Wednesday, September 26, 2012

My First Christmas In Heaven



This poem was written by a 13 year old boy who died of a brain tumor that he had battled for four years. He died on December 14, 1997. He gave this to his mom before he died. His name was Ben.




My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless 

Christmas trees 
around the world below 
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow


The sight is so spectacular, 

please wipe away the tear 
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.


I hear the many Christmas songs 

that people hold so dear 
But the sounds of music can't compare 
with the Christmas choir up here.


I have no words to tell you, 

the joy their voices bring, 
For it is beyond description, 
to hear the angels sing.


I know how much you miss me, 

I see the pain inside your heart. 
But I am not so far away, 
We really aren't apart.


So be happy for me, dear ones, 

You know I hold you dear. 
And be glad I'm spending Christmas 
with Jesus Christ this year.


I sent you each a special gift, 

from my heavenly home above. 
I sent you each a memory 
of my undying love.


After all, love is a gift more precious 

than pure gold. 
was always most important 
the stories Jesus told.


Please love and keep each other, 

my Father said to do. 
I can't count the blessing or love 
has for each of you.


So have a Merry Christmas and 

Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year

Actions Speak Loudly


One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." 
He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. 

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes. 

We hung all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" 

He just laughed and handed me half the books. 

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. 

Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him! Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" 

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said. 

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." 

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." 

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. 

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for good in others.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Monday, September 3, 2012

I Dreamed I Was In Heaven



I Had A Dream Last Night




I dreamed I was in heaven
Where an angel kept God's book.
He was writing so intently
I just had to take a look. 

It was not, at first, his writing
That made me stop and think
But the fluid in the bottle
That was marked eternal ink. 

This ink was most amazing,
Dark black upon his blotter
But as it touched the parchment
It became as clear as water. 

The angel kept on writing,
But as quickly as a wink
The words were disappearing
With that strange eternal ink. 

The angel took no notice,
But kept writing on and on.
He turned each page and filled it
Till all its space was gone. 

I thought he wrote to no avail,
His efforts were so vain
For he wrote a thousand pages
That he'd never read again. 

And as I watched and wondered that
This awesome sight was mine,
I actually saw a word stay black
As it dried upon the line. 

The angel wrote and I thought I saw
A look of satisfaction.
At last he had some print to show
For all his earnest action. 

A line or two dried dark and stayed
As black as black can be,
But strangely the next paragraph
Became invisible to see. 

The book was getting fuller,
The angel's records true,
But most of it was blank, with
Just a few words coming through. 

I knew there was some reason,
But as hard as I could think,
I couldn't grasp the significance
Of that eternal ink. 

The mystery burned within me,
And I finally dared to ask
The angel to explain to me
Of his amazing task. 

And what I heard was frightful
As the angel turned his head.
He looked directly at me,
And this is what he said...


I know you stand and wonder
At what my writing's worth
But God has told me to record
The lives of those on earth. 

The book that I am filling
Is an accurate account
Of every word and action
And to what they do amount. 

And since you have been watching
I must tell you what is true;
The details of my journal
Are the strict accounts of YOU. 

The Lord asked me to watch you
As each day you worked and played.
I saw you as you went to church,
I saw you as you prayed. 

But I was told to document
Your life through all the week.
I wrote when you were proud and bold,
I wrote when you were meek. 

I recorded all your attitudes
Whether they were good or bad.
I was sorry that I had to write
The things that make God sad. 

So now I'll tell the wonder
Of this eternal ink,
For the reason for its mystery
Should make you stop and think. 

This ink that God created
To help me keep my journal
Will only keep a record of
Things that are eternal. 

So much of life is wasted
On things that matter not
So instead of my erasing,
Smudging ink and ugly blot. 

I just keep writing faithfully and
Let the ink do all the rest
For it is able to decide
What's useless and what's best. 

And God ordained that as I write
Of all you do and say
Your deeds that count for nothing
Will just disappear away. 

When books are opened someday,
As sure as heaven is true;
The Lord's eternal ink will tell
What mattered most to you. 

If you just lived to please yourself
The pages will be bare,
And God will issue no reward
For you when you get there. 

In fact, you'll be embarrassed,
You will hang your head in shame
Because you did not give yourself
In love to Jesus' Name. 

Yet maybe there will be a few
Recorded lines that stayed
That showed the times you truly cared,
Sincerely loved and prayed. 

But you will always wonder
As you enter heaven's door
How much more glad you would have been
If only you'd done more. 

For I record as God sees,
I don't stop to even think
Because the truth is written
With God's eternal ink. 

When I heard the angel's story
I fell down and wept and cried
For as yet I still was dreaming
I hadn't really died. 

And I said: O angel tell the Lord
That soon as I awake
I'll live my life for Jesus-
I'll do all for His dear sake. 

I'll give in full surrender;
I'll do all He wants me to;
I'll turn my back on self and sin
And whatever isn't true. 

And though the way seems long and rough
I promise to endure.
I'm determined to pursue the things
That are holy, clean and pure. 

With Jesus as my helper,
I will win lost souls to Thee,
For I know that they will live with Christ
For all eternity. 

And that's what really matters
When my life on earth is gone
That I will stand before the Lord
And hear Him say, "Well done." 

For is it really worth it
As my life lies at the brink?
And I realize that God keeps books
With His eternal ink. 

Should all my life be focused
On things that turn to dust?
From this point on I'll serve the Lord;
I can, I will, I must! 

I will NOT send blank pages
Up to God's majestic throne
For where that record's going now
Is my eternal home. 

I'm giving all to Jesus
I now have seen the link
For I saw an angel write my life
With God's eternal ink. 

(Author Unknown)

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Please God, I'm Only 17




PLEASE GOD, I'M ONLY 17


The day I died was an ordinary school day.
How I wish I had taken the bus. But I was too
Cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled
The car out of Mom. "Special favor," I pleaded.
"All the kids drive."

When the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books
In the locker. I was free until 8:40 tomorrow
Morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the
Thought of driving a car and being my own boss.
Free!

It doesn't matter how the accident happened.
I was goofing off -- going too fast -- taking
Crazy chances. But I was enjoying my
Freedom and having fun. The last thing I
Remember was passing an old lady who
Seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard the
Deafening crash and felt a terrible jolt.
Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole
Body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard
Myself scream.

Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet. A police
Officer was standing over me. Then I saw a
Doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated
With blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking
Out all over. Strange that I couldn't feel anything.

Hey, don't pull that sheet over my head! I can't
Be dead. I'm only 17. I've got a date tonight. I'm
Supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life.
I haven't lived yet. I can't be dead!

Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to
Identify me. Why did they have to see me like this?
Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she
Faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad
Suddenly looked like an old man. He told the man
In charge, "Yes, he is my son."

The funeral was a weird experience. I saw all my
Relatives and friends walk toward the casket.
They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with
The saddest eyes I've ever seen. Some of my buddies
Were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand
And sobbed as they walked away.

Please -- somebody -- wake me up! Get me out
Of here! I can't bear to see my mom and dad so
Broken up. My grandparents are so racked with
Grief they can hardly walk. My brothers and
Sisters are like zombies. They move like robots.
In a daze, everybody. No one can believe this.
And I can't believe it, either.

Please don't bury me! I'm not dead! I have a lot of
Living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want
To sing and dance. Please don't put me in the
Ground. I promise if you give me one more chance,
God, I'll be the most careful driver in the whole
World. All I want is one more chance!

Please, God, I'm only 17

A Dog Named "Sex"

A Dog Named Sex



Everybody I know who has a dog 
Usually calls him "Rover" or "Boy."
I call mine "Sex." Now, Sex has been
Very embarrassing to me. 

When I went to the City Hall to renew
His dog license, I told the clerk that I
Would like a license for Sex. He said,
"I'd like to have one too." Then I said,
"You don't understand. I've had Sex
Since I was nine years old." He said,
"You must have been quite a kid!" 

When I got married and went on my
Honeymoon, I took the dog with me.
I told the hotel clerk that I wanted a
Room for my wife and me, and a special
Room for Sex. He said, "Every room in
The place is for sex." I said, "You don't
Understand. Sex keeps me awake at
Night." The clerk said, "Me too." 

One day I entered Sex in a contest,
But before the competition began, the
Dog ran away. Another contestant
Asked me why I was just looking around.
I told him I had planned to have Sex in the
Contest. He told me that I should have
Sold tickets. "But you don't understand,"
I said, "I had hoped to have Sex on T.V."
He called me a show-off. 

When my wife and I separated, we went
To court to fight for custody of the dog.
I said, "Your Honor, I had Sex before I
Was married." The judge said, "Me too."
Then I told him that after I was married,
Sex left me. He said, "Me too." 

Last night Sex ran off again. I spent
Hours looking around town for him. A
Cop came over to me and asked, "What
Are you doing in the alley at 4 o'clock in
The morning?" I said, "I'm looking for Sex." 

My case comes up Friday.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Special Friend

I wanted to share something that I came across the other day.  This is a writing a friend of mine wrote herself dedicated to me.  She wrote this back on January 6, 1991.  I was a Senior in High School and graduated in '91.  I came up with the idea of creating a notebook where I had family and friends autograph to wish me luck in my future endeavors. I have tons of friends and family who signed this book. I actually looked through the book and came across this and decided I would share this.  This blog is dedicated to my dearest friend from high school, Denise (Graybill) Gutierrez!  You were my "Cupcakes" and I was your "Sweetcakes"!


"SPECIAL FRIEND"

I have this "Special Friend"
Who is very sweet and kind.
He can brighten anyone's day,
And has enough love to fulfill
Your heart and soul.
He is always there,
Even when I treat him bad.
He never goes away.
I can always count on him
To be there for me
Night or day,
For he always show me the way.
He doesn't ask questions,
He just listens and is there.
He can always make me happy,
How? I don't know.
For he has that magic touch
That flows through and glows.
No one could mess up
The friendship we have.
It is special and true.
If we ever part,
I'll still remember
Always in my heart:
"My Special Friend"

written by:
Denise Graybill
(aka Niecey)
1-6-91 Dedicated to:
Adam K Buchanan

God Really Loves You

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