CROSSING OVER - A MountainWings Original

Crossing Over
==============

What a time for my life to end now?

The doctor announced that my time in this world was rapidly coming to an end. I only had a short while left.

I was happy, I was comfortable, I was just getting to a point where I could really enjoy things, and now this happens!

I have so much stuff that I barely have room to put anything else. My home has become crowded, I truly have been blessed and now I am asked to give all of this up?

I have too much to live for.

I had it all. I was waited on hand and foot. My breakfast was brought to me in bed and even lunch and dinner if I wanted it. I had someone to clean up after me too. I was the most important person around, a real big shot, and now this.

I should have known it was too good to last. I had it too easy. Everything was too perfect. I had no money worries, no job worries, my relationship was perfect. No woman ever loved a man
as much as I was loved and now everything is changing.

Why?

Why can't things continue in perfect bliss?
Why can't God leave me alone and leave me happy?
Why do I have to endure pain and suffering?
Why do I have to die?

Why?

Pain is a good indicator that something is happening.
That's why I was at the doctor in the first place.

The pain.

If you heard the screams, you would understand why I was upset.
The screams told a story that no medical report could ever say.
The screams racked my entire body.
I shook all over just from the screaming.

Have you ever yelled to the top of your voice?
Yelled so loud your throat became sore?
Yelled so loud your ears still echoed with your strained and pained voice?

That's what the screaming was like.
I can't even put in words how upset and lost I felt.

Have you ever had anyone describe to you what it's like to leave this world? I don't mean just passing away in your sleep, but to leave in the middle of pain and suffering.

Do you have any idea?

I only had a short while left.

My lungs weren't working very well. They nearly weren't working at all. In these last stages they were filled with fluid. My digestive system wasn't able to process solid foods either.
I was on a purely liquid diet fed through a tube. My eyes were very sensitive to light and my house had to be kept rather dark.
Suddenly another scream racked my body.

I only had a short while left.

The doctor's head shook from side to side in answer to pleas for more painkilling drugs.

"We've done all we can for the pain," was the only answer.

I felt my time nearing as I struggled. I am a fighter, but there are some fights that you just can't win.
Sometimes what you are fighting against is just too strong.

I struggled anyway.
It was all I could do and I wasn't going without a fight.

I saw blood.

The doctors say this is a sure sign that you have only minutes left.

"So this is it," I thought.
I was too weak to fight it anymore.

I felt myself going down a long dark tunnel.
I saw a great bright white light at the other end.
I felt a strong force pulling me to the other side and a strong force pushing me out of this world.

What or who was waiting on the other end?

Faster than I thought possible, I was pulled through the tunnel.

I knew I had crossed over.

The light was overwhelming, a different kind of light.
Brighter by far than anything I had ever seen.

I looked back and there was a limp body on the bed that I couldn't even recognize. Was this the body that carried me through my old world?

I was in a different world, but was I dreaming, dead, or what?

I saw strange creatures like I had never seen.
They were big giants but I felt surrounded by love.
Somehow, I knew that these strange creatures meant me no harm.

I heard them speak in a language that I had only heard through muffled dreams,

I heard the words...

"Here is your new son Mr. Bronner, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?"



This is my speculation on what my son Christian thought as he was being born on New Year's Day, the birth of a new year.
Read about it here: http://www.mountainwings.com/past/2006.htm

This is a different perspective on the miracle of birth.
Read it again from the viewpoint of an unborn baby and you'll see a different meaning.

Birth is always painful and depending upon which side we are on, it can feel like we are dying, yet we are being born anew.
This is true for both natural and spiritual births.

We often go crying, kicking, and screaming into each new world,

both those going,

...and those left behind.


Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'"


~A MountainWings Original~

MOUNTAIN WINGS MOMENT -GODS WINGS

God's Wings
============

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an interesting picture of God's wings.

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.  Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.

When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.  The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.  She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies.

When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast.

Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life.

Remember the One who loves you,

...and then be different because of it.

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." (Psalm 91:4)

QUOTE - By: Nathaniel Bronner Jr.

We Don't Get What We Need
==========================

We don't get what we want or need. We get what we prepare for, ask for, negotiate, demand, deserve and earn.

And even still, we must fight to protect what is ours to keep the undeserving from taking it

...and yet be open enough to give a portion to those in need.

~A MountainWings Original by Nathaniel Bronner Jr.~

THE CAT - By: Dwight Nelson

The Cat
========

Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church.

He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down.

The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and drove away so that the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten.

He did all this, checking his progress in the car frequently, then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree
would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten.

But as he moved a little further forward, the rope broke.

The tree went "boing!" and the kitten instantly sailed through the air  - out of sight.

The pastor felt terrible.

He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they'd seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, "Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping," and went on about his business.

A few days later he was at the grocery store and met one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. Now this woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, "Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?"

She replied, "You won't believe this," and told him how her little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child had begged again, so the Mom finally told her little girl, "Well if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it?"

(Can you see where this is heading?)

She told the pastor, "I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes.

A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her."

Never underestimate the Power of God and what may appear to be breaking on one end, is answering prayer on another.

SONG - FROM A DISTANCE (With Video) - MountainWings Moment

From A Distance
================


From a distance the world looks blue and green
And the snow-capped mountains white
From a distance the ocean meets the stream
And the eagle takes to flight

From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It's the voice of hope
It's the voice of peace
It's the voice of every man

From a distance we all have enough
And no one is in need
And there are no guns, no bombs and no disease
No hungry mouths to feed

From a distance we are instruments
Marching in a common land
Playing songs of hope
Playing songs of peace
They're the songs of every man

God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us from a distance

From a distance you look like my friend
Even though we are at war
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
What all this fighting is for

From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
And it's the hope of hope
It's the love of love
It's the heart of every man (every man)
It's the hope of hope
It's the love of love
This is the song of every man

And God is watching us
God is watching us

God is watching us from a distance
Oh, God is watching us
God is watching
God is watching us from a distance


from the song “From A Distance”
Written by Julie Gold, sung by Bette Midler

ARE YOU GREATFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR CHALLENGES - A MountainWings Moment - By : Ted Janusz

Are You Grateful for All of Your Challenges?
=============================================

Author and professional speaker Zig Ziglar has said that he has been grateful for all of his challenges, because without them,he would not be the person who he is today. ( I SAY THE SAME THING!)

When I read that, I thought to myself rather cynically, "That's fine, Mr. Ziglar. But what about the rest of us who struggle and struggle, with no end in sight? Sure, I would be happy to put up with these challenges if I knew they would have a fairy-tale ending like yours did!"

Please let me tell you my story . . .

MISTAKE #1

I had been working for a company that had experienced a number of reorganizations and managerial changes. I was so frustrated in my position, I thought "Anything has to be better than this!" And I left at the first opportunity.

MISTAKE #2

I was wrong. Like so many "rebound relationships," I found this new job was even worse than the first! I begged for an opportunity to come back to my former company. They agreed to give me an interview. At the same time, I had wanted to attend a conference and I knew that this second company would not give me
the time off. Since I knew that I would likely be returning to my company in just a matter of days, I quit.

The problem became, after I came back and interviewed, I didn't get my old job back.

Now things were really challenging. No job. A daughter attending a private university and a wife with a life-threatening disease. Since I quit, I couldn't even apply for unemployment compensation. I had no money, just a lot of sleepless nights.

THE TURNING POINT

I had a lunch with a someone I once worked with, told him my predicament and casually mentioned that I was thinking of starting my own business. He listened and asked, "How much money do you need to get started?" I hadn't been asking for any money.

Not only did he save me from foreclosure, we have developed a fabulous friendship that would not have occurred otherwise. After all, not everything can be measured in dollars and cents.

Fast forward several years . . .

My friend is now working for a large multinational corporation in town. I would like to work there also, but I figured in this economy, they must get 1,000 applications for each new position. Where would I even start to apply?

"It's very simple," my friend told me. "Here's all you need to do . . ."

I then found out that my former boss from the first company I mentioned above also works there. He put in a good word for me with the hiring manager with whom I met with yesterday afternoon. This could be for my "dream job."

Morals of my story:

Your prayers may not be answered today, this week, this month or even this year.

They may be answered in ways you don't even expect.

Even if you were the one who made mistakes, God will put people into your life to help you.

Keep moving forward.

~A MountainWings Original by Ted Janusz, Hilliard, Ohio~

THE JANITOR - A MountainWIngs Moment By: Unknown

The Janitor
============

An unemployed man goes to apply for a job with Microsoft as a janitor.

The manager there arranges for him to take an aptitude test (Section: Floors, sweeping and cleaning).

After the test, the manager says, "You will be employed at minimum wage, $5.15 an hour. Let me have your e-mail address, so that I can send you a form to complete and tell you where to report for work on your first day."

Taken aback, the man protests that he has neither a computer nor an e-mail address. To this the MS manager replies, "Well, then, that means that you virtually don't exist and can therefore hardly expect to be employed."

Stunned, the man leaves.

Not knowing where to turn and having only $10 in his wallet, he decides to buy a 25 lb flat of tomatoes at the supermarket. Within less than 2 hours, he sells all the tomatoes individually at 100% profit. Repeating the process several times more that day, he ends up with almost $100 before going to sleep that
night. And thus it dawns on him that he could quite easily make a living selling tomatoes.

Getting up early every day and going to bed late, he multiplies his profits quickly. After a short time he acquires a cart to transport several dozen boxes of tomatoes, only to have to trade
it in again so that he can buy a pick-up truck to support his expanding business.

By the end of the second year, he is the owner of a fleet of pick-up trucks and manages a staff of a hundred former unemployed people, all selling tomatoes.

Planning for the future of his wife and children, he decides to buy some life insurance. Consulting with an insurance adviser, he picks an insurance plan to fit his new circumstances. At the end of the telephone conversation, the adviser asks him for his e-mail address in order to send the final documents electronically.

When the man replies that he has no e-mail, the adviser is stunned. "What, you don't have e-mail? How on earth have you managed to amass such wealth without the Internet, e-mail and e-commerce?

Just imagine where you would be now, if you had been connected to the internet from the very start!"

After a moment of thought, the tomato millionaire replied,

"Why, of course!  I would be a floor cleaner at Microsoft!"

~Author Unknown~
The MountainWings moral of the story:

1. The Internet, e-mail, and e-commerce do not need to rule or determine your life.

2. If you don't have e-mail, but work hard, you can still become a millionaire.

3. There are much greater connections than the Internet.

4. E-mail addresses are free, and companies are begging you to take one. What does that tell you?

5. Seeing that you got this story via e-mail, are you closer to becoming a janitor than you are to becoming a millionaire?

   If the answer is janitor, then e-mail is obviously not the key to money.

6. If you take what you have, and multiply it each day, not only will you become a millionaire, you will also become a billionaire. That equation works for all things in life.

7. It is far better to be a happy janitor than an unhappy millionaire, but all other things being equal, it is better to
   be a happy millionaire than a happy janitor. You can help more people.

8. Closed doors are often blocks to the wrong path.

9. Unbeknown to most, the janitor in many corporations, is actually happier and sleeps better than the CEO.

10. It's really not the job that's the bottom line to your happiness.

   REALLY!

~A MountainWings Original Moral~

THE BIG LOTTERY WINNER- A MountainWings Moment

The Big Lottery Winner
======================

How would you feel if you won the lottery?

I mean a really big one, like 100 million or so?

Pretty good huh?

That's what I thought.

If you won 100 million that would undoubtedly make your day.
It won't make your life; but I will admit, it will do a pretty good job of making your day.

It would be hard to convince anyone that you weren't very fortunate if you won a big lottery.

Which prize is greater: money or life?

Do you know how many sperm are released from the average male during the act of procreation?

Approximately 300 million sperm are released. Only one fertilizes the egg. Each sperm will produce a different person with different characteristics.

300 million sperm compete in a race to fertilize the egg.

The one that wins makes the baby.

You won.

Out of 300 million, you won.

You got life.

The lottery has odds of around fifty something million to one. You won a race with odds of 300 million to one.

You won a greater prize than money in a race with greater odds than the lottery.

You won life.

Studies have shown that most big lottery winners aren't as happy five years later. I have a friend who knew two people who won over 50 million dollar lotteries. I asked my friend, were your friends happier before they won or now?

My friend paused in deep thought as they compared in their minds their friends before and after their big win.

"They were happier before they won," my friend replied.

I know countless who have won the prize of life.

Unfortunately, they, like the big lottery winners, often end up sad.

The thing about life. . .Not only did you win the initial race, each morning that you wake up you've won again.

Don't be like the typical big lottery winner.

Celebrate the win.

Celebrate the day.

Recognize the prize.

Each day.


~A MountainWings Original~