Heart Touchers

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{SFTH} *To Tell The Truth* 6/29/01

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Michael's long awaited book Straight From the Heart: "A Celebration of
Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages of true short stories filled with love
and laughter await you! Visit our web site to order the EBook, or to order
by credit card! You can also read some sample stories from the book here!

http://storiesfrommyheart.com/michael_t__powers/

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A number of people have written to us asking what an EBook is, since our
book is being offered in both print and EBook versions. An EBook is a book
that can be downloaded and read right on your computer. The advantage of
ordering the EBook is that is costs less, $8.95 (No other charges), as compared
to $14.95 + shipping and handling for the print book. Plus you can download
the EBook and begin reading the stories in a few minutes! EBooks are read via
Acrobat Reader, which is software that most of you already have on your computer.
And if for some reason you don't, it can be downloaded free of charge at the web
site. So for those of you who don't want to wait for the print book to be delivered,
check out this web site to order the EBook version of Straight From the Heart
"A Celebration of Life."

http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html

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TO TELL THE TRUTH

By Al Batt

"Who did this?" asked my teacher. Thirty children tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what our teacher may have found out. "Who did this?" asked my teacher once more. She wasn't really asking, she was demanding an answer. She seldom became angry, but she was this time. She held up a piece of broken glass and asked, "Who broke this window?"
"Oh, oh," I thought. I was the one who broke the window. I had not done it intentionally. It was caused by an errant throw of a baseball. I was working on my knuckleball. It needed more work. Why did it have to be me? It wasn't really my fault. If I admitted guilt, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn't even get an allowance. "My father is going to have a fit," I thought. I didn't want to raise my hand, but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward. I told the truth. "I did it." I said no more. It was hard enough saying what I had.
My teacher went to one of our library shelves and took down a book. She then began walking towards my desk. I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me and she was going to use a book for the swatting.
"I know how you like birds," she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face. "Here is that field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours. It's time we got a new one for the school anyway. The book is yours and you will not be punished as long as you remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed, I am rewarding you for your truthfulness."
I couldn't believe it! I wasn't being punished and I was getting my very own bird field guide. The very one that I had been saving up money to buy. The money I feared would be going to the school to buy a new window. I wore out that book trying to match the live, flying birds to their depictions in that field guide. The book is gone, so is my wonderful teacher. All that remains of that day is my memory and the lesson my teacher taught me. That lesson stays with me every day and it will echo forever.

Send Al an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
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Al lives on a farm in Minnesota with his wife, Gail. Al is a writer, a newspaper columnist, a radio personality, a speaker and a storyteller.

Al Batt
RR1 Box 56A
Hartland, MN 56042
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Thought For The Day:

"The past should be a springboard, not a hammock." --Ivern Ball

Verse for the Day:

"Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase greatly."
Job 8:7

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"It can't hurt to ask for a fourth wish."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"When the phone rings, it's for your teenager. When the phone bill arrives, it's
for you." --Bruce Lansky

Coach's Thought For The Day

"A decade after graduation, almost everyone will have forgotten when and
where and what they played. But every time they speak, everyone will
know whether they are educated." --Theodore Hesburgh

Deep Thought For The Day:

"When their numbers dwindled from 50 to 8, the other dwarves began
to suspect Hungry."

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REQUESTS:

Dear Friends and Family,
Please say a prayer for my brother, Rob. He lives in Milwaukee and is pursuing an education in the medical field, which starting this fall will be a full time journey. His current employer (of 10 years) cannot be flexible with his hours, so he will need to find something else to support himself while going to school. He has a great faith and love for Jesus and I'm sure that a new door will open for him. Change is always scary and he could use the prayers to give him strength and the wisdom to be guided in the direction he needs to go to accomplish his goals. Thank you for your prayer and God Bless.....
Beth (his sister), Livonia, MI
BBAUMGARTNER@twmi.rr.com

UPDATE ON THE TWINS

Patrick, who had been home on Tuesday and off antibiotics since Monday, was rushed to the hospital with a high fever, and a distended abdomen. They do not know what the problem is this time. He just so tiny, only up to 5 pounds, I think, and he's having such a rough go of it. Please pray for God's healing hand on him.
Susan McDonell
susanmcd@ameritech.net
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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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The copyrights to the stories that appear in SFTH are owned by the
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Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)

"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave
them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was
crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we
could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so
surprised and so touched---they really, really, really loved it. Thanks
for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how
the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli-- College Station, TX

Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html

AOL Users click here: Video Imagery
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Would you like to see your story in Straight From the Heart?
Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here:
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/

AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines
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Purchase your copy of Michael T. Powers' new book! For a sneak
preview, visit:

http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/order_our_book_

AOL Users Click Here: Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life_________________________________________________________SUBSCRIBE:"I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!"To become a Straight From the Heart Member send an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to:Thunder27@AOL.comThen get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the beststories on the Internet!_________________________________________________________UNSUBSCRIBE:All you have to do is send an e-mail with "Unsubscribe" in thesubject line to: Thunder27@AOL.com Give it a day or two to be processed..._________________________________________________________Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htmAOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws_________________________________________________________Michael's long awaited book Straight From the Heart: "A Celebration of Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages of true short stories filled with love and laughter await you! Visit our web site to order your copy!You can also read some sample stories from the book here!http://storiesfrommyheart.com/michael_t__powers/AOL Users Click Here: Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life

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