If you enjoy this email service, I encourage you to spread the word
to family and friends that we may bring inspiration to the lives of
many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along
to you, join the thousands of world-wide readers by visiting:

http://www.hearttouchers.com/

Be sure to check out our inspirational list just for teenagers!

http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Heart4Teens

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Looking for a great Mother's Day or Father's Day gift?

Michael's updated book Heart Touchers "Life-Changing Stories of Faith,
Love, and Laughter," is finally here! ($13.95) Visit the link below to
preview the book! Personalized autographed copies are available at
no extra charge and we pay the shipping for you! An E-book version is
also available for just $3.25!

http://www.hearttouchers.com/books


Be sure to let us know who you would like it autographed for and then allow
about two weeks for us to sign it and send it on its way to you.Credit card,
PayPal, Checks, and Money orders accepted! The book is also available
through Amazon.com, Borders.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Booklocker.com



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Celebration of Life

(From the book: Heart Touchers "Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter)

by Michael T. Powers

On my way home from coaching basketball yesterday, I was listening to WGN,
my favorite talk radio station out of Chicago. I could tell right away that there
was something wrong by the somber mood of the speaker. There had been
a plane crash. Two small planes collided into each other over a northern suburb
of Chicago. What made the story hit close to home was that Bob Collins, the
morning show man for WGN, was the pilot of one of the planes and had been
killed. I'm sure that many readers have tuned in "Uncle Bobby" on their car
radios in the Midwest. I listened as the station reminisced and paid tribute to a man
who was loved by many. They told story after story, describing him as the
ultimate friend and a man who had lived life to the fullest. Genuine love and
affection poured in from all over the country. The more I listened to how this
man had influenced those around him, the more discouraged I became.

Why you ask?

I was discouraged because I wanted to know why we as a culture wait until
somebody has passed away before we tell them how much we love them.
Why do we wait until someone's ears can't hear before we let them how much
they mean to us? Why do we wait until it is too late before we recall the good
qualities of a person? Why do we build someone up after they have gone into
eternity? What good does it do then?! We share memory after memory, as
we laugh, cry, and think back about what was positive in a person's life. Yes,
it does help us cope with the grief of losing someone who was special to us,
and, yes, it does bring those who are coping closer together. Unfortunately,
as we lovingly remember this person, our words fall short of the ears that
most needed to hear them.

Just once I would like to see a celebration of life instead of a gathering of
death. A celebration where stories are told, eyes mist over, laughter rings
out, and as the speaker concludes his or her loving tribute, the person they
are honoring rises from their chair and gives them the biggest bear hug!
Wouldn't that be something! The special people get to hear the stories and
come to the realization that they have made a difference on this earth, and
all this is done well before they leave their earthly bodies and go into eternity.
When the inevitable funerals finally come, we can say good-bye with the
knowledge that they knew exactly how people felt about them while they
were here on earth.

I now have a stronger resolve to tell those around me how much they mean
to me. I am going to let my wife know just how loved and appreciated she is,
not only by my words, but also by my actions. I am going to play Batman with
my four-year-old more often, and in the middle of our romping, I am going to
grab him, hug him tightly, and tell him how thankful I am that he is my son.
I am going to sneak into my sleeping toddler's bedroom, place my lips on his
chubby cheek, and thank God for the bundle of joy He has brought into my life.
Each day I will make a point to tell both of my boys how much I love them,
whether they are four or eighteen! From there, I am going to let family and
friends know the tremendous impact they have had on my life. Finally, I am
going to let the high school players I coach know that I look forward to each
and every minute that I get to spend with them in the gym.

Do you love someone? Then tell them! Has someone been an influence in
your life? Then give them a call! Has someone made a difference in your
life? Then write them a letter or send them an e-mail! Don't let another
day go by without letting that person know. There is something special
about a written letter that expresses feelings of love towards another. I don't
know about you, but I have letters and cards from people that I have saved
for years, and from time to time, I get them out and reread them. They
can turn a depressing day into one where I realize just how blessed and lucky I am.
Life is too short to leave kind words unsaid. The words you say, or the
letter you write, might just make all the difference in the world.

Michael T. Powers
HeartTouchers@aol.com

Copyright © 2000 by Michael T. Powers

Write Michael and let him know your thoughts on this story!

Michael T. Powers, the founder of HeartTouchers.com and Heart4Teens.com,
is the youth minister at Faith Community Church in Janesville, Wisconsin. He
is happily married to his high school sweetheart Kristi and proud father of
three young rambunctious boys. He is also an author with stories in 29 inspirational
books including many in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and his own entitled:
Heart Touchers "Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter." To preview his
book or to join the thousands of world wide readers on his inspirational e-mail list, visit:
www.HeartTouchers.com

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Creation Q & A

Q: Has the missing link been found?

A: For many people, evolution is more than just a scientific argument about
origins: they use it as their philosophy of living, and it impacts every area
of their life. Those who want to reject the Creator are always looking for
evidence to support their belief system of evolution.

Christians should be aware that every so-called "missing" link between
man and ape has been rejected by scientists. Even many evolutionists
throw out Neanderthal man and "Lucy" as our ape-like ancestors. But we
shouldn't even have to turn to science to know that these "ape-men" are
false. The Bible clearly tells us that God created humans and animals
reproducing after their own kind.

What's the real missing link? It's humankind's relationship to the Creator.
He made them, and He's never been missing. We're made in the image of
God and are meant to worship and obey Him.

For more information, see http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n2/worthy-ancestors
and http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n1/worthy-ancestors-2