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WITandWISDOM(tm) - July 14, 2005 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: When I get a little money I buy books and if any is left I buy food and clothes. – Erasmus Source: Quote Lady's Quote of the Day, mailto:quote-a-day-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Mr. Lloyd, an early nineteenth-century sailor, was sleeping at a Philadelphia inn when the ruckus of a police raid awakened him. Afraid of being identified with the outlaws, he fled in his nightshirt to a nearby market. In a short time, a gang of thieves discovered him and decided he would make a good servant to their task. Forcing Lloyd to join them, they led him to a cemetery a couple miles outside the city. With the help of a strong rope, they opened the crypt of a wealthy woman who had been buried that day. Then they ordered Lloyd to go in and take her jewels. Lloyd begged to be released, but was threatened with dire harm if he didn't obey. Finally he did as ordered and handed the booty up to the robbers. Before Lloyd could climb out of the crypt, however, they slammed down the heavy stone slab, trapping him inside. Despair overwhelmed him as he listened to the fading sound of the robbers' retreating footsteps. But soon Lloyd heard more footsteps. The strange new voices above him were those of another gang that was bent on the same mission. He knew what he must do. As they lifted the slab, Lloyd jumped out in his white night shirt. Horror-stricken, the robbers took off. He chased them, gaining on them little by little, not wanting them to stop and discover who he was. Soon one shouted, "Patrick! Patrick! The old woman is close to our heels!" Finally they reached the market and disappeared. A much relieved Mr. Lloyd went back to the inn, having had quite enough excitement for one night. I don't like grave robbers. Yet this humorous true story has a lesson in it. There is One who can take more than jewels from the grave. He can raise the dead, giving them new life. At the second coming, our Lord will "rob" the graves of the faithful, reclaiming us for eternity: "Do not be amazed at this," He promised, "for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out." John 5:28,29 That is the kind of grave robber I like! Barry Kimbrough, Taunton, Massachusetts Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) February 2005, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: A poor vagabond, traveling a country road in England, tired and hungry, came to a roadside Inn with a sign reading: "George and the Dragon." He knocked. The Innkeeper's wife stuck her head out a window. "Could ye spare some victuals?" he asked. The woman glanced at his shabby clothes and obviously poor condition. "No!" she said rather sternly. "Could I have a drink of water?" "No!" she said again. "Could I at least sleep in your stable?" "No!" by this time she was fairly shouting. The vagabond said, "Might I please...?" "What now?" the woman interrupted impatiently. "D'ye suppose," he asked, "I might have a word with George?" Source: Pulpit Supply, mailto:pulpit-supply-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A doting father used to sing his little children to sleep until he overheard the four-year-old tell the three-year-old, "If you pretend you're asleep, he stops." Source: Mr. Mom's Mailing List, http://mrmom.amaonline.com/ ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Super-centenarians Those who have reached at least 110 years of age — are rare, but their numbers are increasing. Robert Young, a researcher at UCLA's Gerontology Research Group, estimates the world's population of super-centenarians at 250 and growing, in part because doctors, medicines and nutrition have prolonged what experts call the human health span — the period between birth and the cascade of medical problems that mark the end of life. Age 115 is now regarded as a realistic upper limit to human longevity, which five women could reach by November. The oldest validated super-centenarian is Hendrikje Van Andel of the Netherlands, who just turned 115. From: Los Angeles Times Source: Peninsula Daily News, June 29,2005, http://peninsuladailynews.com