From: R & S Scarcella & Family [inbox@webpastor.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 1 March 2000 10:07 AM
To: inbox@webpastor.com
Subject: CoGS Weekly Hits! 2000 Vol.3 No.1

YOUR CoGS WEEKLY HITS! - FREE NETMAGAZINE
distributed by Rev. Rocco & Mrs. Susan Scarcella from
Church of the Good Shepherd Bossley Park NSW Australia
WEBSITE: www.webpastor.com
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Dear NetFamily,
Did anyone notice that we had made an error in the 
dates at the top last week? Oops! Sorry about that!
These little things are God's way of reminding us 
that we are slightly less than perfect. Hmmm. No
doubt about that in our case! LOL

READING FROM THE WORD OF GOD
Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine
woman. when he returned, he said to his father and mother,
"I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for
me as my wife."
His father and mother replied, "Isn't there an acceptable
woman here among your relatives or among all our people?
Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?"
Judges 14:1-3 (NIV)

Remember the old joke?: No sooner does a woman find the perfect
man than she tries to "altar" him.
God works exactly the opposite way! He doesn't look for perfect
people: he works with imperfect ones.In some Christian circles, 
we hear "God loves us just the way we are", and that is true...
but not the entire truth. God does love us, even though we are
imperfect people, but like the woman in the joke, he seeks to 
"altar" us, ie bring us to His offering place, the Cross. Through
the saving death of His Son,He seeks to "alter" us, change us into
the likeness of Christ. Look at Samson. He was God's chosen person
to lead Israel, but he had a lot of rough edges: he drank heavily,
he married forbidden women, he ate food he should not,he had a shocking
temper. Yes, God loved him, but he was working on him. Not an easy job
with a man such as Samson. In fact, it took Samson till the end of his
life to show those changes. But at the end, he showed the fruits of what
God had been doing in his life. Pray to God it does not take us that
long!

TESTIMONY
My family has been through quite an ordeal the past month.  
My dear stepfather, Bill, was hospitalised for a heart problem 
for five weeks, and is due for another bypass in 2 weeks.  Our 
pastor (and dear friend) visited him and spoke to him about 
the gospel and he is not closed to the truth... Praise God.
My interstate father-in-law died during this time and we travelled 
to Melbourne (8 hours drive) with 3 children in the car to attend 
the funeral and affairs.  Though we haven't had a close family bond, 
I was able to offer my help with the funeral and sang two christian 
songs for the service and prayed with my mother-in-law and spoke to 
other family members about Christ and my faith in relation to death, 
and how we cannot wait for death before we do something about it.  
I can overpower my husband sometimes, but I felt the Lord showing me 
to help me in being submissive to the role he had in this, and I 
found myself saying, "Well it's MY husband's decision", when discussing 
the cost of the funeral and his share..... Very out of character
for me.
I praise God for this experience, though it took quite a toll on our 
family budget with children resuming school year and enrolment costs 
etc..... I was enrolling my daughter, Sarah, for her tap dancing class 
which helps her a lot with learning and confidence problems she has.  
I didn't have enough money for new tap shoes, and a new outfit that 
she needed.  Within the 5 minutes I spent there, I sold her old tap 
shoes for $20, and noticed that another girl just a bit bigger than 
Sarah was being measured for a new outfit.  I asked if the mother
would sell her other one, and I got that for less than half price. 
Thank you God.  Most would put this down to just perfect timing , 
but I was able to buy my daughter her outfit and tap shoes for about 
half price, due to this timing.
When in doubt as to whether to do God's work or not, especially if 
money is the problem, just remember that he will fulfill our needs, 
though we may not see it immediately. Praise God.
--Rose T


PRAYER POINTS
** Thank God that he pursues us to the end. Pray that we do not 
run from him.
** Thank God for the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23), 
especially as we see our brothers and sisters take their first 
steps in Christ. Pray that we might encourage them to continue 
their walk with Jesus.
** Thank God for signs of revival throughout our lands.Pray for 
those doing the "Fresh Start" evangelism courses in Sydney in 
preparation for Local Missions and the Olympics.
** Pray for our brothers and sisters in persecuted countries,
especially Indonesia. Pray that the government acts with justice 
towards all its citizens.
** Pray for our brother Larry B, who writes:"Thank you very much 
for sending this to me.I needed it to start this morning as I'm 
going through some tough situations here."
** Pat C asks:"To each of you...just a quick note to ask you to 
please pray for my precious little grandaughter, LaRissa, just 
turned 4...we found out today that she has pneumonia in the right 
lung....doctor is trying to keep her out of the hospital...treating 
her with heavy medication at home.  You would never know it by her 
actions!!!!  Thanks to each of you for your prayers!"
** Pray for those who are victims of natural disasters: floods in 
Africa, Mexico South America and Australia,cyclones in the USA, 
volcanic eruptions in Iceland and the Philippines. 
**Keep those pregnant ladies in your prayers. Trisha C., Cathy S.
& Gina L. Violet F is counting down the weeks now.
** Remember Patti with her kidney problems. She sees her doctor 
on the 15th. We want to see an improvement on 50%! Also Peter J.
and his recovery.

HAHAHA CORNER
*An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his Doctor and 
his Lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they 
arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the 
room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to 
sit on each side of the bed. 
The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and 
stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. Both the 
Doctor and Lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher 
would ask them to be with him during his final moment. They were 
also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that 
he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many 
long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness and their 
avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats. Finally, 
the doctor said, "Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?" 
The old preacher mustered up some strength, then said weakly, 
"Jesus died between two thieves... and that's how I want to go."
--submittted by Pat C 

(Ed. Hey, we only print them, guys! We really love lawyers, doctors 
and old preachers. Honest!)

**LOGOS

Plumber: "We repair what your husband FIXED."

Sign at the psychic's Hotline: "Don't call us, we'll call you."

At A Laundry Shop: "How about we refund your money, send you a
new one at no charge, close the store, and have the manager shot.
Would that be satisfactory?"

In a Nonsmoking Area:  "If we see smoking we will assume you are
on fire and take appropriate action."

On Maternity Room Door:  "Push, Push, Push."

At an Optometrists Office: "If you don't see what your looking 
for you've come to the right place."

On a Taxidermist's window:  "We really know our stuff."

In a Podiatrist's office:  "Time wounds all heels."

On a fence:  "Salesman welcome, dog food is expensive."

Outside a Muffler Shop: "No appointment necessary, we hear you
coming."

On a desk in a reception room:  "We shoot every 3rd salesman ,
and the 2nd one just left."

In a Veterinarians waiting room:  "Be back in 5 minutes, Sit! 
Stay! "

At the Electric Company:  "We would be de-lighted if you send 
in your bill. However, if you don't, you will be."

Inside a Bowling Alley:  "Please be quiet, we need to hear a 
pin drop."

In the front yard of a funeral home: "Drive carefully, we'll 
wait."
--submitted by Jennie Graham

**LAWS THAT GOVERN US
1.William's Law: There is no mechanical problem so difficult 
that it cannot be solved by brute strength and ignorance.

2.Nick's Law of Life: All things considered, life is 9 to 5
against.

3.Nowlan's Theory: He who hesitates is not only lost, but 
several miles from the next freeway exit.

4.Van Roy's Law: Honesty is the best policy - there's less 
competition.

5.Van Roy's Truism: Life is a whole series of circumstances 
beyond your control.

6.Agnes' Law: Almost everything in life is easier to get into 
than out of.

7.Johnny Carson's Definition: The smallest interval of time 
known to man is that which occurs in Manhattan between the 
traffic signal turning green and the taxi driver behind you 
blowing his horn.

8.Wilner's Observation: All conversations with a potato 
should be conducted in private.

8.The Phone Booth Rule: A lone coin always gets the number 
nearly right.

9.Ettore's Observation: The other line moves faster.

10.Griffin's Thought: When you starve with a tiger, the tiger 
starves last.

11.Manly's Maxim: Logic is a systematic method of coming to 
the wrong conclusion with confidence.

12.Cann's Axiom: When all else fails, read the instructions.

13.Knebel's Law: It is now proved beyond doubt that smoking 
is one of the leading causes of statistics.

14.The Law of Selective Gravity, or the Buttered-Side Down Law: 
An object will fall so as to do the most damage.

15. Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage with dressing.
--submitted by Paul Dugas

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Keep those emails a-coming there folks!
Our thanks to Hans & Kayley from Radio Station 2WS-FM Breakfast 
Show in Sydney for reading out last C&W week's song titles on air. 
How about writing us a "law" you live by? Email us at: 
law@webpastor.com
Looking forward to hearing from you. Bye for now!
Rocco and Sue.
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