Father Gilles' Archive Pages

Monday, May 8, 2000

THE Prayer Wheel

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

----------------------------------------------------------------

THE Prayer Wheel

Here's what the wheel is all about. This post shares a prayer that was originally sent by a friend. Now you have come across and discovered it here. You are invited to say a prayer for a friend or person in need of this prayer. As you send it, you will get the wheel turning anew. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. Prayer is so powerful. Just send this to other people and watch God's answer to prayer work in their lives as well as in your life. Of all the free gifts we may receive, Prayer is the very best one. There are no costs, but wonderful rewards. Let's continue praying for one another.

------------------------------------------------------

Dear ,

Please accept this prayer and "prayer wheel" from my love, Your Friend ___________

Here's what the wheel is all about. When you receive this, you are invited to say a prayer for the person who sent it to you. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. Prayer is so powerful. Then you can also send this to other people and watch God's answer to prayer work in their lives as well as in your life. Of all the free gifts we may receive, Prayer is the very best one. There are no costs, but wonderful rewards. Let's continue praying for one another.

A Prayer

Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubting, release a renewed confidence in Your ability to work through them. Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, patience, and strength as they learn submission to your leading.

Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend's life.

Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and friends to support, and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it.
Above all else, Almighty God and Father, as Jesus revealed to us by his own example of prayer, You know best in your holy wisdom and divine will what is truly best for each and every human being. Ultimately, this is what we seek and ask in this prayer. We ask You for all this in Jesus' name.

Please accept this prayer and "prayer wheel" from my love, Your Friend

Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both.
Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ would do.

----------------------------------------------

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

----------------------------------------------------------------

© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

The Other Terrorists

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Other Terrorists

Program Excerpt – Comments by Mother Angelica

I wanted to share with you some thoughts I've had about the problems we have in this country, the war, but what kind of war is it? There's no place to go, nothing that you can think to do that would be right, even though justice is necessary. I'd like to talk to you tonight about other terrorists.

Let's take social terrorists - in our country. The kind of terrorists that go into schools and spread drugs. The kind of terrorists that kidnap little children and make them prostitutes and what was always known as white slavery. The kind of terrorists in the entertainment world that put out on television in public, in Europe and all over the world, the worst, worst kind of movies, the most immoral movies. Those are social terrorists. You say, oh no Mother, they, oh yea.... look what they have done to this country, look what they have done to our youth. And what is a terrorist, I don't know what a definition is... someone who wants to destroy.

We've had two beautiful buildings destroyed on our land. And many innocent people. People who were blown to bits - just like the first 10, 20 years of abortion. Cut to pieces, thrown in garbage cans and eaten by cats. Same as now. Those are terrorists. I think they're the worst because they destroy innocence and life and populations. (Editor: They exploit women, often young women, who are suffering from terrible social pressures from the people around them, from whom they would expect understanding and support. Women generally would not want to kill what they know is alive in them. All of us who abandon our women to fend for ourselves bear heavier responsibility for this.)

Our population is nothing what it should have been. Millions that belonged to us are gone and to me, and, I might be way off beam, I just want to share my heart with you - all those millions and millions that are gone, they can't fight for us because they aren't there. Isn't that a terrorist thing? Isn't it terrorism to have Satan's music for our little ones to absorb and to begin to murder and kill. Isn't it terrorist to spread drugs everywhere, to push prostitution and immorality among our youth, weaken their hearts, their souls, their minds? Isn't that terror?

Then there's spiritual terror, the kind that makes you afraid to say a prayer in public, the kind that makes you hide your crucifixes and anything religious in your office. The kind that says you can't have a crib in public. That's a terrorist because, in your heart you want to love God. You want to praise God. You want to say thank you Jesus for coming to save us as a little child. Thank you Lord. People think that's a terrorism that's acceptable... but I don't think it is.

Mr. President, I'm an old lady with a minor little stroke, or whatever it is and only one eye, but I can see - that this nation, great, mighty, a sleeping giant, that could bring the whole world to holiness, goodness, compassion, strength and hope, but I don't think, unless we tackle the terrorists in OUR country, we can expect God to protect and guide us.

Mr. President, would you consider putting prayer back in the schools and letting us pray at social functions? I understand that you prayed at a football game or baseball game. Could we pray in restaurants and could we have reminders of the Lord God? Can we put a crib back on our lawns and not be afraid of being ridiculed?

Mr. President, would you consider having prayer back in the schools? Would you consider taking that horrible law with permission to kill, to terrorize the innocent? I know some of you are mad at me right now. I figure in my condition I have nothing to lose. But would you consider, saying no more abortion is allowed in this country? Would you consider? (Editor: Let's work together to develop ways and means to support women who are surprised by a pregnancy. Better still, let's all work together to instruct our children and young people that sexual union is about giving life to babies and not just for fun. We need to form our children to have great respect for both girls and boys and at the approach of puberty to teach them about the wondrous mystery of life about to develop in them, and that's it's part of God's plan for marriage and family for our life and happiness. This is the way to peace.)

Mr. President, I thought your speech was wonderful. I don't play Democrat or Republican. I don't play anything in politics. I think, in general, politics stinks, but, you gotta vote for somebody. I was proud of you the other day. You were strong and you did put God in. But you see, you can't have two opposite things. You can't allow such terrorists in our country.

I know, I know what some of you out there are thinking, "Well you have your nerve, you're trying to tell us what to do". No, I don't care what you do. If you don't want to pray, don't pray. I believe in freedom of religion. I also believe in God and this country is no longer free.

See, if you're not free Mr. President, you can't make others free. You can't give what we don't possess. If we offend God by pornography and allowing pornography, by drugs, by not enough care and supervision, by television that's absolutely rotten, disgraceful, immoral, and allowing innocent children, they feel, those kids feel whatever it is.

In the old days they used to have salt saline abortion. They'd burn the little children. As long as that's a law, it cannot be pleasing to God. We can't keep offending God there, then ask for his blessing here. It's not going to work. Most of you might say, mind your own business and talk spiritual things. I think I am, talking about deeply spiritual things.

And all of you that have been so hidden and hurt because of the way these over 6,000 people died, cruel, without love, without anything. What about those little kids. They had no place to run. They had no place to go. (Editor: Over 57 million babies have been aborted in the U.S.A. since 1973.)You see, I don't want to be depressing tonight. I love you.

I love you Mr. President. You may never hear this talk. I hope the spirit, in one of your prayer groups, whispers in your ear because I think some drastic anti-terrorism has to be done in this country - to make us free - to make us filled with trust in God. Then, then you can do the work that you have been given to do. And then the almighty God from on high will be with you, and with this country, and with the world.

I love our president and our congress, because they've gotten together and they done everything America should do. They rose to the occasion. Just as with Pearl Harbor, the Japanese said they woke a sleeping giant, they did again (now).

This time, we have a few hindrances. I'm only saying that if we're going to clear out or try to bring to justice terrorists we had better first look at home.... We must be brave and we must accept our penance. We must also change. We must pray, not only for those who died in those terrible, terrible attacks, but have we ever prayed for the children who were murdered, every day? Have we ever said Lord, I can't stop it but I pray they have a high degree of glory in your kingdom... Let us become a repenting nation and change.

(Editor: Gilles A. Surprenant)

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

----------------------------------------------------------------

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

The Old Man Christmas Eve

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Old Man Christmas Eve

A Short Story by Anonymous

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go."   "Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.   "You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to
Himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.   "None for me," said the officer.   "Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt." The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."   "Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.   George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.

"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued.   "Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said. "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.

The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"

Merry Christmas!!

This story is better than any greeting card.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS!

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

----------------------------------------------------------------

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

The Message of Love

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Message of Love

Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away, two friends were asked by their master to spread a message of love to the world. Both men were filled with joy, and set out to do their master' s bidding. After many years, one of the men became a pastor of a beautiful church. He was renowned as a moving and remarkable speaker. It was said that his choir had voices of angels and the frescos were so beautiful people wept. People came from far and wide to hear him speak.

On the other hand, the second man also became a pastor of a small parish in a run down neighborhood not far from his friend. This poor man had trouble preparing his homilies and his parish struggled with lack of funds. Sunday after Sunday he spoke of God's love for his people. Not being a wonderful orator, some parishioners remained to help their pastor, while many left to hear the "famous” pastor up the street.

Every week, the "poor' pastor tried to prepare a moving message to touch people's hearts, but, he was often distracted. It seemed that every time this poor man sat down to prepare his homily, he had to run to a sick bed, visit a parishioner in prison, help a single mom find a few dollars to feed her child, talk to an elderly parishioner who was sick, depressed or lonely. Years went by. The rich parish got richer and the little parish down the street barely seemed to survive.

Then one day the master appeared to the “famous” pastor. This man was overwhelmed and thought that his master must be so proud of him because he had accomplished so much. He thought about his rich parish, his marvelous choir, the fabulous collection of artwork, etc. But as he looked he saw tears in his master's eyes. "Why do you cry Lord?” he asked. "Son", the master said, "While you prepare your homilies next Saturday, look out your window and learn."

For several weeks all the "famous” pastor saw was his old friend running up the street to the hospital or the prison, talking to kids who seemed lost, stopping to talk to a beggar or simply smiling to all he would meet. Finally after a few weeks the "famous" pastor realized that his old friend could teach him much about his master's message of love. The following week the pastor in the poor parish, discouraged by the lack of attendance and the condition of his parish, decided it was time to leave; as he felt that he had failed his master.

To his amazement, the church was packed, and in the front pew sat his friend, the "famous" pastor from up the street. He approached his old friend who immediately embraced him and said, “We have come to learn from you my old friend.” “To learn from me!" cried the poor pastor. "How is this?" His ‘famous friend' said, "While I spoke of love in moving homilies, you my friend showed the message of love...... it is clearly written in your heart."

"My dear friend:' cried the poor pastor, "You are welcome here at any time. But, you also learned the message. In my moment of despair, you were there for me. That also shows that the message of love is written in your heart."

From that day on, their friendship blossomed. The two parishes thrived as they supported one another. It was said, that this kingdom was so full of love, you could almost touch it.

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

----------------------------------------------------------------

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

The Lord’s Prayer

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Lord’s Prayer

As I pray “Our” the Holy Spirit slowly expands my faith to make room for others and their need.

As I pray “Father” the One who created me draws me, by his Holy Spirit, to Jesus who draws me into this relationship to God in my daily living.

As I pray “who art in Heaven” the Holy Spirit slowly expands my interests and pursuits beyond earthly things to heavenly things.

As I pray “hallowed be thy name” the Holy Spirit draws me into Jesus' heart, mind, and spirit, where the Lord teaches me to rely on God’s help to be holy.

As I pray “thy kingdom come” Jesus draws me into his own heart, mind, and spirit, where He teaches me to desire, like Him, God’s rule in my life.

As I pray “thy will be done” Jesus gently teaches me to desire, like Him, willing and joyful, having the Father's will in my life.

As I pray “on earth as it is in Heaven” the Holy Trinity expands and deepens my spirit and my will to become ready to give myself to God’s service here and now.

As I pray “give us this day our daily bread” the Holy Trinity expands and deepens my desire for the "Bread of Life", teaches me to appreciate the priceless value of my life and all life, softening my heart to not withhold from my neighbor what I receive so freely from God.

As I pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” God reveals to me that the gate of my heart cannot be open to receive forgiveness when I close it to withold forgiveness from my neighbor or continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

As I pray “lead us not into temptation” God reveals to me the danger if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

As I pray “deliver us from evil” God reminds me that evil is real and that, like Jesus, I am called to resist and fight evil with my life and my prayer.

(Luke 11:2-4 does not have the following doxology, nor do the oldest versions of Matthew 6:9-13. However it does appear in the Didaché and in later versions of Matthew. In the Roman Catholic Sacred Liturgy it is included after the "Embolism" prayer for deliverance from evil.)

As I pray “for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours” God forms to me freely choose to obey the King, and to seek the glory of God rather than my own.

As I pray “forever and ever” God forms me dwell in his peace and refrain from allowing myself to be anxious about each day’s affairs.

As I pray “Amen” with Jesus I say “Not my will, but your will be done; so let it be”.

“And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:7-8

Pray for others. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we can receive and give. There is little or no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let’s continue praying for one another.

Source unknown.

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

----------------------------------------------------------------

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

The Lord’s Baseball Game

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Lord’s Baseball Game

“Bob and the Lord stood by to watch a baseball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

They continue to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails. The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly wisdom looked it over and let it pass: ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were loaded.

The Lord then turned to Bob and; told him He was now going to bring in his star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said “He sure doesn’t look like much!” Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch.

To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run!

The Lord’s team had won. The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why. The Lord explained,

“If your love, faith, and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith, and wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home. My Grace is the one thing Satan cannot steal.”

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

----------------------------------------------------------------

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

The Human Bible

----------------------------------------------------------------

The Human Bible

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes.

This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college. Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but aren't sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started, and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer to the pulpit and, when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before! By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a 3-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly as he starts walking with a cane toward this boy. Now everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to walk to the front. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do. And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget. Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read."

“LORD help me to be as accepting of others as you are of me.

You accept me no matter how I am dressed or what I have done.

Open my heart to accept others as quickly and fully in Love!

Lord forgive my sins like I forgive other's sins against me.

Help me to become more like Christ.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Author unknown

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

----------------------------------------------------------------

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Father Gilles' Archive Pages

Monday, May 8, 2000

THE Prayer Wheel

The Other Terrorists

The Old Man Christmas Eve

The Message of Love

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Baseball Game

The Human Bible

Seminar / Workshop on God - "Introduction to Prayer" - Marriage Preparation Course "From This Day Forward" - Saturday, April 13th, 2024 at St. Thomas à Becket Parish - Marriage is a great adventure for LIFE! Workshop Seminar 07.6

Report Abuse