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{SFTH} *Better the Devil You Know* 5/29/01
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OUR BOOK IS FINALLY HERE!!
Straight From the Heart: "A Celebration of Life."
Well, it's official!! I received the first copy of my new book this past weekend!!
And it looks wonderful... All we are waiting for now is for my author page to
go up at Booklocker.com where the book can be purchased through and that
should only take a day or two. It will be available as a print book and as
an e-book. When you order the print version of the book, it is sent out
to you within 48 hours, and should arrive in your mail box about 4-5 days
after you order it. For those of you who would like an autographed copy of it,
you can purchase the book through us, and Kristi and I will sign it, write a
personal message to you, and then send it to you at no extra charge.
However, it might take up to two weeks before you get it...'cause we write
real slow-like...
The book will not be available through book stores or amazon.com for some time yet,
so the only two places to order it through is booklocker.com or us...and we will
let you know how to go about doing that in the next day or so.
My personal thank you to all of you for all your encouragement the past couple of
years. We can't tell you how much we love running this list and receiving the
feedback and encouragement from all of you...
Have a wonderful week!
Michael
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BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
By Joseph Walker
The chicken fajitas were cooking nicely -- no question about it.
The tantalizing smells wafting from the Dutch oven simmering on the
back patio were enough to tell you that. Chicken, onion, peppers, tomatoes
and spices were mingling deliciously, and soon the steaming, aromatic
mixture would be spooned onto warm tortillas and consumed by members
of two appreciatively hungry families.
Unfortunately, that moment of triumphant consumption was still a few
minutes away. Which wasn't a big problem for most of us, who could
actually enjoy the last moments of anxious anticipation (and who, the
truth be known, could actually stand to miss a meal now and then).
But for 10-year-old Lexi, it was an issue. Lexi is diabetic, and has to
keep a close eye on her blood sugar levels. And the long wait for fajitas
was pushing those levels to a point of mild concern.
What can I say? You just can't rush a Dutch oven.
So Lexi calmly got out her little insulin kit and prepared a syringe for one
of her thrice daily injections. Based on her sugar level, she consulted with
her mother in getting just the right dosage, then sat without flinching while
her mother administered the shot.
Eleven-year-old Elizabeth, who regularly uses an inhaler in her daily battle
with asthma, watched the process carefully. No stranger to the travails of
ongoing medication, she seemed fascinated by what she saw Lexi doing.
And as I tucked her into bed that night, it became quickly evident that
what she had seen had touched her.
"Did you say your prayers?" I asked.
"Yes," she said. "I thanked God for my asthma."
As near as I could tell, that was a first. I couldn't remember ever hearing
Elizabeth list "asthma" among her blessings. And so I gently asked why.
"It isn't that I like asthma," she said, simply. "But at least I don't have to
take shots."
I understood immediately how she felt. Earlier in the week I had spoken
to a friend who told me that her aged father had, within a few weeks' time,
met and married a woman 42 years his junior.
Oh, and did I mention that this "bride" has a criminal "rap sheet" longer
than Shaquille O'Neal's arm? And that she has a long, sad history of drug
abuse? And that she is HIV positive?
As you might expect, my friend is concerned. I tried to express support and
my sincere hope that everything will turn out well for everyone involved, but
I couldn't help but think of my own 90-year-old father, content and safe and
well-cared for in a nearby care center. Maybe there are some things worse
than Alzheimer's. And I silently thanked God for my challenges, just as
Elizabeth thanked God for her asthma.
Mom used to have a saying that expressed that sentiment: "Better the devil
you know." Of course, I didn't really understand that when I was growing up.
I'd look around, and all I could see was how much better or easier or more
exciting other people's lives seemed to be. But as I've grown older, I've come
to understand that everyone has their share of struggles -- visible or otherwise.
And no matter how taxing (and yes, I use that word intentionally -- especially
at this time of year) my particular share of struggles may be, when I see what
other people are going through with the challenges they are facing . . . well,
I'll take mine.
Along with another helping of chicken fajitas, if you please.
Joseph Walker
valuescom@juno.com
Send Joseph an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
*******
Joseph Walker has been writing professionally since 1980, when he left
college to join the staff of a daily metropolitan newspaper. For 10
years -- including six as the paper's TV columnist and critic -- he was
part of the mainstream media, and was painfully aware of the
overwhelming negativity of contemporary journalism. Joe says, "Nobody
was looking for real solutions to the problems society was facing; they
were just looking for someone or something to blame the problems on." So
in 1990 Joe began writing ValueSpeak, a weekly syndicated column that
attempts to look at contemporary issues from the perspective of
traditional values. Joe and his wife, Anita, are parents of five
children, and one grandchild.
You'll love his new book, "How Can you Mend a Broken Spleen!"
Ordering is simple and fast at the following Amazon address:
How To Mend A Broken Spleen
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573453005/qid=972961681/sr=1-6/straighfromthe0a
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Thought For The Day:
"Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty."
Verse for the Day:
"Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket."
-- Proverbs 25:11 TLB
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"A six year old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36
year old man says they can only do it in the movies."
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"We have been so anxious to give our children what we didn't have that
we have neglected to give them what we did have."
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"I don't believe for a second weightlifting is a sport. They
pick up a heavy thing and put it down again. To me, that's
indecision." --Paula Poundstone
Deep Thought For The Day:
"If there was any justice in this world, oil company executive bathrooms
would smell like the ones in their gas stations." -- Johnny Carson
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REQUESTS:
Dear Michael,
Thank you for setting up your 'Straight from the Heart' mailing list -- it has
been a good source of spiritual sanity in my hectic workplace. I work in
banking and finance sector where almost everything is ruled by logic,
and almost everything is dealt with cold analytical approach. So, it is
quite a struggle to keep my heart warm and in tune to God, and I should
thank you for one of my source of food for my heart daily :)
God bless and keep up the good work!
I would also like to ask you to post a prayer request for a good friend
of mine in Dallas, TX who is about to have a heart bypass surgery on
5/25 so that God would work through the hands of the surgeons and that
recovery would be fast and trouble-free. He has faith in God, and I pray
that God would strengthen his faith through this tough time. He already
had a bypass surgery done 10 years ago and this surgery carries greater
risk for him.
Many thanks to you and all the Brothers and Sisters in the world! :)
God bless :)
Arry
atanuson@pacific.net.sg
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Hi Everybody
Praise the Lord for His mercy and providence. My mom's surgery went well
and is now recovering in the hospital. Do continue to ask our Lord for her
recovery as she is diabetics, her healing is very slow BUT we know our
Lord's wonderful touch would heal her in His own way. My sincere thanks to
all of you who share our burden. Glorify to our Heavenly Father, Amen
Ma Nar
lhling@pc.jaring.my
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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