The Birdcage

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There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New > > England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a > > rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised > > and, > > as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak... > > > > "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming > > toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three > > little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and > > asked, > > "What you got there, son?" > > > > "Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you gonna do with them?" > > I asked. > > "Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em > > and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good > > time. "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you > > do?" "Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll > > take 'em > > to them." The pastor was silent for a moment. > > > > "How much do you want for those birds, son?" > > "Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just > > plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!" > > "How much?" the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor > > as if he were crazy and said, "$10?" > > > > The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He > > placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor > > picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where > > there was a > > tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by > > softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, > > that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor > > began to tell this story. > > > > One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just > > come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. > > "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me > > a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!" > > > > "What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. > > Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to > > marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to > > drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and > > bombs > > and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!" > > > > "And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked. > > "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. > > "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked. > > "Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll > > take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and > > kill > > you. You don't want those people!!" > > > > "How much? He asked again. > > Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life." > > > > Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price. > > The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from > > the pulpit. > > > > Notes: Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then > > wonder why the world's going to hell. > > > > Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still > > follow Satan (who, by the way, also "believes" in God). > > > > Isn't it funny how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and > > they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding > > the Lord, people think twice about sharing. > > > > Isn't it funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not > > send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they > > believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them. > > > > Isn't it funny how I can be more worried about what other people > > think of me than what God thinks of me. > >

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), June 28, 2002

Answers

Great story, Mary Lu. Thanks. I'm as of this moment beginning to send it to friends and relatives.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), June 28, 2002.


MaryLu,

That was really wonderfull. Worth to keep in my collection.

Peace & Blessings

-- Xavier (xavier_david24@yahoo.com), June 28, 2002.


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