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*Christmas Invitation* 12/10/01 ___________________________ If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, join the thousands of HeartTouchers.com readers around the world by sending an e-mail with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com ____________________________________________ Happy Holidays from HeartTouchers.com We wanted to let everyone know that for Christmas we will be offering our book, Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life" for only $13 (instead of the regular price of $14.95), and best of all, we will pay the shipping! So if you have any interest in purchasing an autographed copy of the book for yourself, or as a gift for your loved ones, now is the time to get it! But if you want them in time for Christmas, you need to act fast! IMPORTANT! This is only for those orders that come directly to us and not the publisher and we can only accept checks and money orders. For those who still want to order the book by credit card, you can still do so through the publisher at: http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html but you will be paying full price and shipping. To order your autographed copy send a check or money order for $13 (We pay the shipping!) for each book made out to Michael T. Powers, and then send it to: Michael T. Powers 1918 Liberty Lane Janesville, WI 53545 Hurry! Time is running out! To preview the book by reading some of the stories visit: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/michael_t__powers/ AOL Users Click below: Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life _________________________________________ We start this week off with a wonderful Christmas story from a writer who is new to Heart Touchers, but well known throughout the United States via his radio ministry... Ron Hutchcraft! As thousands of Christmas plays and musicals are being performed across the world this month, I bet few are as touching as the one Ron writes about in today's story! From my family to yours, Michael _________________________________________ The Christmas Invitation By Ron Hutchcraft It was the biggest night of the year in a little town called Cornwall. It was the night of the annual Christmas pageant. Since there are no nearby malls or cities to compete with, the pageant is packed out every year. It's an especially big deal for the children in town -- they get to try out for the roles in the Christmas story. Everybody wants a part. Which leads us to the problem of Harold. Harold really wanted to be in the play, too, but he was -- well, he was kind of a slow and simple kid. The directors were ambivalent - I mean, they knew Harold would be crushed if he didn't have a part, but they were afraid he might mess up the town's magic moment. Finally, they decided to cast Harold as the innkeeper -- the one who turns Mary and Joseph away the night Jesus is to be born. He had only one line -- "I'm sorry, we have no room." Well, no one could imagine what that one line was going to do to everyone's Christmas. The night of the pageant the church was packed, as usual. The set was in place -- and in fact, it was an entire wall with scenes of Bethlehem painted on it -- including the door of the inn where Harold would greet -- and then turn away -- the young Jewish travelers. Backstage, the angels were playing Frisbee with their halos, the shepherds were waiting 'til the last minute to put on their annually laundered bathrobes and Harold was being personally coached by the nervous directors. "Now remember, Harold, when Joseph says, 'Do you have a room for the night?', you say ... you say ..." Hesitantly, Harold said, "I'm sorry ... we have no room." The directors looked at each other sort of hopefully. They'd done all they could. Well, the Christmas story unfolded according to plan -- angels singing, Joseph's dream, you know, the trip to Bethlehem. Finally, Joseph and Mary arrived at the door of the Bethlehem inn, looking appropriately tired, discussing whether the baby might come tonight. Joseph knocked on the inn door. Backstage, the directors were just out of sight, coaching Harold to open the door NOW. And wouldn't you know it -- the door was stuck! The whole set shook; Harold tried to get that door open. When he finally did, Joseph asked his question on cue -- "Do you have a room for the night?" Harold froze. From backstage, a loud whisper -- "I'm sorry -- we have no room." And Harold mumbled, "I'm sorry -- we have no room." And, with a little coaching, he shut the door. The directors heaved a sigh of relief -- prematurely. As Mary and Joseph disappeared into the night, the set suddenly started shaking again -- and the door opened. Harold was back! And then, in an unrehearsed moment that folks would not soon forget, Harold went running after the young couple, shouting as loud as he could -- "Wait! Wait! You can have MY room!" I think little Harold may have understood the real issue of Christmas better than anyone else there that night. How can you leave Jesus outside? You have to make room for Jesus. And that may be the issue for you this Christmas Day. What will you do with this Son of God who came to earth to find you? This One who trades a throne room for a stable ... angel praise for human mockery . . . this Creator who gives Himself on a cross? The Bible gives us the only appropriate response in Galatians 2:20: "The life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." You look at what Jesus did to pay for your sin on that cross, and you say those life-changing words -- "For me." Jesus is at YOUR door this Christmas. Maybe He's been knocking for a long time and maybe He won't keep knocking much longer. All your life -- even the events of the last few months -- have been to prepare you for this crossroads moment with Jesus your Savior. Don't leave Him outside any longer. Open the door this Christmas Day. "Jesus, I cannot keep You out any longer. Come on in. You can have my room ... my life." Ron Hutchcraft rhm@hutchcraft.com E-mail Ron and let him know what you thought! ____________________________________ Ron Hutchcraft is a 35-plus-year veteran of youth and family work. Mr. Hutchcraft has spoken to parents, professionals, singles, and youth across North America and around the world, presenting practical answers to real-life issues. Stateside, he has also spoken at NFL and Major League Baseball chapels. Mr. Hutchcraft is also involved in work with Native Americans, and is founder of the On Eagle's Wings Native leadership program. Mr. Hutchcraft is the author of several books including Ten Time Bombs (Zondervan), The Battle for a Generation (Moody Press), 5 Needs Your Child Must Have Met at Home (Zondervan), and the newest, Called to Greatness (Moody Press). Ron is the host of three radio programs. "Realtime," "A Word With You" and "Threshold" are heard on hundreds of stations across the United States and around the world. Mr. Hutchcraft's closest partner in life and work is his wife, Karen. He is the father of three grown children, who are all in full-time ministry." Check out his website at: http://www.Hutchcraft.com _________________________________________ Reader Feedback! Hello, I love children. older people, anyone who needs someone to love them, and animals. Especially my dog Jade. Hence my e-mail address... I love your web site. It is the best that I have subscribed to yet. Don't know what could top it. Thank you for sharing with us. Joan Keckler jadedmama@aol.com I have really enjoyed this site and am so glad my girlfriend sent it to me. God Bless you in all you do. Charlotte Hissongq cmhissong@yahoo.com Michael, I enjoyed very much your story "The Boys From Iwo Jima" I am making a journal for my grandchildren ages 4 & 5--about this terrible tragedy that has happened in New York City. Also about Iwo Jima. This is very valuable information. Thank You! Betty Giruzzi, Upstate New York EGiruzzi1@aol.com _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "Whatever you dislike in another person take care to correct in yourself."--Sprat Verse for the Day: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" --Matthew 7:3 Kid's Thought For The Day: While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, a young mother used to take her four-year-old daughter on her afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day the mother found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As she braced herself for the inevitable barrage of questions, her daughter merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!" Parent's Thought For The Day: "As a mother, my job is to take care of the possible and trust God with the impossible." -- Ruth Bell Graham Coach's Thought For The Day: "Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." --General George Patton Writer's Thought For the Day: "I do a lot of talking to myself when I write, trying out the sound of dialogue. Neighbors must think I always have a roomful of company." --Tennessee Williams Deep Thought For The Day: "People tell me I'm indecisive.......but I don't know about that." ___________________________________________ REQUESTS: ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / HeartTouchers@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 ___________________________________________ The copyrights to the stories that appear in HeartTouchers.com are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used elsewhere unless you have contacted and been given permission by the individual writer. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us! __________________________________________ 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! Visit: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ AOL Users click here: Video Imagery ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in HeartTouchers.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/guidelines/ AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines ___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE: "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" To become a HeartTouchers.com Member send an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@AOL.COM Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: All you have to do is send an e-mail with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@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.htm AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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