A LEGEND OF THE DOGWOOD TREE

          WHEN CHRIST WAS ON EARTH, THE DOGWOOD GREW
               TO A TOWERING SIZE WITH A LOVELY HUE.
          ITS BRANCHES WERE STRONG AND INTERWOVEN
       AND FOR CHRIST'S CROSS ITS TIMBERS WERE CHOSEN.
          BEING DISTRESSED AT THE USE OF THIS WOOD,
       CHRIST MADE A PROMISE WHICH STILL HOLDS GOOD:
        "NOT EVER AGAIN SHALL THE DOGWOOD GROW
         TO BE LARGE ENOUGH FOR SUCH A TREE AND SO
         SLENDER AND TWISTED IT SHALL ALWAYS BE
         WITH CROSS-SHAPED BLOSSOMS FOR ALL TO SEE.
         THE PETALS SHALL HAVE BLOODSTAINS MARKED IN
               BROWN
          AND IN THE BLOSSOM'S CENTER A THORNY CROWN.
          ALL WHO SEE IT WILL THINK OF ME,
          NAILED TO A CROSS FROM A DOGWOOD TREE.
          PROTECTED AND CHERISHED THIS TREE SHALL BE
          A REFLECTION TO ALL OF MY AGONY."

FELLOWSHIP of the UNASHAMED ( Author Unknown)

     I am part of the " Fellowship of the Unashamed."  I have Holy Spirit Power.  The dye has been
cast.  I've stepped over the line.  The decision has been made.  I am a disciple of His.  I won't
look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.  My past is redeemed, my present makes
sense and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small
planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chincy giving and
dwarfed goals!
     I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity.
I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.  I now live
by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.
     My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough,
my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised,
detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,
hesitate in the presence of  adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool
of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
     I won't give up, shut up, let up or burn up till I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored
up and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
     I am a disciple of Jesus.  I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and
work till He stops.
     And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me.  My colors
will be clear.

XXXXXXXXXXX ( E.D. )

                    A LOT OF PEOPLE BLAME GOD FOR EVERYTHING BAD
                    THAT HAPPENS.  OF COURSE THAT IS THE ONLY TIME
                    THEY REMEMBER HIM.
                    MAYBE GOD PERMITS THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN SO
                    WE CAN WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT WE NEED HIM
                    AND THAT WITHOUT HIM WE ARE NOTHING.
                    WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE WE ALWAYS TURN TO
                    HIM BECAUSE IN OUR HEARTS WE KNOW THAT HE
                    IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN HELP US, BUT UN-
                    GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE, AS SOON AS HE ANSWERS
                    OUR PRAYERS WE TURN OUR BACK AND FORGET
                    HIM AGAIN.
                    HE LOVES US ALL,  EACH AND EVERYONE AND WE
                    BREAK HIS HEART OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
                    WE WANT EVERYTHING FROM HIM, BUT WE GIVE HIM
                    NOTHING IN RETURN.
                    THERE IS SO MUCH SIN IN THIS WORLD AND SO MUCH
                    HATE.
                    WAKE UP, PEOPLE!  NEXT TIME WE MIGHT NOT BE SO
                    LUCKY.
                                         
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