Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails, Is there anyone that falls,
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small,
Cause when I take a look around, Everybody seems so strong,
I know they’ll soon discover

That I don’t belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people, Under shiny plastic steeples, With walls around our weakness, And smiles to hide our pain, But if the invitation’s open, To every heart that has been broken, Maybe then we close the curtain, On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is CONVINCING
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching

Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free, If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person, That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

Well if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone that fails, Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small
Casting Crowns

What Is A Fireman?

He is the guy next door - a man's man with the memory of a little boy. He has never gotten over the excitement of engines and sirens and danger.

He is a guy like you and me with wants and worries and unfulfilled dreams.

Yet he stands taller than most of us.

He is a fireman.

He puts it all on the line when the bell rings.

A fireman is at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of men.

He is a man who saves lives because he has seen too much death.

He is a gentle man because he has seen the awesome power of violence out of control.

He is responsive to a child's laughter because his arms have held too many small bodies that will never laugh again.

He is a man who appreciates the simple pleasures of life - hot coffee held in numb, unbending fingers - a warm bed for bone and muscle compelled beyond feeling - the camaraderie of brave men - the divine peace and selfless service of a job well done in the name of all men.

He doesn't wear buttons or wave flags or shout obscenities.

When he marches, it is to honor a fallen comrade.

He doesn't preach the brotherhood of man.

He lives it.

Author unknown

MY LITTLE SISTER

MY LITTLE SISTER

I Don't know where to start,

because I don't know when there will be an end.

Almost all of my life we've had each other.

We've laughed together,

Cried together,

Yelled at each other,

And lied to each other.

But there is another thing, too.

I'm not so blind to see,

How much you are like me.

In my heart I know that everything I do,

Will somehow have an effect on you.

I try so hard to always set a good example,

But I know in the past I have given you bad samples.

Life isn't easy,

And when it's not,

I wanna be there to guide your way with you.

When I'm torn between choices,

I always wonder how each one might effect you today.

I know there've been times when maybe I did the wrong thing,

But now I can really see just how careful I need to be.

You'll make mistakes,

Take the wrong road instead of the right,

But don't ever let people tear you down,

Always put up a fight.

Most of all I want you to know,

That no matter where I am,

What I'm doing,

Or who I'm with,

If you are in trouble in life,

I'll drop everything, and be there in seconds to give you my advice.

I want to say I will end this message with something special,

But it would be a lie,

Because there will never be an end,

What we have together will never die.

Poem by Kristine Anna Usselman

Live and Learn

“I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.”

Abraham Lincoln

UNDONE

Song by MercyMe

Dream Big

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt