St. Martin of Tours

The Episode of the Cloak

The Charity of St. Martin, by Jean Fouquet

While Martin was still a soldier at Samarobriva (modern Amiens) he experienced the vision that became the most-repeated story about his life. He was at the gates of the city of Samarobriva with his soldiers when he met a scantily dressed beggar. He impulsively cut his own military cloak in half and shared it with the beggar. That night Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clad me." (Sulpicius, ch 2). In another story, when Martin woke his cloak was restored, and the miraculous cloak was preserved among the relic collection of the Merovingian kings of the Franks.

St Martin and the Beggar, by El Greco, ca. 1597-99 (National Gallery of Art, Washington)

The dream confirmed Martin in his piety and he was baptized at the age of 18.^[3] He served in the military for another two years until, just before a battle with the Gauls at Borbetomagus (nowWorms, Germany) in 336, Martin determined that his faith prohibited him from fighting, saying, "I am a soldier of Christ. I cannot fight." He was charged with cowardice and jailed, but in response to the charge, he volunteered to go unarmed to the front of the troops. His superiors planned to take him up on the offer, but before they could, the invaders sued for peace, the battle never occurred, and Martin was released from military service.^[4]

Martin declared his vocation and made his way to the city of Caesarodunum (now Tours), where he became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, a chief proponent of Trinitarian Christianity, opposing theArianism of the Imperial Court. When Hilary was forced into exile from Pictavium (now Poitiers), Martin returned to Italy, converting an Alpine brigand on the way, according to his biographerSulpicius Severus, and confronting the Devil himself. Returning from Illyria, he was confronted by the Arian archbishop of Milan Auxentius, who expelled him from the city. According to the early sources, he decided to seek shelter on the island then called Gallinaria, now Isola d'Albenga, in the Ligurian Sea, where he lived the solitary life of a hermit.

UNEMPLOYED GRADUATE...a message for all of us

An unemployed graduate woke up one morning and checked his pocket. All he had left was $10. He decided to use it to buy food and then wait for death as he was too proud to go begging. He was frustrated as he could find no job, and nobody was ready to help him.

He bought food and as he sat down to eat, an old man and two little children came along and asked him to help them with food as they had not eaten for almost a week. He looked at them. They were so lean that he could see their bones coming out. Their eyes had gone into the socket. With the last bit of compassion he had, he gave them the food. The old man and children prayed that God would bless and prosper him and then gave him a very old coin .  The young graduate said to them "you need prayer more than I do". 

With no money, no job, no food, the young graduate went under the bridge to rest and wait for death.  As he was about to sleep, he saw a newspaper on the ground.  He picked it up, and suddenly he saw an advertisement for people with old coins to come to a certain address.

He decided to go there with the old coin the old man gave him. On getting to the place, he gave the proprietor the coin. The proprietor screamed, brought out a big book and showed the young graduate a photograph. This same old coin was worth 3 million dollars. The young graduate was overjoyed as the proprietor gave him a bank draft for 3 million dollars within an hour.  He collected the Bank Draft and went in search of the old man and little children.

By the time he got to where he left them eating, they had gone.  He asked the owner of the canteen if he knew them.  He said no but they left a note for you.  He quickly opened the note thinking it would lead him to find them.

This is what the note said: "You gave us your all and we have rewarded you back with the coin," signed God the Father , The Son and The Holy Ghost . 1 Kings 17:10 -16; Matthew 11:28 -30 

PRAYER: 

Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God,
I pray to you that You abundantly Bless my family and me. I know that You recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother husband and wife, but all who believe and trust in You.

Father, I send up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the person who sent this to me, but for me and all that I have forwarded this message on to.  And that the power of joined prayer by those who believe and trust in You is more powerful than anything.

I thank You in advance for your blessings.
Father God, deliver the person reading this right now and those who will read it in the near future from debt and debt burdens. Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that You have given me Father, for I know how wonderful and mighty You are and how if we just obey You and walk in Your word and have the faith of a mustard seed that You will pour out blessings.
I thank You now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come Because I know You are not done with me yet.
In Jesus name, I pray,
Amen 

Kidney Failure...Please Pray For this young son, Chris Brown

A quick note...a very good friend of my sister's has a young son (everybody is young to me these days) who mysteriously experienced kidney failure.  Please say a quick and kind prayer for Chris Brown and his family.

Thanks...
RGB

God, Our Father....

God our Father, walk through my house and take away all my worries and illnesses and please watch over and heal my family in Jesus name, Amen. 

A Baby's Love is without prejudice...

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 skid-row 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.

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, lovingly 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.'

My Aunt Pat's Sister needs your prayers...

Rosemary Burnett / Needs prayers

Amy Robison
Dear Family needed let everyone know Grandma is in St Joseph's in St Charles, not well and needs to be relocated to a home. Her room number is 359. I hope everyone who reads this will pass the word on, I can not leave Farmington yet to get to be with her. Yes, Gene has been there with her. Thnx

Zach Kraus...needs your prayers to give his last days comfort...

Sadly I must share with you that 16 yr old Zach Kraus from Schnecksville who we have been praying for these last few years – he’s had many complications post leukemia treatment, has had a kidney transplant, - you name it, he has gone through it – he asked to be transferred from DuPont Children’s Hospital to St. Christopher’s in Philly – where his battle began – he wants to die there.  His family is respecting his wish – they have all gathered there with him and today offered for any others who wish to see him to come down.  Please pray for this very special family as they guide Zach on his journey.  God’s peace be with them. www.carepages.com : zachskraus

Would you pray for a 2-year old with cancer?

Reposting at the request of a friend...Prayers need to go out for a FB friend's daughter Audrin King and her family. Her two year old daughter was just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. If you see this post, even if you don't know her, God knows...Please post this to your profile for 1 hour and say a prayer for that little girl. Please and God bless you for doing it.

Please Pray for the Kekeris Family

Rick,
Please add the Kekeris Family to the prayer list.  Mary Signaigo Kekeris'
Father-in-law has recently passed.

Thanks to all,
Bob

God vs. The Atheist Professor

The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. 
 'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'


'Yes sir, 'the student says.

'So you believe in God?' 

 'Absolutely.'

'Is God good?' 

 'Sure! God's good.'

 'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'


'Yes'

 'Are you good or evil?'


'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!  He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

 'Yes sir, I would.'

 'So you're good...!' 

 'I wouldn't say that.'

 'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?' 
The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?' 

 'Er..yes,' the student says.

 'Is Satan good?' 

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

 'Then where does Satan come from?'

 The student falters. 'From God'


 'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

 'Yes, sir..'

 'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'?


'Yes'

 'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?' 


 The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'


 'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'


 The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

 The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?' 

 'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

 'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'?


'No, sir, I have not..'

 'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'


 'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

 'Yet you still believe in him?' 

 'Yes'
 'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?' 

 'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.'


 'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

 The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such a thing as heat?'

 'Yes. 

 'And is there such a thing as cold?'

 'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'


The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'


 Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.


 'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

 'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation.. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

 'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

 The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?' 

 'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'


 The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?' 

 'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains.. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor.. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

 'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.' 

 'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

 The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going.  A very good semester, indeed. 

 'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'


 The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?

 Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.' 

 'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.' 

 The professor sat down.

 If you read it all the way through and had a smile on your face when you finished, mail to your friends and family with the title 'God vs. Science'

 PS: the student was Albert Einstein.

 Albert Einstein wrote a book titled “God vs. Science” in 1921...

A Prayer For My Son

Here’s a prayer written by Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee — and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, give him, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”

The "Coat Hanger". A story to bring you a smile ;-)

  A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a fever.  She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication.  She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car.  She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. 

The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse.  She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door."  The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been left on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time had locked their keys in their car.  She looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."  She bowed her head and asked God to send her help.  

Within five minutes a beat up old motor cycle pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head.  The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful. The man got off of his cycle and asked if he could help.  She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her.. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"  He said, "Sure." He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened.  

She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man."  The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour."  The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!!!" 

 

Is GOD  GOOD  or what?     

~DEATH~ WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT...

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to  

Leave the examination room and said,  

'Doctor, I am afraid to die.  

Tell me what lies on the other side.'  

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know..'  

'You don't know?  You're, a Christian man,  

and don't know what's on the other side?'  

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;  

On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,  

And as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room  

And leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.  

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,  

'Did you notice my dog?  

He's never been in this room before.  

He didn't know what was inside.  

He knew nothing except that his master was here,  

And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.  

I know little of what is on the other side of death,  

But I do know one thing...  

I know my Master is there and that is enough.'  

ERB Steam Surveys And Solutions: Steam Trap Services...More than just Surveying

ERB Steam Surveys And Solutions: Steam Trap Services...More than just Surveying

Prayer Group: Prayers for Dale Malone...ARE helping

Prayer Group: Prayers for Dale Malone...ARE helping: "Rick: My brother Dale continues to stay on the green side of the grass and I have no doubt that the Lord is keeping him around for a specif..."

Prayers for Dale Malone...ARE helping

Rick:

My brother Dale continues to stay on the green side of the grass and I have no doubt that the Lord is keeping him around for a specific purpose.  Every time I receive a request from you for prayer, it reminds me how blessed we all are.  

Reagan  

Beth's Tumor has returned...please pray

 

Will you put somebody on your prayer list for me? Our good friend Beth - the one Stef ran the marathon for back in 2003 has had her tumor start to grow again. If you remember, they lived up the street and just moved to Wisconsin last May. They moved there so that Beth was closer to her parents and sisters. It's just so sad, you know?

Did you sit with God today? Bet you did...

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. 

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. 

Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. 

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever. 

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "'What did you do today that made you so happy?'" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "'You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"' 

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?'" She replied!"  "I ate potato chips in the park with God.'" However, before her son responded, she added, "'You know, he's much younger than I expected.'" 

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally! 

Have lunch with God.......bring chips. Send this to people who have touched your life in a special way. Let them know how important they are. I did!!!! 

God still sits on the throne. You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.  

Please pass this on. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another. 

Here is the prayer: 

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.