1. I am freeing myself from security, sensation, and
power addictions that make me try to forcefully
control situations in my life, and thus destroy my
serenity and keep me from loving myself and others.
 

 7. I open myself genuinely to all people by being willing
to fully communicate my deepest feelings, since hiding in
any degree keeps me stuck in my illusion of separateness
from ohter people.

 8. I feel with loving compassion the problems of others
without getting caught up emotionally in their predicaments
that are offering them messages they need for their growth.

 9. I act freely when I am tuned in, centered, and loving, but
if possible I avoid acting when I am emotionally upset and
depriving myself of the wisdom that flows from love and
expanded consciousness.

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict.  It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. 

Then the long colalboration fell apart.  It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door.  He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox.  "I'm looking for a few days' work, " he said.  "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help you with?  Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother.  "I do have a job for you.  Look across the creek at that farm.  That's my neighbor.  In fact, it's my younger brother!  Last week there was a meadow between us.  He recently took his bulldozer to the river  levee and now there is a creek between us.  Well, he may have done this spite me, but I'll do him one better.  See that pile of lumber by the barn?  I want you to build me a fence, an 18 foot fence - so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I undersatnd the situation.  Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.  The carpenter worked hard all that day - measuring, sawing, and nailing.  About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.  There was no fence there at all.  It was a bridge ... a bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other!  A fine piece of work, handrails and all!.
And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched ...

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand.  They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.
"No, wait!  Stay a few days.  I've a lot of other projects for you, " said the older brother.  "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."

Remember this .....
     God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He will ask how many people you helped get where they needed to go.
       God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
       God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He will ask how many you helped to clothe.
       God won't ask how many friends you had, but He will ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
       God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He will ask how you treated your neighbors.
       God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He will ask about the content of your character.
      God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He will lovingly take you to your mansion in Heaven, and not to the gates of hell.

PAUL HARVEY AND PRAYER

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-o song in December.
I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, Liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.

So what's the big deal?  It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts.  They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles.  According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1.  So what would you expect - somebody changing Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.
If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended.  It wouldn't bother me one bit.  When in Rome .......

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument.

What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized.  We're not going to pass the collection plate.  Just humor us for 30 seconds. 
If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs.  Go to the bathroom.  Visit the concession stand.
Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two wil make that call.  One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.  I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights.  Our parents and grandparent's taught us to pray before eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.  Now a handfull of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.

God, help us.  And if that last sentence offends you, well .... just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long.  It's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard ... that the vast majority don't care what they want.  It is time the majority rules!  It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him.  That is your right, and we will honor your right.  But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away.  We are fighting back .. and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all ... especially those who denounce Him.  God bless America, despite all her faults.  She is still the greatest nation of all.
God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God. [also our service women]
May 2005 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.

Keep looking up.
If you agree with this, please pass it on .... God bless you.