Heaven "vs" Hell
  

While walking down the street one day a  Senator from Iowa is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems
there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do
is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you
can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the
senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes
down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself
in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse
and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians
who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar
and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who
has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a
good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator
rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I
think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down,
down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a
barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here
and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were
campaigning...... Today you voted."

.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

Copywrite Darrell Scott

When is too much not enough?

Can one say I love you too often?

Can you give a child too many hugs?

Can you send your wife too many roses?

Can you read too much?

Can you learn too much?

Can you have to much self worth?

Can you share too much?

Can you have too much good health?

Can you have too many friends?

These are just a few of the things that come to mind when I think I have enough in life.  I guess I still have a lot to do and better get busy.

Can you add to this list? Please feel free to do so. I think there are a lot of things that one can not have enough of.

Toby Edmondson

I am a school bus driver and, along with my morning and afternoon route during the school year, drive the highschool sports teams.

This summer I have been driving some of the Boys Baseball Trips and have found two different types of athletes on my bus.  Those who want to win and those who DESIRE to win.

The differences between the two are really pretty simple.  Those who want to win, show up and and give 100%.  Those who DESIRE to win, PREPARE and give 110%.

If you or I want to win in life we also must prepare. We must focus our attention on the skills, knowlege and path to the success we desire. 

We can show up everyday, or we can give 110% and along with preparation find our goals with in reach.

Do you "want" to win or "desire" to win?

Toby Edmondson ( fiventen )

Well I just had a big Fourth of July picnic supper.  Grilled steak, potato salad, spring salad, and watermellon.   I filled my plate twice!! 

After an enjoyable meal I decided to spend some time in a chatroom online where many of my friends hang out.  While I know communication in chat is less than perfect, many in this chatroom attack one another and it is almost ALWAYS over a misunderstanding of some sort.  Some of these misunderstandings go on for months and years. 

I thought about the great meal I had just finished and how I had chosen the things I like and how it brought me satisfaction.  I then thought about the chat and realized I had had my "fill" there also.  It was not just this one time, but a cummulation of events that distress me.

Why am I filling my "plate" with this negativity?  I also visit another chatroom on a regular basis.  The thing about this other chatroom is that most there are people with brain injuries.  What amazes me is there are NEVER any fights, cat scratching, mean posts in the brain injury chat.  I will be spending a lot more time with my friends there.

I will miss my friends in the other chat and hope they understand that I have a choice to "fill my plate" with negativity or with positive energy.  I am making the choice to surround myself with the positive energy I get from those who while having brain injury, are courteous, helpful and loving.

How do you "Fill Your Plate"?

Toby Edmondson ( fiventen )