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 going to 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.
Another Version of this story�.
One day the evil one and the Great Creators� Son were having a conversation.
The evil one was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught a big portion of the world full of people. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"
"What are you going to do with them?" The Great Spirit Creators� Son asked.
the evil one 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?" the Great Spirit Creators� Son asked.
"Oh, I'll kill 'em," the evil one said glared proudly.
"How much do you want for them?" The Great Creators� Son asked.
The evil one replied, "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?" The Great Spirit Creators� Son asked again.
The evil one looked at The Great Spirit Creators� Son and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."
The Great Spirit Creators� Son 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 the Great Spirit Creator God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in the Creator" but still follow the evil one (who, by the way, also "believes" in the Creator).
Isn't it funny how a person can be more worried about what other people think of them than what God thinks of them?.
Of all the free gifts we may receive, Prayer is the very best one...There are no costs, but wonderful rewards...
May the Great Spirit Creator God keep you and bless you.
