THE BIRDCAGE

A man named Preacher Thomas entered his church one morning with a rusty, old, bent bird cage. He set the bird cage on the pulpit causing a few raised eyebrows. Then he began to speak; "Yesterday morning I came across a young boy who had three scared birds in a cage shivering from the cold. I asked him, 'What you got there?' 'Just some dumb old birds!' 'What you going to do with them?' 'Tease 'em, play with 'em, and pull out their feathers!' 'Then what you going to do with them?' 'Feed 'em to my cat, he likes birds!' The pastor went silent for a moment then asked, 'How much you want for them?' 'Oh, you don't want these, they're ugly and they can't even sing.' 'How much?' came the pastors definite reply. The boy thought for a moment and then said, 'Fifty bucks.' The pastor reached into his pocket and pulled out fifty dollars. The boy took the money and vanished. The pastor picked up the cage, walked to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a small grassy spot. He opened the door and by gently tapping the bars to the cage, coaxed the birds out into the grass. They were free."

That explained the bird cage on the pulpit. Then he proceeded to tell this story......

"One day Satan and Jesus were walking and Satan had just come out of the Garden of Eden, he was gloating and boasting. 'Yes sir, I caught me a whole world of people. Set a trap they just couldn't resist. Yep, got 'em all.' 'What are you going to do with them?' came the reply. 'Gonna have some fun with them; teach them how to hate, hurt, and kill each other.' 'Then what are you going to do?' 'Oh, then I'll destroy them and bring them down into my kingdom.' Jesus paused, 'How much do you want for them?' 'Oh, you don't want them. They'll just hate you, spit on you, mock you and kill you. They don't want you.' Jesus paused and looked straight into Satan's soul, 'How much?' Satan looked at Christ and sneered, 'All your tears, all your blood, all your footsteps, all your strengths...all your life.' Jesus paid the price, picked up the cage and opened the door."

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 27, 2000

Answers

My Dear Aint Gonna Happen;

Thank you sir. You post was just what my spirit needed this morning.

"As for me...I shall finish the Game"!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), April 27, 2000.

Aint,

I like it....thanks. Aint, please pray for capn fun's friends child Sadie who was struck by drunk driver...

See thread 'urgent' if you havent already done so...if you have thanks.

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), April 27, 2000.

consumer

"Aint, please pray for capn fun's friends child Sadie..."

Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I have just finished praying for Sadie and her family. This unfortunate event is just another example as to how fragile our lives can be here on Earth. Our time maybe much shorter than we think due to any number of things, upto and including a drunk drivers careless actions.

Jesus has provided us with a clear direction to take. It is up to each one of us to accept or deny (free will) this information. This is something we need to do while we are still alive. Once we are dead, it is too late for us 'fix' our relationship with God/Jesus.

I pray the Lord Jesus perform a deep spiritual healing in Sadies home as well as a physical healing to Sadie. I pray Sadie and her family accept Christ as their savior before it is too late, if they have not already done so. I pray this in Jesus name, amen.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 27, 2000.

Mr. Shakey, glad to see your handle. Keep telling your human brain, "this is just a test, only a test". Heavens' Speed and Spirit to you.

-- Instant (Bre@kfast.com), April 27, 2000.

Folks, a scripture just came to me, "If two or more shall come together and ask, then it SHALL be done!" But what shall we ask for Mr. Shakey and Sadie? I am willing to pray for what they want to ask for, are there any others? Mr. Shakey, family of Sadie, what do you wish us to pray for you?

-- Instant (Bre@kfast.com), April 27, 2000.

The pastor failed in his duty to teach an ethical lesson to the boy, whom he paid $50 and let run away with it.

The boy learned that his misdeed would be rewarded.

I doubt Jesus was that dumb.

-- (y@x.x), April 27, 2000.

"The boy learned that his misdeed would be rewarded."

Sigh....

I guess some will always find a dark cloud in every silver lining.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 28, 2000.

Hey wait a minute...I reread your last statement below..

"I doubt Jesus was that dumb."

Would you explain what you mean by this for for me please?

Thanks

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), April 28, 2000.