$10 for old bird cage

I received this story this morning.

Enjoy!

+Sh

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There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak....

"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, "What do you have there, son?"
"Just some old birds," came the reply.
"What are you going to do with them?" I asked.
"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."
"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?"
"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."
The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?"
"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister.
They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"
"How much?" the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"
The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story:

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait
I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"
"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.
Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"
"And what will you do when you are done with them?"
Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.
"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.
"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"
"How much? He asked again.
Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."
Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.
The pastor picked up the cage and walked from the pulpit.

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The Title of the story: God's Grace!

well, ..... because I …love you

He asked: and why so? I said: well, .... because, I.... love You!

It is almost end of winter… it is so cold outside, but very warm inside… as I started cooking the fresh vegetables He picked, I flashed back to how all this started 9 months ago..

It was the summer, and it was a lovely morning. I had my make up and went out with the ticket in my hand to take the Telepheric tour up in the nest of Alb Mountains. As usual, I was longing to meet someone. Now I see how desperate I was to have a relationship. I used to do that a lot, taking long trips, by trains or ships, and decorate myself so well to meet someone. But this day was different. I was, as usual, looking to meet some guy, but I cared more to enjoy the nature… I was excited about it. Moreover, from experience (being desperate) I realized that such relationships do not last… in fact, most of them ends when the trip end.

To my surprise, the Telepheric was EMPTY! Well, except for that old gentleman who passed his greetings as he entered the Telepheric then sat away, minding his own business. As the Telepheric went on its way, and I realized it was only me and him, I – for some weird reason – started to think of a creative way to attract his attention. Am I that desperate? He is so old, all white hair and such long beard! But to tell the truth, there was something attractive about him… but I tried to keep myself focusing on the nature, I didn’t want to do anything inappropriate, and I am really here today to enjoy the nature.

To my ears’ surprise receiving his words: may I set down next to you? My heart danced of joy and I immediately nodded agreeing. He sat and started to demonstrate what we are seeing, he made me so joyous … it was as if he cares only that I enjoy the trip. Then he gave me a booklet; a tour guide… and said, I wrote this book, it will lead you through the trip. Enjoy it. And left back to his - seemed to be so far – seat.

Between looking at the nature, and reaching him, I didn’t read the booklet. I thought of couple of tricks to reach him. I sneezed, I coughed, but he didn’t move, as if he knew these were not real. I gave up and opened the book and enjoyed the journey. But something weird in the booklet struck me. At the end of each chapter and section it lists his contacts for more information!

The journey didn’t go peacefully to the end. All of a sudden, as we were on top of a jungle, a strong wind storm started to shake the Telephric. He yet didn’t move, while I was screaming and so scarred… eventually I called upon him: won’t you help me? He said: of course, now you asked for it. I was so glad I did that just at the time, because right after, the whole Ttelephric went down into the woods, with violent crash, but he embraced me and took the shock on my behalf.

To make a long story short, we were stuck in the Telephric since then, on top of a long tree up in the mountains, just me and him with no communication what so ever. I was hoping that the rescue team will come to rescue us one day, but after days that seemed to be a yet another desperate day dream. There was a small Cafeteria in the Telepheric, and I used to eat from it. He seemed to not eat at all, yet he is so healthy. We started to talk about everything in my life, he was such a good listener, and I started to get attached to him. One day, I was mad at him. Because the food in the Cafeteria he seemed to be careless. It was then when I found out that during night he used to go out in the woods, rescuing his life to pick the fruit and vegetables that are in the Cafeteria. It was him all the time and I didn’t know! And he used to cook outside, because he cooks a mix that doesn’t smell normal, and didn’t want to disturb me. It was then when I felt in love with him. It was then when I loved this nest on top of the mountains. The next day, the rescue team was flying in a helicopter near by… it is my chance… he looked at me and asked: do you want to go? To my hearts surprise, I said: NO. I chose staying with him!

But food was an issue. Every day I ask Him to cook food for me, He would cook what I want, but not eat from it, as He eats on his way. Once a while, He would force me to eat certain things, so that I get all nutrition needed. I tried all rest of the summer to force him to change his diet, but failed. I thought that, since I love Him, he should eat what I love. Or if He really loves me, He should eat, or actually do, all what I want. But as fall season kicked in, with its beautiful weather and marvelous scenery, I started to listen more to Him, and eat more of what He cooks, because by then, I realized that He knows the best for me. And I started to get used to his diet habits more and more. And as winter started to hurt, I found warmth in His bosoms. I found joy in reading His booklet. And for my yet another surprise, today, I woke up asking him what he would like to eat? He answered: the usual, meaning His weird mix. I said: alright, I would love to eat this weird mix from now on. I don’t want to eat what I like anymore, but I want to eat what you like. He asked: and why so? I said: Well, ….because I….love You!

Thy will be done O’Lord, because I love You!

A Bold Beauty… Again!

In that night, after work, I didn’t feel like going home. To summarize, many strange emotions were playing with my mode; I was out of it. While thinking why or what, I found myself driving my car towards Night Life bar. There, I sat alone in a table, I asked for a glass of wine, and I had decided to drink one glass ONLY, to refresh my mode, and go home. I got a phone call on my cell as I didn’t tell my husband that I will be late, so, I didn’t pick up and decided to keep my stay short.

Sitting on the table, almost about to finish my first glass, a very handsome guy on the bar through a look to me. I admit, I was caught by it, I never saw such a handsome guy like him before. He smiled to me, and I – while telling myself: this is wrong - smiled back to him. He approached my table very slowly. In every step my eye was focused on him, my heart was confused, but certainly excited, my mind was telling me: this is wrong, but I didn’t really listen, that I turned my cell silent upon receiving the second missed call from my husband.

In a very gentle voice that words can not describe, he asked my permission to sit down with me. I thought: no, that is wrong. I should not let him sit. He will first sit down, then we drink and get drunk and only God knows what follows. But my heart was still wishing if we can sit without drinking. Amazingly, my ear received his suggestion to sit just to chat without drinking! My mind was chocked to find my head nodding, allowing him to accompany me, and during all these, my heart was happy. At this point, the cell phone ringed again, I just shut it off!

We talked for half an hour about every thing, when the waiter came to ask us what we would like to drink. This time, without much thinking, I accepted to drink just one more glass of wine. But alas, with less thinking each time, and more happiness in heart I had a glass after a glass till I barely could distinguish his face in front of me. But his beautiful image was still pushing me to… I am not sure, but was pushing me somewhere. Well, in fact I am not sure if I was pushed, or I was pushing myself, but it certainly felt as if I am strongly pushed by something or someone, that someone might was me!

At this point, he asked me for a dance. With heavy head and speechless mouth, I danced with him. The more moves I perform, the weaker I feel my body, and the darker the place, and the louder the music becomes. At certain point, I found myself on the table again and we exchanged ….a kiss! I was very nervous; I couldn’t believe what I just did. But at that point, thinking was pointless, we went kissing, or that what I thought. For after only one kiss, which was never enough to satiate me, he stopped!! I was looking at him, waiting. He pulled out of his pocket some fruit that I couldn’t distinguish out of my unconsciousness and the darkness of the place. I tried to look harder on the fruit, when I felt down back on earth. How ugly and scary a creature is trying to give me this fruit! I looked at him again, and he is that ever most handsome guy again!! Offering me the fruit, I see that horrible scene again, I decided to leave, but alas, the doors were closed and it is only me & him in the bar! I looked at him preparing to scream, but he was that handsome guy again! I looked at the fruit, and I see the terrible creature trying to kill me! He approached, I felt so scared, I finally came up with this smart idea, I should call my husband. I turned on the cell phone, at which point, the handsome guy disappeared, and it was only that awful monster offering me the fruit that – now – looks like an apple! He started to shout out and I started to scream, dialing my husband number. The monster started to attack me! I dropped the cell phone dialing my husband number. I was not sure at that time if he got the call or not, and if he – if he got it- will be able to conclude anything! The monster tried to force me to eat the apple, I was crying violently and was resisting to the end! At some point, I escaped, and picked up the cell phone, when I found that the battery was out of charge!! The monster approached, with a knife in his hand, and the apple in the other hand! As slaw as he moved to my table, he is moving towards me now, enjoying the tears of terror drawing paths on my checks. I couldn’t think of anything other than my husband, and how regretful I am for that I though of betraying him. I was also thinking of how sweet he has always been to me, at which pint, the monster pulled me from my hair, put the knife on my neck, and forced me to open my mouth. As he was getting the apple into my mouth, I closed my eyes. I was suddenly let down on the ground. I felt he will do something even meaner. I opened my eye, to see the monster lying down on the ground, sinking in his blood, killed by the same exact knife he threatened me by which, and the apple he wanted to force me to eat, was in his mouth. One step from him, towards the bar door, was my husband, the strong true man, who was bleeding, for he broke the bar window by himself, to save me.

He guessed where I would be. I never knew he knows me that well. I myself wouldn’t guess where I am that night, but he did. He broke the glass, and killed the monster, and saved me, AGAIN!

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:6,8)

Meet Mr. Jahova

[in the church's parking lot after Sunday liturgy]

John: What a lovely day guys! I enjoyed the liturgy the most today!

Chris: Oh man! it was too long today..

Dave: Oh yeah, super long... & I was sleepy too!

Marlyn: But isn't it always that loooooooooooooong...

John: what are you talking about guys? It went by so fast! And remember today was very special..

John: ...didn't you meet Mr. Jahova today?

Dave: who is Mr. Jahova? I never heard of the name... is he a new member of the church?

John: Mr. Jahova?! He is the one who founded this church!

Chris: WHAT?! This church is over 70 years old.. I didn't notice such an old man..

Dave & Marlyn: neither did I...

Tom: I doubt there is any one with that last name in our church...

John: Well, did you pay attention to anything in the liturgy today?

Marlyn: I was paying attention until the sermon.. was too long and boring...since then, you lost me..

Chris: I honestly didn't pay attention until it was about time for communion, it gets exciting at the end.. it is when

I start REALLY wake up.. the liturgy is too early for me I guess...

Dave: I was serving in the Alter, I was too busy to pay attention to anything...

John: how about you Magdalene?

Magda: I enjoyed the liturgy today, I met Mr. Jahova..

Chris: you did?!

Magda: yes! :-) in fact, I also had dinner with him last night.

Marlyn: really?! where?

John: Mr. Jahova is so generous... so fabulous... I never asked him for anything, ANYTHING,

and he didn't grant it to me..

Magda: very true.. he is so helpful as well... he is the one you can call and find whenever you are in true need...

and he is willing to go all the way with you..

Dave: is he rich?

John: the most rich ever

Tom: Oh, yeah!

Chris: is he powerful, I mean connections and such..

Magda: He is. You can bet on him... and he is also aware of everything and knows everything... he can give you

THE ADVICE just about anything..

Marlyn: man, I wanna meet this guy

John: let us go back to the church to meet him...

Tom: as if he is waiting there for us!

[Inside the church, with no one there except the little flock]

Chris: No one is here!

Marlyn: he left! :(

Tom: that is IF he was here in first place..

Magda: he was!

Dave: it is OK, may be we can see him next week

Tom: if he shall come!

John: let us pray guys

Dave: listen, we can not spend our life praying.. we prayed enough for today..

John: did you pray today? I thought you said you were serving in the alter

Tom: here we go...

John: prayers means to connect to God, were you really in connection with God today? If you really get

connected to God once, you wouldn't wish to disconnect ever, because God is so sweet

Chris: let us not get off topic guys, we came here to meet Mr. Jahova, he is not here, we go home...

John: but he is here..

Tom: you are hallucinating John..

John: if you want to meet him, we have to pray

John: Magda, do you want to tell them about your dinner last night?

Magda: mmm

Marlyn: please Magda!

Magda: Alright... yesterday, I was so down and I felt very bad, I called him and he came and dined with

me & cheered me up.

Dave: that easy!

Marlyn: where did you eat?

Magda: in my room.

Magda: whenever you need him, he is there to help.. he listens, he understands, he answers, and

he has no problem to come over to you wherever you are... he is willing to expend everything

to erase a tear from your heart... all what you need is to call upon him...

Marlyn: so sweet...

Magda: yet, he doesn't push himself on anyone ... and he hates it when someone calls him, with no real

desire to talk to him!

Dave: what is his cell number? can I have it?

Magda: you don't need a cell phone to call him, He is everywhere.. you only need to call upon Him..

John: you only need to open your heart to Him, i.e., pray, i.e., be connected with Him, and He will

show you wonders.

This is what Liturgy is all about.. and if you are connected to Him, you shall never notice the time...

it is your responsibility to call though... so if you are connected to The Son God, you will meet Him,

and enjoy His presence, and He will left you above time boundaries... if you are connected with Him,

Liturgies, worshipers, prayers, service and life will be of a completely different meaning to you!

Tom: so we didn't see Mr. Jahova at the end!

John: that is enough.. let us go home.

INFINITE LOOP.