Believing Equals Receiving... :) 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 ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ , //\ / | ; | /_| .-"` `"-. /` `\ / \ .-.,_| .-""""-. | | `",_,-' (((-. '( \ (`"=._.'/ ( (o>'-`"# , '.`"-'` / `--` '==; /\\ `'--'`\ _.'~~ / | \ `.,___,-} | | | ) { } \ \ (.--==---==-------=' o { } ",/` (_) (_) (_) (_) \ / / () o () () ^| \ () ( () o ; / `\ \ ; / } | ) \ / /` } / ,-' |=,_ | /,_ ,'/ | _,.-`/ `"=\ \\ \ | ."` \ | \ \`\ \ | | \ \ `\ \ `\ \ | | \ \ `\ \ \ \ | | \ \ \ \ \ \ | | \ \ \ \ \ \ | | \ \ \ \ \ \ | | ) \ \ \ ) \ jgs `) \ ^ww ) \ ^ww ^ww ^ww *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. 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 YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* 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! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) Our Friend Norma sent us a new recipe I added to the online recipes. You can find it under Desserts here: _,..---..,_ ,-"` .'. `"-, (( '.'.' )) `'-.,_ ' _,.-'` jgs `\ `"""""` /` `""-----""` Dreamy Chocolate Pecan Pie http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/easy.html --- ...Sure sounds yummy! Thanks Norma! I've been meaning to update the president page since Trump got elected but just hadn't taken the time to do so until our Friend LouiseAu gave me a swift kick by sending me a wonderful video link to go with it. So I got this page all updated. Check it out here... .--._ .'""""-t--. /_. .-._ \ `. __.-. :/o: "o.` ; .'\.-" .--."-._ . /; ; :/ _;. ( `-._\ .-" "--._.: : :s, t,-"/ j"_. _._\`\ ___._.._.._/ _. _ \; .--. / "-: / 'o.` \.o`; ; .-"" ( "" / "-. : : ;,: . .$; :/:_.---.-. :: .-""""^._ / \_.gp.____.-j ;; ' __ :_; _.--`-.t ; Y ( : ;`^$$P^" ; : \ ' ` ; : ; l--t"'.;_ ,_.-. ; ; / \ ( : \ t-.___ / ;/ ,---=-: \ ;o; .o.` : : .-" \ ) ; `.; """\ .' .o' :o; ; : ; ; ; : ""--.._ `. : .'"-. Y .d.: : ; Ts,-. .-: `-- .' "-._`.; .' \ \ .---, ; : ---. ` : ; \ :.---: : ;-- __; : ;--.. " ) ; _:tjtjt-; ; : """"-.__L./ '^:;:^' `-._ bug : : /\ : Boys To President! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/boystopres.html --- ...Most Wonderful! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our first red hot new page comes from our friends Geniann and LouiseAu. It is sure to tickle your funny bone and may even give you some chuckles. Check it out here... _ , (_\______/________ \-|-|/|-|-|-|-|/ \==/-|-|-|-|-/ \/|-|-|-|,-' \--|-''' \_j________ (_) (_) hjw Only ONE Job 4! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/onejob4.html --- ...This series is a fun one! Thanks Ladies! This next too hot to handle new page is from our friend Geniann. It too is sure to tickle your funny bone but might also give you a few ideas of your own! Check this one out here... Extreme BBQ'S http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/extremebbqs.html --- ...A lot of interesting ones here! Thanks Geniann! =========================================================== >-->Believing Equals Receiving... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' James 2: 17 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone faith [believing] without works [action] is dead [worthless or useless] because it is alone or by itself." This is not taught enough in our churches. We think believing is something we just do in our mind, but the Word of God says it is worthless if that is ALL we do! We must accompany it with works - an action - or it is like a boat sitting in the water without a sail, motor or oars. You are not going to get very far! Dead in the water without works to go with your believing. This wonderful video shows believing in action in a child as young as 2. He believed he could move it and he wouldn't give up until he did exactly that. Believing = Receiving https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j_7XCXus2s This one will give you goosebumps - these kids didn't worry that they couldn't do it - they just did it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8PBPCcdGiA Visit Here for bible study teachings: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Believing/Believing.htm ============================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night. .-. .-. ( | ) .-.: | ;,-. (_ __`.|.'_ __) ( ./Y\. ) `-.-' | `-.-' | | hjw >CLOVER ALERT by Kay Seefeldt Since childhood, I have had this special "gift" of finding four leaf clovers wherever they may be lurking. One sweet summer vacation day, several of my childhood friends and I were playing in a field filled with daisies, when I discovered a four leaf clover -- and then another, and another. The hunt was on. While my friends were unsuccessful, it wasn't long before I had bagged several four leaf clovers and a five leaf clover! Then I found a six leaf, then to my surprise and delight, a seven, an eight, and a nine. Many years later, upon opening my childhood Bible, dozens of dried, brittle memories of that day fell out bringing a smile to my face. I'd forgotten putting the clovers there for safe keeping. After marrying Roy, my second husband (another stroke of "luck") and moving to the house we live in now, he was working on his motorcycle in the front yard. When I took him out a glass of iced tea, I discovered he and the bike were practically rolling in a bed of four leaf clovers. Up to this point, Roy had never found a four leaf clover. Here was a prefect chance. How could he miss? Four leaf clovers were popping up everywhere. All he had to do was reach down and pick a clover, any clover. But try as he might, he couldn't see even one! Finally, I pointed my toe at the biggest one in the lot. At last, now he could say he'd at least picked one. Another time, while Roy and I were "flying" along the break down lane of Route 2 on our ten speed bikes, I squealed, "Hey, there's a four leaf clover!" He had the audacity to question my ability to recognize a four leaf clover while riding a bike. "As if you can see a four leaf clover doing forty miles an hour!" "Oh yeah, well let's turn around right now," I demanded and pedaled back to where I'd seen the clover. Standing there triumphantly, I crowed, "Here it is. Just like I said. Come see!" Looking down to where I held it between my fingers, Roy relented, "That's unbelievable!" He never questioned my unique talent after that. Last year, I spied a four leaf clover by the walkway as we carried groceries into the house. "Clover alert!" I chirped, and pointed in the general vicinity of where it was nestled among a host of threes. After staring at the ground for what seemed like an eternity, Roy finally "found" the four leaf clover. I am still hoping for the day when I can claim finding a ten leaf clover, and Roy finds a four leaf all on his own, without the assistance of the "lucky eye" he married. Do I believe in luck or coincidence? No way! Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights (James 1 :17). He puts the opportunity out there for us. It is up to the "lucky ones" to take advantage of this seeming serendipity. -- Kay Seefeldt ___________________________________________ Kay and her husband Roy live in Maine and share their home with six "lucky" and very spoiled feathered kids (fids). Kay paints landscapes and abstracts in watercolor and considers herself an experimental artist, as well as playing with new paints, papers, and delving into encaustic painting using an iron for a paint brush. She also teaches adults the basic techniques of watercolor and believes anyone can learn watercolor who has the desire. Kay feels she is truly blessed by God and hopes she doesn't take even the smallest blessing for granted. --- ...She believes therefore she receives. Her action was looking :) =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Linda :) ___ .dSSSS$$pp.. .dSSSS$$$$$$$$; .dSSSS$$$$$$$$$$$ :SSP^" T$$$$$$$$$$b_ dSSP $$$S$$$$$$$b` dSS$;_. .:$$$SS$$$$$$b dSS$$$_ ; __."^TSS$$$$$b dSS$$P;" ""' :lSS$$$$$b :SS$$$ ; ::SS$$$$$$b_. SSS$$$ : ` ;:SS$$$$$$$bp. :SS$$$$b \ -=- .-" SSS$$$$$$$$$$b SSS$$$$$b.`. / d$SS$$$$$$$$$$$b :SS$$$$$$$; ""T :$$$SS$$$$$$$$P^^t--' SSS$$$S$$$ : $$$$$SS$$$$$$$ : :SS$$$SS$; __; _$$$$$$SS$$$$$$ : SSS$SS l;: ; : $$$$SS$$$$$; ; :SS$SS $;: ; : $$$SS$$$$$$; /; TSSSS :$ \ ; ; :$S$$$$$$$$.-"/ `SP; :; ;: ; T$$$$$$$$; /; : ; ; : `.; /)T$$$$$P .' : ; : : ; .'/ :$$$P'.' .'\ ; \ :; / /$P^".' .-" ; : ;: .' .-" / \ `.____/_'.___:--""\ --' .' ) .-" .' "-._ "-._ ..--"")\ :-' : "-. "-._ ---""" /; ; : : \ "-._....____; : : \ :\ `. \ ; ; \ \\ \ \ ; : : `. \\ \ \ : ; ; ;"-t\ `. \ : : : : `; \ ; ; ; ; : \ / : : / ; \-..__ .'; : ; / : ; """T ; : / / ; \ : ; ; ;/ : : \ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; : ; ; / : : : ; ; ; / ; :; : ; ; / : :: ; ; ;_ `""--..__; :_; __ ;____;.-;'; ;.__.: :..t-"" j" ; ; : ; ; ;--"" \ [bug] ; ; ; : ; : \ ; ; : \ ; ; ;. ; ; \ \ ; : / ; ; ; \ \ ; : ; ; ; \ `-. ; ; .' ; ; \ \ ;___/ /______;.-' \ ---; / / ;______: .-' / '-------' >Broken Inside...... Here I lie, Broken Inside, Nowhere to go, Nowhere to hide. I'm left here all alone, With no one by my side. All I do is sit here and cry, I'm so broken inside. Too many problems, Too many tears. I'm bleeding blood and crying tears. Unbearable pain, through all of these years. No one in my life, Really seems to care, They go throughout their day, Hardly noticing I'm here. I'm alone in this world, With nowhere to go, Filled with so much sadness, No one will ever know. You can read it on my face, You can see it in my eyes, But no one ever takes the time to notice, I'm broken inside. --- ...Such a heart-wrenching one! Thanks Linda! The reason it is so disturbing is because all of us at one time or another remembers feeling like this. We can easily relate to being so downtrodden that we are filled with deep sadness and despair. It is these time we need to get our sorrow out and let go and let God. We need to cry our heart out and having done that, we need to reach up to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ for strength to pull ourselves out of the pit of darkness. We then can do according to the Word of God and seek relief and peace. Like the poem says... >"Casting All Our Care On Him" There's no storm that we can't weather If we cast all our care upon Him, Under His wings, He will shelter you, Trusting in Jesus...upon Him we can depend. O Lord, may I trust You more and more More like Jesus, loving and true, Give me the strength, as I try daily, To give more of myself...afresh to You. Let's be faithful to our loving Savior Sheltered in Him, with love so strong, He is our strength, adoration, and hope, Someday we will hear, "My Child" well done! Through days of trials, God is there With outstretched arms He waits, Just trust in Him...His word believe, If faithful, crowns of life we will receive. - Sept. ©2004 Bernice Ward , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' "Scripture God's Word" 'Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.' - 1 Peter 5:7 'Rejoice evermore... Pray without ceasing... In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.' - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 'And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.' - Galatians 6:10 --- ...Absolutely! Thanks Linda! It's OK to cry. It is OK to be in sorrow. Jesus cried over the loss of his friend. John 11:35 "Jesus wept." But we cannot wallow in self pity. We have to pull ourselves out of the pit of sorrow and do according to God's Word and give it to Him through Christ Jesus. If we do not, then the devil wins for he has defeated us as his arch enemy. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: O , .::7:::::U2\P\ '*qf\P '<\ '<\ ' ' unknown >Catching Fish In A Jar Jami Sell When I was between eleven and twelve years old I decided one bright sunny day that it would be fun to go fishing. I didn't have any fishing gear and I had never done much fishing other than to play on the stream banks while my father fished. I also didn't want to "hurt" the fish I just wanted to catch them and then let them go. I looked around the house for what I could use and I found a washed out old mayonnaise jar. You know the old style jars with the big open "mouth". I walked to a nearby pond and put the jar down in the soft dust-like mud of the water's edge with the open "mouth" of the jar facing toward the center. I then stirred the waters a little and made them cloudy so that the fish would have trouble seeing me. Then I waited hovering over the jar. Gradually, cautiously a small fish would swim up to the clear jar to investigate the disturbance and when it swam into the jar I dropped my hand into the water and over the jar mouth. I caught a fish, then another. I just let them all go and returned my jar to the cupboard. Then I decided to use wire "box trap" to go fishing and rigged a string to the door. This way I could drop the trap in the water and not have to "hover over" it like I did with the jar. I sat very relaxed on the bank of the pond and sure enough I caught a fair sized bluegill. I took it home in a water filled plastic waste basket to show my dad and afterward returned it to the pond. When I told people about how I had caught the fish they just paused and laughed nervously. You see unlike these people, I didn't know that you couldn't catch fish in a jar. If I would have asked them they would have scoffed and said, "You can't catch fish in a jar or a box trap!" No one in my life had ever dreamed of telling me that so my belief system did not contain these words or the impact that they would have had on my "day of fishing". Only a free minded kid could come up with an idea of using a jar or a box trap to catch fish! No one had told me that this was impossible so I just used what I was familiar with and what I had available and I succeeded. Maybe today finds you facing a situation that seems impossible. You have a desire but no visible way of bringing it into being. You may need to find that "kid" inside you who thinks "outside the box" and the normal ways of achieving things and let him or her catch that fish in a jar! See your situation from a different angle. Start looking at the resources that you already have and the things that you are already familiar with. A fresh perspective and a childlike sense of wonder may surprise you and there's no telling what you will come up with! --- ...Again, he believed so he received. His action was doing. -<>- _________ |MMMMMMMMM| _ ________ |MMMMMMMMM| _|l|_ |!!!!!!!_|___|MMMMMMMMM| |lllll| |!!!!!!|=========|MMMMM| |lllll|_______ |!!!!!!|=========|MMMMM| _|lllll|HHHHHHH| |!!!!!!|=========|MMMMM| ________|lllllllll|HHHHH| |!!!!!!|=========|MMMMM| |unununun|lllllllll|HHHHH|______ |!!!!!!|=========|MMMMM| |nunununu|lllllllll|HH|:::::::::| |!!!!!!|=========|MMM__|..|un__unun|lllllllll|HH|:::::::::| |!!!!!!|=======_=|M_( ')' );' .)unu|lllllllll|HH|:::::::::| |!!!_!!|======( )|(. ` ,) (_ ', )un|lllllllll|HH|:::::::::| ~~~ |!!(.)!|===__(`.')_(_ ')_,)(. _)unu|lllllllll|HH|:__::::::|~~ ~~ |!(.`')|==( .)' .)MMM|M|| |un|nunun|lllllllll|``|( ,)_::::| ~~~~ ~ -(: _)|=(`. ')_)|---|- ' ``|`````|lll____ll| (_; `'):::|~~~ ~~~ | |==(_'_)|=| ______ ''/\ \' |(_'_)::::|\~~~~__|)__ | ''''|''o/`.-``~~~~~ ``-. /--\___\ ``|`````` /____\____/ jrei | h ( `; ~~~ ~~ ~ ) |M_|#_#| ' -- __________|~ -- * '-.._~~__~..-' -- -* - / ~~~~ ~~~~~~ * - - -- ---- --- _.-'~~~~~ ~ ~~ __--_________............-------------'''''''''''''''` ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~ >Laying It On The Line W.W. Clay As a New York skyscraper went up, hundreds paused daily to glance up at it. One day they watched a ponderous metal beam go up to take its place in the steel skeleton. As the girder came near, a workman leaned out from the sixteenth floor to seize it. The spectators gasped as he lost his balance and fell. Desperately, he clutched the girder's end with arms and legs. The ground crew stopped the hoisting engine, but the man's weight at one end began to tilt the beam to a vertical position, which would eventually cause him to lose his grasp and fall to his death. With swift decision, another worker on the same floor, seeing his friend's predicament, leaped through space and landed on the other end, where his weight leveled the beam. Amid the applause of the crowd, both men were safely lowered to the street. Every day people around us lose their balance on moral questions - they consider having an affair with a co-worker, taking company funds, lying to close a deal, toying with drugs and alcohol. Wrong decisions will hurt them and their families for years and cost their souls in Eternity. They need friends who are interested in helping them keep their balance, by leading exemplary lives, by sacrificial living, by speaking a word for Christ. Here on this earth, no one will applaud, but it will be worth it all when we receive the approval of the Master. (1 Cor 4:5) Live your life in the manner which Christ lived and others are sure to take notice. W.W. Clay From "Choice Illustrations" -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Life's Little Oops 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops3.html The Sleep Metaphor!- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/sleepmetaphor.html Never Give Up!- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html Beautiful Bridges!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bridges.html Moses Bridge!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mosesbridge.html Luxury Yacht!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/luxyacht.html Floating Hotel!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fhotel.html Amazing Bus Stops!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bus.html Miracle Coyote!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/coyote.html Koalas In A Heatwave!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/koalas.html Koalas In A Heatwave 2!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/koalas2.html Thoughts Into Action 7!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/action7.html Arrows Across America!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/arrows.html Germany's Water Bridge!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wbridge.html Lighthouses Of The World!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lighthouses.html Cool Optical Illusions!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/optical.html Ten Life Tips!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetips.html Gay Agenda!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/gayagenda.html -<>- >Please Visit This Link to Get New Traffic For Shangrala :) Fun Pages http://www.funpageexchange.com/go.php?uid=3559 -<>- >In The News: From AFA: Say NO to Disney, say YES to Pilgrim's Progress! http://tinyurl.com/zlybrlc Freak Out! Nets Spend 107 Mins on Trump Wiretapping Tweet http://tinyurl.com/hqy3b3z --- ...If you are like me, all this wiretapping talk on the news is getting overwhelming! No one seems to have answers but everyone seems to want to talk and debate about it! I felt a lot better after hearing a Judge I have great respect for give his two cents about it. Maybe you will too! I found it on youtube for you to check out... Shocking: Watch Lou Dobbs 3/6/2017 - Obama Wiretapping? (especially the Judge starting at 3:00) NOTE: NEW LINK - the one I sent on the 8th got removed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r8pcB1kR3s ALERT: Bad News For Liberal Target After The Public Boycott Against Them [VIDEO] http://tinyurl.com/hp58vvq ALERT: Supreme Court Just Announced A Big Decision That Has Liberals FURIOUS [VIDEO] http://tinyurl.com/gvbjcly -<>- >From TruthOrTradition: New Video Teachings: ?What is The Prophetic Perfect in the Bible???????? http://tinyurl.com/jo6ys8p What is the Figure of Speech “Personification”? http://tinyurl.com/j3nho5k Teachings that Stick http://tinyurl.com/hqtkxd6 When the Going Gets Tough http://tinyurl.com/hsl2jj5 Do A Good Turn http://tinyurl.com/z7qgfvu 7 Tips on How to Become a Better Teacher http://tinyurl.com/hz683gb -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) Lazy to the Extreme http://www.dogwork.com/one-lazy-dog A-list actors depict Michael Glatze's remarkable transformation http://tinyurl.com/jomn9c2 --- ...God Bless Him! Thanks Melody! -<>- >From Our friend LouiseAu :) The American Southwest is a beautiful look at the desert and mountain geography of the Southwestern United States. It's always amazing to see the colors that come to life when desert flowers bloom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiywoagCnEA&feature=player_embedded All that's left is to teach this smart police dog how to drive and he could be a full-fledged officer on patrol! You've got to see his great trick in this cool police canine video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip7sz6Z8obE&feature=player_embedded Amazing Grace is one of my favorite songs and this version by Rhema Marvanne was a joy to listen to.Rhema is a Gospel singer and was 7 years old at the time of this music video being created. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDDlxmsciqY --- ...Sweet! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) We must support our military and tell them !! God be with them all ! https://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1 This might possibly be the most amazing card trick you have EVER seen! It was developed by the magician after the terrorist attacks in Paris, France. Supposedly, he did this in front of Penn and Teller on TV and they just shook their heads in disbelief. This is truly must watch. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xh9GaDgRWX4?rel=0 --- ...Great! Thanks Linda! Shows how easily we can be deceived - the hand is quicker than the eye. 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 ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Fran :) ,--. _/ <`-' ,-.' \--\_ ((`-.__\ ) \`' @ (_ ( (_) ,'`-._(`-._/ ,-' )&&) )) ,-' /&&&%-' ,' __ ,- {&&&&/ / ,' \| |\&&'\ ( | |' \ `--. (%--'\ ,--.\ `-.`-._))) `---'`-/__)))`-._))) hjw Pets are for life! If this doesn't make you cry, I don't know what will. Pets are for LIFE.... A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of his community. >>HOW COULD YOU? By Jim Willis, 2001 When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" -- but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub. My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog ," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him,and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?" Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty. A Note from the Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets who die each year in American & Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals. Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but it could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet. Remember...They love UNCONDITIONALLY. --- ...So true! Thanks Fran! ============================================================ __ .-'||'-. .' || '. / __||__ \ | /`- -`\ | | | 6 6 | | \/\____7___/\/ .--------:\:I:II:I:/;--------. / \`:I::I:`/ \ | `------' | | \____/ | | , __ ___ , | |======| / | / _ \ |======| |======| ^| | | | | | |======| |~~~~~| | | | |_| | |~~~~~| | |\ [___] \___/ /| | \ \| |/ / `\ \ _ _.-=""=-._ _ / /' `\ '`_)\\-++++-//(_`' /' jgs ; (__|| ||__) ; ; ___\ /___ ; '. ---/-=..=-\--- .' `""` `""` >The Team Builder Story Editor: by Chris Kennedy Joyce Schowalter California, USA In the fall of 2010, I coached a fourth grade boys' football team in California. The boys were excited to play, including a boy whose family had just moved to America. Understandably, he had limited knowledge about American football... and by "limited," I mean "none whatsoever." "Bill" was challenging. He showed up late without cleats, mouth guard, or practice uniform. Playing a new sport, in a new country, in a second language, with strangers for a coach and teammates was hard enough. He also had to fit into an ultra-competitive group of boys, who weren't shy about pointing out mistakes. "Come on, you can't line up off sides, Bill!" Bill increased the workload I was already struggling to carry. I spoke slowly, instructed him individually on virtually every play...and still he often did things incorrectly. I limited his playing time in games because everything moves more quickly. Despite his lack of understanding, Bill always asked to go in. Bill's father wrote, concerned Bill wasn't learning enough because of limited playing time. I explained Bill had learning time at practice -- daily. Managing his game time was for his own sake and survival. With greater achievements he'd get more playing time... an expectation of every team member. His father understood... and Bill was beginning to. Even if he was blocking illegally, Bill seemed to find the joy football brings to a kid. In our final game I increased Bill's playing time. On one drive, he was penalized four times for jumping off sides. But he was trying hard. Towards the game's end, I put Bill at running back to give him the first carry of his career. "Dive Right." The quarterback's eyes brightened. A few teammates on the sideline overheard, and cheered. A parent walked over, "I don't know what you just called but it must be something special." The quarterback sprinted into the huddle with the play. Bill and a few teammates reared their heads back and looked at me with disbelief. Wide smiles nearly made their mouth guards drop. The boys rushed to the line. Bill lined up correctly. He received the ball -- no fumble -- and ran through a large hole created by his teammates blocking with all their might. Bill ran as fast as his excited body could for a five-yard gain. A large cheer erupted! His teammates ran to congratulate and guide Bill back to the huddle. The quarterback sprinted over, "That play worked coach! Can we do it again?" Then the game clock expired. We'd won by a touchdown. Many parents said the boys' reaction to Bill running the ball was the season's best moment. One said, "They looked like a team." A team. At every practice, every game, every teachable moment, I endeavored to impart the importance of teamwork. To be unselfish, sacrifice, and strive for something impossible to attain individually. Working together can defeat any barrier. Bill needed our help to become a football player. We needed his to become a team. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "Nine-tenths of the difficulty is overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. The difficulty arises when we ask God to reveal His will before we are ready to do it unreservedly." - George Mueller , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Find the Greatest Love of All (By Verna Collins Odoom) [Edited] "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) At the core of the Bible is the great exchange. The death...and the resurrection. Letting go of the old to embrace the new. Dying to self and being born again in Him. Being the humans that we are, I would venture to say that we all have engaged in many rounds of tug-of-war as we try to balance the very selfish nature that is innate, with the call on our lives to be more like Him. Why? Because when we accepted God as our Father, the old us - the worldly us - existed no more, and was replaced with the spirit of God. So if that spiritual transplant has happened, why do we have to work so hard each day to bury the desires of the flesh? And once buried, why won't those desires stay buried? Many times we pick up those desires again ourselves, without any coaxing, without any prodding, and in many cases without even thinking. We are so used to doing those things that we want to do when we want to do them, that we don't even put up a great fight anymore. Other times we regress and reunite with old desires because they are comfortable...easy even. Change is hard and requires a level of commitment that many of us honestly just don't want to make. That's when we have to ask ourselves, "Is my love for God greater than my love for anything else in my life?" It all has to do with our quest to Find the Greatest Love of All. Do I want to please God more than I want to please myself? Or do we push our love of God out of our minds long enough to give in to the desires of the flesh, then seek forgiveness later? True, we are supposed to ask God to forgive us after we have done something that we know is out of His will, but His forgiving nature does not nullify our responsibility to do those things that we know are pleasing to Him. In other words, saying the devil made us do something is no excuse. The devil only operates in our lives as much as we allow him. Those desires of the flesh may be different for everyone, but we all deal with them. For some it's drinking, for others it's cursing, still others have a hard time kicking the smoking habit, or can't stop sleeping with someone who is not our husband (or wife). Lying, being physically or verbally abusive, being unforgiving and holding a grudge...not setting aside time to pray and study the Bible - all are issues that we have to pray down. Galatians 2:20 (NIV) reads, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." When I think of Christ living in me, it truly makes me want to live a better life. We must get out of that mindset that God only sees those things in us that we want Him to see. It's time that we grow up in Him. It's kind of like that notion that many of us might have had as children about our relationship with our parents. There were certain things that we may have done or said when our parents were NOT around that we would NEVER have done or said in their presence. But we must remember that as believers, Christ dwells in us. So He is there through our EVERYTHING. When you think about it like that, do you really want to take the Spirit of the Living God through those things of the flesh and into all [that junk]? I don't want to expose Him to those things that are not pure and good. [I need] to resist those things that the "old me" used to desire and used to do. We must Find the Greatest Love of All for ourselves, so that we can live as the new man or woman that we have become through Him. 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 ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" _oOoOoOo_ .-.-. (oOoOoOoOo) ( : ) )`"""""`( .-.`. .'.-. / \ (_ '.Y.' _) | # | ( .'|'. ) \ / '-' | '-' jgs `=========` >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Cheryl always signs her letters and cards to the grandkids with X's and O's. One time she asked Mikey if he knew what those X's and O's meant. He matter of factly said, "You want to play tic tac toe." -- Cheryl Barker (grandmother) of Kendallville, Indiana Hal and Cheryl took Ben, 2, and Ally, 4, for a drive to look at Christmas decorations. After they passed a house that had a reindeer on the porch, Cheryl commented to Hal that she wasn't sure what it was because the antlers were falling off. "It's a Christmas goat," Ally politely stated. Here is another story from Cheryl. Mikey, 3, had a new game for Christmas. It is hooked up to the television and projects the kids on the screen. Mikey's mom, Jamie, turned it on and the man started giving directions, beginning with, "For best results, stand back 5 feet." Jamie had gone to the kitchen for a drink so Mikey yelled to her, "Do you have five feet?" She said no and then heard him crying. So she went in to see what was wrong. Mikey told her they couldn't play because she didn't have five feet and he didn't either! Karen tells about her niece Rachel, 4, who heard the radio weather report and told her mother, "Mom, we are going to have thunderstorms, hail, wind and we are under a tomato watch!" -- Karen Walker of Knoxville, Tennessee @@ .##@@::;%%&&00' @><@ .###@@::;%%&&00' ________) .###@@::;%%&&00' | | .###@@::;%%&&00' _ _|===LI===|_ .###@@::;%%&&00' / \_(____________) .###@@::;%%&&00' \ / (88 o o 88) .###@@::;%%&&00' \/\ 88: 7 :88` .###@@::;%%&&00' \/\ '88'=='88' .###@@::;%%&&00' \ \__'8888'__________.###@@::;%%&&00' \___<\""/>_____/_/_-'##@@::;%%&&00' / >< \ .###@@::;%%&&00' /__/--\__\ (oO@OoO@@o@oO@@o) '-.______.-' /`"""""""""""""`\ jgs _|_||_|_ | | ___LI)||(LI___ | | ( ~~ || ~~ ) \ / `-----''-----` '.___________.' When Papa was watching grandsons Kelly and brother Kyler for a few hours they chose to walk around the block. As they were walking, they noticed their shadows in front of them. Kelly, who just turned 4, surprised Papa by saying, "See, I am invisible!" -- Shari Mallory-Maxa of Austin, Texas Here's another one from Shari. PaPa and Mammo called to chat with the grandkids. Dad gave them the cell phone. After a good conversation with the oldest, Kyler, 6, he passed the phone to Kelly, 4, who was playing with little sister Mallory on the swing. Kelly, realizing that big brother now had sister's attention, proceeded to drop the phone. Kyler (being the big brother and so grown up) picked it up and said, "Kelly needs strong consequences for dropping the phone." Harold and Elizabeth were discussing our new president and they were saying they hoped he is a decent man. Granddaughter Caylie, 8, chimed in, "Oh, I know he is a decent man, he keeps his private parts covered!" -- Grandparents Harold and Elizabeth Wiese of Quitman, Texas On a recent clear night John, 4, began a discussion about the size and shape of the moon while driving with his parents Gary and Sarah. After a short while he said, "Hey that reminds me, there is something I've been wanting to ask you." His parents had no idea what direction he was going with the questioning and were surprised to hear, "Is the moon made of cheese?" -- Gary Housholder of Avilla, Indiana __...._ .-"` `\ / | | | \ | \ __...--'| \.-' |_..-, __\___...---'`_..-' (_______....--'\ / `\ (o \__ | | __) _ _ \ /`\ \ | (_Y_) _ '-.\_,| | T-._/ (_A_) _../`'T T-'` | | \__ _| .' | | | | \___ | /_\`\ / | | | | \ `/-`\ --| | \ | | | | /`----' |--' \ `\ \_; |`-.......-` .-.-'. \_LI ; / / /`-._ |`-\ \ jgs _/_/ / | \ \ ( ( ;.__ / \__,\__ `"`""` `""""` `.__._`; Leila, 3, was smart mouthing her mother with her "whatever" and hands on her hips. Her mother looked at her and said, "Stop mouthing back to me." She replied, "I'm not mouthing back to you. I'm mouthing front to you!" -- Shawna Niblick (mother of Leila) of Fort Wayne, Indiana Leila is getting excited about turning 4 soon and told Shawna when she turns 4 she'll be a kid. "You're already a kid," her mother said. Leila answered "No, I'm a princess, when I turn 4 I won't be a princess anymore, but a kid!" (Of course, she'll always be our princess, Shawna says!) When Justin was 2 he went to Disneyworld with his parents. While getting settled in the hotel room his mom went to use the bathroom. Justin tried to follow. She asked him if she could please have some privacy. So he went out of the bathroom only to return a few minutes later to say, "Mommy, I can't find any privacy." This is one of his mother's favorite memories. He died while a senior in college. -- Donna (mother of Justin) of St. Albans, New York Nolan, 4, and Chloe, 11, months were at home cleaning up the toys in Chloe's room with their mother. Nolan looked around at all of Chloe's dolls and pocketbooks and pretty pink and purple toys, looked his mother squarely in the eye, and said, "Mom, I wanted a boy sister, not a girl sister." -- Lisa Billingsley of Scaly Mountain, North Carolina .-------. |(~\o/~)| _.||\/X\/||._ ,-" || \ / || "-, ,' () ||o X o|| () ', / () ,-|| / \ ||-, () \ : o ,' ||/\X/\|| ', o ; .----------._)~ ~(_.----------. |\/)~~(\/\ (~\ /~) /\/)~~(\/| |(X () X) >o >-X-< o< (X () X)| |/\)__(/\/ _(_/|\_)_ \/\)__(/\| '----------' ) ( '----------' ; o ', ||\/~\/|| ,' o ; \ () '-|| \o/ ||-' () / ', () |(~\X/~)| () ,' '-._ ||\/ \/|| _.-' '|| \_/ ||' || X || ||\(/\/|| ||=)O(=|| ||/\/)\|| || X || || / \ || ||/\X/\|| jgs |(_/o\_)| '._____.' Another day recently, Nolan was sitting on the bathroom counter telling Lisa a story while she put on her makeup. He wanted to know what she was doing, so she told him she was putting on makeup so she would look better. He said, "Mom, are you old and fragile like Nanny?" Lisa replied that she was much older than he was. He said, "Well, where do you keep your old?" (He was referring to the gray hair and wrinkles that his grandmothers have.) A few weeks ago Lisa had to lower the crib for Nolan's sister, Chloe so she wouldn't fall out when she stood up. The next morning Nolan came to his parents' bed and when Chloe woke up and stood up Nolan said in his most worried voice: "Mom, she got short!" Brenda's grandson Drayton, 3, loves Frosty the Snowman. They have viewed the parade in November for the lighting of Frosty on the side of the building on Cedar Street in Auburn for the past two years. Drayton's eyes light up when they flick the switch and Frosty comes to life. When passing the building after Christmas, the lights are not on, which is unsettling enough for a 3-year-old who thinks the lights should always be on when he comes by. But an even bigger problem is this: "Grandma, why are they keeping Frosty in a cage and they don't turn the lights on for him either! Frosty shouldn't be kept in a cage!" (If you look at the display on the building, it does look like Frosty is in a cage.) -- Brenda Myers of Auburn, Indiana Donna and her daughter-in-law Amy were talking about where they should go to eat: Olive Garden or Red Lobster? A little while later, Emily, 4, who was sitting at the table coloring, looked up and asked, "Are we going to Crabs to eat?" -- Donna Kensky (grandmother of Emily) of Fort Wayne, Indiana ,-'~~~~-. .-~~~~`-. .' \ / `. ,-'` \ / `-. / , `\/ .' \ ( `\ || /~ ) ~. `\ || /` .~ `~~._____ `\ || /` ____.~~` ___!!!GOOD>-->Blessings... May you always have work for your hands to do. May your pockets hold always a coin or two. May the sun shine bright on your windowpane. May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. >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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