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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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MAY 5, 2004 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
Today is
Cinco de Mayo. It may not be a festive occasion for you,
but I live in New Mexico. This date is commonly mistaken
as Mexican Independence Day. It’s not, but instead
commemorates Mexican soldiers defeating the French and
a traitor Mexican army at Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862.
If they had not been victorious some historians speculate
the French would then threaten the United States. I don’t
know about that, but protecting freedom and liberty are
concepts dear to us. This segues to the National
Day of Prayer, which just happens to be tomorrow. Pray for our
leaders, our country and for all of us to know true freedom
and liberty.
Another important day is this Sunday. We must all give thanks to our moms on
Mother’s Day – I’m certainly blessed by all the prayers, books
and nurturing my mom has given me over the years.
Peace and joy,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature
Article:
Becoming as a Little Child
In The Spotlight: Mother’s Day
New & Coming Soon: Justice or Just Ice?
Daily Thoughts: The Garden of Life
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: Yiddish Proverb
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Becoming
as a Little Child, Part II
By Judy (Wogoman) Cox, copyright © 2004
The first phone call came early on Friday
morning. Quinten was having trouble breathing, and they were
on their way to the emergency room. I said a quick prayer
and--knowing I was scheduled to be alone in the office and
didn't have any chance of taking off--left for work.
The second call came at lunchtime. My daughter told me Quinten was on his way
to a hospital in Indianapolis—and his father was on his way to jail.
Shaken Baby Syndrome. Huh?
Quinten's father was a nice guy--a CNA who lovingly cared for dozens of elderly
patients. How could the authorities accuse him of abusing a child?
He had confessed.
Quinten's brain was swollen. He had multiple broken bones. Despite the confession,
no family members would be permitted to see or visit Quinten while the authorities
pursued their investigation.
Hours later, I was with my daughter when the caseworker declared firmly:
He WILL be blind. He WILL be severely retarded. IF he lives the weekend.
Read the entire article here
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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 Mothers Day
Just about any mother can tell
you stories about their children that have taught a life
lesson. Funny how that is when most of the time we are
trying to teach our kids.
Here’s one of those stories I got from a friend:
A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been
6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It
was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters,
so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We
all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart.
We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried
day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of
the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running,
splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the
worries of my day.
The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught
in "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.
"Let 's run through the rain!" She repeated.
"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run
through the rain,"
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.
"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young
girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you
said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but
the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.
Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would
laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said.
But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent
trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's
us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.
Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted
past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over
their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who
screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.
And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take
away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take
away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities
to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every
purpose under heaven.
I Hope you still take the time to run through the rain.
We got some gift ideas for you to consider for Mother’s Day.
More at our Spotlight
Specials page.
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| NEW & COMING SOON |
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Themes, Reviews and Articles
This month we will be examining poverty and social justice as political concerns.
Singer Joni Mitchell once commented on a license plate she saw on a car during
the L.A. riots a few years ago – JUST ICE. Is our heart warm towards those
suffering in poverty (justice), or is it just ice?
There is an event taking place in Washington D.C. on May 23-25. Pentecost
2004 - A Call to Unity is a gathering of Christians from across the
nation in a show of unity. Local and National leaders will lead this forum for
Christians to stand together with one voice to witness for the biblical priority
of the poor and the role economic justice must play in this year's election debates.
Some of the speakers include noted PBS journalist Bill Moyers, Rev. Dr. James
A. Forbes, Jr., Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane and Jim Wallis. You can still register
online before May 7th and get the early bird rate. Go
here for more information.
Living the Solution provides many valuable
and inspirational links to other web sites. While we aren’t
responsible for their content, we have visited them and believe
they have value for others.
See more at our links page
We have many articles on our site on a variety of issues – if you are looking
for practical solutions to life’s challenges you might want to read a few.
See all our articles listed here.
We've added some new reviews -books, movies, music
-
currently
on
site here.
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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The Garden of Life
Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person
plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the
needs of others--ignoring God! - harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have
to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God,
letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real
life, eternal life.
(Galatians 6:7-8, the Message)
We all have heard the expression, “You get out
of life what you put into it”. What are you putting into your garden of life?
There once was a man, a ferry boat captain, and his boat
took people across a river that separated the country. One day a man was
getting onto the boat and asked the captain, “What kinds of people
live on the other side?” The Captain answered, “Well, what kind
of people live on that side?” The traveler said, “You wouldn’t
believe it, they are the most selfish, self-centered, stab-you-in -the-back
kind of people I have met. They are mean, spiteful, and have not a care
for anyone but themselves.” The Captain told him, “Well, that’s
the kind of people you will find over there.”
A few days later another man got on the boat and asked the
same question and the Captain answered, “What kinds of people live
on that side?”
The man explained that they were the kindest, most thoughtful
and loving group of people you could ever hope to meet and that he was lamenting
having to leave. The Captain said, “Well, don’t worry you will
find all kinds of people just like that on the other side. I think you will
be very happy there.”
So what kind of things are you putting into your garden of
life? What kind of things are you expecting to find as you go through your
life with God?
Live it Fierce
Pete
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
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Daily Thought
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PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer works. It really does. Let us pray for you at prayer
requests.
Of course, we keep you information confidential.
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My thoughts are shared regularly on the pages of
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Send an email
Quotable: Yiddish Proverb
What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul.
Copyright 2004 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
P O Box 25584
Albuquerque, NM 87125-5584
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105 (US only) or 505-247-3232
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