"Smilers" are mostly HUMOR, these are not humor.
These stories may cause some tears; these stories are 
"Good food for deep thought and appreciation of Life and Faith"
If you have a similar story of Faith, I'm collecting for next "Faith" issue.
Send them to " smilers@donmac.org " And Thank you.
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Food for thought 
Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. 
He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and
treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best. 
He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off 
to neighbou ring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would 
leave him for another. 
He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind,
considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, 
he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times. 
The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions 
in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. 
Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her! 
One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his 
luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die,
I'll be all alone." 
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with 
the finest clothing and showered great care over you. 
Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" 
"No way!", replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. 
Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart. 
The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. 
Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" 
"No!", replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! 
When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold. 
He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and
you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and 
keep me company?" 
"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the 2nd wife.
"At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." 
Her answer came like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.
Then a voice called out: 
"I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." 
The King looked up, and there was his first wife. 
She was so skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. 
Greatly grieved, the King said, 
"I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!" 
In truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives: 
Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we 
lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die. 
Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. 
When we die, it will all go to others. 
Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have
been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. 
And our 1st wife is our Soul. 
Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. 
However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. 
So cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us 
who will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us 
throughout Eternity. 
When the world pushes you to your knees...... 
You're in the perfect position to pray. Have a good day! 
Think about this...Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the 
company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter 
of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest 
of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work 
than to our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don't you think?
And we often treat strangers and co-workers 
better than members of our family. 
Do you know what the word FAMILY means? 
FAMILY = F(Father) A (and) M (Mother), (I), L (LOVE), Y (YOU) 
   

Time List Lacking
Time magazine has published its list of the 100 most influential people 
in the world, "The Time 100." 
The list dutifully mentioned Pope John Paul II and President George W. Bush. 
Others included the likes of Sandra Day O'Connor, Bill Gates, Bill and 
Hillary Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey - all deemed as the "forces that are 
changing the world we live in." 
But some who made the cut can hardly be considered influential;
like Hollywood's Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar, 
and soccer star David Beckham. 
Perhaps the most bizarre thing about the "Time 100" is who didn't make the list. 
Franklin Graham - whose Samaritan's Purse relief organization ministers to 
thousands world-wide was overlooked, 
as were Dr. James Dobson - whose radio show affects family policy issues, 
Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins - whose Left Behind series has dominated 
the best seller list, and 
Rick Warren, whose Purpose Driven Life book has not only sold millions, 
but changed the lives of millions. 
Someone should tell Time's editors that one-third of Americans identify 
themselves as evangelical Christians. 
At least one of them is bound to be "influential." 


This will certainly make you stop and think.
You never know what a kind word, a phone call, or an
impromptu visit will do for someone else.
          It was a cold winter's day that Sunday.  
The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. 
I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church members were
whispering among themselves as they walked to the church.
As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the 
church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on 
a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, 
pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 
30 years old, too small for his feet with holes all over them, his toes 
stuck out.
I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through 
the doors of the church. We all gathered for fellowship for a few minutes, 
and someone brought up the man laying outside. People snickered and
gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me.
A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to 
take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church
opened.  In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his 
head down. People gasped and whispered and made faces. 
He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit, he took off his
hat and coat. My heart sank.  There stood our preacher..he was 
the "homeless man." No one said a word. 
The preacher took his Bible and laid it on the stand.
"Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today."  
Then he started singing the words to this song:  
"If I can help somebody as I pass along. 
If I can cheer somebody with word or song.  
If I can show somebody that he's traveling wrong.  
Then my living shall not be in vain."


Daddy's Empty Chair
A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come 
and pray with her father.
When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed 
with his head propped up on two pillows.
An empty chair sat beside his bed.
The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.
"I guess you were expecting me, he said.
'No, who are you?" said the father.
The minister told him his name and then remarked,
"I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up,"
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man.
"Would you mind closing the door?"
Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man.
"But all of my life I have never known how to pray.
At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, 
     but it went right over my head.
I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued,
"until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me,
"Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.
Here is what I suggest.
Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you,
     and in faith see Jesus on the chair.
It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'.
Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now."
"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much 
      that I do it a couple of hours every day.
I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty 
chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to 
the funny farm."
The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the
old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, 
anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her 
daddy had died that afternoon.
"Did he die in peace?" he asked.
"Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, 
he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and
kissed me on the cheek.
When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead.
But there was something strange about his death.
Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head
on the chair beside the bed.  What do you make of that?"
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, 
"I wish we could all go like that."
 

A baby's Love
 We were the only family with children in the restaurant.  
I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. 
Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi." 
He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. 
His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless 
grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. 
It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes 
poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed 
and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose 
was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, 
but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists.
"Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man said to Erik. 
My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" 
Erik continued to laugh and answer, "Hi." 
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man.
The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.
Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 
"Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo." 
Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
My husband and I were embarrassed. 
We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire 
for the admiring skidrow bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. 
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. 
My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.
The old man sat poised between me and the door. 
"Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," 
I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep 
him and avoid any air he might be breathing. 
As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms 
in a baby's "pick-me-up" position. Before I could stop him, Erik had
propelled himself from my arms to the man's.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated
their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission 
laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. 
The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. 
His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's 
bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply 
for so short a time. I stood awestruck. 
The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened 
and set squarely on mine.
He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." 
Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that contained a stone. 
He pried Erik from his chest, lovelingly and longingly, as though 
he were in pain.
I received my baby, and the man said, 
"God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift." 
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. 
With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car.
My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, 
and why I was saying, "My God, my God, forgive me." 
I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a 
tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, 
and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.
I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. 
I felt it was God asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" 
when He shared His for all eternity. 
The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 
"To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children."
"An individual has a healthy personality to the exact degree to which 
they have the propensity to look for the good in every situation." 


You're Personal Daily Survival Kit
Items Needed: 
Mint  -  Candy Kiss  -  Tea Bag  -  Eraser 
Rubber Band  -  Toothpick  -  Chewing Gum 
Band Aid  -  Pencil 
Why?????
TOOTHPICK - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others. 
  Matthew 7:1 
RUBBER BAND - to remind you to be flexible. 
  Things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out. 
  Romans 8:28 
BAND AID - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.  
  Colossians 3:12-14 
PENCIL - to remind you to list your blessings everyday.  
   Ephesians 1:3 
ERASER - To remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay. 
   Genesis 50:15-21 
CHEWING GUM- to remind  you to stick with it, and you can accomplish anything.
   Philippians 4:13 
MINT - to remind you that you are worth a mint. 
   John 3:16-17 
CANDY KISS - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
   John 4:7 
TEA BAG - to remind you to relax daily and go over your list of blessings.  
  1 Thessalonians 5:18 


THE BOY AND THE MASTER 
Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her 
boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an 
old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. 
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy
rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked 
"NO ADMITTANCE." 
When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the 
mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. 
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway 
on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, 
innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." 
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved 
to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing." 
Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling
in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, 
and he added a running obligation. 
Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have 
been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. 
The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great 
master played. Only the classic "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." 
Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own 
is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful 
flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can 
truly be beautiful. 
Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. 
You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, 
"Don't quit." "Keep playing." 
May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there 
helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. 
Remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped; rather, 
He equips the 'called.' 
Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the 
things you acquire. 
So touch someone, and pass this little message along. 
God Speed! 


Product Recall
The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, 
regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and 
central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original 
prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction 
of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically 
termed, "Sub-sequential Internal Non-morality," or more commonly known 
as SIN as it is primarily expressed:
Some other symptoms:
     [a] Loss of direction
     [b] Foul vocal emissions
     [c] Amnesia of origin
     [d] Lack of peace and joy
     [e] Selfish, or violent behavior
     [f] Depression or confusion in the mental component
     [g] Fearfulness
     [h] Idolatry
     [I] Rebellion
The Manufacturer, Who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is 
providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct 
this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously 
offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs.
There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all 
areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden 
of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. 
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, 
into the heart component.  No matter how big or small the SIN defect
is, Jesus will replace it with:
      [a] Love
     [b] Joy
     [c] Peace
     [d] Patience
     [e] Kindness
     [f] Goodness
     [g] Faithfulness
     [h] Gentleness
     [I] Self-control
Please see the operating manual, HOLY BIBLE, for further details on the 
use of these fixes. As an added upgrade, the Manufacturer has made 
available to all repaired units a facility enabling direct monitoring
and assistance from a resident Maintenance Technician, the Holy Ghost.
Repaired units need only make Him welcome and He will take up
permanent residence on the premises!
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without 
correction voids the Manufacturer's warranty, exposing the unit to 
dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the 
human unit being permanently impounded.
For free emergency service, call on JESUS.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action 
will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be
permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your attention. Please assist where possible by notifying 
others of this important recall notice.


Graduation
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-three students filing into the
already crowded auditorium. With rich maroon gowns flowing and the
traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads
swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would not pray during the commencements----- not by choice but
because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and
several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by
the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one
mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates
or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine.......
until the final speech received a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. 
He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. 
All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!
The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said,
"GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!" 
And he walked off stage...
The audience exploded into applause. 
The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing 
on their future with or without the court's approval.