Roland

This Task Force exists. As all these fallen angels are living on earth, close to us and sometimes in us. They see us, they here us, but they can´t read our minds. When we say a prayer, then they hear it, when we read the scritures, then they listen. When we give a blessing with oil to a person who is afflicted by them then they are touched. When we share our testimony about the gospel with them and invite them to believe in Christ and the everlasting love of our heavenly parents - then they remember their home in heaven and convert to Christ and then they go to the light and never again return to Lucifer. Indeed I can confirm that Lucifer is losing a lot of his followers.

That´s what I tried to explain before. Nooene could see, how the next stand would really be. Indeed I can imagine that we played the game "earthly family" very often in heaven because we had plenty of time. Thus i´m of the same opinion that Lucifer´s original desire was not bad but his plan was not perfect. He was disappointed that his "better" plan was denied. Still thinking that he had a better plan he started the war in heaven. Jehova and Michael threw him down to earth. At this moment he lost his first stand and was excluded from the plan of Jehova to receive an earthly life. Realizing this he changed his mind and his plan "If they don´t like my plan then I disturb the other plan." (behavior like a naughty child). He regards our corpus and it´s possibilities (taste-tenderness-sexuality) with envy. That´s the reason why he and his lots of billions of fallen angels try to enter into our corpus to participate on these feelings. The second reason is the destruction of the corpus. You can see that most of his actions go against the corpus: murder, violence, violation, rape, drugs....

There are two types of death. In This case adam´s body wouldn´t die, but he might leave the presence of god.

When I joined the church my mother said: "You are not my son anymore" and my wife left me. I started to go to all activities that the church offered. I was together with members nearly everyday and I found many new friends. The church is the best place where you can go. The members are the best people to talk to. You´ll find your way if you stay there. Good Luck! Ciao Roland

The first three choices of this poll are: 1. Require each person to atone for their own sins 2. Don't hold anyone accountable / Redeem all unconditionally 3. Force everyone to be good or to comply with the rules I Chose number 1, but considering the timeline, these options are not at the same level. Number 3 is the outgoing position. After number 3 would be valid number 2 is the result. As the Father denied the plan of Lucifer, number 2 is not valid and all the spirits that don´t accept the atonement of Jesus Christ are under number 1. They must suffer for their own sins.

When we are talking about the life after life we find many different opinions, because we don´t know much. We rely on the scriptures and the reports of some people who took a look behind the veil ("The gateway we call death" by Russel M. Nelson). With the preexistance it´s similar. Noone remembers what happend and the scriptures don´t tell much. What we know is that Lucifer´s name means in Latin, "Light-Bringer" (from lux, lucis, "light", and ferre, "to bear, bring") and that he was beautiful and intelligent. We often see that people that are beautiful and intelligent become proud. And they have fans who admire them and they love to be admired - they love themselves. I agree with the opinion that Lucifer may not have seen the bad end of his plan. Although we lived in the presence of god we were innocent children watching and listening but without the experience of this life. Lucifer was really convinced of his plan, because there were some advantages. It´s 100 % - everyone comes back. It´s comfortable - no crime, no violence, less pain, no poverty, no famine, no exploitation. I think he could make his plan sound good. But only 1/3 followed him. He was disappointed that the most followed Jehova and he thought Jehova is the deceiver and he teaches his fallen angels that Jehova is the betrayer and that the plan of Jesus brings a lot of pain to the world. He also teaches that now as they (fallen angels) settled for him it´s impossible to turn to Jehova because Jehova hates them and that they will be destoyed if they go to the light. Therefore it´s difficult for them to repent, but ot is not impossible. The force that he has is what they allow him, that´s right. He always rebukes and never praises them. He always denunciates them as a bad example. He sets them under psychological pressure. 1/3 followed Lucifer and they all are on earth now. They are here since thousands of years. They have seen and experienced much. They may speak any language. It´s their job to lure us away from Christ. They intrude into the people and make them think that they have lived before by sharing their own experiences of the past with them. Another example: A female fallen angel can intrude into a male person and may make him think like a woman and may deceive him to love another man. Therefoe we are sup- porting prop.8 because we can see clearly the influence of Lucifers devotees.

I´m sorry to go into this discussion without reading all the comments before. I think i´ll do that later on from time to time. But I´d like to share some thaughts that are based on my experiences with spirits. Jesus loved all his bothers and sisters so much that he agreed with the plan of the father. Lucifer only loved himself and he didn´t like to give his life and suffering to redeem his brohers and sisters. But he liked to di life in an easy way and he also liked to be "GOD". Therefore he developed a plan that sounded much better for all the spirits who wanted to have an easy life without too much efforts. The spirits that followed him are still under the law of God and although they followed Lucifer they still have their free will. In the meantime they recognized that Lucifer can´t fulfill his plan and that he can´t force everyone to do the good. They see that he forces everyone to do the bad. They followed him because they had been his friends, and they had been deceived. But now many of them try to leave his army but they don´t know how. Jesus loves all of them although they had made a wrong decision, but they still are free to turn to Christ in the same way, as many of us humans living on earth deny Christ and turn to Lucifer.

Hello Lily If you look at all the (for example) 30,000,000,000 children of god that elected the plan of Jehova and evaluate how they follow that plan then you see that some of them are very anxious to do their best and some switched to the opposite and worship Lucifer. Due to the freedom of choice it is possible. On the other side many of the fallen angels would like to leave the army of Lucifer but they don´t know how. They regret their decision. They still have their freedom of choice and they are still our brothers and sisters. In the bible you can read about more than 50 miracles that Jesus did. More than 20 of them are about healing by casting out the unclean spirits (devils, demons). Anyway how you call them, they are our brothers and sisters. Some of them are really bad and some of them just hide themselves in human beings to be far away from Lucifer. But they have an influence on the person and make the person weak and ill. And if a female spirit is inside of a male person it may have an effect on his sexual preference. Especially if there are many spirits in a person. It is not necessary to find out if there is another spirit in a person. Considering that there are 15,000,000,000 (these values show only the relation) spirits and just 6,000,000,000 humans you see that the probability that a person has some other spirits inside is by 75%.. Brigham Young said: If a person is ill, the protection shield becomes weaker and spirits can enter and thereafter they potentiate the illness. There are several actions that you can do against the bad influence but one of the most effective is blessing and anointing with consecrated oil (for…the ill and afflicted). We should do it more often - even if we feel “only a little ill”. PLease read this also: Addiction Recovery Program Types of Addictions: Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco, Coffee and tea … Any questions? Roland

Dear Lily, you´ve been in the german part. Why? From Thomas S. Monson I learned to listen to the spirit and to follow the whispering voice during the last decades. Did you partake in my poll? please do it before reading my next post. Furthermore you had a burning question: ...about homosexuality.... I´ll answer to this - because perhaps there is an association between my poll, your challanges and and your burning question. Have a good time Roland p.s.: When did you receive your last blessing with consecrated oil? Did you know how to consecrate the oil? Read this and tell me what you think about point 4. From the Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B Performing Priesthood Ordinances: Consecration of Oil One or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders must consecrate olive oil before it is used to anoint the sick or afflicted. No other oil may be used. To do this, a priesthood holder: 1. Holds an open container of olive oil. 2. Addresses Heavenly Father. 3. States that he is acting by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. 4. Consecrates the oil (not the container) and sets it apart for anointing and blessing the sick and afflicted. 5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ. LDS.org - Melchizedek Priesthood Chapter Detail - Performing Priesthood Ordinances

The birth of a sister My three and a half year old grandson was excited about the coming birth of his new baby sister, Morgan. She made her appearance on Easter afternoon. I went to the home of friends to bring him to the hospital to see his hours-old sister. Connor was so excited, talking about his sister. He ran down the hallway of the hospital and pushed on his mom's door. As I walked, and he ran, into the room, we saw dad sitting on a chair, auntie standing to the side, and mom and the beautiful new baby sitting in bed. Connor had eyes only for his sister. He ran to the bed and stopped, speechless. staring at his sister. Then he very quietly said, "Oh Morgan, I´ve missed you."

This is what Spencer W. Kimball said in his book: "The mircale of Forgiveness"

After reading this I understood better why the word of wisdom protects us from the influence of the evil. George Ritchie - near-death experiences Heaven and Hell Dr. George Ritchie's near-death experience In December, 1943, George Ritchie died of pneumonia. Nine minutes later, miraculously and unaccountably, he returned to life to tell of his amazing near-death experience in the afterlife. His near-death experience was the one that profoundly moved Raymond Moody to begin seriously investigating the near-death experience. Since Dr. Moody is considered to be the "father of the near-death experience," Dr. Ritchie's near-death experience is in a class of its own. You will find his experience to be one of the most profound near-death experiences ever documented. The following is a brief summary of Dr. George Ritchie's near-death experience. You can read his NDE testimony in its entirety in his ground-breaking books Return From Tomorrow and his follow-up book Ordered to Return: My Life After Dying. George leaves his body and sees it lying in his bed. He is not aware the dead body in his bed is his. Wanting eagerly to travel to Richmond, Virginia to start college, he finds himself flying in the air toward a city. He is not sure how he acquired these strange powers of flight and transparency. He arrives at a city and discovers he has lost his solidness. He flies back to the hospital and sees his lifeless body in the morgue and realizes he has died. Suddenly, Jesus appears emitting a tremendous light and love. George's entire life appears before him. Jesus asks, "What have you done with your life?" He realizes Jesus is not judging him, but he is judging himself. Jesus gives him a tour of four different dimensions in the afterlife. They both fly toward a large city on Earth where they notice a group of assembly-line workers at work. He witnesses the spirit of a woman trying desperately to obtain a cigarette from the workers who are oblivious to her presence. This woman died severely addicted to cigarettes. In a house, Jesus shows him the spirit of a boy following a living teenage girl and begging for forgiveness while the girl is completely unaware of the boy's presence. Jesus tells George that the boy committed suicide and is "chained to every consequence of his act." Jesus shows George a bar filled with sailors who are heavily drinking. Spirits try desperately and in vain to get a drink or to control the sailors' alcoholic behavior. These spirits are from humans who die severely alcoholic. He is horrified as he observes a drunken sailor pass out and an alcoholic spirit jump into the body of the sailor. Jesus takes him to a new dimension away from Earth and shows him a kind of "receiving station" where spirits would arrive in a deep hypnotic sleep because of their beliefs. These are spirits who believe they must sleep after death until Jesus returns. Jesus shows him a dimension where angry spirits are locked in hand-to-hand combat, trying in vain to hurt each other. He hears verbal abuse going on. He observes some trying in vain to get sexual gratification from each other. He also sees spirits arguing over some religious or political point and trying to kill the ones who did not agree with them. Here, he realizes he is seeing hell. These are spirits who are locked into some earthly desire that went beyond the physical and which cannot be satisfied in the spirit. He is then taken to a different dimension appearing like an enormous university. Here he observes people dressed as monks engaged in some form of artistic behavior or research. He is taken into an enormous library where all the important books of the universe are assembled. He asks Jesus if this is heaven. He replies that these are the people who grew beyond selfish desires while on Earth. George realizes these people cannot see Jesus, just as the others could not see him in hell. Jesus takes him into outer space toward a distant city made of brilliant light of a similar description to the city in the Book of Revelation. He speculates this is the place where people go who have become Christ-like while on Earth. Here, love was the dominant focus of life. He realizes he is seeing heaven, but he is not allowed to go in. Jesus then shows him the future of the Earth. He then returns to his physical body. "Death is nothing more than a doorway, something you walk through." - Dr. George Ritchie

DINNER AND A MOVIE After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you." The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who had been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my 3 children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What's wrong, are you well?" she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded. "Just the two of us." She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much." That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an Angel's. "I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting." We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entrees, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favour." I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation -- nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed. "How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered. A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place where mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless I paid for two plates -- one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. "I love you, son." At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I love you," and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time." Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby . . . Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history. Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct . . Somebody never took a 3-year-old shopping. Somebody said being a mother is boring . . Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. Somebody said good mothers never raise their voices . . . Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbour's kitchen window. Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother . . . Somebody never helped a 4th grader with his math. Somebody said you can't love the 5th child as much as you love the first . . Somebody doesn't have 5 children. Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books . . . Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears. Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labour and delivery. . . Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the 1st day of kindergarten . . or on a plane headed for military boot camp. Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back . . . Somebody never organized 7 giggling Brownies to sell cookies. Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married. . Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son- or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings. Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home. Somebody never had grandchildren. Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her . . Somebody isn't a mother (I don´t know where this story comes from)

There was a little crippled boy who ran a small newsstand in a crowded railway station. He must have been about twelve years old. Every day he would sell papers, candy, gum, and magazines to the thousands of commuters passing through the terminal. One night two men were rushing through the crowded station to catch a train. One was fifteen or twenty yards in front of the other. it was Christmas Eve. The train was scheduled to depart in a matter of minutes. The first man turned a corner and in his haste to get home to a Christmas cocktail party plowed right into the little crippled boy. He knocked the boy off his stool. Candy, newspapers, and gum were scattered everywhere. Without so much as stopping, he cursed the little fellow for being there and rushed on to catch the train that would take him to celebrate Christmas in a way he had chosen for himself. It was only a matter of seconds before the second commuter arrived on the scene. He stopped, knelt, and gently picked up the boy. After making sure the child was unhurt, the man gathered up the scattered newspaper, sweets, and magazines. Then he took out his wallet an d gave the boy a five-dollar bill. “Son”, he said, “I think this will take care of what was lost or soiled. Merry Christmas!” Without waiting for a reply the commuter picked up his briefcase and started to hurry away. As he did, the little crippled boy cupped his hands together and called out: “Mister! Mister!” The man stopped as the boy asked, “Are you Jesus Christ?” By the look on the mans face, it was obvious the commuter was embarrassed by the question. But he smiled and said “No, son, I am not Jesus Christ, but I am trying hard to do what he would do if he were here.” And that, my friend, is what it means to be a Christian, even on Christmas Eve. It´ s a matter of impersonation.

Hi larry78245, it´s good to have you here. Please consider who might have a benefit if you make false steps. Even if you are not ill, aks for a blessing with öil. Pray, study, discuss and talk about the gospel. It´s also important to consecrate your home (why not every month?) Ask for the protection for you, your beloved and your properties by your guardian angels. Good Luck Roland

Dear Zowieink, I´m in a similar situation, converted, 3 daughters 1 grandchild. Thank you for beeing a missionary. I was too old when the curch found me. The missionaries are one of the most impressing facts in the church. Now my daughter is serving a mission at Temple Square and Kalamazoo / Lansing Mission / Michigan. She loves her mission. Have a nice weekend Roland

Dear Brandon, I liked to read your introduction. The way you tied to solve your problem impressed me and I can confirm That you are a good example for your brothers. Well done! Have a nice weekend Roland

Here an old story that I like very much. I experienced that the most people don´t know this story. Therefore I post it here. Unfortunately I didn´t see the movie yet. Cipher in the Snow A True Story (by Jean Mizer) It started with tragedy on a biting cold February morning. I was driving behind the Milford Corners bus as I did most snowy mornings on my way to school. The bus veered and stopped short at the hotel, which it had no business doing, and I was annoyed as I had to come to an unexpected stop. The boy lurched out of the bus, reeled, stumbled, and collapsed on the snow bank at the curb. The bus driver and I reached him at the same moment. The boy’s thin, hollow face was white even against the snow. "He's dead," the driver whispered. It didn't register for a minute. I glanced quickly at the scared young faces staring down at us from the school bus. "A doctor! Quick! I'll phone from the hotel . . ." "No use, I tell you, he's dead." The driver looked down at the boy's still form. "He never even said he felt bad," he muttered. "Just tapped me on the shoulder and said, real quiet, 'I'm sorry. I have to get off at the hotel.' That's all. Polite and apologizing like." At school the giggling, shuffling morning noise quieted as news went down the halls. I passed a huddle of girls. "Who was it? Who dropped dead on the way to school?" I heard one of them half-whisper. "Don't know his name. Some kid from Milford Corners," was the reply. It was like that in the faculty room and the principal's office. "I'd appreciate your going out to tell the parents," the principal told me. "They haven't a phone, and anyway, somebody from the school should go there in person. I'll cover your classes." "Why me?" I asked. "Wouldn't it be better if you did it?" "I didn't know the boy," the principal admitted levelly. "And in last year's sophomore personalities column I noted that you were listed as his favorite teacher." I drove through the snow and cold down the bad canyon road to the Evans' place and thought about the boy, Cliff Evans. His favorite teacher! I thought. He hasn't spoken two words to me in two years! I could see him in my mind's eye all right, sitting back there in the last seat in my afternoon literature class. He came in the room by himself and left by himself. "Cliff Evans," I muttered to myself, "a boy who never talked." I thought a minute. "A boy who never smiled. I never saw him smile once." The big ranch kitchen was clean and warm. I blurted out my news somehow. Mrs. Evans reached blindly toward a chair. "He never said anything about bein' ailing." His stepfather snorted. "He ain't said nothin' about anything since I moved in here." Mrs. Evans pushed a pan to the back of the stove and began to untie her apron. "Now hold on," her husband snapped. "I got to have breakfast before I go to town. Nothin' we can do now, anyway. If Cliff hadn't been so dumb, he'd have told us he didn't feel good." After school I sat in the office and stared blankly at the records spread out before me. I was to read the file and write the obituary for the school paper. The almost bare sheets mocked the effort. Cliff Evans, white, never legally adopted by stepfather, five young half-brothers and sisters. These meager strands of information and the list of "D" grades were all the records had to offer. Cliff Evans had silently come in the school door in the mornings and gone out the school door in the evenings, and that was all. He had never belonged to a club. He had never played on a team. He had never held an office. As far as I could tell, he had never done one happy, noisy kid thing. He had never been anybody at all. How do you go about making a boy into a zero? The grade-school records showed me. The first and second grade teachers' annotations read, "Sweet, shy child," "timid but eager." Then the third grade note had opened the attack. Some teacher had written in a good, firm hand, "Cliff won't talk. Uncooperative. Slow learner." The other academic sheep and followed with "dull," "slow-witted," "low I.Q." They became correct. The boy's I.Q score in the ninth grade was listed at 83. But his I.Q. in the third grade had been 106. The score didn't go under 100 until the seventh grade. Even the shy, timid, sweet children have resilience. It takes time to break them. I stomped to the typewriter and wrote a savage report pointing out what education had done to Cliff Evans. I slapped a copy on the principal's desk and another in the sad, dog-eared file. I banged the typewriter and slammed the file and crashed the door shut, but I didn't feel much better. A little boy kept walking after me, a little boy with a peaked, pale face; a skinny body in faded jeans; and big eyes that had looked and searched for a long time and then had become veiled. I could guess how many times he had been chosen last to play sides in a game, how many whispered child conversations had excluded him, how many times he hadn't been asked. I could see and hear the faces that said over and over, "You're nothing, Cliff Evans." A child is a believing creature. Cliff undoubtedly believed them. Suddenly it seemed clear to me: When finally there was nothing left at all for Cliff Evans, he collapsed on a snow bank and went away. The doctor might list "heart failure" as the cause of death, but that wouldn't change my mind. We couldn't find ten students in the school who had known Cliff well enough to attend the funeral as his friends. So the student body officers and a committee from the junior class went as a group to the church, being politely sad. I attended the services with them, and sat through it with a lump of cold lead in my chest and a big resolve growing through me. I've never forgotten Cliff Evans nor that resolve. He has been my challenge year after year, class after class. I look for veiled eyes or bodies scrounged into a seat in an alien world. "Look, kids," I say silently. "I may not do anything else for you this year, but not one of you is going to come out of here as a nobody. I'll work or fight to the bitter end doing battle with society and the school board, but I won't have one of you coming out of there thinking himself a zero." Most of the time -- not always, but most of the time -- I've succeeded. Jean Mizer

GOD EXISTS This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago in USC. There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn´t exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him cause of his impeccable logic. For twenty years he had taught his class and NO ONE had never had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever *really gone against him* (you´ll see what I mean later). Nobody would go against him cause he had a reputation. At the end of every semester, on the last day, he would say to the class of 300 students, “If there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!” In twenty years, nobody ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do next. He would say, “Cause everyone who believes in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to prove he is God, and yet he can´t do it.” And every year he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it could shatter into a hundred pieces. All of the students were convinced that God couldn´t exist. Certainly, a number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years they had been too afraid to stand up. Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enrol in the class. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about this professor. He had to take the class cause it was one of the required classes for his major. And he was afraid. But for 3 months this semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said or what the class thought. Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped. Finally, the day came. The professor said, “It there is anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!” The professor, and the class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the room. The professor shouted, “YOU FOOL! If nothing I have said all semester has convinced you that God doesn´t exist, then you are a fool! If God existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!” He proceeded and drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants, down his leg, and off his shoe. And as it hit the ground, it simply rolled away, UNBROKEN. The professor´s jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall. The young man who had stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room and share his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God´s love for them and of his power through Jesus.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some people may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played. This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. His father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in a game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday." Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in." Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you never heard. Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?" He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!" Like the athlete's father, God is always there cheering for us. Our loving God is always reminding us to go on, offering us a hand, knowing what is best, giving us what we need and not simply what we want. God has never missed a single game. What a joy to know that life is meaningful if lived for the Highest. Live for the Creator, who is watching us in the game of life!

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone. To have a deep soul relationship with another. To be loved exclusively and thoroughly. But God says to his child: No, not until you are satisfied, full filled and content with being loved by me alone with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me discovering that only in me your satisfaction to be found will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with me. Exclusive of anyone or anything else. Exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing joy that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you. You just keep watching me, expecting life is greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction of I AM. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you. You just wait, that is all. Do not be anxious, do not worry, do not look around the things have or that I have given them. You just keep looking at me, or you will miss what I want to show you. and then, when you are ready, I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of. You see, until you are both ready (I am working now to have both of you ready at the same time) until you are both satisfied exclusively with me and the life I prepared for you, you will not be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with me and this is the perfect LOVE. And child, I want you to have this wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of you relationship with me and enjoy all things the everlasting union of heavy, perfection and love that I offer you with me.

Two buddies Bob and Earl were two of the biggest baseball fans in America. For their entire adult lives, Bob and Earl discussed baseball history in the winter and they pored over every box score during the season. They went to 60 games a year. They even agreed that whoever died first would try to come back and tell the other if there was baseball in heaven. One summer night, Bob passed away in his sleep after watching the Yankee victory earlier in the evening. He died happy. A few nights later, his buddy Earl awoke to the sound of Bob's voice from beyond. "Bob is that you?" Earl asked. "Of course it me," Bob replied. "This is unbelievable!" Earl exclaimed. "So tell me, is there baseball in heaven?" "Well, I have some good news and some bad news for you. Which do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the good news first." "Well, the good news is that, yes, there is baseball in heaven, Earl." "Oh, that is wonderful! So what could possibly be the bad news?" "You're pitching tomorrow night."

I asked God to take away my pride, And God said, “No.” He said it was not for Him to take away; But for me to give it up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, And God said, “No.” He said her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary. I asked God to grant me patience; And God said, “No.” He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation; It isn´t granted, it´s earned. I asked God to give me happiness, and god said, “No.” He said He gives blessings, Happiness is up to me. I asked God to spare me pain, And God said, “No.” He said sufferings draw us apart from worldly cares and brings us closer to Him. I asked God to make my spirit grow, And God said, “No.” He said I must grow on my own, But he will prune me to make me fruitful. I asked God if He loves me? And God said, “Yes.” He gave me His only Son who died for me and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe. I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me, And god said, “Ah, finally you have the idea.”

A man and his horse were riding along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying , and that the horse had been dead for many years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, a tall arch that glowed broke it in the sunlight. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the horse rode toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out: “Excuse me, where are we?” “This is heaven sir,” the man answered. “Wow, would you happen to have some water?” the man asked. “Of course, sir. Come right in and I´ll have some ice water brought right up.” The man gestured, and the gate began to open. “Can my friend,” gesturing toward his horse, “come in, too?” the traveller asked. “I´m sorry, sir, but we don´t accept animals.” The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going. After another long ride, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road, which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. “Excuse me!” he called to the reader. “Do you have any water?” “Yeah, sure, there´s a pump over there.” The man pointed to a place that couldn´t be seen from outside the gate. “Come on in.” “How about my friend here?” the traveller gestured to the horse. “There should be a bucket by the pump.” They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bucket beside it. The traveller filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, and then he gave some to the horse. When they were full, he and the horse walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them. “What do you call this place?” the traveller asked. “This is heaven,” was the answer. “Well, that´s confusing,” the traveller said. “The man down the road said that was heaven, too.” “Oh, you mean the place with the gold streets and pearly gates? Nope. That´s hell.” “Doesn´t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?” “No. I can see how you might think so, but we are just happy that they screen out the folks who´ll leave their best friends behind.”