Newsletter
December 30, 2003

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Blessed2Bless: December 30, 2003
Published by Steve Klusmeyer - steve@blessed2bless.us
http://www.blessed2bless.us

You are receiving this newsletter because you either subscribed yourself or someone you know added your name to the list. If this was forwarded to you, you may subscribe by going to http://www.blessed2bless.us/subscribe.html If you really have to leave, you can unsubscribe using the same link.

Sorry, but I have no control over those who may have added your name or forwarded a copy of this newsletter to your address. I do want to thank you for taking a moment to check out this issue.

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What's Happening to Marriages?

Perhaps you are like some couples who say their marriage is feeling tired. Or worse, in trouble. You may be unsure where to turn for help. I can count the places I would recommend on one hand. Here's a great one I recently discovered. -Steve
http://www.lifeanswered.org/cgi-bin/cmd.cgi?af=93904

><>(o:} ********B2B******** {:o)<><

Are you tired of junk mail and spam?

Maybe MailWasher Pro will help you like it has helped me.

As well as letting you preview and delete your e-mail before it gets to your computer, MailWasher Pro also lets you bounce e-mail back to the spammers so it looks as though your address is not valid.

Check out a FREE version of MailWasher Pro today at
http://entier.ecosm.com/link/?iqbeeuo

-Steve

Consider other products that I recommend at
http://www.blessed2bless.us/ads.html

><>(o:} ********B2B******** {:o)<><

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><>(o:} ***In This Issue*** {:o)<><

><>(o:} By Steve: New Year's Resolutions
><>(o:} Quotes to Remember: by Bill Vaughn and Others
><>(o:} By Someone Else:

><>(o:} From the Bible: John 4:10
><>(o:} Useful Information: Credits, Subscribe/Unsubscribe, etc

If you haven't read the "Useful Information" at the end of this newsletter or if it's been a while, please take a few minutes to check it out.

If you enjoy "Blessed2Bless," you might also like another newsletter that I publish. Subscribe to "Ponder This" at http://hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list/PonderThis/

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Did this newsletter show up in your mailbox and you don't know why? Someone you know may have forwarded it to you or added your name to our mailing list. Subscribe/unsubscribe information is included at the end along with other useful information.

Please Do NOT subscribe someone to Blessed2Bless without their prior permission! Instead, forward a copy and allow them to make the choice. That way I won't get yelled at when they think they are being spammed! Thanks for your help.

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><>(o:} By Steve: {:o)<><

New Year's Resolutions
-by Steve Klusmeyer - December 30, 2003

Good Intentions

Have you made your list yet? You know, those New Year's Resolutions. If you are like me, you compose these lists several times during the year. You start out with the best intentions of making positive changes. But somehow, after a few weeks - or days - or even minutes, something happens and you fall back into the old familiar ruts that you have traveled in for so long.

Does your list look something like this?

Missing the Target

Do you see the problem? The goals just aren't practical. No wonder we end up discouraged by January 3rd and hoping that next year will be different. But now I realize we've been going at it from the wrong direction. I'm reminded of the story of a man who had the reputation of being the best marksmen in the FBI.

One day, he was traveling through a small town. Everywhere he looked, he saw evidence of the most amazing shooting he had ever seen. On trees, on walls, and on fences there were numerous bull's-eyes with the bullet hole in dead center. Finally the FBI man asked one of the locals who was responsible for the superior marksmanship. He was introduced to the town joker. "This is the best shooting I have ever seen," said the agent. "How in the world do you do it?" "Nothing to it," said the man. "I shoot first and draw the circles afterward.

So, now that I understand the appropriate concept, here are my New Year's Resolutions for 2004.

I resolve to:

Taking the Right Shot

We often approach life from the perspective of the sharpshooter in the story above. We settle for drawing the bull's-eye after the shots have been taken. Or we don't even bother taking the shot to start with. But it is possible to draw the bull's-eye before the shots are fired. Learn more at
http://www.powertochange.com/questions/qol1.html

For serious suggestions about keeping those New Year's Resolutions, check out
http://www.newyearsresolutions.org
http://www.how-to-keep-your-new-years-resolution.com/
http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm

Read more writings by Steve at
http://www.blessed2bless.us/by-steve.html

Blessed2Bless is sent in text-only format. Go to the link above to read this and previous Writings by Steve. Photos are included with many of the writings. Follow other links in this newsletter to read additional "Writings by Others," "Quotes to Remember," and "Pictures with a Story."

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><>(o:} ***A Word From Our Sponsors*** {:o)<><

These ads pay for the cost of this service and a percentage is given to feed starving orphans in third world countries.

Please stop by our affiliates and malls. Most are Christian, and they are all good products and companies

http://www.fishermansnet.com/Malls/

Thanks Mike Hodapp

><>(o:} ***End of A Word From Our Sponsors*** {:o)<><
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><>(o:} Quotes to Remember: {:o)<><

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.
-Bill Vaughn (1915-1977) USA Writer and Journalist

Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits.
-Unknown

Please note that letting fireworks off in the hotel guestrooms is strictly prohibited.
-sign in Hyatt Regency, Macao, China

Read more Quotes to Remember at
http://www.blessed2bless.us/quotes.html

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><>(o:} By Someone Else: {:o)<><

Sappy Holiday Message

This is from the Dilbert Newsletter 28.0 December 1999

In the tradition of the Dilbert Newsletter, I give you a special holiday story with no humor content whatsoever.

It was one of those cold winter nights in the Haight district of San Francisco, the kind where the rain hurts, and your breath forms huge cotton balls that bounce on the pavement. I was driving an eyesore that could only be referred to as a "car" by someone who was either a shameless liar or a good friend. Technically, the vehicle was totalled when I bought it from an unscrupulous neighbor, because it needed an engine overhaul that would have cost more than the car itself. I added a quart of oil before every journey. Most of it would leak out along the way. I tried to imagine I was driving a huge magical snail; that way I didn't mind the slow speeds and the slime trail it left.

The car's outer paint had transformed into a hideous mixture of rust and "something brown." The engine sounded like a lawnmower with tuberculosis. If anyone ever wondered what the inside of an automobile seat looked like, my car had the answers.

It was a difficult car to drive because you had to keep your fingers and toes crossed to keep the engine running. That night I must have uncrossed my fingers to scratch something. The car died in the middle of a four-lane stretch of Oak Street. I coasted as far as I could, hoping for a place to turn off, but the street was lined with parked cars and the nearest intersection was beyond coasting distance. There I sat, in busy evening traffic, no lights, no locomotion, as tons of steel and plastic screamed by.

In my rearview mirror I saw a pair of headlights pull up and stop behind me. I knew what was coming. Soon the horn would start and someone would be cursing at me. In San Francisco, if you dawdle too long after a light turns green, you get the horn. If you dare to come to a full stop at a stop sign, you get the horn from the car behind you. I figured I was begging for trouble.

But I was wrong.

A stranger got out of the car and came to my window. He shouted, "Do you want a push?" I was stunned but must have nodded in the affirmative. He waived to his car and two teens piled out to apply themselves to my bumper. When I was safely delivered to a side street, they hopped back into their car and rejoined the sea of anonymous traffic. I didn't get to thank them.

Over the years I've realized something about the stranger who stopped to help. I've noticed that every time I'm in trouble, he appears. He never looks the same. Sometimes he's a woman. His age and ethnicity vary. But he's always there. I've started to understand he's the best part of what makes us human beings. The one true thing in this world is an unasked kindness provided by a stranger. It's the invisible cord that binds us all together and makes life worthwhile.

This year, when you find yourself immersed in the clutter and bustle of the holiday season, annoyed by the long lines, baffled about how you'll get everything done, remember this: One of the people in that crowd is the stranger. Today, maybe it's you.

Have a great holiday season, everyone.

Scott Adams

Received from Leon Taylor.
---
Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are!

A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a)

GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List: Good, clean funnies five times a week, FOR F R E E! ... AND NO ADS!

Read more writings by Others at
http://www.blessed2bless.us/by-others.html

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><>(o:} ***A Word From Our Sponsors*** {:o)<><

These ads pay for the cost of this service and a percentage is given to feed starving orphans in third world countries.

Have heartburn?

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><>(o:} ***End of A Word From Our Sponsors*** {:o)<><
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><>(o:} By Someone Else: {:o)<><

HAVE A 'CODE GREEN' NEW YEAR!

I trust you had a safe, although "Code Orange," Christmas.

As you know, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge recently ratcheted the terrorist threat color from "Yellow: Elevated" (mild panic) to "Orange: High (moderate paranoia). I do appreciate the increased vigilance of our government, but let's put the whole thing in perspective with a color code for life in general.

Despite the horrific news that a shark bit off the left arm of a 13-year-old surfer earlier this year, shark attacks are extremely rare. In fact, on an average year, one or two people are killed by shark attacks off U.S. shores. So, sharks are very, very GREEN.

There were no fatal airline crashes in the U.S. in 1998. Only eleven passengers were killed in the only domestic crash in 1999. And only 92 were killed in 2000.

Dr. Arnold Barnett, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has done extensive research to show the odds of being killed in a plane crash is one in 7,000,000! For airline fatalities to equal auto fatalities, a sold-out 727 jet would have to crash every day of the week, with no survivors, to equal the 46,000 highway deaths per year in the United States! So, flying on a commercial airliner: GREEN

Every 19 minutes a person is killed at home, with two-thirds of those being fatally injured in the bathroom! That's 28,200 fatalities each year. So, your very own bathroom: BLUE.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study reveals the average number of deaths caused by the flu virus increased from 20,000 in the 1970s to 36,000 in 1999. This year's death toll could reach 50-70,000. Forget terrorists. Avoid anyone with a cough. Flu is BLUE!

As noted earlier, automobiles take an average of 40,000 lives per year. So Toyotas are nearly twice as dangerous as toilets. Driving your car: YELLOW. And driving/riding without a seatbelt is just plain RED!

A 1999 report charged that 98,000 hospitalized patients died each year in the Unites States due to "medical errors." That's equal to over 900 airline crashes, so hospitals: ORANGE.

The Center for Disease Control reports that each year, more than 400,000 Americans die from cigarette smoking. (That's 133 World Trade Center attacks each and every day!) Smoking: RED.

On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 innocent lives were snuffed out. The very next day, that same number were killed. And the day following that. That's the number of unborn babies aborted every day in America. That's over a million deaths per year, so a mother's womb: RED.

Using these statistics, in general, risk of death in the U.S. of A is still solidly GREEN.

So, if your children are concerned with all the media attention concerning "Code Orange" threat of a terrorist attack, simply share this column.

Remind the kiddies that they're much more likely to be killed going potty or "bye bye" than by a terrorist attack. Okay, maybe not a good idea. How 'bout, "Billie in day care is more likely to kill you with the flu than Osama bin Laden with a planeload of people?" Still, no good.

How 'bout simply letting them know that life can be dangerous (hot stoves, electrical outlets, and poisons)? But if we take reasonable precautions (don't chew on electrical cords, wear our seatbelts, and not smoke) we can be solidly GREEN.

Just be very careful in the bathroom.

Wishing you a GREEN New Year!

(c) 2004 James N. Watkins

-from "Spam of the Month Club"
subscribe by e-mail at SPAM-subscribe@jameswatkins.com

FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS SLICE OF SPAM . . . . . . on to all your email friends with the stipulation that you FORWARD IT IN ITS ENTIRETY INCLUDING THIS SHAMELESS COMMERCIAL AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

For free books and .mp3 music, plus humorous and/or helpful articles, book excerpts, visit
http://www.jameswatkins.com

Entire contents of "SPAM of the Month" copyright 2003 James N. Watkins All rights reserved.

Correction to this article was sent on December 31, 2003:

-----Message from James N. Watkins-----

Alert reader "Keith" wrote to point out an error in the last "Spam of the Month" mailing.

I wrote:

The Center for Disease Control reports that each year, more than 400,000 Americans die from cigarette smoking. (That's 133 World Trade Center attacks each and every day!) Smoking: RED.

It should read "That's 133 World Trade Center attacks every YEAR"--not "day."

It's now corrected on
http://www.jameswatkins.com/shortsnew.htm

Sorry!

While I have you online, again, WISHING YOU A 'CODE GREEN' NEW YEAR!

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well" (3 John 2).

Jim Watkins
Child of God
Author/Speaker: http://www.jameswatkins.com
Conference director:
http://www.jameswatkins.com/sandycove.htm
Threat to society: http://www.xariscom.com

Read more writings by Others at
http://www.blessed2bless.us/by-others.html

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><>(o:} By Someone Else: {:o)<><

Recipe for a Happy New Year

(This batch will keep for one year. Do not attempt to make more than one batch at a time... Many people spoil the entire lot in this way).

Take 12 fine, full-grown months. (See that these are thoroughly cleansed from all old memories of bitterness, resentment, hate, and jealousy.)

Cut these months into 30 or 31 equal parts. Prepare one day at a time as follows:

Into each day, put:

If you have no conscientious scruples, add:

Pour love liberally into the whole, and mix with vim.
Cook thoroughly in a fervent heat.
Garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy.
Then serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness.

A Happy New Year is a certainty!

-Unknown

-from a Blessed2Bless subscriber

Read more writings by Others at
http://www.blessed2bless.us/by-others.html

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><>(o:} ***A Word From Our Sponsors*** {:o)<><

These ads pay for the cost of this service and a percentage is given to feed starving orphans in third world countries.

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><>(o:} ***End of A Word From Our Sponsors*** {:o)<><
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><>(o:} By Someone Else: {:o)<><

Definitions

The Washington Post published a contest for readers in which they were asked to supply alternate meanings for various words. The following were some of the winning entries:

Coffee (n.), a person who is coughed upon.

Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightie.

Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.

Gargoyle (n.), an olive-flavored mouthwash.

Flatulence (n.) the emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified demeanor assumed by a proctologist immediately before he examines you.

Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddish expressions.

Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck there.

Pokemon (n), A Jamaican proctologist.

Received from Linda A Russell.

---
Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are!

A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a)

GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List: Good, clean funnies five times a week, FOR F R E E! ... AND NO ADS!

Read more writings by Others at
http://www.blessed2bless.us/by-others.html

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><>(o:} Life's F.A.Qs. {:o)<><

Many are asking tough questions in today's world. Maybe you have been asking a few of the same ones. For answers to some of life's tough questions, go to
http://www.blessed2bless.us/f-a-q.html

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><>(o:} From the Bible: {:o)<><

Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
-John 4:10 (NLT)

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><>(o:} What is Blessed2Bless? {:o)<><

Blessed2Bless: is published on a "round-2-it" basis. Most weeks, you will receive at least one issue. Some weeks, you may receive two or three. Once in a while, you may not receive an issue for a week or two. So, whenever I get a "round-to-it," you can expect to hear, "You've got mail," Yahoo," or whatever happens on your PC.

Blessed2Bless contains an article that I have written using simple everyday events to illustrate qualities and ideals sought after by many in the world today. Also included are writings from other sources that I have come across (usually by e-mail or a book I am reading). I try not to send everything that comes along; but I do send those that I think would be a blessing to you - - - or at least make you think for a moment and/or bring a smile to your face for just a little while.

CAUTION: Please do not drink while reading the humorous stories. Doing so has caused many to snort Diet Pepsi out their noses.

NOTE: Corrections to spelling and grammar are NOT made to the articles in the "Writings by Others" sections.

To learn more about the meaning of Blessed2Bless go to
http://www.blessed2bless.us/meaning.html

Please note that Blessed2Bless is plain text e-mail with no attachments. It is therefore totally safe from a virus point of view. Be aware that the latest ludicrous viruses send out email from people's email programs, pretending to be from someone else within their address book. As my address becomes better known, it is just possible that you could receive such bogus e-mails - they are not from me!

><>(o:} Steve Klusmeyer {:o)<><
Blessed2Bless -Genesis 12:1-3
" - - - I will bless you; - - - and you will be a blessing. - - - and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

You can contact me at steve@blessed2bless.us

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><>(o:} Credit Where Credit is Due {:o)<><

If known, the original source of material used in Blessed2Bless will be cited, or at least the source where I obtained the material will be cited with a credit at the end of each item. If the material was obtained from an e-mail newsletter, subscription information to that newsletter will also be included. This will be done as a matter of Christian integrity to give credit where credit is due.

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><>(o:} FYI {:o)<><

Please visit my web site at http://www.blessed2bless.us Take a moment to check it out and come back often to see what's new.

Do you need a web site? I can design it and get it on line. Learn more at
http://www.blessed2bless.us/web-design.html

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><>(o:} What is the Deal with those Ads? {:o)<><

You will see ads in Blessed2Bless. These advertisers keep the newsletter FREE by paying for ad space. My host, Mike Hodapp (Tigger at http://www.hundred-acre-woods.com), uses the proceeds to pay the basic expenses of his Internet service as a web site host server as well as sending a portion each month to feed starving orphans in third world countries. The advertisers pay by the number of clicks on the ads, NOT by the number of sales.

For a more in-depth explanation of the ads, go to
http://www.blessed2bless.us/subscribe.html#in-depth

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><>(o:} Subscription Information {:o)<><

To subscribe to Blessed2Bless, go to
http://www.blessed2bless.us/subscribe.html
If you really have to leave, you can unsubscribe using the same link.

Blessed2Bless and several other newsletters are distributed by hundred-acre-woods.com. Names are not purchased or added to our lists without permission. If you did not subscribe yourself, then someone you know probably added your name to our list(s). Or someone else may have forwarded it to you.

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Once in a while, addresses may be deleted by mistake. This usually happens if e-mail is sent to an address several times and it is returned as undeliverable. This can be caused because an address has been discontinued or even because the mail quota has been exceeded. If you feel that your address has been deleted, go to the subscription link above and subscribe again. A message will let you know if you are still on the list. If not, you will be added.

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><>(o:} Confidentiality Statement {:o)<><

I respect your privacy and will not share your information with other parties. Your name and email address are NOT sold or shared with any other list, web site, advertiser, partner, or service for any reason.

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><>(o:} ********B2B******** {:o)<><

Give a nice day! -Acts 20:35
-Mike Purcell, Cartoonist and active duty Navy Man

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Copyright Steve Klusmeyer 2002-2003. All rights reserved.

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Newsletter December 30, 2003

Newsletter
December 30, 2003