_______________________________________________ ~ Welcome to Heartwarmers ~ The best thing to happen to mornings since the Sun! Your morning thought for today: The suburbs were discovered quite by accident when one day in the early 1940's a Welcome Wagon lady got lost. -- Erma Bombeck Today Bob Perks offers us An Award Winning Heartwarmer. Thanks, Bob, for your wonderful contribution. We're sure you'll be hearing from many of our Heartwarmer members from around the world after reading your touching and poignant story. _______________________________________________ THE BEST VALUES ON THE INTERNET Support our sponsors. They keep our service "priceless". ___________________ How To Stop Worrying About Your Debts... Pay them ALL off decades early, including your 30 year mortgage! The Debt-FREE & Prosperous Living(tm) system's linear math, critical path technology saves average Americans $105,000 in interest and builds $1.2Million in wealth using the money you ALREADY make! 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For longer than anyone can remember the old Gospel Church atop the hill in Reddington Valley served as a beacon for those who were lost. Not just spiritually but even as a landmark for giving directions. "Turn down Main Street and head toward the brightest star in the sky. You can't miss it," a traveler would hear. You see, on top of the old church steeple was a big bright star. It was all one piece and lighted by a huge light bulb. They actually had placed it up there as part of a Christmas display and never took it down. But two days ago the bulb burned out. The entire town was lost without it. It seemed that the locals were all turned about at night. The confusion started when someone passing through happened to stop the mayor to ask for directions. "I looked up and pointed to the star. It wasn't there. Thinking I was facing the wrong way, I turned around looking for it but couldn't find it," he said. "I think that guy is still riding around town." Soon the phone started ringing at the old Gospel Church. People wanted to know what happened. The problem was even the Pastor didn't know. That star was just always there. He had no idea who kept it lit or where the light bulbs were. That is, until the phone rang late that afternoon. "Pastor, I'm hoping you can help us," the man said. "This is Police Chief Robertson. We just got back from the Delaney house. We found old Jim Delaney dead. It seems he's been dead about two days." "I'm sorry. I must tell you that I'm not familiar with the man," the Pastor said. "No one seems to be," the Chief replied. "There are no known relatives or friends available." "Well, if it's a burial service you are looking for, I'd be pleased to do it," said the Pastor. "That would be great. But there is something else. I'd like for you to come by in about an hour if you can. The house is up the dirt road on Bishop's Hill across the valley from your church." "I'll be there," he replied. The Pastor arrived just as Chief Robertson pulled in. "What is it you wanted me to see, Chief?" "Come inside. I think you'll need this stuff." As they entered the home you could see stacks of unopened mail along with various books scattered about. "Over here, Pastor. I believe this is for you." There on the mantle of the fireplace was a box with a small white envelope attached. It said "From the star keeper to The Gospel Church". The note inside it read: To whom it may concern: Back in 1950 my beautiful wife Mildred became ill. We could not afford to place her in a home so for her remaining months on this earth, I took care of her. Before her illness she attended your church every Sunday. It was so very frustrating for her not to be able to, once she got sick. But every Sunday I would position her on the front porch so that she could see the church across the valley. It was that Christmas someone placed a star on the steeple. Every night Mildred would say her prayers while gazing out at that star. I had just pushed her chair over to the window that night. She was barely able to breathe. As I pulled the shade up I heard her quietly say, "The star. The star is gone." As I turned around she slumped over with one last sigh. The star indeed was not lit that night. After her burial I approached the Pastor and made a deal with him. I agreed to keep the star lit for as long as I am alive as a memorial to my wife. So many people had loved that image during the holidays that he agreed to it. I am near my journey's end. The church can sell my property and all I own in exchange for a favor. I have provided enough light bulbs in this box to keep the star lit a few more years. The key to the church door is inside this envelope. Please find someone who can take on the task of keeping the star lit after my death. I loved my wife so very much. I want that star to serve as an example of what love can be. You can say you love someone, but it's not until you show it, that love is made visible. -- Jim Delaney "When did you say he died, Chief?" "Two days ago according to the coroner." "That's when the star burned out, Chief." The pastor looked down for a moment, then looked back up, "Consider it done, Mr. Delaney," said the Pastor. "Consider it done!" -- by Bob Perks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ______________________________________________ Bob Perks is famous for his "I believe in YOU!" saying. He is a professional speaker and author. You can visit his website at http://www.BobPerks.com We encourage you to check out other stories from Bob Perks at this convenient Themestream website: http://www.aristatech.com/q _______________________________________________ Do you enjoy Heartwarmers? Think your friends and loved ones would too? Invite them to join us by having them send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ If you haven't checked this out yet -- you SHOULD! "I got all my free stuff. That's a great deal they have going. I'm telling all my friends about it now," says Kathy. Get up to $30 of FREE Hawaiian Tropic or Coppertone sun/skin care products when you purchase $10 of the items you use everyday -- toothpaste, shampoo, you name it. The BEST drugstore deal we've ever seen! If you're a new shopper at PlanetRx, you qualify! Go to: http://www.aristatech.com/g _______________________________________________ STORIES WANTED Do you have a Heartwarmer story inside you waiting to be told? Here's your chance. On the heels of the success of our first book, our publisher has set the wheels in motion for a second Heartwarmers book. If you have an original story of love, romance or friendship, we'd love to see it. Please visit the website below for details and instructions on how to submit your story via email to editor, Azriela Jaffe. Go to: http://heartwarmers.com/newbooks.html _______________________________________________ NAILS The large tree stood perfectly motionless, even though the wind was blowing through its outstretched arms at more than thirty miles per hour. Its tired limbs sagging a bit, stripped of leaves and its bark slowly peeling away near the bottom of the tree, as thousands of insects ate away at the heart of the once beautiful giant. As I was leaving Canada to head back to the United States, after attending the Heartwarmers Conference, I walked up to the tree when I noticed that someone had driven ten or eleven nails into its trunk. All the way home I thought about that tree and it made me realize something very important about human beings. If only ten small nails could kill such a large beautiful tree, how many nails have we driven into our fellow-man over the years? How many little nails have we unintentionally driven into our children, and our friends causing their leaves to become weathered and their mighty limbs to droop. The shock for me was when I realized that it was not really the nails that killed the tree at all. It was that big hammer that they chose to use in order to drive the nails in. Starting today I will still continue to carry a nail or two. It is the hammer that I have chosen to throw away. -- Roger Dean Kiser, Sr. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> _______________________________________________ You can read the speech Roger delivered at the Heartwarmers Conference at: http://www.aristatech.com/v _______________________________________________ Get Harry Potter at 40% OFF! It's just a click away at: http://www.aristatech.com/o _______________________________________________ Looking for Quality Time Projects to do with your Child or Grandchild? Here's a great idea for kids who love crafts! Try a FREE trial membership at Together Time Activity Club, and receive a FREE box of craft materials - yours to keep. No minimum purchase necessary. http://www.aristatech.com/s (click on coupons, then Leisure & Entertainment. Scroll down to Together Time Activity Club) _______________________________________________ UNBEATABLE DEALS ON SUMMER PRODUCTS Great stuff for the poolside or camping. Most items are FREE after rebate and NO SHIPPING COSTS. Check them out now! http://www.aristatech.com/p AND click on "Summer Steals" _______________________________________________ Grace says: When Logan, 5, came home from church her mother asked her what she had learned in Sunday school. Logan thought for a minute and replied, "I learned that when Lisa's mom is alone she dances in her underwear!" 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