POEMS

Once there were five little X's. They lived in a straight line. They looked like this:

x-----x-----x-----x-----x

Then one day, a great wind came and delivered another X high above the others. The five little X's hated seeing one of their own left out, so they decided to draw a line between themselves and the lonely X. They looked like this:

x
|
|
x-----x-----x-----x-----x

Suddenly, without any warning two of the X's disappeared. That left their connecting lines broken...like this:

x
|
|
x----- -----x----- -----x

As the connecting lines dropped the middle X went to grab one when he suddenly began falling with the line. Good thing the other X's caught him. Now their formation looked something like this:

x
/   \
x    x
\   /
x

One day an angel came upon the X's. It looked very strange and wonderful to the angel, because the angels didn't have halos on their heads. The angel's name was Gabriel. He walked over to the X's and picked up the circle shaped thing.

"I wonder what this thing could be. Maybe it's some sort of disease!" Gabriel thought to himself. "I know, I shall show God this thing." And Gabriel picked up the X's. The X's were very scared.

After a long walk through heaven, Gabriel approached God's house. He knocked on the door. God invited Gabriel in. Gabriel sat on the floor beneath God's throne and showed God the X's. He told God he thought it was some sort of disease.

God stood up and examined the X's. After careful thought, God turned to Gabriel and smiled. "No, it is not a disease, Gabriel. It is a halo!"

"A halo," said Gabriel. "What is that for?" "Why Gabriel, it is for you and the other angels." After saying that, God removed the four little X's from the circle and placed the halo on Gabriel's head.

Gabriel was so very happy and then he turned to God and said, "But what will become of the four little X's?" God still held them in his hand. He opened his hand and said, "They have a very sad, but important task ahead for them. Don't worry. I will take care of them." God took the four little X's and turned them around so they were no longer X's, but crosses. God placed the crosses very carefully on a sheet of purple velvet, which he hung on his wal.

Gabriel was still very confused. "What do they stand for?" Gabriel asked God. God said, "Three of these crosses will be used by men to crucify Jesus, my son, and two theives. The fourth cross will be the cross each man must carry on earth, if they listen and believe in me."

So now, thanks to the little X's and their wonderful idea of unity, angels have halos and we have forgiveness from sins and ever lastng peace.

Lord you lift me up when I am down.
Your love surpasses all realms of reality.
Your love and mercy are an oasis in the desert.
You stretch your arms out like the giant branches of a willow tree,
saying come and rest.
Your forgiveness replentishes the soul.
Your strength gives me renewed life.
Your word helps to lead and guide.
Your touch is like a cool breeze blowing across a scorched land.
Your kindness is like the gentle rain that nourishes the ground.
Your patience is like time standing still, it never ends.
Lord my life without you would be barren.
Lord my life with you is a rebirth.
Lord you taught me how to really love and accept.
Lord you taught me how to have joy, rest and peace.
But most of all lord you've taught me how to trust and believe in you.
Lord I am so grateful that you chose me to be one of your children.
Lord I rededicate my life to you.

Lord, Thou knowest 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 occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everyone'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 Thou knowest Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on aches and pains. They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I do not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

I will not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that I occasionally may be mistaken.

Keep 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.

Amen.

The next time you believe one person can't (or won't) make a difference....remember this story:

Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx of thx kxys.

I havx many timxs wishxd that it workxd pxrfxctly.

It is trux that thxrx arx forty-onx kxys that function wxll xnough, but just onx kxy not working makxs all thx diffxrxncx.

Somxtimxs it sxxms to mx that our church is somxthing likx my typxwritxr --- not all thx kxy pxoplx arx working propxrly.

As onx of thxm, you may say to yoursxlf, "Wxll I am only onx pxrson, I don't makx or brxak thx church."

But it doxs makx a big diffxrxncx, bxcausx a church, to bx xffxctivx, nxxds activx participation of xvxry pxrson.

So, thx nxxt timx your xfforts arx not nxxdxd vxry much, rxmxmbxr my typxwritxr and say to yoursxlf, "I am a kxy pxrson in thx congrxgation and I am nxxdxd vxry much."

This is what happxns to thx wholx church, and multiply thisby many timxs --- thx wholx thing just doxs not makx any sxnsx!

So, don't be a broken key --- be a useful one.

(Author Unkown)

There are two days in every week about
which we should not worry; two days which
should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is yesterday with its
mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders,
its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed
forever beyond our control. All the money
in the world cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed;
we cannot erase a single word we said -
- yesterday is gone!

The other day we should not worry about is
tomorrow with its possible burdens, its
large promise and poor performance.
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate
control. Tomorrow's sunrise, either
in splendor or behind a mask of clouds -
- but it will rise. Until it does we have
no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day -- today! We
can fight the battle of just one day. It is
only when you and I have the burdens in
those two awful eternities -- yesterday and
tomorrow -- that we break down.

It is not the experience of today that drives
us mad -- it is the remorses or bitterness
for something which happened yesterday and
the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, live but one day at a time.

submitted by Dottie Timmons

God knew that everyone needs
Companionship and cheer,
He knew that people need someone
Whose thoughts are always near.

He knew that we need someone kind
To lend a helping hand,
Someone to gladly take the time
To care and understand.

God knew that we all need someone
To share each happy day,
And to be a source of courage
When troubles come our way.

Someone to be true to us
Whether near or far apart,
Someone whose love we can always hold
And treasure in our hearts...

And that's why God gave us friends!

Art Van Why Jr.

Our pastor has a thankless job,
In many different ways;
He gets lots of helpful hints,
But gets so little praise!

The time he has is not his own--
He's not like other men;
Right when he thinks his time is his,
There rings that phone again!

Someone is sick and needs some advice,
And asks for him to call;
And as God's man they know he'll come,
And hardly mind at all.

The wisdom of King Solomon
Is all he needs each day;
To lead his flock and keep them safe,
From Satan's cunning ways!

Like Jesus he prays for his sheep--
Prays faith will never dim;
But when we lift our prayers to God,
How many pray for him?

So let's be faithful to the one,
Who helps us day by day,
Let's not forget the man of God,
When we kneel down to pray!

--from The Sawdust Trail
submitted by Don Ahlgren