Christian Reflection and Prayer

Imagine that a fly lands on a train and wants to make
it move. It pushes with all its might, and the train does
start to move. It goes very fast and the fly starts to think
that it must be really strong. To the onlooker, it’s
ridiculous to think that the fly could ever be pushing a
train. Even the largest, strongest, most capable fly
cannot push a train!

We are like that fly. Sometimes it looks like we are the
ones pushing the train and running the world, but it’s
just an illusion. God is the driver, the conductor, and
the power that runs our lives.

We are all vulnerable and totally dependent on God who
covers us with His love. Remember how God loves us
infinitely, and He will continue to conduct our lives in
the best way possible. We cannot control everything,
but the good news is that we don’t have to. Our loving
Father in Heaven has got us covered.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

A pastor who, tongue-in-cheek, printed an item in his
Sunday bulletin. In it, he listed all the reasons why he
stopped attending sporting events. He wrote,

"Every time I go, they ask me for money. The fans
don't seem very friendly, and the seats are too hard.
The coach never comes to call on me and the referee
makes decisions that I don't agree with. A lot of the
people come only to see what team jerseys other
people are wearing. Some games extend into overtime,
making me late getting home, and the band plays
some awful numbers that I've never heard before.
Usually the games are scheduled when I want to do
other things, and the stadium brings up bad childhood
memories of my parents taking me there far too many
times. And don't you know it, ever since I read that book
on sports, I know more than the coaches do anyway!
So now I don't take my own children because I want
them to choose for themselves what sport they like best."

(SOUND FAMILIAR?)

(The Staff and editors of Sunday Sermons Online)

Recently I had a birthday and I came to the sudden
realization that I'm getting old. The follow is so
very true.

I suppose you've all heard at least a few of the "how do
you know you are getting older?" quips. But this morning,
I am happy to report that someone has finally compiled
the ultimate, TOP 10 list of reasons. So here goes.

You know you are getting older when:

Number 10: Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt, doesn't work.

Number 9: The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bifocals.

Number 8: Your little black book contains only names ending in M.D.

Number 7: You get winded playing chess.

Number 6: You begin turning out lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.

Number 5: Your back goes out more than you do.

Number 4: A fortune teller offers to read your face.

Number 3: The little gray-haired lady you help across the street is your wife.

Number 2: You sink your teeth in a steak, and they stay there.  

And finally, the number 1 reason you know you are getting older:
You decide to procrastinate, but never get around to it!
  
Too slow! Always "a day late and a dollar short." Does that
describe anyone you know -- late for work, late for Church, late
for appointments? For example, there was a certain funeral
director who had just laid to rest the husband of an old friend.
After the graveside service, the widow was the only mourner to
get into the big funeral limousine. She had no children, and no
other relatives. During the drive home, the funeral director
spoke in earnest tones to the widow. "Mary," he said, "I want
to tell you something, but please don't be offended. I've been
secretly in love with you all these years. That's why I never
married. Because of John, I never said anything about it. But
now he's gone. All my life I've been a procrastinator. All my
life I've been too slow about everything. But this time I'm not
going to wait. So, Mary, if you should ever think of marrying
again, just remember I asked you first." To which Mary replied,
"Tom, I appreciate that very much, but John's doctor has
already asked me."