A Boomerang World And Seeing Jesus... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our first hot tottie is from our friend Bunni. I love 3D art and this artist is superb at giving us the 3D illusion that is so mesmerizing and mind blowing. Check out his awesome drawings here... ______ | O | | ,|._ | | `A _|__ |__|\_\ \ O \ ._|.) \___A _|_ |\ SSt Nikola Culjic 3D Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/3dart.html --- ...Astounding! Thank You Bunni! Our next flaming hot new page is from our friends Linda and Geniann. It is sure to tickle your funny bone and give you some smiles for your day. Check it out here... ,. ,. {^ \-"-/ ^} " """ " { _ } ==_ .:Y:. _== ."" `--^--' "". (,~-~."" "" ,~-~.) ------( )----( )----- ^-'-'-^ ^-'-'-^ _____________________________ |"""" /~.^.~\ """"| hjw ,i-i-i(""( i-i-i. `97 (o o o ))"")( o o o) \(_) /(""( \ (_)/ `--' \""\ `--' )"") (""/ `" Morning After The Party! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/afterparty.html --- ...LOL! So cute and funny! Thanks Ladies! -<>- *~* We HAD A FANTASTIC MONTH OF CARING AND SHARING!! . ,. T."-._..---.._,-"/| l|"-. _.v._ (" | [l /.'_ \; _~"-.`-t Y " _(o} _{o)._ ^.| j T ,--. T ] \ l ( /-^-\ ) ! ! \. \. "~" ./ /c-..,__ ^r- .._ .- .-" `- . ~"--. > \. \ ] ^. \ 3 . "> . Y -Row ,.__.--._ _j \ ~ . ; | ( ~"-._~"^._\ ^. ^._ I . l "-._ ___ ~"-,_7 .Z-._ 7" Y ; \ _ /" "~-(r r _/_--._~-/ / /,.--^-._ / Y "-._ '"~~~>-._~]>--^---./____,.^~ ^.^ ! ~--._ ' Y---. \./ ~~--._ l_ ) \ ~-._~~~---._,____..--- \ ~----"~ \ \ >PLEASE Be Sure To Check These Out And Share Them With Your Friends! Pets Left Home Alone 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/petshome2.html Recycled Watch Vehicles! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/watchart.html Dog Days Of Summer 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogdays2.html Goose Calls For Cops! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mothergoose.html Snowflake The Duck! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/snowflaketheduck.html Beaker The Duck! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/beakertheduck.html Old 1917 Blackboards! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blackboards.html Discoveries By Accident! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/discoveries.html Fawn Rescue 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fawnrescue2.html Animals And Windows! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalsandwindows.html Why Trump 2? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whytrump2.html London At Night! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/london.html *~* MAY GOD SUPER BLESS OUR THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTORS! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Remember, that there is nothing stable in human affairs. Therefore, avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity. -- Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC) ___ /` _\ | / 0|--. - / \_|0`/ /.`'._/) - ~ -^_| /-_~ ^- ~_` - -~ _ - ~ -| | - ~ - ~ - jgs \ \, ~ - ~ \_| >MOVING UPWARD I got to poking through some of the old things I'd saved and came across a wonderful little article from an issue of "Guideposts Magazine." It's by Arthur Gordon and is titled "The Rewards of Caring." He tells the story of how once, as a small boy, he was witness to a near-tragedy. At the beach, a woman stepped off a sandbar into deep, swift water and panicked. At least 20 adults in bathing suits watched, apparently paralyzed, until suddenly a young man ran up, plunged in fully clothed, and brought the woman out. As Arthur Gordon described the episode later to his parents, his admiration for the young man was matched by the contempt he felt for those who failed to act. She was drowning, and they didn't even seem to care. His father looked at him thoughtfully and said, "The world often seems divided between those who care and those who don't care enough. But don't judge too harshly. It takes courage to care greatly." It does take courage to care, to open your heart and react with sympathy or compassion or indignation or enthusiasm when it is easier, and sometimes safer, not to get involved. But people who take the risk, who deliberately discard the armor of indifference, make a tremendous discovery -- the more things you care about, and the more intensely you care, the more alive you become. Caring or not caring can spell the difference between success and failure in a job, in a marriage -- in every human relationship. As Emerson said, "Nothing great was every achieved without enthusiasm." And what is enthusiasm but passionate caring? A famous jeweler once sold a magnificent ruby after one of his salespeople had failed to interest the customer. Asked how he did it, the jeweler said, "My clerk is an excellent man, an expert on precious stones. There's just one difference between us -- he knows jewels, but I "love" them. I care what happens to them, who wears them. The customers sense this. It makes them want to buy -- and they do." In such cases, of course, caring ultimately brings tangible reward, but the great philosophers and religious leaders have always taught this paradox: The most rewarding form of caring is caring without hope of reward. Fortunately for mankind, the world is full of people who go quietly through life performing, as Wordsworth put it, "little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love." The volunteer worker at the hospital, the unpaid canvasser for the community chest, the neighbor who offers to take care of your children while you settle a new house -- such people have no ulterior motive and expect no recompense. They act because they care, and their actions, multiplied my millions, supply the force that keeps the human race moving upward from barbarism along the path of growth. There are people who say that if you care too much, you can get hurt. That's right -- you win some, and you lose some. But the alternative is a pretty bleak and uninteresting existence. -- Wendyl K. Leslie ___________________________________________ Recently nominated for the 53rd edition of The Marquis' Who's Who in America, Wendyl is invites you to visit his website and subscribe to his weekly journal at: http://www.servetolead.net He is also the author of Serve to Lead, which can be reviewed at this convenient website: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1588514595/heart/ref=nosim =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) ____ ___ ,' __ ``.._..'' `. `.`. ``-.___..-. : ,---..____________________>/ _,'_ | `-:._,:_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|.:SSt:.:|-|(/ | _.' ) ____ '-' ; ( `-'' __``-' / ``-....-'' ``-..-'' >The Twelve string [edited] When I ran my fingers across the strings, I knew instantly that this was the most beautiful sounding thing that I had ever picked up and that I had to have one. It was a twelve string acoustic guitar, a deep red sun-burst, and it was in perfect tune. I am not much of a guitar player, but even strumming it with your fingers sounded wonderful and full. It was as pretty as the sounds that it made and it was difficult to make it sound bad, at first. Later as it got played and went through temperature changes, it became out of tune, and what a change that was. Now when you strummed, it reminded you of cats fighting and no one could make it sound good. Everything that had previously been right with it, was now horribly wrong. After spending some painful time tuning it back up, it sounded wonderful and full once again. Anyone that has tuned a twelve string guitar knows what I am talking about. It just needed to be kept in tune to sound good. \\Y|M| ~~..'~ ( \ ) \ =/ __\/__ / \ < . _ \ /\ \-' )\ \ ,,, | |""()|||||nn[:::) \__,-._) ''' | | | | | | | | / /| ) _/_ /_|__|__ / /\ /___________/ | \___________\__| So it is with our lives. When in tune with the Lord's plan for us, life is beautiful, full and we are a joy to be around. But after being played for a while by others, we can become flat, sharp, or a bit of both. We begin to make irritating noises that no one likes. No matter how out of tune you are, the Lord can fix you. He can restore what is missing. He can make the bad and the sad into the great and the joyful. The way back is to get in tune with the Lord again by getting somewhere quiet and talking to Him like a friend. It is the Lord Jesus that beautifully tunes us, polishes us, and cares for us. With Him, we can become something beautiful. Prayer: Father, lead me into all that You have in store for me. May Your perfect will be done in my life. Jesus told us that His sheep hear His voice and another they will not follow. Teach me to recognize when Jesus is speaking to me. Keep me in tune with You and my precious Lord, in His name, Jesus Christ, I pray. --- ...So true and a beautiful reminder! Thanks LouiseAu! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: \. ./ \\ // \\ // \`-'/ CJ `-' >A Boomerang World As I was sitting outside this morning sipping my coffee and watching the sun climb over the horizon, I looked down and saw a curved stick on the ground that reminded me of a boomerang. Suddenly I was caught up in memories of me as a kid, playing for hours on end in my grandfather's backyard with a small wooden boomerang he had given to me as a gift. Remember when you were a kid, how fascinated you were with boomerangs? (At least I was!) You take this flat, curved piece of wood and throw it, then watch in amazement as it curves around in the air and comes right back to you! As "miraculous" as that seemed when we were kids, I've found most of our life is like that. Whatever we "throw" out there, comes back to us. We live in a "boomerang" world. Let me explain. If you smile at someone, in almost every case, they will smile back. Try it now with someone nearby, and see if it works. If you're kind toward someone, they will usually be kind in return. Of course, this also works in the other direction. If you complain to someone, they will "share" their complaints with you. (In fact, you may quickly find yourself in a subtle competition to see who is more miserable.) If you get angry at someone, they will usually get angry with you, and so on. The fact is, whatever you decide to "throw" out into the world will usually circle around and land right back at your feet. (Much like the boomerangs we played with as kids.) Here's what struck me this morning. I have a CHOICE about what I decide to "throw" out into my world. I have a CHOICE about what I WANT to land at my feet. If you want more JOY, throw it out there. If you want more HAPPINESS, throw some happiness out there to someone else, and watch it "miraculously" come back to you. It even works with money. Need money? Give some away. Spiritual leaders from the beginning of time have been telling us this, but most of us are afraid to believe it. It works in just about every area of our life. When we give something away. When we "throw" it out there. It comes back to us. But here's the good news (and this is really the "miraculous" part): We actually get MORE back than what we throw out there. Plant a seed, and you don't just get one seed back. You get HUNDREDS, maybe even THOUSANDS! So today, and for as many days afterwards as you want, make a conscious CHOICE about what you want to "throw" out into the world. By doing this, you will be making a choice about what is going to come back and land at your feet. Remember the boomerang. Whatever you "throw" out there WILL come back to you (many times over). -Author Unknown --- ...God's Beautiful Law Of Giving = Receiving! Malachi 3: [10] Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Gal.6: [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Luke 6: [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Reminds me of this song from 1972 at The Way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Din3H-VFCGU \\\ ____ ________``` \ =|- [________] \ | =| | _ | | \ __ ejm |__=|- O--(_) `.______.' \ O=======(__) /|\ (/(|(\ >Our Friend Bunni explains what the bible is talking about here: I decided to conduct a little kitchen experiment and measure a cup of all-purpose flour two ways. Here were the results: 1. Scooping a measuring cup into the flour and leveling: 6 oz in weight 2. Spooning the flour into a measuring cup and leveling: 4.25 oz in weight Pretty big difference, right? Especially when it comes to baking. Because just a couple extra ounces of flour can really change the texture of a baked good. The important thing to remember is that, much like brown sugar, flour packs. Scooping the ingredient with your measuring instrument will cause packing. Packing flour can add up quickly. If you have a recipe with 3 cups of flour, and you scoop using your measuring up, you’d end up with 18 oz of flour, when in reality you should have 12.75 oz of flour. That’s nearly an extra 3/4 cup of flour in your recipe! That can dramatically change the results you get from a finished baked good. Now, I know that not everyone has a scale – that’s okay because I am going to explain how to get a pretty accurate measurement without the use of a scale. How To Measure Flour 1. Use a spoon to fluff up the flour within the container. 2. Use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup. 3. Use a knife or other straight edged utensil to level the flour across the measuring cup. King Arthur Flour has a plastic straight edge that I keep in my flour bin at all times for just this purpose. --- ...Thanks Bunni! God says as you give, HIS measure will always be a 'good measure' back to you! -<>- ,(()). ,;;;;. __ ________ _____ ___ ((_ _));'_`'_( _| __ __ __ _| _| _| __ __ () \ /)\ ) / (_|__ _|-_| _(_|(_|(_|__ _|-- ((\ O(() \ O / _____(_|(_|_____________(_|_ SSt >PART OF THE CHOIR By: Joseph J. Mazzella When I was a boy our church didn’t have a choir so everyone was expected to sing. That didn’t bother me since I was an enthusiastic singer to say the least. Still, my talent didn’t quite match my zest for singing. More often than not I was too loud and off key. Many times my singing would get me a nudge and a look from my older brother. In time, though, I learned to sing more softly and found that even my less than perfect voice blended in beautifully with the choir of joyous singers that was our church. As I grew up too I found many other ways to sing my soul’s song without using my throat’s voice. One way was by putting a pen to paper and later my fingers to a keyboard. In this way I was able to share the inspiring thoughts, words, and experiences that my Heavenly Father so often gave me. In this way I was able to encourage others as well to choose love, share joy, and grow in oneness with God even as I learned to do so more and more in my own life. As the years have gone by too I have realized something. I am only one voice in millions out there writing, speaking, and singing out the beautiful truth for all the world to hear. I often see the others online, in newspapers, on television, in books, and even on the street. Some have become rich and famous for the work they have done, but most like me are just delighting in freely sharing the wisdom, joy, love, and light that God has given them. Now I find myself happy to be a part of a new choir that is doing all it can to bring the glorious music of love to this world. I hope that you will join it as well. You may be just one voice among many, but if you share your soul’s song you can add so much to the choir. It doesn’t matter either if your voice or life is less than perfect. If you sing your song and live your life with love, you can help to make the Earth sound a lot more like Heaven. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Best Buddies!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestbuds.html Think Positive!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/positive.html Semper Fidelis!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/semperfi.html Thank You Lord!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html Are Angels Real?- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html Animal Friends 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalfriends3.html Rescued Squirrel!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rsquirrel.html Maria The Goose!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/goose.html Detroit Autorama!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/detroitauto.html Akiane Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Dog Days Of Summer!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogdays.html Value What You Have!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuewyh.html Attitude Is Everything!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html Kisses Sweeter Than Honey!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kisses.html Military Motivational Posters!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/military.html You Are The Only You God Has!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html -<>- >Please Visit This Link to Get New Traffic For Shangrala :) Fun Pages http://www.funpageexchange.com/go.php?uid=3559 -<>- >Follow Me On StumbleUpon: http://tinyurl.com/jewn5ou -<>- >From TruthOrTradition: We are SUPER excited to announce that the "STF Academy" is live! The academy is our new online learning environment that was created to take you from A to Z regarding God, Jesus and the Bible. There are TONS of new video classes to bless you and help you grow in your relationship with the Lord. We created the academy to be perfect for those brand new to the faith and also for those who have been a Christian for years. Visit STFacademy.com to join for free! http://stfacademy.com/ -<>- >In The News: From IntellectualTakeout: http://tinyurl.com/z2jhfln From RightAlerts: http://rightalerts.com/ -<>- >From Our Friend MohB :) http://www.hi-likes.com/gallery/funny/good-parenting-summed-up-in-15-pics/4 --- ...Ahhh! Thanks MohB! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) It's not every day that you get to walk on top of the open arms of Brazil's enormous Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. These Pirelli workers get the chance to, when they are tasked with restoring the statue after it was damaged by lightning. For them, it's a job that has to be done, but for others, it might be one thrilling experience, especially because of the mesmerizing view beneath you - simply breathtaking. Dare to look down? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxlKZereog0 Legendary actor John Wayne in a clip from 1970 on the TV variety show he hosted celebrating Americas history. Many famous actors and actresses are featured in this video singing God Bless America including Ann Margaret, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, George Burns, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Bing Crosby, Phyllis Diller, Lorne Greene, Bob Hope, Forrest Lewis, Dean Martin, William Shatner, Tom Smothers, and many more. What a classic video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFv-fqQ9D_Y --- ...Awesome! Thanks LouiseAu! With such a shining example, it is a shame that Rio de Janeiro allowed it's land and water to become so horribly filthy and polluted. Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== \..,.- .\ | __ .| .- / .; _ _| \__/.. \ \ ...\| X Hamburg :_ | \ / / -. | \ X Rheine Berlin X \ __/ | | / | \ / | \ X Cologne Dresden X . , \ ._-. . / __.-/ | X Frankfurt \ \ \ \ \ ...,. \ / \. / ,. / ./ | Munich X | \,......,__ __, __.-. . \/ -/ .. -dj1yfk >Finding the Words Story Editor: by Keith Dale Joyce Schowalter Texas, USA In 1985 I lived near Stuttgart, West Germany. I had taken a semester of German in college, and the standard Department of Defense introductory language course, but wasn't fluent in German. We lived in an apartment in a quaint village. I could navigate towns, find the Bahnhof (train station), and order from simple menus. But a "real" conversation was beyond my abilities. Days I cared for my 4-year-old son while my wife worked as an Army officer. Then I worked as a DoD contractor on "swing shift", 4:00 p.m. until midnight. By midnight, driving home was a tired chore. I fought sleep by looking for objects beside the road. One night I spied a tennis shoe and sleepily thought, "A shoe!" Next I noted, "Some paper." I observed a body in the middle of the road. "A body." I saw the other shoe. "Aha, a pair!" Then I shouted out loud, "A BODY!?!" I swerved right and screeched to a halt. I sprinted up the road to the person lying prone. Suddenly I realized: this could be a setup. Terrorist activity against U.S. personnel was increasing in Germany then. Feeling misplaced invulnerability, I kept running. The "body" was very much alive, German, in his early 40s, and clutching his chest fearfully. Walking beside the road he had experienced chest pains. He purposefully fell down in the road where he would be spotted. I reacted to the terror in this man's eyes by wanting to comfort him. With fingers on his pulse, I used a calm voice. Had he had heart problems before? Any existing medical conditions? Was he taking medication? Had he been drinking or taking drugs? Did he live nearby? I told him that he would be just fine. His pulse calmed from 180 to 120 beats per minute. I told him that I'd been a lifeguard for five years and just finished a CPR refresher course. In answer to his heart-wrenching question, I told him that he would NOT die while I was there! Then I heard a bus coming down the hill. I needed to flag it down, so I tore away, ran up the hill and stood in the road waving. The startled bus driver agreed to drive ahead 300 meters to the Polizei (Police) station for help. In three minutes a German police officer arrived and took control. He took my information, then released me. I was glad to step back! I told my newest best friend that he'd be fine. He repeated, "I love Americans. Thank you!" Back in the safety of my car, my body shook as I relived the last 10 minutes. Everyone had spoken fluent English ...but no, I realized that the conversations were in German! Sudden German fluency had emerged to comfort a person in terrible need. I still don't know how. I've thought long and hard about it. Perhaps the lesson is that the language of compassion and caring is all that's necessary to be understood. Editor's Note: Keith Dale is also the author of "The Man Who Cares", about talks show host Montel Williams. That story is in the first HS book: http://www.HeroicStories.com/books.html =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz >Seeing Jesus In 1962 I was preaching in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was single, and it was Christmas time. I was headed home to Michigan to enjoy the holidays with my family. It was an extremely cold day, and it was snowing. The wind was howling out of the North, blowing thick clouds of fine flakes across the road - it looked like a blizzard. The roads were icy in places, and there was little traffic. Somewhere near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, I saw a soldier standing under an overpass. He had a green army cap pulled as tight and low as possible over his head, his collar was pulled up around his ears, his hands were shoved down in his pockets, and he had a stuffed duffel bag standing beside him. I was driving a Chevrolet Corvette, and I was going very fast - faster than I should have been, considering the road conditions. As I sped by, the soldier jerked one hand out of his pocket and raised his thumb. My Corvette had two seats - not a front and back seat, but two seats side by side - and I was in one of them. The trunk was big enough to hold three loaves of bread and a pound of lunch meat. Not only was my limited trunk space stuffed full with the clothes and boots I would need for my stay in Michigan, the front seat was stacked high as well, with the presents that I had purchased for my folks and my nieces and nephews. When I saw the soldier, I was going much too fast to stop, and I was well down the highway before I gave it much thought. I told myself that I couldn't possibly get him and his duffel bag in the car - I debated about the terrible inconvenience and delay it would cause if I did, and by the time I decided that perhaps I ought to at least offer to help, I was two miles down the road and out of sight. But my Christian Conscience really went to work on me. It was so cold, traffic was almost nonexistent - he was a soldier - and it was Christmas. The inner battle raged for another three miles. Finally, I decided I would never get any peace unless I offered to help, so I made a U-turn and went back. I hoped with all my heart that someone else had picked him up. That way, I could satisfy my conscience and not be inconvenienced - wouldn't that be great? But he was still there, looking more forlorn, lonely, and cold than ever. I was disgusted. I pulled up and rolled down the window. He came running, stumbling on his numb feet, dragging the duffel bag. He leaned over and stuck his head in the window. His face was bluish, his teeth were chattering, his eyebrows and eyelashes were matted with frozen snow, and he could scarcely speak intelligibly. "Thanks so much for stopping", he said. "I had about given up hope." That was not what I wanted to hear. "Where are you going?" I asked, hoping that it was in some direction that would alleviate me from further responsibility. "I live in Michigan, in Taylor Township," he said hopefully. That was really discouraging. It wasn't directly on my may, but it wasn't too much out of my way either. "I'm going to Royal Oak," I said reluctantly. "Oh, " he said, "I know where that is. That's great! If I could just ride with you to Ann Arbor, it would mean a lot to me. I'm almost frozen; I can't feel my ears or feet any more," he said plaintively. "I don't think I can possibly get both you and your things in," I said. "If you'll let me, I'll get in - I promise you. I've been standing here for three hours." I told him to try getting in, and we began rearranging things. The duffel bag was almost as big as he was, and there was only one place for it - the passenger seat. No matter how he put it in the car, he couldn't get in himself. I suggested that maybe he could hide it somewhere and come back for it later. He said he couldn't possibly do that; it had his kids' Christmas presents in it, and he wasn't going anywhere without it. I finally got out, walked around the car, and told him to sit down in the passenger seat. As he sat there, I wedged the duffel bag between his legs and between the floor and the roof of the car, I sandwiched all of my presents around him - and I slammed the door. He couldn't move, he couldn't see out either the windshield or his side window - but he was in. I still don't know how we did it. Once he began to get warm, he began to talk. I found out he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri "Didn't I see you go by about five minutes ago?" he asked. I really felt stupid. "Ummm, yes," I said. "You mean you turned around and came back?!" I nodded an affirmative. "Why would you do that?" I paused a long moment. "Well, you see, I was raised in a home where helping people who were in need was very important. In addition, I'm a minister - actually, it's more than that - I'm a Christian, and if it weren't for that, I'd probably still be going. I have as hard a time doing the right thing as most folks. I fought with this decision for five miles - it's Jesus who makes me do things like turn around and come back. When I don't do the right thing, I have this feeling He's looking at me, and He's so disappointed that I can't stand it. "Oh!" he said. "you don't know how that convicts me. I'm going to tell you something I never thought I'd tell anybody. I'm no Christian, but my wife is the best person in the whole world, and she goes to church all the time and takes the kids. Truthfully, I've done everything I could to discourage her, but she just keeps going. She's all the time trying to get me to go, telling me that someday I'm going to wish I had. "Do you know why I'm here hitchhiking? Let me tell you a little story. I was turned down for holiday leave because I got drunk and caused some trouble at the base. I was sick about it. I haven't seen my wife and kids for six months. A friend of mine, who's single, found out at the last minute that his folks were coming to visit some relatives who live close to the base during the holidays. He went to our commanding officer and volunteered to take my duty, if he would let me go home. He gave me permission, but I had spent all my money buying presents, which I was going to mail home, so I decided to start hitchhiking. My family doesn't even know I'm coming. I wasn't sure I'd make it, and I didn't want to disappoint them. I've been standing there for three hours, thinking. I watched folks drive by, and it occurred to me that some of them must be Christians, and it made me feel pretty bitter - until I got to thinking about what a lousy person I am, and I knew if I was them, that I probably wouldn't stop either. "Let me tell you something embarrassing - I got so cold, so lonely, and so desperate that I started to pray - honest to God I did - it was so humiliating. I told God that if he would help me, I'd do better. And you know what? About that time you showed up, and you told me that you came back because of Jesus - now what do you make of that?" "Well, first I'd say that maybe there's more to Christianity than either of us thought, and second, I'd say you'd better start doing better." I found out exactly where he lived, and we agreed that I could get him pretty close before I had to go in another direction. I think I knew what I was going to do long before I actually said anything. As we approached the intersection where I was going to let him out, I told him that I had made up my mind to take him home. About two hours later, we pulled up in his driveway. It was almost dark. He was really excited. He asked me to blow my horn, and I did. A few minutes passed, and the inside door opened slowly. The glass in the outside door was frosted over, and whoever was looking out could only tell that there was a car in the driveway. The outside door opened, and a five-or six-year old, barefooted boy peeked around the door. When he saw my sports car, he came out on the porch and peered intently at us. His dad opened the door and stepped out. "Hi, David, it's Daddy; I'm home for Christmas!" He started to say more, but the boy had seen the uniform and heard the voice. The boy's face lit up, and he turned back into the house. I could hear him distinctly - "Mama, Daddy's home," he yelled shrilly. "Daddy's Home! Mama! Mama! Daddy's home for Christmas!" The door opened again, and it didn't open slowly this time - it was thrown open. A woman dressed in a bathrobe and house slippers came running down the steps, her hair flying in the wind, oblivious to the snow and the cold, eyes and mouth opened wide with excitement, with joy etched in every line of her face. "Oh, Carl," she said, "Oh, Carl, you're home. Praise God, you're home. The kids and I have been praying every day that, somehow, God would send you home." She was followed by a skinny, fair-haired, ten-year-old girl and finally by a towheaded, blanket-toting, two - or three-year-old girl. They kissed and hugged and laughed and cried, and they danced in the cold and the snow until the soldier finally disentangled himself from them long enough to introduce me. "This is John," he said. "He's a minister and he's also a Christian; and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here. And I'm going to tell you something honey, right here and now. I told John that I had promised God that I was going to do better, and I am. I'm going to stop drinking, be a better husband, a better father - a better man - and we're going to start going to church together." I have never witnessed such gratitude in my life. They all had to hug me and kiss me - even the two-year-old - and they told me what a blessing I was to them and that they owed me a debt they could never pay. I was so embarrassed because I was so unworthy. I had grudged the whole thing until after we had started talking. I wanted to tell them that I didn't deserve any thanks. I tried to leave, but they simply wouldn't allow it. I had to go in the house. I had to eat something and drink something; I had to accept a gift from them - yes, I had to. They would not allow me not to, and the more they did, the better and the worse I felt. I was so embarrassed. You know why? I had just witnessed something private - a family thing - something I wasn't part of - something not meant for outsiders - and, yes, I was - I was embarrassed. And you know what else? I envied Carl. I thought that it must be wonderful beyond description to be loved by a woman like that and missed like that and to be so unworthy - and I think Carl was just beginning to understand what he had. I have learned since then that only those who have come to know and feel the love of God can love the unworthy - and I have also learned that we are all unworthy. Carl was home. I think that at that moment, home meant more to him, perhaps, than it would ever mean again. And when I got to my home and saw my folks and told them why I was late, they were so proud of me - and I was a little proud of myself. Home was somehow brighter, warmer, more dear to me than it had ever been before. Every human longing - bound up in the inherent yearning to be loved and to be "home" and to experience the peace and security that "home" signifies - has found its fulfillment in Jesus who said "I go to prepare a place for you." Everything we ever dreamed of home being - what it was or was not - is in that place. Jesus has given purpose, even to the dream of death, because for those who know God - that is the way home. "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given. So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in." Jesus comes to us in many ways. He came to me in the form of a freezing soldier trying to get home for Christmas. He came to a freezing soldier in the form of a young minister trying to find his way to God. Either one of us could have missed Him. Jesus will come to you this Christmas too, and His coming will be in an unexpected way - don't miss Him. Happy Trails to all... John William Smith --- ...Love it! A sweet tearjerker of a story! Thanks Bunni! ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: \_/ --(_)-- . / \ /_\ |Q| .-----' '-----. __ /____[SCHOOL]___\ ())) | [] .-.-. [] | (((()) ..|____|_|_|____|..................................)(... ldb >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Charlie, 8, had a "food tasting" at his school. All of the students brought cultural dishes and shared them. When he got home his mother asked him how he had liked all the different foods. "It was delicious!" he said. "I wish I had a 'back button' so I could do it again!" -- Natalie (mother of Charlie) of Marietta, Georgia Quinn, 2, saw a picture of the Statue of Liberty. She pointed to the picture and said, "Look, Mommy -- she has to hold her ice cream up so Tyson (the family dog) doesn't get it!" -- Angela Cox (mother of Quinn) of Lee's Summit, Missouri Fiona has started paying Emma, 5, 20 baht per week for helping around the house. On Sunday night, after receiving her pocket money for the first time, Emma not only put her dishes in the dishwasher, she also put in her mother's coffee cup and glass. "I've been such a good help," Emma said, "don't you think you should increase my pocket money to 50 baht?!" Fiona, Emma's mother, notes that living in Thailand teaches children negotiation skills very early. -- Fiona Thomson of Bangkok, Thailand /\.-./~\ (o//o)| \-._ .-"-. .~.'~ | | )`-----' \._ (").'/.| | ( /-.\ (_/-' \_/ | \ | \\ \ / / ____.-\ / )) /\| /_.-' \\ \ (( // || \\ \ \| \\ ||' // \\ (/ || _// \\ " (_/ (_/ (_/MJP " " " Ryan's dog Ginger had to be put to sleep. Ryan, 6, loved Ginger very much and he was devastated. His grandmother called to comfort him. As she was telling Ryan how sorry she was about Ginger's death, Ryan decided to comfort his grandmother by saying, "Don't worry, Grandmother, you will be the first to see her again!" -- Sandra Neale (mother of Ryan) of Crofton, Maryland Elijah, 4, was out in the yard with his dad and twin sister Samantha. He ran into the house to tell his mother he needed water because the grass was dead and he wanted to make it alive. Curious to see what he was talking about -- because the house they were renting had no grass in the yard -- his mother followed him outside and saw Samantha leaning over looking at weeds growing between the crack in the concrete. Elijah's mother told him and Samantha that those were weeds, not grass. The twins didn't seem to understand so their mother said, "Weeds are bad grass." Elijah asked, "Mom, why are they bad? They don't listen?" -- Jacqueline Matos (mother of the twins) of Belleville, New Jersey When Peggy was about 10 she was bad and her mother told her to sit down and be quiet. After sitting for a while, she started singing. Her mother snapped, "I told you to be quiet." Peggy answered, "But Mommy, Paul and Silas sang while they were in prison." That ended the punishment for that day! -- Peggy Collins of Morrison, Colorado _ _ _ _ ( '` '` ' ) | | | | | _ L |(c--(_)_) | _) Dilbert | | | | |_______| /_______/_\ / \##\ /\ / / \ \##_/ | /____\ \ | | | \ | __| |____ | | | | | | || | | | | | || \|_(__)___|___|| #########MMM #########MMM #########MMM teb When Andrew was 2, he was a very light sleeper. His brother Danny, 1, was not a light sleeper... so Andrew dubbed him a "dark sleeper!" -- Sara (mother of Andrew and Danny) of Palominas, Arizona While pregnant with her second child, Samantha's first, a 4-year-old girl, was feeling the baby move around in her stomach. She put her hand on top of Samantha's belly and said, "Mommy, is this where his feet are?" Samantha said yes. Then she moved to the bottom of Samantha's stomach and said, "Mommy, is this where his head is?" She said yes. Then she asked, "Where are his eyes?" To appease her, Samantha rubbed around the bottom of her belly and said, "Right around here." She then quickly grabbed Samantha's hand so that she could not move it and said, "Mommy, you have to be careful. You could poke him in the eye!" -- Samantha Lang of Dover, Ohio Adrienne, 6, is playing basketball at church. Her coach had the team running laps around the gym. Adrienne noticed that one little girl was really cutting off the corners so she told her mother, "That girl isn't running all of her lap tops!" -- Ruthie Garvin (grandmother of Adrienne) of Humboldt, Tennessee ,.---._ ,,,, / `, \\\\ / '\_ ; |||| /\/``-.__\;' ::::/\/_ {{`-.__.-'(`(^^(^^^(^ 9 `.=========' {{{{{{ { ( ( ( ( (-----:= {{.-'~~'-.(,(,,(,,,(__6_.'=========. ::::\/\ |||| \/\ ,-'/, //// \ `` _/ ; '''' \ ` .' `---' Char was eating at Red Lobster with her niece, Tabatha, who was 3 at the time. When it came time to place their orders, Tabatha proudly told the waiter that she wanted "naked shrimp." (She meant shrimp without the breading!) -- Char Boldt of Madison, Wisconsin Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Sin is all around me Sin is all around me I can feel its filthy touch As it winds and twines around me With such terrible greed and lust So hard I try to fight it But sometimes I must confess Although I know I should say 'NO' Sadly I end up saying 'YES' I know my only hope now lies In giving God my life I have no hope the way things are All I have is sin and strife 'My Lord, I come to You right now Please forgive my sins, I pray Turn my life around and fill me with Your Love Give my life a brand new start' Now I eagerly await my precious Lord's return One day soon I shall see His face His awesome beauty I will then behold As in His presence I gratefully take my place Now I eagerly await that day My soul is spotless, clean and ready I watch the Eastern skies with eager anticipation It's almost time to go! Are YOU Ready? Phyllis Smith (Bunni) September 9, 1989 All Rights Reserved --- ...Oh Yeah! Thanks Bunnni! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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