- Joined
- Nov 13, 2012
- Messages
- 3,108
- Points
- 113
[video=youtube_share;Y3AJQUn5FwE]http://youtu.be/Y3AJQUn5FwE[/video]
3 Brands
The 3 most valuable brand names on earth:
Marlboro, Coca-Cola and Budweiser, in that order.
It's interesting that of the 3 most valuable brand names on earth,
NONE of them are good for you.
Cigarettes kill 370,000 people a year in the U.S., not counting
passive smoke. That's over 1,000 people per day, the equivalent
of five jumbo jets crashing daily. The estimates are that passive
cigarette smoke kills over 15,000 people per year.
That's more than illegal drugs.
The most valuable name in the world, is a cigarette.
Coke is a solid company, but let's face it, carbonated soft drinks
of any brand are not healthy for you. There was a fellow parked
in my driveway years ago. We were talking and he was drinking a
cola. For some reason I had moved the cola and placed it on the
hood of his car.
"Don't put that drink on my car!" he shouted.
"Don't you know the acid in that drink will eat the paint off my
car?" he said.
He promptly took the drink and finished drinking it.
Have you looked at the size of the antacid section of the grocery
or drugstore lately? More than the paint from cars is being
eaten off.
The third most valuable brand in the world is a beer.
It's interesting what we value the most.
You can't control what the world values, you can only control
what you value.
What do you value?
Is it really valuable?
Really?
One method of determining what you really value is to try to do
without them.
If you can't make it without them, then that's what you value.
Are you trying to get to the mountaintop with a cigarette in
your mouth, a soda in one hand, and a beer in the other because
those are the things that you can't do without?
Stop and think about your real treasures.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. . ."
Thank you brother,
Im no Christian but ive read a lot of your posts here .Your Christian brethren would be proud to have you as one.
May God Almighty bless you and guide us all.
The Rest Stop
I spend a lot of time traveling for my job. When driving long
distances, I have found that the rest stops optimize my time,
because I can do what I need to do and be quickly back on my way.
On one particular day recently though, that was not exactly the
case.
The rest area was perfect, easy on and off the freeway, with
restrooms very close to parking and the coffee machine was right
by the restroom.
When I went into the restroom, I noticed an older woman washing
up over the sink basin, she seemed to be struggling just a bit.
I said nothing, just tried to mind my business. She began to
walk out of the restroom just as I was washing my hands. She
appeared to be somewhat distressed while walking and I saw that
both of her lower limbs were swollen, mottled and a deep purple
color.
Still I tried to mind my business; however, as I watched her
struggle toward her vehicle, I felt an overwhelming compassion
come over me. I began to pray for her as I watched her struggle.
Tears were welling up within me and I felt as if God was telling
me that he deeply loved her. I also felt I was supposed to let
her know that; but still, I tried to mind my business.
I returned to my vehicle and proceeded back toward the freeway.
I then knew that as I was so busy minding my own business; I was
forgetting God's business. We are called to be His vessels, not
self serving vessels; called to share His love in everything we do.
It was about a mile down the freeway before I found an exit to
turn back around. I prayed to God that he would give me another
chance. I prayed that if it was His will for me to speak to
that woman; that she would still be there when I returned; that
He would give me the words to say to her.
When I arrived; the woman was still there. She was sitting in
the passenger seat of her van with the door propped open. As I
approached the vehicle I was somewhat nervous, but I knew that
God would guide my steps.
I startled her a bit when I walked up and placed my hand on her
shoulder. I introduced myself and told her that I believed that
God had wanted me to give her a message.
He wanted me to tell her that He loved her very much and if she
would just turn to Him that He would carry her burden.
As I looked into her eyes, they were filled with tears.
She kept saying "Thank you, Thank you".
I then told her that though I did not know if she was ill, that
God wanted her to trust Him to restore her health.
I then asked her to pardon the intrusion, but that I felt so
strongly that I was supposed to deliver this message that I had
to return after leaving the rest area. She said that she had
seen me leave earlier so she knew that I had returned.
As I turned to leave she reached out with both hands to grab mine;
like a baby grabbing for his mother, and she said with tear
filled eyes....THANK YOU.
I said "No, thank God, that He's a God of second chances."
This was a simple moment, a minor distraction in my schedule;
but, oh, how I was blessed. My reluctant obedience; my
disobedience, was used for God's glory. First of all, because I
had left, then returned, I think that woman believed what I told
her.
And secondly, it taught me that even in the sinful nature in me,
God can work things for His glory. His will will be done.
I'm just thankful I didn't miss out on being His vessel this time
.