Christianity

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Matthew 1:18 - 2:23 NIV
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This very short and enlightening story is like a parable from the Bible. It teaches that it's never to late to learn a lesson in life... especially if it can save a life...-

---- Author unknown

A man was in his cabin in the middle of a terrible snow storm when he heard a feeble scratching at his door.

He opened it to see a half frozen rattle snake on his doorstep begging to be let in from the bitter cold.

The man said to the snake, “I’m not going to let you in! You’re a rattle snake and you’re going to bite me!”

“No I won’t,” hissed the snake. “Just bring me in and get me warm and I’ll be your friend for life.”

Mellen-Thomas Benedict is an artist who survived a near-death experience in 1982. He was dead for over an hour and a half. During that time, he rose up out of his body and went into the light. Curious about the universe, he was taken far into the remote depths of existence, and even beyond, into the energetic void of nothingness behind the Big Bang. Eminent near-death experience researcher Dr. Kenneth Ring has said, "His story is one of the most remarkable I have encountered in my extensive research on near-death experiences."

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A Profoundly Inspiring Near-Death Experience Story
ÔÇ¿-- A True Story by Mellen-Thomas Benedict

New Year's Prayer by Charlotte Anselmo Thank you Lord for giving me The brand new year ahead Help me live the way I should As each new day I tread. Give me gentle wisdom That I might help a friend Give me strength and courage So a shoulder I might lend. The year ahead is empty Help me fill it with good things Each new day filled with joy And the happiness it brings. Please give the leaders of our world A courage born of peace That they might lead us gently And all the fighting cease. Please give to all upon this earth A heart that's filled with love A gentle happy way to live With Your blessings from above. ------------- The New Year lies before you, like a spotless track of snow... be careful how you tread on it, for every mark will show.

Featuring our Online Friends at Creative Bible Study When was the last time you sat down and enjoyed studying your Bible? Or has your class started yawning as they open up God's Word? Too many times we have in our mind that studying the Bible has to be boring (not that any of us would admit that to another Christian!). It's not meant to be though! Our desire is to provide you easy access to a variety of creative, free Bible study lessons. Here is a great resource for Free Bible Study Lessons and more: www.creativebiblestudy.com/Biblestudylessons.html

-- Author unknown Last year I watched Billy Graham being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on television. Oprah told him that in her childhood home, she use to watch him preach on a little black and white TV while sitting on a linoleum floor. She went on to the tell viewers that, in his lifetime, Billy has preached to twenty-million people around the world, not to mention the countless numbers who have heard him whenever his crusades are broadcast. When she asked if he got nervous before facing a crowd, Billy replied humbly, "No, I don't get nervous before crowds, but I did today before I was going to meet with you." Oprah's show is broadcast to twenty-million people every day. She is comfortable with famous stars and celebrities but seemed in awe of Dr. Billy Graham.

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, Americans are faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control U.S. federal courts are wrong! If you find this to be 'Food for thought,' share this with as many as you think will be enlightened.... Alabama 1901, Preamble -- We, the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution... Alaska 1956, Preamble -- We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land... Arizona 1911, Preamble -- We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

-- 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, the 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. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay." The 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 come out the door you just say "John 3:16" and they will let you in."

Associated Press Published Friday, November 11, 2011 RIVER EDGE, N.J. ÔÇö Each Sunday for decades, Roman Catholic priests have offered the blessing ÔÇö ÔÇ£Lord be with you.ÔÇØ And each Sunday, parishioners would respond, ÔÇ£And also with you.ÔÇØ Until this month. Come Nov. 27, the response will be, ÔÇ£And with your spirit.ÔÇØ And so will begin a small revolution in a tradition-rich faith. At the end of the month, parishes in English-speaking countries will begin to use a new translation of the Roman Missal, the ritual text of prayers and instructions for celebrating Mass. International committees of specialists worked under a Vatican directive to hew close to the Latin, sparking often bitter protests by English speakers over phrasing and readability.

I was a surgeon in the United States Army during the Civil War. After the battle of Gettysburg, there were hundreds of wounded soldiers in my hospital. Many were wounded so severely that a leg or an arm, or sometimes both, needed to be amputated.

One of these was a boy who had been in the service for only 3 months. Since he was too young to be a soldier, he had enlisted as a drummer. When my assistants came to give him chloroform before the amputation, he turned his head and refused it. When they told him that it was the doctor's orders, he said, "Send the doctor to me."