"Anger is the only thing to put off till tomorrow."

-- Slovakian Proverb

Thanks for praying! Be sure to scroll all the way through :-)

+ <L A S T  W E E K><

+ The library of the Prayer Center received a fresh coat of paint last week, so you prayed that those of us painting would be safe from ladders and that, above all else, God would be honored... amen and amen! No one fell from a ladder, we stayed safe, and it would appear that God was honored with the work done. Thank you for praying!

+ You joined Shirin and a co- worker in prayer as they wrapped up their time with the ladies in the Women's Center. You prayed that God would reveal what they should do next at the Center, and you prayed that they would build relationships in order to be invited into homes to share the good news...Shirin writes, "Your prayers are greatly appreciated. We ended on a good note even though not very many ladies came to class. The ladies in the class were sad to hear that we were finished and wanted us to do more classes. The director invited us to tea after Ramadan ends and is interested in us doing more things at the Women's Center."

+ Jasmine asked prayer to help her concentrate in Math Class, especially as she has "mid-term" tests coming up...as I walk with her from school each day she tells me how much more she's been able to concentrate, clarifying that "it's because people are praying for me." Add to that my joy in having her read "Air-me-ah saba" from her Arabic Bible (Jeremiah 7) and then explaining it to me in English! She said, "Daddy, since I'm 7, I want to read each chapter of the Bible that has a seven in it." What a disciple!

<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< The three of us ask that you cover Shirin's sister in fervent intercession for salvation. She's been with us since late Sunday night/early Sunday morning and will be with us until Thursday. Ask God to draw her to Himself and continue to speak to her heart this week.

<* Pray for the Mahar, Hindu of India.><

Lottie Moon missions resources available for 2006 offering.

A great video message!

In case you were curious...

The producer of the canned pork product Spam has lost a bid to stop companies using the word ‘Spam’ as a nickname for unwanted email.

The name ‘Spam’ originally meant ‘Spiced Ham’ back in 1937 when Hormel Foods Corp. started the product. In the 70’s Spam became part of pop culture with the help of the Monty Python comedy team and their famous ‘Spam’ routine, complete with Vikings singing ‘Spam, Spam, Spam’ throughout.

Hormel, makers of Spam (the food) have embraced the Monty Python connection in recent times. If you see the musical ‘Spamalot’ (in New York or London) among the extras on sale are specially labeled cans of Spam.

When unwanted email started arriving it was nicknamed ‘Spam’ by the then small Internet community, mostly also Monty Python fans.

Hormel’s problem is when email related companies use their trademark which is why they ended up in front of the European Union trademark tribunal.

Sadly the officials decided that ‘spam’ is now used more to mean unwanted email and not the food product.

We loved the quote from a company official who said

"Ultimately, we are trying to avoid the day when the consuming public asks, 'Why would Hormel Foods name its product after junk e-mail?”

Thanks to Robert C for putting a billion in perspective:

The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion" in a casual manner, think about whether you want the "politicians" spending your tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

a. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

b. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

c. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

d. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet. (Pardon these last two --Scott)

e. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans.

It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division -

Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans.

Interesting number, what does it mean?

a. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you each get $516,528.

b. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your home gets $1 ,329,787.

c. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D.C ... HELLO! Are all your calculators broken?

This is too true to be very funny Tax his land, Tax his wage, Tax his bed in which he lays.

Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes is the rule.

Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat.

Tax his ties, Tax his shirts, Tax his work, Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his booze, Tax his beers, If he cries, Tax his tears.

Tax his bills, Tax his gas, Tax his notes, Tax his cash.

Tax him good and let him know That after taxes, he has no dough.

If he hollers, Tax him more, Tax him until he's good and sore.

Tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in which he lays.

Put these words upon his tomb, "Taxes drove me to my doom!"

And when he's gone, We won't relax, We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!

Governments Accounts Receivable Tax

Building Permit Tax

CDL License Tax

Cigarette Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Dog License Tax

Federal Income Tax

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax

Fuel Permit Tax

Gasoline Tax

Hunting License Tax

Inheritance Tax

Inventory Tax

IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)

IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)

Liquor Tax

Luxury Tax

Marriage License Tax

Medicare Tax

Property Tax

Real Estate Tax

Service charge taxes

Social Security Tax

Road Usage Tax (Truckers)

Sales Taxes

Recreational Vehicle Tax

School Tax

State Income Tax

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

Telephone Federal Excise Tax

Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax

Telephone Federal State and Local Surcharge Tax

Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax

Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges TaxState and Local Tax

Telephone Usage Charge Tax

Utility Tax

Vehicle License Registration Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax

Watercraft Registration Tax

Well Permit Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and there was prosperity, absolutely no national debt, the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What the heck happened?

The following is from a friend's Bible Column Q & A (thanks, TL!)

Q Do you believe Halloween may influence our children toward an acceptance of Satanic practices?

A Yes, I certainly do. And, the irony of this modern holiday is its beginning as a religious event. "All Hallows Eve," which has become known as "Halloween," began as a time to honor the memory of saints. However, like many other sacred institutions, Satan has corrupted it from its original purpose.

Exodus 20:3 says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." It is a well known fact that Halloween encourages Satanism and is considered their holiest night for worship. Businesses promote it because its sales are second only to Christmas. Disguised as innocent fun, more mischief and wickedness is done on that night than all other nights combined. Hiding behind masks, people do everything from practical jokes to unlawful atrocities, including animal and human sacrifices to Satan. Therefore, it's time for the Church to either divorce itself from present Halloween practices or use them to defeat Satan in his own game. That is, use his night for evangelistic purposes as many churches are doing.

I led my former church to blitz neighborhoods by going together as family units down a street. Getting off out church bus, we went to houses where lights were on. While we politely refused their treats we said, "We're not here to accept a treat, but to give you a treat!" Along with a nutritious treat we gave a gospel tract and a brochure advertising our church. If we found prospects we gave those addresses to our Outreach Committee. Our Pumpkin Patch Gospel Nights saw several people won to Christ and inactive Christians becoming involved in our church.

Please don't get me wrong: I'm not throwing a wet dishrag on all the holidays that make our children happy. But, there's a difference in allowing harmless childhood fantasies for a few Christmases and Easters and encouraging children toward accepting evil practices that may mature later into sin. I encourage individual Christians to be careful about using decorations that promote evil and consider giving gospel tracts along with treats.

A few years ago, in Pearl, MS, an 18 year old self-proclaimed high priest of Satan led his teenage cult to prepare a hit list of popular students and teachers. They planned to eliminate those so they could be the popular ones in school. They killed three people before they were arrested. While this may be extreme, it could be the end result of allowing our children to experiment with any Satanic practice.

We much teach a standard of moral absolutes. God has given that standard in the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20. Knowing that our children need proper teaching, God said in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." While we have the opportunity to guide our children, let's teach them that anything which glorifies evil must be avoided at all costs.

A few years before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small

town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer

and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly

accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind,

he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught

me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our

storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures,

mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always

knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able

to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game.

He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking,

but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each

other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for

peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger

never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in

our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor,

however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad

squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged

us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly

and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His

comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally

embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced

strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet

he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our

family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at

first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find

him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk

and watch him draw his pictures. His name?....

We just call him, "TV."

He has a younger sister now. We call her "Computer."