GOLD NUGGETS 4

GOLD NUGGETS 4

By

Tom Franks, Ph.D.

Copyright © 2007 Tommy Franks
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.
International Standard Book Number: 0‑926044‑57‑5

Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the Publisher.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations
are taken from the KINGS JAMES VERSION of the Bible.

Due to the Author's prerogative, some words are in small letters and some are capitalized for clarity and emphasis and not necessarily in accordance with standard grammatical practice.

Whenever pronouns or gender references appear in this book, they refer to both male and female unless otherwise noted.

Second Printing 2007

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book "GOLD NUGGETS #4" to my lovely family…My incredible wife Karen…children…and friends…and to all who read this book.

I believe in God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. May warmth and excitement come to you and your family as you read this inspiring book "Gold Nuggets #4".

INTRODUCTION

Many of you have told me how much you enjoyed reading the first three volumes of "Gold Nuggets". By special request, "Gold Nuggets #4" has been birthed. Thanks to all of you who have read my books in the past. This volume will make you think, laugh, cry, and rejoice as you meditate upon its nuggets of gold.

Since I have been blessed so abundantly by Our Maker God, I want to again share some of these joys, pains, agonies, ecstasies, and blissful experiences with you in the next few minutes.

Now, relax...get in a comfortable place, kick your feet back... perhaps with a cup of coffee or hot tea, and enjoy yourself with this inspiring publication. Perhaps, after reading it, you might have a story or two that you want told and placed in print. If that is the case, contact us at our Publisher's address given at the front of this book. Meantime, enjoy the gift of LIFE.

First Words

Why did I write this book "Gold Nuggets #4"? Well, all through my life, I have experienced a multitude of interesting stories that are heart touching...some joyful, some humorous, some exciting, and some tearful. We had such a tremendous response after our other volumes of "Gold Nuggets", I thought it only fitting to write and publish a second edition. "What better way of sharing our life journeys with others than to edit, record, and publish heart-touching stories, anecdotes, accounts, and one page chronicles."

Every single person on Planet Earth is special and has dignity and great worth. He has intelligence. He has the five senses, intellect, emotions, desires, ambitions, and initiative. Man/Woman is spirit. The real person is spirit. This is the only way he can communicate with God, his Creator. Even though man lives in a body, he communicates to God with his spirit. Therefore, this book will speak to your spirit and to your soul.

Therefore, get ready for some wonderful travels and journeys that will take you to some different experiences, encounters, and fabulous and excursions.

In brief, you were born with GREATNESS. You are the "APPLE" of God's eye. May you always be blessed with success, good health, and healthy emotions in your every day life. This book "Gold Nuggets #4" will assist you in the areas of virtual reality and quality living. (Washington DC, 2007)

THE POWER WITHIN

Pinch yourself and say, "I'm alive. I will be successful. I choose to be a winner. I will not give up. I have a purpose for being on this earth. I have a destiny. I have abilities. I have talents and gifts. I don't have to try to be somebody. I am somebody. That's the way I was born...a creation destined for greatness!"

Do YOU have faith in yopurself? I believe you do. YOU have the POWER of the Creator living within you. USE it!

Yes, sometimes people may GOSSIP about you or perhaps, spread false information and untrue negative reports concerning you. So what? If this has happened, it only proves that they do not really know you...the real you. Do not listen to these types of corrupted reports. This kind of nonsense has been around for thousands of years. Don't allow yourself to get suckered into believing any false information about you or your character.

YOU stand in the Father's presence without the sense of guilt, inferiority, or lack. YOU are God‑conscious, Son‑conscious, Faith conscious, Love conscious, and Victor conscious. YOU have the ABILITY of God! You have the POWER within You to make a difference in your family and community.

The greatest POWER on earth is on the inside of you. His Name is Jesus! You cannot lose for WINNING! You don't have any trouble that Jesus can't take care of. ALL you need is Jesus! You cannot go under for going OVER! It's not over until it's over and it is NOT over yet...Thank God!

You were born to TASTE the goodness of God. The aroma and sweetness of His delicacies is MARVELOUS to behold. The BEST of for you is yet to come. You were born for such a great time as this. Look well, therefore, unto this day of opportunity!

BREAKTHROUGH

BREAKTHROUGH HAS COME TO YOU! New growth is NOW! Perhaps, you are being stretched and tested by trials of fire. Sometimes, things only look dark, but they are only temporary. The closer and longer you look at the situation, the better it gets. The circumstances may, in fact, be gloomy, but you are getting BRIGHTER! People are depending on you.

Breakthrough is on its way. DO NOT talk DOUBT...talk positive! Be PATIENT. Do not LOOK at the circumstances around you. Look at the promises of God. He cares.

THE ONLY WAY THAT DARKNESS CAN WIN IN YOUR LIFE IS FOR YOU TO DO NOTHING.

Sometimes, we are apprehensive about speaking out. I have good news for you. My concept is: WHEN IN DOUBT, DO IT! Don't worry about missing it. Did you start walking as an infant immediately without stumbling and falling a few times? Did you suddenly just jump on a bicycle one day and start riding it without falling a time or two? After you fell, did your father or mother criticize and make fun of you? Are you kidding me, man? Your father and mother encouraged you to try again and again and again!

YOU have special talents and precious gifts within you just wanting an opportunity to come out. Suggestion: USE them. If you miss it a few times, so what! Have you ever thrown a basketball at the net and MISSED it? Did you start crying, complaining, and go home? Of course, you didn't! You tried again and made it.

You are now camped on the Edge of Breakthrough and the TOP GUN of the Universe (Jesus) is saying, "Keep moving forward. Keep marching. Help is on the way. The territory is YOURS. Poverty is DEFEATED! There is no problem that you and I cannot handle."

YOU have waited so long to SEE the Breakthrough and YOU shall SEE it. Get ready to EXPAND and move forward! You will accomplish those worthwhile ventures, endeavors, and special projects. GIVE UP NO GROUND. The Breakthrough is now! After all, it is not much of a challenge when you KNOW that you have already won!

YOU ARE ABLE!

You are sufficient in God. You are ABLE. The Good Book says that He has made you an able minister of the New Testament.

ABLE MEANS: To have sufficient power, skill and resources to accomplish an objective; marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, and competence; capable, qualified, worthy, strong; possessed of needed powers or resources to accomplish a task; having freedom to act; WELL‑TO‑DO, RICH.

Some the ingredients of this ability are: enthusiam, energy, boldness, love, determination, prayer, elbow grease, and the Bible. Forget the past. It is GONE FOREVER! You need to build on the present. The moment you have now is vital.

God has given you a VISION and direction! MOVE forward with GREAT anticipation. Be ENTHUSIASTIC.

HOLD FAST your PROFESSION. It's important not to waver. In my past, there were times that I acted like a flaky fluke or flatfish flounder. Instead, we need to BELIEVE in God and in ourselves? Let us AGREE with what God says about us! We are able.

Sooner or later YOU will become what you confess! The confession of your lips is one thing...the confession of your heart another. When these two agree together, "Watch out world."

SOME EARLY AMERICAN PIONEER PROVERBS

Let's take a look at some of the wisdom of our Forefathers:

1. A bird is KNOWN by his note; a man by his TALK.
2. A false friend and a shadow ATTEND only while the sun shines.

3. For want of a horseshoe NAIL, the shoe is lost; for want of a SHOE the horse is lost; for want of a HORSE the rider is LOST!

4. GREAT braggers are LITTLE doers.

5. He who lives in a glass house should NOT throw stones.

6. Be careful of your thoughts; they may break into WORDS at any time.

7. Nothing is gained by one donkey calling another donkey "LONG EARS".

8. THREE MAY KEEP A SECRET IF two are DEAD!

9. BLAME‑ALL and PRAISE‑ALL are two BLOCKHEADS.

10. A clean mouth and an honest hand will take a man through any land.

11. THE WORST WHEEL on a cart makes the MOST NOISE.

12. HALF WITS TALK MUCH, but say LITTLE! After crosses or losses men grow humbler and wiser.

13. TEMPER is a good thing. A man or woman without a TEMPER is USELESS, but if the TEMPER is not controlled, it will destroy YOU.

14. He that lies down with dogs will rise up with FLEAS. FISH AND VISITORS stink after three days!

15. The NINCOMPOOP was so learned that he could NAME a horse in nine languages; but he was so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on!

16. QUARRELS NEVER WOULD LAST LONG, IF ONLY ONE SIDE WAS WRONG!

7. With a slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the TONGUE will take much longer.

18. THROW NO DIRT into the WELL THAT GIVES YOU WATER.

19. LISTEN TO THIS ONE "MEN": The proof of gold is FIRE; the proof of woman, GOLD; the proof of man, a WOMAN!

LIFE AND DEATH

Every eight days a million people die on Planet Earth. Many of them are too young to die. Man was NOT created for death, but life. Those of you that are eternity conscience, there will come a time when death will be no more...only LIFE!

As a CREATION of Beauty, you now have many streams and springs flowing forth from your fertile soil. You are producing precious fruit. The pomegranate, the palm, the plum, the peach, the apple, the pear, the orange, and many other trees are NOW blossoming forth from within you. You have been in the desert long enough. JOY and GLADNESS ARE part of your life.

I believe you will live and not die, at least not anytime soon. You are getting ready for the next millennium. EXCITEMENT is in the air!

You are on the cutting edge of society. What you do during the next few hours will determine the course of events for your tomorrow. I believe your rewards will be unlimited and dynamite in scope. People have confidence in YOU. You will NOT cop out during a crisis. Neither will YOU make excuses. Why? Because you are alive...very much alive. You are not a walking dead man who contributes very little to society. Most importantly, you are well PLEASED with yourself.

YOU WILL LIVE and NOT DIE! A person who is truly alive will ACT now and then allow the feelings to come later. A person who is death conscious will refuse to ACT NOW and will NOT ACT until the feelings come! PRESS ON My Child, press on!

THE PROSPECTOR'S WISDOM

Neighbor, sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you LONGER than you want to stay, charge you MORE than you want to PAY!

WINNERS ARE ONLY X‑LOSERS WHO GOT MAD!

IF YOU THINK IT DOESN'T PAY to STICK TOGETHER, consider the BANANA. AS SOON AS IT LEAVES THE BUNCH, IT GETS SKINNED!

CHRISTIANS WHO DO A LOT OF KNEELING DON'T DO MUCH LYING.

SOME PREACHERS NEED TO PUT MORE FIRE INTO THEIR SERMONS OR PUT MORE SERMONS INTO THE FIRE.

THE FINEST COMPLIMENT YOU CAN PAY YOUR PASTOR IS TO BRING A FRIEND TO HEAR HIS NEXT SERMON!

Some preachers who are strong on facts and weak on logic, talk FACTS. Those that are strong on logic and weak on facts, talk LOGIC. However, the preacher that is weak on both LOGIC and FACTS, pounds on the PULPIT !

WHEN YOU FLEE TEMPTATION, DO NOT LEAVE A FORWARDING ADDRESS.

Read the BIBLE...it will SCARE the living HELL out of YOU!

FROGS HAVE IT MADE...THEY CAN EAT WHAT BUGS THEM.

At some time in your LIFE, YOU will get sick and tired of not having enough. It is then and only then that YOU WILL START HAVING MORE.

THE DAY YOU GET ANGRY AT YOUR LACK OF FINANCES IS THE DAY YOU START PROSPERING.

IF YOU FAIL TO PREPARE, YOU ARE PREPARING FOR FAILURE.

The greatest of all faults is to IMAGINE that you have none.

WITHOUT GOD, we CANNOT. WITHOUT us, HE WILL NOT.

GOD'S LAST NAME IS NOT "DAMMIT".

BREAK A BAD HABIT...DROP IT.

IT IS NO CRIME NOT TO BE PERFECT. Who is?

DOES PRAYER REALLY WORK?

The BIBLE contains 221 prayers (176 in the Old Testament and 45 in the New Testament). What do we mean by the word "praying" or "pray"? In the BIBLE, there are 281 references to the word "pray", 101 references to the word "prayer", and 63 references to the word "prayed".

Praying means: to judge officially or mentally; to intercede, pray, intreat, judgement, make supplication; entreaty, supplicate, worship, ask for direction; make request; make a request as a favor; involves the idea of urgent need; to ask, to seek, to investigate, search.

The first example in the BIBLE of someone praying for another person is found in Genesis 20. Abraham prayed for Abimelech. "God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, you are but a dead man, for the woman (Sarah) which you have taken; she is a man's (Abraham's) wife. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall PRAY for you, and you shall live: and if you restore her not, know that you will surely die, you, and all that are thine" (Gen. 20:3, 7).

The BIBLE says that David prayed a prayer for his entire household. "Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that You have brought me hitherto? For You, O LORD...God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore has Your servant found in his heart to pray this PRAYER unto You. And now, O Lord GOD, You are that God, and Your words be true, and You have promised this goodness unto Your servant: Therefore now let it please You to bless my house, that it may continue for ever before You: for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it: and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed for ever" (2 Sam 7:18, 27-29).

What HAPPENS when we PRAY? Everything! First, God sees you as special and precious. He sees you as blessed. He see you as loved. He love you! God is for YOU! He is on YOUR side. He will never leave you nor forsake you...NEVER! Nothing is too good for YOU...NOTHING! God's blessings are upon YOU! You are dynamic and powerful in His Kingdom! You are the BEST product that Heaven has ever produced! You are the APPLE of God's eye. Heaven is looking on as you PRAY. The faith that you possess in prayer is becoming a POWERFUL part of your life. As you pray, you move the Hand of God. He honors your petitions. Prayer REALLY works!

THE MOST EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE

What do we know about winning and potential? A pine cone seed has the POTENTIAL of becoming a FOREST. God sees a forest when He looks at the seed... not a tree, but a forest. Everything in the whole wide world has POTENTIAL. Potential is dormant ability, reserved power, untapped strength, unused SUCCESS. Potential never retires.

Most people die without ever developing their FULL potential. Some of our forefathers and friends have robbed us. They died with songs, books, inventions, discoveries, sermons, revelations, medical cures, knowledge, and talents...and took them to their graves without giving them to us. The cemeteries in this country are the most expensive real estate properties in America. Just think of all the golden opportunities that are now lost and buried out there with those who decided not to develop their full potential, ideas, inventions, and medical cures.

They have robbed this generation of their latent ability. No one has the right to die with my blessings and things or yours inside them. How tragic it is when unused and un‑released ability and potential go to the grave without action and development. So what now? We need to live and learn from the mistakes of others. I believe that we are the last living generation on this earth. We need to get the job done. We can do it. We can win. We can maximize our Potential. Dare to BELIEVE in YOURSELF...GOD DOES!

THE NEW BLOOD COVENANT

Adam and Eve received a Covenant of love
Because our Covenant Father is the God above
Who acted in mercy without hate thereof.
Down through the sands of time,
God looked for another man that would shine
As brightly as the stars and that by design.

Abram was just such a man
In which the Covenant Father could expand
And at the same time this man would understand.
The Blood was shed and blessings proclaimed,
And at last Abram and Sarah had new names acclaimed
That would bring them descendents, fortune, and fame.

As time went on, soon it was apparent and decreed
That a New Blood Covenant would be needed to succeed;
Therefore, the Blood of Jesus did indeed intercede.
Today, our faithful prayers do prevail
Against the enemy who will forever be curtailed.
All hail to King Jesus Whose Blood cannot fail!

The New Blood Covenant gives us class and clout
And makes us a glory spout
Where the power comes out.
The New Blood Covenant makes us free indeed
And today, we are a special combat breed
That goes forth always to decree, lead, and succeed!

GOOBERS

This story is about a young man who became world famous because of the goober (African word for peanut).

This man was an instructor, researcher, inventor, and college professor who won some of the highest awards and honors ever been bestowed upon another human being.

I want to tell you about this man because he was really into goobers. As I said before, "Goober" is the African word for peanut. Historically, boiled peanuts were fed to the slaves on the slave ships because they were so inexpensive. Most slaves brought goobers with them to the new world to plant. So did their masters.

In my research of George Washington Carver (GWC), I cried frequently. I felt his sorrow, pain, agony, and also his joys. Now, let me tell you about the man behind the peanut.

During his early years, his life was filled with disappointments. He was born as a slave in 1864 on a farm near Diamond, Missouri. His father was killed in an accident. Both he and his mother were kidnapped by Knight Raiders (KKK) from her cabin when George was just a baby. ONLY young George was recovered when Moses Carver gave a $300 race horse as ransom to get him back.

He was reared by Moses and Susan Carver who were his owners until 1865 when slavery ended. George almost died of whooping cough as a child. He showed a keen interest in plants and had a strong desire to learn about them. The Carver family taught him to read and write. They sent him to a school for black children in Neosho, Missouri, at age 11. Eventually, he graduated from high school in Minneapolis, KS.

For many years he worked at various odd jobs to support himself and pay for his education. At one time, he became homeless because of poor health. Later, he became an artist, a singer, and an organist. He studied constantly. He eventually applied to Highland University and was accepted. This was good news; however, when he showed up for the first day of college, the principal told him to go away because he was black.

In 1890, young George entered Simpson college in Indianola, Iowa. In 1891, he was transferred to Iowa State Agicultural College (ISU) because they found out that he was black. Nevertheless, he received his Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture in 1894 and a Master's in 1896. He was the first black to graduate from Iowa State. He also became their first black faculty staff member.

In 1896, he moved to Alabama to join the faculty of Tuskegee Institute, an Industrial and Agricultural school for blacks.

He became the head of the Tuskegee Agricultural Department and the director of the State Agriculture Station.

George Washington Carver (GWC) began to focus his attention on soil conservation and soil improvement in crop production. He taught farmers, especially black farmers, productive agricultural practices through conferences, lectures, and travels.

In 1910, he became the head of the Tuskegee New Department of Research. During the year of 1914, he started studying the characteristics and attributes of goobers (peanuts). He gained national attention in 1921 for his lectures on the uses for peanuts (over 300) and sweet potatoes (over 118) before a committee of Congress.

Some of his contributions to the WORLD are as follows: 300 different products from the peanut; ie., cheese, milk, coffee, flour, ink, dyes, plastics, wood stains, soap, linoleum, medicine oils, cosmetics, and Worcestershire sauce; 118 products from the sweet potato; ie., vinegar, molasses, rubber, ink, alcohol, postage stamp glue. Think about the billions of stamps that have been used since this discovery!

George never married, but treated his students like his children. He received a multitude of awards for his work in science and also in race relations. In 1916, he was named fellow of the Royal Society of Arts of London. In 1923, the NAACP gave him the Spingarn Medal for his service in agriculture

The world began seeking this man, his wisdom, and advice. Suddenly, everyone wanted this former slave. The US DEPT of Agriculture, The Smithsonian Institute, Great Britain, Russia, and India all wanted his advice. Thomas Alva Edison wanted George to come and work for him for over $100,000 per year (That was a lot of peanuts in those days!). Of course, George declined Mr. Edison's offer. Henry Ford wanted him. Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Frankin D. Roosevelt befriended him and sought his counsel.

President FDR gave him the Roosevelt medal in 1939. George received honorary doctorate degrees from Simpson College and the University of Rochester. In 1944, Congress passed a law designating 5 January of each year as George W. Carver Day. In 1951, Congress established The George Washington Carver National Monument on 210 acres of the Missouri farm where he was born, near Diamond, MO.

Now you know. This great giant of a man was perhaps the greatest agricultural pioneer who ever lived. The peanut and peanut butter are now consumed daily by millions of people.

George knew who he was. He knew his purpose. He knew his destiny. He agreed with His Creator (God) that he would be obedient to his calling in helping others and making the world a better place in which to live. He knew his talents and beat the odds in a racially strifed environment. What a GIANT!

Today, the peanut industry generates approximately a half Billion ($$$) dollars in business every year in America. Prior to GWC, peanuts were not even recognized as a crop. Peanuts were something you fed to elephants and to slaves prior to 1865.

One time, when GWC was attending the United Peanut Association of America Convention in Montgomery, AL, he was denied a room in the hotel because he was black. Another time, when he addressed The Ways and Means Committee of Congress, Washington, DC, he had to ride on an old wooden bench (designated for blacks) in a segregated car on the train. This was indeed ironic. Everybody wanted to see and hear this man, yet he was still treated as a third class citizen!

Everybody wanted this man. People would send him checks from all over the world wanting him to come and speak or work as a scientist for them. He would send the checks back.

George was a dedicated Christian. He said that God was a collaborator in his laboratory. He lived the Golden Rule daily. He was one of the most humble men that ever lived on Planet Earth.

He was a genius and became world famous because of a little peanut (the "goober").

THE BEST IS AHEAD!

"PRESS ON! A better fate awaits you" (Victor Hugo).

The little old lady was small and her voice was soft and kind of weak, but her words were POWERFUL. Her mother was deaf and dumb. She never knew her father. Her first job was in South Carolina picking cotton. She was reared "dirt poor" and was looked upon by society as a "loser".

She then spoke to the large crowd. "Nothing has to remain the way it is...if that's not the way you want it to be," she said. She continued, "It isn't luck, circumstances, or how or where you were born. All a person has to do is ask the question, 'How do I want this situation to turn out or become?' Then make a commitment to your decision in working the solution."

She then smiled with a great big smile and said, "My name is Azie Taylor Morton, the Treasurer of the United States of America."

The best for your life is ahead. You can still become who you want to be. People cannot keep you from your goals. Circumstances cannot deter or hinder you for very long. Money cannot be blamed for our lack of courage or initiative.

The only person that keeps me from my accomplishments and fulfilling my destiny is me! You and I can do it...if we continue to march. The BEST is still ahead!

A few months ago, I wrote this note to my son (Tony) who is currently a cadet at the US Air Force Academy. He had just experienced a personal disappointment and needed some encouragement:

"God has something better for you, son. No, I'm not just saying this. Sometimes our disappointments are appointments with God. God has your life planned out. It's not who starts the race; it's who finishes. He has called you out for something SPECIAL...very special. You will lead this country some day...in some leadership way. Just think about Winston Churchill. He did not become Prime Minister of England until he was 63 years old. He was virtually an unknown...but God had His hand upon Winston as He does you.

Your life belongs first to God and then to this nation and then to the globe. You will fulfill your destiny. Who has talents and abilities like you? You are unique. You are the only (General AJ) in the world. No two people are alike. You have charisma that only comes to one in ten million...And then only about every twenty‑five years. So the ball is in your court. By the way, Winston Churchill also won the Noble Peace Prize in 1953.

You'll be going skiing soon. Have a great time! I love you, General. MAKE IT HAPPEN!
YOU CAN DO IT!"

Your Dad

SPECIAL NOTE TO PARENTS: Your children, my children, all of our children...are the most precious gifts in the world. They are SPECIAL and need our encouragement every single day.

THE ROLE OF THE CUSTOMER

The customer may not always be right, but he/she is always the customer. In 1997 and beyond, if businesses want to keep a customer, they must keep their promises (their word).

There is NOTHING more IMPORTANT to the success of a business or company than a SATISFIED customer. The single biggest reason that customers/clients leave is BROKEN promises. The single most important rule for keeping a customer is "keeping your word or promises" as a proprietor.

In this world of ours, we have all had run‑ins with cashiers, waiters, servers, proprietors, corporate representatives, mechanics, persons behind the cash registers, lawyers, even doctors, etc. Oh, I forgot one...car salesmen.

The time was 1974. The place was Monticello, GA. I was working for AT&T at the time...good job, beautiful wife, beautiful little baby girl (Joanna), new car. Things were looking up. I was even whistling on the way to work that autumn morning. I was high as a kite on "Life" itself...just being alive was exciting.

I had driven only a mile or two when I discovered that my new car was beginning to act stubborn and wanted to go its own way. I stopped...got out...surveyed the situation...and discovered that I had a tire that was losing air rather rapidly.

As soon as I arrived at the office, I called a good friend of mine that ran a car dealership. He said that he would send someone out right away. I asked him the cost of the roadside service. We agreed on the price. The mechanic arrived, fixed the tire, and everything was just peachy cream and sweet...until I got the bill !&*#@!¢$$$$. I thought I would croak.

His quoted cost/price to me and the actual cost were two different things. The bill had doubled.

Being the calm, cool, and diplomatic individual that I am... (HA, HA) I got on the horn (phone) and began to remind him of our friendship and what he himself had quoted me. His response was, "Tom, I've got a business to run here. I'm sorry I quoted you that price, but I must make a living, you know. The bill stands as written."

My response, "Look here Jack, you cannot treat people like this. I'm on my way over there right now. I'll see you in a few minutes."

When I arrived at his dealership, he was not smiling and neither was I. We again discussed the situation in detail, but he was adamant and inflexible. I said, "Jack (not his real name), how can you treat one of your friends this way? We've gone to church together. We've gone on picnics together with our families. We've gone on trips together. What gives?"

He said, "Tommy (my real name), like I said before...I run a business here. I'm in business to make money, not lose it."

These were my final words to him, "Jack, I'm sorry you don't get it and I'm not being mean by saying this, but from this moment on...your business will start going down hill. You will have to sell it because God is keeping the score on this one...and you have come up against one of His anointed kids. Get ready to move because you're through in this town!"

Of course he asked me to leave...and I did. I paid the full amount of the bill, but I never went back to his dealership again.

A few short months later, he had to sell his dealership. He moved out of town. The good part is: Later, he humbled himself and got his life back on track. The last I heard, he was working for God in a church.

Treat all people with respect and dignity and you will succeed in anything that your hand touches. All of us are CUSTOMERS at one time or another.

DESTINY IS NOT A MATTER OF CHANCE, BUT CHOICE!

You got up this morning a different person than you were yesterday. WHY? Because you are now a day older on Planet Earth. And you have learned some things in the past few days and weeks. You are on a journey that has carried you further than you have ever been. The choices you made yesterday or the day before will affect your today. Aren't you glad that you have made some pretty good choices?

You see, your destiny (purpose for living) is not based upon chance, but is determined by CHOICE...your choices...your decisions. As your journey progresses, your travels will get more exciting, more productive, more intriguing, and perhaps more exotic. A lot of your success will be determined by what you did yesterday or in times past. As you keep your eyes on the goal (destination), the obstacles will become fewer and fewer. Yes, there will be challenges, but always keep your goal (destination) on the front burner.

Another thing, people respond to us the way we respond to them. Respond with dignity, professionalism, expectation, and humility...and they will respond to you in like manner. OK, OK, yes there are some exceptions. But they are the exception and not the norm. 95% of your contacts with people will be positive; however, somewhere along your journey, you will meet negatives, challenges, opposition, people with low self‑esteem, people who have a low concept of themselves, some airheads...but as a whole, your journey will be ripe with fruition, productivity, rewards, and a host of good, decent, nice people.

Your destiny is to fulfill your Divine Assignment on Planet Earth! What is your destiny? It is what God has placed on the inside of your spirit to do. You have a yearning in your heart that is a desire placed there by God. No, you did not put it there. Your Maker did. You want to be GREAT. That is what God made you to be. Remember, you are created in the direct of image of God. Does God feel unworthy or insecure or like a worm in the dust? Are you kidding? Then neither should you or I. God has placed you right where you are because that's where your journey has taken you for the moment.

Another thing, everything is temporary on this earth. The only permanent thing is change. Get use to it. The more we change, the more pleasant our journey. Today, along your picturesque, exoctic, romantic, and wonderful excursion (voyage), enjoy the ride. You will arrive refreshed, energetic, and ready to rumble!

LAST WORDS

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "The time is always right to do what is right." As the world is winding down and we are getting ready for the next millennium, we need to think in terms of doing the right thing on a daily basis. And doing what is right requires change.

As we grow, we change. Growth requires some risk. Risk requires a venture of faith. Faith requires hope. And hope requires trust and confidence in our Maker. Therefore, the decision is ours! We have a vital choice to make. Either we continue in the same old rut...boring as it may be, or we may opt for change in our lives to facilitate and expedite growth. Hopefully, new paradigms are beginning to germinate within us.

What is a paradigm? It's a different way of looking at something, perhaps in the most logical and ideal way for the first time. Sometimes, we look at something the same way all of our lives and just maybe, we could be mistaken about our conclusion.

Case in point: Once upon a time there was a young man traveling down a winding, short dirt road in Orlando, FL. All at once, a little red car came around the corner in front of him...swerving and going from side to side...sort of out of control. As the car went by, the driver (a green eyed blonde) shouted out the window, "Pig."

This made him angry. He said, "How dare her call me a pig. She was the one losing control of her vehicle...not me!"

Therefore, he immediately rolled down my window and shouted back, "You big old cow, you. Get out of my way!"

As he continued driving, he said to myself, "I guess I told her." He accelerated and then, as he rounded the same curve that she had just negotiated, he saw a great big pig in the middle of the road. There was simply no where to go. He avoided hitting the pig; however, he ran off the road and wrecked his new red Mustang. It was awful...Dirt, rocks, sand, gravel, and grass went everywhere! By now, the young man felt like a jerk. The lady was trying to warn him of the imminent danger of the pig being in the road.

The green eyed blonde returned to the scene of the accident and gave him first aid until the ambulance arrived. She was so sweet. He just had to get to know her better. After dating her for awhile, he eventually married her. The Paradigm: He should have looked at the situation much differently. What he thought was distinctly different from the real facts and true reality!

As you perhaps know by now, we all need to change and look at things through a different window of our minds occasionally. This will bring about growth!