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|  | A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war.
He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.
He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.
He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.
The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift".
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.
Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence.
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."
But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?" Another voice shouted angrily. We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
"We have $10, who will bid $20?"
"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters" someone shouted.
"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"
A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction over."
"What about the paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets every thing!"
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross.
Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?" Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
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" He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
-- 1 John 5:12 |
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Posted: Sunday January 27, 2008, 9:54 am
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Alicia Bedford (0) |
Wednesday January 30, 2008, 5:24 pm
Mother of two minor sons need your help. I was laid off from my job and although have recently found work, garnishments for past due bills are leaving us without any living expenses or food for our stomachs and soon to be homeless. We are behind on our rent, electric, gas, water, medical, ext. I was also just released from the hospital for chest pains and dehydration.
Please help me and my family. I have used every resource available out here and have been turned away. My mother has cancer and as I mentioned I have been sick as well. Please help us get to a point of a decent life. I know in my heart that there are still good hearted and caring people out there. I pray that I have reached them here. Please help us from being homeless. Thank you
Alicia Bedford
PO Box 62178
VA Beach, VA 23466
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AUTHOR: BRYAN H.
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male, age 46
committed relationship, 2 children
Phoenix, AZ, USA
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BRYAN'S SHARES
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| Jul 3 |
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Blog: Friends :
(0 comments
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discussions
)
— (A)ccepts you as you
are(B)elieves in
"you"(C)alls you just to
say "HI"(D)oesn't give up
on you(E)nvisions the
whole of you (even the
unfinished
parts)(F)orgives your
mistakes(G)ives
unconditionally(H)elps
you(I)nvites you
over(J)ust "be" with
you(K)e... more
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| Jun 25 |
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Message: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
(1 comments
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discussions
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— She was not
beautiful.Nothing about
her was
extraordinary.Nothing
about her made her stand
out in a crowd.She grew
up in a family of six.The
eldest, she learnt
responsibility at an
early age.As she grew
stronger, and
brighter,She instilled a
sort of l... more
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| Dec 17 |
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Blog: You
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— To my
friends;friends of
friends ...... under that
bundle of snow have a
Merry Christmas -
much
love
Bryan
http://www.bettertobless.
com/movie3.html more
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| SHARES FROM BRYAN'S NETWORK |
| Jul 8 |
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Blog: warning by Mark D.
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discussions
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—
warning
the golden frog satin the
depths of jungle
greenquiet, it dared to
be touchedbeauty its
warning
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Message: HOLLYWOOD VIEWS..."THE KILLING FIELDS"...Cubs Starve by River P.
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discussions
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—
HOLLYWOOD VIEWS...THE
KILLING FIELDS...Cubs
Starve
Animals
(tags:
unbearable ) "WE HAVE A
WRITTEN AGREEMENT TO HUNT
ON THE ESTATE, WHICH
DOESN'T EXPIRE AT UNTIL
THE 30TH OF AUGUST," he
said. SO THE JOLIE-PITTS
WILL HAVE TO ... more
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Message: WORLD BANS TOGETHER TO...CAN CANADA by River P.
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discussions
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—
WORLD BANS TOGETHER
TO... CAN CANADA
Animals (tags:
canadaCANNED )
River - 50
minutes ago -
afp.google.com The
European Commission will
ask its member states to
ban the importation of
furs made from the
skin... more
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Blog: Kay by Mark D.
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discussions
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—
KayI met Kay (not her
real name) for the first
time last night in the
retreat house. She
was very attractive, 62
years old, intelligent,
and she lived a very busy
life. One of
the first things she said
to me, which was
something I c... more
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| Jul 7 |
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Blog: Move forward by Mark D.
(0 comments
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discussions
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—
Move forwardOne of the
biggest temptations for
those on the spiritual
path, and one I have
fallen into often, is
self absorption. Looking
inward is important, self
knowledge, or the growth
in it, is an absolute
necessity, painful though
it is. Se... more
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