GOD'S WAY

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him.

Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

The worst had happened. Everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

"God, how could you do this to me?" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was wakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island.

It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It's easy to get discouraged sometimes when things appear to be going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

A FLASH BACK!!!

SUMMER 2005 - NEWFOUNDLAND

GREAT TIME WITH FRIENDS!!!

Reflecting!

JUST THINK,
you're here not by chance,
but by God's choosing.
His hand FORMED you,
and MADE you
the person you are.
He compares you to no one else -
you are ONE OF A KIND.
You lack nothing that
His GRACE can't give you.
He has allowed you to be here
at this time in history
to fulfill
HIS SPECIAL PURPOSE
for this generation.

--Roy Lessin

EVERY PERSON’S BILL OF RIGHTS

1. The right to be treated with RESPECT.
2. The right to have and express your OWN FEELINGS and OPINIONS.
3. The right to be listened to and taken seriously.
4. The right to decide what’s right for yourself.
5. The right to say ‘no’ without feeling guilty.
6. The right to ask for what you want (realizing the other
person has a right to refuse).
7. The right to get what you pay for.
8. The right to make mistakes.
9. The right to ask for information from professionals.
10. The right to choose not to be assertive.

Reflection Time

Brother Lawrence - "Let all our employment be to know God: the more one knows Him, the more one desires to know Him. And as knowledge is commonly the measure of love, the deeper and more extensive our knowledge shall be, the greater will be our love."

Something To Reflect On

Thomas Merton - "Everything has been given to us in Christ. All we need is to experience what we already possess."

GOLD 3-PEAT!!!

Canada won its third straight GOLD MEDALat the world junior championship with a 4-2 win over Russia on Friday in Leksand, Sweden.

Canada got goals from Andrew Cogliano, Bryan Little, Jonathan Toews and Brad Marchand to overcome the Russians. The first three Canadian goals came in a 2:27 span late in the first period.

It is the third straight year, and the sixth time since 1999, that Canada and Russia played for gold in this tournament.

Great Game Today Boys!!!

Tips For New Year's Resolutions!

In December or early January, almost everyone is minted up by the desire to plan a wonderful New Year! We plan vacations, and we imagine that any goal can be achieved. We eagerly make New Year's Resolutions and set our biggest goals ever! It's a perfect time to reflect on the changes we want to or need to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. Resolutions if carried out successfully not only act as short-term goals to success but also help in improving life and overcoming those habits, which we ourselves do not like.

The unfortunate reality, of course, is that for most people the year goes by with little or no change. We do our jobs and live our lives, but our dreams don't come true. Some things do change, but life doesn't seem all that different. Not really. Not like we hoped. The tradition of taking a resolution at New Year and fulfill it in the coming year, dates back to the early Babylonians. The Babylonians believed that what a person does on the first day of the New Year will affect him or her throughout the year. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or improve family relationships. The early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. New Year's Resolutions offer the first of many important tools for remaking ourselves.

The New Year is a good time to make resolutions but what is the point of resolutions if we can't keep them? Do you also want to have a resolution for the year 2007, lets us help you out:

Tips for New Year Resolution

Review your last year's resolution.
Have you succeeded, if not, why did you fail? Examine it and if necessary keep the same resolution this year too.

Set Your GoalsMaintain a core focus.
Be clear if you really want the change. Don't flow along with the trend.

Don't let the cup spill over
Do not create too many resolutions at a time. They may distract you. Go with one at a time.

Let it be for a year not a day
New year is the time to plan for the entire year. Let the resolution not be something for which you need just couple of days.

Acknowledge the price, and decide to pay it
Any worthwhile human achievement requires sacrifice, risk, effort and perseverance. Of course it does! This is how life works! And, you must pay the full price in advance! Be accountable to some one in case you don't follow your resolution seriously.

Reminders
Sometimes its easy to forget the resolution after the New Year euphoria passes away, and one is tempted to postpone the resolution to the next year. Plan to remind yourself of it throughout the year. Make a mention of it in the diary, online reminders or if required inform people close to you about your resolution.

Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats
Enhance your strengths, act against your weakness, see what and how you can utilize the opportunities for the year and see if you have to prepare yourself against any threats.

Pamper Yourself
Keep a gift for yourself wrapped beautifully and gift it to yourself if you accomplish your resolution at the end of the year.

I am interested in your thoughts. Please share them!

World Juniors' Gold Medal Game

Canada will play for a third straight gold at the world junior hockey championship following a thrilling 2-1 shootout win over the United States. Jonathan Toews scored in the seventh round of the shootout to give Canada the win. They will face Russia in Friday's gold medal final. It is the sixth time since 1999 that Canada and Russia are playing for gold.

GOLD CANADA GOLD!

Something To Ponder - Human Being Recall Notice

This notice applies to all human beings, no exceptions. Read carefully.

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a 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".

Some Symptoms:

1. Loss of direction
2. Lack of peace and joy
3. Depression or confusion in the mental component
4. Foul vocal emissions
5. Selfish, violent behavior
6. Amnesia of origin
7. Fearfulness
8. Rebellion
9. Pride

To correct this SIN defect, the Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge. 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:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Kindness
5. Goodness
6. Faithfulness
7. Gentleness
8. Patience
9. 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 direct monitoring and assistance from the resident Maintenance Technician, the HOLY SPIRIT. Repaired units need only make Him welcome and He will take up residence on the premises.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without making these corrections voids the Manufacturer's warranty, exposing the unit to many dangers and problems --- and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

For free emergency service, call on JESUS at
P-R-A-Y-E-R

Thank you for your attention.

Christmas Kettle Drive 2006

The Salvation Army Cambridge Community & Family Services expresses a big THANK-YOU to all who assisted us during The 2006 Christmas Kettle Campaign! The Campaign raised a Total of $77,800.00 which enabled us to 'Give Hope Today' in meeting Christmas needs, and in meeting some of our needs during the year as well.

Best Wishes for 2007!

Christmas Highlights!!!

Blue & White Christmas!!!

As you can see I had a BLUE & WHITE Christmas! Can you see the 10 items? The blanket is NOT one of them....

Happy New Year!

'But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.'--Job 23:10 (NKJV)

Happy New Year? Really? How can you and I be so sure that this upcoming year will be a happy one? Take a moment to look back at last year. Were there any trials? Of course there were, and you can be equally certain that there will be trials in this upcoming year as well. It's interesting that in describing the storms of life, Jesus always assumed that they would have a place of prominence in our lives. It is not a matter of if the storms will come but when they will come (see Jesus' words in Matthew 7:24 - 27: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."). You can mark it down in that brand-new calendar that you just got--2007 will be a year of trials.

Regardless of this fact, we can still have a happy New Year when we recognize that our God is all-knowing. There isn't a single bump in the road that will take Him by surprise this year. Before time even began, He knew all that this year would hold for each of us, making it a 'Knew Year.' This truth is a harbor of security in a sea of uncertainty because as we understand that God foresaw everything, we also understand that He allows everything in our lives to happen. The Bible further assures us that nothing happens to us unless it is for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"). So no matter what trials you go through this upcoming year, you can be certain they will actually complete your character in Christ.

This is the truth that sustained Job as he went through unparalleled trials in his own life. When things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, Job took comfort in the knowledge that God knew the course of his future and that His ultimate purpose in allowing these things was for him to 'come forth as gold.' The place of trial became the place of blessing as Job's trials perfected his patience and faith.

Regardless of what this New Year brings, we can rest in knowing that God knows what we will be dealing with and that He is going to use it for our greater good. Keeping this in mind will make for a very Happy New Year, indeed!

***Ask God to transform your trials in this upcoming year into agents that produce greater patience and faith in you.