Message-ID: <14272594.1075855549934.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 23:13:00 -0800 (PST) From: maria.sandoval@enron.com To: asandov225@aol.com, andrea.guillen@enron.com, phenicia.olivier@enron.com, bernice.rodriguez@enron.com, melissa.rodriguez@enron.com, cassandra.dutton@enron.com, lorraine.becker@enron.com, melba.lozano@enron.com, chantelle.villanueva@enron.com, patty.soria@halliburton.com, elizabeth.gutierrez@eott.com, judy.hernandez@enron.com, elizabeth.soto@enron.com, amolina@unifirst.com, pamela.sonnier@enron.com, yolanda.pena@enron.com, claudia.clark@enron.com, lisa.shoemake@enron.com, alex.saldana@enron.com, alisha.guerrero@enron.com, brenda.flores-cuellar@enron.com, sara.solorio@enron.com, brenda.barreda@enron.com, amber.limas@enron.com, anabel.gutierrez@enron.com, raquel.lopez@enron.com, katherine.reyna@enron.com, mckenzie.senigal@enron.com, amy.rios@enron.com, jfgarcia2000@aol.com, lopezj@houstoncellular.com, maria.coglianese@mcd.com, teresa.orta@mcd.com, monica.richardson@sous.com Subject: The Empty Chair Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Maria Sandoval X-To: ASandov225@aol.com, Andrea R Guillen, Phenicia Olivier, Bernice Rodriguez, Melissa Rodriguez, Cassandra S Dutton, Lorraine Becker, Melba Lozano, Chantelle Villanueva, patty.soria@halliburton.com, elizabeth.gutierrez@eott.com, Judy Hernandez, Elizabeth Soto, amolina@unifirst.com, Pamela Sonnier, Yolanda Pena, Claudia Clark, Lisa Shoemake, Alex Saldana, Alisha Guerrero, Brenda Flores-Cuellar, Sara Solorio, Brenda Barreda, Amber Limas, Anabel Gutierrez, Raquel Lopez, Katherine Reyna, Mckenzie Senigal, Amy Rios, jfgarcia2000@aol.com, lopezj@houstoncellular.com, maria.coglianese@mcd.com, teresa.orta@mcd.com, "Richardson, Monica" X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Juan_Hernandez_Dec2000\Notes Folders\Notes inbox X-Origin: Hernandez-J X-FileName: jhernan.nsf > THE EMPTY CHAIR > > A man's daughter had asked the local minister > to come and pray with her father. When > the minister arrived, he found the man lying in > bed with his head propped up on two pillows. > An empty chair sat beside his bed. > The minister assumed that the old fellow had > been informed of his visit.. > "I guess you were expecting me," he said. > "No, who are you?" said the father. > The minister told him his name and then > remarked, "I see the empty chair; I figured > you knew I was going to show up." > "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden > man. "Would you mind closing the door?" > Puzzled, the minister shut the door. > "I have never told anyone this, not even my > daughter," said the man. > "But all of my life I have never known how > to pray. At church I used to > hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it > went right over my head." "I abandoned any > attempt at prayer," the old man continued, > "until one day about four years ago my > best friend said to me, 'Johnny, prayer is just > a simple matter of having a conversation with > Jesus. > Here is what I suggest." "Sit down in a > chair; place an empty chair in front of you, > and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not > spooky because he promised, "I'll be with you > always." Then just speak to him in the same > way you're doing with me right now." > "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that > I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful > though. If my daughter saw me talking to an > empty chair, she'd either have a nervous > breakdown or send me off to the funny farm." > The minister was deeply moved by the story and > encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. > Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, > and returned to the church. > Two nights later the daughter called to tell the > minister that her daddy had died that afternoon. > "Did he die in peace?" he asked. "Yes, when I > left the house about two o'clock, he called me > over to his bedside, told me he loved me and > kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from > the store an hour later, I found him dead. "But > there was something strange about his death. > Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned > over and rested his head on the chair beside > the bed. What do you make of that?" > The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish > we could all go like that." > > Just send this to four people and do not break this, > please. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. > There is no cost but a lot of rewards. > ===== > "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be > worth it" > ---- God > > > > _____NetZero Free Internet Access and Email______ http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html