Heart Touchers

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{Straight From the Heart} *Christmas Missive & Christmas - A Chance to Speak Your Faith* 12/19/00

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I wanted to share a very special story with all of you by our teenage writer, Emily J. Foster. Emily has shared her writing with us here at SFTH for the past year and half, and sent me the following story for Christmas. I did not have any slots open before Christmas though, so decided to put it on the website and include the link so that you all may read it. I ask that you do so and then write to Emily and encourage her as she begins her writing career...
Thanks!
Michael
Click below to read her story!
True Meaning of Christmas
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/true_meaning_of_Christmas
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We have a poem from one of my most favorite writers in the whole world, Terri McPherson, and a wonderful story from Danny Mann that I just couldn't pass up!
You luck people get to read them both!
Enjoy!
Michael

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Christmas Missive

By Terri McPherson

Night claims the day on Christmas eve,
the world settles in to itself.
Streets stand forsaken and empty,
except for the odd Christmas elf.

Glistening darkness, dusted with light,
falls silent and quietly waits
for sounds of love from families gathered,
for the magic that Christmas creates.

During the hushed, quiet hours,
when sleep finds the weary of soul,
the wondrous promise of morning
makes broken spirits whole.

Dawn spreads its gold-crested fingers
and a massive awakening begins.
On rising, the world remembers
the Man who forgave all their sins.

Send Terri an email and let her know what you thought of her poem!
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Terri lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She has two wonderful children, a
five-year-old grandangel and a terrific husband. She works as a Writer / Web
Designer / Production Assistant for a local production company and teaches
advanced clogging classes for the Border City Cloggers. Her writing has
appeared in numerous online publications.

Check out her website and join her wonderful email list!
Weaving Small Wisdoms Through The Fabric Of Life
WiseHearts
http://www.mnsi.net/~tmcphers/index.htm
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CHRISTMAS - A Chance to Speak Your Faith

By Danny Mann

One evening last week, I was almost home (I have that long, five
minute commute) when I remembered that I needed to stop by the
grocery store. I don't like going to the grocery store. I put it
off as long as I can. I can never remember what is on which aisle
and they're always moving stuff around - I wish they'd stop that!

There is, however, one part of the grocery store experience I
enjoy. It's the people. It's fun to watch them shop. I suspect
they enjoy watching me shop too, peering, as I do at the labels
through my reading glasses, trying to make sure I get the shampoo
and not the conditioner.

The shoppers seem to fit into several categories. There's the
recreational shopper - the folks that view a trip to the store in
the same way I view a trip to the golf course. They aren't in a
hurry. They don't have a list. They come to the store everyday -
maybe more than once - and they just sort of meander down the
aisles. They stop and visit with the other recreational shoppers
(they all know each other) and sometimes they make it difficult for
others who are trying to squeeze past them.

Then there are the Just-dropped-by-to-pick-up-a-few-things-for-
dinner-and-I'm-in-a-real-big-hurry-so-stay-out-of-my-way-or-I'll-
kill-you-with-my-cart shoppers. Grim faced, these people are on a
mission and the rest of us had better watch our step. They should
be given specially equipped red carts with flashing lights and
foam-rubber bumpers. I don't ever speak to these kind of shoppers.
I don't want to distract them - and they could be armed.

My favorite kind of shopper is the family shopper. This is a mom
or a dad with one or two children in tow and a shopping cart filled
to the brim. These shoppers come once a week, spend about $1000
and always need help to the car.

Last week, after collecting the things I needed, I got in line
behind one of these family shoppers - a mom with a shopping cart
that, very possibly, would go over the $1000 mark. She had a
precocious little girl with her, five or six years old, and the
questions were flying in rapid-fire sequence. The subject was
Christmas and I settled back to watch, listen and learn.

"Is Christmas really Jesus' birthday?"

"Well, honey, a lot of people think so."

"But is it?"

"I'm not sure, sweetie - I guess it could be."

"Were there really five wise men and a star?"

"I think it was three wise men, baby doll, and, yes, I think there
was a star."

"And angels, were there really angels?"

"A lot of people think so, sweetie."

"Mommy, have we got a Bible at home?"

"Yes, honey, but I'm not sure where it is."

"Can we find it and read about Christmas?"

"We'll see, I have to fix dinner, but we'll see."

"Does Jesus know Santa?"

I was interested in the answer to that one but they were moving
toward the parking lot, so I didn't get to hear mom's wisdom on
this difficult subject.

As I made my way home, that wonderful conversation replayed over
and over in my mind. It made me think about the fact that this is
a very special time of year. There are people thinking about
Jesus, wondering about God and asking the same questions as my
little co-shopper.

It might be that, during this Christmas season, those of us who
know the story, who believe the story, who have based our entire
lives on the story, could have unique opportunities to speak our
faith. It might give us that opening we need to invite someone to
church. At this time of year, a co-worker might not balk at a
question like, "What does Christmas mean to you?" - or, "What's
your favorite Christmas carol?" - or, "Our church chorus is doing
a Christmas program - want to come?"

Yes, many of us are a little nervous about "talking religion." But
this might be one of our best opportunities of the year. Give it
a shot. You never know. You might be able to help someone know
the answers to all those questions - and the angels will begin to
sing again.

Danny Mann
102110.141@compuserve.com

Send Danny an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
************
Danny, single and 40 years old, has recently resigned his position of full
time ministry in San Antonio, Texas. He is going to spend the next few
months trying to make a go of it in the wild world of writing. Any help
from anyone out there in cyber-space would be greatly appreciated. You can
write to Danny at 102110.141@compuserve.com. He would love to hear from
you.

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REQUESTS:

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Thought For The Day:

"No generalizatin is wholly true. Not even this one."

Verse for the Day:

"My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness." Proverbs 8:7

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Sometimes you have to take the test before you've finished studying."

Parent's Thought For The Day:

"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."

Coach's Thought For The Day:

"Think big, believe big, act big, and the results will be big."

Deep Thought For The Day:

"I'm not afraid of insects taking over the world, and you know why? It
would take about a million ants just to aim a gun at me, let alone fire
it. And you know what I'm doing while they're aiming it at me? I just
sort of slip off to the side, and then suddenly run up and kick the gun
out of their hands."

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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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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 (RKaGe@aol.com) 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!
Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html
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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html
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