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her returning father. The man said, \\"Hi, baby girl!\\" as he gently took the child from her mother. He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest while rocking her from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder, motionless in pure contentment. \r\n\r\nAfter several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, \\"I\\''ve saved the best for last!\\" and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed. \\"I love you so much!\\" They stared at each other\\''s eyes, beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both hands. \r\n\r\nFor an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn\\''t possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arm\\''s length away from me.\r\n\r\nI suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, \\"Wow! How long have you two been married?\\" \\"Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those.\\" he replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife\\''s face. \\"Well then, how long have you been away?\\" I asked the man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile.\\"Two whole days!\\" Two days? I was stunned. \r\n\r\nBy the intensity of the greeting, I had assumed he\\''d been gone for at least several weeks - if not months. I know my expression betrayed me, I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get back to searching for my friend), \\"I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!\\" The man suddenly stopped smiling. \r\n\r\nHe looked me straight in the eye, and with forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told me something that left me a different person. He told me, \\"Don\\''t hope, friend... decide!\\" Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, \\"God bless!\\" \r\n\r\nWith that, he and his family turned and strode away together. I was still watching that exceptional man and his special family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, \\"What\\''cha looking at?\\" Without hesitating, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, \\"My future!\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (178, 'Seventeenth Century Nun\\''s Prayer', 'Author Unknown', 'Lord, You know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occassion. Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody\\''s affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody. Helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but You know, Lord, I want a few friends at the end. \r\n\r\nKeep my mind free from the endless recital of details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others\\'' pains, but help me to endure them with patience. \r\n\r\nI dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occassionally, I may be mistaken. \r\n\r\nKeep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint - some of them are so hard to live with. But a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, Lord, the grace to tell them so. \r\n\r\nAmen ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (179, 'Praying Hands', 'Author Unknown', 'Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.\r\n\r\nDespite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder\\''s children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.\r\n\r\nAfter many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.\r\n\r\nThey tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg.\r\n\r\nAlbert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht\\''s etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.\r\n\r\nWhen the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht\\''s triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, \\"And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.\\"\r\n\r\nAll heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, \\"No ...no ...no ...no.\\"\r\n\r\nFinally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, \\"No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look ... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late.\\" More than 450 years have passed. \r\n\r\nBy now, Albrecht Durer\\''s hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer\\''s works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.\r\n\r\nOne day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother\\''s abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply \\"Hands,\\" but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love \\"The Praying Hands.\\"\r\n\r\nThe next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one - - ever makes it alone!', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (181, 'I Dare you', 'Author Unknown', 'An atheist professor was teaching a college class and he told the class that he was going to prove that there was not a God. He said, \\"God if you are real, then I dare you to knock me off this platform. I\\''ll give you 15 minutes!\\"\r\nTen minutes went by He kept taunting God, saying, \\"Here I am God, I\\''m still waiting\\" He got down to the last couple of minutes and a BIG 240 pound football player happened to walk by the door and heard what the professor said. The football player walked in the class room and in the last minute, he walked up, hit the professor full force, and sent him flying off the platform.\r\nThe professor got up, obviously shaken and said, \\"Wow, where did you come from and why did you do that?\\"\r\nThe football player replied, \\"God was busy, so He sent me!\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (182, 'Today\\''s Stock Market......', 'Author Unknown', 'Helium is up. \r\n\r\nFeathers were down. \r\n\r\nPaper was stationary. \r\n\r\nFluorescent tubing was dimmed in light trading. \r\n\r\nKnives were up sharply. \r\n\r\nCows steered into a bull market. \r\n\r\nPencils lost a few points. \r\n\r\nHiking equipment was trailing. \r\n\r\nElevators rose, while escalators continued their slow decline. \r\n\r\nWeights were up in heavy trading. \r\n\r\nLight switches were off. \r\n\r\nMining equipment hit rock bottom. \r\n\r\nDiapers remained unchanged. \r\n\r\nShipping lines stayed at an even keel. \r\n\r\nThe market for raisins dried up. \r\n\r\nCoca-Cola fizzled. \r\n\r\nCaterpillar stock inched up a bit. \r\n\r\nSun peaked at midday. \r\n\r\nBalloon prices were inflated. \r\n\r\nScott Tissue touched a new bottom. \r\n\r\nAnd batteries exploded in an attempt to recharge the market.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (185, 'HAPPINESS', 'Author Unknown', 'Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room\\''s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service where they had been on vacation.\r\n\r\nEvery afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.\r\n\r\nThe man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his life would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.\r\n\r\nThe window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the scene.\r\n\r\nOne warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn\\''t hear the band he could see it in his mind\\''s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.\r\n\r\nDays and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.\r\n\r\nAs soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.\r\n\r\nIt faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, \\"Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.\\"\r\n\r\nEpilogue...There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can\\''t buy. \r\n\r\n\\"SOMETIMES TO FACE YOUR FUTURE YOU HAVE TO LET GO OF YOUR PAST.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (186, 'LOVE OF LIFE', 'Author Unknown', 'It all started when I was 16 years old. While I was playing outside on my farm in California, I met a boy. He was an average kind of boy who teased you and then you chased them and beat them up. After that first meeting in which I beat him up we kept on meeting and beating each other up at the fence. That only lasted for a little while though. We would meet at the fence all the time and we were always together. I would tell him all my secrets. He was very quiet he would just listen to what I had to say. I found him easy to talk to and I could talk to him about everything. In school we had separate friends but when we got home we would always talk about what happened in school. One day I said to him that a guy I liked hurt me and broke my heart. He just comforted me and said everything would be okay. He gave me words of encouragement and helped me get over him. I was happy and thought of him as a real friend. But I knew that there was something else about him that I liked. I thought of it that night and figured it was just a Friend kinda thing that I was feeling. All through high school and even through graduation we\\''re always together and of course I thought of it as being friends. But I knew deep inside that I really felt differently. On graduation night even though we had different dates to the prom I wanted to be with him. That night after everybody went home I went to his house and wanted to tell him that I wanted to see him. Well, that night was my big chance and all I did was just sit there with him watching the stars and talking about what I was going to do and what he was going to do. I looked into his eyes and listened to him talk about what his dream was. How he wanted to get married and settle down. He said how he wanted to be rich and successful. All I could do was to tell him my dream and cuddle next to him. I went home hurting because I didn\\''t tell him how I was feeling. I wanted to tell him so bad that I loved him but I was too scared and frightened. I let my feelings go and told myself that someday I would tell him just how I felt. All through college I wanted to tell him but he always had someone with him. After graduation he got a job in New York; I was happy for him but at the same time I was sad to see him go. I was sad also because I didn\\''t tell him how I felt. But I couldn\\''t let him know now that he was leaving for his big job. So I just kept it to myself and watched him go on the plane. I cried as I hugged him for what I felt was going to be the last time. I went home that night and cried my eyes out. I felt hurt that I didn\\''t tell him what I had inside my heart. Well, I got a job as a secretary and then worked my way to a computer analyst. I was proud of what I had accomplished. One day I got a letter with an invitation to a wedding. It was from him; I was happy and sad at the same time. Now I know that I could never be with him and that we could only be friends. I went to the wedding the next month. It was a big occasion. It was a big church wedding with the reception at a hotel. I met the bride and of course I talked to him too. I fell in love one more time. But I held back so it wouldn\\''t spoil what should be the happiest day in his life. I tried to have fun that night but it was killing me inside watching him being so happy and me trying to be happy covering up my sadness tears inside of me. I left New York feeling that I did the right thing. Before I left on the flight, he came running out of nowhere and said his good-byes and how he was very happy to see me. I came home and just tried to forget about what went on in New York. I had to go on with my life. As the years went on, we wrote to each other on what was going on and how he had missed talking to me. On one occasion he never wrote back to me at all. I was getting worried as to why he hadn\\''t written anything for a long time after I had already written 6 letters to him. Well, just when everything seemed hopeless and sad in my life, I got a note that said: \\"Meet me at the fence where we used to talk about things\\". I went and saw him there. I was happy to see him, but he was broken-hearted and sad inside. We hugged until we couldn\\''t breathe anymore. Then he told me about the divorce and why he hadn\\''t written for a long time. He cried until he couldn\\''t cry anymore. Finally, we went back to the house and talked and laughed about what I had been going and to catch up on old times. But in all of this, I couldn\\''t tell him how I felt about him. In the days that followed, he had fun and forgot about all his problem and his divorce. I fell in love again with him. When it came time for him to leave back to New York, I went to see him off and cried. I hated to see him leave. He promised to see me every time he could get a vacation. I couldn\\''t wait for him to come so I could be with him. We would always have fun when we were together. One day he didn\\''t show up like he said he would. I figured that he might have been busy. The days turned into months and I just forgot about it. Then I got a call one day from a lawyer in New York. The lawyer said that he had died in a car accident going to the airpor, and that it took this long till everything was settled. It broke my heart. I was shocked about what took place. Now I knew why he didn\\''t come that day. Again, I was broken-hearted. I cried that night, cried tears of sadness and heartache. I asked questions: \\"Why did this happen to a kind guy like him?\\" I gathered my things and went to New York for the reading of his will. Of course, things were given to his family and his ex-wife. I finally got to meet her since the last time we met at the wedding. She explained to me how he was and how he always provided. But he was always unhappy. She would always try everything but she couldn\\''t get him happy, as he was that night at their wedding. When the will was read, the one thing that was given to me was a diary. It was a dairy that of his life. I cried as it was given to me. I didn\\''t know what to think. Why was this given to me? I took it and flew back to California. As I flew on the plane I remembered the good times that we had together. I started reading the diary and what was written. The diary was started with the day we first met. I read on till I started to cry. The diary told of him saying that he had fallen in love with me that day I was broken-hearted. But he was too afraid to tell me what he had felt. That is why he was so quiet and liked to listen to me. It told of how he wanted to tell me so many times, but was too afraid to say anything. It told of when he went to New York and fell in love with another. How the happiest time he had was seeing me and dancing with me at the wedding. He said he imagined it was our wedding. How he was always unhappy till he had no choice but to divorce his wife. How the best time in his life was to read the letters written to him by me. Finally, the diary ended when it said, \\"today I will tell her I love her\\". It was the day he was killed. The day I was going to finally find out what was really in his heart. So the moral of the story, If you love someone, don\\''t wait till tomorrow to tell him/her. Maybe the next day will never come at all..', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (187, 'Shake It Off And Step Up ', 'Author Unknown', 'A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer\\''s well. The farmer heard the mule \\''braying\\'' - or - whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. \r\n\r\nInitially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. \r\n\r\n\\"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!\\" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought \\"panic\\" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! \r\n\r\nYou\\''re right! It wasn\\''t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. \r\n\r\nTHAT\\''S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER-- PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to \\"SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP\\" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (188, 'The Butterfly', 'Author Unknown', 'A man found a cocoon for a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. \r\n\r\nThen it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly. \r\n\r\nHe took a pair of scissors and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. \r\n\r\nSomething was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. \r\n\r\nNeither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly. \r\n\r\nWhat the man in his kindness and haste did not understand, was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the small opening of the cocoon are God\\''s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. \r\n\r\nSometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. \r\n\r\nIf God allowed us to go through all our life without any obstacles, that would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. \r\n\r\nNot only that, we could never fly. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (189, 'A Special Teacher', 'Bits & Pieces - June 1995 Economics Press ', 'Years ago a John Hopkin\\''s professor gave a group of graduate students this assignment: Go to the slums. Take 200 boys, between the ages of 12 and 16, and investigate their background and environment. Then predict their chances for the future. \r\n\r\nThe students, after consulting social statistics, talking to the boys, and compiling much data, concluded that 90 percent of the boys would spend some time in jail. \r\n\r\nTwenty-five years later another group of graduate students was given the job of testing the prediction. They went back to the same area. Some of the boys - by then men - were still there, a few had died, some had moved away, but they got in touch with 180 of the original 200. They found that only four of the group had ever been sent to jail. \r\n\r\nWhy was it that these men, who had lived in a breeding place of crime, had such a surprisingly good record? The researchers were continually told: \\"Well, there was a teacher...\\" \r\n\r\nThey pressed further, and found that in 75 percent of the cases it was the same woman. The researchers went to this teacher, now living in a home for retired teachers. How had she exerted this remarkable influence over that group of children? Could she give them any reason why these boys should have remembered her? \r\n\r\n\\"No,\\" she said, \\"no I really couldn\\''t.\\" And then, thinking back over the years, she said amusingly, more to herself than to her questioners: \\"I loved those boys....\\" ', 'Bits & Pieces - June 1995 Economics Press ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (190, 'The Journey ', 'By Mary Oliver ', 'One day you finally knew \r\nWhat you had to do, and began \r\nThough the voices around you \r\nKept shouting \r\nTheir bad advice - \r\nThough the whole house \r\nBegan to tremble \r\nAnd you felt the old tug \r\nAt your ankles \\"Mend my life!\\"\r\nEach voice cried. \r\nBut you didn\\''t stop. \r\nYou knew what you had to do, \r\nThough the wind pried \r\nWith its stiff fingers \r\nAt the very foundations, \r\nThough their melancholy \r\nWas terrible. \r\nIt was already late \r\nEnough, and a wild night, \r\nAnd the road full of fallen stones. \r\nBut little by little, \r\nAs you left their voices behind, \r\nThe stars began to burn \r\nThrough the sheets of clouds, \r\nAnd there was a new voice, \r\nWhich you slowly recognized as your own, \r\nThat kept you company \r\nAs you strode deeper and deeper \r\nInto the world, \r\nDetermined to do \r\nThe only thing you could do - \r\nDetermined to save \r\nThe only life you could save. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (191, 'Learning to Get Back Up ', 'Craig B. Larson ', 'Bringing a giraffe into the world is a tall order. A baby giraffe falls 10 feet from its mother\\''s womb and usually lands on its back. Within seconds it rolls over and tucks its legs under its body. From this position it considers the world for the first time and shakes off the last vestiges of the birthing fluid from its eyes and ears. Then the mother giraffe rudely introduces its offspring to the reality of life. \r\n\r\nIn his book, A View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond describes how a newborn giraffe learns its first lesson. \r\n\r\nThe mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. Then she positions herself directly over her calf. She waits for about a minute, and then she does the most unreasonable thing. She swings her long, pendulous leg outward and kicks her baby, so that it is sent sprawling head over heels. \r\n\r\nWhen it doesn\\''t get up, the violent process is repeated over and over again. The struggle to rise is momentous. As the baby calf grows tired, the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts. Finally, the calf stands for the first time on its wobbly legs. \r\n\r\nThen the mother giraffe does the most remarkable thing. She kicks it off its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up. In the wild, baby giraffes must be able to get up as quickly as possible to stay with the herd, where there is safety. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild hunting dogs all enjoy young giraffes, and they\\''d get it too, if the mother didn\\''t teach her calf to get up quickly and get with it. \r\n\r\nThe late Irving Stone understood this. He spent a lifetime studying greatness, writing novelized biographies of such men as Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Sigmund Freud, and Charles Darwin. \r\n\r\nStone was once asked if he had found a thread that runs through the lives of all these exceptional people. He said, \\"I write about people who sometime in their life have a vision or dream of something that should be accomplished and they go to work. \r\n\r\n\\"They are beaten over the head, knocked down, vilified, and for years they get nowhere. But every time they\\''re knocked down they stand up. You cannot destroy these people. And at the end of their lives they\\''ve accomplished some modest part of what they set out to do.\\" ', 'Adapted from \\"Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching from Leadership Journal Baker Books ');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (192, 'The Road Not Taken ', 'Robert Frost', 'Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, \r\nAnd sorry I could not travel both \r\nAnd be one traveler, long I stood \r\nAnd looked down one as far as I could \r\nTo where it bent in the undergrowth; \r\n\r\n\r\nThen took the other, as just as fair, \r\nAnd having perhaps the better claim, \r\nBecause it was grassy and wanted wear; \r\nThough as for that the passing there \r\nHad worn them really about the same, \r\n\r\n\r\nAnd both that morning equally lay \r\nIn leaves no step had trodden black. \r\nOh, I kept the first for another day! \r\nYet knowing how way leads on to way, \r\nI doubted if I should ever come back. \r\n\r\n\r\nI shall be telling this with a sigh \r\nSomewhere ages and ages hence: \r\nTwo roads diverged in a wood, and I-- \r\nI took the one less traveled by, \r\nAnd that has made all the difference. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (193, 'Attitude Determines Attitude ', 'Author Unknown', 'I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have. \r\n\r\nToday I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free. \r\n\r\nToday I can feel sad that I don\\''t have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste. \r\n\r\nToday I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive. \r\n\r\nToday I can lament over all that my parents didn\\''t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born. \r\n\r\nToday I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses. \r\n\r\nToday I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships. \r\n\r\nToday I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do. \r\n\r\nToday I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge. \r\n\r\nToday I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul. \r\n\r\nToday stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. \r\n\r\nWhat today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have! ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (197, 'Every Day Life', 'Author Unknown', 'If I knew it would be the last time That I\\''d see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep. If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more. If I knew it would be the last time I\\''d hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say \\"I love you,\\" instead of assuming you would KNOW I do If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I\\''m sure you\\''ll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away. For surely there\\''s always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right. There will always be another day to say our \\"I love you\\''s,\\" And certainly there\\''s another chance to say our \\"Anything I can do\\''s?\\" But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I\\''d like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight So if you\\''re waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you\\''ll surely regret the day, That you didn\\''t take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish. So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you\\''ll always hold them dear Take time to say \\"I\\''m sorry,\\" \\"Please forgive me,\\" \\"Thank you,\\" or \\"It\\''s okay.\\" And if tomorrow never comes, you\\''ll have no regrets about today.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (198, 'If Tomorrow Never Comes!', 'Author Unknown', 'If I knew it would be the last time That I\\''d see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep. If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more. If I knew it would be the last time I\\''d hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say \\"I love you,\\" instead of assuming you would KNOW I do If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I\\''m sure you\\''ll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away. For surely there\\''s always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right. There will always be another day to say our \\"I love you\\''s,\\" And certainly there\\''s another chance to say our \\"Anything I can do\\''s?\\" But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I\\''d like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight So if you\\''re waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you\\''ll surely regret the day, That you didn\\''t take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish. So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you\\''ll always hold them dear Take time to say \\"I\\''m sorry,\\" \\"Please forgive me,\\" \\"Thank you,\\" or \\"It\\''s okay.\\" And if tomorrow never comes, you\\''ll have no regrets about today.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (199, 'I am God', 'Author Unknown', 'Today I will be handling all of your problems.\r\nPlease remember that I do not need your help.\r\n\r\nIf life happens to deliver a situation to you that you\r\ncannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it.\r\nKindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box.\r\n\r\nIt will be addressed in My time, not yours.\r\nOnce the matter is placed into the box,\r\ndo not hold on to it.\r\n\r\nIf you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don\\''t despair.\r\nThere are people in this world for whom driving is an\r\nunheard of privilege.\r\n\r\nShould you have a bad day at work;\r\nThink of the man who has been out of work for years.\r\n\r\nShould you despair over a relationship gone bad;\r\nThink of the person who has never known what it\\''s like\r\nto love and be loved in return.\r\n\r\nShould you grieve the passing of another weekend;\r\nThink of the woman in dire straits, working twelve\r\nhours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.\r\n\r\nShould your car break down, leaving you miles away\r\nfrom assistance;\r\nThink of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.\r\n\r\nShould you notice a new gray hair in the mirror;\r\nThink of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she\r\nhad hair to examine.\r\n\r\nShould you find yourself at a loss and pondering what\r\nis life all about, asking what is my purpose?\r\nBe thankful. There are those who didn\\''t live long\r\nenough to get the opportunity.\r\n\r\nShould you find yourself the victim of other people\\''s\r\nbitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities;\r\nRemember, things could be worse.\r\nYou could be them!!!!\r\n\r\nShould you decide to send this to a friend; You might\r\nbrighten someone\\''s day!', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (200, 'Faith', 'Author Unknown', 'A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an\r\n Olympic diver.  The only religious influence in his life came from his\r\n outspoken Christian  friend.  The young diver never really paid much\r\n attention to his friend\\''s sermons, but he heard them often.\r\n One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended.\r\n The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon\r\n was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by.   The young man\r\n climbed up to the highest diving board and as he turned his  back\r\n to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw\r\n his shadow on the wall.  The shadow of his body, was in the shape of a\r\n cross.\r\n\r\n Instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his\r\n life.\r\n\r\n As the young man stood, a maintenance man walked in and turned the\r\n lights on. The pool had been drained for repairs.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (201, 'My True Best Friend ', 'Nikki Kimball ', 'I couldn\\''t believe I was here... I couldn\\''t believe this was happening to me. I just stared there looking at my Best friend of 5 years, laying in a casket. She died on Halloween 1996. She had just turned 16. I didn\\''t know it then but it was the beginning to a whole new era although feeling like the end. My older sister went to the visitation with me. \r\n\r\nSince Andrea was always at our house they too had become friends. She walked up there with me to see her. I kept thinking to myself no way this is real...I just talked to her yesterday and heard her laughing. I remember looking at her smiling face. It hit me then how precious life is..how your here one minute then gone the next. \r\n\r\nShe was driving and lost control boom she was instantaneously out of this world, and out of my life. Andrea was a daughter of a preacher in our town..she had a love for the Lord, but was kinda rebellious. I kept thinking what must her parents be going through. \r\n\r\nPractically our whole high school was there, we were juniors. I kept telling my sister I cant believe I lost my Best friend...who will I turn to now?? What good could ever come of this?? How will I go on?? \r\n\r\nI am now a Christian, I owe most of it due to the fact that I realized how precious life is, how fast we can be taken. I didn\\''t want it to be too late for me. I wanted to lay my head down at night and now if the LORD were to come right now that I would be saved I knew I had to make my life right. In a letter I wrote to my sister..now in the military and away from home... \r\n\r\nSissy, I just wanted to thank you for being there for me at the worst time in my life. Nobody was there for me but you. The whole time I was morning and said.. over losing my best friend I had realized I hadn\\''t just lost a Best Friend, but I realized who my true best friend really is..... You. Love, Nikki Don\\''t wait till its too late....We are here today...gone tomorrow. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (202, 'Smile', 'Cameron Z', 'A smile changed my life today \r\nA simple gesture, in the sweetest way \r\nI was feeling kind of down \r\nBut a smile wiped away my frown \r\nI never thought a simple thing \r\nCould change the whole way that \r\nI think I saw the joy in that persons face \r\nIt was like God just showed me his grace \r\nYou never know what a small thing can do \r\nSo i\\''ll never frown again, how about you? ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (203, 'The Power of Encouragement ', 'Author Unknown', 'Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the famous 19th-century poet and artist, was once approached by an elderly man. The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and tell him if they were any good, or if they at least showed potential talent. \r\n\r\nRossetti looked them over carefully. After the first few, he knew that they were worthless, showing not the least sign of artistic talent. But Rossetti was a kind man, and he told the elderly man as gently as possible that the pictures were without much value and showed little talent. He was sorry, but he could not lie to the man. \r\n\r\nThe visitor was disappointed, but seemed to expect Rossetti’s judgment. He then apologized for taking up Rossetti’s time, but would he just look at a few more drawings - these done by a young art student? \r\n\r\nRossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately became enthusiastic over the talent they revealed. \\"These,\\" he said, \\"oh, these are good. This young student has great talent. He should be given every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a great future if he will work hard and stick to it.\\" \r\n\r\nRossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply moved. \\"Who is this fine young artist?\\" he asked. \\"Your son?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No,\\" said the old man sadly. \\"It is me - 40 years ago. If only I had heard your praise then! For you see, I got discouraged and gave up - too soon.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (204, 'The Power of Prayer ', 'Author Unknown', 'Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. Lord, 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 & mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence in Your ability to work through them. Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, patience, & strength as they learn submission to Your leading.\r\n\r\nWhere there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend\\''s life.\r\n\r\n\r\nBless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and friends to support, and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the demonic forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these things in Jesus\\'' name.\r\n\r\n\r\nPassing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both. Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something I know Christ would do.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (205, 'The Winner ', 'Author Unknown', 'I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game - - a serious game -- two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn\\''t know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing - I wished the parents and coaches could have done the same. \r\n\r\nThe teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient. They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at the ball and missed it but they didn\\''t seem to care. They were having fun. \r\n\r\nIn the second quarter, the Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put in the scrubs, except for his best player who now guarded the goal. \r\n\r\nThe game took a dramatic turn. I guess winning is important even when you\\''re five years old -- because the Team Two coach left his best players in, and the Team One scrubs were no match for them. Team Two swarmed around the little guy who was now the Team One goalie. He was an outstanding athlete, but he was no match for three or four who were also very good. Team Two began to score. The lone goalie gave it everything he had, recklessly throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying valiantly to stop them. \r\n\r\nTeam Two scored two goals in quick succession. It infuriated the young boy. He became a raging maniac -- shouting, running, diving. With all the stamina he could muster, he covered the boy who now had the ball, but that boy kicked it to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time he repositioned himself, it was too late -- they scored a third goal. \r\n\r\nI soon learned who the goalie\\''s parents were. They were nice, decent-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office -- he still had his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field and his parents on the sidelines. After the third goal, the little kid changed. He could see it was no use; he couldn\\''t stop them. \r\n\r\nHe didn\\''t quit, but he became quietly desperate futility was written all over him. His father changed too. He had been urging his son to try harder - yelling advice and encouragement. But then he changed. He became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay - to hang in there. He grieved for the pain his son was feeling. \r\n\r\nAfter the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. I\\''ve seen it before. The little boy needed help so badly, and there was no help to be had. He retrieved the ball from the net and handed to the referee - and then he cried. \r\n\r\nHe just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees and put his fists to his eyes - and he cried the tears of the helpless and brokenhearted. \r\n\r\nWhen the boy went to his knees, I saw the father start onto the field. His wife clutched his arm and said, \\"Jim, don\\''t. You\\''ll embarrass him.\\" But he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. He wasn\\''t supposed to - the game was still in progress. Suit, tie, dress shoes, and all - he charged onto the field, and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy, and he hugged him and held him and cried with him. I\\''ve never been so proud of a man in my life. \r\n\r\nHe carried him off the field, and when he got close to the sidelines I heard him say, \\"Scotty, I\\''m so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Daddy,\\" the boy sobbed, \\"I couldn\\''t stop them. I tried, Daddy, I tried and tried, and they scored on me.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Scotty, it doesn\\''t matter how many times they scored on you. You\\''re my son, and I\\''m proud of you. I want you to go back out there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can\\''t. And, son, you\\''re going to get scored on again, but it doesn\\''t matter. Go on, now.\\" \r\n\r\nIt made a difference - I could tell it did. \r\n\r\nWhen you\\''re all alone, and you\\''re getting scored on - and you can\\''t stop them - it means a lot to know that it doesn\\''t matter to those who love you. The little guy ran back on to the field - and they scored two more times - but it was okay.\r\n\r\n\r\nI get scored on every day. I try so hard. I recklessly throw my body in every direction. I fume and rage. I struggle with temptation and sin with every ounce of my being - and Satan laughs. And he scores again, and the tears come, and I go to my knees - sinful, convicted, helpless. \r\n\r\nAnd my Father - my Father rushes right out on the field - right in front of the whole crowd - the whole jeering, laughing world - and he picks me up, and he hugs me and he says, \\"John, I\\''m so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son, and because I control the outcome of this game, I declare you -- The Winner.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (206, 'Prayers Can\\''t Be Answered Unless They Are Prayed ', 'Author Unknown', 'Life without purpose is barren indeed \r\n \r\nThere can\\''t be a harvest unless you plant seed There can\\''t be attainment unless there\\''s a goal \r\n \r\nAnd man\\''s but a robot unless there\\''s a soul \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nIf we send no ships out, no ships will come in\r\n \r\nAnd unless there\\''s a contest, nobody can\\''t win\r\n \r\nFor games can\\''t be won unless they are played\r\n \r\nAnd prayers can\\''t be answered unless they are prayed\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nSo whatever is wrong with your life today \r\n \r\nYou\\''ll find a solution if you kneel down and pray \r\n \r\nNot just for pleasure, enjoyment and health\r\n \r\nNot just for honors and prestige and wealth\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nBut pray for a purpose to make life worth giving\r\n \r\nAnd pray for the joy of unselfish giving \r\n \r\nFor great is your gladness and rich your reward\r\n \r\nWhen you make your life\\''s purpose the choice of the Lord. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (207, 'No One Can Touch You Like Jesus Can', 'Author Unknown', 'Life doesn\\''t kiss away the pain \r\nAll the hurt you can\\''t explain \r\nWhen you\\''re wounded by a brother. \r\nBut He takes you underneath his wings \r\nAnd mends your broken wings \r\nHe can love you like no other \r\nLike no other \r\n\r\nNo one can touch you like Jesus can \r\nNo on can give you piece you can not understand \r\nNo one can bind your wounds but nail scarred hands \r\nNo one can touch you like Jesus can. \r\n\r\nHands that touched the blind the lame \r\nAre now in so much pain \r\nFrom nails that truely pierced them. \r\nBut from His side flows liquid love \r\nIt was a power from up above \r\nIt brings hope and Restoration. \r\n\r\nNo one can touch you like Jesus can \r\nNo one can give you piece you can not understand \r\nNo one can bind your wounds but nail scarred hands \r\nNo one can touch you like Jesus can.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (208, 'title', 'Fredderick Riley', 'To my dearest family, some things I\\''d like to say. But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay. I\\''m writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above. Here, there\\''s no more tears of sadness; Here is just eternal love. \r\n\r\nPlease do not be unhappy just because I\\''m out of sight. Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night. That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through. God picked me up and hugged me and He said, \\"I welcome you. It\\''s good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone. As for your dearest family, They\\''ll be here later on. There\\''s so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man.\\" \r\n\r\nGod gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do. And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you. And when you lie in bed at night the day\\''s chores put to flight. God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night. \r\n\r\nWhen you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years. Because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears. But do not be afraid to cry: it does relieve the pain. Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain. \r\n\r\nI wish that I could tell you all that God has planned. If I were to tell you, you wouldn\\''t understand. But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o\\''er. I\\''m closer to you now, than I ever was before. \r\n\r\nThere are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb; But together we can do it by taking one day at a time. It was always my philosophy and I\\''d like it for you too; That as you give unto the world, the world will give to you. \r\n\r\nIf you can help somebody who\\''s in sorrow and pain; Then you can say to God at night......\\"My day was not in vain.\\" And now I am contented....that my life was worthwhile. Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile. \r\n\r\nSo if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low; Just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go. When you\\''re walking down the street and you\\''ve got Me on your mind; I\\''m walking in your footsteps only half a step behind. \r\n\r\nAnd when it\\''s time for you to go....from that body to be free. Remember you\\''re not going.....you\\''re coming here to Me. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (209, 'Invitation ', 'Author Unknown', 'You Are Cordially Invited To A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!\r\n\r\nGuest of Honor: Jesus Christ\r\n\r\nDate: Every day. Traditionally December 25, but He\\''s always around, so the date is flexible..\r\n\r\nTime: Whenever you\\''re ready, please don\\''t be too late though, or you\\''ll miss out on all the fun...\r\n\r\nPlace: In your heart ... He\\''ll meet you there (you\\''ll hear Him knock)..\r\n\r\nAttire: Come as you are... grubbies are okay. He\\''ll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last..\r\n\r\nTickets: Admission is free. He\\''s already paid for everyone... (He says we would not have been able to afford it... it\\''s cost Him everything He had!!)..\r\n\r\nRefreshments: New wine, bread and a far-out drink He calls \\"living water, followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!!\r\n\r\nGift Suggestions: Your heart. He\\''s one of those people who already has everything else. (He\\''s very generous in return though just wait until you see what He has for you)..\r\n\r\nEntertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in Paradise, and much more! (All rated \\"G\\" so bring your family and friends)..\r\n\r\nR.SV.P.: Very Important! He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table. Also, he\\''s keeping a list of His friends for future reference. (He calls it the \\"Lamb\\''s Book of Life\\").\r\n\r\nParty Being Given By His Kids (That\\''s us) Hope To See You There!\r\n\r\n\\"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.\\" (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) ...\r\n\r\n\\''Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!\\''\r\n\r\nRevelation 19:7-9 NIV', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (210, 'I Am There', 'Author Unknown', 'Do you need me? \r\nI am there. \r\nYou cannot see me, yet, I am the light you see by. \r\nYou cannot hear Me, yet, I speak through your voice. \r\nYou cannot feel Me, yet, I am the power at work through your hands. \r\nI am at work, though you do not understand my ways. \r\nI am at work, though you do not recognize my works. \r\nI am not strange visions. \r\nI am no mystery. \r\nOnly in absolute stillness, beyond self, can you know Me as I am ~ then \r\nbut as a feeling and as a faith. \r\nYet, I am here. \r\nYet, I hear. \r\nYet, I answer. \r\nWhen you need Me, I am there. \r\nEven if you deny Me I am there. \r\nEven in your fears, I am there. \r\nEven in your pain, I am there. \r\nI am there when you pray and when you do not pray. \r\nI am in you and you are in Me. \r\nOnly in your mind can you feel separate from Me, for only in your mind \r\nare the myths of \\"yours\\" and \\"mine.\\" \r\nYet only in your mind can you know Me and experience Me. \r\nEmpty your heart of empty fears. When you get yourself out of the \r\nway, I am there. \r\nYou can of yourself do nothing, but I can do all. \r\nAnd, I am in all. \r\nThough you may not see the good, good is there, for I am there. \r\nI am there because I have to be, for I AM. \r\nOnly in Me does the world have meaning. \r\nOnly in Me does the world take form. \r\nOnly because of me does the world go forward. \r\nI am the law in which the movement of the stars and the growth of living \r\ncells are founded. \r\nI am the Love that is fulfilling. \r\nI am the assurance. \r\nI am the peace. \r\nI am the oneness. \r\nI am the law that you can live by. \r\nI am the Love that you can cling to. \r\nI am your assurance. \r\nI am your peace. \r\nI am the one with you. \r\nI AM. \r\nThough you fail Me, I do not fail you. \r\nThough your faith is in Me is unsure, My faith never waivers, because I \r\nknow you, because I love you. \r\nBELOVED, I am there. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (211, 'I Corinthians For Mothers ', 'Author Unknown', 'If I keep my house immaculately clean, and am envied by all for my interior decorating, but do not show love in my family -- I am just another housewife. \r\n\r\nIf I\\''m always producing lovely things - sewing, art; if I always look attractive, and speak intelligently, but am not loving to my family -- I am nothing. \r\n\r\nIf I\\''m busy in community affairs, teach Sunday School, and drive in the carpool, but fail to give adequate love to my family -- I gain nothing. \r\n\r\nLove changes diapers, cleans up messes, and ties shoes - over and over again. \r\n\r\nLove is kind, though tired and frazzled. \r\n\r\nLove doesn\\''t envy another woman -- one whose children are \\"spaced\\" better, or in school so she has time to pursue her own interests. \r\n\r\nLove doesn\\''t try to impress others with my abilities or knowledge as as a mother. \r\n\r\nLove doesn\\''t scream at the kids. \r\n\r\nLove doesn\\''t feel cheated because I didn\\''t get to do what I wanted to do today -- sew, read, soak in a hot tub. \r\n\r\nLove doesn\\''t lose my temper easily. \r\n\r\nLove doesn\\''t assume that my children are being naughty just because their noise level is irritating. \r\n\r\nLove doesn\\''t rejoice when other people\\''s children misbehave and make mine look good. \r\n\r\nLove is genuinely happy when others are honored by their children. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (212, 'A Different Kind of Christian', 'Author Unknown', 'A worldchanger is someone who is committed to do just that, change the world. A worldchanger is not someone who blends in. A worldchanger sticks out! \r\n\r\nA Worldchanger stands up ready to make a difference. A worldchanger goes beyond the usual expectations of Christianity. A worldchanger finds the most intense demands that Jesus places on Christians and doesn\\''t shy away but goes after then passionately and does whatever it takes to get the job done! \r\n\r\nShe is not just doing it because her parents make her or because the youth pastor bribes her. A worldchanger has been radically, completely, and totally changed by a relationship with God! \r\n\r\nChristianity is not some boring thing that a person halfheartedly commits to just because they have been in church their whole lives. You are not hanging on to your parents Christianity. \r\n\r\nA worldchanger had found Jesus for them-- not just for mom and dad or just for the pastor. And because Jesus died for them, they are ready to give their lives for him. Christianity. is not just lip service. \r\n\r\nWorldchangers have a fervor to seek God with all of their hearts, and to do everything they can to let the world know that God is real and that he is alive! Worldchangers are not stuck in a bunch of boring rules and regulations, but they have the fire of the living God burning inside them! And they just can\\''t keep it inside of them. \r\n\r\nWorldchangers are serious about learning the word of God and then taking that word and applying it to their lives. Worldchangers are constantly changing and becoming more and more like Jesus. \r\n\r\nWorldchangers develop a vision for their community and do everything they can to take the living Christ to a lost and dying world! \r\n\r\nWorldchangers are sick and tired of a watered down, namby-pamby Christianity.! They want the real thing and don\\''t care how hard it hits them or what parts of their lives they have to change. \r\n\r\nThey are sick and tired of the attitude that lukewarm Christians bring into the church, and they are ready to do something about it! They are especially ready to attack attitudes in their own lives! \r\n\r\nA Worldchanger loves the Lord with all of his/her heart, soul, mind, and strength and loves his neighbor as himself. Write this scripture down. Carry it with you! Begin to pray over what you have just learned about a worldchanger. ', 'ChristianStories.com');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (213, 'A Letter To You From Satan ', 'Author Unknown', 'I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray.  As a matter of fact, you didn\\''t even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night.  You are so unthankful.  I like that about you.   \r\n\r\nI cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living.  Fool!  You are mine.  Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don\\''t love you yet.  As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God.  I am only using you to get even with God.  He kicked me out of heaven, and I\\''m going to use you as long as possible to pay him back.   \r\n\r\nYou see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you.  But you have yielded your life to me and I\\''m going to make your life a living hell.  That way we\\''ll be together twice. THIS WILL REALLY HURT GOD!  Thanks to you.  I\\''m really showing Him who\\''s boss in your life. With all of the good times we\\''ve had.....  We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, partying, stealing, lying, hypocriting, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults and those in leadership position, NO respect for the church, bad attitudes: SURELY you don\\''t want to give all this up!   \r\nCOME ON, Fool, let\\''s burn together forever.  I\\''ve got some  plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you.  I\\''d like to say \\"THANKS\\" for letting me use  you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible.  I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in.  HA HA HA  You make me sick!   \r\n\r\nSin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older. I need new blood.  So go ahead and teach some children how to sin.  All you have to do is smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and listen to and dance to the top 10 jams. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.    \r\n\r\nWell, Fool, I have to let you go for now.  I\\''ll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again.  IF YOU WERE SMART, you would run somewhere, CONFESS YOUR SINS, LIVE FOR GOD with what little bit of life that you have left. It\\''s not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it\\''s becoming a bit ridiculous. Don\\''t get me wrong, I still hate you......  IT\\''S JUST THAT YOU\\''D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST.  \r\nP.S. - And if you really love me, you won\\''t share this letter with anyone. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (214, 'A Light For God\\''s House ', 'Author Unknown', 'In a mountain village in Europe a long time ago, a nobleman wondered what gift he could present to his townspeople. At last he decided to build them a church. No one saw the complete plans for the church until it was finished. When the people gathered, they marvelled at it\\''s beauty. \r\n\r\nThen someone asked,\\"But where are the lamps? How will it be lighted?\\" The nobleman pointed to some brackets in the walls. then he gave them each family a lamp, asking them to bring these with them each time they came to worship. \r\n\r\n\\"Each time you are in church, the area where you are seated will be lighted,\\" the nobleman said. \\"Each time you are not here, that area will be dark. this is to remind you that whenever you fail to come to church, some part of God\\''s house will be dark.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (217, '24 Hour Period ', 'Author Unknown', 'God: \\"Whew! I just created a 24-hour period of alternating light and darkness on Earth.\\" \r\n\r\nAngel: \\"What are you going to do now?\\" \r\n\r\nGod: \\"Call it a day.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (218, 'A Child\\''s ABC\\''s ', 'Author Unknown', 'A grandfather overheard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in reverent, hushed tones. \r\n\r\n\\"What are you doing?\\" he asked. \r\n\r\n\\"I\\''m praying, Grandpa,\\" she said. \\"I can\\''t think of the right words, so I just say all the letters. God will put them together for me, \\''cause he knows what I\\''m thinking.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (219, 'A Little Boy\\''s Prayer ', 'Author Unknown', '\\"Dear God, please take care of my daddy and my mommy and my sister and my brother and my doggy and me. \r\n\r\nOh, please take care of yourself, God. If anything happens to you, we\\''re gonna be in a big mess.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (220, 'A Preacher\\''s Dying Wish', 'Author Unknown', 'An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his doctor and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. \r\n\r\nWhen they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit, one on each side of his bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. \r\n\r\nBoth the doctor and the lawyer were touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness and avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats.\r\n\r\nFinally, the doctor said, \\"Preacher, why did you ask us to come?\\" The old preacher mustered up his strength, then said weakly, \\"Jesus died between two thieves ... and that\\''s how I want to go.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (221, 'Atheist In The Woods ', 'Author Unknown', 'An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that the accident of evolution had created. \\"What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!\\" he said to himself. \r\n\r\nAs he walked alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look, just in time to see a 7-foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw the bear closing in on him. He tried to run even faster, so scared that tears were coming to his eyes. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. \r\n\r\nHis heart was pumping frantically as he tried to run even faster, but he tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up and saw the bear right on top of him raising his paw to kill him. \r\n\r\nAt that instant, he cried out, \\"Oh my God!\\" \r\n\r\nJust then, time stopped... The bear froze; the forest was silent; even the river stopped moving. A bright light shone upon the man, and a voice came out of the sky, saying, \\"You deny My existence all of these years; teach others I don\\''t exist; even credit My creation to a cosmic accident, and now do you expect Me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?\\" \r\n\r\nThe atheist, ever so proud, looked into the light and said, \\"It would be rather hypocritical to ask to be a Christian after all these years. But could you make the bear a Christian?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Very well,\\" said the voice. \r\n\r\nAs the light went out, the river ran, the sounds of the forest continued, and the bear put his paw down. The man breathed a sigh of relief. Then the bear brought both paws together, bowed his head and said: \\"Lord, I thank you for this food, which I am about to receive.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (222, 'Bible Riddles ', 'Author Unknown', 'Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? \r\nA. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation. \r\n\r\nQ. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible? \r\nA. Pharaoh\\''s daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out A little prophet. \r\n\r\nQ. What kind of man was Boaz before he got married? \r\nA. Ruth-less. \r\n\r\nQ. Who was the first drug addict in the Bible? \r\nA. Nebuchadnezzar. He was on grass for seven years. \r\n\r\nQ. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible? \r\nA. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. \r\nA. David\\''s Triumph was heard throughout the land. \r\nA. Honda...because the apostles were all in one Accord. \r\nA. 2 Cor. 48 describes going out in service in a Volkswagen Beetle: \\"We are pressed in every way, but not cramped beyond movement.\\" \r\n\r\nQ. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? \r\nA. Samson. He brought the house down. \r\n\r\nQ. Where is the first baseball game in the Bible? \r\nA. In the big inning, Eve stole first, Adam stole second. Cain struck out Abel, and the Prodigal Son came home. The Giants and the Angels were rained out. \r\n\r\nQ. What is one of the first things that Adam and Eve did after they were kicked out? \r\nA. They really raised Cain. \r\n\r\nQ. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden? \r\nA. Your mother ate us out of house and home. \r\n\r\nQ. Why was Goliath so surprised when David hit him with a slingshot? \r\nA. The thought had never entered his head before. \r\n\r\nQ. What do they call pastors in Germany? \r\nA. German Shepherds. \r\n\r\nQ. What is the first recorded case of constipation in the Bible? \r\nA. It\\''s in Kings, where it says that David sat on the Throne for forty years. \r\n\r\nQ. Which Bible character had no parents? \r\nA. Joshua, son of Nun. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (223, 'Big Trouble ', 'Author Unknown', 'There were two brothers, 8 and 10 years old, who were exceedingly mischievous. Whatever went wrong in the neighborhood, it turned out they had had a hand in it. Their parents were at their wits\\'' end trying to control them. Hearing about a priest nearby who worked with delinquent boys, the mother suggested to the father that they ask the priest to talk with the boys. The father agreed.\r\n\r\nThe mother went to the priest and made her request.\r\n\r\nHe agreed, but said he wanted to see the younger boy first and alone.\r\n\r\nSo the mother sent him to the priest.\r\n\r\nThe priest sat the boy down across from him at a huge impressive desk.\r\n\r\nFor about five minutes they just sat and stared at each other.\r\n\r\nFinally, the priest pointed his forefinger at the boy and asked, \\"Where is God?\\"\r\n\r\nThe boy looked under the desk, in the corners of the room, all around, but said nothing.\r\n\r\nAgain, louder, the priest pointed at the boy and asked, \\"Where is God?\\"\r\n\r\nAgain the boy looked all around but said nothing.\r\n\r\nA third time, in a louder, firmer voice, the priest leaned far across the desk and put his forefinger almost to the boy\\''s nose, and asked, \\"Where is God?\\"\r\n\r\nThe boy panicked and ran all the way home.\r\n\r\nFinding his older brother, he dragged him upstairs to their room and into the closet, where they usually plotted their mischief.\r\n\r\nHe finally said, \\"We are in BIG trouble.\\"\r\n\r\nThe older boy asked, \\"What do you mean, \\''BIG trouble\\''?\\"\r\n\r\nHis brother replied, \\"God is missing and they think we did it!\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (224, 'Boat Ride', 'Author Unknown', 'A priest was taking a tour of biblical sites, when he came to a beach and saw a boat and a sign advertising, \r\n\r\n\\"TAKE A BOAT RIDE TO THE EXACT PLACE WHERE JESUS WALKED ON WATER!!!\\" \r\n\r\nInquiring about it, he learned that the ride there was free, so he went. \r\n\r\nAfter viewing it, he said to the captain of the boat, \\"Ok, I\\''m done, let\\''s go back now.\\" \\"That\\''ll be $35 to go back.\\" \r\n\r\nThe priest, shocked by the charge, exclaims \\"Dang, no wonder Jesus got out and walked!!!\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (225, 'Brand New You ', 'Author Unknown', 'A middle aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God, she asked \\"Is my time up?\\"\r\n\r\nGod said, \\"No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live.\\"\r\n\r\nUpon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a facelift, liposuction and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and change her hair color. Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it.\r\n\r\nAfter her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance.\r\n\r\nArriving in front of God, she demanded, \\"I though you said I had another 40 years?\\"\r\n\r\nGod replied, \\"I didn\\''t recognize you.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (226, 'Children of Israel ', 'Author Unknown', 'At the Henry Street Hebrew School, Goldblatt, the new teacher, finished the day\\''s lesson. It was now time for the usual question period. \r\n\r\n\\"Mr. Goldblatt,\\" announced little Joey, \\"there\\''s something I can\\''t figure out.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"What\\''s that Joey?\\" asked Goldblatt. \r\n\r\n\\"Well accordin\\'' to the Bible, the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea. Right?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Right.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"And the Children of Israel beat up the Philistines, right?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Er--right.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"And the Children of Israel built the Temple, right?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Again, you\\''re right.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"And the Children of Israel fought the Egyptians, and the Children of Israel fought the Romans, and the Children of Israel were always doin\\'' somethin\\'' important. Right?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"All that is right, too,\\" agreed Goldblatt. \\"So, what\\''s your question?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"What I wanna know is this,\\" demanded Joey. \\"What were all the grown-ups doin\\''\\"? ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (227, 'Christian Alphabet ', 'Author Unknown', 'A lthough things are not perfect \r\nB ecause of trial or pain \r\nC ontinue in thanksgiving \r\nD o not begin to blame. \r\nE ven when the times are hard \r\nF ierce winds are bound to blow \r\nG od is forever able \r\nH old on to what you know. \r\nI magine life without His love \r\nJ oy would cease to be \r\nK eep thanking Him for all the things \r\nL ove imparts to thee.\r\nM ove out of \\"Camp Complaining\\" \r\nN o weapon that is known \r\nO n earth can yield the power \r\nP raise can do alone. \r\nQ uit looking at the future \r\nR edeem the time at hand \r\nS tart every day with worship \r\nT o \\"thank\\" is a command. \r\nU ntil we see Him coming \r\nV ictorious in the sky \r\nW e\\''ll run the race with gratitude \r\nX alting God most high. \r\nY es, there will be good times and yes some will be bad, but... \r\nZ ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad! \r\n\r\n\\"Too blessed to be stressed!\\" The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Be Blessed.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (228, 'Christian Bears ', 'Author Unknown', 'A minister was walking through the woods and came face to face with a huge bear. He fell down on his knees and prayed, \\"Father, please make this bear a Christian!\\" \r\n\r\nWhile he was praying he heard a big \\"Thud\\". \r\n\r\nHe opened his eyes to see the bear right in front of him on his knees with his paws held together as if in prayer. \r\n\r\nThe minister let out a sigh of relief, and then he heard the bear say, \\"Father, bless this meal I am about to receive...\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (229, 'Christian Joke', 'Author Unknown', 'There was this gracious lady mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. \r\n\r\n\\"Is there anything breakable in here?\\" asked the postal clerk. \\"Only the Ten Commandments,\\" answered the lady.', 'Source:  ChristianStories.com');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (230, 'Christian Math ', 'Author Unknown', 'A ten year old public school boy was finding fifth grade math to be the challenge of his life. Science? A piece of cake. Geography? No big deal. Spelling? Ha! Give me a break...but MATH? It was devastating! To not only him, but his mom and dad, too! And not that they weren\\''t doing everything and anything to help their son...Private tutors, peer assistance, CD-ROMS, Textbooks, even HYPNOSIS! Nothing worked. \r\n\r\nFinally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enroll their son in a private school. Not just ANY private school, but a Catholic school. Nuns. Daily mass. The whole shootin\\'' match. Well, the first day of school finally arrived, and dressed in his salt-and-pepper cords and white wool dress shirt and blue cardigan sweater, the youngster ventured out into the great unknown. His mother and father were convinced they were doing the right thing. They were both there waiting for their son when he returned home. \r\n\r\nAnd when he walked in with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face, they hoped they had made the right choice. He walked right past them and went straight to his room - and quietly closed the door. \r\n\r\nFor nearly two hours he toiled away in his room - with math books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He only emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, he went straight back to his room, closed the door, and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime. \r\n\r\nThis pattern continued ceaselessly until it was time for the first quarter report card. After school, the boy walked into the home with his report card - unopened - in his hand. Without a word, he dropped the envelope on the family dinner table and went straight to his room. His parents were petrified. What lay inside the envelope? Success? Failure? DOOM?!? Patiently, cautiously the mother opened the letter, and to her amazement, she saw a bright red \\"A\\" under the subject, MATH. Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son\\''s room, thrilled at the remarkable progress of their young son! \r\n\r\n\\"Was it the nuns that did it?\\", the father asked. \r\n\r\nThe boy only shook his head and said, \\"No.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Was it the one-on-one tutoring? The peer-mentoring?\\", asked the mother. \r\n\r\nAgain, the boy shrugged, \\"No.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"The textbooks? The teacher? The curriculum?\\", asked the father. \r\n\r\n\\"Nope,\\" said the son. \\"It was all very clear to me from the very first day of school, that these folks in Catholic school meant business!\\" \r\n\r\n\\"How so?\\", asked his mom. \r\n\r\n\\"When I walked into the lobby, and I saw that guy they\\''d nailed to the plus sign, I knew they meant business!\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (231, 'Christian Pickup Lines ', 'Author Unknown', '1) Nice bible.\r\n\r\n2) I would like to pray with you.\r\n\r\n3) You know Jesus? Me too.\r\n\r\n4) God told me to come talk to you. \r\n\r\n5) I know a church where we could go and talk.\r\n\r\n6) How about a hug, sister? \r\n\r\n7) Do you need help carrying your bible? It looks heavy. \r\n\r\n8) Christians don\\''t shake hands, Christians gotta hug. \r\n\r\n9) Oh you are cold, Ecclesiastes 4:11.\r\n\r\n10) Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven? \r\n\r\n11) What are your plans for tonight? Feel like a bible study? \r\n\r\n12) I am here for you. \r\n\r\n13) The word says \\"Give drink to those who are thirsty, and feed the hungry.\\" How about dinner? \r\n\r\n14) You don\\''t have an accountability partner? Me neither. \r\n\r\n15) Do you want to come over and watch the Ten Commandments tonight? \r\n\r\n16) Is it a sin that you stole my heart? \r\n\r\n17) Would you happen to know a Christian woman (man) that I could love with all my heart and wait on hand and foot? \r\n\r\n18) Nice bracelet (WWJD). What would Jesus date? I mean \\"do.\\" \r\n\r\n19) Do you believe in Divine appointment? \r\n\r\n20) Have you ever tried praying at a drive-in movie before? \r\n\r\n21) Excuse me, I believe one of your ribs belongs to me.\r\n\r\n22) My friend told me to come and meet you, he said that you are a really nice person. I think you know him. Jesus, yeah, that\\''s hisname. \r\n\r\n23) You know they say that you have never really dated, until you have dated a Christian.\r\n\r\n24) Yeah I predicted David over Goliath. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (232, 'Signs Seen In Front Of Churches ', 'Author Unknown', '\\"Looking for a sign from God? This is it.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No God -- No Peace. Know God -- Know Peace.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!\\"\r\n\r\nAn ad for St.Joseph\\''s Episcopal Church has a picture of two hands holdingstone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline thatreads, \\"For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\nWhen the restaurant next to the Lutheran Church put out a big sign with red \r\n\r\nletters that said, \\"Open Sundays,\\" the church reciprocated with its own \r\n\r\nmessage: \\"We are open on Sundays, too.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons -- come hear one!\\" \r\n\r\n\r\nA singing group called \\"The Resurrection\\" was scheduled to sing at a church. \r\n\r\nWhen a big snowstorm postponed the performance, the pastor fixedthe outside \r\n\r\nsign to read, \\"The Resurrection is postponed.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"People are like tea bags -- you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\\"God so loved the world that He did not send a committee.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!\\" \r\n\r\n\\"When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out alright.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Sign broken: Message inside this Sunday.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Fight truth decay . . . study the Bible daily.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Where will you be sitting in eternity? Smoking or non-smoking?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is \r\n\r\nlow. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I am going to waste, but Jesus recycled me.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Our arms are the only ones God has to hug His children.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\\"It is unlikely there\\''ll be a reduction in the wages of sin.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"If you\\''re headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"If you don\\''t like the way you were born, try being born again.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire \r\n\r\ninsurance soon.\\" \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Forbidden fruit creates many jams.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"In the dark? Follow the Son.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"If you can\\''t sleep, don\\''t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"God is on high . . . get your lift tickets here.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (233, 'Daddy, How Much Do You Make An Hour?', 'Author Unknown', 'With a timid voice and idolizing eyes, the little boy greeted his father as he returned from work, \\"Daddy, how much do you make an hour?\\"   \r\n\r\nGreatly surprised, but giving his boy a glaring look, the father said: \\"Look, son, not even your mother knows that. Don\\''t bother me now, I\\''m tired.\\"   \r\n\r\n\\"But Daddy, just tell me please!? How much do you make an hour,\\" the boy insisted.   \r\n\r\nThe father finally giving up replied: \\" Twenty dollars per hour.\\"   \r\n\\"Okay, Daddy? Could you loan me ten dollars?\\" the boy asked.   \r\n\r\nShowing restlessness and positively disturbed, the father yelled:   \r\n\\"So that was the reason you asked how much I earn, right?? Go to sleep and don\\''t bother me anymore!\\"   \r\n\r\nIt was already dark and the father was meditating on what he had said and was feeling guilty. Maybe he thought, his son wanted to buy something.   \r\n\r\nFinally, trying to ease his mind, the father went to his son\\''s room.   \r\n\\"Are you asleep son?\\" asled the father.   \r\n\\"No, Daddy. Why?\\" replied the boy partially asleep.   \r\n\\"Here\\''s the money you asked for earlier,\\" the father said.   \r\n\r\n\\"Thanks, Daddy!\\" rejoiced the son, while putting his hand under his pillow and removing some money.   \r\n\r\n\\"Now I have enough! Now I have twenty dollars!\\" the boy said to his father, who was gazing at his son, confused at what his son just said. \\"Daddy could you sell me one hour of your time?\\"   ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (234, 'Divine Code Writing', 'Author Unknown', 'Between moments of dispensing wisdom, managing things ecclesiastic, and occasionally intervening in world affairs, it seems that earth\\''s religious leaders had also learned computer programming. One day, a great contest was held to test their skills. \r\n\r\nAfter days and days of fierce competition, only two leaders remained for the last day\\''s event: Jesus and Mohammed. The judge described the software application required for the final test, and gave the signal to start writing code.   \r\n\r\nThe two contestants feverishly typed away on their keyboards. Routines, classes, applets and applications flew by on their screens at incredible speeds.  Windows, dialogs, and other intricate graphics began forming on their monitors.  The clock showed that the contest would soon be finished.   Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed and the power went out.  \r\n\r\nAfter a moment it came back on-just in time for the clock to announce that at last, the competition was over. The judge asked the two contestants to reveal their finished software.   Mohammed angrily said that he\\''d lost it all in the power outage. The judge turned to the other competitor. Jesus smiled, clicked a mouse and a dazzling application appeared on his screen.  \r\n\r\nAfter just a few moments, the judge was clearly impressed and declared Jesus the victor.   When asked what made the difference on which the decision was made, the judge said that the unique characteristic which set the winner apart from all the other leaders was that:   . . .   \\"Jesus saves.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (235, 'Do You Have A Brain?', 'Author Unknown', 'It is not at all uncommon in our day to meet people who insist that no intelligent person can accept what is not in complete agreement with human reason or what lies outside the realm of human experience. Which reminds us of how an aged Quaker once confronted a young rationalist. \r\n\r\nThis young man declared: \\";I will not believe in the existence of what has never been seen; we are creatures of reason you know. \r\n\r\n\\"Have you ever seen France?\\" queried the old Quaker.. \\"No, sir, but others have, and so my reason allows me to believe in its existence upon their testimony. \\"Ah, you will believe only in what you or another has seen.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"That\\''s it, you have my idea exactly.\\"\r\n\\"Have you ever seen your brains?\\"\r\n\\"No, sir.\\"\r\n\\"Have you ever met anyone who has seen them?\\"\r\n\\"No sir.\\"\r\n\\"Do you believe you have any?\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (236, 'Does Everyone Know the Story of the Good Samaritan?  ', 'Author Unknown', ' \r\n\r\nA Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. \r\n\r\nShe described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then she asked the class, \\"If you saw a person lying on the roadside all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?\\" \r\n\r\nA thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence. \\"I think I\\''d be sick.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (237, 'Does God Exist? ', 'Author Unknown', 'There were two roommates in college, one a believer and one not. One day they were discussing the validity of God. The believer said to the non-believer, give me five good reasons why God does not exist and we will go from there. The nonbeliever thought for a while and finally came up with his five reasons. He said to the believer, \\"can you see God?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No,\\" said the believer.\r\n\r\n\\"Can you smell God?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Not really,\\" said the believer. \r\n\r\n\\"Can you touch God?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No,\\" said the believer. \r\n\r\n\\"What about taste?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No,\\" said the believer. \r\n\r\n\\"Well can you hear God?\\". \r\n\r\n\\"Well, ya I can hear God, in the wind and stuff\\". \r\n\r\n\\"Well,\\" said the nonbeliever, \\"four out five, God does not exist.\\" \r\n\r\nThe believer thought and asked for a while to think about it. Finally he came back and said to his friend, \\"Okay. Can you touch your brain?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Can you see your brain?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Nope.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Can you smell your brain?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"What about hear it?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I guess not,\\" replied the nonbeliever \r\n\r\n\\"Then can you taste your brain?\\" \r\n\r\n\\"No.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"Well then,\\" said the believer, \\"I guess it is pretty obvious. Five out five, you have no brain.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (238, 'Dressing Up As Satan', 'Author Unknown', 'A lady\\''s sick of her husband\\''s drinking, so she decides to teach him a lesson. \r\n\r\nShe dresses up like Satan, and when her husband walks in from being out all night, she jumps out from behind the sofa and screams. He says, \\"You don\\''t scare me. I\\''m married to your sister.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (239, 'Drum by a Barrel ', 'Author Unknown', 'Cruising up the lake I drove\r\nBeyond my normal fishing holes\r\nSearching for that special one\r\nto have a little splendid fun \r\n\r\nWhen to my left I spot a scene\r\nA quiet cove beyond all dreams\r\nTurning sharply on the wheel\r\nI throttle down and grab my reel\r\n\r\nFlip the troller - speed at a crawl\r\nSet to cast and drop my jaw!\r\nNO FISHING Here Beyond This Rope\r\nRead the sign nailed to a float\r\n\r\nWhat rule is this that cramps my style\r\nI\\''ve searched far and long - come many a mile\r\nBy who\\''s authority to hold me back?\r\nI felt my rights were under attack\r\n\r\nI didn\\''t know the owner\\''s name\r\nSome say he\\''s crazy some say he\\''s sane\r\nOther declare he\\''s long past gone\r\nBut all I knew this sign was wrong!\r\n\r\nThe lake was mine in all its glory\r\nStill I thirst for more, so here\\''s the story\r\nI pushed the rope down with my oar\r\nDrowning the sign I chose to ignore\r\n\r\nStealth like gliding I made my way\r\nToward some hickory trees in decay\r\nFurther in the air grew stale\r\nThe water dingy it had a smell\r\n\r\nFocus now - this is your chance\r\nIf I can woo her I\\''ll do my dance\r\nThere\\''s my ticket - a sunken barrel \r\nTossed my spinner and gave it a whirl\r\n\r\nWhen in a flash I felt a bump\r\nKnew in a jiffy I was not skunked!\r\nI felt a shimmer shoot up my spine\r\n>From something tugging the end of my line\r\n\r\nI have you now, you beautiful thing\r\nIt\\''s what I came for - my voice in sing\r\nI have to admit she put up a fight\r\nBut it was useless under my might.\r\n\r\nTo the spoils - reaching down to grab her\r\nLifting her high in triumphant gesture\r\nOh me! Oh my! What have I done?\r\nIt\\''s not a bass, but a sleazy Old Drum!\r\n\r\nBefore I knew it she gave me the slip \r\nSliding behind me slapping my hip.\r\nShe flipped and flopped with no shame or regret\r\nas she knocked over tackle and slimed up the deck \r\n\r\nWhat in the world have you done to me?\r\nGet out of here before someone sees!\r\nFor I am a bass man, a true one untold\r\nA long standing member, a name to uphold\r\n\r\nI lunged out at her with a snarl and a shout \r\nBut hooked my shoe on the lure she spit out\r\nLosing my balance I fell like a tree\r\nLanding in ooze skinning my knee\r\n\r\nLying beside her I smelled her stench breath\r\nI started to gag, longing for death \r\nGet out you - you boat wrecker! I said with a cry\r\nAs I squeezed her ungently around her soft sides \r\n\r\nI flung her over, yet not soon enough\r\nFor she let out on me mustard like stuff\r\nI lay there in horror feeling dirty inside\r\nNot knowing to gun it or sink down and hide\r\n\r\nHow did this happen? Why to me?\r\nWiping my face on the end of my sleeve\r\nThat Stupid fish! I grimaced in pain\r\nThen let out a chuckle knowing who was to blame\r\n\r\nSee, I\\''d ignored the sign, and broken the law\r\nThought it was decrepit, with one or two flaws\r\nBut that did not change the fact of its power\r\nFor had I obeyed I\\''d be fishing this hour\r\n\r\nNow this was a warning from a No Fishing sign\r\nImagine leaving God\\''s Commandments behind\r\nWhether you treat it like an old artifact\r\nStuffed in a glass case or hid out back\r\n\r\nThe results for breaking will still be the same\r\nFor there\\''s power in those words because of \\"His Name\\"\r\nAlive and unchanging from beginning to end\r\nHe wrote them to guide us - they will not bend\r\n\r\nThere\\''s a silver lining this poem will address\r\nThat our Lord is forgiving if we only confess\r\nHe gave his Son for the price of our sins\r\nSo we can have peace and life forever with Him \r\n\r\nSo as we dust off our rigs this spring \r\nAnd add to our reels new store bought string\r\nLet us remember this Easter Holiday\r\nChrist passion for us on Good Friday\r\n\r\nMay your trips be frequent, your bass none too few\r\nYour horses run strong, and your stories half true\r\nEnjoy God\\''s creation in all its majestic apparel\r\nOh! And stay away from the drum that lives by a barrel!', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (241, 'E-mail From God', 'Author Unknown', 'One day God was looking down at Earth and saw all of the evil that was going on. He decided to send an angel down to Earth to check it out. \r\n\r\nSo he called one of His best angels and sent the angel to Earth for a time. \r\n\r\nWhen the angel returned she told God, yes it is bad on Earth, 95% is bad and 5% is good. Well, God thought for a moment and said \\"Maybe I had better send down a second angel, to get another point of view.\\" \r\n\r\nSo God called another angel and sent her to Earth for a time too.\r\n\r\nWhen the angel returned she went to God and told Him yes, the Earth was in decline, 95% was bad and 5% was good. God said this was not good. \r\n\r\nSo He decided to E-mail the 5% that were good. He wanted to encourage them..............give them a little something to help them keep going.\r\n\r\nDo you know what that E-mail said? ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (242, 'Fix the Fence or Else', 'Author Unknown', 'Seems St. Peter and the Devil had an agreement to share the costs of maintaining the fence between Heaven and Hell. \r\n\r\nOne weekend there was a bit of a brawl in Hell that got out of hand, and part of the fence was smashed. It went unfixed for weeks and St. Peter approached the Devil about mending it. \r\n\r\nNothing happened over the period of a month. \r\n\r\nFinally, in exasperation, St. Peter said he would sue the Devil if he didn\\''t pay up. \r\n\r\n\\"Oh\\" retorted the Devil, \\"and where are you going to find a lawyer?\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (243, 'God ', 'Author Unknown', 'Once there was a man, \r\nAs lonely as could be, \r\nHe sat alone, \r\nHe slept alone, \r\nThen thought came to he, \r\nHe needed land, \r\nAnd water too, \r\nSolid green, \r\nand liquid blue, \r\nHe needed a ball, \r\nWith inner light, \r\nIt needed a name, \r\nSun sounded right, \r\nHe needed plants, \r\nTo give off shade, \r\nhe snapped his fingers, \r\nand trees were made, \r\nHe needed creatures, \r\nTo amuse his day, \r\nSo animals were born, \r\non every cay, \r\nBut something wasn\\''t right, \r\nThe notion wouldn\\''t leave, \r\nThen he thought of humans, \r\nKnown now as Adam and Eve.', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (244, 'God Has Great Morning Breath', 'Julie Gracie', 'One morning I went into my daughters room to wake her up to get ready for school. I laid my head on her chest and gave her a hug. She sighed, and her breath rolled down my face. \r\n\r\n\\"Whew! You\\''ve got some serious morning breath!\\" I said. She laughed and we proceeded with the morning routine. \r\n\r\nAs we headed out the door to leave, a gust of wind came up and almost blew us off the porch. In the innocence of a second grade voice, my daughter said, \\"Wow mom! God\\''s got great morning breath!\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (245, '\\"God Speaks\\" Billboards   ', 'Author Unknown', 'Some new billboards are getting attention in Cleveland. Some reported seeing one or two messages, but the newspaper listed all of them. Here\\''s a list of all variations of the \\"God Speaks\\" billboards. \r\n\r\nThe billboards are a simple black background with white text. No fine print or sponsoring organization is included. \r\n\r\nHere they are: \r\n\r\nLet\\''s meet at my house Sunday before the game. -God \r\n\r\nC\\''mon over and bring the kids. -God \r\n\r\nWhat part of \\"Thou Shalt Not...\\" didn\\''t you understand? -God \r\n\r\nWe need to talk. -God \r\n\r\nKeep using my name in vain, I\\''ll make rush hour longer. -God \r\n\r\nLoved the wedding, invite me to the marriage. -God \r\n\r\nThat \\"Love Thy Neighbor\\" thing... I meant it. -God \r\n\r\nI love you and you and you and you and... -God \r\n\r\nWill the road you\\''re on get you to my place? -God Follow me. -God \r\n\r\nBig bang theory, you\\''ve got to be kidding. -God \r\n\r\nMy way is the highway. -God \r\n\r\nNeed directions? -God You think it\\''s hot here? -God \r\n\r\nHave you read my #1 best seller? There will be a test. -God \r\n\r\nDo you have any idea where you\\''re going? -God \r\n\r\nDon\\''t make me come down there. -God ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (246, 'Good For The Soul  ', 'Author Unknown', 'Last week i took my children to a restaurant. My six year old son asked if he could say grace, as we bowed our heads he said, \\"God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!\\" \r\n\r\nAlong with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, \\"That\\''s what\\''s wrong with this country, kids today don\\''t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!\\"\r\n\r\nHearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, \\"Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me? \\"\r\n\r\nAs I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him. An elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, \\"I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.\\" Really? My son asked. \\"Cross my heart.\\" Then in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), \\"Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes\\"\r\n\r\nNaturally, i bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal.\r\n\r\nMy son stared at his ice cream for a moment and then did something i will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her,\\" Here, this is for you, ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already.\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (247, 'Grace ', 'Author Unknown', 'After twenty years of shaving himself every morning, a man in a small Southern town decided he had enough. He told his wife that he intended to let the local barber shave him each day. He put on his hat and coat and went to the barber shop, which was owned by the pastor of the town\\''s Baptist church.   \r\n\r\nThe barber\\''s wife, Grace, was working that day, so she performed the task. Grace shaved him and sprayed him with lilac water and said, \\"That will be $20.\\" The man thought the price was a bit high, but he paid the bill and went to work.   \r\n\r\nThe next morning the man looked in the mirror and his face was as smooth as it had been when he left the barber shop the day before. \\"Not bad,\\" he thought, \\"At least I don\\''t need to get a shave every day.\\"   \r\n\r\nThe next morning the man\\''s face was still smooth! Two weeks later the man was STILL unable   \r\nto find any trace of whiskers on his face. It was more than he could take, so he returned to the barber shop.   \r\n\r\n\\"I thought $20 was high for a shave,\\" he told the barber\\''s wife, \\"but you must have done a great job. It\\''s been two weeks and my whiskers still haven\\''t started growing back.\\" The expression on her face didn\\''t even change, expecting his comment. She responded, \\"You were shaved by Grace. Once shaved, always shaved.\\"\r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (248, 'Holy Fire ', 'Author Unknown', 'There had been rumors in the city about strange calls that made the receiver vanish, go blind, get deaf and even die. \r\n\r\nOne Monday morning while a minister was studying his cell phone rang and he picked it up and saw an unknown number, not sure who it was he did not answer, the phone rang again and it was the same number, still not convinced he refused to answer the phone. \r\n\r\nThe phone kept on ringing, and remembering the rumors in town, the minister picked up the phone and screamed FIRE and the voice at the other end trembling answered timidly, its me James your son in the Lord. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (249, 'HMO Nurse ', 'Author Unknown', 'Three nurses all arrived at the gates of Heaven at the same time and were met by Saint Peter. St Peter asked one nurse, \\"How have you spent your life?\\" \r\n\r\nShe replied, \\"I was an emergency room nurse. I was stressed out a lot and we couldn\\''t save everyone, but we did help many and did a lot of good.\\" \r\n\r\nSaint Peter said, \\"Go right in!\\" He asked the next nurse, \\"How did you spend your life?\\" She answered, \\"I was a hospice nurse. \r\n\r\nIt was depressing some times because as you know, we are there to help the terminally ill and all the patients die, but still I think we helped a lot of people and did some good.\\" \r\n\r\nSaint Peter said,\\"Go right in!\\" He turned to the third nurse and asked, \\"How have you spent your life?\\" She replied, \\"I was a managed care nurse for an HMO.\\" \r\n\r\nSaint Peter pulled out a calculator, computer, procedures manuals and a slide rule. After much calculating he turned to the last nurse and said, \\"I can approve you for three days in Heaven.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (250, 'Honk If You Love', 'Author Unknown', 'Got a letter from Grandma the other day. \r\n\r\nShe writes: Today I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a \\"Honk if you love Jesus\\" bumper sticker. \r\n\r\nI was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting, so I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper. I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is, and I didn\\''t notice that the light had changed. It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus, because if he hadn\\''t honked, I\\''d never have noticed! I found that lots of people love Jesus! \r\n\r\nWhy, while I was sitting there, the guy behind me started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, \\"For the love of God! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, go!\\" What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! \r\n\r\nEveryone started honking! I just leaned out of my window and started wavin and smiling at all these loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love! There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yell something about a \\"sunny beach\\"...\r\n\r\nI saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. Then I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, and he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign, or something. Well, I\\''ve never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out of the window and gave him the good luck sign back. My grandson burst out laughing...Why, even he was enjoying this religious experience! \r\n\r\nA couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed that the light had changed. So, I waved to all of my brothers and sisters, grinned, and drove on through the intersection. \r\n\r\nI noticed that I was the only car that got through before the light changed again, and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all of the love that we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window, and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.\r\n\r\nPraise the Lord for such wonderful folks! \r\n\r\nLove, Grandma ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (251, 'How Do You Expect to Get Into Heaven?', 'Author Unknown', 'An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, \\"How do you expect to get into heaven?\\" \r\n\r\nThe boy thought it over and said, \\"Well, I\\''ll just run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, \\''For heaven\\''s sake, Jimmy, come in or stay out.\\''\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (252, 'A Gift Of Love ', 'Author Unknown', '\\"Can I see my baby?\\" the happy new mother asked. \r\n\r\nWhen the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears. \r\n\r\nTime proved that the baby\\''s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was marred. When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother\\''s arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks. \r\n\r\nHe blurted out the tragedy. \\"A boy, a big boy ... called me a freak.\\" \r\n\r\nHe grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. \\"But you might mingle with other young people,\\" his mother reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart. \r\n\r\nThe boy\\''s father had a session with the family physician. Could nothing be done? \\"I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be procured,\\" the doctor decided. \r\n\r\nWhereupon the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by. \r\n\r\nThen, \\"You are going to the hospital, Son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it\\''s a secret,\\" said the father. \r\n\r\nThe operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs. Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. \r\n\r\n\\"But I must know!\\" He urged his father, \\"Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him.\\" \r\n\r\n\\"I do not believe you could,\\" said the father, \\"but the agreement was that you are not to know ... not yet.\\" \r\n\r\nThe years kept their profound secret, but the day did come ... one of the darkest days that a son must endure. He stood with his father over his mother\\''s casket. \r\n\r\nSlowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal that the mother had no outer ears. \r\n\r\n\\"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,\\" he whispered gently, \\"and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?\\" \r\n\r\nReal beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what that cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what that is done but not known. ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (253, 'A Letter From Jesus', 'Author Unknown', 'Dear Friend,                                         \r\n   \r\nI just had to write to tell you how much I love you and care for you.\r\n   \r\nYesterday, I saw you walking and laughing with your friends; I hoped that soon you\\''d want Me to walk along with you, too. So, I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you. I waited; you never called.  I just kept on loving you.  \r\n                                          \r\nAs I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so much to touch you. I spilled moonlight onto your face trickling down your cheeks as so many tears have. You didn\\''t even think of me; I wanted so much to comfort you.                                         \r\n   \r\nThe next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into a glorious morning for you.  But you woke up late and rushed off to work-you didn\\''t evennotice.                                        \r\n\r\nMy sky became cloudy and Mytears were the rain.  \r\n\r\nI love you!  Oh, if you\\''d only listen. I really love you! I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadow and in the blue sky. The wind whispers My love throughout the treetops and spills it into the vibrant colors of the flowers.   \r\n\r\nI shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and composed love songs for birds to sing for you. I warm you with the clothing of My sunshine and perfume the air with nature\\''s sweet scent.  \r\n\r\nMy love for you is deeper than the ocean and greaterthan any need in  your heart. If you\\''d only realize how I care.  I died just for you. My Dad sends His love.  I want you to meet Him. He cares, too. Fathers are just that way.                                         \r\n\r\nSo please call Me soon.  No matter how long it takes, I\\''ll wait because I love you.                                         \r\n   \r\n                                       Your Friend,  \r\n                                                       Jesus ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (254, 'A Letter To Patrick ', 'Author Unknown', 'Dear Patrick, \r\n\r\nI was then an only child who had everything I could ever want. But even a pretty, spoiled and rich kid could get lonely once in a while so when Mom told me that she was pregnant, I was ecstatic. I imagined how wonderful you would be and how we\\''d always be together and how much you would look like me. So, when you were born, I looked at your tiny hands and feet and marveled at how beautiful you were. We took you home and I showed you proudly to my friends. They would touch you and sometimes pinch you, but you never reacted. \r\n\r\nWhen you were five months old, some things began to bother Mom. You seemed so unmoving and numb, and your cry sounded odd -- almost like a kitten\\''s. So we brought you to many doctors. \r\n\r\nThe thirteenth doctor who looked at you quietly said you have the \\"cry du chat\\" (pronounced kree-do-sha) syndrome, \\''cry of the cat\\'' in French. When I asked what that meant, he looked at me with pity and softly said, \\"Your brother will never walk nor talk.\\" The doctor told us that it is a condition that afflicts one in 50,000 babies, rendering victims severely retarded. Mom was shocked and I was furious. I thought it was unfair. \r\n\r\nWhen we went home, Mom took you in her arms and cried. I looked at you and realized that word will get around that you\\''re not normal. So to hold on to my popularity, I did the unthinkable ... I disowned you. \r\n\r\nMom and Dad didn\\''t know but I steeled myself not to love you as you grew. Mom and Dad showered you with love and attention and that made me bitter. And as the years passed, that bitterness turned to anger, and then hate. \r\n\r\nMom never gave up on you. She knew she had to do it for your sake. Every time she put your toys down, you\\''d roll instead of crawl. I watched her heart break every time she took away your toys and strapped your tummy with foam so you couldn\\''t roll. You\\''d struggle and you\\''d cry in that pitiful way, the cry of the kitten. But she still didn\\''t give up. And then one day, you defied what all your doctors said -- you crawled! \r\n\r\nWhen Mom saw this, she knew that you would eventually walk. So when you were still crawling at age four , she\\''d put you on the grass with only your diapers on knowing that you hate the feel of the grass your skin, and smile at your discomfort. You would crawl to the sidewalk and Mom would put you back. Again and again, Mom repeated this on the lawn. Until one day, Mom saw you pull yourself up and toddle off the grass as fast as your little legs could carry you. Laughing and crying, she shouted for Dad and I to come. Dad hugged you crying openly. I watched from my bedroom window this heartbreaking scene. \r\n\r\nOver the years, Mom taught you to speak, read and write. From then on, I would sometimes see you walk outside, smell the flowers, marvel at the birds, or just smile at no one. I began to see the beauty of the world around me, the simplicity of life and the wonders of this world, through your eyes. It was then that I realized that you were my brother and no matter how much I tried to hate you, I couldn\\''t, because I had grown to love you. \r\n\r\nDuring the next few days, we again became acquainted with each other. I would buy you toys and give you all the love that a sister could ever give to her brother. And you would reward me by smiling and hugging me. But I guess, you were never really meant for us. On your tenth birthday, you felt severe headaches. \r\n\r\nThe doctor\\''s diagnosis -- leukemia. Mom gasped and Dad held her, while I fought hard to keep my tears from falling. At that moment, I loved you all the more. I couldn\\''t even bear to leave your side. Then the doctors told us that your only hope was to have a bone marrow transplant. You became the subject of a nationwide donor search. When at last we found the right match, you were too sick, and the doctor reluctantly ruled out the operations. Since then, you underwent chemotherapy and radiation. \r\n\r\nEven at the end, you continued to pursue life. Just a month before you died, you made me draw up a list of things you wanted to do when you got out of the hospital. Two days after the list was completed, you asked the doctors to send you home. There, we ate ice cream and cake, run across the grass, flew kites, went fishing, took pictures of one another and let the balloons fly. \r\n\r\nI remember the last conversation that we had. You said that if you die, and if I need of help, I could send you a note to heaven by tying it on the string any a balloon and letting it fly. When you said this, I started crying. Then you hugged me. Then again, for the last time, you got sick. \r\n\r\nThat last night, you asked for water, a back rub, a cuddle. Finally, you went into seizure with tears streaming down your face. Later, at the hospital, you struggled to talk but the words wouldn\\''t come. I know what you wanted to say. \\"I hear you,\\" I whispered. And for the last time, I said, \\"I\\''ll always love you and I will never forget you. Don\\''t be afraid. You\\''ll soon be with God in heaven.\\" Then, with my tears flowing freely, I watched the bravest boy I had ever known finally stop breathing. Dad, Mom and I cried until I felt as if there were no more tears left. \r\n\r\nPatrick was finally gone, leaving us behind. From then on, you were my source of inspiration. You showed me how to love life and live life to the fullest. With your simplicity and honesty, you showed me a world full of love and caring. And you made me realize that the most important thing in this life is to continue loving without asking why or how and without setting any limit. Thank you, my little brother, for all these. \r\n\r\nYour sister, \r\nSarah \r\n\r\nIt\\''s a LIFE, not a CHOICE \r\n\r\n\\"Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (255, 'A Love Story ', 'Author Unknown', 'One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. \r\nAh, the beauty of God\\''s creation is beyond description. \r\nAs I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. \r\nAs I sat there, I felt the Lord\\''s presence with me.\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  He asked me, \\"Do you love me?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  I answered, \\"Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  Then He asked, \\"If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn\\''t; be able to do, the things that I took for granted.\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  And I answered, \\"It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You.\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  Then the Lord said, \\"If you were blind, would you still love my creation?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  How could I love something without being able to see it?  Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation.\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  So I answered, \\"Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you.\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  The Lord then asked me, \\"If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God\\''s Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts.  I answered, \\"It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word.\\" \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  The Lord then asked, \\"If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  How could I praise without a voice?\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are  persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks.\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  So I answered, \\"Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  And the Lord asked, \\"Do you really love Me?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, \\"Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  I thought I had answered well, but... God asked, \\"THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  I answered, \\"Because I am only human. I am not perfect.\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  \\"THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  No answers. Only tears.\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  The Lord continued: \\"Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so  selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?\\" \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  \\"Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading \r\nthe good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  \\"You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I  have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  \\"DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When I my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, \\"Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child.\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  The Lord answered, \\"That is My Grace, My child.\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  I asked, \\"Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  The Lord answered, \\"Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever.\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God, \\"How much do You love me?\\"\r\n \r\n   \r\n \r\n  The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour. And for the first time, I truly prayed.\r\n', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (256, 'All He Had To Offer ', 'Author Unknown', 'Here is a story, reported to be true, about a nine-year-old boy who lived in a rural town in Tennessee.\r\n\r\nHis house was in a poor area of the community. A church there had a bus Ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday afternoon.\r\n\r\nThe child came to answer the door and greeted the bus Pastor. The bus Pastor asked if his parents were home and the small boy told him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care of his little brother.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe bus Pastor could not believe what the child said and asked him to repeat it.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe youngster gave the same answer and the bus Pastor asked to come in and talk with him. They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the foam and springs exposed. The bus Pastor asked the child, \\"Where do you go to church?\\"\r\n\r\n\r\nThe young boy surprised the visitor by replying, \\"I\\''ve never been to church in my whole life.\\" The bus Pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church was less than three miles from the child\\''s house.\r\n\r\n\r\n\\"Are you sure you have never been to church?\\" he asked again. \\"I\\''m sure I haven\\''t, \\" came his answer.\r\n\r\n\r\nThen the bus Pastor said, \\"Well, son, more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love story ever told?\\" and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine-year-old boy.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe young lad\\''s heart began to be tenderized and at the end of the bus pastor\\''s story, the bus Pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive this free gift from God.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe youngster exclaimed, \\"OF COURSE!\\" The child and the bus Pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his little heart and received the free gift of salvation.\r\n\r\n\r\nThey both stood up and the bus Pastor asked if he could pick the child up for church the next morning. \\"Sure,\\" the nine year old replied.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe bus Pastor got to the house early the next morning and found the lights off.\r\n\r\n\r\nHe let himself in, snaked his way through the house, and found the little boy asleep in his bed. He woke up the little boy and his brother and helped get them dressed. They got on the bus and ate a doughnut for breakfast on their way to church.\r\n\r\n\r\nKeep in mind that this boy had never been to church before. The church was a real big one. The little child just sat there, clueless of what was going on. A few minutes into the service, these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates.\r\n\r\n\r\nOne of the men prayed and the child, with utter fascination, watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still did not know what was going on. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, it hit the child what was taking place.\r\n\r\n\r\nThese people must be giving money to Jesus. He then reflected on the free gift of life he had received just twenty-four hours earlier. He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and could not find a thing to give Jesus.\r\n\r\n\r\nBy this time the offering plate was being passed down his aisle and, with a broken heart, he just grabbed the plate and held on to it. He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him. And then his eyes remained glued on \r\n\r\nthe plate as it was passed back and forth, back and forth all the way to the rear of the sanctuary.\r\n\r\n\r\nThen he had an idea. This little nine-year-old boy, in front of God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat, and asked to hold the plate one more time.\r\n\r\nThen he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of.\r\n\r\n\r\nHe took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor, and stepped into the center of it. As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, \\"Jesus, I don\\''t have anything to give you today, but just me.\r\n\r\nI give you me!\\"', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (257, 'Atheist Couple ', 'Author Unknown', 'There was an atheist couple who had a child. The couple never told their daughter anything about the Lord. \r\n\r\nOne night when the little girl was 5 years old, the parents fought with each other and the dad shot the mom right in front of the child. \r\n\r\nThen, the dad shot himself. The little girl watched it all. She was then sent to a foster home. The foster mom was a Christian and took the child to church. \r\n\r\nOn the first day of Sunday School, the foster mom told the teacher that the girl had never heard of Jesus, and to have patience with her. \r\n\r\nThe teacher held up a picture of Jesus and said, \\"Does anyone know who this is?\\" \r\n\r\nThe little girl said, \\"I do, that\\''s the man who was holding me the night my parents died.\\" ', 'Source Unknown');
INSERT INTO `main` (`Number`, `Title`, `Author`, `Story`, `Source`) VALUES (258, 'Be Encouraged ', 'Author Unknown', '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.   \r\n\r\nIn 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, “Watcha’ doin’ here?”   \r\n\r\nThe old man said, he worked down the road.  Lu