A Sunday
school class had been carefully drilled for the coming of a very important visitor - the
district superintendent.
Johnnie was
follower "God," in re ponse to the question, "Who made you."
Jimmy was to
pipe up with "Out of the dust of the eartth," in response to the second question
"With what did He make you?"
The great
day of the review arrived, and as planed the superintendent
asked the class, "Who made you?"
After a
silence of a few seconds, the question was repeated,
"Who made you?"
"Please,
Sir," spoke up a freckle faced youngster in the front, "the little boy God made is home with the
measles."
One evening
Hodja said to his wife:
Tomorrow, if
the weather is good, I will plough the field. If it rains, I will gather firewood
from the forest.
Remember
to say "God@ Willing," his wife reminded
him.
"Why?" said Hodja rather defiantly.
"Either
it will be sunny and I, will plough or it will rain.
I have decided what to do in either case."
The next day
the sun was shining brightly. Hodja set off
to plow his field.
On the way
he met a group of soldiers.
"Hey,
old man, how do we get to the next village?
Impatient to
get to his work he lied, "Don't ask me.
I don't know."
The soldiers said,
"Well let's see if we can help you remember." And they started threatening him with their clubs.
"Now I
remember!" screeched Hodja.
"Then
take us there!"
The village
was far away. On the way, it began to rain.
By the time
thev had arrived at their destination, Hodja was muddy, soaked and sore.
Then he
turned around and stumbled back home.
It was well
after midnight when the poor man finally reached his doorstep.
Exhausted
and hungry he knocked on the door.
"Who is
it?" called his wife.
"It is
me," he replied. " ... God willing!"
Hodja
is a famous Turkish folk character
George was a pious man who prided himself in putting all his trust in
God.
One day a terrible storm hit. The whole community was told to
evacuate because of the danger from the nearby river.
The police went from house to houe telling people to leave.
George just said, "God will protect me."
The storm got worse and worse. The water began to rise.
Afraid the dam would break, George climbed up onto his roof.
The dam did break. Soon the waters were rising even higher.
A rescue boat finally worked its way out to him, "Hop in,
buddy," they shouted over the roar of the water.
"God will save me."
Authorities were really concerned now. They sent a helicopter
to take him off the roof.
Again he refused.
The waters finally swept him away.
When he came to the gates of heaven he was stunned to find that he
had died.
"Why didn't God save me?"
"What do you mean? What more did you want?
"He send the police, a boat, and a helicopter!"
Joe was apt to pray only when things weren't going well, which was pretty often.
One day as he implored God for help with another mess he was in, to his surprise,
he heard a wondrous voice: "All right, Joe, what do you need this time?"
Amazed, Joe asked, "God, is that You?"
"Yes, Joe. What do you ask of Me now?"
Joe complained, "God, why does it always take so long for my prayers to be
answered?"
God answered, "Time is not the same for Me. A thousand of your years is just
a second for Me."
"Wow! If that's what time is for you, what is money?"
"All the treasure of the world is just a penny for Me."
Joe, always one to take advantage of the situation, began to scheme.
"God, You can do anything, right?"
"Yes, anything I wish. Why do you ask?"
"You are always so generous, and surely You wouldn't miss a penny. Will You
give me just one of your pennies?" begged Joe.
"Just a second," came the answer.
