Happly married for 15 years. Have 3 children. Two in collage and one in middle school. This is my second time around and feel truly blessed to have made it back.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
The Touch of the Master's Hand
It was battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
Hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three",
But, No,
From the room far back a grey haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet,
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
All battered with bourbon and gin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Master's Hand.
Happy
Birthday
Brother!
Stopped
by
today
and
was
pleasantly
surprised
to
see
you
are
a
birthday
boy
today.
Hope
you
have
a
wonderful
day
my
friend,
be
kind
to
yourself.
Mike
OFFLINE
Did you exchange a walk on part in the war, for the lead role in a cage?
Hi
Johnny!!,
I
notice
you
still
come
here,
thank
goodness.
I
see
your
shout
out
each
time
I
come
in
and
it
is
a
really
good
feeling
to
know
some
things
don't
change
so
much,
ya
know?
I
am
still
so
amazed
at
how
much
my
life
has
changed
in
the
short
time
I've
been
clean!
I
finally
did
what
what
I
was
told
to
do,
got
a
sponsor,
go
to
5
meetings
a
week
and
don't
use.
Life
is
no
longer
a
struggle.
I
have
women
friends
who
I
can
depend
on
,
my
kids
are
coming
around
more
and
I
don't
have
so
many
negative
thoughts
these
days.
yes
life
is
good.
I
hope
you
are
too~
OFFLINE
The proof of spiritual maturity is not how 'pure' you are but awareness of your impurity. That very awareness opens the door to grace...Philip Yancy
Today
would
have
been
Maniac
Mike's
Birthday.
I'm
sure
that
many
of
you
got
a
notification
like
I
did
about
his
birthday
today.
I
saw
that
one
friend
even
went
to
his
page
to
wish
him a
Happy
Birthday.
So
for
those
of
you
that
