ARM

I would like to tell you about a Ministry our Church helps in many ways. It is American Rehabilitation Ministries founded by Joe and Linda Graman. They have gone into the prisons to teach and tell inmates about Jesus and His Love for them. The two have trained volunteers throughout the United States to go into the prisons to hold Bible Studies and hold services.

ARM works with American Bible Society as National Jail and Prison Distribution Center to hand out Bibles to any inmates who wishes one and their families. They also work with DaySpring Greeting Cards, in sending five million cards to American prisons each year. "91% of U.S. prisoners serve their entire sentence and never go to chapel-so ARM provides beautiful DaySpring greeting cards as "bait" for the chaplains. This results in the prisoners having to go to chapel to get their cards, and when they do the Chaplain and prison volunteers take opportunity to witness to them."

In addition to working with the two companies, ARM produces a collapsible portable baptistery made of aluminum tubing with a vinyl tub, it opens up like a lawn chair and can be hand-carried since it only weights 30 lbs. In Indiana there are 46 in operation.

The organization works in city prisons, county prisons, state prisons, and Federal prisons through out the United States. It was stated in the presentation that there are 1 out of 131 individuals in American jails and that computes to 2.25 million nation wide. Also, there are 1 out of 32 American adults in jail or on parole.

Many notorious prisoners were mentioned and one in particular was Blake Williams a bank robber. He was in a Federal Prison in El Reno OK. After his conversion He started witnessing and in the process those witnessed to the point that 300 inmates were converted and baptized a year for many years. A few years ago He died in prison of cancer but His example is going on.

If you would like to learn more about the organization you may check them out at www. arm.org or you can write to
ARM Prison Outreach International
P.O. Box 1490
Joplin, MO 64802
Phone 417-781-9100

Wash Day

Wash Day...........

Now, this is really a cute one. . . .and

I've not seen it before, either!! That is
getting to be a rarity!!!

Monday WashDay
Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and
vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility
through the week ahead.

Tuesday Ironing Day
Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles
of prejudice I have collected through the years
so that I may see the beauty in others.

Wednesday Mending Day
O God, help me mend my ways so I will not
set a bad example for others.

Thursday Cleaning Day
Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults
I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday Shopping Day
O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others
In need of love.

Saturday Cooking Day
Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly
love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Sunday The Lord's Day
O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please
come into my heart so I may spend the day and the
rest of my life in your presence.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful today that it is the longest day of the year. The sun is shining and no rain so far. Also, today I am thankful for 20-somethings who love the Lord and are working their hearts out to create a coffee house on the Purdue University campus. I see them hanging drywall, taping, and mudding. I see hands at work sanding down chairs to be stained. I see paint on faces and clothes. I see men who are taking time out of their lives to put brick on the wall, men who are putting in electrical wiring, men who are teaching younger men to cut lumber, nail that lumber on the wall, and just being there to help in any way needed. This coffee house is named GREY HOUSE COFFEE & SUPPLY and is to open July 7, 2008.

Fathers Day

A Daddy's Shoes

A daddy's job is to provide, to be a friend, counselor and guide. He dries the tears on little cheeks and mends broken toys and oils their squeaks. he's a trustworthy guide when the wrong road has been taken. He comforts the heart that feels like it's breaking. A daddy is more than just a mere man--a daddy fills shoes that no one else can. (Written by Fran Liles)
"He is like a Father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence him " Psalms 103:13 (TLB)

This was on our Church bulletin and as I was reading it I thought of a few times Hubby was the best Dad of the day. One time when our girls were little and it was cold outside I came upon them playing in my perfume and powders making mud pies. My voice got very loud with anger and Hubby steeped in to take care of the punishment. Anotehr time was when Dad listened to our oldest daughter who was a senior in High School. Hubby was resting from an accident and our daughter came to Him and told Him she would not be going to college because the money would be used to pay hospital bills. Dad said to Her that if God and Purdue wanted Her to be there the money would be there and for Her not to worry about it any more. There have been many times during thoses years Dad did and said what needed to be said to His daughters and showed them how much He loved them.

I pray all Dad's had a great day

Rambling of an Old Lady

Cancel your credit card.......... (hilarious!)

Now some people are really stupid!!!!
Be sure and cancel your credit cards before you die. This is so priceless, and so, so easy to see happening, customer service being what it is today.

A lady died this past January, and Citibank billed her for February and March for their annual service charges on her credit card, an d added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00, now somewhere around $60.00. A family member placed a call to Citibank nk. Here is the exchange:

Family Member: "I am calling to tell you she died in
January."

Citibank: "The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply."

Family Member: "Maybe, you should turn it over to collections."

Citibank: "Since it is two months past due, it already has been."

Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?"

Citibank: "Either report her account to frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!"

Family Member: "Do you think God will be mad at her?"(I really liked this part!!!!)

Citibank: "Excuse me?"

Family Member: "Did you just get what I was telling you - the part about her being dead?"

Citibank: "Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor." (Duh!)

Supervisor gets on the phone:

Family Member: "I'm calling to tell you, she died in January."

Citibank: "The account was never closed and late fees and charges still apply." (This must be a phrase taught by the bank!)

Family Member: "You mean you want to collect from her estate?"

Citibank: (Stammer) "Are you her lawyer?"

Family Member: "No, I'm her great nephew w." (Lawyer info given)

Citibank: "Could you fax us a certificate of death?"

Family Member: "Sure." (Fax number is given)

After they get the fax:

Citibank: "Our system just isn't setup for death. I don't know what more I can do to help."

Family Member: "Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. I don't think she will care."

Citibank: "Well, the late fees and charges do still apply."(What is wrong with these people?!?)

Family Member: "Would you like her new billing address?"

Citibank
"That might help."

Family Member: " Odessa Memorial Cemetery , Highway 129, Plot Number 69."

Citibank: "Sir, that's a cemetery!"

Family Member< I>: "What do you do with dead people on your planet???

Lemons and Sugar

I received this article in an e-mail from a friend and want to share it with you.

LEMONS and SUGAR

This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror
Where one could read it every day.
You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

1. There are at least two people in this world
That you would die for.

2. At least 15 people in this world
Love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you
Is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone,
Even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you
Before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever,
Something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world has turned its back on you
Take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received.
Forget about the rude remarks.

And always remember....
When life hands you Lemons,
Ask for Sugar and call me over!

Good friends are like stars.
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there.

'Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though
Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway'

I would rather have one rose and a kind word
From a friend while I'm here
Than a whole truckload when I'm gone.

Courage For The Moment

My life verse is Philippians 4:13 I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHEN ME. This verse was used on our Church bulletin and Linda E Knight states "When our hearts are fixed on Jesus, no mountain seems too difficult, no challenge seems too great, no dream seems to high..because it isn't. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we find the strength we need to keep going, to keep trying, to make it all the way..hand in hand with Him."

Hubby and I have two friends who in the past two weeks found out they have cancer. Both of them went to the hospital with very bad chest congestion. In the tests that followed cancer was found. For one it is overran cancer. As they were taking fluid off her lungs something came out that caused more tests. The cancer may have gone in to the colen. They will not be able to operate until a later date after they get all the fluid off the lungs. In the mean time they are starting kemo treatments to shrink the tumer on the ovaries. Our other friend has lymphoma cancer and they will start treatment today if He is free of all the fluid on His lungs. He has lost about 40 pounds so far.

The two of them have courage for the moment. Both have great faith in God and what every happens their eyes are on the Lord. That is courage and I pray God rewards each one with the strength to take each day with a smile and a laugh.