Auschwitz stories: A Good Job

Auschwitz stories: A Good Job by ric gustafson


It was possible to have a skill that was favored by the SS. Those with these special skills had a better chance of surviving. It was possible for an inmate with a medical degree to find work in the sick bay. It was possible for an architect to become a draftsman in the Central Construction Office. It was possible for a seamstress to repair SS uniforms. These were inside jobs and were wanted in the harsh winter.
Bronislaw Czech was a woodworker. The SS appreciated his carpentry skills. He survived until 1944 when he died from typhus. Primo Levi worked in a lab at IG Farben. He survived. Prisoner 93626 Louis Bannet became a member of the camp orchestra. He survived the war.


research help: ' Auschwitz not long ago not far away' by Abbeville Press Publishing


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Auschwitz stories: Jan Liwacz

Auschwitz stories: Jan Liwacz  by ric gustafson


One of the first prisoners in Auschwitz was Jan Liwacz. He was a master blacksmith. He was asked by Commandant Rudolf Hoss to forge a metal gate. Above this gate he was to forge a motto. The motto was Arbeit Macht  Frei. Work sets you free. To act defiant, the letter b in Arbeit is upside down. Liwacz was punished but survived the war. He died in 1980.


research help: ' Auschwitz not long ago not far away' by Abbeville Press Publishing


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Goliath: destroy discouragement

Goliath: destroy discouragement by ric gustafson


So what does it take to rise above discouragement?. It takes diligent faith. We need to recognize discouragement. Factors include fatigue and frustration. We need to respond to discouragement. We do this by crying out to God. We need to look for burdens to bear. Then our heart will be lifted. Then we can give courage to others. God loves us more than anything else.


research help: ' Slaying the Giants in your life' by David Jeremiah


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being thankful: worry or worship

being thankful: worry or worship by ric gustafson


God wants us to be a worshipper. He does not want us to be a worrier. When we worry, Satan can torment us. When we worship God, we will find hope, peace and joy. God created us to worship him. God wants a personal relationship with us. God wants us to love him.
God says do not worry. He loves us more than anything else. Praise God.


research help: ' the power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


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Goliath: you can win the battle

Goliath: you can win the battle by ric gustafson


Sometimes fear grips us. We do not know what is coming around the bend. Fear is a survival instinct. Fear can be good. Fear can also become a phobia. A phobia is when fear and reason don't keep in touch. Fear can keep us from serving God. People in the Bible had fears like anyone else. Fear disregards God's plan for us. Fear distorts God's purposes for us. Fear discourages God's people. Fear disbelieves God's promises. Fear disobeys God's principles.
We can face the giant of fear. We need to confront our fear honestly. We need to confess our fear as sin. We need to claim God's protection. We need to commit our life to Jesus.
Praise God.


research help: ' Slaying the Giants in your life' by David Jeremiah


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Auschwitz 75

Auschwitz 75 by ric gustafson


The Auschwitz death camp was liberated on Jan 27 1945. The Germans had already fled leaving thousands of sick and starving prisoners. Soviet troops found gas chambers and crematoria blown up to try and hide evidence of their mass killings.
The evidence was too much to hide. The camp has become the symbol of the Holocaust. Last year, 2.3 million visited the camp. 75 years after it's liberation, hundreds of survivors from across the world were planning to travel there. Auschwitz is an emblem of evil. Auschwitz is a site of historical remembrance. Auschwitz is a vast cemetery.
Prisoners arrived in cramped windowless cattle trains. At the infamous ramp, Germans selected those who became their forced laborers. Everyone else was gassed soon after arrival. More than 1.1 million people were murdered at Auschwitz. Only about 7000 were found when the camp was liberated.


research help: An Omaha World Herald article


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No Time page 7

No Time page 7 by ric gustafson


Bryson pulled up to the curb. " Are you sure this is the address?".
Jessica glanced at her notebook. " This is the address Father Time gave me".
Bryson noticed a young man sweeping the sidewalk in front of a gate. " Excuse me, is this 112 Pine St?".
" It sure is". He straightened his ball cap. " Who are you looking for?".
Jessica smiled. " We have a delivery for Patrick Hinkle".
" That's my boss". He opened a black box and put in some numbers. The gate began to open. " Follow me".


research help: ' Sand' by Michael Welland


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being thankful: shelter in the storm

being thankful: shelter in the storm by ric gustafson


During a storm, naturally we take cover. If we do not take shelter, the storm might harm us. The spiritual storms of life will come. When the storms do come, we need to first seek God. We need to meditate on God's Word. We need to pray and worship God. We need to thank God and trust him completely. God wants us to demonstrate these spiritual disciplines. Praise God.


research help: ' the power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


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being thankful: just do it

being thankful: just do it by ric gustafson


God does not want us to make indecisions. Indecision is a waste of time. God wants us to be confident and decisive. We need to hear from God.  We are fallible and imperfect. We serve and obey a perfect God. God wants us to learn from our mistakes. With God's help, we can correct what we can. God wants us to sow seeds of obedience. Praise God.


research help: ' the power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: agreeing with God

being thankful: agreeing with God by ric gustafson


We must agree with God that he loves us. God wonderfully made us. God gave us strengths and talents. To God we are valuable. In God, we are righteousness. According to Ephesians 2:10, I belong to God and he loves me. When people bring us down, we need God to build us up. The Apostle Paul says fight the good fight of faith. God wants us to have joy and peace. Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


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No Time page 6

No Time page 6 by ric gustafson


Bryson pointed. " Mrs McHenery". He lifted one corner of the sofa. " Is this your lost coin?".
" Yes". She ran over and picked it up. " Thank you Bryson". She gave the young man a hug. " Thank you for finding it". She ran over to a phonebook. " I'm going to call all of my friends to come over and celebrate". She looked at the two. " Can you stay and celebrate with me?".
" I'm afraid not". Jessica smiled. " We have another delivery to make".
" Thank you for delivering my watch". She stared at it. " In the future, I won't need it".
Bryson looked perplexed. " Why not?".
She smiled at the young man. " Bryson, in heaven there is no time".
They walked out and got into the Ecosport.
" That is the same thing Father Time told me".
Jessica grinned as they drove off.


research help: ' all the parables of the Bible' by Herbert Lockyer


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being thankful: to be a blessing

being thankful: to be a blessing by ric gustafson


Everyone wants to have a blessing. We all want to be appreciated and complimented. God wants us to bless others. God loves to bless us. He has made us a blessing. We need people to tell us that we are appreciated and valuable. God blesses us so that we can be a blessing. Everyone we meet needs a blessing. God loves us more than anything else. Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

No Time page 5

No Time page 5 by ric gustafson


Bryson watched as Mrs McHenery lifted up sofas.
Jessica's cell phone buzzed. " Hello". She walked by Bryson. " It's Father Time". She grinned. " I'll talk to him over here".
A worried look came over Mrs McHenery's tired face. " I've got to find that lost coin".
" If you don't mind me asking". His voice hesitated. " Why is that coin so important?".
" It has a special design on it that none of my other coins have".
Jessica walked up. " Father Time is still working on your watch". She smiled. " He asked if you could help me with another delivery".
" Sure". He looked at a nearby clock. " I hope it's not far away".
" No".
As they walked toward the front door, Bryson noticed something shiny underneath one of the sofas.


research help: ' All the Parables of the Bible' by Herbert Lockyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: a life of thanksgiving

being thankful: a life of thanksgiving by ric gustafson


A part of prayer is the power of thanksgiving. God wants us to have a life of thanksgiving. Jesus lived a life of thanksgiving. Jesus constantly gave thanks to his Father. Jesus gave thanks when he broke the loaves and fishes. He thanked his Father for raising Lazarus. At the Last Supper he gave thanks when he gave the bread and wine to his disciples. God wants us his followers to give thanks for everything that we have. We owe God everything. He loves us very much.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

No Time page 4

No Time page 4 by ric gustafson


Bryson stopped the Ecosport at the curb. " Are you sure this is the address?".
" I think so". Jessica looked at her notebook. " 112 North 157th St".
They got out and began to walk toward the front door.
Just then, a young woman walked out holding a large broom.
" Hi Mrs McHenery". Jessica handed her a package. " Here is your repaired watch". She saw the broom in her hand. " Is there something we can do for you?".
" Yes". She gave her and Bryson a frustrated stare. " I have turned the house inside out looking for a lost coin".


research help: ' All the Parables of the Bible' by Herbert Lockyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Peter: I Peter 1: 22-25

Peter: I Peter 1: 22-25 by ric gustafson


What makes a sinful, uneducated and impulsive fisherman become a great leader in God's church?. According to Peter, it is God's Word. Peter knew what he had and what he did not have. In Acts 3:6, he proclaimed that he did not have silver or gold. But what he did have was the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He received wisdom and provision from Jesus. Peter knew that God's Word was good news. God loves us more than anything else.


research help: ' St Peter's Principles' by Peter Lillback


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No Time page 3

No Time page 3 by ric gustafson


Lester studied the watch. " I can repair it but it will take me a couple of hours".
" A couple of hours!". Bryson frowned. " I need to get back to work".
" I understand". He smiled at the young man. " While I work on it, I was wondering if you could do me a big favor".
" What's that?".
" Our company car broke down". He looked at Bryson. " Jessica needs a lift to deliver a watch to a customer".
Jessica smiled at Bryson. " I would appreciate a lift".
" What's the address?".
Lester handed Bryson a piece of paper. " 112 North 157th St".
" Ok".


research help: original story


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: loving life

being thankful: loving life by ric gustafson


God wants us to enjoy life. God's will for us is that we will enjoy life here. God's Word proclaims it. John 10:10 talks about life and to have it in abundance. God wants us to enjoy life. God wants us to have it in abundance. God loves us more than anything else.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: trusting God

being thankful: trusting God by ric gustafson


According to Psalm 71:5, God is our trust and our hope. When we trust God, we can enter his rest. Rest is a place of peace. God loves us and cares for us. He will meet our needs and solve our problems. God wants us to live without fear, anxiety or fear. God wants us to trust him completely. God is the source of our confidence. We need to choose trust over worry.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

No Time page 2

No Time page2 by ric gustafson


Bryson walked into the store. He walked by rows of watches. He walked up to a black bell on a counter. The bell had a sign saying ' ring for help'. He rang the bell.
A young woman, wearing a white lab coat, came out through a black curtain. " May I help you?".
Bryson took off his watch and handed it to the young woman. " I really need to have this repaired".
" It's a beautiful watch". She studied it. " I'll have to have Father Time look at it". She rang the bell.
An elderly man walked out. " Jessica, did you need me?".
Bryson grinned. " Father Time?".
" Actually my name is Lester Tyme". He shook Bryson's hand. " I'm elderly and I work on watches". He smiled. " So people call me Father Time".
Bryson pointed at his watch. " I really need to have this repaired quickly". He handed the watch to Lester.
" It's a beautiful watch".
" Thank you it was a birthday present".
Lester frowned. " It's too bad".
" Why is that?".
" In eternity, there is no time".


research help: original story


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: getting along

being thankful: getting along by ric gustafson


Sometimes people are rude to us. How do we respond to that?. Do we respond in a ungodly way. Or do we act in love as God's Word tells us.
God's Word is very important to us. It comforts and helps us. People are everywhere. God wants us to love everyone no matter how they treat us. Romans 12:18 says to live at peace with everyone. The true fact is that God loves us more than anything else. Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

No Time page 1

No Time page 1 by ric gustafson


Bryson put his hand into a jeans pocket. He fumbled around for some coins. He began to leaf through a faded phonebook. He put the coins into the machine and found a number. He dialed it.
" Hello Father Time".
" Yes, my watch broke". His voice hesitated. " I need to have it repaired as soon as possible".
" Yes, we do fix watches".
" Can I come over right now?".
" Sure, we are at 5111 Advocate Road".
" Ok, I'll be right over".
He walked out of the phonebooth and toward the Ecosport.


research help: original story


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being thankful: waiting

being thankful: waiting by ric gustafson


If you want to glorify God, have patience. If we are impatient, we will react emotionally. The next time a situation comes up, do not get upset. God says enjoy the wait. God wants us to develop patience. God wants us to become thankful in every situation. We need the Word of God to guide us. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. God wants us to wait and be patient.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: beyond your feelings

being thankful: beyond your feelings by ric gustafson


Each day, we experience different feelings. We can be bad, good, sad, happy, excited or discouraged. Feelings can be demanding and strong. We cannot let them rule our lives. With God by our side, we can manage our emotions. When we do this, we can enjoy our life. We must not let our feelings control us. Through God, we can make good choices. Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: gratitude

being thankful: gratitude by ric gustafson


According to Ephesians 5:20, we need to give thanks for everything. In the bible, people gave an offering to God. This was to thank him. We can do that also. When God does great things for us, we need to thank him. Gratitude shows a character of a person. Gratitude keeps God first. God is the source of all of our blessings. We need to be grateful and thankful to God.
Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

No Time prelude

No Time prelude by ric gustafson


Bryson Mitchell pulled the Ford Esport into the empty stall. He was in a hurry. He had to buy a few groceries and then get back to work. He glanced at his new watch. It was a present he had received for his birthday. He noticed that the time had stopped.
" Now what" he muttered to himself. He shook the watch. " This was a birthday present".
He pondered what to do. He could go back to work and worry about the watch later. Or he could find someone who could fix it quickly.
He glanced around the parking lot. Then he smiled. He saw a telephone booth. " I thought they were extinct". He got out of his car and began to walk toward it. He began to worry. He had to get back to work.


research help: original story


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: pursue peace

being thankful: pursue peace by ric gustafson


God has given us many blessings. One of those is peace. We need to thank God daily for peace. We need peace with God. We need peace with ourselves. We need peace with those around us. We need to focus on God's blessings instead of worry. God wants us to walk in peace. We need to choose God's peace. Jesus proclaimed ' peace I leave with you'. He loves us more than anything else.
Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: self control

being thankful: self control by ric gustafson


There are keys to a joyful life. One of those keys is self control. Self control is a key to a disciplined life. God's Word can keep us temperate. Temperate means to be marked by moderation. We need to maintain balance in our life.
We need to pray to God to help us with relationships, finances and career. God will help us to live with discipline and self control. We need to live in the wisdom of God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: keeping on

being thankful: keeping on by ric gustafson


God has promised a lot to us. One of his promises is that he will never leave us. God is always by our side. No matter what storm comes up in our life, God says don't give up. God is much larger than any trouble Satan can throw at us. In Galatians 6:9, the Apostle Paul encourages us to keep on keeping on. We need to lean on God's grace and not on our own ability. Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Peter: Luke 5:8

Peter: Luke 5:8 by ric gustafson


According to Luke 5, Jesus asked Peter to cast his net on the other side of his boat. He caught the largest catch of fish in his life. He tells Jesus " depart from me for I am a sinful man". Peter felt that he was inadequate to serve his God. Because he loved Jesus so much, Peter with all of his faults became a great Christian leader of God's church. Praise God.


research help: ' St Peter's Principles' by Peter Lillback


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being thankful: right thinking

being thankful: right thinking by ric gustafson


Our thoughts dictate what we do. If we have a negative mind, we will lead a negative life. Or we can renew our minds with God's Word. If we do that according to Romans 12:2, we will experience the good and perfect will of God. People struggle with wrongful thinking patterns. The truth is we do not have to live according to those wrong thoughts. Joyce Meyer says our mind is a battlefield. We need to change negative thoughts to positive ones. God loves us more than anything else.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: the positive

being thankful: the positive by ric gustafson


According to Proverbs 17:22, a happy heart is good medicine. God wants us to be positive and thankful. It is easy to be negative. When we are always positive, we do not want to be around negative people. We need to tell ourselves every day to be positive. The Holy Spirit will help us not to slip back into being negative. We need to thank God for everything each day.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: something good

being thankful: something good by ric gustafson


According to Romans 15:13, you may abound and be overflowing with hope. A powerful force is hope. We can be thankful for hope. We can expect something good from God. God wants us to trust him. We can expect good from God. Things can change from bad to good. God is a God of hope.
Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: shine a light

being thankful: shine a light by ric Gustafson


According to Matthew 5:14, you are the light of the world. As God's people, God wants us to be alive, active, peaceful and joy filled. We can have a thankful attitude. God wants us to be full of life. The Holy Spirit can keep us alive. To others, God wants us his children to reflect him.
God wants us to be the light of the world. God wants our light to shine. Praise God.


research help: ' The power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: having peace

being thankful: having peace by ric gustafson


To enjoy life we need peace. Life is full of struggle and frustrations. We experience life without peace. We have stress when we worry about things out of our control. The apostle Paul said to be anxious for nothing. When we feel upset and struggling, we need to pray to God to take care of it for us. God will provide us with peace. He promises us that.


research help: ' The power of being thankful' by Joyce Meyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

being thankful: I Chronicles 23:30

being thankful: I Chronicles 23:30 by ric gustafson


God wants us to start our prayers with thanksgiving. We need to say thank you Father for all you've done in my life. We need to examine our life and pay attention to our thoughts and words. Each day, are we thankful or complain?. Each day,  we need to develop an attitude of thanksgiving.


research help: ' The Power of being Thankful' by Joyce Meyer


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who's coming page 3

who's coming page 3 by ric gustafson


Franklin watched his friend run in. " He's here".
A young bearded man in white walked in.
Franklin did not know him.
Moochie brought him over. " Franklin, this is Jesus".
Jesus shook Franklin's hand. " Peace be with you".
Anger came to Franklin's face. " You've ruined my New Year's Eve party".
Party goers began to gather around Jesus.
Jesus pointed at those around him. " I come for those who want to know me".
Franklin shrugged his head. " Well I don't".
Jesus hugged Franklin. " Happy New Year".
Jesus walked out. He was followed by party goers and Moochie.
Franklin sat down. On the tv was a story about someone having a 150th birthday.
Franklin shook his head. His New Year's Eve party was over.

The End.


research help: original story


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric