Dead Men Walking and More ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@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 ================== >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) -=- (\ _ /) (`\(")/') (`/\') \\/^\// / \ hjw / \ `-._.-' We were blessed to have another Shangrala Angel!! Jonnie Cooper made a donation to help keep the Shangrala web site free and alive during our high traffic times! This is so important and helps us out a bunch! Paul and I try to do it all, but you know we all need a little help from angels and our sweet friends! Thank You So Much Jonnie! She Wrote: Love your site! Love your politics! Love your Inspirations! Keep up the good work! - Jonnie If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is helpful - even just a couple dollars! Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR if like Jonnie, you don't have a PayPal account but would like to help anyway, Please Feel Free to send a check or MO to my address here for Shangrala: Elrhea Bigham 502 S Harrison Street Van Wert, OH 45891 USA ~*~ God's Love & Blessings To All Our 'Shangrala' Angels ~*~ -<>- _()_ )( _..-''''''-.._ .' . ' ` . `. .' . . `. .-. : . ...... . : : : . .' ) ( `. . : `. @: . : < > : . : .-----. `.: . :--`--'--: . :.' `. .---:: . : .--. *: . :: _ : .'.' `:. . : :__. : . .' : '.`: : : : -. : `._ `.______.' _.' '`._ .' ' jgs `. `'' .' ``-......-'' `. ``` .' `---' `-----' I'm still running the grind here of 'Cinderella'. Least that's the way I feel with the cleaning around here to keep us all safe from the contagious bug my daughter got. Hopefully we'll know soon if we are out of the woods and life can return to more of our normal around here. Maybe in another week or so. My son brought something up to me and more or less gave me the idea that I put before God and as far as I know has passed His approval. My son said, "Mom, I'm getting pretty tired of all this political stuff. I've already made up my mind I'm voting for McCain so I don't need to be hearing about it every day!" So, if you feel like my son and have made your choice and are getting tired of it, not to worry! I'm not going to be talking about it on our ezine or the website. [I also realize many of our members are not US residents and this nearing US election doesn't concern them.] It's OK. I am still getting many forwards from members that this is still heavy on their mind and hearts so I will send forwards and political news out BUT ONLY TO THOSE WHO ASK FOR IT... If you want the political news, Just send me an email right now with the subject of it saying - Politics PLEASE - and I'll put you on a list to recieve the news as I get it. POLITICS? .---. .---. ( -o- )---( -o- ) ;-...-` `-...-; / \ / \ | /_ _\ | \`'.`'"--.....--"'`.'`/ \ '. `._.` .' / _.-''. `-.,,_,,.-` .''-._ `--._ `'-.,_____,.-'` _.--` jgs / \ /.-'`\ .'. /`'-.\ ` '.' '.' * IF YOU WANT THE POLITICS FORWARDS ETC: Send an email to: bcrsystems@earthlink.net With the Subject line: Politics PLEASE There now we're all covered! :) -<>- >Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press... This one comes from our friend Viv. I had seen this one before and got a smile from it so I jumped on the opprotunity to keep it as a fun one for us. Check it out here: _.---.( ..--._) (_.' `''-.'` `'. / / \_) (_| _,.-'""'-,-'""'-.,_ | \ /.--' '--.\ /_) Oooo Yeah! ,__\ ) (_(_( )_)_) ) /__, \ (_, ( o) ( o) / / `--.-` '-' c '-' `-'-` (O\ (O) jgs '-.....__w__.....-' A Woman's Dream http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woman.html --- ...Thanks Viv! An amusing one! -<>- _.._ _..---. .-" ;-" \ / / | | | _= | ; _.-'\__.-') | `-' | | ; | /; / _, .-.;.-=-./-""-.-` _` / | \ \-` `, | | | | |____|______| | \0 / \0 / / .--.-""-.`--' .' (# ) , \ ('--' /\` \ \ ,, .' \ `-._ _.'\ \ jgs `""` \ \ >More sweet FALL Gifs added to the animated Collection here: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_f-j.html >And I Updated the FUN URLS pagefor the Halloween Holiday: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/urls.html ===================================================================== >In Awe of Kindness Story Editor: by Jennifer Knopf Joyce Schowalter Oklahoma, USA In Oklahoma in April 2007, our local city council passed an ordinance changing pet registration fees. Fees went up drastically for unfixed pets. For a limited time fees were grandfathered. But if you didn't license your pet in time you'd pay the larger fee every year. One Saturday I went to register my dog. My soldier husband was away training, so I had to take all four children. There was a long line. We started getting friendly with the middle-aged couple ahead and a soldier behind us. We traded stories about our pets and the couple helped entertain my children. After 30 minutes rain began to drizzle. I put my children's hoods up and tucked blankets tighter around the baby. My two older children stood with me in the rain while my younger ones huddled in the stroller. I feared if we tried to come back the next day the lines would be even longer. Then a lady ahead of us took my older children under her umbrella. After 20 minutes, rain poured. The soldier offered to let my three children sit in his (visible) car and watch a movie. How could I let my children get into a stranger's car when I would have to stay in line? The lady in front of me volunteered to watch the children in the SUV while her husband stayed in line. The soldier turned on his car, cranked up the heat, put in a Disney movie and came back. The wife took all the children who'd been in line into the car. Now I just had the baby to worry about. My son was getting wet, so I pulled him into my jacket. As he cried, people further ahead turned to look. I felt embarrassed and foolish. Why hadn't I brought an umbrella? I should've gotten a babysitter. I should try the next day. Suddenly a man called, "Lady, please get that baby inside!" I thought he meant, "Go home!" Instead, other people spoke, encouraging me to enter the office. Since only three people fit inside, everyone else would be outside longer. I hesitated, but everyone ahead moved aside to clear a path. Once inside, I was given the only chair. Everyone entering stopped to make sure my son was OK. No one seemed resentful. As I watched, a woman approached the window and registered two pets. Taking out her checkbook, she was told the office ONLY took cash. That if she ran to an ATM for cash, they wouldn't let her just come back to the front of the line. Another lady offered her the cash in exchange for the personal check. The first woman accepted in disbelief and gratitude. Then it was my turn. I quickly paid my fee, took my paperwork, and went outside. My children were waiting safely in the warm SUV. I thanked the soldier, and the woman who had watched the children. I went home, in awe of all the kindnesses I had received and witnessed. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Tony In Australia :) In the last century in England, there was a fairly well known ‘flamboyant’ Pastor and expert on scriptural translations who said the following… __.....__ .' ':, / __ _ __ \\ | |_)) || |_))|| | | \\ || | || | || _, | ||.-(_{} Dead Men Walking | |/ ` | ,_ (\;|/) \\| {}_)-,||` \\;/,,;;;;;;;,\\|//, .;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;, \,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,// \\;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,// ,\';;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;' jgs;;;;;;;;;;;'''` “ Dead men, can't walk on the road. It’s of no use to make a path if it’s start is in the cemetery!” What was it that Alexander McLaren was trying to tell us? Well here’s what I believe… He was trying to tell us that Christ Himself taught that men who live apart from Him…..are Dead! Christ taught that the only life a man can live that keeps him ‘knitted’ to God, is a divine life, the same life that was in Himself! And of which He is the fine example and the measuring stick we should apply in our own lives….Too hard you say? Well, it was just as hard for Jesus! The ‘life’ we are talking about is the ‘spiritual life we receive as a gift when we are ‘saved’….. It was mans sin that brought about death and it was Our Savior’s death that brought redemption for us! Amen for that!...and a Hallelujah!...Rom 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin ….is DEATH! But Jesus death brought us an opportunity for eternal life!...Life in Jesus..! wow! Think about that!... This ‘Savior” this ‘giver back of life….is the same ONE who created life…! Jesus gives us life in every way that is good….and maybe this is why He said… “ I am the Life”….This was the Great I AM speaking!.... but He wasn’t talking about making a corpse walk, a corpse is merely flesh rotting…Jesus was talking about the ‘spirit!” the ‘soul’! Amen? I believe all reading this, have knowledge of what being ‘reborn means without me bringing Nicodemus into it at this stage…Being reborn or ‘born again from above” means a new journey an entirely new way of life and it ain’t gonna be easy but the rewards are greater the you can ever envisage…I don’t care about how old or how young we are, age has no bearing on ‘maturity’ when it comes to be a Christian…our spiritual growth comes from knowing how to handle the twists and turns and the roller coaster rides and our maturity comes when we learn to accept the truth as IT IS WRITTEN and begin to know God…. When we tell people we have been Christians, some of us say 20 years some less, some more, but there are those of us here, who when we give our answers, are really only telling people how long we have been on the ‘road to being’ a Christian… Just ask yourself how ‘focused’ on Jesus you really are… is He you total ‘spiritual’ diet?? He should be! He is your Daily Bread! “ Take of this…this is my body!” “Take of this , this is my Blood!.....Do you go ‘digging’ in your Bible, or are you just scrambling through the loose stuff for an occasional nugget?......Are you still eating mashed bananas? or have you got to the stage when regardless of whether you ‘like’ what you read, you will read it anyway and put yourself on a well maintained diet of solid meat! And solid vegetables… Behold the days are coming! “ God said! “When I will send a famine on the land!” He didn’t mean to leave you short of food! He meant there would be a time when the famine would be of the “hearing of the Word of God!” Are you on a low fat, low cholesterol , high in fibre ‘spiritual diet’? do you get your Spiritual blessings only on a Sunday in Church? Or do you just rely on turning on the TV and switching channels to find a “ Christian” program that tells you what you want to hear? If you don’t put yourself on a diet of reading God’s word, you will spiritually starve!.... If you don’t ‘question’ the scriptures, chances are, you won’t find the answers…..and you go blind… Am I scaring anybody? I pray that I am…..the words you are reading here, may well ‘save’ your spiritual life…. Br Tony --- ...Awesome Tony. Thank You. .--. .'(` __.>\ '. _.---,._,' /.--. : |/' _.--.< _..-' `\ /' `' >_.-``-. `Y /' _.---._____ '` .-''. \|: \.' ___, .-'` Dead as this tree! .'--._ `-: \/ /' \\ /.'`\ :; /' `-. -` | | :.; : | |: | | | :. : | .jgs ; /:::. `\ I agree with you that he was talking about men who are dead in sins who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their spiritual savior. You know what? This may amaze some of you. I mean I was kind of taken aback by it myself. I get so used to people that have heard about Jesus that often I forget that there are people in this world living today that fall into the category of 'have not heard enough to believe' that the bible speaks about here: Romans 10:14: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? + | /o\ |~| , | | , /\/ _ \/\ .-.-.-|| (_) ||-.-.-. | # # || _ || # # | jgs _| || ||| || |_ """""""""===""""""""" === I came across a person just like this. He said he believes in God but wasn't sure if he believed in Jesus or not. Why? While his mom was a church goer, she took him to the church of her country. His mom was exiled here to escape genocide in her own country. He was raised in a church that the language was not his own. He was born and raised here in the US and taught english here so he never understood what was being taught in the church she took him to. So here he is a grown middle aged man living all his life in the US and has not heard enough about Jesus Christ to believe in the two things required to be a Christian - Romans 10:9 - #1 that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead AND #2 confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Mystery Revealed http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/mysteryrevealed.html The New Birth http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/newbirth.html For people in this category - praise God for teachers and preachers and all of us who can help them to believe so they too are not like so many poor souls are - dead in their sins - dead men walking! Here are wonderful teachings available from Truth Or Tradition so that you can teach about or learn more about Our Lord Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ Topics: http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=27 ================================================================== >-->From Our Friend John-Paul :) .n. | /___\ _.---. \ _ / [|||] (_._ ) )--;_) =- [___] '---'.__,' \ }-=-{ | |-" | |.-"| p ~^=~^~-|_.-|~^-~^~ ~^~ -^~^~|\ ~^-~^~- ^ .=.| _.|__ ^ ~ /| \ ~ /:. \" _|_/\ ~ /_|__\ ^ .-/::. | |""|-._ ^ ~~~~ `===-'-----'""` '-. ~ jgs __.-' ^ ~For You and Me~ Every day we live, Every Day we see, How great the World, Ti`s for you and me, ,_ ,_ (\/) _, _, | '. '. \/ .' .' | \ \ \ / / / '.__\_|_ _|_/__.' /` '. .' `\ / ^ ) ( ^ \ / __.' '.__ \ .' (_ _) '. .' \'-._ _.-'/ '. / '.__)(__.' \ ; .-. '. .' .-. ; /`| / '._)(_.' \ |`\ | \ /--. .--\ / | '--'\ '-.__) (__.-' /'--' jgs )_____) (______( The ever changing Seas, and Skies, The birds, and magnificent butterflies, The rainbows high with colors to please, To think, Freely given we, all of these! ,, ,, ,\\//, ,\\//, ,\\\///, ,, ,\\\///, \\\\//// ,\\//, \\\\//// \\\/// ,\\\///, \\\/// ###### \\\\//// ###### ////\\\\ \\\/// ////\\\\ /////\\\\\###### /////\\\\\//////\\\\////\\\\ //////\\\\\\/,///\\\/////\\\\\ //////_?_\\\\(_) //////\\\\\\, .'`---`'. _j_///////\\\\\(_) /.'a a \.'`---`'. |: ^ /.'d\ /b \ \' www |: ^ | '._____.'\' VVV / jgs '._____.' twas Made the rows of yellow corn, A Sun rise on a Winter morn, Frosty window panes all a glow, Reflecting light upon billowing snow, ,___________________________________________ |\'-._( / | | \ .'-._\ , ,| |-.\' .-; .'\`-' | | \ .' ( _.' \ | |.--.\' _) ;-; \._| | ` _\(_)/_ \ `'-,_,-'\ | jgs____ /(O)\ _________________/____)_`-._\| Spiders webs outlined in dew, Never ending Beauty, Oh, yes, it`s true, The World is full of everything, We need to cause our hearts to sing, ..:::::.. .:::::::::::. ::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::: :::::::_/|::::::: ::::=/_/::::::: `:_/ |::::::' ( / ,|:::'' \_/^\/||__ _/~ `""~`"` \_ __/ -'/ `-._ `\_\__ /jgs /-'` `\ \ \-.\ Everyday we live, we shall find, So much beauty of a different kind, for it is easy, and plain to see, GOD out done Himself, for You and Me! Always~~~~~~John-paul --- ...Awww, How Sweet! Thank You John-Paul! =============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jo Ann :) __ __ / \ / \\""'-./ \ e\__o | e / | Do I Matter? | ,__/ \ _/ /`----`\\ / | \ \\_ ; \ \_ |_) | \___) | _ | /_-/ | j gs _; ----/ |__/ \_\__________/ >Who Matters? There comes a point in your life when you realise: who matters, who never did, who won't anymore... and who always will. So, don't worry about people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future. Give these flowers to everyone you don't want to lose in 2008, including me, if that's what is in your heart. -<>- _ _ ((`'-"``""-'`)) ) - - ( / (o _ o) \ \ ( 0 ) / _'-.._'='_..-'_ /`;#'#'#.-.#'#'#;`\ \_)) 'I' ((_/ #. L O V E .# '#. YOU! .#' jgs / '#. .#' \ _\ \'#. .#'/ /_ (((___) '#' (___))) >Wealth, Success and Love A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. Then she said, "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat." "Is the man of the house home?" they asked. "No," she said. "He's out." "Then we cannot come in," they replied. In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. So, he said. "Go tell them I'm home, and invite them in!" The woman went out and invited the men in. "We do not go into a house together," they replied. "Why is that?" she wanted to know. One of the old men explained. "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and pointing to another one he said, "This man is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now, go and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home." The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!" he said. "Since that's the case, let us invite in Wealth. Let him come in and fill our home with wealth!" His wife disagreed. "Why don't we invite Success?" Their daughter was listening from the corner of the room. She jumped in with her own suggestion. "Wouldn't it be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!" The wife agreed. "Then let us heed our daughter's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love in to be our guest." The woman went out and asked the three old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest." Love got up and started walking toward the house. Then the other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, "I only invited in Love, as you directed. Why are you all coming in?" The old men replied together, "If you had invited only Wealth or Success, the other two of us would have stayed. However, since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him, because wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!" --Unknown --- ...Aman! Thanks Jo Ann - often we forget "God Is Love" - He's all we need! He'll bring us to His son Jesus Christ and we'll be His forever more! God's Family! -<>- ,===,._ | `", | / ,-..-"-.=-,,_/ /,- \.""-`\ )_ \_ - '--' \ / 0 __0 7_/ |/ _ (__) \ /`| GOLDEN RULES! |/(@) |` _.-"\-; '. \ # \/ /'_.-" \ \ `)\ .="#,_ __ _,'` ;-'-.`) __`;.#/|/ \/ \. | /` # | () |\ _.-"`` | .--# |'--' `-`\|-'` \ / `)\ `./ \| '. | .-#\ \ \ \ `\__/# \ |_ /`-. /| / # \|`-` . ` } / .#-, | ; ,} / / # `' , .} / /`\ # _,-' //` `#_ ,--'{ (( _,;` { } jgs `""` / } { ,-'` } `-._ .' _,-``, `\ (_(_(_.' `-.__)_)/ >The Golden Rules for Living If you open it, close it. If you turn it on, turn it off. If you unlock it, lock it up. If you break it, admit it. If you can't fix it, call in someone who can. If you borrow it, return it. If you value it, take care of it. If you make a mess, clean it up. If you move it, put it back. If it belongs to someone else and you want to use it, get permission. If you don't know how to operate it, leave it alone. If it's none of your business, don't ask questions. It it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it will brighten someone's day, say it. --- ...Aww, love these Smile Thoughts! Thanks Jo Ann!! -<>- The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' -- for free (pink window in the middle). This does not cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate a mammogram in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site! Please pass it along to people you know. http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/ --- ...Thanks Jo Ann! ALSO For more Free Click to Donate Sites Scroll Down to the end of the HELPFUL Category here on the Fun Urls Site: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/urls.html Don't Forget to Click on the 'Donate Soup for Free' and enter the NFL giveaway from Campbells soup! And THE FEED THE HUNGRY FOR FREE Has 6 free causes to click! -<>- She also sent us a fun forward of one I agree is pretty cool and had done up before as a page here: Dirty Car Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/carart.html --- ...Thanks For The Neat Reminders Jo Ann!! =============================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: >A HEAVENLY PERSON By: Joseph J. Mazzella My new dog, Snoopy Girl is a morning person. She starts the day at full speed chasing her tail, the cats, and the other dogs. She wolfs down her breakfast with gusto before tearing down the hallway in search of new adventures. She says, "Good Morning" by taking a running leap up on the couch and giving anyone sitting there a shower of kisses. While she does all this I watch with awe, drink my orange juice, eat my oatmeal, and dream of going back to bed. I have often wondered how she has so much energy in the morning, but then I realized the simple truth the other day: she takes a lot more naps than I do. I know a few people, however, who go beyond being just a morning or an evening person. These people may get tired and need naps just like the rest of us, but even when their energy is low their love is still high. They are Heavenly persons. They care, they laugh, and they smile even through the worst pains and challenges. They face life without fear. They share love with no thought of reward. And they meet death with a faith and peace that passes all understanding. They give all their days here to bring Heaven closer to Earth. They spend their whole lives showing the rest of us how to live in love and oneness with God. The good news is that whether you are a morning person, an afternoon person, or an evening person you can be a Heavenly person too. You can choose love. You can choose joy. You can choose oneness with God every single day. You can share it all with everyone you meet. You can help to bring Heaven into the hearts, minds, and souls of others. You can help to make the world around you a better place morning, noon, and night. And even on those exhausting days when you stumble and fall you can rise up, dust yourself off, take your Heavenly Father’s hand, and begin again to live as a Child of Heaven even while you are here on Earth. -<>- This Pastor Has Guts: And may the Good Lord Bless his Ministries It seems prayer still upsets Some people. Please read.... When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open The new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting The usual generalities, but This Is What they heard; 'Heavenly Father, We come before You today To ask for your forgiveness and To seek your direction and Guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good' But That is exactly what we have done. We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium And reversed our values. We Have exploited the poor And called it the lottery. We have rewarded Laziness And called it welfare. We have killed Our unborn And called it choice. We have shot Abortionists And called it justifiable. We Have neglected to discipline our children And called it building self Esteem. We have abused Power And called it politics. We have coveted Our neighbor's Possessions And called it ambition. We have polluted The air with profanity and Pornography And called it Freedom of speech and Expression. We have Ridiculed the time Honored values of our Forefathers And called it Enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, And know our Hearts today; Cleanse us from Every sin And set us Free. Amen!' The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out During the prayer in Protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, Where Rev. Wright is pastor, Logged more than 5,000 phone calls With only 47 of those calls Responding negatively. The church is now Receiving international requests For copies of this prayer from India , Africa and Korea Commentator Paul Harvey aired This prayer on his radio Program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a Larger response to this program than Any other he has ever aired. With The Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our Nation and Wholeheartedly Become our desire so that we again can be called 'One Nation Under God.' If Possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends 'if you Don't stand for Something, you will fall for anything.' Think about this: If you Forward this prayer to everyone on your E-mail list, in less than 30 days it Would be heard by the world. How Many people in your address book will not receive this Prayer.....do you have The guts to pass it on? I just did! It is OK if some folks get it twice. -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment Massive Recoil Rifle http://www.buffaloschips.com/90916.htm Boogie http://www.buffaloschips.com/90917.htm Boom http://www.buffaloschips.com/90918.htm Border Patrol http://www.buffaloschips.com/90919.htm Boy and Labrador http://www.buffaloschips.com/90920.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ================================================================= >-->From HeartWarmers: BANSHEES AT 3 O'CLOCK by Joseph Walker I don't expect a lot from my home smoke detectors. I just want them to shriek like banshees when there's smoke in the air. I don't even mind if they do that when I burn the occasional burrito (close your eyes and sniff - you can probably still catch a whiff of last week's burnt bean and tortilla offering from wherever you are.) The way I see it, that's their job. But the rest of the time I just want them to sit there quietly attached to the ceiling, their little sensors sensing, their little LED lights glowing. I don't ask them to do anything else. They don't have to earn their keep. Ninety-nine-point-nine-nine-nine percent of the time I don't even want to know they're there. I just want them to be there -- and to be ready to go -- for that .001 percent of the time that they're needed. Unfortunately, I have smoke detectors that don't seem to understand this concept. Once in a while they will throw little "chirp" fits. Chirping is the electronic beeping sound they are supposed to make when their batteries need to be changed. That sound is supposed to go away when a new nine-volt is installed. But with my smoke detectors, a new battery just... ahem... energizes them (with any luck, I'll be getting a "product placement" check for that.) They keep chirping no matter how many times I press the "hush" button -- which evidently isn't a "hush" button after all. It's a "chirp louder and more often" button. And now they're starting to party. It first happened a few weeks ago when our 19-year-old daughter, Beth, was home alone. All of a sudden one smoke detector started shrieking, then another, then another, wailing like banshees for a few minutes, then stopping abruptly. This happened two or three times as Beth ran around the house looking for signs of fire. Then it stopped. I could live with that one isolated incident. It was, after all, in the middle of the day, and while it scared the daylights out of Beth, it didn't really impact... well, you know... me. But a couple of days ago at about 3am our banshee smoke detectors started partying again. You haven't lived until you've been awakened from a sound sleep by six or seven smoke detectors screaming and wailing. You don't know whether to pull the covers up over your head or to jump up and run from the room. I chose the latter, stumbling around the house, sniffing for smoke while trying to tell my heart that it was OK to stay inside my chest. The shrieking stopped before I could pinpoint the exact source, so I went back to bed. I was just getting back to sleep when it started all over again. This time my wife, Anita, and Beth joined me in the hall to search for the source of the problem (Jon, our 17-year-old, somehow managed to sleep through this. My theory is shrieking smoke detectors sound a lot like the thing that he calls "music" so in his dream world he just had to hit the snooze button and roll over.) This continued off and on for about an hour. By this time I had disconnected every smoke detector in the house and removed its battery. While a couple of them continued to chirp softly for a few minutes, the party was officially over. And now here it is, two days later, and those battery-less smoke detectors are still sitting on our kitchen counter. They are much quieter now, which is a good thing. But if, heaven forbid, we have a fire in our house in the middle of the night tonight, we're in trouble even though disabling the smoke detectors seemed like an awfully good idea at the time. We all find ourselves in intense situations like that, during which we make choices that may seem like a good idea -- but really aren't. I guess that's why it's important that when we recognize that we have chosen poorly, we correct the mistake as quickly as we can -- hopefully before we have to experience the full consequences of our bad decisions. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go pick up some nine-volt batteries. There are a few smoke detectors around here that need to be able to do what I expect them to do. Including occasional banshee-like shrieking. -- Joseph Walker ____________________________________________ Joe is a Heartwarmer Gem and is from Utah. ==================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Viv :) .-.*_, ."". ."". {*(,\}/___ .-"-, | ' | `;)@\*|" `", _.' \ \ / ."". ."". '((/; | .-' | '. .' | ' | *;-.=-=-=._ .;-, | ' \ / __;____..---/' -,\ ; _,__ '. .' .--';`_ __.-'` _/ / ,-..-" "-, ' / `;---'__0 \ .' /,- \. \-. | / (__) \ _.' \_ - - \ _.-,_ { |-'` / 0 __0 7_/ ({\*,;) \,'-`-' /' |/ (__) \ /*(@-'}) ___",_ __ __,;`.--, |/ |` \_,'-;}`.' `'."".,---.._, ) \ \/ /'_.-"/ _`) |`----'`( (= /`-._ .="-,_ __ _,'` / ', \ =";`--'\ '=. /| ()() __`;.____...-'\. | | /` / |\ '. ` | ()@()* /` ' | ,_/.=\ .; | | '. /-' -##@() | .--, `y-'`\ || '--'/| \ \ \`-` ##)@() \ / `) \ '.||_,.--'/ / / ) |/ *`(\A/)() '. | ,-' } || { |.'.| /_.'./ .-.* { >*< }*) `\__/ _..._| |/ { | (\A/) @(/V\)()@() /`--....--` . `} /{ \___{ >*< }()()##()()*{ { ; } { \ / ###(/V\)()@()(####\) { , } | `--.. ,' #########()()##### \ _,' { / <><><><><><><><><> `,_ ,--'{ \ | | } { } ; \ / jgs / } { \ | / ,-` } `-._ _.-'` { `-. .' _,-``, `\ .' } .`\ \(_(_.' `-.__)_)/ `.-' _.-'`'-._ \' `"""` `""""` This was written by an 83-year-old woman to her friend. Her last line says it all. Dear Bertha: I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving anything" - I'm using my good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first tulip blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties but wearing it for the clerks in the stores and tellers at the bank. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was - I'm just guessing; I'll never know. It's all those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly loved them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and luster to my life. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that this is another special day. Every day, every minute, every breath is truly a gift from God. -<>- >You want REAL Change? __ / \ /'. / | ||'.\| | || \\ / /\ __ \\ \\'```'-._ ; | /\ \ \'./` __ `D | _/ /\_| \ .__|' ` -.| | ,' \ \ .| - - | \____,..-` \ _Y_ __/ / / `---'"""` `\ \| . __.._/ | '-.__.-""``.-./ |\ | ( _.'` |\ || .-| `` || || | ; || // jgs '-'\ //` `"""""""""`"""""` "Changed to Bring Change" Bible reading: Acts 22: 1-16 One night a woman dreamed that she was having a conversation with God. She was angry about all the suffering and evil she saw around her, so she complained to the Lord, "Why don't you do something about all this?" God gently replied, "I did. I created you." God could send another flood, as He did in Noah's day, to cleanse away the wackiness of the world. He could; but He won't. He has promised never to do that again. (Genesis 9: 11). Instead He chooses to work through human beings like us, changing us to be used as His hands and His feet. It was the power of God that changed Paul's life, then used him to change the world around him. What about you? Have you been transformed by the power of Jesus Christ? Are you now serving Him to change the lives of the people around you? Let's ask God to work in our hearts and lives so that through us, He will bring about change in our families, our communities, and the world. Prayer is the key to change in ever aspect of our lives; don 't wait on others to do your job . -<>- Take a minute or two, relax with this page and feel better .... this is beautiful. ** He Will Be ** http://www.andiesisle.com/He-Will-Be.html -<>- __ _ / \_/ ) \ ` `\ ; a `-. | ) \ _..' /` <._._ / .'';_;'` \ Dear God .' : _/ / '. __..-` / | | \/\ \._ \ \ | ``--J \ | / \ | jgs \__.'-._____.' >GOD'S VOICE MAIL Most of us have now learned to live with voice mail as a necessary part of our lives. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if God decided to install voice mail? Imagine praying and hearing the following: Thank you for calling heaven. For English press 1 For Spanish press 2 For all other languages, press 3 Please select one of the following options: Press 1 for request Press 2 for thanksgiving Press 3 for complaints Press 4 for all others I am sorry, all our Angels are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us and we will answer it in the order it was received... Please stay on the line. If you would like to speak to: God, press 1 Jesus Christ, press 2 A Holy Angel, press 3 For reservations to heaven, please enter JOHN followed by the numbers, 3:16. For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, life and other planets, please hold.... If you need emergency assistance, press 0 and an angel will be with you as soon as possible - please be patient. Thank you and have a heavenly, Christ Filled Day! -<>- ___ .--. .--.-" "-' .- | / .-,` .' \ ` \ '. ! \ | ! .--. | \ '--' /.____ /`-. \__,'.' `\ __/ \`-.____.-' `\ / | `---`'-'._/-` \----' _ |,-'` / | _.-' `\ .' / |--'` / | / /\ ` | | | .\/ \ .--. __ \ | '-' '._ / `\ / jgs `\ ' |------'` \ | | \ / '._ _.' `` >Take A Child By The Hand Take a child by the hand, ..and show him the way. Lead a child each morning, into a beautiful day. Take a child by the mind, ..and give him the strength; to fight every challenge, ..and go to great lengths. Take a child by the soul, ..and let God be known; for it is by his mighty grace, that so big they have grown. Take a child by his sight, ..and show him wonders galore. Teach him curiosity ..and the need to explore. Take a child by his smile, .. so beautiful and sweet, and tell him of all the friends, .. he will make and meet. Take a child by his wonder ..of the life all around. Let him savor each flavor and hear each new sound. Take a child by his dreams and say it's alright, to follow those dreams .... as far as he might. Take a child by the heart and teach him to love, for there is no greater gift from our Creator above. And after your child has grown and alone he now stands. Watch and enjoy... as he takes his own children ...... by their hands. ~ Author Unknown -<>- /\,%,_ \%%%/,\ _.-"%%|//% .' .-" /%%% _.-'_.-" 0) \%%% /.\.' \%%% \ / _, %%% `"---"~`\ _,*'\%%' _,--""""-,%%, )*^ `""~~` \%%%, _/ \%%% _.-`/ |%%,___ _.-" / , , ,|%% .`\ /\ / / `\ \%' \ / \ \ _,/ /`~-._ _,`\ \`""~~` `"` /-.,_ /' `~"----"~ `\ \ jgs \___,' \.-"`/ `--' >WHISPER OF A CHILD'S LOVE A child's love is like a whisper, given in little ways we do not hear but if you listen closely it will be very clear. They often do not say it loud but in how they come to you... Daddy will you play with me? Mommy, tie my shoe? ...the many ways they tell you changes as they grow Dad I made the team today! Mom I've Got to go! Pop I need some money You see there's this girl at school... Mama I met a boy today and wow he is so cool! Dad, I've got something to tell you... I think she is the one. Mom, He asked me to marry him. Would you love him as your son? Dad I've got some news for you... It's gonna be a boy! Mom I'm kind of scared of this, yet I'm filled with joy! A child's love is like a whisper, given in little ways we do not hear but if you listen closely it will be very clear. They often do not say it loud but in how they come to you... Grandpa will you play with me? Grandma tie my shoe... It is never ending A blessing from above Listen to the whispers of a child's love. --- ...Nice ones! Thanks Viv! -<>- _,.---""----.,_ .-' __.----...---.; .' .' `'. / .' '. / / `'", `\ .'_,' ,"` `'. /,' .-. \ .' .-. /___\ ( . `, / .-' /___\ |_ | \ '. \ ;| / |_ | \_)_/ | \ \ /| | ; _\_)_/ ` , / | \ / | | / ___ ` .-~`````~-. ,=' | | | ; \ \ /.-' `-._ | /| | \ .'``''--' _.- `\ | .' \ | |; / ' _, \ |-`| | | || / / /_\ /_\ .-~``~-. | | | / || | | \(/ |(| | / | | || ,| | -~~` ;`| .---. | | | / || .-/ | | / .-~`~ \| ( '.| / ;--/ /| / / | \ | -t- | -~'-\ \ `--' `-..-` ; |/| / \ |`._ \ -~` / | \ / /\| | .--' `\ `._`._ / |-~` | / \/\ '.____,.-' `""`-._.' ~-. / / .' .' \ .--._.-'` .'`- _.' (.-' | ( , ',_.-'`"""` | \ \ .-' '-;---;..--' /,----.y | jgs | '. `.__,-' / | | | | |`-.,__, Y | | | | | == | =| | | |- ~ -. | | .- ~ -. | | | | | == | =|~ - ~` | | '~ - ~' | /.-.-.-\-.-\ | | | | | | `""""""`""""`/.-.-.-\-.\-.-.-.-\ /.-.-.-.-.-.\ `"""""""`""`-------' '------------' >THREE THINGS You Should NEVER FORGET... Three things in life that, once gone, never come back - 1. Time 2. Words 3. Opportunity =============================================== Three things in life that can destroy a person - 1. Anger 2. Pride 3. Unforgiveness =============================================== Three things in life that you should never lose- 1. Hope 2. Peace 3. Honesty =============================================== Three things in life that are most valuable - 1. Love 2. Family &Friends 3. Kindness =============================================== Three things in life that are never certain - 1. Fortune 2. Success 3. Dreams =============================================== Three things that make a person - 1. Commitment 2. Sincerity 3. Hard work =============================================== Three things that are truly constant - Father - Son - Holy Spirit =============================================== I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today; to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way. God's love is always with you, God's promises are true. And when you give God all your cares, you know God will see you through. -<>- ________________________ / ___ ___ '. |\ .-------|:::/:::|--------; | | |:::|:::| | |\|_ ___ _|:::/:::| __ ____| | __ ___""" """_ ____ __`\ | |\##\\###\\##\\###\\##\\### \ \ \ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ |\ \||||||||||||||||||||||||||_| | | ;"""""""""""""""""""""""";"| | | |"""""".----------.""""""| | | | | |\ \ | | | | | |-----|\\___________\-| | | jgs | | | | |---------- | \ | | `\| | | | | | `| | \_| | | `\| >No Admittance Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and the spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the piano, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right hand reached around the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transferred a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized. That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. With the hand of God, our life's work truly can be beautiful. So the next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully and you can hear the voice of God whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are playing the concerto of your life. Remember, God doesn't call the equipped; he equips the called. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. Don't Quit - Keep Playing -Author Unknown --- ...Awww, Thanks Viv! A great reminder to this one... Never Give Up: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html And This one... The Love Of God: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/loveofgod.html -<>- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / B I B L E jgs ((______| / `"""""""` >Did you know that as Christians we are the world's Bible? Our Bible reading is the same as our last devotion. (Acts 22: 1-16) Paul saw the light, when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Not only did he see a bright light; but, he saw the light of the Gospel as well. What he didn't understand before, he understood now. It changed his whole life. He no longer persecuted Christians, instead he won them for the Lord. We saw the light when we met Jesus, our eyes were opened too, opened to the truths of God's Word, and a Big change took place in our lives. We no longer had any desire to do or be involved in the things of the world. Old things passed away, old desires of the flesh were no longer there, all things became new. Now we strive to live a pure and holy life like Jesus commanded us to do, to the best of our ability. We have often heard it said, we are the only Bible that the world will ever read and this is so true. If they see us doing wrong things or hear us saying wrong things, the first thing they will say (and it's been said to me lots of times), the church is full of hypocrites. (And they are partly right, because there are hypocrites in every Church.) My prayer is; Help me Lord to live so close to you that others will say, "Hey, I want what she has, there's something in her that is different." Lord "love through me, touch through me, I will be my brother's/sister's keeper, touch, & love through me. There are s-o-o-o many hurting lives out there and I want to be your hands, (to help them), your feet (to go where they are) (lovely or unlovely in the eyes of the world, you love them all), your tongue (to bring them love, hope & encouragement to face another day). Change me Lord and use me to change the lives of my family, friends and everyone that I come in contact with every day. I n the Name of Jesus Christ. --- ...Aman! Thank you Viv - this reminds me of these: 2 Corinthians 3:2: "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:" The Bible http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thebible.html It is why we need to renew our minds to be more Christ like as people do look to us and it is our key to power! The Renewed Mind http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/renewedmind.html =============================================================== >-->From HeartWarmers: _______________________ |jgs |h_ __ | ||=|##L_ |________________.====._||_|__._] `(_)(_)` `(_)(_)"""="=(_) THE BIG RIG by Debi Bartow My husband Tom, is a truck driver. He usually leaves on Sundays and returns home on Thursdays or Fridays. Of course, that leaves me to be mom and dad for five days a week. We have 5 children. Dee and Rob are raising families of their own. That leaves three boys -- ages 17, 10 and 7 at home with me. I have great kids. Even a good teenager! I know I am very lucky but there is always something to either referee, bandage, taxi, cook, clean or hand out money for. Tom feels guilty because he misses so much. I think, "Wow! To be away from all the turmoil at home..." So, for some unknown reason, he decided to take pity on me and have me "go on the road" with him. Five days away from the kids knowing they are safe and sound with my mother and sister sounded great to me! We started out on Sunday morning. I was missing the kids before we traveled through three counties! Tom was already second-guessing having me with him. But we were going to have five days to spend some real quality time together -- some really deep conversation without being interrupted by any children. Geeze, I couldn't remember the last time we were THIS alone! The air conditioning was freezing me to the point that I was wearing a sweatshirt when it was 90 some degrees outside. I started to become worried. I wondered if my mother and Aunt Bobbi were watching the kids while they were swimming. Did they eat lunch? I had to call them. "We've only been gone three hours. We haven't even left Ohio yet," he growls at me. After the phone call, I was assured that my children were having a wonderful time, especially since they were doing things I would never allow. My husband is an excellent driver and I know I'm safe with him. But then it happened. A car with a nice looking man in a suit decides he's going to cut right in front of our semi. I brake on my side and Tom laughs. Now I realize I have to pay attention because people are not being very courteous. I am shocked at how people are driving. Tom explains to me that this is rush hour. Not a big deal. Well, it may very well be no big deal to him but I'm about to have a fit. "Look at that woman! What is she thinking? They have kids in that van!" Or, "That guy must be drunk! What is he thinking?" I seemed to be keeping Tom amused. We drove for ten hours before we stopped at a hotel where the nice elderly lady waiting to check us in knew Tom when he opened the door. By 6am, we were back on the road. It was really nice being in the rig that early. By the end of our second day of "togetherness" I had no idea how Tom could do this week in and week out. Not the togetherness -- the driving! How could he do this when there are so many crazy people being issued a drivers license? I was stressed out and biting my nails. Tom and I traveled through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama before we started to head back to Ohio. I saw some of the most beautiful states. Some of the most beautiful skies. Some of the most beautiful homes. Even a few lightening storms. If I had not been married to a truck driver, I would never have had the pleasure of visiting those places. I am thankful we returned home to my boys safely. I had no idea how we did that considering the way some people were treating his big rig as if it were a matchbox car. People are gutsy. I swear people have no notion of what a flip of the bumper could do to one of those cars! It takes a bit more time for a Semi tractor-trailer to slow then it does for a Toyota. I wish people would realize that. Yes, I know there are some rude semi drivers but after spending those few days "on the road", I believe there a far more rude automobile drivers then there are semi drivers. So the next time you're out driving and you decide to pass that semi, make sure you have room to pull back in. In feet, not inches. Show a little courtesy for the trucks and their drivers. They are someone's mom or dad, sister or brother. They'd like them to return home safely to them. Meanwhile, I think being at home with the boys is the PERFECT place for me to be! -- Debi Bartow ___________________________________________ Debi says, "My baby sister Bobbi is home from Germany for the birth of her first child. She, along with my mother, are now living with us. It seems as soon as one grows up and moves out someone else moves in. Now that's another story!" ======================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Lorraine :) `;.`;'. `;);.(~;(`; `(;);;;;;);(::` ;)(; ; ;;~;;;(; `(`;;~- -~(;~;)`) ;(`;) ' ;);;; ; `;);;(;`\ ^_/(;)~;;); (;);.;) ':);( ..(; `'((;); )(.');`: ;.' );("'(""/; ;`.) | | / / \ \;);: | |/ /WwW\ \;`' \ /) .X.\ \ \_/ .X. \_/ TS >BEFORE YOU CAN DRY ANOTHER'S TEARS - YOU TOO MUST WEEP!!!!!! Let me not live a life that's free from "The Things" that draw me close to Thee - For How can I ever hope to heal the wounds of others I do not feel - If my eyes are dry and I never weep - How do I know when the hurt is deep - If my heart is cold and it never bleeds, How can I tell what my brother needs - For when my ears are deaf to the beggar's plea And we close our eyes and refuse to see - And we steel our hearts and harden our mind, And we count it a weakness whenever we're kind - We are no longer following THE FATHER'S WAY or seeking His guidance from day to day - For, without "crosses to carry" and "burdens to bear", we dance through a life that is frothy and fair - And "chasing the rainbow" we have no desire for "roads that are rough" and "realms that are higher" - So spare me no heartache or sorrow, dear Lord - For the heart that is hurt reaps the richest reward, - and God enters the heart that is broken with sorrow - As He opens the door to a - BRIGHTER TOMORROW, For only through tears can we recognize The suffering that lies in another's eyes--- by: Helen Steiner Rice --- ...Excellent! Thanks Bunches Lorraine! ================================================================= "The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels." -- Hazrat Inayat Khan >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales & SService You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. Please phone us at 419-238-5806 ************************************************************************ -->This is for all you who love food and DDARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. 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