A Simple Hug And More... :) 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 Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! 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!! ============================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: _ ( ) ,,,,, \\ . . , \\ | - D (._) \__- | | | \\|_ , ,---- _ |----. \__ ( ( / ) _ | \/ \. ' _.| \ ( ) | \ /( / /\_ \ // \ / ( / / ) // ( , / / , (_.) |......\ | \, / / ) \--- b'ger /___/___^// >TURNING POINT by Ben Mueller I heard a quote from a body builder once that went something like the following: "Each day you either become a little bit stronger or a little bit weaker, but you never stay the same." My interpretation of this is that every day we should strive to be the best that we can be in all areas of life. Even on days when you are struggling, it is important to remember that it just takes a positive attitude to turn things around for the better. My dad took me to my first Green Bay Packers game when I was eight years old. At the time, I really did not know much about football other than it was a tough guy's sport. All I knew was that the Packers were playing the Cincinnati Bengals and that the Packers were not a very good team. The had lost all previous games in that season and it had been years since the Packers had a winning season. The year was 1992 and I was astonished at the atmosphere and crowd of being at a football game. I thought that it was the coolest thing. On one particular play, the packers quarterback Don Majowski hurt his ankle and had to leave the game. I remember a negative comment from a nearby fan who stated that the Packers had no chance of winning now. Out stepped the Packers back up quarterback Brett Favre. The beginning of the game did not go well for Favre and he ended up fumbling the ball four times and getting sacked often. Despite the fact the he was struggling, Favre kept the team in the game and they were down by six points with less than a minute to go in the game. Favre had the ball and threw a long pass to Sterling Sharpe. Then, with eight seconds to go, Favre threw the winning touchdown to wide receiver Kitrick Taylor. The crowd went wild! Favre ran around the field celebrating, and first year coach Mike Holmgren was as happy as could be. The Packers carried on that momentum for the rest of the season and just missed the playoffs at 9-7. Even though they missed the playoffs that year, the 1992 season was a special season for the Green Bay Packers. It marked the beginning of the Brett Favre era and also the start of a dynasty in which the team would win the Super Bowl in 1996. From that 1992 game forward, Favre began the longest consecutive starts streak for a quarterback in NFL history. As a Packers fan, I have witnessed many up and down seasons since then, but this game helps instill a special memory -- a memory so powerful that I feel like a turn for the better can happen anytime. Who would have ever thought that game would have ended the way that it did? And who would have thought that a great NFL quarterback and team would have been born on that day? -- Ben Mueller __________________________________________________ Ben is a writer and triathlete from Sheboygan, WI. He has had stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners. NOTE: This past month, Brett Favre, age 41, who now plays for the Minnesota Vikings, was unable to play due to his inability to pass NFL mandated post concussion tests. He announced he intends to retire from professional football after a 20 year run. Meanwhile, many fans think that Green Bay's current quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, age 27, has the potential to surpass Favre's records. ================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jo Ann :) _. ,-.,-"`""-./ \ / \ `-.| .:::.:::. \ / `-._ ::::::::: | "=\ ':::::' | .==" |o_|_ ':' | _o. ` (_) ,;;;,;;;, ; \\ ;;;;;;;;; \ _. /|-. ';;;;;' \ ` `'---'/ \ ';' \ .--._ /-' | ,-`. / `-._( / `-._`-._\ `\ '\ ( ` `'._ _, | \ / ~-. `| | | / `;-.| | | .' \ /| | / .'-. '. | \ | .' `-._ '. | /"` `\ jgs / `"--.,_'-._\-.___.'_ ; / `""";--' `. | / .'` \ /""-. ; / \""-, \ | / | \ | \ | '. |/ '. \ .'`-. / '._ '.,___,.;' '-.___.' `"""----------'` >A SIMPLE HUG A great big hug just for you... There's something in a simple hug That always warms the heart; It welcomes us back home And makes it easier to part. A hug's a way to share the joy And sad times we go through, Or just a way for friends to say They like you 'cause you're you. Hugs are meant for anyone For whom we really care, From your grandma to your neighbor, Or a cuddly teddy bear. A hug is an amazing thing It's just the perfect way To show the love we're feeling But can't find the words to say. It's funny how a little hug Makes everyone feel good; In every place and language, It's always understood. And hugs don't need new equipment, Special batteries or parts Just open up your arms And open up your hearts. - Written By: © Johnny Ray Ryder Jr wannahug? _ _ / _ (o\-~-/o) _ (o\ ( 9 9 ) /o) \ \( (Y) )/ / \ ) ( / / \ _____/ )_( \____ hjw =_==( (===) )=_= `97 | \ ) ( / | \|vVv(__/,v#\__)V/|/|#.. Pass this simple hug to the people you know. If you get it back, you will know that you have true friends. Remember to be polite and send this hug back to the person who sent it to you. --- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _( )_ ( ) ( ) _( )_ ( ) ( ) _( )_ ( ` ' )| |_| | _ _ __ ( ` ' )| |_| | _ _ __ ( ` ' ) > < | _ |( ) ( ) /'_ `\ > < | _ |( ) ( ) /'_ `\ > < (_, ,_)| | | || (_) |( (_) |(_, ,_)| | | || (_) |( (_) |(_, ,_) (_) (_) (_)`\___/'`\__ | (_) (_) (_)`\___/'`\__ | (_) ( )_) | ( )_) | \___/' \___/' unknown ...Thank You Jo Ann!! Huggums To All On Huggums Day :) ==================================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: .::\)`:`, .:;\/~`\``;) ,.~-----, ;;==`_ ~:;( ,,~{*}\~~--,.`. ;:== 6 6;;) ,(((((({*});~~. .\ ;;C } )' (('`)))~({*}) . \ .\ :;` `--'; >6 6`({*}))) . \~~ | `____/ ( { ))())) . .`, ____._| |_____. `--' (((())) . | / \ \__ _| | \ `-- )))))) . .| | ) \/\/\_{@} | ,-| ((((((( . | | \_ \ \ | / | / | / ))))))) .| | |\ : \ |/ | Y | (/*@@*( ' ` ) . | \ \ \_\/_/ | | / */ \ \'/ /. | \ \ |o | | \. \ |'@'| .| \ \ | ; ,'--,.,.,., \ ~*@*~. . | \ \_________._--`((,:{@}.:))_\ |~@~| . | \ ' | ((,{@}:{@}.))-----' ;/\ (, \._____________`-__((;,{@},:))_________/|{ | . ; | | | `';{@},) /`-----'\ |. | | .__/\__ | `{@};,; / / | \ \ \/ .| | / :; \ | `(@))\ / \. . | | /! | \| ';; ))_/`-'/`_`., \. | | | ! | | ';(( | | ! `_ \ .| | | ! | | )) | | ! |.\_| | |/ ! | | (/ | | ! | . | | ! | | | | ! |~~~~' | ! | | | | ! | | ! | | | | ! | | ! `| `| |' |' ! | | ! -| -| |` |` ! | | ! | | | | ! | | ! | | | | ! | | ! | | | | ! | | ! | | | | ! | | ! | | | | ! | | ! | | | | ! | | ! | | | | ! | | ! | | ~~~~|~~~~~ |======|=====| /__//__/| | \___ \___ _/) _/) _J L_--______)-____) (___(____/ Y >10 REASONS TO STAY MARRIED Dr. Randy Carlson 1. Because God wants us to stay married for life. 2. Because marriage is a picture of the love God has for the church and each divorce damages that picture. 3. Because divorce hurts. Children, in-laws, friends and you! 4. Because second and third marriages tend to be even less successful than first marriages. 5. Because divorce often creates serious financial problems for one or both parties. 6. Because you lose friends and family. 7. Because you lose out on what could have been. 8. Because you both once loved each other and could recapture that love if you both choose to do so. 9. Because it is generally good for your health. 10. Because it builds personal character. as seen at www.intentionallife.com -<>- () () ||____...---~~~---...___|| || %%%%% || Gasp! %%%()% ___ ._._ || / %%%%\\-. |\ /_0_\\ ||...)))))___.........%%%%%()\\~~\~~~ \ |\ //- >-\_ \ //\ \ \// |""""""""| | \ \ _O_// / \\ \ \_/ ,.| JRO| \ \ / / \\/ \/ \ \ \/ /\' ' \ '(__\____/\ \_ \ \ \ \ \ _..-------\'--~ \ \_\.\.-~~-..--~~~~ \ \.- >THE ADULTERY MARKET Many of us have seen the wild and funny TV ads that go along with the Super Bowl. But fans in Texas got quite a shock during the game this year. An ad by AshleyMadison.com was seen as inappropriate by the NFL and NBC. But local affiliates in Texas decided that the $250,000 for the 30-secoond spot was too much to turn down. The 30-second commercial was an ad for an online dating service for married people. It showed a couple at a restaurant on their wedding anniversary. The man was an obnoxious jerk who talked on the cell phone during supper. Then, he got up to leave during dessert, as he said, "Happy anniversary, honey." The voice-over, targeted at women, asked, "Isn’t it time for Ashley-Madison.com?" The company owner defended the ad by noting he was simply providing a service for people wanting to be honest about their displeasure with marriage. He started the service in 2001 after reading that 30% of the people signing up for singles dating services were married. He now has 3.3 million members. Texas was the only state to see the ad, but that was intentional. Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio represent their fastest-growing markets with nearly a quarter-million members joining in the past few months. Less than 24 hours after the Super Bowl ad, Houston alone accounted for more than 147,000 hits to the site. Lord, help us go against the flow of evil in our day. (From a sermon by Rick Crandall, "Lord, We Need Your Help!" 2/9/2009) --- ...My two cents... I was watching a show yesterday and I got surprised at a line one of the main actors had. A pimp asked him if he'd be interested in one of his escort woman and the detective said no he was married. The pimp said 'Too bad, you don't know what you're missing.' And the married cop said, 'No, YOU don't know what you're missing!'. Nice for a change - an actor upholding marriage! -<>- ,,,, God Sent Me... ,;) .';;;;', ;;,,_,-.-.,;;'_,|I\;;;/),,_ You Called For `';;/:|:);{ ;;;|| \;/ /;;;\__ L;/-';/ \;;\',/;\/;;;.') \ A Hero? .:`''` - \;;'.__/;;;/ . _'-._ .'/ \ \;;;;;;/.'_7:. '). \_ .''/ | '._ );}{;//.' '-: '.,L .'. / \ ( |;;;/_/ \._./;\ _, . / |\ ( /;;/_/ ';;;\,;;_, . / )__(/;;/_/ (;;''''' / _;:':;;;;:';-._ ); / / \ `'` --.'-._ \/ .' '. ,' '-, / / r--,..__ '.\ .' ' .' '--._ ] ( :.(;> _ .' '- ;/ | /:;( ,_.';( __.' '- -'"|;:/ (;;;;-'--' |;/ ;;( snd '' /;;| \;;| \/ >WHEN GOD SHOWS UP '...the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come...' Malachi 3:1 NKJV Sometimes God shows up dramatically: like an unexpected cheque in the mail, a door suddenly opening, or the Lord protecting you from a situation that would otherwise destroy you (See Psalm 91:11). Other times He shows up quietly, replacing your anxiety with assurance, whispering, 'Fear not...I am with you...' (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV). And when those around you say, 'You're different today, what's changed?' you reply, 'I don't know, I just have peace about it.' That's because, '...the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come...' (Malachi 3:1 NKJV). Here are two Bible stories which illustrate this: The first story demonstrates how God intervenes in situations where you are misunderstood and mistreated. 'After they had been severely flogged...About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns...Suddenly...all the prison doors flew open...' (Acts 16:23- 26 NIV). Midnight prayers and songs of praise help you see beyond the problem, to God, the great problem-solver. By taking the focus off yourself and putting it on Him, your whole outlook begins to change. The second story demonstrates how God intervenes when we are overwhelmed by the sheer size of the challenge. Faced with leading two million Israelites into the Promised Land, Moses prays, '...show me now Your way...' (Exodus 33:13 NKJV). And God replies, 'Here is a place by Me... I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand...' (Exodus 33:21-23 NKJV). When God tells you, 'Here is a place by Me,' get into it and stay there! Even when you can't see Him clearly, you'll feel His presence, experience His goodness, and know that everything is going to be OK. SoulFood: Matt 2:9-15, 1 Cor 10-11, Ps 139:1-12, Pro 31:25-27 as seen in The Word For Today -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >HAVE YOU SHARED JESUS WITH SOMEONE YET? Coca-cola is one product that has far outgrown its humble beginnings. In 1886, Dr. John Pemberton first introduced Coca- Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. The pharmacist concocted a caramel- colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard. He first "distributed" Coca-Cola by carrying it in a jug down the street to Jacobs? Pharmacy. After little more than 100 years, surveys show that 97% of the world has heard of coca-cola. 72% of the world has seen a can of coca-cola. 51% of the world has tasted a can of coca-cola. All due to the fact that the company made a commitment years ago that every one on the planet would have a taste of their soft drink. We should stand up and take note here...97% of the world has heard of this sugar and water concoction while 1.7 billion people world-wide have no access to the good news of Jesus Christ! It is estimated that 17 million people die every year without having heard the name of Jesus! When I hear those facts, I should not hang my head in despair and shame. Instead, I should be challenged, motivated, and inspired to a new level of commitment in sharing the message of forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. as seen in www.sermoncentral.com -<>- !|| !|||| ,/|||| !|'''| `\ | )\ \ ejm / \ \ \ >PRAY In the face of instability, In the light of world dismay; From the youngest to the oldest, This is the time to pray. A time to call upon our God, For His wisdom and His grace; To ask for strength and endurance, A time to seek His face. A time to call on angels, To protect those called to serve; A time to place our faith in Him, And pray without reserve. A time to be united, For divided, we shall fall; We are a country built on faith, So hasten to His call. He speaks to us, "Be not afraid," He says, "Be not dismayed;" From the youngest to the oldest, This is the time to pray!! ~Allison Chambers Coxsey~ -<>- _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >HOW INTENTIONAL ARE YOU WITH YOUR CHRISTIAN GROWTH? Intentional means planning your work and working your plan. Without focus, you can be a frequent church goer but yet be lacking in your knowledge of God's will and obedience to it. The following are some suggestions regarding being focused with your Christian growth: 1. Set some prayerful goals. Without knowing where you are going, you may pass it or never get there. Therefore, be intentional about setting some time sensitive, measurable, and desired outcomes, in the area of Christian living. The following are examples: - Be a weekly Bible study student by Deccember 31 - Give 5% of my gross income by June 30 - Give 7% of my gross income by Decemberr 31 - Join a need responding ministry group that fit my skills and desires or willingness by June 30 - Practice saying "I love you" to my spoouse and children everyday by June 30 - Exercise three days a week and eat cleean five days a week by June 30 - Put 6% of my gross income into retiremment by December 30 Notice that Christian living is not simply church living. God wants to have rule over all of your life (see Lk. 9:23). 2. Develop some prayerful plans. What good are goals without plans? Plans are statements about how you will accomplish the goal. Here are some examples of intentional plans: - Regarding the Bible study goal, I willl go to each of the studies on three separate occasions, by June 30, starting on January 12. I will decide which one I will join and actually join by May 30. I will give diligence to finding an accountability partner, in my class, to help me stay faithful in attendance by June 30. - I will put three silver dollars in my right pocket, in the morning. When I tell my wife that I love her, I will transfer one silver dollar from my right pocket to my left. I will do the same for each of my two daughters. If I empty my pockets at the end of day with silver dollars in my right pocket, before I go to sleep, I will tell them that I love them. I will start this on January 12 and do it until I feel that I have it mastered well enough that I don't need the silver dollars. - I will go to the YMCA on January 12 annd meet with a personal fitness instructor to start exercising once a week. By March 1, I will be up to two days a week. And by June 1, I will be up to three days a week. I will find an accountability partner at the gym, by March 1, who works out at least three days a week, to help me stay with this. See how each goal will need a specific plan? I only gave plans for three goals to help you see how to develop your own plans. 3. Seek some wise advisers. Proverbs 11:14 teaches that without wise counsel people fail. Somebody can help you with your goals. Intentionally look around and ask God to help you see who can advise you in reaching your goals. Your adviser should have some success in what you are trying to accomplish. Your friend may not be your best adviser, if he/she doesn’t have success in the given area. I would suggest that you start off by simply introducing yourself and greeting each other a couple of times, when you see each other. You may then let the person know that you appreciate whatever you appreciate relative to what you need advice in. For example, if you are working on being more patient, you may compliment the person on demonstrating so much patience. Let the person know that you are looking for someone who could advise you from time to time about improving your level of patience or whatever your goal is. Ask the person is he/she willing to give some advice from time to time. If the person says "yes" then proceed to exchange numbers and e-mail. Set up a time to chat. Be conscious of the person's time. Forwarding a list of questions before the session to the adviser may be helpful. Use your judgment about how often to talk, how long the session should be, and how long this type of relationship may last. You may discover that the person does well but doesn't give helpful advice. You may discover that the person and you don't have a great chemistry, and it is not worth the trouble to keep trying. Make a prayerful decision. If the person says "no," tell him/her "thank you," and then use your judgment about more conversation or simply ending the conversa- tion and moving on. If the person says "maybe" or his/her "yes" doesn't seem right then find a nice way to let the person know that you are still in your "looking around season," and you will get back to him/her, if you need him/her. 4. Work the plan. No matter how great your goals, logical your plan, and wise your advisers may be, you have to work your plan. Nobody can grow in the Lord for you. It encourages me to know that I can eat a whole elephant, if I eat one bite at a time. You can even eat two (with some hot sauce, smile), if you keep working your plan of taking one bite at a time. 5. Monitor the plan. I find keeping a journal about things that are important to me to be very helpful. Put your goals and plans in your journal, and then make at least weekly entries about how you are coming. The journal will help you see what you are doing and not doing. It will help you be accountable to yourself. You don’t want to have to report that you have made no progress, since your last entry. 6. Adjust the goals and plans as needed. Your goals and surely your plans don’t have to be chipped in stone. Be intentional, wise, and courageous enough to adjust goals and plans as needed. Some goals may prove to be too difficult, some too easy, and some not as important as you thought. Plans are sure to change, as time marches on. 7. Keep going. Before the summary, let me say to you and myself, "Keep going!" Don't be guilty of almost being successful in reaching your goals. Don’t let setbacks, delays, and detours stop you. Adjust and intentionally try again, and again, and again …. In summary, set some intentional prayerful goals and plans in place. Seek wise advisers. Work and monitor your plan. Make adjustments as needed and keeping going. as seen at www.christian-living-site.com --- ...For additional help with planning and prayer, see: When You Pray http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/pray.htm To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ============================================================= >-->From Laugh And Lift: %%%% %%%%-( _%%%%%_/ \ ' / _%%%%%%%% - (_) - _%%%%%%%/ \% / , \ %%%%%%%%%\\ \_ %%%%%% \ \\ ) /\_/ /(___. \ '----' ( / ) ---....____/ (_____ __ _ ___ ___ __ _ _ _____ _ _ ___ / )---...___ =-= = -_= -=_= _-=_-_ -=- =-_ ,' ( ```--.._= -_= -_= _-=- -_= _=- ,-' ) ``--._=-_ =-=_-= _-= _ '-._ '-..___( ``-._=_-=_- =_-= ``---....__) `-._-=_-_=- )|)| `-._=-_ gnv '-'-.\_ `-. >Foot Prints in the Sand (Original Idea/Poem by Margaret Fishback Powers, Copyright 1964 by Margaret Fishback Powers) (Rewording apparently by Mary Stevenson) One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky, sometimes there were two sets of foot prints, other times there were only one. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of foot prints. So I said to the Lord: You promised me Lord that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of foot prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you the most, have you not been there with me? The Lord replied, "During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of foot prints it was then that I carried you". -<>- mm###########mmm m####################m m#####`"#m m###"""'######m ######*" " " "mm####### m####" , m"#######m m#### m*" ,' ; , "########m ####### m* m |#m ; m ######## |######### mm# |#### #m##########| ###########| |######m############ "##########| |##################" "######### |## /##############" ########| # |/ m########### "####### ###########" """""" """"""""" unknown >Stuff Christians Like: Part 6 (By Jonathan Acuff, These and/or others like it are in the book "Stuff Christians Like" - available for purchase at http://stuffchristianslike.net/book/ ) (Used by Permission) Singing "Our God is an Awesome God." I can say without any degree of exaggeration, that I have personally sung this song 19 million times. Seriously, during the 90s, churches across the country wore this song out. I think one of the things we liked about it is that it's got a chorus you can just sing for hours. Here it is: Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from Heaven above, With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God. Music ministers would just stretch that chorus out for an eternity, teasing us with that pause that we all thought meant the song was over but then launching into another repeat of those words. They also liked that the verses allowed them to do some cheesy hand motions and facial expressions. For instance "when He rolls up His sleeves He ain't just puttin' on the Ritz." If your worship leader didn't pretend to roll up his/her sleeves during that line then consider yourself lucky. My question now though is what is the new "Our God is an Awesome God?" What song is your church or youth group wearing out? I submit it's either, "Blessed be your name" or "How great is our God" by Tomlin. ------------ [More of these and/or others like it are in the book "Stuff Christians Like" - available for purchase at stuffchristianslike.net/book/ ] --- ...One of my favorites! You Tube has winners here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38V8jnN1Kpw&feature=related And here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MnzODn7g3I&NR=1 SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ===================================================================== __,=,__ .~`` .` `.``~. | . . |____ `-;=============;""""` ( (. _).) \ | | \ `-.___.' / '._ _.' /`''''\ / \ | |/\/\/\/|.-. |-|/\/\/\/|;' ) (__/_______| _) #########'._) jgs |==|=|__ ,,,(______)_),,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,, ,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;, >The Wisdom of Hesitation Story Editor: by Jim Shaver Joyce Schowalter West Virginia, USA On a cross-country journey in the summer of 2009, I stopped at a rural New Mexico freeway rest area. I noticed an elderly gentleman with a small dog climb into his pickup truck and leave. Moments later an elderly woman approached the parking space with a confused expression. I asked if she was looking for the man in the white pickup. She confirmed and I explained I'd watched him drive onto the highway. It was her husband; she asked to use my cell phone. When she dialed his number his phone rang in her purse; she was unable to call him. For nearly an hour, I and several truck drivers patiently waited with her. Quite a crowd gathered. At times, she appeared angry and frustrated, other times more confused and worried. Finally, a truck driver and wife escorted her to their rig for coffee, while he used his CB to notify other drivers to be on the lookout. Then I saw the white truck pull back into the same parking spot. A frantic elderly man jumped out. I let him know where his wife was. I let his wife know her husband had returned. They both hurriedly approached each other from across the lot until only a few steps apart. Suddenly, they both stopped and just looked at each other. The standoff lasted several seconds, neither uttering a word. Then the man began to weep. He ran to her arms and sobbed uncontrollably. After several attempts of his unintelligible attempts at speech, she gently took her husband's cheeks into her hands, forcing him to look into her eyes. Over and over she said, "It's OK." I looked around through my blurring eyes to see numerous tears flowing in the nearby crowd. After a few moments of tears and hugging, he regained enough composure to explain he'd realized his error within seconds of merging onto the highway. However, there was no safe place to turn around on the divided highway until the next exit, 12 miles away. Needing to backtrack again, he'd driven 48 miles to return. The wife is the real hero in this story. When the couple both first saw each other, she had every right to unleash her anger for being forgotten. She had every right to chastise, and belittle until her heart was content. Most people would have vented anger on first seeing the perpetrator. But at that moment, even though she had every "right" to lash out, she hesitated. By delaying her tirade, she transformed a situation of anger and bitterness into one of unforgettable mercy and kindness. Even though only observers, those of us who witnessed this event were graced by her demonstration of forgiveness and genuine love. To this day, whenever I feel slighted and ready to lash out, I think of this experience and hesitate. Just because I have every right to be angry, doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice. =======HeroicStories====== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ___ ))))))) ////)__ /_) =\_ ________ ( / `---( ._) ___ \ ( \__ __/---._ ////) \_)-._ ) `\ / _______ \ NO BRAIN\__ )(_ | NO FEAR ) `--/___) (________)___) _________ / ,-. \ _ /_____/ /_____/_ _ o o ( \_____(__,mm.)__(____,mm)____/ ) o `============================'-' _ ___ ? | / _) ,,|/ _) If You Love Me, Say That! By Mitch Anthony Jerry couldn't forget the snowy winter day that his firstborn son almost had a serious accident. Jeff was in his first year of driving, which made Jerry nervous to begin with. The close call with disaster only heightened his anxiety. One day following the near-accident, Jeff told his father he was getting ready to leave the house. "Drive carefully, now!" Jerry warned. Jeff turned to his father with a look of chagrin and asked, "Why do you always say that?" "Say what?" "'Drive carefully.' It's like you don't trust me driving." "No, Son, that's not it at all," Jerry explained. "It's just my way of saying, 'I love you.'" "Well, Dad, if you want to say you love me, say that!" Jeff said. "That way I can't mix up the message." "But . . . ," Jerry hesitated. "What if your friends are here with you? If I say 'I love you,' you might get embarrassed." "In that case, Dad, when you're saying good-bye, just put your hand near your heart, and I'll do the same," Jeff offered. Jerry was touched that his son wanted, as badly as he, to express his love. "You've got a deal," he said. A few days later, Jeff was getting ready to leave again, this time with a friend. "Can I have the keys, Dad?" he asked his father. "Sure," Jerry answered. "Where are you headed?" "Downtown." Jerry tossed him the keys. "Jeff," he said, pausing before adding, "have a great time." He subtly placed his hand near his heart. Jeff did the same. "Sure, Dad," he said. Jerry winked. Jeff walked back to his father and whispered, "Winks weren't a part of the deal." Jerry was slightly taken aback. Jeff headed for the door. "Okay, Dad, see ya," he said. Just before he shut the door, he turned back - and winked. -<>- <<<<$Oo===) /\ ### < ____/ Totally Immobilized Mrs. Billie Cannon-a Knoxville, Tennessee homemaker-was preparing to paint her back porch. In order to protect the floor, she very carefully placed around the edges a strip of Scotch tape-the kind with adhesive on both sides. It was her plan to place a drop cloth over the floor and secure it with the tape. Having succeeded in placing the tape around the entire surface, she went back inside the house to get a drop cloth. Returning to the porch sometime later, she found that all of her carefully placed tape was gone. She was completely mystified. Where could it be? Who would possibly have taken the time to pull up that tape and why? As she was surveying the situation and mulling over her puzzling predicament, she noticed something moving in her back yard. Looking closer she discovered that it was a snake. It was a rather large creature of its species, but it was no threat to her. It was hopelessly immobilized by being totally enmeshed in a large ball of Scotch tape. Evidently while Mrs. Cannon was in the house the snake had crawled up on the back porch and had eased itself onto that tape with the adhesive on both sides. Sensing that the tape was sticking to its skin, the snake obviously put up a terrible struggle. In doing so it pulled every bit of tape from the floor. The harder it fought, however, the more hopelessly it became entangled in its cellophane prison until now it was totally captive. That poor snake reminds me of many people I have known. Somewhere along the way they have made a serious mistake. Then, rather than calmly analyzing their situation and correcting their course, they have reacted impulsively. Soon their lives are like that snake's. The more they struggle, the more entangled they have become until eventually they are totally immobilized psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com -<>- ( <{ }> _ <{ \ <{ \| ) _ | / )/ \| /7 __|/__ ( \|(___ ___(__ __|/__ \ / \ / \ / \ / \__/ ejm97 \__/ \__/ \__/ >Beautiful In a Broken Pot Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore . We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out patients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. "Why, he's hardly taller than my 8-year-old," I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face, lopsided from swelling, red and raw. Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'til morning." He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success, no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face . I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments..." For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: "I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning." I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. "No, thank you. I have plenty." And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her 5 children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was preface with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair." He paused a moment and then added, "Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind." I told him he was welcome to come again. And, on his next trip, he arrived a little after 7 in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen! He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay overnight with us, there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk 3 miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious. When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. "Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!" Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But, oh!, if only they could have known him, perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God. Recently I was visiting a friend, who has a greenhouse, as she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, "If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!" My friend changed my mind. "I ran short of pots," she explained, "and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden." She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. "Here's an especially beautiful one," God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. "He won't mind starting in this small body." All this happened long ago - and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b) Friends are very special. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear and they share a word of praise. Show your friends how much you care. -<>- Stupid Fisherman http://www.buffalosjokes.com/062719.htm Magic Fridge http://www.buffalosjokes.com/062720.htm Bottle Rocket http://www.buffalosjokes.com/080319.htm Home Security http://www.buffalosjokes.com/112482.htm Don't Quit http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com/buffalo/dontquit.html Parent Reflections http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com/buffalo/parents.html Staying Safe In This World http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com/buffalo/stayingsafe.html Babes In Christ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/babesinchrist.html A KAIROS Moment http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/kairosmoment.html Attitude Is Everything 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude3.html The Bible http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thebible.html Chalk Art 4 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/chalkart4.html Soap Carving Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/soapart.html Aww Animals 4 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animals4.html Amazing Cop Cars 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/copcars2.html Humor In Religion 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hreligion2.html Parenting No-Nos http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/parenting.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com ======================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: >Better Judge When the famous politician and orator William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) was a young man, he went to the home of the father of his prospective wife to ask him for her hand in marriage. Bryan was determined to impress the father by quoting from the Bible, and he chose Proverbs 18:22: "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD." Bryan was unnerved when the father replied by quoting Paul: "So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better." (1 Corinthians 7:38) Bryan, never at a loss for words, said: "Yes, but Paul had no wife and Solomon had 700. Therefore, I believe Solomon ought to be the better judge as to marriage." === This post is brought your way by Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To subscribe go to http://www.sermonfodder.com or drop an email note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please leave this attached if you forward this to friends or post on the web. ===================== Worth Repeating.... If you want to see God's power at work, you must get out of the church and into the world. Watch the extravagant lengths which God will go to reveal Himself to people who don't know Him. Then you will learn how truly awesome our God is. -- Author Unknown www.hearlight.org ===================== ,(()). ,;;;;. __ ________ _____ ___ ((_ _));'_`'_( _| __ __ __ _| _| _| __ __ () \ /)\ ) / (_|__ _|-_| _(_|(_|(_|__ _|-- ((\ O(() \ O / _____(_|(_|_____________(_|_ SSt >NOTHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR By Russ Lawson in Messages From the Heart There is an old Bing Crosby movie titled, "Holiday Inn." It's one of those, boy meets girl, they fall in love and then something comes between them movie. Eventually they are reunited, but in the middle of the separation part Bing records a song titled" I've got plenty to be thankful for." While listening to the recording he spent the whole time criticizing the song he just recorded as being untrue. He feels he has nothing to be thankful for. I believe that there are many people (maybe you), who today are singing that same song. We tend to look at our lives and focus only upon the difficulties, not on the blessings. I know what it's like to be down and discouraged, to look at your live and wonder how you are ever going to get past this last round of bad luck. I can encourage you to count your blessings, to remember all the Lord has done for you. I can encourage you to focus upon the good stuff in your life and upon God, but that's probably something you already know and most likely don't want to hear again. So, what do you do or what have I done? Well, Jesus gives some instructions to his disciples in Matthew 26:41 at a time when he is facing his death. He tells them: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." It may seem overly simple to hear the words, but you (and I) need to pray more because we can't overcome our difficulties by our own power. We want very much to handle our problems all by ourselves, but even though "The spirit is willing, the body is weak." Think about it, even Jesus, when faced with a terrible death, found his strength through prayer, (read the whole text). We plan and plot and make lists and talk to friends, counsel with those we thing might have some special knowledge to impart to us, when what we really need to do is talk to God about it. You may be dealing with very difficult problems right now. Some folks are really struggling with physical ailments. Some are struggling with problems with children (both young and old). Some are struggling to keep their marriages together. While some are struggling because of the economy or lost jobs. Some are struggling to make their house payments and some are facing foreclosure. Some of these people are members of our church family or our physical family or friends or neighbors. So, pray! Pray for yourself, but also pray for those around you, because though you may never know it, they might be struggling, just like you! (1Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing.") ============================================================== When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment! Football is like life. It requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority. -- Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers coach >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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 andd 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? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************