Three Things to Ponder:

1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments

C O W S

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic
our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago,
right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked
her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens
wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

T H E C O N S T I T U T I O N

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution forIraq. Why don't we just
give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for
over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.


T H E 1 0

C O M M A N D M E N T S

The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse
is this:

You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit
Adultery," and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers,
judges and politicians...It creates a hostile work environment.

The Law

This is one of the better e-mails I have received in a long time! I hope this makes
its way around the USA several times over!!!!!

So Be It!

THE LAW IS THE LAW

So if the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "under
God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not
to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

I say, "So be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.

I say, "So be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than
I are in positions to make good decisions.

I would like to think that those people have the American public's best interests
at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot post His Commandments
in Government buildings, I don't believe the Government and its employees should
participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our
government is eliminating from many facets of American life.

I'd like mail to be delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, & Easter. After
all, it's just another day.

I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, &
Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about
getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another
day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government
offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter. It shouldn't
cost any overtime! since those would be just like any other day of the week to a
government that is trying to be"politically correct."

In fact....

I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping
God...)because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day....

What do you all think????

If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving
in to the minority opinions and begin, once again, to represent the 'majority'
of ALL of the American people.

SO BE IT........

At the top, it says "I hope this makes its way around the USA several times
over !!!!!"

P.S. In God We Trust, God bless you & yours and

GOD BLESS THE USA .

These guys are good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

quote:

Originally posted by BIGREB:
These guys are good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

Watched them three times. Spot on!!

A very good friend sent this to me and I have to pass it on!

If the Red shirt thing is new to you, read below...

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling
with a folded flag, but did not put two and two
together.

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who had been invited to sit
in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

'No,' he responded.

'Heading out?' I asked.

'No. I'm escorting a soldier home.'

'Going to pick him up?'

'No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq , I'm taking him home
to his family.'


The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut.
It was an honor for him. He told me that although he didn't know the soldier,
he had delivered the news of his death to the soldier's family and felt as if
he knew them after many conversations in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, 'Thank you. Thank you for
doing what you do so that my family and I can do what we do.'

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following
announcement over the intercom.

'Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having
Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is
escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain
in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane
and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.'

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket
as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me
realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public 'Thank You' to our military Men and Women for what
you do so we can live the way we do:

Red Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing red every Friday. The reason?
Americans who support our troops used to be called the
'silent majority.' We are no longer silent, and we are voicing our love
for God, country and home in record-breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous
or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that
the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity
and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and it
continues each and every Friday until the troops all return home, sending a deafening
message: that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will
wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday
a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one
of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends,
and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in red and it will let
our troops know that the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than
ever -- certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better
for you?' is, 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get
the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red
every Friday.

IF YOU AGREE -- THEN PLEASE SEND THIS ON.

IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN

HIT THE DELETE BUTTON

WARNING: POLITICALLY INCORRECT

Andy Rooney said on "60 Minutes" a few weeks back:

I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers..
The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the
United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss
Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud
Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse
Jackson will be knocking down your door.

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill
someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving
to the ball game.

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, which is why there are no
girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE ?

I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different,
weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population
is black, that is not racial profiling; it is the Law of Probability.

I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper
or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to
be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries
you were born in to come over and disrespect ours.

I think the police should have every right to shoot you if you threaten them after
they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or
"stop" in English, see the above lines.

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified
for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc.,
so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.
We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars
to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell
us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don't hate the rich; I don't pity the poor

I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't
stop you from watching them.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make
more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better,
and put your name on the building.

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent
to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say "NO!"

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend
they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals.
I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

I am sick of "Political Correctness." I know a lot of black people, and
not a single one of them was born in Africa ; so how can they be "African-Americans"?
Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American
because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe.
I am proud to be from America and nowhere else



And if you don't like my point of view, tough...

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC,
FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL!

I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't. It is said that
86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding
why there is such a problem in having "In God We Trust" on our money and
having "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell
the 14% to BE QUIET!!!

If you agree, pass this on, if not delete. .


Good for him!!!
Surprised CBS let him get away with this even though he's right

Historical tidbits you didn't know you needed to know....

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was
either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him
standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed
both legs and both arms.

Prices charged by painters were not based on how many
people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be
pa inted. Arms and legs are "limbs," therefore painting them would cost
the buyer more. Hence the expression, "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm
and a leg."

**************************************************************

As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year
(May and October)! Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved
their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could
afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to
clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the
shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and
fluffy, hence the term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here
comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is powerful and
wealthy.

**************************************************************

In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one
chair. Co mmonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was
used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair
while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who
was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal.
To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called
the one sitting in the chair the "chair man." Today in business, we use
the expression or title "Chairman" or "Chairman of the Board."

**************************************************************

Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many
women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would
spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their
complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to
stare at another woman's face she was told, "mind your own bee's wax."
Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence th e term "crack a
Smile." In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would
melt. therefore, the expression "losing face."

**************************************************************

Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and
dignified woman, as in "straight laced". . . wore a tightly tied
lace.

**************************************************************

Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax
levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the "Ace of
Spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards
instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were
thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a full
deck."

**************************************************************

Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what
the people considered i mportant. Since there were no telephones, TVs
or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns,
pubs, and bars. They were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to
people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were
dispatched at different times. "You go sip here" and "You go sip
there." The two words "go sip" were eventually combined when referring
to the local opinion and, thus we have the term "gossip."

**************************************************************

At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and
quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the
customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention
and remember who was drinking in "pints" and who was drinking in
"quarts," hence the term "minding your "P's and Q's."

**************************************************************

One more: bet you didn't know this!
< BR>In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters
carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It
was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to
prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method
devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four
resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon
balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There
was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or
rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a
"Monkey" with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate were made
of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the
rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys."

Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster
than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the tempera ture dropped
too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron
cannoballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite
literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." (All
this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you?)

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS (Good information)

I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in
California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon..

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose , CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoli ne, regular and premium grades.We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in
the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business,the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, than oil and other petroleum products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trig ger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump
have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof
serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.

I do not belong to any political party. I am not overjoyed with any of the presidential
candidates we have to choose from for any party. But two of the candidates scare
me. That is Hilary and Obama.

Subject: Re: Hillary

by Dick Morris, former political advisor to President Bill Clinton

If you happen to see the Bill Clinton five minute TV ad for Hillary in
which he introduces the commercial by saying that he wants to share some
things we may not know about Hillary's background beware . .
As I was there for most of their presidency and know them better than just
about anyone, I offer a few corrections;

Bill says: "In law school Hillary worked on legal
services for the poor."

The facts are: Hillary's main extra-curricular activity in law school was
helping the Black Panthers, on trial in Connecticut for torturing and
killing a federal agent. She went to court every day as part of a law
student monitoring committee trying to spot civil rights violations and
develop grounds for appeal.

Bill says: "Hillary spent a year after graduation working on a children's
rights project for poor kids."

The facts are: Hillary interned with Bob Truehaft, the head of the
California Communist Party. She met Bob when he represented the Panthers
and traveled all the way to San Francisco to take an internship with him.

Bill says: "Hillary could have written her own job ticket, but she turned
down all the lucrative job offers."

The facts are: She flunked the DC bar exam, yes, flunked, it is a matter
of record, and only passed the Arkansas bar. She had no job offers in
Arkansas, none, and only got hired by the University of Arkansas Law
School at Fayetteville because Bill was already teaching there. She did
not join the prestigious Rose Law Firm until Bill became Arkansas Attorney
General and was made a partner only after he was elected Arkansas
Governor.

Bill says: "President Carter appointed Hillary to the Legal Services
Board of Directors and she became its chairman."

The facts are: The appointment was in exchange for Bill's support for
Carter in his 1980 primary against Ted Kennedy. Hillary then became
chairman in a coup in which she won a majority away from Carter's choice
to be chairman.

Bill says: "She served on the board of the
Arkansas Children's Hospital."

The facts are: Yes she did. But her main board activity, not mentioned
by Bill, was to sit on the Wal-mart board of directors, for a substantial
fee. She was silent about their labor and health care practices.

Bill says: "Hillary didn't succeed at getting health care for all
Americans in 1994 but she kept working at it and helped to create the Children's
Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that provides five million children with health
insurance."

The facts are: Hillary had nothing to do with creating CHIP. It was included in
the budget deal between Clinton and Republican Majority Leader Senator Trent Lott.
I know; I helped to negotiate the deal. The money came half from the budget deal
and half from the Attorney Generals' tobacco settlement. Hillary had nothing
to do with either source of funds.

Bill says: "Hillary was the face of America all over the world."

The facts are: Her visits were part of a program to get her out of town so that
Bill would not appear weak by feeding stories that Hillary was running the White
House. Her visits abroad were entirely touristic and symbolic and there was no substantive
diplomacy on any of them.

Bill says: "Hillary was an excellent Senator who kept fighting for
children's and women's issues."

The facts are: Other than totally meaningless legislation like changing
the names on courthouses and post offices, she has passed only four
substantive pieces of legislation. One set up a national park in Puerto
Rico. A second provided respite care for family members helping their
relatives through Alzheimer's or other conditions. And two were routine bills
to aid 911 victims and responders which were sponsored by the entire NY delegation.
Presently she is trying to have the US memorialize the Woodstock fiasco of 40 years
ago.
Here is what bothers me more than anything else about Hillary Clinton. She
has done everything possible to weaken the President and our country
(that's you and me!) when it comes to the war on terror.

1. She wants to close GITMO and move the combatants to the USA where they
would have access to our legal system.

2. She wants to eliminate the monitoring of suspected Al Qaeda phone
calls to/from the USA.

3. She wants to grant constitutional rights to enemy combatants captured
on the battlefield.

4. She wants to eliminate the monitoring of money transfers between
suspected Al Qaeda cells and supporters in the USA.

5. She wants to eliminate the type of interrogation tactics used by the
military & CIA where coercion might be used when questioning known terrorists
even though such tactics might save American lives.

6. One cannot think of a single bill Hillary has introduced or a single
comment she has made that would tend to strengthen our country in the War
on Terror.

But, one can think of a lot of comments she has made that weaken our
country and makes it a more dangerous situation for all of us.

Bottom line: She goes hand in hand with the ACLU on far too many issues
where common sense is abandoned.

A billion - the true story about a billion Dollars
This is too true to be very funny

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 1974.

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.

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 th e 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 $1,329,7
87.

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

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



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 Lice nse Tax
Fuel Perm it 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 Securi ty 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 Tax,
Telephone State 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.



STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and
Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'

And I still have to "press 1" for English?

What the heck happened?????

Giap's Memoirs...

(Gen. Giap was the famous and knowledgeable General in the North Vietnamese Army.)

General Vo Nguyen Giap.

General Giap was a brilliant, highly respected leader of the North Vietnam military.
The following quote is from his memoirs currently found in the Vietnam war memorial
in Hanoi:


"What we still don't understand is why you Americans stopped the bombing
of Hanoi. You had us on the ropes. If you had pressed us a little harder, just for
another day or two, we were ready to surrender! It was the same at the battles of
TET. You defeated us! We knew it, and we thought you knew it. But we were elated
to notice your media was definitely helping us. They were causing more disruption
in America than we could in the battlefields. We were ready to surrender. You had
won!"


General Giap has published his memoirs and confirmed what most Americans knew. The
Vietnam war was not lost in Vietnam-- it was lost at home. The exact same slippery
slope, sponsored by the US media, is currently well underway. It exposes the enormous
power of a biased media to cut out the heart and will of the American public.


A truism worthy of note:


Do not fear the enemy, for they can take only your life. Fear the media far more,
for they will destroy your honor

That "quote" from Giap is a total lie. Someone posted it on the "in the news" forum last week and it was disproved. Giap never said that or anything like it.

Hope this has the same effect on each of you as it did on me.


I think we need to read this every year at Christmas...


Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and
then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in
need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the
greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had
caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle
that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some
reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boot s off and stretched out in front of the fireplace
and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still
feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read
Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went
outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores.
I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.
Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard.
"Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight."
I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle
for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason
that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think
of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I
knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them
to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and
mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house.
Something was up, but I didn't know what..
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team,
already hitched to the big sled.Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going
to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless
we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand.
I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't
happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front
of the woodshed.
He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards,"
he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger
job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we
were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with
an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain,
and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting.
What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what
are you doing?" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked.
The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year
or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd
been by, but so what?
Yeah," I said, "Why?"
"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around
inthe woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."
That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another
armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder
if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading,
then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon.
He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned
he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something
in his left hand.
"What's in the little sack?" I asked. Shoes, they're out of shoes.
Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the
woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't
be Christmas without a little candy."
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to
think through wha t Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards.
Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still
in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could
use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't
have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing
any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been
our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly
as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked.
The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas
Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her
shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the
fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen
fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack
of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the
shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time.
There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best,
shoes that would last. I watched her carefully.
She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and
started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something,
but it wouldn't come out.
"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me
and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire
up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went
back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate
to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three
kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running
down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my
soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so
much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started
giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with
a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally
turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent
you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels
to spare us."
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my
eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after
Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true.
I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering
all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list
seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they
all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get; then I guessed that if
he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right
sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave.
Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug.
They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their
Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite
you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more
than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey
for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice
to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite
a spell." I was the youngest. My two
brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have
to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even
notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt,
I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away
here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have
quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came
by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we
could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that,but
on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped
in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes
and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand." I understood,
and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad
Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had
given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the
radiant smiles of her three children.

For the rest of my life, Whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of
wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home
beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had
given me the best Christmas of my life.

Don't be too busy today. Share this inspiring message. God bless you!
Christmas

If the quote is false, I apologise for posting it.
I will not apologise for agreeing with the statements.

quote:

Originally posted by foxred03:
That "quote" from Giap is a total lie. Someone posted it on the "in the news" forum last week and it was disproved. Giap never said that or anything like it.

I don't know if this is true. however if it is we are in big trouble.




Who is Barack Obama?

1- U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama

2- Born in Honolulu, Hawaii,

Father: Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black Muslim from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya;

Mother: Ann Dunham, a white atheist from Wichita,Kansas.

Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old,
his parents divorced.

Father: Returned to Kenya.

Mother: Married Lolo Soetoro, a radical Muslim from Indonesia.

3- When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia.

4- Obama attended a Muslim school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school.

5- Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He Is quick to point out that,"He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school."

6- Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was, temporary.

In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya Soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over His son's education.

7- Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam.

8- Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the radical teaching
that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western
world.

Since it is politically expedient to be a Christian when seeking Major public office
in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ
in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. Let us all remain alert concerning
Obama's presidential candidacy. Please forward to everyone you know. The Muslims
have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to
start than at the highest level.

GOD BLESS AMERICA