what is love?

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me – Proverbs 8:17

It would be better if they love you first. Unfortunately, I am not God. I prefer being loved first, too.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs -  Proverbs 10:12

Fine. I guess, I love you that much. Does that mean I have to forgive and forget, too?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails… – 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Isn’t it amazing that love is actually that? And if it isn’t? It is not love. Or I’m only human. Or I’ll get there one day…

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. – 1 John 4:18

But I am still afraid…. But I feel like I am being punished most of the time…. Yep, I’m a work in progress….

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13

That would be very sweet….But don’t you dare leave me alone!!!!

PREACHER’S SON

The Preacher’s Son
===================

An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting
time the boy should give some thought to choosing a
profession. Like many young men his age, the boy didn’t really
know what he wanted to do, and he didn’t seem too concerned
about it. One day, while the boy was away at school, his
father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy’s
room and placed on his study table four objects.

1. A bible.
2. A silver dollar.
3. A bottle of whisky.
4. And a Playboy magazine.

“I’ll just hide behind the door,” the old preacher said to
himself. “When he comes home from school today, I’ll see
which object he picks up.

If it’s the bible, he’s going to be a preacher like me, and
what a blessing that would be! If he picks up the dollar, he’s
going to be a business man, and that would be okay, too. But
if he picks up the bottle, he’s going to be a no-good drunken
bum, and Lord, what a shame that would be. And worst of all if
he picks up that magazine he’s going to be a skirt-chasing
womanizer.”

The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son’s foot-
steps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his
room.

The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave
the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity
in his eye, he walked over to inspect them.

Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm.
He picked up the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket.
He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink, while he admired
this month’s centerfold.

“Lord have mercy,” the old preacher disgustedly whispered.
“He’s gonna run for Congress.”

from www.mountainwings.com

The Salesman

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——————-
MountainWings       A MountainWings Moment
#6088          Wings Over The Mountains of Life
————————————————-

The Salesman
=============

Don’t under estimate someone because they are not like you
because they can be a blessing to you.

While checking the church storeroom, the Pastor discovered
several cartons of new Bibles that had never been opened and
distributed.

So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the
congregation who would be willing to sell the Bibles door-to-
door for $10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the
church.

Jack, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the
task.  The minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living
as salesmen and were likely capable of selling some Bibles.  But
he had serious doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who
had always kept to himself because he  was embarrassed by his
speech impediment.

Poor Louie stuttered badly.  But, not wanting to discourage
Louie, the minister decided to let him try anyway.

He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars
stacked with Bibles.

He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their
door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday.

Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister
immediately asked Jack, “Well, Jack, how did you make out
selling our Bibles last week?”

Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, “Using
my sales prowess, I was able to sell 20 Bibles, and here’s the
$200 I collected on behalf of the church.”

“Fine job, Jack!” The minister said, vigorously shaking his
hand.  ”You  are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is
indebted to you.”

Turning to Paul, “And Paul, how many Bibles did you sell for the
church last week?”

Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied,
“I am a professional salesman. I sold 28 Bibles on behalf of the
church, and here’s $280 I collected.”

The minister responded, “That’s absolutely splendid, Paul. You
are truly a professional salesman and the church is also
indebted to you.”

Apprehensively, the minister turned to Louie and said, “And
Louie, did you manage to sell any Bibles last week?”  Louie
silently offered the minister a large envelope.

The minister opened it and counted the contents. “What is this?”
the minister exclaimed.  ”Louie, there’s $3200 in here!  Are you
suggesting that you sold 320 Bibles for the church, door to
door, in just one week?”

Louie just nodded.  That’s impossible!” both Jack and Paul said
in unison.  ”We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have
sold 10 times as many Bibles as we could.”

“Yes, this does seem unlikely,” the minister agreed.  ”I think
you’d better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie.”
Louie shrugged.  ”I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don’t kn-kn-know f-f-
f-for sh-sh-sh-sure,” he stammered.

Impatiently, Peter interrupted.  ”For crying out loud, Louie,
just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!”

“A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was,” louie replied, “W-w-w-w-
would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this
b-b-b-b-bible f-f-for t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks —o-o-o-or— wo-wo-
would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-
here and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you??”

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