PARABLE OF THE 3 TREES (Author unknown.) 
Once there were 3 young trees that longed to become something important.
 
The first tree wanted to be used as part of the furniture in a royal palace. One day people came to the forest and cut the first tree down. It was hewn into rough pieces and nailed together to form a manger to feed cattle. Eventually it was sold for a pittance and placed in a stable in Bethlehem. The tree was heartbroken because it was relegated to feeding animals. However, one night Mary carefully laid her firstborn child - JESUS - in the manger. The manger trembled with delight.  "This is wonderful!  I never imagined that I would provide a bed for the Son of God!”
 
Years passed, and more men came to the forest to chop down the second tree. This tree dreamed of becoming a royal vessel for transporting kings. But instead it became a small, leaking fishing boat. Eventually a man named Peter obtained it for his trade. The little boat was not happy. But one day, as it sat on the shore of the Sea, Jesus of Nazareth stepped into it and began teaching a large crowd.  "This is wonderful!" it thought. "I never imagined that the Son of God would use me to preach His word."
 
More years elapsed, and Romans soldiers came to cut down the third tree. This tree had hoped to be used in the construction of a temple or synagogue in which people could worship and glorify God. The Romans, however, had other ideas. They chopped and chopped until only two long, thick beams remained. They then connected the beams to form a cross. The tree was horrified. "All I wanted to do was glorify God, and now they are going to use me to kill someone!”
 
Shortly afterwards, a large crowd lined a street in Jerusalem. In the middle of the crowd was Jesus, carrying this tree. Eventually, He was nailed to it. As Jesus was dying, the tree heard Him speak words of compassion and forgiveness. Jesus then died, and the earth shook. Only then did the tree realize the significance of the moment. "This is wonderful! I never imagined that I would glorify God by enabling His Son to die for the sins of the world."
 
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Never forget that God has a SPECIAL PURPOSE for you and me. “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you WILL COMPLETE IT until the day of Jesus Christ.." (Phil. 1:6)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis

CAN I BE WRONG?
 
“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” Jer. 10:23
 
One of the biggest obstacles to accepting truth is man’s prideful tendency to assume that he is always right.
 
A wealthy man had a large painting of the leaning tower of Pisa prominently displayed on a wall. But nearly every morning he noticed that it was hanging crooked. He eventually found out that his maid was adjusting the frame to “straighten” the tower. Many people attempt to do the same with God’s word. If they encounter something that does not match up with their lives or beliefs, they try to twist God’s word to harmonize with their beliefs, as opposed to adjusting their beliefs to conform to the truth.
 
Some years ago a man in Oklahoma ordered an expensive barometer. After receiving it, he noticed that the gauge on the barometer indicated severe storms, although the weather outside was beautiful. Believing it to be defective, he packed it up, intending to return it to the manufacturer. Late that day, severe storms moved in, producing a tornado that damaged many homes in his neighborhood. In a similar way, the Bible warns that the world will be destroyed by fire without warning  – 2 Pet. 3:10. Yet millions of people firmly believe the world will go on forever.
 
In a more tragic case, a woman got up in the middle of the night to get her husband some sleeping pills. In the dark she got the wrong bottle and gave him strong antibiotics, to which he was allergic. The next morning he was rushed to the hospital, but pronounced dead upon arrival. His wife was inconsolable and refused to believe that he was dead. It was only after the drug mix-up was discovered that she accepted his death as reality. Many people today trust their feelings to get them to heaven. Even when they are shown that they are living in contradiction to the scriptures, some refuse to believe that they are lost. This is the most tragic mistake possible.
 
ALL of us can be wrong at times. Admitting this that will help us to keep an open mind as we read and heed God’s inspired word – 2 Tim 3:16-17.
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis