*Show, don't just tell*

As a writer, I know that one of the most important concepts of writing is to "show don't just tell".

For instance, if I say "The man walked across the street."

The reader gets the basic knowledge that one man walked from one side of the road to the other. Big deal.

But what if I said, "The old man wore a threadbare coat and dirty brown Fedora as he shuffled slowly across the street, seemingly unaware of the crowded intersection and honking horns."

Hopefully now the reader "sees" the old man making his way across a busy street.

The other day it occurred to me that the 'Show dont tell" principle applied to Christianity as well. We can tell people in our lives that we love them, but if we fail to show them, they may have a hard time believing it.

Think about th elife of Jesus. Did he merely tell those he met that he loved them or did he show them? Time and time again he reached out to those in need. He healed the sick, made the lame walk,the blind to see, and fed those that were hungry.

And he expects us to do the same.

Matthew 25: 34-36

Are we doing for others, or watching others doing all the work?

It just isn't enough for us to call ourselves Christians and tell people about Jesus. We have to show them what His love can do. S as you wrie the sory of your faith before our friends and family, remember "Show, don't just tell"

-By Teresa Bell Kindred

*A Kid Funny*

Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even GOd's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.

And the first thing he said was: "Dont".

"Don't what?" Adam replied.

"Dont eat the forbidden fruit" God said.

Adam: "Forbidden fruit?"

Eve: "We got forbidden fruit?"

Adam: "Hey, eve.. we got forbidden fruit!"

E: "No way"

A: "Way!"

God: "Dont eat that forbidden fruit"

E & A: "Why?!"

"Because I am your father and I said so!" said God, wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants.

A few minutes later God saw his kids having an apple break and was angry.

"Didnt I tell you not to eat the fruit?" the First Parent asked.

A: "Uh huh"

God: "Then why did you?"

E: "I dont know"

A: "She started it!"

E: "Did not"

A: "Did too!"

E: "Did NOT!!"

Having had it with the two of them, God punished them; Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus, the pattern was set and it never changed.

But there is reassurance in this story. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give them wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble handling children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

**

long overdue picture

*When all seems bleak*

The humiliations
The fake brave upfront
It doesnt hurt at all

Because deep down He comforts me
There is my great counselor, my mighty one

When everything doesnt stand as what I wish for
It's good to know that I am luckier than most of the people on this earth

When His plans are confusing
It's good to know there are plans already

When the tears come
It's good to know it's out of gratitude and relieve

When it's raining
It's good to know He is crying for us

When all seems bleak
It's good to know the days will get better


"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you."

*Proverbs 25:21-22


"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written;

Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.

To the contrary,

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

*Romans 12:17-21



Have a nice day everyone

*Mizrain*

*A Story to share*

A teenage girl about 17 had gone
to visit some friends one evening
and time passed quickly as each shared
their various experiences of the past year.

She ended up staying longer than planned,
and had to walk home alone. She wasn't
afraid because it was a small town and she lived
only a few blocks away.

As she walked along under the tall elm trees,
Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a
short cut to her house, she decided to take it.

However, halfway down the alley she noticed
a man standing at the end as though he
was waiting for her.

She became uneasy and began to pray,
asking for God's protection.

Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness
and security wrapped round her, she felt as
though someone was walking with her.

When she reached the end of the alley,
she walked right past the man and arrived
home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper
that a young girl had been raped in the same
alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and
the fact that it could have been her, she began to
weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help
this young woman, she decided to go to the police
station.

She felt she could recognize the man, so
she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be
willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify
him.

She agreed and immediately pointed out
the man she had seen in the alley the night
before.

When the man was told he had been
identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.

The officer thanked Diane for her bravery
and
asked if there was anything they could do for her.

She asked if they would ask the man one question.

Diane was curious as to why he had not
attacked her.

When the policeman asked him, he
answered, "Because she wasn't alone.
She had two tall men walking on either side of
her."

Amazingly, whether you believe or not,
you're never alone.God is always there in your heart and loves
you no matter what.....

-=Kelz=-

*God is Good*

Saat saya melihat sang Jaksa, dia
melirik
ke arah
saya
dan tersenyum licik,

menurut saya dia adalah orang tersadis
yang pernah
saya lihat.
Saya duduk dan menoleh ke sebelah
saya dan di
sanaduduk pengacara saya,

seorang yang lembut yang sepertinya
pernah saya
lihat.

Pintu di sudut ruangan terbuka dan
keluarlah Hakim
dengan pakaian
berjubah.
Dia menjadikan mata saya terfokus
padanya begitu
besar kharismanya.
Sesaat setelah Ia duduk; "Mari kita
mulai"; kataNya.

Sang Jaksa berdiri dan berkata, "Saya
bernama
Satan dan saya berada di
sini untuk menunjukkan mengapa
terdakwa ini
adalah milik dunia saya yaitu
neraka".

Dia meneruskan perkataannya dengan
mengatakan
semua kebohongan yang pernah
saya katakan;

barang yang saya curi di masa dulu; dan
saat saya
menipu orang lain.

Saya begitu malu sampai sampai saya
tidak mampu
untuk mengangkat kepala
saya,

melihat ke pengacara sayapun saya malu.

Satan terus mengatakan kesalahan
kesalahan
saya .. yang kebanyakan sudah
tidak saya ingat.

Saat Satan mengatakan semuanya itu ...
sayapun
merasa kesal dan
sedih terhadap pengacara saya yang
hanya diam
dan tidak mencoba membela
saya.
Saya berpikir memang semua itu benar
tapi tidak
sedikit juga
saya berbuat baik di dunia semasa saya
hidup dan
saya pikir semua itu
bisa dibandingkan dengan kesalahan
saya tersebut
ya kira
kira sebandinglah.

Satan selesai dengan nafas menggebu
dan berkata :
"Orang ini milik neraka, dia bersalah atas
semua
yang saya katakan
dan tidak ada satu orangpun yang dapat
mengambilnya dariku".

Kemudian tiba giliran pengacara saya,
pertama Dia
minta untuk diijinkan
menghampiri sang Hakim.

Hakim mengi jinkan walau sempat
disanggah oleh
sang Satan.

Saat pengacara saya berdiri dan mulai
menghampiri
sang Hakim;

saat dapat melihat Dia secara utuh
penuh dengan
kemuliaanNya.
Saat itu saya baru tersadar mengapa Dia
kelihatan
begitu familiar .....
Dia adalah Yesus, Tuhan dan Rajaku.....
Dia berhenti pada meja Hakim dan
berbisik
padanya "Hallo Ayah"
dan berbalik sambil berkata " Semua
yang Satan
katakan adalah
benar bahwa orang ini telah berdosa,

Saya tidak akan menyanggah argument
tadi.
Dan benar upah dosa adalah maut...
orang ini
pantas di hukum !!!".
Yesus menarik nafas dalam-dalam dan
berbalik
menatap Hakim dan berkata

"Tetapi, saya telah mati di kayu salib
sehingga orang
ini beroleh hidup
yang kekal dan

dia telah menerima saya sebagai
penyelamatnya,
jadi dia adalah milik-Ku".

Tuhanku melanjutkan kalimatNya"
Namanya tertulis
dalam kitab kehidupan dan

tidak ada satu orangpun yang dapat
mengambilnya
daripadaKu.
Satan masih sa ja tidak mengerti, orang
ini tidak
memerlukan keadilan,
melainkan belas kasihlah yang ia
perlukan".

Yesus duduk lalu berkata " Tidak ada hal
lain yang
perlu dilakukan
semuanya telah Aku selesaikan".

Sang Hakim lalu mengangkat palunya
dan
Blammmmmm; lalu terdengar
Dia berkata "Orang ini bebas dari segala
tuduhan
karena ia telah
dibayarkan penuh, kasus ditutup !!!!".


Saat Yesus menggandeng tangan saya,
sempat
terdengar Satan menggerutu

"Saya tidak akan berhenti, saya akan
menang lain
kali".

Lalu saya memberanikan diri bertanya
pada Yesus;

"Bapa pernah kah Engkau kalah dalam
kasus seperti
ini ???".
Yesus tersenyum dan berkata "Semua
yang datang
kepadaKu dan
minta Aku untuk mewakili mereka telah
menerima
hasil yang sama
seperti kasusmu ini.... semua telah
dibayarkan
penuh !!!".