A Special Sauce 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 ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ ()_()()_() / ..)(.. \ __/ ( || ) \_ (_/ * * (_) | | | || | | | \_/| \__/ | | > \ / <__,--,__|/|_> unknown *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2010 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2010 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ .-..-. (-o/\o-) /`""``""`\ \ /.__.\ / \ `--` / `) (' , /::::\ , |'.\::::/.'| _| ';::;' |_ (::) || (::) _. "| || |" _(:) '. || .' /::\ '._||_.' \::/ /::::\ /:::\ \::::/ _\:::/ /::::\_.._ _.._ _.._ _.._/::::\ \::::/::::\/::::\/::::\/::::\::::/ jgs `""`\::::/\::::/\::::/\::::/`""` `""` `""` `""` `""` *~* 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!! ================ >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This sizzler comes from a forward from our friend Johanna. I found it pretty amazing and interesting! Check it out here... As Always, give it time to load: ,-----. W/,-. ,-.\W ()>a a<() (.--(_)--.) ,'/.-'\_/`-.\`. ,' / `-' \ `. / \ / \ / `. ,' \ / / `-._.-' \ \ ,-`-._/| |=|o |\_.-< <,--.) |_____| |o____| )_ \ `-)| |// _ \\| )/ || |' | `| || | | | || ( )|( ) || | | | || | | | || |_.--.|.--._| || /'""| |""`\ [] `===' `===' hjw Houses For Hermits http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/house.html --- ...An amusing one! Thank You Johanna! ================================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: ,sdPBbs. ,d$$$$$$$$b. d$P'`Y'`Y'`?$b d' ` ' \ `b / | \ \ / / \ | \ _,--' | \ | /' _/ \ | \ _/' /' | \ `-.__ __/' ,-' / | | \ `--...__ /' / | / \ \ `-. `\ / /;;,,__-' / / \ \ `-. / |;;;;;;;\ \ _|_ | /^\ /^\ /___\ /^\ \/^\ | # |__________ /^\/ \| | | # |__________\ . |_|/ | _ | # # # # | X | H | | /\ o / \ _,---._ `X' _________________ / \ /_______\ )_ _s_k_l_e_p_ _( /\ / | # # # | /_________________\ _,---._ / \ /| | | | [+] [+] [+] | /_______\ /____\//| | | o | # # # | |[+] |/ /|\ | |pb || | | (} / \ /H\ / \ >MARK'S MOUNTAIN BARBECUE by Ken Pierpont Campton is the county seat of Wolfe County, Kentucky. Every Thursday night all summer long there is singin' on the street in front of the courthouse. People sit on the courthouse steps and on lawn chairs on the grass. There's free lemonade as long as it lasts. On the south end of the street is a little barn-looking building on wheels. It is the barbecue trailer from Mark's Mountain Barbecue. Mark mans the stand himself. He sells prize-winning ribs, pulled pork barbecue, and barbecued brisket sandwiches. He also sells a sweet ginger ale they call Ale-Eight-One to wash it down. He serves it ice-cold and it comes in little green glass bottles. The Wolf County cheerleaders work the crown with baked goods, raising money for new uniforms. I have a serious weakness for barbecue, especially on a warm summer evening with singin', free lemonade, and cheap baked goods. Mark sold me a half-dozen BBQ pork sandwiches for the family and I treated myself to a BBQ brisket sandwich. He was a quick study. He sized me up and I'm sure he was a little more generous than usual with my portion size. I gave him a tip. He seemed to appreciate that and then he watched me closely when I bit into the brisket sandwich. "Whata' ya' think o' that brisket?" "Well, I've never had better," I answered honestly. His face lit up with a smile. It was a holiday and we don't get to Kentucky very often. I wasn't sure when I would have a chance to have Mark's Mountain Barbecue again so I went back for seconds for my always-ravenous boys and myself. Mark smiled again and said, "You really have to try my ribs." Without waiting for a reply he went to the grill and pulled off a generous chunk of ribs for me to try. He had a reason to be proud of them. "Whata' ya' say?" "Ummm, good. Real good," I mumbled. "Real, real, good." He picked up a big container and tongs and slapped a huge slab of ribs dripping with sauce into the container and handed it to me. "Take these along with ya'" I walked away with my barbecue windfall’ strains of bluegrass music in the air’ as evening faded into twilight. We'll sing on the street again in September. The color will be creeping into the hills by then. My mouth waters when I think about it. Come to think of it, Mark also sells blueberry cobbler. I wonder if that's as good as his barbecue? -- Ken Pierpont __________________________________________________ Ken is a storyteller, writer, and pastor from Michigan. He met his wife Lois in college. They have been married thirty years and have four sons, four daughters, two grandsons and stories to tell. He is the author of the book Sunset on Summer. He publishes a weekly newsletter. You can subscribe free at http://www.kenpierpont.com =================================================================== ,%&& %&& % ,%&%& %&%& %& %& %&% &%&% % &% % &%% %&% &% %&%&, &%&% %&%& %& &%& % %%& %&%& %&%&% %&%%& &%&% %&% % %& &% %%& && %&% %&%& %&% %&%' '%&% %&% %&&%&%%'% % %& %& %&% &%% `\%%.' /`%&' | | /`-._ _\\/ |, |_ / `-._ ..--~`_ |; |_`\_ / ,\\.~` `-._ - ^ |;: |/^}__..-,@ .~` ~ `o ~ |;: |(____.-' '. ~ - ` ~ |;: | \ / `\ //. - ^ ~ |;: |\ /' /\_\_ ~. _ ~ - //- jgs\\/;: \'--' `---` `\\//-\\/// >-->"The one that got away." by Bob Perks It was overcast and dreary. One of those days when you'd like to stay in bed and watch old movies all day. I was searching for something. But I'm always searching. I'm like a scavenger looking for stuff that no one else sees. I headed out to the nearby state park figuring that I could get away from the busy world and focus on the real stuff that life is made of. When my Dad was alive he often headed to this park just to sit and watch people. My parents made me a "people watcher." A big treat for me was to head to the local drug store with them and have an ice cream soda and then sit in the car in front of the shopping center and just watch people walk by. But I went to the park this time to get away from people. I just wanted to listen to what was going on inside me. I walked down to the edge of the lake and stood inside this covered pavilion where a few old picnic tables sat waiting for the summer folk. The squirrels ran from tree to tree scampering about filled with excitement. A few geese paddled by watching me carefully, not sure if I came to offer them a slices of yesterday's bread. They hesitated now, but as the summer crowds fill the park the geese and ducks become quite brazen as they intrude upon the picnic areas like street gangs almost threatening the visitors to share the goodies. But for now we kept our distance. They had this look that seemed to say, "Oh, he's only a dreamer. Probably a writer at worst. They have nothing to give but themselves." They moved on. Off along the shoreline, at a point that seemed too narrow to venture on to, I could see an woman. She sat quietly with little movement. I assumed like me, she was in retreat from the world. A light rain began to fall and speckled the calmness of the water interrupting my glassy stare at the reflection of the gray clouds. It reminded me that life is often interrupted just when things are calm and we get too settled into it. I guess as I look back at it all, those times offered challenges for growth. Although, at the time, I saw no real value at all. Having been lost in thought for a few minutes, I didn't notice that the woman had moved away from her perch at the lake's edge. I scanned the area and found her sitting close by on a fallen tree trunk under one of the many tall pines. The rain for now, had ended. "What is it they say about rainy days and Mondays?" she said as she sat with her head bowed down. "Always get me down!" I yelled over to her in reply. Words from a song I had tucked away in my memory. "Well as my Daddy always said, this is "The one that got away." she said as she lifted and turned her head toward me. "Your father was a fisherman?" I asked. "Yes, every where he went." she said. "My Uncle Al carried fishing equipment in his trunk and would pull over whenever he found a lake or creek. He had a license in about four states including New Jersey, where he lived." I told her. "No, my Daddy didn't fish in lakes and streams. He was what the Bible called a "Fisher of Men." He was a preacher." She seemed to hold her head high and proud as she spoke about him. "He always considered a day lost when he could not make a difference in someones life. He called it "The one that got away." "So, you're feeling like you lost this one?" I asked. "I'm afraid I've lost a whole bunch of them." she said as she turned her back to the lake. "I can't seem to get back to the way I was before. I was always upbeat and motivated. I think I often overwhelmed people with my positive spirit. It concerned me at first until one day my co-workers said they depended on me to be that way. It seems a lot of people did." "So, what happened?" I asked not expecting a straight answer. It really wasn't any of my business. "My husband's business all but collapsed. He made some poor choices and everything we had seemed to vanish." she said as she walked closer to me. "Forgive me for asking such a personal question. But was your love for each other a part of the business?" "What do you mean?" she asked. "This road to self destruction that you seem to be on leads me to believe that you've forgotten that your love for each other is far more valuable than the business or mistakes made. It appears to me that, like this lake, everything was smooth and wonderful until it rained" I said. "You can either look at the business failure as something that has taken away from your relationship or like the rain on the lake, added to it." She had tears in her eyes as she stood there looking so helpless and lost. "But it was a side of him I never saw. He made reckless choices. Our life isn't the same because of it" she said. "This isn't the one that got away" I said. "You're throwing this one back because it's the wrong size. Like the fisherman you toss it back...it's too small." "As a fisher of men, your Daddy went after the big and the little challenges. Those days when one seemed to have gotten away he found strength in the love he had in his life. The love of his family and the love for God. He would not permit defeat and poor judgment to ever diminish that love. Love is always the answer" I continued. "Here's a better song. 'Love. Love will keep us together.'" "Don't tell me. You're a preacher" she said. "No. But I was told that I am a 'fisher of men." I replied. "Well, I believe my Daddy sent you here. Good catch!" she said as she smiled. "What bait do you use?" "A little caring, a bit of trust, and a lot of faith, I guess" I replied. "Well, I'm a believer" she said. "So am I. 'I believe in YOU!'" "I wish you enough!" Bob Perks I encourage you to share my stories but I do ask that you keep my name and contact information with my work. ================================================================ >-->From Our Friend Tony In Australia :) _. ,-.,-"`""-./ \ / \ `-.| .:::.:::. \ / `-._ ::::::::: | "=\ ':::::' | .==" |o_|_ ':' | _o. ` (_) ,;;;,;;;, ; \\ ;;;;;;;;; \ _. /|-. ';;;;;' \ ` `'---'/ \ ';' \ .--._ /-' | ,-`. / `-._( / `-._`-._\ `\ '\ ( ` `'._ _, | \ / ~-. `| | | / `;-.| | | .' \ /| | / .'-. '. | \ | .' `-._ '. | /"` `\ jgs / `"--.,_'-._\-.___.'_ ; / `""";--' `. | / .'` \ /""-. ; / \""-, \ | / | \ | \ | '. |/ '. \ .'`-. / '._ '.,___,.;' '-.___.' `"""----------'` I sent this to people I care dearly for…… why don’t you do the same… Cheers Tony The most beautiful seatbelt advocacy commercial ever http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjWufx3fenc --- ...Very Sweet one! Thanks Tony! ================================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: >Wifely Scriptures 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." --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...To understand this from a biblical point of view, visit here The eight Administrations in Scripture: How God changed the rules http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1234 =================================== Worth repeating..... Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessing of heaven. -- G. C. Lichtenberg >From our friends at www.heartlight.org ==================================== , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >99.9% EFFICIENCY? I remember attending a training course during my tenure in a secular firm, some years ago, where the trainer stressed the need for 100% efficiency. He started explaining, "There are certain areas of modern-day world where even 99.9% efficiency simply won't do." "Imagine the `confusion' in banks", his voice boomed, after a pause "if they are only 99.9% efficient in posting ledger entries, how many wrong entries would there be, leading to acute customer dissatisfaction… "For that matter if there is only 99.9% perfection in maternity hospitals, how many parents would end up with children, who are not actually theirs or if there is only 99.9% efficiency in matters concerning air-travel safety…" He did not complete but we all-the trainees who had flown to the training centre that very morning- now shifting uneasily in our seats nodded approvingly. That set me, thinking `How many times we are less than 100% obedient to our Heavenly Father? If the secular service providers are not satisfied with any thing less than 100% efficiency, then why we should be content with less than 100% obedience to our Creator and Redeemer, whilst living for Him? Scriptures using some examples warn us about some compromising Christians whose faith "had crashed" when they had wilfully "lowered their efficiency"… (I Timothy 1:19-20)! On the subject of 100% obedience, let Apostle Paul's motto be ours… "So our aim is to please Him always in everything we do, whether we are here in this body or away from this body and with Him in heaven" – II Corinthians 5:9 (TLB). By the way, "How's your spiritual efficiency today"? Prayer: Father, I confess that many a time, I have been less than 100% obedient to you. Help me always to give the best, nothing less than the very best to you…when it comes to obedience. In Jesus' Name. Amen ================================================================== >-->A BETTER WAY TO LIVE [-;-/=_ `-; \=_ ___ ) ,"-...--./===--__ __|/ / ]` /;--> >...-\ <\_ `- <<, 7/-.\, sk `- /( `- Did you know...? That Joan of Arc was only seventeen when she was riding at the head of the army that liberated France from the English? That church reformer John Calvin was twenty-six when he published his "Institutes"? That poet John Keats died when he was twenty-six? That Shelley was thirty when he was drowned, but not before he left English literature his classic "Odes"? That Sir Isaac Newton had largely discovered the working of the law of gravitation when he was twenty-three? That Henry Clay, the "great compromiser," was sent to the United States Senate at twenty-nine and was Speaker of the House of Representatives at thirty-four? That Raphael painted his most important pictures between twenty-five and thirty? That Mozart only lived to be thirty-five years old? Maybe I'm just a late bloomer. When I was a young man I wanted to make things happen. After a few years I realized I would have to content myself with watching most things happen. Unfortunately, these days I usually have no idea what is happening. Of course, most of us will never paint a masterpiece, write a classic or discover an important scientific principle. But why should we? We're each cut from a unique pattern. Dick Van Dyke once told the story of a woman taking her nephew to her Catholic church. She whispered to him as they approached the pew: "Can you genuflect?" "No," he said, "but I can somersault!" I wonder if he showed her right then and there. I can almost see him rolling down the aisle in a joyous celebration of the thing he CAN do, with no regard for genuflecting. the thing he cannot do. Some people waste lives obsessing on that thing they cannot do, wishing they were more competent. And some measure the value of their abilities against those of others, wishing they could contribute in a bigger and better way. You and I may never be a Mozart, a Raphael or a John Keats. But there are things you CAN do to bring beauty or joy or happiness to your world. Find them. Do them. Celebrate them. Rejoice in them. I can hardly think of a better way to live. -- Steve Goodier --- ...See this one... Never Give Up! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html BTW... One of my fav pics of Joan Of Arc http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bv02.jpg From my little Gallery here: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gallery.html ======================================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: <> .-"""-. ||::::::========== /= \ ||::::::========== |- /~~~\ | ||::::::========== |=( '.' ) | ||================ \__\_=_/__/ ||================ {_______} ||================ /` * `'--._|| /= . [] . { > / /|ooo |`'--'|| ( )\_______/ || \``\/ \ || `-| == \_| || / | || |= >\ __/ || \ \ |- --| || \ __| \___/ || jgs _{__} _{__} || ( )( ) || ^^~ `""" `""" ~^^^~^^~~~^^^~^^^~^^^~^^~^ Take a space trip to Mars http://spacewander.com/USA/english.html --- ...Isn't this what NASA is supposed to be about? Why then does Obama want this to change. [there's that 'change' of his again] He told the director to change his priority to further Muslim outreach: The former head of NASA on Tuesday described as "deeply flawed" the idea that the space exploration agency's priority should be outreach to Muslim countries, after current Administrator Charles Bolden made that assertion in an interview last month. http://tinyurl.com/24ufh5j Chek Out These too... God's Night Lights http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/night.html Earth In Perspective http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/earth.html Day And Night http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dayandnight.html -<>- ,{{}}}}}}. {{{{{}}}}}}}. {{{{ {{{{{}}}} }}}}} _ _ {{{{{ }}}} m m }}}}} {{{{C ^ {{{{{ }}}}}}\ '=' /}}}}}} {{{{{{{{;.___.;{{{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}}) (}}}}}}}}}} {{{{}}}}}': :{{{{{{{{{{ {{{}}}}}} `@` {{{}}}}}}} {{{{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}} }}}}}}}} {{{{{{{{{ jgs {{{{{{{{ }}}}}} }}}}} {{{{ {{{ }} >"The Christian Days of the Week" Monday - Wash Day: Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and vanity so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead. Tuesday - Ironing Day: Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected through the years so that I may see the beauty in others. Wednesday - Mending Day: God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a bad example for others. Thursday - Cleaning Day: Lord, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart. Friday - Shopping Day: O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love. Saturday - Cooking Day: Help me, my Lord, to brew a big kettle of neighborly love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness. Sunday - The Lord's Day: O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come into my heart as my honored guest so I may spend the day and the rest of my life in Your presence. ~Author Unknown~ -<>- .-. ,-"""-, / \__ \ | / `\ | \( ^.^ )/ \ - / .-'|;---;|-. (\/ ||___|| `\ \\__/ \__| C|`----`|D __//| | | |====( | | | | _/_/___.---- .===| |====\ /===. | ('------') ( '----' ) | jgs | | "Recipe for Miracles" Ingredients: 1 part of knowing who you are 1 part of knowing who you aren't 1 part of knowing what you want 1 part of knowing who you wish to be 1 part of knowing what you already have 1 part of choosing wisely from what you have 1 part of loving and thanking God for ALL you have Combine ingredients together gently finely blended. Use thoughts, words and actions for best results. Bake until Blessed. Give thanks again Yield: Unlimited servings -<>- ___ .' '. / / \ |___/'._| || . . || ( ) ) |\ = /| ) '._.' ( ;--' _ '--; / (_) \ | < | > | \ '._|_.' / jgs_'.__/___\__.'_ | | | | | | | | >Any Regrets By Lisa Russell Motley Seven years ago I was faced with the difficult choice of leaving my safe, comfortable career as a paralegal to take a job as a teacher's assistant in my children's elementary school. While ten years as a real-estate paralegal had proven to be reliable and prosperous, my husband and I decided that a change had to be made for the good of our family. We were both being stretched too thin, our sons were getting just "what was left of us" at the end of the day, and you can only eat so many meals from a fast-food bag! After much discussion and prayer, some friends of mine at church opened a window of opportunity. Both of them just happened to be employed by the local elementary school and one of them, a teacher, needed an assistant. The other was a guidance counselor who helped me "get my foot in the door." A job as a teacher assistant is hard to come by in our area, so Scott and I felt that God was leading us in this direction. I would still be able to "bring home some of the bacon" - even if it was just bacon bits! And at the same time, have the same schedule as our children. What amazes me, though, is two questions that still get asked of me. The first question being, "Why?" Why would I go from a nice office, with adult conversation, doing what I had gone to school to do, while making a nice income? To work in the public school system, dealing with their perception of children (screaming, whining, cuts and bruises, upset stomachs and head lice), while only bringing home meager wages? My answer to the majority was then and still is today just this: "Where else can you help shape the lives of tomorrow, get hugs for a job well done, be home when your own children are home, and get paid for doing it?" By the way, when I went to my parents seven years ago with this decision I was concerned. Here were two people who had spent their hard-earned money to put me through school so that I would have a good education and be able to be independent. Now I was asking them, "Is it okay with you if I toss my degree aside, and take a cut in pay, so that I can be home with my children more?" Their answer was "We didn't send you to school just to get a degree. We sent you to help you become a well-rounded person so that you could become a happy adult with options. Do what makes you happy!" The other question that is often asked is "Do you have any regrets?" I have to weigh in my mind the following: On one side of the scale, I am sitting down with the checkbook sometimes juggling monthly bills. Waiting on payday to be able to make an "extra" purchase. And a "night out" may consist of only a rented video and ordering pizza. However, the other side of this situation is seeing a child's eyes light up when they can finally read that book or do that math problem. Being at home in the afternoons to help my own children with their homework. Having a sit-down dinner most every night with my family. Having two weeks in December with my family decorating, baking and making holiday preparations - not to mention making memories. Nice, leisurely summer days with my children, reading, playing ball and splashing in the pool with their laughter as my music. So my answer to "Do you have any regrets?" is a resounding "Absolutely not!" -<>- .-"""""-. / _____/\_\ //`__ __ \\ // (o) (o) \\ (_ (___) _) \ \_____/ / `-._ _.-' __.-)_(-,__ ./'/ |_| \`\. jgs / `""""""""""` \ >BELIEVING IN A NEW ROOM (c) By Dan Britt Seeing a great performance inspires me to no end. I'm moved by others' dreams and by their devotion and courage in the pursuit of excellence. I get choked up when I see a kid, or anyone else, fighting hopeless odds - someone who goes out there to run the lonely roads with a dream in the heart, a gleam in the eye, and a goal in mind. I admire those who have the courage to step up to the line of a great race to run their heart out for a dream. - from Racing the Antelope, by Bernd Heinrich A person with no arms becomes an excellent painter; A one-legged man becomes a fine springboard diver; a blind person excels at running marathons and bouncing on the trampoline; a person with cerebral palsy graduates from a top percussion school; a person who stammers becomes a well-known public speaker, and the list goes on. Marla Runyan, who is legally blind, earned 5th place in the 26.2 mile NYC marathon, and said, "I think what I represent is achieving what you want in life. It's a matter of attitude. Some people have a negative attitude, and that's their disability." Another marathon finisher with cerebral palsy said, "Cerebral palsy has been a disability, but it has also been a motivating force in my running. I am thankful for every step I can take." Unbelievable, isn't it? Well, that's exactly what most thought before such feats we're accomplished: Not conceivable, believable, nor achievable. They also believed (and thought they knew) that the world was flat, but is it now? One of the major forces behind these remarkable achievements is beliefs. Beliefs can be the reason for embarking rather than excusing; questing rather quitting; and, ultimately, reaching rather than regretting. Take for instance this story of a weightlifter: He was asked to lift 300 pounds. He lifted it. He was then asked to lift 310 pounds. He did not lift it. Then someone asked him to lift 300 pounds again, only it was not 300 pounds! It was 310! He believed it was 300. He lifted 310! Don't you think this weightlifter might consider elevating his "belief standard" after being told it was really 310!? Beliefs allow us to raise the bar, (no pun intended!), as they can lift our focus to a higher place. The point is not necessarily that we should run a marathon or lift this much weight, but rather that we have the option to take at least one step further in a direction that we otherwise might not have planned. Beliefs determine how we act; Beliefs grant us opportunities to get closer to where we want to be. It's up to you to choose whether you assign beliefs to lock doors or open them. Why not find out what that new room looks like? --- ...Reminds me of these... Attitude Is Everything! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html Attitude Is Everything 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html Just Have Faith! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/faith.html Woman - Darkest Before Dawn! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womandbd.html -<>- .--"-.-"-. .' / '. / __./__ \ It's sooo hard to wait ; .-' `-. ; / || --- --- \ | Z /| vvv vvv |\ Z \| / |/ z | '-- | z \ .-.-. / '. `"""` .' jgs /'--._.--'\ >Special Sauce. Wait on Your Blessing I was sitting at the drive-through window at McDonald's this weekend. I did the usual thing; I drove up to the menu and ordered. I proceeded to the first window and paid, then drove to the second window and waited for the order. After sitting there for a few minutes, the clerk slid back the window and asked, "Will you please pull over to the side; your order is not ready." "I was a little upset and even impatient, but I pulled over and waited. I thought, "How come other folks ordered and drove straight through and I have to wait." I waited for another two or three minutes. It seemed like hours. Just as I was about to give up and drive away, the clerk finally ran out, tapped on the window, and handed me the order. Of course I asked, "Hey, what took so long?" She replied, "You wanted the Special Sauce, which meant it had to be especially made for that sandwich, it doesn't usually come with that one." This scene is a reflection of our prayer life. We make our request to the Lord. Our menu is His Word, where He has listed promise after promise. We stand before Him and request and plead and, sometimes, even beg. We go to the first window and pay, sometimes with fervent prayer, sometimes with prolonged suffering, sometimes with obedience, and sometimes not at all. We then move to the second window and wait for our order. If God doesn't answer within a few minutes, we become upset. You know the phrase, "Jesus, it's 5:00 p.m. Friday; I prayed to You yesterday, and You still haven't answered. I can't wait much longer." Why is it taking Him so long? I've seen people drive up before me and they received their orders right away! We even go so far as to tap on the window and ask if He has forgotten our order. We become impatient. We become upset. We become downright mad. Lord I asked for a mate ten days ago and I don't see him/her anywhere. Lord, I've been asking for a new job for two years; others have passed me by. I've been waiting on a financial blessing for ten years and I still have more months than money. Where are You and why haven't you blessed me? And just when you think He is giving you the answer, He pulls back the royal curtain of Eternity, and states, "Please pull over to the side and wait a while longer." This once frustrated me to no end, made me mad, made me want to give up, made me want to holler; that is, until the clerk brought out my sandwich. Then, the revelation became clear. Do you know why the Lord has put you on the side? Do you know why you have had to wait for this blessing longer than before? Do you know why He has put you through more this time than ever? Do you know why it seems as though He has not heard you and He does not care? Do you know why it seems like you have had to go through more tears, more pains, and more struggling this time? Because this blessing is a Special Sauce Blessing! This is an Overflowing, Pressed-Down, Shaken Together, Blessing! You made a Special Order and God has been putting together a Special Sauce Blessing for you and He has to prepare it for you! That man you want . . .He's putting together a Special Sauce! That job you want . . .He's putting together a Special Sauce! That financial blessing . . .He's putting together a Special Sauce! That peace on the job . . .He's putting together a Special Sauce! That house . . .He's putting together a Special Sauce! That deeper anointing . . .He's putting together a Special Sauce! That promotion . . .He's putting together a Special Sauce! That (whatever...you fill in the blank)...He's putting together a Special Sauce! For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end . . . [And a Special Sauce]. Jeremiah 29:11 How many people have driven away before the clerk brought their food, and how many people have missed their blessings because they did not wait? Hang in there. Keep on waiting. You made a Special Order, now wait on God's Special Sauce! "But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31) They who wait shall receive a Special Sauce! --- ...Aww, yes, patience is indeed a virtue 1Tim.6: [11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. [12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. -<>- _..._ .'`_{@},`'. / .' *{@}. \ |/ \| ||_._._._._|| | |=(. .)=| | ) | ^ | ( _ /\_/ \ '-' / \_| \ | .-`'---'`-. \` | \ |===========| / / '/ \|=======|/\/ / /\|\___/ / |======/ \ / \__.____/ /-o---'\ `` , .-'/ /..--'| ; ( .--' ; | '. /-.-, \ '. / | \ \ ;. ; | < jgs | \'._ / \ / / / \ ` `'-' '-._____.' /___..-| \___/\_/ >ANOTHER KIND OF RESCUE I sometimes envy my wife, Sylvia, who volunteers on the local Rescue Squad where we live up in the mountains of western North Carolina. She's an EMT. Yesterday her Rescue Pager went off just after we finished a three-mile walk. This call involved a thirteen- year-old boy having seizures, possibly caused from complications stemming from cerebral palsy. Though I'm not an EMT, the paramedics generally don't mind if I help them lift a patient onto a stretcher. However, upon arriving at the scene I noticed there were so many rescue workers that I wouldn't have been able to have gotten inside the house, even if they had needed me. It was at that moment, that I noticed two little girls with blonde hair sitting on the cement porch outside. I wondered what this must look like to them. The boy inside with the seizures was probably their brother and they had probably seen his body writhing and twitching. What must they have thought? And to top off this shock, their driveway, lawn, and neighborhood were filled with police cars, fire trucks and two ambulances, not to mention several other rescue vehicles as well. If you could have seen them, you would have to agree with me; they looked like they might be needing a little company. It's sometimes hard to know just how to start up a conversation with children, but these two little dolls were ready. All I had to do was ask them, "What's yer kitty's name?" I was ready to tell them about my cat Dusty, but once I asked that first question, I hardly got a word in edgewise for the rest of our 'conversation'. They both lit into this little visit like tag-team wrestlers. When one was out of breath, the other picked up with the story. The girls, Cindy age-10 and Christy age-5 answered my question in unison, "her name's Tabitha." Christy continued, "She jest showed up on are porch one day and we fed her mehck " And jumping in at that point, Cindy added, "Shay wawdn't go away after that " "They's othuh cats what comes around and plays with huh sometimes, " chimed in Christy. "Yeah, one big ole black cat with his beady eyes was a sittin' over in that tree yonder one night when I looked out my wender. An I was sort uh scairt " put in Cindy. While the rescue workers did their job inside with the girls' brother, I listened to all sorts of cat tales, some true, and some added to. These girls were quite the storytellers. They continued with stories of other pets, then mentioned their other three sisters and their brother who had had a seizure or two before. As we sat there petting their orange-striped cat, Tabitha, the minutes flew by. Finally the paramedics were ready to go. My wife came out of the house and asked the girls if that was their brother. They said, "Yes, that's Tommy He gonna be all right?" "Well, I guess so, because there goes the ambulance, and he isn't on it," my wife replied. As Sylvia headed to our car, I told the girls good-bye. I encouraged them to take good care of Tabitha, and their brother Tommy. I'll always remember talking to those two little gals. I learned a lot, a lot about Tabitha, yes, but I also learned that sometimes you don't have to be a rescue worker to help someone. And sometimes it isn't so much what you say that makes the difference. Sometimes it's how you listen that counts. - Ron Reese -<>- >Links For Your Enjoyment Bunker http://www.buffaloschips.com/2i3ojr2.htm Bunny Egg http://www.buffaloschips.com/jhyug.htm Bury Her http://www.buffaloschips.com/ioue0.htm Bus & Cop http://www.buffaloschips.com/87y89.htm Bus Bar http://www.buffaloschips.com/98u4.htm Bus Truck http://www.buffaloschips.com/983u4po.htm It Takes Two http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/two.html The Giver And The Gift http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/givergift.html Believe In Your Dreams http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/dream.html This Is India http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/india.html Eagle Sculpture Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eagleart.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 We look forward to seeing you there! ==================================================================== .---. /_____\ ( '.' ) \_-_/_ .-"`'V'//-. / , |// , \ / /|Ll //Ll|\ \ / / |__// | \_\ \ \/---|[]==| / / \/\__/ | \/\/ |/_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J |_ | _| jgs (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ >Love Never Fails Story Editor: by Bethann Joyce Schowalter England, United Kingdom Frank was a soldier, and all the time he was in Burma as a POW, he dreamed of getting out and having a life. He suffered terribly, and was left scarred physically and emotionally. When he came home, his fiancee's parents worried his scars meant he was too damaged to make a good husband. They forbade him to marry "Bette". Frank and Bette obeyed, as was done then. Neither married. Frank worked hard, cared for his parents, an aunt, then a disabled nephew. Bette was the same, the maiden aunt always helping others. She too helped people avoid public-funded care, helping people spend their last days in homely comfort. She and Frank spoke often, but visited infrequently due to distance. As Bette's health failed, she was moved to a beautiful, privately-funded nursing home. She loved her beautiful sunny room, the gardens and duckpond. She was waited on compassionately, as she'd cared for many others. Frank, however, was in a dingy, dark rented flat, with no central heat or bathtub. Yet Frank never seemed to mind. We nurses brought Frank "extras", worried he'd forego warm socks or dinner. We loved his gentle ways, humour, and the little gifts he made for us. He was patient as we bandaged his legs wounds -- painful ulcers still weeping from his torture scars. One day Frank asked a nurse to take him to see Bette. She drove Frank on her own time. She watched Frank hold Bette's hand, obviously comforting her. Oblivious to Bette's dementia, Frank spoke heartfelt words. Before he left, he kissed Bette, and she said, "Frank?" The nurse ran out, sobbing. After that, if necessary, we paid ourselves for a taxi to get Frank to Bette. Once I asked him how she afforded such a nice nursing home. Putting finger to lips, he showed me sheaths of legal documents, insurance, investments, pensions. He said "I pay. Please: If something happens to me, make sure Bette never wants." I was dumbstruck. Frank lived in poverty to ensure Bette's exceptional care. Over time we convinced Frank to eat better and get a mobility scooter so he could visit Bette himself. Asked if he was happier he said, "I was afraid if I took anything, there wouldn't be enough for Bette. I couldn't bear to see her go without..." Then the call from the nursing home, "Please get Frank". Beautiful Bette had passed away in her sleep. Frank said his goodbyes. Returning to his home, I found Frank happy. "She's free", he said. "No more pain. Someday, I'll join her -- free, too." Bette's 18 years of care cost Frank one million dollars. He then trust-funded the nursing home for free care in Bette's name -- endowing two beds for the forseeable future. The day I left to move to another place, Frank took my hand to share a secret. "We married in 1951, but didn't want to hurt her folks. Did I fail her?" I told Frank he was my hero. He'd lived in poverty with enough to live like a king -- for Bette's sake. ======Heroic Stories======= >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Chhristian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Pass this on as it should be of interesst to all who served. The study was carried out in Austrialia on their Vietnam Veterans. ABC Nat. Radio Health Report Autralian Vietnam Vets: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/HealthReportVV.mp3 VV ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DDARE 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 ************************************************************************