Unanswerable
Stories
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Good Story: "Unanswerable" by David O. Bales
Sermon Starters: "If I Don't Pay, You Will" by Terry Cain
"God's Footprints" by Terry Cain
What's Up This Week
Our questions are continuously forming in our minds -- and we expect answers, either verbally or physically to satisfy our curiosity or lack of knowledge. Oftentimes, however, those questions can only be answered by God, and we must train ourselves to hear his responses.
A Good Story
Unanswerable
by David O. Bales
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me."
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements -- surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?
-- Job 38:1-7
"Why do some apples have scabs on them?" Kevin looked up to his sister.
"If they're all perfect," Allison answered, "you wouldn't have a special one to look forward to." The two young children stood in the evening sunset. The clouds still covered most of the sky. Water dripped from the five fruit trees beside their house.
"Why did it rain today," he asked, "when we were going to have a picnic?"
"Well," Allison said, "we didn't need to go to the park today. We can go tomorrow."
"I still wish we could've gone today," Kevin said.
Allison gave him a knowing smile. Kevin wasn't satisfied, but Allison seemed to be. She kicked the wet grass as they walked. She shuffled, humming, clearly pleased to have a younger brother for whom she could provide such obvious answers. As they walked up the front steps to their home, Allison said confidently, "You'll understand more when you're old enough to go to Sunday school."
***
Five years later, when Kevin was 10 and Allison 12, Kevin asked, "How come I struck out tonight with the bases loaded?"
"You tried your best," she said, pursing her lips and wrinkling her forehead, "Maybe you struck out so you'll want to take extra batting practice and get better."
"I will," he said as they walked slowly up the sidewalk to their home. "But, why did Josh have to yell at me that I was stupid and I'd lost the game for the whole team?"
"I guess," Allison sighed, "because he's never been taught manners, or he's never struck out."
"He's really good. Never strikes out. But I already felt bad enough. What'll I do if he yells at me every time I make a mistake?"
"Just keep trying." Allison, patted him on the back as he opened the door. Their father was talking on the phone. He covered the receiver and pointed to the kitchen, "Your mom's got supper for you."
***
When Kevin was 16 and Allison 18, she opened his bedroom door slowly. Kevin sat on the floor, back to his bed, rhythmically pounding his left fist onto the carpet. He looked up at her through red eyes. He kept banging his fist onto the floor. "Why did he have to die? Everyone else walked away." He shut his eyes tightly and tipped his head back against his bed. The veins on his neck bulged as he started to cry again.
"He was unlucky. But they were speeding. The police said 90 miles an hour."
"But why Mark? Why Mark? Pete's such an idiot and he's the one driving. Mark's the best guy in the world. Why Mark?"
Allison bent over Kevin. "Whoever would've been sitting in the passenger's seat would've been killed."
***
By Christmas of Kevin's first year of graduate school Allison had been married to Stuart for three years. Their son, also named Kevin, was two and their daughter Mamie was three months. Because Allison and Stuart lived a two-day's drive away, this was the first Christmas gathering for the family since Allison and Stuart had married. Kevin brought his girlfriend Daphne home for Christmas, also.
The grandparents gladly took care of the children and the four young people, as the grandparents enjoyed calling them, enjoyed two days together. The first day included a morning at the skating rink that resulted in Daphne spraining her wrist. Another day at the mall left them all tired.
On Christmas morning after the presents had been opened, Kevin handed an envelope to his parents and one to Allison and Stuart. "Open them at the same time," he said. He and Daphne sat on the couch, holding hands and smiling. Allison let Stuart open their envelope. She dandled Mamie on her leg and leaned toward her brother and his girlfriend, smirking knowingly at them.
The envelope held this announcement: "This is to announce that Daphne Ann Sperry will become the wife of Kevin George Boren. Date to be determined."
"You came through in the clutch," his father said and shook Kevin's hand. Allison was squeezing Daphne, who held her injured hand above the hug. Their mother got her chance to hug Daphne and said, "I let my son choose my second daughter and he's done very well."
For Christmas dinner Kevin and Allison assumed their childhood chore of bringing all the food from the kitchen to the dining room. They piled bowls, plates, and gravy boats onto trays in the kitchen. With the flourish of a bullfighter Kevin bumped his hip against his sister's. "So, tell me, Big Sis, why do you suppose Daphne wants to marry me?"
Allison held the platter of turkey in front of her, bending slightly as she stepped backward, pushing open the swinging door behind her, and said, "I haven't got the slightest idea."
David O. Bales has been a Presbyterian minister for 30 years. Recently retired as the pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Ontario, Oregon, he is also a freelance writer and editor for Stephen Ministries and Tebunah Ministries. His sermons and articles have appeared in Lectionary Homiletics, Preaching Great Texts, and Interpretation, and he is the author of Gospel Subplots: Story Sermons of God's Grace (CSS). Bales is a graduate of the University of Portland and San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Sermon Starters
If I Don't Pay, You Will
By Terry Cain
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
-- Mark 10:35-45
Today's scripture is about what it means to be a disciple or follower of Jesus. It is also about special privilege, something we find distasteful when others are the beneficiaries, but sometimes consider ourselves entitled to when the lot falls to us.
* * *
The outlying community or suburb had recently held a community wide meeting to discuss the possibility of building a skateboard park for the youth. Instead of making it a part of the community budget, the residents decided to raise the money by assessing each family equally and sharing the cost even though some families didn't have any children who would use the park. It would be a community project where all shared alike as they did for school systems. It would be "state of the art" with every possible ramp and jump combination to make it top of the line. Each donor family would have its name on a support block built into the foundations.
A week following the meeting Vic met his friend, Fred, coming out of the post office and they found themselves discussing the new skateboard park. "Fred, did you see where the committee just finished calculating the cost per family? It comes to $734 for each household: steep, but worth it. We'll just have to tighten the old belt for three or four months."
"Look, Vic, if I tell you something confidentially, you won't let it go any farther will you?"
"No," Vic responded, a little hesitantly.
Fred looked around surreptitiously, and lowered his voice, "I got a deal going on the assessment, Vic. You know my father-in-law is handling the financial end of the project and he was able to juggle the cost per family so that we won't have to pay our share. Along with some help from the extra special fund set up to help with the assessment for a few families who have current hardships, plus the fact that no one besides Ernie is counting the actual number of houses, he can spread my assessment over all the other shares. The community will take care of my share. Nice deal, eh? It pays to know someone! I would like to get you the same deal, but you know how it is. When you go adding other pieces to the pie, it increases the chances of getting caught."
Vic paused and then said, "Aren't you uncomfortable knowing everyone else will be paying your share?"
"Are you kidding? Everyone does that sorta thing when they get a chance. Besides it is spread over enough families that no one takes a big hit."
"You know, Fred, somehow that brings to mind a T-shirt I saw just the other day. Written across the front were the words, 'God loves you, but God loves me better.' "
"That's clever, Vic. Very funny. But ... uh ... I don't see the connection."
"I gotta run, Fred -- catch you later."
God's Footprints
By Terry Cain
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c
Sue approached her friend, Ann, at the water cooler at work one day and shared with her an idea that seemed very exciting to her. She realized she had let her work dominate her life so much recently that she hadn't had very much time to spend with her daughter, Sherry. Their relationship, when they did have any contact, seemed strained lately and they even found themselves barking at one another occasionally. Thinking back over the last two or three months Sue felt there hadn't been any good times between them that she could remember. She certainly did not want to grow apart from Sherry since they had always had what she thought was a very good over-all relationship. The idea she shared with Ann was what she hoped could be a time of significant togetherness for herself and her daughter.
After explaining her concern to Ann, she told her about a plan to take the next weekend and go camping with Sherry. "And I was hoping you would come along, Ann."
"But won't I be in the way of the two of you bonding or rebonding?"
Sue explained, "I thought about that and I would request that you and I arrange for Sherry and me to have some alone time together. But there is another reason why I would like to have you along besides the fact that you would be great company. Your hobby is nature and being the fantastic naturalist that you are, you could teach us so much about the great outdoors. Besides your presence could also ease any tension my daughter and I might have as we seek to reconnect."
The plan was arranged and the three of them went tenting over the weekend.
The camping trip was going very well: Sue and Sherry were enjoying their time tenting, cooking out, and hiking. An added bonus was the nature Ann was making so fascinating to both Sue and Sherry. Ann was pointing out so very many of nature's secrets. She identified tracks of creatures that the two of them would have missed. Ann pointed out nests, explained seed mysteries of many plants, and information about the great outdoors that impressed Sue and Sherry. Finally, Sherry being a very curious five year old, blurted out, "Ann, you can see everything. Can you see God?"
Ann paused and then said, "It has gotten so that when I look around at all of nature and its wonders, I can't help but see God everywhere!"
It may have been a bit deep for Sherry, but she thought about it for a while and came back with another question, "Our Sunday school teacher was also telling us about God being everywhere and creating everything as the book of Psalm tells us. Ann, you showed us yesterday where a hawk had caught a little bunny rabbit for its meal. That made me feel sad. If God created everything and sorta runs the world, why would God allow cruel things like that to happen?"
"Oh my, Sherry, you are very sharp for a five year old. You have asked a question that is too difficult for me. Perhaps your mother can answer; she is a Sunday school teacher."
"Honey," Sue addressed her daughter, "that is a tough question that has kept many wise men and women wondering through the ages. I have heard many kinds of answers given, but I will only share one with you at the moment. When I was very young, younger than you, I went to visit my cousin's family for a weekend. She had a very pretty doll that I got to sleep with. During that weekend I came to love that doll very much and wanted to take her home with me. Of course, I couldn't have her; she belonged to my cousin. I cried and cried and thought it very cruel that I had to go home without her - I wanted that doll more than anything at that time. When I got older I realized how unimportant that doll was to me and came to love other dolls of my own just as much. As I grew even older, dolls weren't that important to me at all. And I imagine that all of life is like that. What seems very cruel in our world at this time, such as a hawk eating that rabbit, will some day be put into a different perspective. What I mean is when we get to heaven, our tears, fears, and sadness about things in this life will not be as important as the activities of heaven. Heaven will be so much more wonderful than the every day things of this life, and the problems that happen sometimes. I know that isn't the best answer in the word, Sherry, but it is a good start and we can talk some more about the problem on other days."
"Thanks, Mom."
Terry Cain is a retired United Methodist pastor who served his entire ministry in eastern Nebraska, including 25 years in Lincoln. He is the author of Shaking Wolves Out of Cherry Trees and Lions and Cows Dining Together. Cain is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University (B.A.), St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City (M.Div.), and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min.).
**********************************************
How to Share Stories
You have good stories to share, probably more than you know: personal stories as well as stories from others that you have used over the years. If you have a story you like, whether fictional or "really happened," authored by you or a brief excerpt from a favorite book, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here share-a-story@csspub.com and email the story to us.
**************
StoryShare, October 22, 2006, issue.
Copyright 2006 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
What's Up This Week
A Good Story: "Unanswerable" by David O. Bales
Sermon Starters: "If I Don't Pay, You Will" by Terry Cain
"God's Footprints" by Terry Cain
What's Up This Week
Our questions are continuously forming in our minds -- and we expect answers, either verbally or physically to satisfy our curiosity or lack of knowledge. Oftentimes, however, those questions can only be answered by God, and we must train ourselves to hear his responses.
A Good Story
Unanswerable
by David O. Bales
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me."
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements -- surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?
-- Job 38:1-7
"Why do some apples have scabs on them?" Kevin looked up to his sister.
"If they're all perfect," Allison answered, "you wouldn't have a special one to look forward to." The two young children stood in the evening sunset. The clouds still covered most of the sky. Water dripped from the five fruit trees beside their house.
"Why did it rain today," he asked, "when we were going to have a picnic?"
"Well," Allison said, "we didn't need to go to the park today. We can go tomorrow."
"I still wish we could've gone today," Kevin said.
Allison gave him a knowing smile. Kevin wasn't satisfied, but Allison seemed to be. She kicked the wet grass as they walked. She shuffled, humming, clearly pleased to have a younger brother for whom she could provide such obvious answers. As they walked up the front steps to their home, Allison said confidently, "You'll understand more when you're old enough to go to Sunday school."
***
Five years later, when Kevin was 10 and Allison 12, Kevin asked, "How come I struck out tonight with the bases loaded?"
"You tried your best," she said, pursing her lips and wrinkling her forehead, "Maybe you struck out so you'll want to take extra batting practice and get better."
"I will," he said as they walked slowly up the sidewalk to their home. "But, why did Josh have to yell at me that I was stupid and I'd lost the game for the whole team?"
"I guess," Allison sighed, "because he's never been taught manners, or he's never struck out."
"He's really good. Never strikes out. But I already felt bad enough. What'll I do if he yells at me every time I make a mistake?"
"Just keep trying." Allison, patted him on the back as he opened the door. Their father was talking on the phone. He covered the receiver and pointed to the kitchen, "Your mom's got supper for you."
***
When Kevin was 16 and Allison 18, she opened his bedroom door slowly. Kevin sat on the floor, back to his bed, rhythmically pounding his left fist onto the carpet. He looked up at her through red eyes. He kept banging his fist onto the floor. "Why did he have to die? Everyone else walked away." He shut his eyes tightly and tipped his head back against his bed. The veins on his neck bulged as he started to cry again.
"He was unlucky. But they were speeding. The police said 90 miles an hour."
"But why Mark? Why Mark? Pete's such an idiot and he's the one driving. Mark's the best guy in the world. Why Mark?"
Allison bent over Kevin. "Whoever would've been sitting in the passenger's seat would've been killed."
***
By Christmas of Kevin's first year of graduate school Allison had been married to Stuart for three years. Their son, also named Kevin, was two and their daughter Mamie was three months. Because Allison and Stuart lived a two-day's drive away, this was the first Christmas gathering for the family since Allison and Stuart had married. Kevin brought his girlfriend Daphne home for Christmas, also.
The grandparents gladly took care of the children and the four young people, as the grandparents enjoyed calling them, enjoyed two days together. The first day included a morning at the skating rink that resulted in Daphne spraining her wrist. Another day at the mall left them all tired.
On Christmas morning after the presents had been opened, Kevin handed an envelope to his parents and one to Allison and Stuart. "Open them at the same time," he said. He and Daphne sat on the couch, holding hands and smiling. Allison let Stuart open their envelope. She dandled Mamie on her leg and leaned toward her brother and his girlfriend, smirking knowingly at them.
The envelope held this announcement: "This is to announce that Daphne Ann Sperry will become the wife of Kevin George Boren. Date to be determined."
"You came through in the clutch," his father said and shook Kevin's hand. Allison was squeezing Daphne, who held her injured hand above the hug. Their mother got her chance to hug Daphne and said, "I let my son choose my second daughter and he's done very well."
For Christmas dinner Kevin and Allison assumed their childhood chore of bringing all the food from the kitchen to the dining room. They piled bowls, plates, and gravy boats onto trays in the kitchen. With the flourish of a bullfighter Kevin bumped his hip against his sister's. "So, tell me, Big Sis, why do you suppose Daphne wants to marry me?"
Allison held the platter of turkey in front of her, bending slightly as she stepped backward, pushing open the swinging door behind her, and said, "I haven't got the slightest idea."
David O. Bales has been a Presbyterian minister for 30 years. Recently retired as the pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Ontario, Oregon, he is also a freelance writer and editor for Stephen Ministries and Tebunah Ministries. His sermons and articles have appeared in Lectionary Homiletics, Preaching Great Texts, and Interpretation, and he is the author of Gospel Subplots: Story Sermons of God's Grace (CSS). Bales is a graduate of the University of Portland and San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Sermon Starters
If I Don't Pay, You Will
By Terry Cain
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
-- Mark 10:35-45
Today's scripture is about what it means to be a disciple or follower of Jesus. It is also about special privilege, something we find distasteful when others are the beneficiaries, but sometimes consider ourselves entitled to when the lot falls to us.
* * *
The outlying community or suburb had recently held a community wide meeting to discuss the possibility of building a skateboard park for the youth. Instead of making it a part of the community budget, the residents decided to raise the money by assessing each family equally and sharing the cost even though some families didn't have any children who would use the park. It would be a community project where all shared alike as they did for school systems. It would be "state of the art" with every possible ramp and jump combination to make it top of the line. Each donor family would have its name on a support block built into the foundations.
A week following the meeting Vic met his friend, Fred, coming out of the post office and they found themselves discussing the new skateboard park. "Fred, did you see where the committee just finished calculating the cost per family? It comes to $734 for each household: steep, but worth it. We'll just have to tighten the old belt for three or four months."
"Look, Vic, if I tell you something confidentially, you won't let it go any farther will you?"
"No," Vic responded, a little hesitantly.
Fred looked around surreptitiously, and lowered his voice, "I got a deal going on the assessment, Vic. You know my father-in-law is handling the financial end of the project and he was able to juggle the cost per family so that we won't have to pay our share. Along with some help from the extra special fund set up to help with the assessment for a few families who have current hardships, plus the fact that no one besides Ernie is counting the actual number of houses, he can spread my assessment over all the other shares. The community will take care of my share. Nice deal, eh? It pays to know someone! I would like to get you the same deal, but you know how it is. When you go adding other pieces to the pie, it increases the chances of getting caught."
Vic paused and then said, "Aren't you uncomfortable knowing everyone else will be paying your share?"
"Are you kidding? Everyone does that sorta thing when they get a chance. Besides it is spread over enough families that no one takes a big hit."
"You know, Fred, somehow that brings to mind a T-shirt I saw just the other day. Written across the front were the words, 'God loves you, but God loves me better.' "
"That's clever, Vic. Very funny. But ... uh ... I don't see the connection."
"I gotta run, Fred -- catch you later."
God's Footprints
By Terry Cain
Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c
Sue approached her friend, Ann, at the water cooler at work one day and shared with her an idea that seemed very exciting to her. She realized she had let her work dominate her life so much recently that she hadn't had very much time to spend with her daughter, Sherry. Their relationship, when they did have any contact, seemed strained lately and they even found themselves barking at one another occasionally. Thinking back over the last two or three months Sue felt there hadn't been any good times between them that she could remember. She certainly did not want to grow apart from Sherry since they had always had what she thought was a very good over-all relationship. The idea she shared with Ann was what she hoped could be a time of significant togetherness for herself and her daughter.
After explaining her concern to Ann, she told her about a plan to take the next weekend and go camping with Sherry. "And I was hoping you would come along, Ann."
"But won't I be in the way of the two of you bonding or rebonding?"
Sue explained, "I thought about that and I would request that you and I arrange for Sherry and me to have some alone time together. But there is another reason why I would like to have you along besides the fact that you would be great company. Your hobby is nature and being the fantastic naturalist that you are, you could teach us so much about the great outdoors. Besides your presence could also ease any tension my daughter and I might have as we seek to reconnect."
The plan was arranged and the three of them went tenting over the weekend.
The camping trip was going very well: Sue and Sherry were enjoying their time tenting, cooking out, and hiking. An added bonus was the nature Ann was making so fascinating to both Sue and Sherry. Ann was pointing out so very many of nature's secrets. She identified tracks of creatures that the two of them would have missed. Ann pointed out nests, explained seed mysteries of many plants, and information about the great outdoors that impressed Sue and Sherry. Finally, Sherry being a very curious five year old, blurted out, "Ann, you can see everything. Can you see God?"
Ann paused and then said, "It has gotten so that when I look around at all of nature and its wonders, I can't help but see God everywhere!"
It may have been a bit deep for Sherry, but she thought about it for a while and came back with another question, "Our Sunday school teacher was also telling us about God being everywhere and creating everything as the book of Psalm tells us. Ann, you showed us yesterday where a hawk had caught a little bunny rabbit for its meal. That made me feel sad. If God created everything and sorta runs the world, why would God allow cruel things like that to happen?"
"Oh my, Sherry, you are very sharp for a five year old. You have asked a question that is too difficult for me. Perhaps your mother can answer; she is a Sunday school teacher."
"Honey," Sue addressed her daughter, "that is a tough question that has kept many wise men and women wondering through the ages. I have heard many kinds of answers given, but I will only share one with you at the moment. When I was very young, younger than you, I went to visit my cousin's family for a weekend. She had a very pretty doll that I got to sleep with. During that weekend I came to love that doll very much and wanted to take her home with me. Of course, I couldn't have her; she belonged to my cousin. I cried and cried and thought it very cruel that I had to go home without her - I wanted that doll more than anything at that time. When I got older I realized how unimportant that doll was to me and came to love other dolls of my own just as much. As I grew even older, dolls weren't that important to me at all. And I imagine that all of life is like that. What seems very cruel in our world at this time, such as a hawk eating that rabbit, will some day be put into a different perspective. What I mean is when we get to heaven, our tears, fears, and sadness about things in this life will not be as important as the activities of heaven. Heaven will be so much more wonderful than the every day things of this life, and the problems that happen sometimes. I know that isn't the best answer in the word, Sherry, but it is a good start and we can talk some more about the problem on other days."
"Thanks, Mom."
Terry Cain is a retired United Methodist pastor who served his entire ministry in eastern Nebraska, including 25 years in Lincoln. He is the author of Shaking Wolves Out of Cherry Trees and Lions and Cows Dining Together. Cain is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University (B.A.), St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City (M.Div.), and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min.).
**********************************************
How to Share Stories
You have good stories to share, probably more than you know: personal stories as well as stories from others that you have used over the years. If you have a story you like, whether fictional or "really happened," authored by you or a brief excerpt from a favorite book, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here share-a-story@csspub.com and email the story to us.
**************
StoryShare, October 22, 2006, issue.
Copyright 2006 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
