Every Day I Live ... :) 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 ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ()_()()_() / ..)(.. \ __/ ( || ) \_ (_/ * * (_) ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ | | | || | | | \_/| \__/ | | > \ / <__,--,__|/|_> unknown *~* WE NEED MORE 2009 CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2009 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) We could all use a little bit of smiles these days! ..::''''::.. .:::. .;'' ``;. .... ::::: :: :: :: :: ,;' .;: () ..: `:::' :: :: :: :: ::. ..:,:;.,:;. . :: .::::. `:' :: .:' :: :: `:. :: '''::, :: :: :: `:: :: ;: .:: : :: : : :: ,:'; ::; :: :: :: :: :: ::,::''. . :: `:. .:' :: `:,,,,;;' ,;; ,;;, ;;, ,;;, ,;;, `:,,,,:' :;: `;..``::::''..;' ``::,,,,::'' Each of these is very special and sure to warm your heart! One Of Those Days http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/days.html Signs Of A Bad Day http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/badday.html Says It All http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/saysitall.html We've All Been There http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catbox.html Kid Lessons http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kidlessons.html Also Check Out These Great Teachings... . | , \ _---_ / -_ .' `. _- __ : .---. : __ : \ / : -" `. | | .' "- / |`-'| \ ' ]"-_[ ` ]"-_[ Ojo 98 "*" THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD The counsel of the Lord is what we should seek every day, yet many do not. We devise our own plans, our own ideas of what we must do. Yet the Word tells us that it is the counsel of the Lord that will stand. Our own devices will fail. http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/counselofthelord.html Our Valuable ANCHOR http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html Be Ye Thankful http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/beyethankful.html ABRAHAM -- A Case Study in Believing http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/abraham.html ======================================================================= ____ 3 _ ., _ ' `_ _______ ( ) --+-[---------.---(-)-----(@)----|--------|--.-----|-------------.-------|~-- | ] | |~ |~ (@) _ | | |} | | --+-[-----|---+---|-------|--|--(@)----------+-----|----------|}-+---|---|--- |/ | | | | | |~ (@) _ | | _| .. | | | | --Y-------|---+---|-------|--|--|---|----(@)-+-|>( )------|---|--+---|------- /|_ _| | `=_| | | |~ | ~ |>(@) | _| |-@-)---(@)---+-----------------|---|---|---+-------------------+-(@)------- \_|/ ~ | | | | | ~ --+-----------"--------------------------|---"-------------------"----------- | ._} --jw >-->From Heartwarmers: >DEVOUT GROBANITE by Debra Easterling Ask anyone. I'm a true Grobanite. I own Josh Groban t-shirts, book bags, cups, and every CD Josh Groban ever made. His smooth and sexy baritone voice sends my romantically deprived heart into a swooning frenzy. You can imagine how, when my boss presented me with tickets to Josh's concert, I had no choice but kiss him square on the lips. There were only two tickets, but the choice for a companion was easy. My twenty-something son, Dale, introduced me to Josh's music and was almost as big of a fan. Dale tried to make the night special by first taking me to an elegant dinner. I had the Big Mac, he had a double quarter pounder. We left early, but four exits from the auditorium the freeway was at a stand still. It took us an hour to get onto the road leading to the auditorium and another hour to find a place to park. When we finally did, Dale grabbed me by the hand, and literally dragged me through the streets and up the auditorium stairs. The entire population of beautiful people was there, all dressed to the nines and smelling like money. We were so shoved together, I was able to count the skin cells on the arm of the man in front of me. Elbows attacked me from every direction. My toes became a stomping ground. Then the inner doors opened and the crowd began to move en masse. I lost track of my son. I began to panic. I squeezed my way toward one side of the hallway. My cries for Dale disappeared among the clatter. I was just about to fight my way through the crowd again, when I felt a strong pull on my arm. There was Dale, looking devastatingly handsome, smiling with childish delight. "You ok? Sorry, Mom, I forgot how short you were." He offered me his arm. "Come on, hold on tight." I clung to him like a lifeline as he led me through the crowd. I was still clinging when an usherette asked for our tickets and directed us to seats six miles up. Having an abnormal fear of heights, I secretly cursed my boss, but then Dale wrapped his arm around me and stopped my shaking. His smile was so tender it made me feel like warm butter inside. As we climbed, he kept my mind busy with conversations about Josh Groban. There were large screens on both sides of the stage. When the curly mop head finally appeared, I was able to see him clear as day. Unlike most live concerts, Josh's music was just as smooth and in key as if he were in a recording studio. Every note was a symphony. He sang every song I loved and a couple I never heard before. It was so worth the nose bleed, the crowds, the traffic, and my boss. I was in love. After the concert, knowing the traffic would keep us there for hours, Dale and I leisurely strolled back to the car. He kept my hand within the crook of his arm while he shared his dreams and ambitions with me. He told me how he felt ready to go off on his own. He had been accepted to the University of Florida and would begin his career in film production, promising to make a movie fit for Josh Groban. His smile was brighter than the flood lamps in the lot. I couldn't help but get caught up in the enthusiasm he always shared for the theater and show business. He lived for it. As I think back about that night, I recall Josh Groban was in true form and it was the most perfect concert ever. I recall loving the music, but for the life of me, I can't seem to remember much of the concert itself. What I DO remember is the enthusiasm in Dale's voice, his warm hugs and that ever-captivating smile. I'm still a devout Grobanite, but I'll be the head of the Daleites for life. -- Debra Easterling ______________________________________________ Debra lives in the Orlando area and is the mother of eight, grandmother of five, and wife of one. Her last short story, Ben and Jake, was recently published with Heartwarmers. She is currently working on getting her four novels published. You can read Josh Groban's fascinating biography here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Groban ====================================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: __ (_.J | L.--. @@@@@@@@// J ) - . q@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@//`L-' J " - . q@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@// ,' _____eeeeeeeeep " - q@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@//=`-.--'' / /d888p : q@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@//@@! / //88p . =@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@//@@@ / //8p . =@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@\\@@! /_______//p . =@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@\\@ L______L/ . =@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@\\ . _=@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@\\ . _=@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@! \\ . _=@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ kth =======||==================================================== =======||==================================================== L_/ >SOMEBODY LOVES YOU By: Joseph J. Mazzella When my children were young I used to read to them every evening before bed. One of their favorite stories was called, "Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch." Mr. Hatch was a lonely man living a lonely life. He never smiled. He walked alone to work everyday and ate his lunch alone in a corner. He never talked to anyone on his way home either. In the evening he would buy a newspaper, read it after supper, and go to bed early. His life changed, however, on Valentine’s Day when he got a heart shaped box in the mail full of candy and a note that said, "Somebody loves you." At first he couldn't believe it but as he let the message sink in he began to laugh and dance around. That single message had opened his heart to the power of love. Soon he found himself sharing his smile and laughter with others. He became a joy at work and began to help out people in the neighborhood. As the days and weeks went by his laughter, smiles, kindness, caring, happiness and love touched the hearts of everyone in his community. Later Mr. Hatch found out that the candy heart had been delivered to him by mistake. He felt crushed and began again to withdraw from the world. When his neighbors found out, however, they were determined not to lose the light he shared. They surprised him with a party and a huge banner that read: "Everybody Loves Mr. Hatch." Mr. Hatch cried when he realized that somebody loved him after all. Then he laughed, smiled, and rejoined his friends. I think that we all have a tiny bit of Mr. Hatch in us. At times we all feel unloved and unlovable. Somebody does love us, though. God loves us. He loves us with a powerful, unconditional, and life-changing love and He wants us to love each other as well. It is what we are here for. It is what we were meant for. May the pages of your life story be full of love then -<>- .-'''''-. |'-----'| /`-.....-`\ | <_} | | .-\-. | _,._ | /# ` \ | __.-` `"""-. | \ / | ..--' `"-. `)_,._ \ '-'-' / (` )--.-"``` `"-.`'-----'` '-----------' ( ) jgs `-------------` >It's What You Scatter I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. 'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good..' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 'Fine.. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' th em peas.' 'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.' 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.' Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.' I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in th e casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes... Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller.. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color o size....they came to pay their debt.' 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho .. ' With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles. The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath. -<>- /"""""/""""""". / / \ __ / / \ || /____ / \ || | | In Loving | || | | Memory | || | | | || | | 3/4/25-2/9/98 | || | | * * * * | _||_ | | *\/* *\/* | | TT | | | *_\_ / ...""""""| || |.""....""""""""."" | | \/.."""""..."""\ || /.""".......""""... | |...."""""""........""""""^^^^"......."""""""".." |......"""""""""""""""........"""""...."""""..""-Ray W. >CONNIE By: Joseph J. Mazzella Is it possible to mourn someone you’ve never even met? Is it possible to cry for someone you have never even seen? My friend Connie passed away recently. She was just 68 years old. I had never met her face to face or even seen her picture. I had never heard her voice on the phone. I had never had the chance to give her a hug. She and her husband Charlie lived several states away from me and we never were able to visit each other although we had hoped to one day. Connie and Charlie ran a newsletter about angel stories online and wrote me an e-mail once asking to use one of my articles. I agreed and with most people that would have been the end of it. Connie, however, had a joyous, youthful, laughing, loving, and playful spirit that found its way into everything from her marriage, to her friendships, to her work, and even to her letters. She and Charlie then quickly became my online friends. Soon they were sharing my writings with their readers every month. With each thing I wrote and shared I would get a letter of encouragement from Connie and Charlie. They were a gift sent by God above and I cherished their friendship. They touched my heart, uplifted my spirits, lightened my soul, and helped me to be a better person with just their simple e-mails. When their e-mail address stopped working a few weeks ago I feared that their old computer had crashed. Sadly, it was something far worse. Connie has now passed into paradise, but the pain and loss lingers on for Charlie and all of us who knew her. Her love, her joy, and her light will outlast the pain, though. It will live on in all of us who knew her, forever. Is it possible to mourn someone you’ve never even met? Is it possible to cry for someone you have never even seen? Yes it is. God bless you, Connie. Thank you so much for blessing all of us with your life. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Get out of my bed cat http://www.buffaloschips.com/0106.htm GGG music video http://www.buffaloschips.com/0107.htm Girls scout cookie money http://www.buffaloschips.com/0108.htm Girl Vs desert Eagle http://www.buffaloschips.com/gjuki.htm Global Warming and the Classroom http://www.buffaloschips.com/gjiuk.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ==================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Viv :) [POLITICS] ___________ .;---------./| // S O A P // | |'---------'| / jgs | | / '-----------'` >A Letter from Procter & Gamble Exec to Obama Please read, even if you are an Obama fan. It is legitimate, written by respected, Lou Prichett, formerly of Proctor and Gamble. Lou Pritchett is one of corporate America 's true living legends- an acclaimed author, dynamic teacher and one of the world's highest rated speakers. Successful corporate executives everywhere recognize him as the foremost leader in change management. Lou changed the way America does business by creating an audacious concept that came to be known as "partnering." Pritchett rose from soap salesman to Vice-President, Sales and Customer Development for Procter and Gamble and over the course of 36 years, made corporate history. ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _______ AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA _____ _____________________ | ,-. | | | |((#))| | ejm | |_`-'_| | \ | | )\ | | `\ | | (\ | | \\ | | \\ | | \\ | | \\ | | \\ | | \\ | |___________________\\| \\ \, Dear President Obama: You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me. You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you. You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support. You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American. You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll. You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don't understand it at its core. You scare me because you lack humility and 'class', always blaming others. You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail. You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the 'blame America' crowd and deliver this message abroad. You scare me because you want to change America to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector. You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one. You scare me because you prefer 'wind mills' to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves. You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world. You scare me because you have begun to use 'extortion' tactics against certain banks and corporations. You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals. You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people. You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient. You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do. You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Relllys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view. You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing. Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years. Lou Pritchett TRUE - CHECK: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/youscareme.asp This letter was sent to the NY Times but they never acknowledged it. Big surprise! Since it hit the internet, however, it has had over 500,000 hits. Keep it going. All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing. It's happening right now. --- ...Wow! This letter is very impressive! Thank You Viv! He pretty well says what all of us are feeling. We have a president we are very unsure of. ============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jo Ann :) ,-===-. ,-. /=,(o).=\ \ /==|o_0|==\ \(===\ - /===) \`=.=|J|=,=',-. X `=' `=' X |\ / \ / \ | \ / /|\`x'/|\ \`--' ( `""`-'_`-'""' ) `--T""\ ""T--' ] \ [ Ojo98 [""-o\""] Meg Aaton! >Sermon from a church in Virginia recently. Gen 47: 13-27 Good morning, brothers and sisters; it's always a delight to see the pews crowded on Sunday morning, and so eager to get into God's Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will, to the 47th chapter of Genesis; we'll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27. Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us?... Genesis 47 13: And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. 14: And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15: And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. 16: And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. 17: And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18: When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: 19: Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20: And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. 21: And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22: Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. 23: Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24: And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25: And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. 26: And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's. 27: And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray.. So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt, and the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built. So the people brought their money to Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their money ran out, and they were hungry again. So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their livestock - their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey - to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only took them through the end of that year. But the famine wasn't over, was it? So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. "There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh." So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real estate to Pharaoh's government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain. What can we learn from this, brothers and sisters? That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery? Yes. That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master? Yes. But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters! Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly." God provided for His people, just as He always has! They didn't end up giving all their possessions to the government, no, it says they gained possessions! But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one. We see the same thing happening today - the government today wants to "share the wealth" once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us. It wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us, and when government rations it, then government decides who gets it, and how much, and what kind. And if we go along with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years ago - as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders. What Mr. Obama's government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh's government did then, and it will end the same.. And a lot of people like to call Mr. Obama a "Messiah," don't they? Is he a Messiah? A savior? Didn't the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, "You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh"? Well, I tell you this - I know the Messiah; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. Obama is no Messiah! No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh. Bow with me in prayer, if you will. Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, and we rely on You, and You alone. We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never rightly will be. We read in the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says "And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to you because of the ruler that we have chosen for ourselves as a nation..Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for deliverance from those who would be our masters. Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of this "Pharaoh's" government. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen --- ...Amen! Thank you Jo Ann. My high school student history teacher would be proud of you. He was the only person I ever knew that got excited over history. Why say you? He said he loved it because it predicted the future. History said he, always repeats itself. Of course, he showed us how in boring non-biblical history - now here is a real history lesson that I can get excited about! Cool! Oh, yeah - whoops - I forgot to warn on this being [POLITICS]. ================================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Humiliation or Humility? I was half-way through facilitating an intensive 34-week Bible study class. One day I received a phone call from one of the men in the class. Immediately following my "hello," he proceeded to tell me everything I had done wrong as a facilitator. "You are arrogant and incompetent. You think you know everything, when in reality you know very little. I can't imagine why the church allows you to teach this class, or why you are even allowed to remain on the staff! I will not be back to your class!" He continued for several minutes. Then, without giving me an opportunity to respond, he hung up the phone. I sat in stunned silence. I felt devastated, wounded, and shaken. I was caught completely off guard! Until his call, I felt the class was going well. The members were committed in their work and attendance. They had been studying and sharing on a deep level. We were experiencing transformation personally and as a group. I could not imagine what had prompted the angry monologue on the phone. I went home that day, unable to shake the feelings of humiliation and failure. I tried rationalizing the situation based on my perception of the man's personality. He was, after all, critical of many things in the church. He was a "recovering" alcoholic. He had been married and divorced a number of times, and was even now estranged from most of his family. Therefore, maybe I didn't have to put much stock in his criticism! But the phone call continued to nag at me. I had always been overly sensitive to criticism. I found myself asking, "How will I deal with this? What if there is truth in what he is saying? Am I supposed to learn something here?" As I began to ponder and pray, I engaged in a conversation with God. "Okay, God, I now know what humiliation is. But it sounds like humility is what I really need. So how do I go about getting this humility thing?" I can still remember where I was standing when God's answer came, crystal clear, into my mind. "Do not seek after humility, for it will forever elude you. Instead, seek My face. Only then can you find humility, and what's more, you won't even be aware of it. But others will be." Humility is one of those funny things. Once you think you have it, you can be assured that you don't! True humility only comes as we seek the face of God, and seek to have His mind, heart, and motives in all we do. One definition of humiliation is "to lower the pride of." Humility, on the other hand, is defined as "humbleness of mind." We can move from the humiliation of having our pride lowered to humility when we recognize our short-comings and are willing to face our situation again with pure motives. Our relationships at work and at home will benefit when we are truly humble as Christ was humble. By Judi Mayne © 2001-2006 H.E. Butt Foundation. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from www.laitylodge.org and www.thehighcalling.org. as seen in Women's Ministries ================================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >A ROCK-SOLID FOUNDATION "No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 3:11 As Christians we can become so preoccupied with our earthly affairs that we shift our confidence from Jesus Christ to faith in our own intellect. Then something happens to shake the foundation on which we had been building. Phillip E. Johnson, a gifted lawyer & primary spokesman for the Intelligent Design movement, suffered a stroke & was likely to have another. Plagued by frightening thoughts during those first few days after his stroke, he was profoundly touched when a friend came & sang, "On Christ, the solid rock, I stand - all other ground is sinking sand." Johnson writes, "What was the solid rock on which I stood? I had always prided myself on being self-reliant, and my brain was what I had relied on. Now the self with its brain was exposed as the shaky instrument it had always been. I was a Christian, even an ardent one in my worldly fashion, but now all the smoke was blown away, & I saw Truth close up." He resolved to keep Jesus at the center of his life & is now a different man. How quickly we rely on our intellect & reasoning, only to find that it is a "shaky instrument." Let's never forget that Jesus is the only rock-solid foundation of truth on which we can always depend. "Our hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood & righteousness; We dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand" -Words by Edward Mote. circa 1834 -<>- >GETTING UP WHEN YOU'RE FEELING DOWN ###### ########## ###### _\_ ##===----[.].] #( , _\ # )\__| \ / `-._``-' >@ | | | | | | | dp/VK | | | Do you ever feel blah? Ever wish you had a permanent "picker-upper"? If so, this may be for you. In the 1920s, if you were looking for a little pick-me-up with your mid-afternoon snack, you might have reached for a cold, refreshing glass of 7-Up. Well, it wasn't called 7-Up back then, it was called "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda." (Say THAT three times fast!) Inventor C. L. Griggs' original recipe included the antidepressant lithium until the 1940s as a "picker-upper" (www.cadburyschweppes.com). The original Coca-Cola formula also included a "picker-upper" -- cocaine. Today, people not suffering from serious depression understand that they usually don't need mood-altering drugs to cope with daily life. But most folks struggle with bouts of mild depression, despondency or "the blahs" from time to time. How do you pick yourself up when you're feeling down, without the aid of Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon- Lime Soda? I hope I'm not telling you anything new when I say that talking about the reasons you're down, making needed changes, watching your diet, getting enough exercise and sleep, developing a positive mental outlook and utilizing spiritual resources are all important pieces of our emotional puzzles. But one important strategy for feeling better (and one that's LEAST used) is as important as the rest. It is helping others in need. * Visit a shut-in neighbor. * Write a letter. * Call a friend who has been struggling. * Volunteer at church, synagogue or the local food pantry. * Rake someone's leaves. * Bake homemade bread for a new neighbor. * Wash your spouse's car. * Volunteer to baby-sit for a young mother. * Plan an unexpected act of kindness. * Give a gift for no reason at all. The needs are abundant, and those who put aside some regular time to do something kind for others will often forget they were feeling low. Why does is work? I don't know … it just does. Reach out and lift somebody else up and for some wondrous and magical reason, you lift yourself up, too. Corrie Ten Boom beautifully said, "The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation." And if you've been feeling low, the best time to donate a piece of yourself is now. -- Steve Goodier as seen in Life Support -<>- _= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =_ ~= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =~ = = " Sharks in a = = Goldfish Bowl " = ~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ = = \. |\ = = \`.___---~~ ~~~--__ __ = = //~~----___ (_c_nn~~~ ><_o> __ = = ' |/' ><_o> = = o = = o O = = . o /| ./ = = <>< . __--~~~ ~~---___.`/ = = <>< ~~~mm_e_) ___----~~\\ = = `\| ' = = = = , . . = = _\(l/.-==---.__.. _ = = = =_= = = = = = = = = =_= -cfbd- ~= = = = = = = = = =~ >GET OUT OF THAT PUDDLE! [Jesus said:] "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." --Acts 1:8 In his book, Pastoral Renewal, Charles Simpson wrote: "I met a young man not long ago who dives for exotic fish for aquariums. He said one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. "He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet. "That also happens to some Christians. I've seen the cutest little six-inch Christians who swim around in a little puddle. But if you put them into a larger arena--into the whole creation--only then can they become great." Jesus commanded all believers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything [he has] commanded" (Matthew 28:19-20). There is no room to grow inside the walls of a Sunday School classroom, church building, or your own home. We have been called to go outside of those walls and reach out to the lost world that needs to know Jesus. Get involved in doing missions and evangelism in your neighborhood, city, or state through your church, local seniors group, or Bible study class. If you are physically unable to get involved, become a prayer warrior for the cause of Christ. Your prayers are needed both on and off the mission field. Get out of the puddle you've been swimming in, and take your faith to a larger arena--the world. PRAYER CHALLENGE: Pray that God would open the doors for you to reach out to those who are lost in your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. as seen in Daily Living For Seniors To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ============================================================ >-->EVERY DAY I LIVE (, _ /| {())/ | ,)_,,((( / `___ ))| ` , / `, /`-- '\ \` `.` \| \| ejm _;_) _;_) -'-'- -'-'- Every day I live I see How great the world God made for me. \(,%%*%,_ -%*%%,)/ %%/*( /) /) )*\%% %% )\| (/ (/ |/( %% _/ #) __/') ('\__ (# \_ .) ,/ _/ / \ \_ \, (. /)#(_,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,\,((,,,,,,,)),/,_)#(\ b'ger The ever changing seas and skies, The birds and all the butterflies. \ i. / s / \ \ / / .n' | a |_.-._ / / / .-' `-. --._ / / | / \-.__' `. | ( | | _ \ _ .-. \ | `-.-' | .-' '-. | ' `-. ( )_ | `-._ \ ( | \ / \ `-' `. `--. \ ) \ \`-' / | .' \ .- '-.| `-._.-' \ / \ | / \ . `._.-' | | / | | ' / | (_/ | `-._ _.' \ //\ .| `--' \" \ '\ \___/)_ | | ` \_ \` , \ \ (\ .o-`-o | \__ _______,-'\` \ ( | | | \\ | [nabis] b "" \ The rainbow high above the trees, Just to think, God gave me these. , /), (( -.((_)) _,) ,\`.'_ _`-',' `.> <> <> (,- ,', | `._,) (( ) |, (`--' `'( ) _--_,-.\ SSt /,' \( ) `' (( `\ He made the rows of yellow corn, The sunrise on a winter morn, o \ o `. o o o o \ ` -. .-.-. .---. .-.,-.,-. ..-. / )| | `'____\' o _____\|| ` `' | |-._--.| |----.| | o |o ||-.| ||,-. || | o o | ||_|| |/ oo\ || | | || || C ._)o || | o o| || ||o|\`-/ || | ,. o | ||_|| ,'\,\ || | _\('') | ||o||/\ \ .: o|| | (; .) | || |( \_\||___|| | _,.(|___)-. | o||_|||`-`,\)----' | o o | | ||..|.| o _ |-. _.-. `.-.|._|_.-:|__|_|-.-' `-'.__ o o '--`-` o - SSt Frosty windowpanes that glow Reflecting light upon the snow. \ ,'|`-. / \,' _|_ ',' /'.' | `,' \ -._/_/_'.|,'_\__\_,- | | ,-*." | | ___|,+' /|\`.| | \ \/ | \/`. |___ \ /`.|,'\ / Y. | \/ | `.|_,' | | __ | __\|,- ,-`=--. Ool /=8\ Spider webs outlined in dew, The dear Lord even made these, too. | | | |. ! "| .-'! I | P I ;__| I ||'' scc, I )\=( _ } s&D .I- ;_\-=\ L sc |IT \',_\__7 &s |I| //\'.---..)s& |I|//_ \\ \ (_ LI|-----|/ \.' '-.______ {ID :' |} / '..'-- .;___.-,_ "| Y | .: \ , /_,.--'=--' | | / | / ;. ':.' |: |_/ |; : ::_/ |' / |I |___/ |-| '' | ) | | | / | | |; snd __|_|_ __ |/> ( _'---'__) |( '~~~~~~~' " The world is full of everything Man needs to cause his heart to sing. _ _(_)_ wWWWw _ @@@@ (_)@(_) vVVVv _ @@@@ (___) _(_)_ @@()@@ wWWWw (_)\ (___) _(_)_ @@()@@ Y (_)@(_) @@@@ (___) `|/ Y (_)@(_) @@@@ \|/ (_)\ / Y \| \|/ /(_) \| |/ | \ | \ |/ | / \ | / \|/ |/ \| \|/ jgs|// \\|/// \\\|//\\\|/// \|/// \\\|// \\|// \\\|// ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Every day I live I find Beauty of a different kind, _ /_) (8_))}- . \_) '. .--. . , .-.-,_, : '. .' )`-.>'` ( '---'`; / `\ | . | | | _.' \ / / .' `=(\ /.=` ' `-;`.-' '._ `)| , ` ' ' ' ' ' || .-'| ,_|| \_,/ , \|| .' |\|\ , ||/ ,_\` |/| |Y_, '-.'-._\||/ >_.-`Y| ` ,_|| \|| || jgs || |/ For God, it's very plain to see, Outdid Himself for you and me. ~ Author Unknown ~ ---> Visit my CyberHome - ALWAYS OPEN HOOUSE :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/index.html Shangrala ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food andd DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR Send a BLANK email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************