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Check out our Creation News Section!
Weekly articles, daily Q & A, and a Creation Comic!


http://www.hearttouchers.com/

If you enjoy this email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration to the lives of many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, join the thousands of world-wide readers by visiting:

http://www.HeartTouchers.com

Be sure to check out our inspirational list just for teenagers!

http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Heart4Teens


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http://www.hearttouchers.com/filter

Finally there is a great filter to block Internet pornography and other objectionable content! Kristi and I have used this filter for 5 years now and want to recommend the Bsafe Online filter to you. We absolutely love it. To find out more and get your own FREE 10-Day Trial, just visit: http://www.Heart4Teens.com/filter

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http://www.hearttouchers.com/books

Michael's updated book Heart Touchers "Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter," is finally here! ($13.95) Visit the link below to preview the book! Personalized autographed copies are available at no extra charge and we pay the shipping for you! An E-book version is also available for just $3.25!

http://www.hearttouchers.com/books

Be sure to let us know who you would like it autographed for and then allow about two weeks for us to sign it and send it on its way to you.Credit card, PayPal, Checks, and Money orders accepted! The book is also available through Amazon.com, Borders.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Booklocker.com

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Good afternoon HeartTouchers.com readers!

Before we get to today's story I wanted to let everyone know that we will be offering a 20% discount off of our Video Imagery services in the month of May to those of you who are on our e-mail list!

So if you were thinking about transferring your photos over to DVD for a Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Graduation gift for those you love, then this would be the time to do it. Just visit our "Perfect Gift" page at:

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Video_Imagery

Be sure to mention that you are a HeartTouchers.com reader so you can get your discount!

From my family to yours,

Author Michael T. Powers



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Ronny's Book

By Judith A. Chance

At first glance, Ronny looked like every other kid in the first-grade classroom where I volunteered as the Reading Mom. Wind-blown hair, scuffed shoes, a little bit of dirtbehind his ears, some kind of sandwich smear around his mouth.

On closer inspection, though, the layer of dirt on Ronny's face, the crusty nose, and the packed grime under his fingernails told me he didn't get dirty at school. He arrived that way.

His clothes were ragged and mismatched, his sneakers had string for laces, and his backpack was no more than a plastic shopping bag.

Along with his outward appearance, Ronny stood apart from his classmates in other ways, too. He had a speech impediment, wasn't reading or writing at grade-level, and had already been held back a year, making him eight-years-old in the first grade.

His home life was a shambles with transient parents who uprooted him at their whim. He had yet to live a full year in any one place.

I quickly learned that beneath his grungy exterior, Ronny possessed a spark, a resilience that I'd never seen in a child who faced such tremendous odds.

I worked with all the students in Ronny's class on a one-on-one basis to improve their reading skills. Each day, Ronny's head twisted around as I came into the classroom, and his eyes followed me as I set up in a corner, imploring, "Pick me! Pick me!" Of course I couldn't pick him every day. Other kids needed my help, too.

On the days when it was Ronny's turn, I'd give him a silent nod, and he'd fly out of his chair and bound across the room in a blink. He sat awfully close -- too close for me in the beginning, I must admit -- and opened the book we were tackling as if he were unearthing a treasure the world had never seen.

I watched his dirt-caked fingers move slowly under each letter as he struggled to sound out "Bud the Sub." It sounded more like "Baw Daw Saw" when he said it because of his speech impediment and his difficulty with the alphabet.

Each word offered a challenge and a triumph wrapped as one; Ronny painstakingly sounded out each letter, then tried to put them together to form a word. Regardless if "ball" ended up as "Bah-lah" or "bow," the biggest grin would spread across his face, and his eyes would twinkle and overflow with pride. It broke my heart each and every time. I just wanted to whisk him out of his life, take him home, clean him up and love him.

Many nights, after I'd tucked my own children into bed, I'd sit and think about Ronny. Where was he? Was he safe? Was he reading a book by flashlight under the blankets? Did he even have blankets?

The year passed quickly and Ronny had made some progress but hardly enough to bring him up to grade level. He was the only one who didn't know that, though. As far as he knew, he read just fine.

A few weeks before the school year ended, I held an awards ceremony. I had treats, gifts and certificates of achievement for everyone: Best Sounder-Outer, Most Expressive, Loudest Reader, Fastest Page-Turner.

It took me awhile to figure out where Ronny fit; I needed something positive, but there wasn't really much. I finally decided on "Most Improved Reader"-- quite a stretch, butI thought it would do him a world of good to hear.

I presented Ronny with his certificate and a book -- one of those Little Golden Books that cost forty-nine cents at the grocery store checkout. Tears rolled down his cheeks, streaking the ever-permanent layer of dirt as he clutched the book to his chest and floated back to his seat. I choked back the lump that rose in my throat.

I stayed with the class for most of the day; Ronny never let go of the book, not once. It never left his hands.

A few days later, I returned to the school to visit. I noticed Ronny on a bench near the playground, the book open in his lap. I could see his lips move as he read to himself His teacher appeared beside me. "He hasn't put that book down since you gave it to him. He wears it like a shirt, close to his heart. Did you know that's the first book he's ever actually owned?"

Fighting back tears, I approached Ronny and watched over his shoulder as his grimy finger moved slowly across the page. I placed my hand on his shoulder and asked, "Will you read me your book, Ronny?" He glanced up, squinted into the sun, and scooted over on the bench to make room for me.

And then, for the next few minutes, he read to me with more expression, clarity, and ease than I'd ever thought possible from him. The pages were already dog-eared, like the book had been read thousands of times already.

When he finished reading, Ronny closed his book, stroked the cover with his grubby hand and said with great satisfaction, "Good book."

A quiet pride settled over us as we sat on that playground bench, Ronny's hand now in mine. I at once wept and marveled at the young boy beside me. What a powerful contribution the author of that Little Golden Book had made in the life of adisadvantaged child.

At that moment, I knew I would get serious about my own writing career and do what that author had done, and probably still does -- care enough to write a story that changes a child's life, care enough to make a difference.

I strive to be that author.

Judith A. Chance

jchance@telusplanet.net

Write Judith and let her know your thoughts on her story!

Judith A. Chance is a full-time writer who lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband Larry and their two children. She is the author of three humorous middle-grade fiction novels, and she is writing a humorous adult nonfiction book. She would like to grow up to be combination of Erma Bombeck and Dave Barry; considering that she is 42 and female, she has her work cut out for her.

Quick note from Michael: ("Ronny's Book" also appears in Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul. If you haven't read this book yet, you are missing out on a tremendous experience! (Especially if you are a writer!) I got it recently and highly recommend it!

You can order it here:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1558747699/o/qid=986341916/sr=8-1/straighfromthe0a/107-5931457-7011735

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Creation Q & A

Q: How do salmon give evidence of a Creator?

A:
When you think about it, scientists have to spend millions of dollars to invent very complicated computer systems to produce a guided missile. And these missiles don't always hit their target.

But the Pacific salmon have a built-in guidance system that must make these same scientists drool with envy.

Research indicates that salmon are able to use the earth's magnetic field, the position of the sun, moon and stars, along with the ability to detect the chemical composition of the stream from which they began their life. All this to enable salmon to return to their native stream to spawn!

How could evolutionary scientists be so blind? The salmon's remarkable achievements, especially its amazing ability to navigate great distances with perfect accuracy, is impossible to explain as a result of purposeless and unguided evolution.

When we stand in awe at man's achievements in building advanced guided missiles--how much more should we stand in awe and worship the Creator God who created something infinitely better than the best man can do.

Source: AnswersinGenesis.org

http://www.hearttouchers.com/Creation_News

Creation News

This new addition to our web site will give you an article on the leading news in the Creation/Evolution controversy each day.

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Creation_News

This section also includes a rotating Question and Answer feature and a weekly Creation Comic strip from the people at AnswersInGenesis.org

Be sure to come back and visit each day for an informative article that will help you keep up to date on the latest news in this controversial area!


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Thought For The Day

"Chance favors prepared minds." --Louis Pasteur


Verse for the Day

"The wise man stores up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin." --Proverbs 10:14


Kid's Thought For The Day

"Don't worry about crossing the street until you get to the curb."


Parent's Thought For The Day

"Your kids will feed their new puppy the day you buy it and the days you threaten to take it back to the pet store."----Bruce Lansky


Coach's Thought For The Day

"The reason for practicing and playing has nothing to do with winning."


Writer's Thought For The Day

"Compose with utter freedom and edit with utter discipline." --Erica Jong


Deep Thought For The Day

"I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours."

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http://www.hearttouchers.com/Inspired_Audio

Inspired Audio -- Inspirational Audio Message of the Week!

Inspired Audio is a brand new offshoot of HeartTouchers.com. Every week we will offer a different audio message that you can listen to right on your comput as you are surfing the net or just getting things done around the house. Be sure to come back and visit each week!

This Week: "Am I Alone?" by Jeff Williams


http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Inspired_Audio


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http://www.hearttouchers.com/

Over 100,000 people have listened to popular Chicken Soup Author Michael T. Powers' free inspirational message entitled: "Breathing Life into Others". If you aren't one of them just visit: http://www.HeartTouchers.com and click on the link to listen to the free streaming audio message!

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http://www.videoimagery.net/Video_Imagery


Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business

http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery


Dear Michael,

"I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the beautiful video you made for me! It was so special to see both of my parents in tears as they watched their children grow up in pictures before their eyes! I loved the way you made Estania's part set aside from the rest--that was the part that really got them! The music was beautiful. My mom kept blubbering, "What song is that?" I don't know how you did such a beautiful job with the video in such a short time. I really appreciate your doing it so quickly. You have a wonderful gift, and I thank God that you are using it to create such sentimental memories. I hope that I can find my niche like that in an area that I love. Your video gave us one of our most lasting Christmas memories! I hope yours was filled with moments to be treasured forever!"
Love,
Trisha
Silverhill, AL

Let me make you a video from your photos!
Check out my video production business by visiting:

http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery

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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Life_Purpose

Transfer your photographs or old home videos over to DVD or MP4 files! Give the gift that will touch your family's heart and soul.

You can join the 15,000 followers on his Facebook Nature Photography by clicking on the link above!

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