><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> FreEzine -FreEzine -FreEzine -FreEzine -FreEzine -FreEzine - ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Issue Vol 3 # 7 July 2002 ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> FreEzine is a free email magazine/newsletter containing articles of interest from a Christian perspective and is published no less than monthly. FreEzine is NOT Spam and is only sent to people who request it. If you ever want to stop (or start) receiving FreEzine you'll find instructions at the end of this newsletter. A special "hello" to all of our new subscribers. We welcome and appreciate feedback on how we can improve this e-zine for you. IF YOU FIND THIS NEWSLETTER USEFUL OR INTERESTING... ... PLEASE FORWARD IT TO FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES! ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> IN THIS ISSUE: Editorial: Sir Walter Scott and the Bible Newsbreak: Klez Email Confusion What's On? Seminars & Workshops: Repeatable Quotable: Forgiving Self Article: Different Gods by Milton Amos Havagiggle: A Baptism to Remember The Extensive Exposition: Spirits in Bondage by C. S. Lewis Cooks Corner: Soya Mayonnaise The Funny Bone: Cooks Corner Addition Split Second Wisdom: Forgiveness Reader's Write: God and Grandparents by Pat Jones Sermon Snippet: The Real Preacher Theologically speaking: Praying With Your Teen by Rachel Paxton Take a Hint: The Power of Believing In Your Spouse For the Children 1): Kind Deeds For the Children 2): Hurt No Living Thing Freebies: Free Desktop Clocks From My Case Files: The Bathrobe Watch This Space Observation: The Great Grey Teddy Bear Hoax Back Page: Ascii-Art (best viewed in the 10 point Courier font) Subscription & Other Information ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> FreEzine -FreEzine -FreEzine -FreEzine -FreEzine -FreEzine ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Editorial: Sir Walter Scott and the Bible I was talking recently with the nephew of ninety-year-old Albert A. Allen, of Old Bonalbo, NSW, Austalia, Sadly, Albert died on April 23rd. this year. However, a part of Albert lives on in the following words of encouragement from his pen: Shattered in health and fortune, Sir Walter Scott, the famous Scottish poet and novelist, lay in his lovely home at Abbotsford, on the banks of the silvery Tweed. He was nearing the end of his earthly life. "Bring me the Book", he said to his son-in-law. "What book, Sir Walter?" asked Mr. Lochart. "There is but one Book-that is the Bible!" was the reply. Sir Walter had written many books, which are read by thousands. But face to face with the eternal world, the soul wants something better than fictitious tales of adventure and war. Nothing satisfies the human heart -- disappointed in all the world can give -- but Christ as He is set forth in the Bible, the Saviour and Friend of sinners. "Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee", Job 22.21. But this acquaintance with Christ should not be put oft until the hour of death; it may be too late to form it then. He is the best Friend to live with, to lean on though life, and to have close by your side in life's latest hour. The Bible is the Book that tells you of Him. Sir Walter Scott knew that nothing short of what God says in His Word is of any value to a dying man. Fiction may fascinate and pass away the hours of earthly life. Tales of plunder, tragedy, and love may engage and please the mind unexercised as to God, and sin and judgement. But when the portals of the world to come begin to open, and the hour of death draws nigh, nothing but the Christ of God, the Gospel of God, and the Word of God can give satisfaction. That Word is God's message to your soul and mine. It makes known with no uncertainty, man's need of salvation, and God's way of saving sinners. It tells with awful solemnity - "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement", Hebrews 9.27. It gives God's verdict on human guilt in the brief, but powerful words - "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God", Romans 3.23. It tells of God's provided remedy: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son", John 3.16. It says "Christ died for the ungodly", Romans 5.6, and in virtue of that death, "by Him all that believe are justified from all things", Acts 13.39. Reader, all these are certainties. They are in "The Book" - God's own Book - and "the word of our God shall stand for ever", Isaiah 40.8. Do not be misled by the blatant ravings of infidels against the Word of God. Be not deceived by the smoother reasonings of clever men, who claim to be its critics". Depend upon this, the hour is near when these will all be silent, and the Word which they now defame will stand -- alike in its declarations of mercy and judgement - firm as a rock. Let this Word be your guide, the Christ of Whom it testifies your Saviour, and the salvation it proclaims in the gospel your present accepted possession. There is no other rest to the weary soul, no other light to brighten "the valley of the shadow of death". Christ received, John 1.12; Christ possessed and trusted, 2 Timothy 1.12, is joy and life, and blessed assurance in the hour of death. Delay not, then, to make this Christ of God your own Saviour, your personal Redeemer, and your confessed Lord and Owner. -- The late Albert A. Allen. Used with permission. ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Newsbreak: Klez Email Confusion Viruses - especially email-based viruses - are a major annoyance for all Internet users. The recent "Klez" virus goes beyond this. Many people report receiving emails from strangers asking why they contacted them. Others have reported receiving emails warning that the email they sent to XYZ business contained an infected attachment. In each case, no email had been sent. Such incidents are, understandably, causing considerable confusion. To clarify some issues relating to email-based viruses generally: 1. If your PC becomes infected with an email-based virus, the virus may search for all email addresses recorded on your PC, such as in your email address book. It will then 'covertly' (that is, without your knowledge or involvement) send emails containing virus-infected attachments from your PC to those email addresses. Some viruses will even trawl through the email messages you have stored in your email folders to extract additional email addresses. As a result, if your PC becomes infected with an email-based virus, you may unwittingly be responsible for sending dozens, possibly hundreds, of virus-infected emails to friends and associates. All this can happen without any knowledge on your part. 2. Many of the emails the virus tries to send will not reach the intended recipient (because the email address used is no longer valid etc.). These emails will "bounce" and be returned to your email address, which may cause your mailbox to overflow, resulting in difficulties receiving email. 3. Email-based viruses can infect your PC without any user-interaction. Earlier viruses could only infect your PC if you manually opened or launched a virus-infected email attachment. Modern viruses can "self-execute" - you only need to view the email message containing the attachment and the virus will be activated. 4. Generally, if your PC becomes infected with an email-based virus, it doesn't take long for telltale signs to appear. You may receive alerts from friends and colleagues that you are distributing virus-infected emails or sending attachments to emails they did not request. Alternatively, you might receive 'bounced' emails that clog your mailbox. These are all classic signs that your PC is infected and you should take immediate steps to "clean" your PC of the virus. Unfortunately, the recent Klez virus added some new "twists" to the process. When the Klez virus infects a PC, it quickly scans the PC for email addresses that it can send copies of itself to. However, when it sends its virus-infected emails, it randomly chooses two email addresses at a time: one address is used as the recipient (i.e. the person who will receive the virus-infected email) and the other address is inserted in the "Sender" field. In effect, the virus appears to be coming from someone other than the person with the virus infected PC. The result is utter mayhem. To give an example: Say Alice's PC becomes infected with the Klez virus. The virus scans her PC for email addresses and finds several, including those of Bob and Mary. The virus then sends a virus-infected email to Bob, but inserts Mary's details in the 'From:' field. Bob gets the virus-infected email, which is detected by his anti-virus software. He sends a curt email informing Mary that her PC is infected. However, Mary also uses anti-virus software and knows her PC is clean. All the while, Alice is none the wiser, and the virus continues sending out infected emails to her friends and colleagues with bogus sender details. A few pieces of advice from Telstra BigPond. First, if you don't have anti-virus software, invest in some today, otherwise you may be contributing to the problem. Second, if you receive a virus-infected email, it is a good idea to send an email to the person that it apparently came from with a quick warning that their PC appears to be infected. However, don't be abusive - the email may not be from them at all. -- Ponderings < http://www.bigpond.com/Home/Rockpool/Newsletters/Ponderings.asp> ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> What's On? Seminars & Workshops: For free Seminars in your area, locally, nationally & internationally, visit . ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Repeatable Quotable: Forgiving Self Mrs. Hart always looks great...Put it down to a daily treadmill workout and daily...leg exercises given her 40 years ago by fitness doyen Marjorie Craig. Or put it down to the big smile she determinedly gives the mirror every morning along with the words, "Kitty, I forgive you," absolution for any sins committed in the previous 24 hours. -- Article on Kitty Carlisle Hart in The Wall Street Journal ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><>? Aside: When I Say, "I am a Christian" When I say, "I am a Christian I'm not shouting "I am saved." I'm whispering "I was lost."; That is why I chose this way. ><> When I say, "I am a Christian I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble, And need someone to be my guide. ><> When I say, "I am a Christian I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak, And pray for strength to carry on. ><> When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed, And cannot ever pay the debt. ><> When I say "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are too visible, But God believes I'm worth it. ><> When I say, "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, Which is why I speak His name. ><> When I say, "I am a Christian" I do not wish to judge. I have no authority; I only know I'm loved. -- Carol Wimmer ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Article: Different Gods by Milton Amos In his book, Disappointment With God, Philip Yancey tells of his visit to a church in which a much higher than normal mortality from a certain disease, had occurred among its children. The media had learned of a widely accepted belief, in the membership there, that it was a denial of faith in God, to accept medical treatment for their children's illnesses. Recounting his observations of folk in that church, Yancey states his realisation of the importance of theology. It does matter very much, what someone believes about God. What God people believe in makes a difference to their lives. J.B. Phillips has listed some ideas of God that he thinks will not stand the test of reality. The first is God as RESIDENT POLICEMAN. This equates God with an internal voice, capable of telling the person what is right or wrong. It is notoriously inadequate. Many a devout soul is plagued by feelings of guilt over things which are not wrong at all. Conscience can itself be profligate and tyrannical. Another of Phillip's flawed Gods is the GOD OF ESCAPISM. This God is expected to intervene at appropriate times, to deliver people from distress. This may be the God of many dreams, but it is not the God of the Bible. Especially not the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who did not rescue his Son from death, even though he entreated him with strong crying and tears. THE ESCAPE GOD will not suffice because he prevents people from learning to be responsible. He prevents people from maturing. He stops Christians from knowing what life is like for the rest of humanity. Another God can be called GOD IN A BOX. This is the God who has been tamed by an individual or a group. Like the God's of ancient times he is restricted to one people; one movement; one culture. This God is the property of his adherents. They know how he will act. They have trained him. He is predictable. He is to be known in the pronouncements and published statements of his people. Most of us want to be able to say, "I know that God would not permit this to happen; I know that he will answer my request for this, or that." But sooner or later, God in a Box is a disappointment. William James spoke of two classes of religious folk. Those that are ONCE BORN. And those that are TWICE BORN. Those born only once go through life without ever experiencing anything that tests or demolishes their religious viewpoint. The twice born have been flung into desperations. The God of their imagination has proved completely useless. And, in the night of their travail, they have emerged with a deeper, different faith, in a different kind of God. The Psalmist describes just such an experience. "When I felt secure, I said, I will never be shaken. O Lord, when you favoured me, you made my mountain stand firm. But when you hid your face, I was dismayed" (Psalm 30:6+7) Psalm 30 testifies of a personal ordeal in which the writer found that his former faith in God was not one he could continue to use. When he was "down in the depths" (v1); "down in the grave" (v3), the God he had believed in was no where to be found. Afterward, his faith expanded to take in the thought that God does not always keep his children from trouble. He also realized that trouble will not be a permanent feature of God's world. "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5). Most readers will admit to a faith in God (at some time in their journey), which excluded the possibility of certain eventualities. Some believed that God would never permit their marriage to fail. Others knew a God who would keep their children from harm or degradation. There were others who were convinced that God would never let them come to believe anything that was untrue. Yet, as years have passed each has had to re-appraise their faith, and its object. Anyone who finds their God has let them down, should not give up on God altogether, without first considering the God of Jesus Christ. To give up God without first inspecting him at his clearest and best, would be far too rash. If we can hold on to Jesus' God, we will learn to experience the deity, not only in the majesty and elegance of the creation. We will know him not just in beauty, laughter, and pleasure, we will draw near to him in life's stern, severe, and terrible facts. Along with Jesus we will find God in our own struggles, and those of people around us. We will detect him even in disappointment and pain. We will discover a God who covers the entire range of human experience. And we will be satisfied. -- Courtesy of Good News Australia Magazine <> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Havagiggle: A Baptism to Remember A pastor tells the following story that occurred at a baptism which he attended in Northern Mexico. The large number of baptismal candidates lined up on the banks of the river while the congregation sang quietly in the background waiting for the service to begin. The pastor, a man of somewhat small size, knew that in order to baptise the candidates with their heads upstream (a rule of modesty dictated by the fast-flowing stream), he would have to stand farther out in the river, in deeper water than the candidates, and face the shore. Furthermore, the slope of the riverbank was so precipitous that he was standing in water that was almost chest deep while the candidates stood in somewhat shallower water. With appropriate solemnity the service began and the pastor began to baptise the candidates one after another. The pastor was unaware of his habit of stepping slightly toward the candidate's head, to facilitate lifting them out of the water, which resulted in his gradually moving upstream with each candidate. As a result, he had moved several yards upstream when he looked up and saw towering over him his next candidate, a full-sized lady. He knew he could handle this, but it would be difficult to lift her out of the water since he was in much deeper water than she. At the appropriate moment, just as the congregation began to sing the next stanza of the hymn, he took a step forward to let the candidate down into the swirling water -- and found there was no bottom -- he had stepped into a large hole! The congregation gasped, and stopped singing, as their pastor and the candidate completely disappeared from view. It seemed like an eternity as they waited, and waited, for the duo to reappear. Finally, someone shouted as they saw them way downstream. They were safe -- with the pastor hanging onto the lady for dear life! -- Elder Folkenberg (Old SDANet BBS file) ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> The Extensive Exposition. Each issue we will make available a longer article available by email free to those who request it. This is to keep the FreEzine a readable length yet make available more in-depth material for those who are interested. Articles provided under this section do not always reflect totally the beliefs of the editor. In some issues more than one article will be available under this section and articles will need to be asked for by name to save confusion. We have no separate mailing list for the automatic despatch of articles in The Extensive Exposition so a separate request will need to be made for each article. This month's article: Spirits in Bondage by C. S. Lewis (80pp) Published under the pseudonym, Clive Hamilton, Spirits in Bondage was C. S. Lewis' first book. Released in 1919 by Heinemann, it was reprinted in 1984 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich and included in Lewis' 1994 Collected Poems. L&R Hartley, Publishers have published this 2002 electronic edition under Reprint Rights. It is in Adobe Acrobat(r) format - therefore you will need an Acrobat Reader programme to read it (available free from if you don't already have one). Most of the poems appear to have been written between 1915 and 1918, a period during which Lewis was a student under W. T. Kirkpatrick, a military trainee at Oxford, and a soldier serving in the trenches of World War I. Their outlook varies from Romantic expressions of love for the beauty and simplicity of nature to cynical statements about the presence of evil in this world. In a September 12, 1918 letter to his friend Arthur Greeves, Lewis said that his book was, "mainly strung around the idea that I mentioned to you before-that nature is wholly diabolical & malevolent and that God, if he exists, is outside of and in opposition to the cosmic arrangements." In his cynical poems, Lewis is dealing with the same questions about evil in nature that Alfred Lord Tennyson explored from a position of troubled faith in "In Memoriam A. H." (Stanzas 54f). In a letter written perhaps to reassure his father, Lewis claimed, "You know who the God I blaspheme is and that it is not the God that you or I worship, or any other Christian." Articles may be obtained free by writing to the editor and asking for the article by name. This month's article: Spirits in Bondage by C. S. Lewis ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Cooks Corner: Soya Mayonnaise 1 cup water / half teaspoon paprika / quarter teaspoon salt / 1 teaspoon garlic (or 1 clove garlic) / 1 teaspoon onion powder (or 1 small onion) / a dash of turmeric / 1 cup soyagen (or potato starch) - soyagen is a type of soya milk powder / 1 tablespoon fresh dill (optional). Blend in a blender until smooth (3 minutes) Variations: add tomato paste & pickles to the above and will come close to 'thousand island' dressing. OR add 4 more cloves of garlic, a quarter cup lemon juice, a half cup olive oil to above dressing and it will come close to 'Caesar Salad' dressing. OR Add soya milk pulp to any of the above and you will have a nice spread. -- Amazing Discoveries (c)2001, 2002 ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> The Funny Bone: Cooks Corner Addition - The Recipe Exchange I didn't have potatoes, so I substituted rice. I didn't have paprika, so I used another spice. I didn't have tomato sauce, so I used tomato paste, A whole can, not a half can, I don't believe in waste. A friend gave me the recipe. She said you couldn't beat it, There must be something wrong with her, I couldn't even eat it! -- Anon (Editor's archives) ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Split Second Wisdom: It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. -- Mother Teresa ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Reader's Write: God and Grandparents An evolutionist friend who believes things are getting better and better, once said to me, 'One of the unsolved mysteries in evolution is the role of grandparents in the bringing up of children; this does not occur anywhere else in the animal kingdom.' I don't agree with his ideas. I do not see the world around me evolving for the better but declining. As for grandparents, we discovered how much we were needed recently when our son married for the second time and asked us to care for the children while he went on his honeymoon. When the rail fell off the upper bunk; a pain formed in the tummy or a cake had to be made for to-morrow's break-up - all the things that never happen at our house - we were there to create, comfort, treat or cook on demand. We were asked to make pom-poms and when I asked where is the wool, was amazed to hear 'no Gran'ma, not wool - paper! It is for our dancing'. At times we had laughter, tears, tempers, exasperation and most common - exhaustion. We were parents again. A role we thought we had left behind long ago. So why DO grandparents take such care of their grandchildren temporarily or sometimes even for the child's lifetime? The answer is LOVE. God Almighty has put into grandparents a special love for grandchildren which creates a bonding with them from birth - in most cases. The Bible says in 1 John 4:8 'God is love'. God is always with us - even though we can't see Him - to love, comfort, teach and guide us. At the end of the ten days we were looking after the kids, though it was enjoyable, we knew our job was not going to get better and better. We knew we only survived by God's grace and now we can tell our evolutionist friend his theory is a fizzer. -- Pat Jones, Bega Presbyterian Church. Editor's comment: My favourite verse for grandparents is the one in which God acknowledges that grandparents have a special role to play. Deuteronomy 4:9 says, 'take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them (to) thy sons, and thy sons' sons.' Did you note that? To teach of God's leading to your son's sons means that 1) you must be a grandparent and 2) God has entrusted this pleasurable responsibility to you! If you have something you have written that you would like us to consider publishing, a free 60 page Style Guide is available online at , or from the Editor of this FreEzine. Submissions for FreEzine must not exceed 500 words and may be sent within the body of an email addressed to . ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Sermon Snippet: The Real Preacher A great evangelist closed his sermon with an appeal for his hearers to surrender their lives to Christ. A score or more responded, among them a woman of wealth, who was well known in social circles. She asked the minister if she might say a few words. Imagine the surprise of all when she said: "I wanted to tell you why I have come forward tonight. It was not because of the excellent sermon delivered by the preacher, but because of the sermon I have seen from day to day in the life of this little woman sitting near me. Her hands are disfigured and hardened by daily toil; the burdens of years have stooped her frame. She is just a humble washerwoman. For a number of years she has served my home, but in all this time, her life has been above even the slightest reproach. Not one unkind word has passed her lips; not one frown have I seen upon her brow; not once has she become impatient, although she might have found many excuses for so doing. "Under the most trying conditions she has manifested a sweet Christian spirit. Quietly she has done countless little acts of love for others. I am sorry to say it, but I have sneered at her simple faith, and taunted her for her childlike trust in God. But when trouble came to my home, when my little girl was snatched from me by the cruel hand of death, it was this humble child of God who brought the first ray of hope to my troubled soul. There is a sweet magnetism about her consistent life that has drawn me to the Saviour, and there is a longing in my heart to love and follow her Master." The minister asked that the godly washerwoman should come forward. Happy tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her face was lighted up with joy. "I want to introduce you," said the evangelist, "to the real preacher of the evening." -- Charles L. Paddock Cited in Signs of the Times, December 22, 1931, Pacific Press, www.pacificpress.com/signs ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Theologically Speaking: Praying With Your Teen I don't remember my parents ever praying with me. It wasn't until I was a parent myself, and a born again believer, that I realised one of the outward signs of a committed Christian is their active prayer life. Looking back I can now see what I didn't know then--that my parents had never truly given their lives to the Lord. Does your teen see you pray? If they don't, how do they know about your relationship with the Lord so they can model it in their own life? Praying together makes us vulnerable to each other. We are encouraged to share genuine emotions not easily otherwise expressed. I know especially with my teen daughter, many deep discussions evolve into anger and frustration, often tears, getting to the point where my daughter is so involved in her emotions that she can't hear me any longer. I've found that in these situations of intense emotion, prayer is often a very effective way to bring perspective to the situation and peace to all concerned. We just sit down and pray. Family prayer has shown me a depth of character in my husband and daughter I never knew existed. My husband prays for the safety and well being of our family with emotion that he normally finds hard to express. My daughter prays for the salvation of friends and family members with such fervency that you wonder how the Lord could possibly ignore such faithful prayer. You don't have to pray together every day to have an impact on your teen. We often pray together at dinner, taking turns offering our prayers of thanksgiving for all that the Lord has done in our lives. My daughter and I often pray together when she's going through a particularly emotional struggle, often the result of spiritual battles she faces as she matures into a young Christian woman. Being a teen in today's world isn't easy. One of the biggest blessings you can give your teen is to pray with them. It shows them you love them and that you care about their spiritual well being (as well as practising what you preach). -- Rachel Paxton ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> For the Children - 1): Kind Deeds Little drops of water Little grains of sand Make the mighty Ocean. And the Pleasant land ><> Thus the little minutes Humble though they be Make the mighty ages Of eternity ><> Little deeds of kindness. Little words of love. Make this earth an Eden Like the heavens above. -- Isaac Watts ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> For the Children - 2): Hurt No Living Thing Hurt no living thing. Ladybug, nor butterfly, Nor moth with dusty wing Nor cricket chirping cheerily Nor grasshopper so light of leap Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat. Nor harmless worms that creep. -- Christina Rossetti ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Take a Hint: The Power of Believing In Your Spouse "I've hit the wall!" that was my first thought when I felt an intense tingling throughout my body. "This can't be happening now!" I pleaded with myself, "I still have eight miles to go!" But with each step, my body engaged in a war with my mind. On one side of the battle was that I had dreamed and trained for six months to complete a marathon. On the other side, however, was my body. At the eighteen-mile marker I began to experience severe cramping in my calves. My wife, Erin, found me at the next mile marker. Expecting to see me running along joyously, her first thought was that I was injured. After explaining my dilemma, all I could think about was quitting. In my mind, if I had to walk the remaining distance, my dream of "running" a marathon was over. As I struggled with each step, Erin said something I'll never forget. "I believe in you!" Looking back on the experience, Erin's encouragement seemed so simple. "I believe in you." I've heard her use those words many times before. But at that moment, during a time in which I felt so defeated, her words were like a burst of energy. The rest of the race looked like a scene out of a Rocky movie. With each agonising step, Erin was by my side. Some friends and family who were watching even joined in the long walk. However, as we reached the twenty-fourth mile, I couldn't endure walking any longer. If I was going to finish the race, I had to start running. After several yards, my calves began functioning again and I was able to jog. Finally, after 26.6 long miles, Erin and I crossed the finish line together. She believed in me. One of the greatest gifts you can give your mate is to believe in his or her dreams. As the pressures of life intensify, sometimes the difference between going after a dream and remaining passive is having someone say, "I believe in you!" If this is your desire, I encourage you to answer two important questions. What are your mate's dreams? The first step is to learn what your spouse is dreaming about. What specific things motivate him in life? What does she want to accomplish in her lifetime? During a road trip, Erin and I made a list of all the things we wanted to complete before we die. As Erin talked, I was amazed at the diversity of her dreams. I had no idea she even dreamt about some of those things. Understanding your mate's goals is a great way to deepen your intimacy. What stands in his or her way? After hearing about your mate's dreams, it's important to determine what might inhibit realising those goals. Is it a lack of confidence? Maybe she doesn't know where to begin? Whatever the reason, I encourage you to find out and assist him or her to overcome those barriers. As I discovered while running the marathon, when someone believes in you there's no limit to what can be accomplished. However, a goal is only a dream until someone makes it a reality. And that reality sometimes begins with a simple word of encouragement. What a difference you can make if you always treat your mate not as he might be at that moment, but as you know he can be. -- Dr. Greg Smalley < http://www.totalhome.ca> ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Freebies: Free Desktop Clocks There's lots of free stuff at ClockDomain.com, but the treat is the free desktop clocks. You can choose from 30 and they are rather quaint, and actually work! From an old-time cuckoo clock to a nasty monster that tells the time, these are free, fun, and funny! Plus they've also got comics, screensavers, etc. ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> From My Case Files: The Bathrobe After three decades of counselling, your editor (a retired sociologist) sometimes ponders some of the things which have come up in counselling that, in retrospect, contain an element of humour. This feature section will be included from time to time to share some of these snippets. Names have been changed to protest privacy. Maggie was lamenting the fact that Egbert's secretary had bought him a flannelette bathrobe as a gift. This had set in motion an argument and when Maggie explained it to me later, she said, "It's not that I mind that she bought him a gift, it's just that if God had wanted men to wear bathrobes, He wouldn't have invented cute pyjama shorts!" ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Watch This Space: Future issues will include other sections not listed here. Why not write to us suggesting what you would like to see included. ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Observation: The Great Grey Teddy Bear Hoax A recent hoax chain email has caused considerable problems for some computer users. The hoax email instructs individuals to search their PC for a file called 'jdbgmgr.exe', which, when viewed in Windows Explorer, has a grey teddy bear icon. The hoax email advises that the program is an "undetectable" virus and that it should be deleted. DO NOT delete the file. It is a legitimate component of the Windows operating system. Deleting it may cause problems accessing certain Internet resources. For further information, including instructions for restoring the program if you have already deleted it, go to <> -- McAfee Notice > ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> The Back Page: Text Art As some readers enjoy the challenge of 'text-art' or 'ASCII-art'*, we provide this section at the end of each issue where readers can contribute their artwork. Contributions should be sent to the editor and should not exceed 50 lines in length. Text-art is best viewed in the 10 point Courier font (you may wish to squint your eyes also). (*ASCII stands for the American Standard Code for Information Interchange.) This month's drawing is From The Muppet Show: Fozzie, Gonzo, Beaker, Scooter, Rowlf, Kermit, Miss Piggy. Change the font to10 point Courier to view it optimally. ___ _(___)_ ()' `() WWWWW .' o o `. |o o| ..----.. (+)(+) : _O_ : | O | _www_ .': o o :`. / \ `. \_/ .' .oo__ |(")| /-o-o-\ .': () :`. \ -==- / .`---'. : -=~)) / \X/ \ (| - |).' :-======-: `. \ / .' ()o() `..`--'. | V | \ -=- / `-' `. .' `-'<\/\/\/> : ( \ :: : | | | /`---'\ .' `. / \ .)\()()/(. .((()(())())). ((()(``oo'')())) ((()) )(..)( (())) (())). `==' .((()) `()))'`----'`((()' ' ` -- From ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> : <>< : ><> Subscription Information: FreEzine is a Free ezine magazine/newsletter, published by Lionel Hartley () no less than monthly and sent out ONLY to those who request it. As FreEzine uses an opt-in email list, we never buy or otherwise obtain email addresses. Although we encourage our readers to forward copies of FreEzine to their friends and invite them to subscribe, we have a strictly No Spam Policy. To subscribe, please send an email telling us where you heard about FreEzine, to and type SUBSCRIBE FREEZINE in the subject line. To change your email address, please send a blank message to and type ADDRESS CHANGE FREEZINE in the subject line. To unsubscribe, simply send a blank message (we invite your comments also) to and type UNSUBSCRIBE FREEZINE in the subject line. It is NOT necessary to access a website and/or go through a complicated ritual to unsubscribe from FreEzine! Privacy: Protecting your privacy is very important to us. We will not share, rent, sell, or exchange your e-mail address with a third party for any purpose. Unsubscribing permanently removes your name and address. A note on the format: Your editor has considered many possible formats, including a colourfully illustrated E-book, webpage, Portable Document Format (.pdf), etc. Reluctantly, plain text was chosen to make this ezine available to the greatest number of users - DOS, Windows(R), Macintosh, etc. Address all correspondence to the editor Please do not use "Reply To Sender" email option as this magazine may occasionally be sent out by a commercial or other distributor, unrelated to FreEzine. Free offers in FreEzine of CD-ROMs, Back issues, software, posters, additional articles, screensavers, etc. have a time limit which is normally until the issue of the next edition of FreEzine. Special exceptions are sometimes made. Contact the editor for information. In order to cater for a variety of tastes and beliefs, the content of FreEzine does not always reflect totally the beliefs of the editor. Contents of FreEzine are COPYRIGHT and we make every endeavour to acknowledge sources. You may freely quote from FreEzine PROVIDED is cited as a reference source. Occasional contributions from Good News Australia are used with permission. YOUR contributions and comments most welcome. E&OE PS. This could be your next home: Check out