What a crazy couple of days. To start off our weekend, everyone at church received sad news. Brian Fulton passed away last week rather unexpectedly. His girlfriend Joyce was able to put up a brave front at his funeral last night. It's sad because he's gone but happy because he's no longer in pain and is rejoicing in Heaven. Please keep Joyce and the Fulton family in your thoughts and prayers.

I've been working sooo much lately. Shane had a friend fly into town last week and he's playing host until this Friday. Then I go back to working weekends. Kristin's baby shower was Sunday afternoon. So much fun. I loved that I wowed her with the gift I got her. She totally expected to get it from someone else.

Everyone loves my new glasses. Pastor Hersch was funny on Sunday when we walked into church. He greeted Dave & the boys and asked who I was. I guess the new glasses, new hair do and semi new outfit was too much to resist a joke. Speaking of, his devotional is next. Have a great day!

Shelly



For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. Psalm 72:12

Some time ago, a French tourist set out to cross St. Bernard's Pass by himself. When he got caught in the fog near the top, he sat on a rock and waited for one of the famous St. Bernard dogs, which have rescued thousands of lost travelers, to come and attend to him. But none came.

When the fog cleared away, he managed to reach the hospice. There he let it be known that he thought the dog a rather overrated animal.

"There I was," he said, "for at least six hours, and not one came near me." "But why," exclaimed one of the monks, "did you not ring us up on the telephone?"

Then he explained to the astonished tourist that the whole of the pass is provided with shelters at short distances from each other - all in direct phone communication with the hospice. When the bell rings, the monks send off a dog loaded with bread, wine and other comforts.

The dog goes straight to the proper shelter. The system saves the hounds their former duty of patrolling the pass on the chance of a stray traveler being found, and as the pass is under deep snow for about eight months of the year, this entailed hard and often fruitless labor.

Many people in need of spiritual help have not yet realized there is One who will hear and answer directly the troubled cries for help.



Pastor Hersch