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{HeartTouchers.com} *Religion at Traffic Lights* ______________________________________ If you enjoy this email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration the lives of many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, join us by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com Be sure to check out our inspirational list just for teenagers! http://www.Heart4Teens.com ____________________________________________ 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 _____________________________________ Religion at Traffic Lights by Rubel Shelly The story is not mine, and I would have missed it except for Suzy's kindness in forwarding it to me. But it makes an interesting point. It tells of a good citizen who was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy street. Suddenly, the light at the intersection just in front of them turned yellow. The good citizen did the right thing by stopping at the crosswalk - even though he could have beaten the red light by gunning it through the intersection. The tailgating woman hit the roof - and her horn. She was screaming in frustration because she had missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in mid-rant - alternately pounding the steering wheel and gesturing to the fellow in front of her - she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He put handcuffs on her. He took her to the police station, where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a police captain approached the cell and opened the door. The woman was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I'm very sorry for my mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cursing a blue streak. Then I noticed the Choose Life' license plate holder, the What Would Jesus Do?' bumper sticker, the Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car." Ouch! Somewhere through the centuries, an idea has gained currency that says we can be Christians in the same way most people are Democrats and Republicans, Rotarians and Lions Club members. We show up for meetings, pay our dues, and wear the insignia. For the most part, however, it is acceptable to be "just like everybody else." We're devout Christians on Sunday mornings, but we curse or flirt or cheat or tell racist jokes the other six and a half days of the week. We have so institutionalized the Christian faith that membership has come to count for conversion. It isn't just Vito Corleone of "Godfather" fame who could live as a criminal so long as he attended Mass and gave gifts to his church. If one's faith is more than self-delusion, it must inform her life in all the routine and ordinary events of life. Even at traffic lights. Rubel Shelly (c) 2006 Rubel Shelly. Used by permission. Visit: http://www.faithmatters.com to read more of Rubel's writing. Rubel Shelly has preached for the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ in Nashville since 1978. During that time, he has also taught at David Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is the author of more than 20 books, including several which have been translated into languages such as Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Russian. He is married to the former Myra Shappley, and they are the parents of three children: Mrs. David (Michelle) Arms, Tim, and Tom. _________________________________________ Inspired Audio -- Inspirational Audio Message of the Week! Inspired Audio is a brand new offshoot of HeartTouchers.com. Every week we will offer a different audio message that you can listen to right on your computer as you are surfing the net or just getting things done around the house. Be sure to come back and visit each week! This Week: Love and Respect in Marriage by Jerry Dean http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Inspired_Audio ______________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself." Dwight L. Moody Verse for the Day: "Righteousness guards the man of integrity." -- Proverbs 13:6 Kid's Thought For The Day: "Silence can be an answer." Parent's Thought For The Day: "A mother is a person who sees there are only four pieces of pie for five people and promptly remarks that she has never cared for pie." Coach's Thought For The Day: "Don't mistake activity for achievement." -- John Wooden Writer's Thought For The Day: "Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators." --Olin Miller Deep Thought For The Day: "My wife Kristi thinks I'm too nosy. At least that's what she keeps scribbling in her diary." _________________________________________ Over 85,000 people have listened to popular Chicken Soup Author Michael T. Powers' free inspirational message entitled: "Breathing Life into Others". If you aren't one of them just visit: http://www.HeartTouchers.com and click on the link to listen to the free streaming audio message! __________________________________________ Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business Dear Michael, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the beautiful video you made for me! It was so special to see both of my parents in tears as they watched their children grow up in pictures before their eyes! I loved the way you made Estania's part set aside from the rest--that was the part that really got them! The music was beautiful. My mom kept blubbering, "What song is that?" I don't know how you did such a beautiful job with the video in such a short time. I really appreciate your doing it so quickly. You have a wonderful gift, and I thank God that you are using it to create such sentimental memories. I hope that I can find my niche like that in an area that I love. Your video gave us one of our most lasting Christmas memories! I hope yours was filled with moments to be treasured forever! Love, Trisha Silverhill, AL Let me make you a video from your photos! Check out my video production business by visiting: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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