Pentecost Sunday - Our Lady of Lebanon

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin3time will be announced and published in our bulletin. The architect and the contractor will meetwith Fr. Bakhos and the Parish Council to have their final approval before they figure out theestimate of the cost of the project. Then the date of the breaking of the ground will bedetermined. From the breaking of the ground until the project is completed at the end of 2007,a daily prayer will be raised to God and the Blessed Mother to shower their graces on thefaithful who contribute generously toward the building project.Donations towards the Building Project during May 2007:DonationsReceivedGem LevelRequestedDonor’s Name & Date$400 Foundation Altmeyer Funeral Homes (5.11.2007)$25 Cedar Book Mike George (Memorial) (5.12.2007)$266 Women Society May Gift Basket Raffle donation (5.22.2007)Sunday, May 27Sat. & Sun., June 2 & 3Saturday, June 9Sunday, June 10Sat. thru Fri., June 16 - 21Sunday, June 17Sunday, June 24Sunday, July 15Saturday, August 11Sunday, August 12Upcoming Calendar of Events50/50 May Building Fund Raffle Drawing after MassBenediction of the Blessed Sacrament – see information belowRummage Sale 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.Women's Society Novena at 10:00 a.m.Week of Father's Day Masses – see information belowIce Cream Social after 10:30 a.m. Mass (Sponsor: Cedar Club)50/50 Building Fund Raffle Drawing after Mass"A Basket Case" Gift Basket Raffle Drawing after MassMahrajan Eve Hafli (held at St. Vincent DePaul Church)Mahrajan – Lebanese Festival ( held at Oglebay Park)Flowers for Blessed Mother in MayThe flowers for the Blessed Mother – side altar are donated during the Sundays of May by:Sunday, May 27 Shirley George, Anna Jalad, Mary Lish, Nettie Seidler, Rita StrawnMonthly 50/50 Building Fund Raffle (Drawings: May 27 & June 24)The Women’s Society is sponsoring the Monthly 50/50 Building Fund Raffle. Thedrawing– from entries received from the yellow –May 50/50 Raffle tickets provided at theentrance to the church– will take place in the Social Hall following Mass on Sunday, May27. Proceeds will benefit the Building Fund.The Women’s Society is also sponsoring the Monthly June 50/50 Building Fund Raffle.The drawing– from entries received from the salmon –June 50/50 Raffle tickets provided atthe entrance to the church and in the weekly church bulletins– will take place in the SocialHall following Mass on Sunday, June 24. Proceeds will benefit the Building Fund.Raffle Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Buy or sell the tickets, and return thecompleted stubs as soon as possible in the collection or mail to: Our Lady Of Lebanon Church,2216 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV 26003.For more information or additional tickets, contact the church office at (304) 233-1688.Your generosity and cooperation will enhance our Church.Congratulations to Mary Stees who won the April 50/50 prize of $98. She donated $50

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin4back to the church along with the Women's Society donation of $99.Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament (Sat-Sun, June 2-3)Pope Benedict XVI said, “The celebration and worship of the Eucharist enable us to drawnear to God’s love and to persevere in that love. When Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the LastSupper, He did not simply thank God for the ways He had acted throughout history to savepeople, rather, Jesus revealed that He Himself was the sacrifice that would bring salvation tofulfillment. The institution of the Eucharist demonstrates how Jesus’ death, for all its violenceand absurdity, became in Him a supreme act of love and mankind’s definitive deliverance fromevil. Celebrating the Eucharist, the Church is able to celebrate and adore the mystery of Christ,who is present in the bread and wine through the power of the Holy Spirit.”Rummage Sale (Saturday, June 9 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.)Our Rummage Sale is coming up on Saturday, June 9 th , from 8 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.Please save your items of all kind for this sale. Any questions call Linda at 242-6853.Drop off times at the church hall are Monday & Tuesday evenings, June 4 & 5 from 6 to9:00 p.m.; and Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, June 6, 7, 8 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.The sale is set for Saturday, June 9, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch and baked itemswill be available. All proceeds benefit the church. --Linda DuffyWomen's Society Novena (Sunday, June 10, at 10:00 a.m.)Every second Sunday of the month, the Women Society, adorned with the Medal of theBlessed Mother, will gather faithfully at 10:00 a.m. to lead the Rosary, the Litany, and theNovena of the Miraculous Medal. Their prayers will be offered for their own intentions, theirfamily members, the sick parishioners, and special intentions. Medals worn for the Mass maybe picked up at the rear of the Church and should be returned at the end of the Mass. Pleasejoin our Ladies in prayer.Fathers’ Week Masses: (From Saturday, June 16, to Friday, June 22 nd )Masses for Our Fathers & GrandfathersA Reflection on Fathers and on Saint Joseph, Foster Father of JesusSaint Joseph, foster father of Jesus and respectful spouse of the Virgin Mary is also called “patron of theChurch,” “friend of open hearts,” great “helper for men,” and “patron of a happy death.” Yet, before reflectingon these titles of Saint Joseph, I’d like to reflect on the four tasks of fatherhood.FatherhoodThe first important task of a father is to love his children. He is an image of God for them, and so all thathe does can either help them grow into loving persons, or because of selfish or dominant desires, harm theirdevelopment. A father desires the best for his children, and sacrifices for this. He imposes rules for the homethat are fair and which advance the common and individual good. He helps each person discern his/her vocationfrom God so as to find themselves and their relationship with God.The second important task of a father is to love his children’s mother. An old man who successfullyraised a happy and healthy family of seven was asked what was his secret. He answered clearly andaffectionately, “I loved their mother.” This secret is really no secret at all. If fathers want their children torespect women, to respect themselves, to respect the vocation of marriage, and to love and respect God, he mustalso show this love and respect to the one whom God has given to him as a spouse, and with whom God hasgiven him children.The third task of a father is to provide for his family. This is not easy, because there are manydifficulties associated with work. A father has to work long hours, work with people that he may not like, put up

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin5with difficult working conditions, his work may be unstable, and his pay less than he deserves. These are amongthe many pressures on a man to provide well for his family. Thus, all of us must do our best to support andstrengthen a father as he attempts to provide for his family.The fourth important task of the father is that he must protect his wife and children. He must put themfirst, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. At times he must defend their honor and dignity. He must also lovethem and advise them in such a way that keeps them from the temptations, the vulnerabilities, and the dangersof society. He must, like Christ, lay down his life for them.A good example and intercessor for the good Father is Saint Joseph.Saint Joseph, Patron, of the Church, Great Helper for ManA psychologist once commented that Joseph’s respect and reverence, as well as his strong, attentive andloving involvement for a wife not his own, and a son not his own, was the primary human reason why Jesuscould preach and live a life of unconditional and sacrificial love. The positive way that Joseph was a father anda husband made possible much of the inner strength and freedom that Jesus possessed. He was able to live inthis world of many troubles without a paralyzing fear; and in His human nature, Jesus freely expressed a deepand yet chaste love for others, and a beautiful confidence.In finding human words to describe his eternal and mystical relationship with God, He called God“Father”. This could only have been due in great part to the positive “father” experience that Jesus had withJoseph, his own foster father.Thus, Joseph is called the “Patron of the Church” because he was first patron, provider, protector, and caregiverto the holy family. Like the Joseph of the Old Testament, he too was the faithful steward of all that wasentrusted to him Joseph is also called the great helper of men. This is because of his ability to relate well with ason not his own. All men can take pride in the way Joseph related to Jesus and to Mary, with respect and honor.Saint Joseph, Friend of Open Hearts, Patron of a Happy DeathJoseph is also referred to as “friend to open hearts.” This is because Joseph like his namesake of the OldTestament, learned to listen to God speak to him in a variety of ways, even in his dreams. He listened to God inprayer. Joseph had originally reasoned that to spare Mary shame because she was pregnant, he would divorceher quietly. This was the honorable thing to do for her and for him. But God appeared to him in a dream andsaid, Joseph have no fear in taking Mary for your wife. Joseph listened, and like Mary, not understandingeverything that was happening, he wanted all to be done according to God’s will. Because Joseph was willing tochange his well reasoned plans for his life, and because Joseph was a man of prayer, he is called friend of openhearts.Joseph is also called the patron of a happy death, for tradition holds that Mary and Jesus were presentwhen Joseph closed his eyes to this world. Who could want for more, to have Jesus and Mary at one’s bedside?A Concluding Word For Fathers And For All Who Seek The Intercession Of Saint JosephSometimes we are stuck in our own plans, even our righteous and just plans. Sometimes we cannot bebothered to really pray, which means listening to God. Sometimes we need the extra help of a saint, in times ofdifficulty, and even at the hour of death. Sometimes men need a man they can turn to. Sometimes we are selfish,demanding and harmful to those entrusted to our care; and sometimes, by a profound gift of the Holy Spirit, welive a self-less, sacrificial love for others — without owning or possessing them. In all of these ways we notonly rely on, but hopefully we also become like our open-hearted patron, St. Joseph.O patron of the Church, O friend of open hearts, O foster father of Jesus, respectful spouse of the VirginMary, helper of fathers, patron of a happy death, St. Joseph, pray for us.+ Gregory J. Mansour, Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. 2006Remembered Deceased Fathers:Deceased fathers & grandfathers of the Chidiac Family by Fr. BakhosHabib & Louis Khourey, Sr., & Nassif Nader by Lou & Charlotte, Emmalena & LouieFrank Gray & Abraham George by Jim & Shirley GeorgeNimon Joseph (father), Joseph George (grandfather), Maroon Habeb (grandfather) by George & Jean WeisnerAlbert Weisner (father), George Weisner (grandfather), Andres Bishop (grandfather), Oscar Schmeichel (uncle)by George & Jean Weisner

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin6Deceased members of the Msgr. Paul Abraham Family by Betty (Joseph) Abraham and sonsRemembered Living Fathers:Living fathers & grandfathers of the Chidiac Family by Fr. BakhosLou Khourey by his wife Charlotte & children Emmalena & LouiePeter J. Abraham, Jr. by his son Raleigh (Bic) AbrahamGift Basket Raffle Scheduled (Drawing: Sunday, July 15, after Mass)Cherry tickets for the “A Basket Case” Gift Basket Raffle are available now at $1.00each or 6 for $5.00 at the church entrance or from Women's Society members and will also bepublished in our weekly Bulletins. The drawing will take place on Sunday, July 15, afterMass.Look for more information about the Gift Basket in upcoming bulletins.The Gift Basket Raffle is sponsored by the Women's Society in its effort to raise funds for ourBuilding Fund. Mary Stees won the May "Wine & Dine" Basket – proceeds were $266.Mahrajan 2007 Update (Sunday, August 12)Mahrajan Eve Hafli (Saturday, August 11 th )On Saturday, August 11 th , we will have a Hafli at St. Vincent De Paul Hall, Elm Grove.Full Lebanese dinner menu will be prepared and catered from Pitaland in Pittsburgh. We willhave live entertainment with a band and singer performing. Tickets are $25 each.Mahrajan Souvenir Book in progressAll active parishioners and friends received a letter recently from the church solicitingads for our “2007 Mahrajan Souvenir Book.” Please put in your Memorial or Business ad or bean ambassador for the church and ask your friends, family members or the businesses youfrequent to buy an ad. There are different sizes and different costs for ads. Call the church officeif you need information to be sent to anyone. All proceeds benefit our Building Project comingsoon. Thank you for your dedication to the church.--Fr. BakhosNotes:--Thanks to Janet Shutler who is helping Fr. Bakhos with the Artwork of the Ad Book--Back page and inside front and back pages of the Ad Book are already sold.--If you want to put a family picture in the book, bring it soon with names of personsshown.Mahrajan RaffleYou will receive soon the raffle for the $1,000 and the Afghan made by the blessed handsof Mrs. Elizabeth Magnone of Josebeth's, Moundsville. Many thanks to Gold, Khourey andTurak and for BB&T Bank for sponsoring the printing of these raffle tickets. By purchasing orselling these tickets and returning the stubs and payment you will be helping our church "buildfor our future" and to insure the success of our 2007 Mahrajan.Refresh Your Lebanese VocabularyUtensilsOven: FernBowl: Jat (small round base)Basin: La-Kan (wide round base)Spoon: Ma-La-KaFork: Shao-KeKnife: Sek-Keen

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin7Pot: Tan-Ja-RaSkillet: Mak-LehRefrigerator: Bar-RadDish: SahnIs Anyone Sick?Please remember those hospitalized recently in your prayers:Clara Joseph-Malone (daughter of Josephine Joseph), John John, Peg Emmerth, Nader Khoury(brother of Dr. Rajai Khoury, CA), John Vawter (brother of Dr. Rob Vawter)Also please pray for those on our Prayer List:Josephine Joseph, Joe Pagendarm (friend of Fr. Bakhos),Charlotte Khourey, Carol Dougherty,Mike Sobota, Debbie Laughlin (Columbus), Bill Committee, baby Steve Smay, VirginiaKhourey Bryan (aunt of Lou Khourey), Mary Ryncarz (Shadyside), Jim Fahey, MarthaRuggiero, Joe Linton, Alice (Thomas) Holmes, Jennie Bedway, Philip Ruggiero, ShipleyShipley, Leona Albaugh, Manell Brice (Arlington), Rose Mary Bris-Roybal (Albuquerque),Mary SissonYour Church Support Last Week$874 Collection$25 Candles$15 Utilities$180 Parking$8 Women's Society April Bake Sale$750 Mahrajan Souvenir Ad Book$250 Mahrajan (Mass Book sponsoring)$2,102 Total. May the Blessed Mother reward you manifold!What’s New?Spaghetti Dinner, Many ThanksTo the chairman and all the volunteer helpers who served the delicious Spaghetti Dinner last Sunday. It is saidthat our Spaghetti dinner is “the Best in Town.” Thanks also to those generous parishioners who donated bakedgoods and other items. Job well done.Spaghetti Dinner, Financial ReportIncome $2,312.00Expenses $860.00Net Profit $1,452.00Many ThanksWe are so grateful to John Weisner for donating many coffee cups and large paper bags. Mayyou blessed John with good health and happiness in life.Congratulations Graduates--Kaitlin Gibbons will graduate from Wheeling Central Catholic High School.

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin8--Michael Serafin will graduate from Monacan High School in Richmond, Virginia.Michael is the Son of Richard & Ann Marie (Weisner) Serafin and grandson of our parishionersGeorge & Jean Weisner.--Brandon Tucker from Wheeling Central Catholic High School.If you know of any graduates from our parish, please let us know.Congratulations on Your Wedding AnniversaryCharles and Judith Wallace celebrated their 40 th Wedding Anniversary on May 6 th .Congratulations and best wishes for many years of happy life.Congratulations Winners:1- Mary Stees won the "Wine & Dine" Gift Basket drawn during the Spaghetti Dinner lastSunday, May 20 th .2- Rose White won the 50/50 prize of $100.00 drawn at the same event.Bible Study on WednesdaysFr. Bakhos is willing to start a Bible study on weekly basis every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.at the church hall. Please call 233-1688 to register and find out when the classes will start.Poor BoxPlease consider sharing your blessings with the brothers and sisters of Christ who knockat our door daily. Many people in the area need assistance in many ways. Some are in dire needsome are not, but God alone knows what’s in everyone’s heart. The Poor Box is located at therear of the church near the Holy Water tank.Many Thanks…… To all who prayed, sent cards or called to check on me because of my recent surgery.Your good prayers, love and warm wishes for recovery mean so much coming from all of you –my church family!--Charlotte KhoureySalute our fathersOn this day we salute our fathers. No matter what their education, their line of work, theirfinancial success or their social position, they consider themselves, above all else, fathers. To bea good father, they realize, is a vocation in itself.For help in the fulfillment of their vocation, they often turn to God. Their daily prayers,their Sunday Mass, their frequent confession and communion gain for them the graces theyneed. Moreover, the example they give in this regard sets a pattern for the entire family.On Fathers’ Day let us thank God for all good Catholic fathers who day in and day outare such a wholesome influence in our homes. We pray that Catholic homes may be blessedwith fathers worthy always of the honor enjoyed by the fourth commandment, “Honor yourfather and your mother.” Blessed indeed is the home headed by a good Catholic father!Story: Ezekiel BreadWhile I was away from the Catholic Church but still a very committed Christian, theconviction grew in me to preach. My wife, Emily, and I were living in Pella, Iowa, at the time. Ihad worked in Christian radio, and later managed a gas station as a means to meet people andtalk to them about Jesus.

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin9My desire ultimately was to become a pastor. So, with Emily’s support, I enrolled in aten-week pastor’s training course in Bradenton, Florida. The school, the Institute of Ministry,was located on the Manatee River. It also served as a retreat center and family camp.Life at school was good but not easy. Emily stayed behind in Iowa while I tried to surviveon a meager budget. I rented a small room in an old man’s trailer on the grounds of the retreatcenter, a trailer without air conditioning. During my first month, I ate very sparingly. There wasa man at school, a baker, who made what was called “Ezekiel Bread” from the ingredients givenin the book of Ezekiel. For a dollar a loaf, this high-protein bread made from lentils, honey, andwheat, sustained me quite well. During my first month at school, I survived on one loaf a day.Emily sent me the little bit of money she could scrape together, but it was not much. I did notwant her to worry, so I kept my daily menu to myself.By the end of the month, I was famished (not to mention tired of the bread). Imagine mysurprise when the guy who lived with me in the trailer asked if I would like some steak andeggs one morning.“Yeah!” I exclaimed, my mouth watering. “Great!” he replied. “That’ll be five dollars forthe steak.” I waited for him to tell me he was just kidding. He did not. I thanked him for hisoffer and told him I was not so hungry after all.After surviving a month solely on Ezekiel bread, I brought my hunger to the Lord. “Lord,I need help,” I prayed. “I can’t go for another two months just eating this bread.”One night shortly thereafter, I was sitting in the trailer studying when I heard a knock atthe door. I opened it and there stood, not a flock of quail, but a young Hispanic student at theschool. He held a bag of groceries in his arms.“I was praying and the Lord told me that you needed food,” he said. “My dad owns agrocery store, so ... here.” He handed me the bag. In it there were more than ten steaks as wellas pasta and many other foods. I could not believe it! In fact, I still get choked up thinking aboutit to this day. There was so much food that I wound up tithing it by giving some to others whowere hungry as well. For the next month or so, I had enough to eat and more. Plus, he laterbrought over several more loads of food. I firmly believed in Christ’s promise: “Ask and youshall receive,” but to receive so much was overwhelming. I will never forget this tremendousgrace!--Jeff CavinsFather’s Day: A Father’s PrayerLoving God, Father of us all, I pause this day to ask Your blessing as a father.Give me Your gifts of wisdom, patience and courage.Guide me in the daily decisions I must make for my family.May I always experience the refreshing gifts of Your goodness and grace.Saint Joseph, patron saint of fathers, pray for us. Amen.Maronites = Who are the Lebanese?To understand the Lebanese in America, it is necessary to go back in time and distance to their countryof origin, their ancestral land of Lebanon, and to examine its complex historical past with its continuouscommingling of diverse peoples, races and religious sects on its ancient soil.The small, strife-torn nation of Lebanon, located at the farthest eastern end of the Mediterranean and atthe crossroads of three continents - Asia, Africa and Europe - was the ancient home of Lebanese Americans.

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin10Successive waves of nomadic invaders from the Arabian Desert, sea peoples from the Mediterranean andmountain tribes from Iran and Anatolia have, in the course of more than 7,000 years of history, repeatedlyassaulted Lebanon and given its inhabitants a diverse racial makeup.If we examine closely the mélange of races that intruded upon Lebanon, mingled with the originalinhabitants and left some vestiges of their culture on present-day Lebanese, we discern two dominant ethnicstrands - the Semitic, represented by peoples largely of desert origin such as the Canaanites, Babylonians.Aramaeans, Phoenicians and Arabs, and the Indo-European clement, for the most part, peoples of mountainorigin represented by the Hittites, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Franks and Armenians.Despite the great diversity and numbers of races who have invaded Lebanon and inundated the countrywith their different cultures, the Lebanese have proven themselves throughout their long history as a peoplevery adaptable to change. Whatever the circumstances - catastrophic or fortunate -in which the natives ofLebanon have found themselves in their long past, they have always adapted to changed conditions andmanaged to survive and thrive.When the Canaanites around 3,000 B.C. poured out of the Arabian Desert and overwhelmed ancientLebanon, the original natives of the country adopted the language and culture of the Canaanites and evenacquired the first name for their region - Canaan. Lebanon, or Phoenicia, as it was known in ancient times,became the center of the Canaanite culture, though the Canaanites were oriented toward Egypt, with whom theyhad extensive commercial and cultural contacts.The Canaanites never formed a single united nation but developed independent city-states which becamethe typical governmental apparatus for ancient Lebanon, particularly during the Phoenician period. The famouscity-states of Byblos, Aradus, Sidon and Tyre were founded during the heyday of the Canaanites.In addition, the Canaanites were predominantly skilled metalworkers and peaceful traders. From themthe native Lebanese acquired their metalworking skills and trading habits and in general assimilated the higherculture, civilization and language of the Canaanites. Thus the original natives of Lebanon managed to becomean integral part of the Canaanite people and culture and advanced and prospered in their midst.The natives of Lebanon managed to survive other historical upheavals in ancient times and were able toadapt readily to changed conditions. Despite domination by more powerful and more aggressive neighbors, theywere able to flourish and prosper in the midst of oppression, repression and even persecution and attempts attheir annihilation. During the period when the mighty empires of Egypt, Babylonia, the Hittites, Assyria andPersia dominated ancient Phoenicia, Lebanese absorbed the best of the advanced cultures of these ancientcivilizations, embellished them further and transmitted them in turn, largely through commercial activity, to theGreeks and Western Europe. Phoenicia thus became the repository of ancient advanced Middle Eastern cultures- Egyptian, Babylonian, Hittite, Assyrian and Persian - which fused on Lebanese soil and were assimilated bythe native Lebanese.The Hittites, a mountain people of Asia Minor, who were the first distributors of iron in the Near Eastand who taught the Lebanese to become skilled ironworkers, with their superior iron weapons, were able towrest control of Phoenicia from the Egyptians and ruled until the dissolution of their empire in the early 12thCentury B.C. The Hittites were the first conquerors of Phoenicia to introduce an Indo-European strain into themakeup of the Lebanese, who prior to the Hittites were predominantly Semitic, influenced by early invadersfrom the Arabian Desert.Another Indo-European strand was introduced into the Lebanese makeup in the 7th Century B.C. whenconquerors from the Iranian plateau engulfed the entire Middle East, including Phoenicia and her surroundingneighbors. Under the benign Persian rule, with their strong central administration, a good network of highwayssafe to travel, a uniform metallic currency, their encouragement of the spread of Aramaic as the lingua franca ofthe entire Persian realm, and the fusion of the Semitic and Indo-Iranian cultures, the adaptable Lebanesebenefited considerably from the liberal policies of the Persian rulers.The Persians divided their empire into 20 satrapies or provinces, one of which comprised Lebanon,Syria, Palestine and Cyprus, with the city of Sidon chosen as the capital of the province. Four Phoenician citystates- Sidon, Tyre, Byblos and Aradus - were accorded almost complete autonomy by the tolerant Persianrulers.

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 2105.27.2007 Bulletin11Under the long ‘pax Persica’ lasting for more than 200 years, the Phoenician cities enjoyed considerablecommercial prosperity and were even allowed to establish fresh Phoenician colonies, especially in Palestine andEgypt. Phoenicians too, because of their construction and navigational skills, constituted the backbone of thePersian navy. The King of Sidon served as an important admiral of the Persian fleet, which was comprisedlargely of war galleys built by Phoenicians. (To be continued in the next bulletin)A Time to Laugh (454)Deaf—Not BlindOn a visit to the library I happened to notice a man and a woman, both deaf; signing withintense gestures, apparently in a heated debate. The man said something, and the womanseemed upset. She started signing her reply very fast, to the point where the man couldn’tunderstand a word. She also signed in big, wide gestures, which is the equivalent of volume.Finally, looking strained, her companion took her hands, “silencing” her. Then he signed, verysmall and slowly, “You don’t have to shout; I’m not blind.”Old Hockey InjuryA man came to work one day with a bad limp. One of his coworkers noticed and askedhim what had happened.The man answered, “Oh, nothing. It’s just an old hockey injury that acts tip every once ina while.”The coworker was surprised at his answer. “I never knew you played hockey.”The man explained, “Oh, I never did play hockey; I hurt it last year during the Stanley Cupplay-offs. When I lost five hundred dollars on the final game, I put my foot through the TVset!”Germs and JesusA pastor’s small son was told by his mother that he should wash his hands because there weregerms living in all that dirt. He refused and complained, “Germs and Jesus! That’s all I everhear around this house, and I’ve never seen either one.”Slam the CatDeacons Arnold and Lee were going door-to-door inviting people to church. When theyknocked on the door of a woman who was not happy to see them, she told them in no uncertainterms that she did not want to hear their message and slammed the door in their faces.To her surprise, however, the door did not close and in fact bounced back open. This timeshe really put her back into it and slammed the door again with the same result.Convinced that one of these rude young deacons was sticking his foot in the door, shereared back to give it a slam that would teach them a lesson, when Arnold said, “Ma’am, beforeyou do that again you need to move your cat.”