THE TEST

THE TEST

John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't--the girl with the rose. His interest in her began thirteen months before in a Florida library.



Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II.



During the next year and one month, the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting--7 pm at the Grand Central Station in New York.



"You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel."



So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened:



A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit, she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips.



"Going my way, sailor?" she murmured.



Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful.



I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment.



"I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?" The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile.



"I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

BIBLE AND PRAYING FOR THE DEAD

Praying for the dead is not a biblical concept. Our praying for the dead has no bearing on someone once he or she has died. The reality is that at the point of death, one’s eternal destiny is confirmed.

The writer to the Hebrews tells us, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Here we understand that no change in one’s spiritual condition can be made following his death—either by himself or through the efforts of others. If it is useless to pray for the living, who are committing “a sin that leads to death” (1 John 5:16), i.e., continual sin without seeking relief in conformity to God’s law of pardon, how could prayer for those who are already dead benefit them since there is no post-mortem plan of salvation?

The point is that each one of us has but one life, and we are responsible for how we live that life. Others may influence our choices, but ultimately we must give an account for the choices we make. Once life is over, there are no more choices to be made; we have no choice but to face judgment. The prayers of others may express their desires, but they won’t change the outcome. The time to pray for a person is while he or she lives and there is still the possibility of his or her heart, attitudes, and behavior being changed (Romans 2:3-9).

What need, then, do they have for the prayers of people on the earth? The bottom line is that while we sympathize with those who have lost dear ones, we must bear in mind that “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).Death is final, and after that, no amount of praying will avail a person of the salvation he or she has rejected in life.

So think twice again as you tell/pray, "Rest In Peace" or "Mweke Pahala Pema Peponi".

Its really beyond you. RATHER pray for and comfort the bereaved. THEY NEED YOU MORE THAN THE DEAD

The Lesson from Jonah

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

– Jonah 1:3 (NIV)

Jonah was running from the call from God to preach to Ninevah, so he tried to get as far as possible from that city. But Jonah made a common mistake; he felt that if he avoided Ninevah, he could avoid God. 

The story of Jonah reminds all of us that there is nowhere that we can go to escape His presence. 

How about you? 

Are you trying to escape God’s call on your life? 

No matter where you go, God is there waiting.

A Charles Swindoll Quote

As difficult as it may be for you to believe this today, the Master knows what He’s doing. Your Savior knows your  breaking point. The bruising and crushing and melting  process is designed to reshape you, not ruin you. Your value is increasing the longer He lingers over you. 

WORRY

"So, at least for today, I'm not going to worry that roses have thorns; I'll rejoice that thorns have roses." -- Michael Josephson

Living in Harmony with Your "Bumper Sticker"

"By their fruits [actions] you will know them." – Matthew 7:20 NKJV).

The story is told how a driver was being tailgated by a stressed-out driver on a busy boulevard. Suddenly the light turns yellow just in front of her. She does the right thing and stops even though she could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating driver hits the roof, and the horn, and yells in frustration as he misses the chance to get through the intersection. As he is still in mid-rant, he hears a tap on his window and looks up into the face of a police officer.

The officer orders him to exit his car with his hands up. He takes him to the police station where he is searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman opens the cell door, and escorts him back to the booking desk where the arresting officer is waiting with his personal effects.

The officer says, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, shaking your fist and yelling at the driver in front of you. I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally I assumed you had stolen the car."

(Author Unknown)

Suggested Prayer: "Dear God, please help me always to so live that my life and actions will always bring glory to Your name—and not ridicule. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

 

A William MacDonald Quote

"Common sense tells us that if we want victory in our thought life, we must exercise discipline over what we read, what we see, and those with whom we fraternise. Spicy books and magazines, Hollywood films, the average TV show offer instant pollution. And there are material objects that awakens lust in people's lives. A good bonfire will help considerably." - William MacDonald in his book "The Forgotten Command: BE HOLY" 

Questions to Ask Yourself Daily

Each member of John Wesley's Holy Club asked himself these twenty-two questions every day during his private devotions. Are YOU up for it?? 
 1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite? 
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate? 
3. Do I confidently pass on to another what I was told in confidence? 
4. Can I be trusted? 
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits? 
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying? 
7. Did the Bible live in me today? 
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day? 
9. Am I enjoying prayer? 
10. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith? 
11. Do I pray about the money I spend? 
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time? 
13. Do I disobey God in anything? 
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy? 
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life? 
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful? 
17. How do I spend my spare time? 
18. Am I proud? 
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican? 
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it? 
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly? 
22. Is Christ real to me?

"If you find yourself loving any pleasure more than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of the Lord, any table better than the Lord's table, any person better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven - be alarmed." - Thomas Guthrie

"If you find yourself loving any pleasure more than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of the Lord, any table better than the Lord's table, any person better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven - be alarmed." - Thomas Guthrie 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

There is not a spider hanging on the king's wall that does not have its errand; there is not a nettle that grows in the corner of the churchyard that does not have its purpose; there is not a single insect fluttering in the breeze that does not accomplish some divine decree; and I will never have it that God created any man, especially any Christian man, to be a blank and to be a nothing. He made you for an end. Find out what that end is. Find out your niche and fill it. If it is ever so little, if it is only to be a chopper of wood and a drawer of water, do something in this great battle for God and truth.

Politically Correct Little Red Riding Hood

There once was a young person named Little Red Riding Hood who lived on the edge of a large forest full of endangered owls and rare plants that would probably provide a cure for cancer if only someone took the time to study them. 

 Red Riding Hood lived with a nurture giver whom she sometimes referred to as "mother", although she didn't mean to imply by this term that she would have thought less of the person if a close biological link did not in fact exist. 

 Nor did she intend to denigrate the equal value of nontraditional households, although she was sorry if this was the impression conveyed. 

 One day her mother asked her to take a basket of organically grown fruit and mineral water to her grandmother's house. 

 "But mother, won't this be stealing work from the unionized people who have struggled for years to earn the right to carry all packages between various people in the woods?" 

 Red Riding Hood's mother assured her that she had called the union boss and gotten a special compassionate mission exemption form. 

 "But mother, aren't you oppressing me by ordering me to do this?" 

 Red Riding Hood's mother pointed out that it was impossible for womyn to oppress each other, since all womyn were equally oppressed until all womyn were free. 

 "But mother, then shouldn't you have my brother carry the basket, since he's an oppressor, and should learn what it's like to be oppressed?" 

 And Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her brother was attending a special rally for animal rights, and besides, this wasn't stereotypical womyn's work, but an empowering deed that would help engender a feeling of community. 

 "But won't I be oppressing Grandma, by implying that she's sick and hence unable to independently further her own selfhood?" 

 But Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her grandmother wasn't actually sick or incapacitated or mentally handicapped in any way, although that was not to imply that any of these conditions were inferior to what some people called "health". 

 Thus Red Riding Hood felt that she could get behind the idea of delivering the basket to her grandmother, and so she set off. 

 Many people believed that the forest was a foreboding and dangerous place, but Red Riding Hood knew that this was an irrational fear based on cultural paradigms instilled by a patriarchal society that regarded the natural world as an exploitable resource, and hence believed that natural predators were in fact intolerable competitors. 
 Other people avoided the woods for fear of thieves and deviants, but Red Riding Hood felt that in a truly classless society all marginalized peoples would be able to "come out" of the woods and be accepted as valid lifestyle role models. 
 

On her way to Grandma's house, Red Riding Hood passed a woodchopper, and wandered off the path, in order to examine some flowers. 
 

She was startled to find herself standing before a Wolf, who asked her what was in her basket. 

 Red Riding Hood's teacher had warned her never to talk to strangers, but she was confident in taking control of her own budding sexuality, and chose to dialogue with the Wolf. 
 She replied, "I am taking my Grandmother some healthful snacks in a gesture of solidarity." 
 The Wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone." 

 Red Riding Hood said, "I find your sexist remark offensive in the extreme, but I will ignore it because of your traditional status as an outcast from society, the stress of which has caused you to develop an alternative and yet entirely valid worldview. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would prefer to be on my way." 

 Red Riding Hood returned to the main path, and proceeded towards her Grandmother's house. 

 But because his status outside of society had freed him from slavish adherence to linear, Western-style thought, the Wolf knew of a quicker route to Grandma's house. 

 He burst into the house and ate Grandma, a course of action affirmative of his nature as predator. 

 Then, unhampered by rigid, traditionalist gender role notions, he put on Grandma's nightclothes, crawled under the bedclothes, and awaited developments. 
 Red Riding Hood entered the cottage and said, "Grandma, I have brought you some cruelty-free snacks to salute you in your role as wise and nurturing matriarch." 

 The Wolf said softly "Come closer, child, so that I might see you." 

 Red Riding Hood said, "Goodness! Grandma, what big eyes you have!" 

 "You forget that I am optically challenged." 

 "And Grandma, what an enormous and fine nose you have." 

 "Naturally, I could have had it fixed to help my acting career, but I didn't give in to such societal pressures, my child." 

 

"And Grandma, what very big, sharp teeth you have!" 
 The Wolf could not take any more of these specist slurs, and, in a reaction appropriate for his accustomed milieu, he leaped out of bed, grabbed Little Red Riding Hood, and opened his jaws so wide that she could see her poor Grandmother cowering in his belly. 

 "Aren't you forgetting something?" Red Riding Hood bravely shouted. "You must request my permission before proceeding in a new level of intimacy!" 

 The Wolf was so startled by this statement that he loosened his grasp on her. At the same time, the woodchopper burst into the cottage, brandishing an ax. 
 

"Hands off!" cried the woodchopper. 

 "And what do you think you're doing?" cried Little Red Riding Hood. "If I let you help me now, I would be expressing a lack of confidence in my own abilities, which would lead to poor self esteem and lower achievement scores on college entrance exams." 

 "Last chance, sister! Get your hands off that endangered species! This is an FBI sting!" screamed the woodchopper, and when Little Red Riding Hood nonetheless made a sudden motion, he sliced off her head. 

 "Thank goodness you got here in time," said the Wolf. "The brat and her grandmother lured me in here. I though I was a goner." 

 "No, I think I'm the real victim, here," said the woodchopper. "I've been dealing with my anger ever since I saw her picking those protected flowers earlier. And now I'm going to have such a trauma. Do you have any aspirin?" 
 "Sure" said the Wolf. 

 

"Thanks." 

 "I feel your pain," said the Wolf, giving a little belch, and said "Do you have any Maalox?"
~ Courtesy of Chris Long <chris@laughandlift.com>