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Charity Begins At Home
A local charity office realized that it had never received a donation from the town's most successful lawyer. The person in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute. "Our research shows that out of a yearly income of at least $500,000, you give not a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give back to the community in some way?" The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied, "First, did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness, and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?" Embarrassed, the rep mumbled, "Um...no." "Or that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair?" The stricken rep began to stammer out an apology but was interrupted, "Or that my sister's husband died in a traffic accident," the lawyer's voice rising in indignation, "leaving her penniless with three children?!" The humiliated rep, completely beaten, said simply, "I had no idea..." On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again: "And if I don't give them a penny, why should I give any to you?!?"
Giving Generously Father O'Malley answers the phone. "Hello, is this Father O'Malley?" "It is." "This is the IRS. Can you help us?" "I can." "Do you know a Ted Houlihan?" "I do." "Is he a member of your congregation?" "He is." "Did he donate $10,000 to the church?" "He will." ~~Author Unknown~~
Paid In Full In Fairfax County, Virginia, Judge Donald McDonough usually handles landlord-tenant disputes in his courtroom on Fridays. A typical Friday will see him judging over 150 cases, one right after the other. However, on Friday, June 9, 2000, at 10 a.m., McDonough's courtroom came to an abrupt halt. Standing before him was a middle-aged deaf couple, who owed $250 in back rent. Their landlord was attempting to evict them, and was insisting on a judgment in his favor. But seeing the couple got to McDonough. He abruptly left the courtroom, something he had never done before. He returned a minute later with two crisp $100 bills and a $50 bill in his hand. McDonough announced, "Consider it paid," as he handed the money to the landlord's stunned attorney.
FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard. Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week. At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen". "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too." The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered. "Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge shopping mall. We need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly." The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!
Would you have shown up for that prayer meeting? Some people say faith comes from miracles. But others know:
MIRACLES COME FROM FAITH! Keep on believing!!! God IS in control and He DOES listen AND hear our prayers!!!!
Special Thanks to Dr. Richard Evans who sends out a e-daily devotional that blesses me and many. Dr. Evans is a member of University UMC-San Antonio and my eye doctor!
