DEATH OF AN INNOCENT

I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said

You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.

I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should

I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right

Now the party is finally ending, Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight

As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece

Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet

I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road the other car

didn't see me, Mom, and hit me like a load

As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I heard the policeman say, the other guy is

drunk, Mom, and now I'm the one who weill pay

How could this happened to me, Mom?  My life just burst like a balloon,

There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it mine

I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a short time.

He was probalby at the same paryty as I

The only difference is he drank and I will die

Why do people drink, Mom, it can ruin your whole life

I'm feeling sharp pains now, pains just like a knife

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don/'t think it's fair

I'm lying here dying and all he can do is stare

Tell my brother not to cry, Mom, and tell Daddy to be brave

And when I go to heaven, Mom put Daddy's Girl on my grave

Someone should have told him, Mom, I would still be alive

My breath is getting shorter, Mom, I'm becoming very scared

Please don't cry for me, mom.  When I needed you, you were always there

I have one last question, Mom, before I say good bye

I didn't drink and drive so why am I the one to die?

Hope that you all have a Safe and Happy Holidays and remember NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE

Pastor's Business Card
A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.
Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.
When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10."
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."
Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are "A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Prov. 17:22) .

Now, pass it on!

POSITIVE ENERGY

Energy, we all have it. Sometimes it is positive and other times it is negative. Sometimes you wish you had more of it, and or you could bottle up a childs energy to get through the day. Other times you have so much energy you do not know how to shut down and or slow it down. I was always told that wherever your attention goes, that is where your energy flows! When you put your attention on negative behavior or thoughts, you can expect back more negative behavior and or thoughts. When you put your attention on positive behavior or thoughts , there is a greater possibility of improved positive behaviors. Negatives truly beget negatives. If all you hear is bad, then all that will come out is bad. The more you hear the bad, it seems the more that bad happens around you. I have discovered if I start to speak out positive words in my life, positive thoughts return back to me. Some days it is harder to see the positive. Sometimes you have to really look deep to see it. But if I keep looking deep enough I do find it. I struggle at times with this from time to time. I have to rememeber positive. Dont allow the negative to creep in. so remember to remain positive.

FLAWS

Flaws, what are they, they are imperfections often times concealed from others. Flaws are also defective goods that are not up to the quality of the other. Reflections, what do we see when we look into the mirror. So often times we get wrapped up in the flaws that we have. We want to be perfect, but we fail to see that it is the imperfections that make us unique and different from others. Refelections in a mirror, do we really look deep inside, do we look and see the flaws. At times I am scared to look into the mirror. I see the flaws that scare me. The flaw of assumptions, patience and rushing to complete something. The flaw of my face, the flaw of my body. So many flaws starring at me. Feeling wash over me. Then it hit me standing there. That I can take soap and water and wash my face, and I can see myself new, clean and differently. I can now see the beauty in things. If a flaw is a character trait I do not like then I can work on it and and make it change, for I can only change myself,not those around me. I learn patience, and build new skills each passing day. Then one day, I look in the mirror I see beauty for I like whom I am today. It is through the flaws that make me different from others, to make me unique from everyone else. That is what life is about, being a difference maker. Life would become very boring if we all looked alike and acted alike and dressed alike. It would all be the same. The contrast and the color in our lives is what makes us whom we are. So when you look into that mirror today. Look for the beauty. After all beauty is only skin deep. A story that I remember being told me when I was younger, it was about an older woman living in a village, she used to walk to the stream to get water, she had two pots one on each end of a pole. One pot was perfect and beauitful to look at. The other pot was chipped and cracked and was in bad shame and was definately an eye sore. One day a girl that lived in the village asked the older woman, why she didnt have 2 perfect pots. She said she has 2 perfect pots already. She then pointed down the path. See all those lovely flowers, they make me smile and bring me pleasure on my walk back from the stream. You see dear child, this pot is perfect cause it leaks out water just right to water the path giving the flowers a drink, so that I can enjoy my trip back. The moral of the story is that everyone you encounter may have some flaws, but each of our flaws may lead to perfection in our own way. We all need someone to believe in us and show us the way to grow beautiful gardens of flowers of learning and wisdom in the world. You can do this. You are a difference maker.

TRUST AND CONTROL

What is trust according to the dictionary it is ,reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. To build trust in a team, business or a relationship with someone you have to have a communication. Without communication trust can not be built. Trust is not only about action only but about also seeing the action in motion with the words to back it up. It is about saying something and following through with it. For a team, company, or a relationship to build trust, they start off by stating they will meet something and or do something. If you do it, it builds trust each time you do it, however if you do it one out of ten times, that does not build trust, it builds mistrust. If you confide in someone, and you expect it to be kept between yourself and them and they go to someone else with it, it builds mistrust. To build the trust within a team player, business partner and or relationship, you have to learn to be able to go to someone and communicate what is hindering you from working together as a team, to communicate, not in a it is all your fault type of attitude but with an open mind and discuss how they can work it out between themselves. To resolve is a start to rebuilding trust. It builds trust by doing what you say you are going to do. If you do not do it, it builds mistrust. Trust is something that is freely given at first, and easily taken away. The key to keeping balance is appreciating the partnership of trust and control. We have little control over much of anything other than ourselves. Which a friend of mine reminded me of very recently. She had me read the serenity prayer, it goes like this. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Dont worry about what you can not change that we have no control over, We have to trust in it. The work we do to build up trust is critical. It is a process of being trustworthy and encouraging it in others. Teams and Teammates are always in the process of growing stronger not only within a Team but within a network. Teamwork and trust is what makes the team succeed. It is a growing consciousness, characterized by one particular thing. To work towards the one thing the one goal that is the betterment of the team. It is a matter of people developing trust and working together in order to enhance the quality and the outcome of the team. To work together requires shifting the focus from “control” of the interaction to “trust” in the relationship producing a stronger and better outcome. By releasing that control over to Head person or boss. We are then stating we are trusting in them but it is also showing them that the good of the whole is more important then that of the one. It also produces the necessitates such balance of where and what we can control and where and what we must trust. We can yet control our decisions in assuring that we do not give “blind” trust. It is more a reflection of the maturing of a relationship, not unlike the aging of a fine wine. We have no control of what Mother Nature may “bring” or not bring. Nor do we know how the lives that we touch in the team will come to life. We do have our trust that it will somehow go well and that the good of the team will come forth. We also have to think of the others along our paths with whom cause of our team, come together and support and play They are sharing trust we will do what we are to do in our team to help in the imrpovement of their enjoyment. Trust keeps going and going, like a vine, it starts from a seed and grows, a branch then another, and keeps going. That is how trust is. Sharing such trust we are learning how to overcome whatever the obstacles may be and grow in strength as a result. Trust is so many things and it is so vital to everything we do in our lives. So it is important how we handle this trust and how to build it among ourselves. To take the focus off one self and look at the whole. To trust in it to the point you believe in it and want what is best as a whole. To be allowed to communicate is the key focus with building trust within a team. To be able to go to a teammate and encourage, support and to uplift. If correction is required then it is up to the head of the team to deal with it, it is not that of the others to handle. When others try to handle, regardless of their intentions it can cause more harm then good. A lesson I recently learned myself. These are my ramblings, my thoughts, my process of thinking through things. They are not directed to any other person but myself. Have a blessed day, and remember you are a difference maker!! Smile God loves you and do so I :)

Let's see if you repost this.  We all know or knew someone like this !!!!

One day, when I was a freshman in high school,

I saw a kid from my class was walkinf home from school.

His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was  carrying all of his books.

I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?

He must really be a nerd."

I had a quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tommorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.

They ran at him, knocking all of his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes

My heart went out to him.  So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks."

They really should get lives.

"He looked at me and said, hey thanks!"

There was a big smile on his face.

It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.

He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would never have hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends

He said yes.

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came!, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.

I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!

He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.

When we were seniors, we began to think about college. 

Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.

He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.

I teased him all the time about being a nerd.

He has to prepare a speech for graduation.

I was so glad it wasn't me having to get there and speak

Graduation day, I saw Kyle,.

He looked great.

He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.

He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.

Boy, sometimes I was jealous!

Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nevous about his speech.

So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.

"Thanks",  he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began

"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.

Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach....but mostly your friends.....

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.

I am going tell you a story."

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.

He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

"Thankfully, I was saved.

My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.

Not until that moment did realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions,.

With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.

Look for God in others.

You now have two choices, you can:

1)  Repost this or

2)  Delete it and act like it didn't touch your heart.

As you can see, I took choice number 1

"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings hase trouble remembering how to fly."  

There is no beginning or end.....Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

It's National Friendship Week.  Show your friends how much you care. 

Up or Down ?

At a Senior Citizen's luncheon,  an elderly gentleman and an elderly lady struck up a conversation and discovered that they both loved to fish.

Since both of them were widowed, they decided to go fishing together the next day !

The gentleman picked the lady up, and they headed to the riverto his fishing boat and started out on their adventure.

They were riding down the river when there was a fork in the river, and the gentleman asked the lady,

"Do you want to go up or down ?"

All of the sudden the lady stripped off her dhirt and pants and made mad passionate love to the man right there in the boat !

When they finished, the man couldn't believe what just happened, but he had just experienced the best sex that he'd had in years.

They fished for a while and continued on down the river, when soon they came upon another fork in the river.

He again asked the lady, "Up or Down ?"

There she went again, stripped off her clothes, and made wild passionate love to him again.

This really impressed the elderly gentleman, so he askedf her to go fishing again the next day !

She said yes and there they were the next day, riding in the boat when they came upon the fork in the river, and the gentleman asked, "Up or Down ?"

The woman replied, "Down."

A little puizzled and disappointed, the gentleman guilded the boat down the river when he came upon another fork in the river and he asked the lady, "Up or Down ?"

She replied, "Up"

This really confused the gentleman so he asked,

"What's the deal? Yesterday, every time I asked you if you wanted to go up or down you made mad passionate love to me.  Now today, nothing !"

She replied, "Well, yesterday I wasn't wearing my hearing aid and I thought the choices were f--ck or drown"

THE MAGIC ONION

Oh, I'm a magic onion, (Don't laugh - you're an onion too)

There's layers and layers and layers of me, I'll never get down though.

I just try to peel myself to see what I'm about,

Whenever any insight comes, I laugh and dance and shout!

Now. I'm not implying that self-search is such fun

Sometimes I scare myself to death.  I want to hide and run.

When I degin to understand what others plainly see,

I wonder how anyone can love the unformed self of me.

If you gave me a crystal ball, I'd throw it far away,

I only have the strength to bear the layer of today,

Am I glad I'm an onion?  Well, I used to be a rock!

Nothing moved or breathed inside.  I was all locked and blocked.

Now that I'm an onion, although I cry, I jive,

I hope to be a-peeling until I'm ninety-five,

So all you other onions who've never made a strip,

I'm not going to sugar-coat your first colossal rip.

It may shake you up a bit, but it won't break your heart.

It may truly save your life, give you a brand new start,

Sop when you find a loving friend who is wise and strong and kind,

Go to her and open up the onion of your mind.

You will soon discover how the magic works for you,

As the layers peel away, your sweetness will come through,

For all us magic onions just smell in self-defense,

Underneath lies hearts of gold, courage and common sense.

And wwe can all be loving friends of different sorts of kinds.

Who help each other open up the onions of our minds.

I WISH FOR YOU........

Comfort on difficult days,

Smiles when sadness intrudes,

Rainbows to follow the clouds,

Laughter to kiss your lips,

Sunsets to warm your heart,

Gentle hugs when spirits sag,

Friendships to brighten your being,

Beauty for your eyes to see,

Confidence for when you doubt,

Faith so that you can believe,

Courage to know yourself,

Patience to accept the truth,

And love to complete your life

This is dedicated to the family of the slain Windsor police officer that was laid to rest today.  May God bless his family and his fellow officers.

A PART OF AMERICA DIED

Somebody killed a policeman today,

And a part of America died.

A piece of our country he swore to protect.

Will be buried with him at his side.

The suspect who shot him will stand up in court,

With counsel demanding his rights,

While a young widowed mother must work for her kids

And spend alone many ling nights.

The beat that he walked was a battlefield, too,

Just as if he'd gone off to war.

Though the flag of our nation won't fly at half mast,

To his name they will add a gold star.

Yes, somebody killed a policeman today,

It happened in your town or mine.

While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,

A cop put his life on the line.

Now, his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,

And he stands at each new rookie's side.

He answered the call and gave us his all,

And a part of America died.

                                                                 By Harry Kock