Bad Cold by Shel Silverstein

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  This cold is too much for my shortsleeve. Go get me a Kleenex--and fast. I sniffle and wheeze And I'm ready to sneeze And I don't know how long I can last.... Atchoo--it's to wet for a kleenex, So bring me handkerchief, quick. It's--atchoo--no joke, Now the handkerchief's soaked. Hey, a dish towel just might do the trick. Atchoo--it's too much for bath towel. There never has been such a cold. I'll be better off With that big tablecloth, No--bring me the flag off the pole. Atchoo--bring the clothes from the closet, Atchaa--get the sheets from the bed, The drapes off the window, The rugs off the floor To soak up this cold in my head. Atchoo-- hurry down to the circus And ask if they'll lend you the tent. You say they said yes? Here it comes--Lord be blessed-- Here it is--Ah-kachoooo--there it went.

Book Review: "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" by Jim Cymbala

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Cymbala, Jim. “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.” Michigan: Zondervan, 1997

 [I read old books because they are there]

This short anecdotal book is required reading. Rationale: there is as much prayer in churches as in public schools.

Godly men and women call on the name of the Lord. This is the main teaching Pastor Cymbala’s book, built on the root principle found in Genesis 4. God’s people identified early in scripture as being “those who call on the name of the Lord.” The ungodly do not call on the name of the Lord (Psalm 14:4).

Prayer defines who are as as obedient children of God. Prayer shows that we take God seriously, believing Him. Prayer is central to our worship, the hallmark of the place in which we worship; but, we have become complacent with much, much less. The church is missing the spiritual connection and needs to get plugged back into the power source.

Cymbala’s scriptural applications both admonishes and encourages to stretch our hands and call out to God, who will respond to those who call on Him. Satan is not resisted if we are not pursuing hard after God. Prayerlessness is not God’s plan for His people and we cannot grow unless we go deeper with Him. Prayerfulness reminds us of our increasing need for Him. We cannot be Christian without prayer.

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