For The Joy... :) 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 *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ *~* Our Hearts And Prayers Go Out To All Those Affected by The horrific Acts of Cowards in Brussels! May God Bless them And Help Them Through This Most Trying Time In Christ's Name! -<>- >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This super hot new page is from our friends Bunni and Linda. It is sure to give plenty of ooos and awws along with some ideas for your garden this year. Check it out here... .-^-. .'=^=^='. /=^=^=^=^=\ .-~-. :^= HAPPY =^; .'~~*~~'.|^ EASTER! ^| /~~*~~~*~~\^=^=^=^=^=^: :~*~~~*~~~*~;\.-*))`*-,/ |~~~*~~~*~~|/* ((* *'. :~*~~~*~~~*| *)) * *\ \~~*~~~*~~| * ((* * / `.~~*~~.' \ *)) * .' jgs `~~~` '-.((*_.-' _ _ @@@@ _{ ' }_ .oOOo. @@()@@ { `.!.` } OO()OO @@@@ _ ',_/Y\_,' 'OOOO',,,(\|/ _(_)_ {_,_} _ \/{{}}}\| (_)@(_) | ,,, _(_)_| ~Y~ wWWWw(_)\ (\| {{{}} (_)#(_) \| (___) | \| /~Y~ \/(_) |/ |/ \\Y // \|/ |//\|/ ^jgs^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Beautiful Spilling Flowers! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/spillingflowers.html --- ...So lovely! Thanks Ladies! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Coincidence is the word we use when we can't see the levers and pulleys. -- Emma Bull Somehow God orchestrates things to happen at certain times and places. Today, Sharmaine shares a story about what happened to her when she visited a cemetery with relatives. Some say there is no such thing as a coincidence -- whatever happens is just meant to be. , |\ __ | | |--| __ |/ | | |~' /|_ () () | //| \ |\ () | \|_ | | \ jgs \_|_/ () | | | @' () >ORCHESTRATED BY GOD by Sharmaine Hobbs In January 2009, my cousin Jean and her husband Tommy came down to Virginia to see the headstones that had been put up to honor and mark the graves of her parents who had passed away within just a few months of each other. Tommy had also lost his mother during that time as well. So within a matter of a few months, both her parents and his Mom were gone. It was a tough time period, but their love for one another and faith in God pulled them through. In our family, my paternal grandmother, affectionately known as Bigmoma was a praying woman. She was a widow at an age that was earlier than most women, so I knew what drove her to her knees and why she prayed all the time. I understand that now. So in a time when the man was truly the head of the household and the woman was more of the support person, Bigmoma was clearly at the helm of her family and prayer was passed down to all of us because of her example and deep faith in God. So the three of us decided that we would go to Blackstone and have a little ceremony to dedicate the headstones and have prayer. When we arrived at the cemetery, there was no one there on that weekday but us. It was quiet and serene. As we pulled into the parking lot, we all could feel the tears welling up as we quietly held them back. Even though we were going to visit the gravesite, it's a reminder that our loved ones are no longer with us and only a short while ago they had been. We walked to her father's grave and admired the headstone, held hands and Jean said the prayer. We all felt connected and though there is the loss, there is also the comfort of knowing that his spirit was at rest and in a perfect place. When we went to her mother's grave, we admired the headstone and she asked me to pray. Again we held hands in circle and I closed my eyes and the words came forth and went up. We thanked God for their lives and for their time with us and again released her, knowing that she is in that perfect place too. As I finished praying, I noticed an unfamiliar car, slowing down as it passed the cemetery. It made a left turn into a makeshift pathway at the lower portion of the cemetery where the funeral cars normally use to gain access. At first I thought it might be one of the ladies who lived on the road since our home church is in walking distance from my mom's house. But I couldn't make out who it was. She eased her car ever so slowly toward a grave closest to the road. It was marked by a double headstone. Maybe she lost her husband, I thought. Slowly the door opened and for a few seconds it appeared as though she might not be able to get out of the car. I didn't know whether it was from grief or from her mobility, but from a distance, I continued to watch quietly. She seemed unaware that we were there, even though our car was parked in the church parking lot and we were several rows over from where she was. She took her time positioning herself to get out of the car. She had parked right at the headstone. She stood up, the car door still ajar and took just three steps. She quickly went down on one knee and grabbed the headstone as if it were to break her fall. But she did not fall. She bowed her head and laid it upon the headstone as if she were embracing whomever it was she had lost. She clung to that piece of marble as though her very life depended on it. Her quiet sob was muffled. It is a picture I will always remember. I was so moved by her deep love and her sorrow I felt compelled to walk towards her. I didn't want to intrude on this private moment, but it just felt to me that her heart was crying out and I wondered if I, a stranger, could provide any consolation to her. Perhaps just a loving embrace might provide a bit of comfort to her. "I'm sorry" I said. "I don't mean to disturb you. I thought you were one of the ladies that lived on this road." "No, I'm Bertha Goode," she told me. "I've come to see my sister Doris today. I miss her so very much. We were so close." I read the headstone which said August 2007. Mrs. Goode told me that she had just celebrated her 79th birthday and she was the only sister left. Not only was she the last sister left, but she was now alone -- without a husband, missing her sister, and possibly wondering how much time she had left. "I'd love to give you a hug today, if that would be all right", I said. She reached her arms up to me, as she knelt at the headstone and I reached down to her. I thought about how much she loved her sister and tried to send that love back to her in my hug. I thought about her feeling alone and sent some love for that too. I thought about her turning 79 and sent some love for that as well. I asked God to please send whatever it was she needed that day, through my hug to her. I thought of how it might feel to lose a sister and sent some love for that too. What was Mrs. Goode feeling that day that made her drive down to the cemetery on a week day and almost collapse as she cradled the headstone of her sister? Whatever it was, I knew that God had us in the cemetery on that afternoon. And even though we went for one purpose, to dedicate the headstones of our family members, God orchestrated that someone would also be there for Mrs. Goode. I will keep that memory with me forever. In loss, God is the only person we can tell our true feelings to. He understands. And the comfort we need when we have lost a loved one, sometimes only God can fill that. But sometimes when you feel you are all alone, God will send his love to you through another. As I walked away from the cemetery, I realized that I had been a small part of a miracle. He had me in the right place at the right time. He gave me a little nudge to go over and see about her. And through my arms and my heart, God was able to give her the love and hug through a human being that she went to the headstone, made of marble to receive. Everyday there is a miracle! -- Sharmaine Hobbs =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend MohB :) [\ .----' `-----. //^^^^;;^^^^^^`\ _______//_____||_____()_\________ /826 : : ___ `\ |> ____; ; |/\><| ____ _<) {____/ \_________________/ \____} \ '' / \ '' / jgs '--' '--' >THE LAST CAB RIDE I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she asked. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.' 'Oh, you're such a good boy,' she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice.. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing,' I answered. 'You have to make a living,' she said. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' She said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life... I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID. BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance. --- ...Such a heartwarming classic! Thanks MohB! =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Karen :) (\/) \/ (\/) /))))))))) \/ //) __ __\ ,%%%%%%%%%, C==/_o|^|o_\ ,%%%%%%%%%%%%, | _\ ) %/_ _%%%%%%% \ '---'/ /_o|^|o_\=?%%% _/`-. __.'_ ( /_ @%%, \ \'====' /%%% jgs _'-----' \%%%" / ` >A Powerful Lesson There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I would marry you.' One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.' This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations. Life Is a gift. Today before you say an unkind word, think of someone who can't speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat. Before you complain about your husband or wife, think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion. Today before you complain about life, think of someone who went too early to heaven. Before whining about the distance you drive, think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet. And when you are tired and complain about your job, think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down, put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around. I PRAY THIS MOVES AROUND --- ...Great Advice! A wonderful classic! Thanks Karen! ========================================================= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _..._ .~ `~. / } \ _.'`~~/ {_,} -( ,'-,___.' .-. / |_ /| __| |__ / ` |_/ [__ __] / \ / | | / '--;_ | | _\ `\ | | / |`-.___. / | | ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >An Easter Prayer God, give us eyes to see the beauty of the Spring, And to behold Your majesty in every living thing. And may we see in lacy leaves and every budding flower The Hand that rules the universe with gentleness and power. And may this Easter grandeur that Spring lavishly imparts Awaken faded flowers of faith lying dormant in our hearts. And give us ears to hear, dear God, the Springtime song of birds With messages more meaningful than man's often empty words. Telling harried human beings who are lost in dark despair 'Be like us and do not worry for God has you in His care.' By...©Helen Steiner Rice -<>- == <^\()/^> \/::\/ jgs /::\ `''` >The Woodcutter's Wisdom by Max Lucado Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen before—such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength. People offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused. "This horse is not a horse to me," he would tell them. "It is a person. How could you sell a person? He is a friend, not a possession. How could you sell a friend?" The man was poor and the temptation was great. But he never sold the horse. One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. All the village came to see him. "You old fool," they scoffed, "we told you that someone would steal your horse. We warned you that you would be robbed. You are so poor. How could you ever hope to protect such a valuable animal? It would have been better to have sold him. You could have gotten whatever price you wanted. No amount would have been too high. Now the horse is gone, and you've been cursed with misfortune." The old man responded, "Don't speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is judgment. If I've been cursed or not, how can you know? How can you judge?" The people contested, "Don't make us out to be fools! We may not be philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed. The simple fact that your horse is gone is a curse." The old man spoke again. "All I know is that the stable is empty, and the horse is gone. The rest I don't know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can't say. All we can see is a fragment. Who can say what will come next?" The people of the village laughed. They thought that the man was crazy. They had always thought he was a fool; if he wasn't, he would have sold the horse and lived off the money. But instead, he was a poor woodcutter, an old man still cutting firewood and dragging it out of the forest and selling it. He lived hand to mouth in the misery of poverty. Now he had proven that he was, indeed, a fool. After fifteen days, the horse returned. He hadn't been stolen; he had run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses with him. Once again the village people gathered around the woodcutter and spoke. "Old man, you were right and we were wrong. What we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive us." The man responded, "Once again, you go too far. Say only that the horse is back. State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don't judge. How do you know if this is a blessing or not? You see only a fragment. Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge? You read only one page of a book. Can you judge the whole book? You read only one word of a phrase. Can you understand the entire phrase? "Life is so vast, yet you judge all of life with one page or one word. All you have is a fragment! Don't say that this is a blessing. No one knows. I am content with what I know. I am not perturbed by what I don't." "Maybe the old man is right," they said to one another. So they said little. But down deep, they knew he was wrong. They knew it was a blessing. Twelve wild horses had returned with one horse. With a little bit of work, the animals could be broken and trained and sold for much money. The old man had a son, an only son. The young man began to break the wild horses. After a few days, he fell from one of the horses and broke both legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and cast their judgments. "You were right," they said. "You proved you were right. The dozen horses were not a blessing. They were a curse. Your only son has broken his legs, and now in your old age you have no one to help you. Now you are poorer than ever." The old man spoke again. "You people are obsessed with judging. Don't go so far. Say only that my son broke his legs. Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse? No one knows. We only have a fragment. Life comes in fragments." It so happened that a few weeks later the country engaged in war against a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he was injured. Once again the people gathered around the old man, crying and screaming because their sons had been taken. There was little chance that they would return. The enemy was strong, and the war would be a losing struggle. They would never see their sons again. "You were right, old man," they wept. "God knows you were right. This proves it. Your son's accident was a blessing. His legs may be broken, but at least he is with you. Our sons are gone forever." The old man spoke again. "It is impossible to talk with you. You always draw conclusions. No one knows. Say only this: Your sons had to go to war, and mine did not. No one knows if it is a blessing or a curse. No one is wise enough to know. Only God knows." The old man was right. We only have a fragment. Life's mishaps and horrors are only a page out of a grand book. We must be slow about drawing conclusions. We must reserve judgment on life's storms until we know the whole story. Perhaps from another woodcutter in Galilee. For it was the Carpenter who said it best: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Mt. 6:34) He should know. He is the Author of our story. And he has already written the final chapter. From In the Eye of the Storm Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1997) Max Lucado -<>- _.. ;-._ .' `\ .' `\/ ; | `\.---._| .--; . ( .' '. / _ \_ './ _. `-._ ( = \ )`""'\;--. / {= (| ) /`. / ( =_/ )__..-\ .' \ }/ / ;.____.-;/\ '--' | .' | \ \ \ ' / |\.\ ) .'`-. / \ \ jgs /__.-' \_.' \ \ This story is about another spring flower...the daffodil. Listen Now as this pretty little daffodil tells you a story. "I knew Spring was about to be born, I could feel the dirt all around me Become warm and the rains were seeping into my very heart. God was saying, 'wake from your winter sleep and go to glorify Me and bring beauty to man.' As God talked to me he said, 'be beautiful, for of all creatures I have created, no one is more in Need of your life and beauty than man. Should man look at you Closely, oh daffodil, he would see a sturdy green stem to support Your life. Your six large petals represent the days it took me to Create everything in the world. Your center represents the Seventh day in which I rested. The middle represents a trumpet To sound across time the reality of Judgment Day. You can see The rugged crown of thorns they placed on my son's head. In the Center I have placed a staff of life and have secured it with six Lessor members. This stands for me, the center of love and life Divine. The six lessor members stand for love, hope, charity, Peace, joy and faith. At their maturity, daffodils grow to ten inches tall....this Represents the ten commandments. Your yellow color reflects The beauty of the sun and moon which I placed in the sky.' In Leaving, God said, 'Go forth daffodil and do what I intend for You to do.' With this inspiration from God, I pushed upward to Break thru the ground. I could see days of beauty and sadness In this world. As I grew with others, I became discouraged Because no one looked at me. I thought I would be of no Value to anyone. As I was about to give up, a little girl came Along and looked at me and my sister's daffodil growing at My side. With a quick pull, the two of us were snapped up and On our way into a large white house. The little girl gave my Sister's' daffodil to her mother and I was taken into another Room and given to her Grandma. Grandma had tears in her eyes. They were tears of joy. I was so proud to bring this happiness To someone. Within a few days I had wilted and was put in the Garbage can. But I didn't care because I knew of the joy of Living for God and bringing love and happiness to others. There Was nothing more I wanted. "My purpose had been fulfilled." From Happy thoughts Newsletter -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Shangy's Full EASTER INDEX! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/easterindex.html The 23rd Psalm! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/psalm23.html The Black Dot! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blackdot.html Lean On Me! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/leanonme.html Think Positive! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/positive.html Akiane Child Prodigy! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Value What You Have! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuewyh.html Attitude Is Everything! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html Maria The Goose! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/goose.html Eagle Rescue! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eaglerescue.html -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) This is like a trip around the world with a smile on your face. Enjoy! There ARE happy people out there. Not everyone is fighting and killing. One of the most uplifting videos you might ever be privileged to view. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwe-pA6TaZk?rel=0 --- ...A Fun And Beautiful One! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) Magicians Arnold and Dazzle perform an entertaining magic act on the French TV Show “The World’s Greatest Cabaret” hosted by Patrick Sébastien. Les Arnold and Dazzle, who is his daughter Alex, use satire and outlandish costumes to poke fun at stuffed shirt magicians to make their act both magical and funny to watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJHmHrax-Y0&feature=player_embedded Super Bowl Ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob-wn52Dkmk&feature=player_embedded This is actually about Hitler and Obamacare. Funny! Funny! The actor who plays Hitler is excellent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxwot4sGTrM&feature=youtu.be --- ...HaHa! Great! Thanks Louise! -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) Discovering Romania-Wild Carpathia (Mountains of Transylvania) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM9X-_-dQ98 Check out Insane traffic in India. http://www.wimp.com/indiatraffic/ Check out The Crucifixion of Christ http://www.gieson.com/Library/projects/animations/walk/index.html --- ...Awesome! Thanks Melody! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Cloie :) | / \ | \_| __ /` ; `' \ `\_/ _ '-/ \/ '._ /'-./| |.--. ` _/ _.-\/--. | ` | /`-. \ '-. | | | \ jgs / | / `-. -' \__/ >The Ant and the Contact Lens A true story by Elisabeth Elliot as told to her by Brenda Foltz Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was very scared, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff. In spite of her fear, she put on the gear, took hold of the rope and started up the face of that rock. She got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens. Well, here she is, on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn't there. There she was, far from home, her sight now blurry. She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find it. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff. She looked out across range after range of mountains thinking of that verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me." Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why this climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it on its back. Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You." I think it would probably do some of us good to occasionally say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But if You want me to carry it, I will." (Rosebudsz Crea. 05/08/07) --- ...Absolutely! Wonderful classic! Thanks Cloie! ========================================================== +-. .--. +-. | `"|"` \| .------;/|===;. Y.==. /\|/\___\|_.'_`\/\|/\ |--o--|___(_)' |--o--| \/|\/ =' \/|\/ jgs `"` `"` >Asphalt and Altruism Story Editor: by Rose Kelly Joyce Schowalter Georgia, USA I remember when I first got my bike, at about 8 or 9 years old. My mother, father, and five older brothers saved up for it. I was so happy because I could follow my brother, Khanh, around the block. We rode around with the neighborhood kids. Since I was the youngest of the group I was always behind. One day Khanh, two other kids and I were riding up and down a steep hill. We were on our last run because it was getting late. Half-way down the hill my right foot slipped off the pedal. I tried to get it back on but I just couldn't. Everybody was getting farther and farther away. I panicked and screamed for my brother but he couldn't hear me. At the curve at the bottom of the hill I knew I had to do something. I couldn't slow down, lost control and toppled over. I skidded and tumbled on asphalt for a few yards. I finally rolled to a stop face down. I was afraid to move. Everyone heard the bike crash and came running. My brother rolled me over and one of the kids said I was bleeding. I'd lost my shoes along the way. I was bleeding around the toes, ankles, shin, knees, elbows, shoulders and fingers. I had cuts on my face and head, but the most severe was a deep cut on my chin. It was split open to the bone. My brother was torn between staying with me or going to get help. Finally one of the kids ran to my house. He returned with my brother Sonny. Sonny panicked because of the blood, too. No one knew what to do. There were no adults around; no one was home. As we stood there a few cars passed by. Some slowed down to see what happened but nobody stopped to help. Sonny left to call my parents and 911. As we waited, a car pulled up and asked what had happened. Hearing the story, the gentlemen stopped his car, got out, and talked to Khanh. Khanh picked me up, got in the car with me in his arms and then the man drove us to our house. Sonny was on the phone with my brother Nick, who was at work. The man told Nick which hospital he would take me to, and then drove us there. The doctor gave me five stitches on my chin, cleaned up my cuts and scrapes, and made me take some medicine. By the time I was patched up my whole family had arrived to take me home. The gentlemen had already left, and I never knew his name. I had wanted to thank him for stopping and going out of his way to make sure a stranger was safe. Now as an adult I try to help people when I can... because someone helped me when they didn't have to. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friends Linda, Bunni And Geniann :) .======. | INRI | .========' '========. | _ xxxx _ | | /_;-.__ / _\ _.-;_\ | | `-._`'`_/'`.-' | '========.`\ /`========' | | / | |/-.( | |\_._\ | | \ \`;| | > |/| | / // | | |// | | \(\ | | `` | \\jgs _ _\\| \// |//_ _ \// _ ^ `^`^ ^`` `^ ^` ``^^` `^^` `^ `^ Jesus' Death - 60 seconds to understand 60 seconds with God... For the next 60 seconds, set aside whatever you're doing and take this opportunity! Let's see if Satan can stop this. >THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty. At the time crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet. Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrists. Not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could breathe. Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage. Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds. From common images, we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side... But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even large nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture. He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood. Jesus poured all 3.5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His side. All these without mentioning the humiliation He passed after carrying His own cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where His hands were nailed). Jesus had to endure this experience, so that we can have free access to God. So that our sins could be "washed" away. All of them, with no exception! JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US! He died for us! It is easy to pass jokes and false witness statements by e-mail, but when it comes to God, sometimes we feel ashamed to forward to others because we are worried of what they may think about us. 60 seconds with God... For the next 60 seconds, set aside what you're doing and take this opportunity! Let's see if Satan can stop this. All you have to do is: 1. Simply pray for the person who sent this message to you: 2. Then, send this message to 10 people... More if you wish. 3. 10 people will pray for you and you will make that many people pray to God for other people. 4. Take a moment to appreciate the power of God in your life, for doing what pleases Him. If you are not ashamed to do this, please, follow Jesus' instructions. He said (Matthew10:32 & 33): "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I also will deny before My Father in heaven." If you believe, send this message... send it you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Yes, I love God. He is my source of life and my Savior. He keeps me alive day and night. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. Send this to all those you love. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". --- ...Thank You Ladies! Here is a visual account of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC9krDwjfZE More In Death of His sacrifice http://www1.cbn.com/medical-view-of-the-crucifixion-of-jesus-christ AND From our friend Melody: http://tinyurl.com/huo26q4 --- ...Quite informative and inspiring! Thanks Melody! _ xxxx _ /_;-.__ / _\ _.-;_\ `-._`'`_/'`.-' `\ /` | / /-.( \_._\ \ \`; > |/ / // |// jgs \(\ `` The death that Jesus Christ suffered was something He chose to do and He chose to go through this for this reason: For The Joy That Was Set Before Him http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/joy.html The horrific torture and death of one I love so deeply leaves me like His early disciplines to prefer the symbol of their Christian faith to be an anchor rather than a cross... Our Valuable Anchor http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: ...THE FIRST EASTER BUNNY... by Francine M. O'Connor (ASCII Art by joan stark) __ /^\ .' \ / :.\ This is the story of a long-eared rabbit / \ | :: \ who couldn't learn to do the bunny hop. / /. \ / ::: | His ears were floppy, his feet were sloppy, | |::. \ / :::'/ he'd hippity hop, then he'd trip and plop. | / \::. | / :::'/ `--` \' `~~~ ':'/` / ( So this little rabbit developed the habit / 0 _ 0 \ of staying awake when the sun went down. \/ \_/ \/ He'd stay up all night, -== '.' | '.' ==- till the morning light, and /\ '-^-' /\ practice his hopping just outside of town. \ _ _ / .-`-((\o/))-`-. _ / //^\\ \ _ On the first Easter morn, ."o".( , .:::. , )."o". just before dawn, |o o\\ \:::::/ //o o| He was startled by a bright \ \\ |:::::| // / and blinding light. \ \\__/:::::\__// / And Jesus was there in the \ .:.\ `':::'` /.:. / shimmering glare, \':: |_ _| ::'/ smiling at that funny bunny's plight. jgs `---` `"""""` `---` Don't worry, little lad, and don't be so sad, .-"-. for humankind will celebrate this special day. .'=^=^='. You must bring the word to every beast and bird /=^=^=^=^=\ that I have risen and am in the world to stay. :^= HAPPY =^; |^ EASTER! ^| You should've seen that cottontail hop away, :^=^=^=^=^=^: feeling mighty proud to be the chosen one. \=^=^=^=^=/ Though this story is quite old, it can now be retold `.=^=^=.' to make little children smile on Easter morn. `~~~` >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Here are some stories from Fern's collection. She is the mother of four boys. When Fern lengthened Ted's jeans (without telling him) and he put them on, he exclaimed: "Oh, no! I'm afraid I'm just getting shorter and shorter!" Terence, 4, said, "If you're going to be Teddy's Sunday School teacher, who's going to be our mother?" Tim, 7, said, in the quietness before his cousin's wedding: "I can hear the candles burning." __ / \`\ __ | \ `\ /`/ \ \_/`\ \-"-/` /\ \ | | \ | (d b) \_/ / \ ,".|.'.\_/.'.|.", / /\' _|_ '/\ \ | / '-`"`-' \ | | | | | | \ \ / / | jgs \ \ \ / / / `"`\ : /'"` `""`""` When returning from a camping trip, they overheard Terence bragging to a friend: "My Dad is so tough that if a mosquito tried to bite him, it would bend his stinger!" -- Fern Boldt of St. Catharines, Ontario Courtney Kaye, 3, got into trouble for losing her "temper." Her mother punished her and explained that we have to control our tempers. Later Courtney's mother overheard Courtney discussing the events of the day with her dolls and stuffed animals. Talking to Sarah, her big stuffed horse, Courtney said, "Sarah, I know I was a bad girl. I know I have a bad temporary. I know Mommy just wants me to be nice and healthy!" -- Kyla McMullen (grandmother of Courtney) of Waco, Texas Twenty years ago when Tandace was born, Kenny, 3, came to the hospital to see his baby sister. He walked with his mother to look at all the babies in the nursery. When Kathy tried to point out Tandace, Kenny pointed to one baby and asked, "Is our baby the red one?" -- Kathy (mother of Kenny and Tandace) of Asheville, North Carolina /`\ / | _.._ | / /` \ | / | .-._ '-"` ( |_/ / e e\ | = @ )= \ '--`/ / ---<` | , \\ | | \\__ / ; |.__)==, (_/.-. ; //"""\\ {` | \_/ ||___|| '-\ / | |(___)| | / | |XXXXX| / \ '-.\XXXXX/ jgs \__|----' `"""` When Dennis was 4 he had three sisters and he wanted a baby brother. When his mother went to the hospital, she gave birth to another sister. Dennis was very disappointed. When he spoke to his mother on the phone he asked, "Mommy, is it still a girl?" -- Jean Reesor (mother of Dennis) of Battletown, Kentucky Brandy was babysitting her 5-year-old nephew, Zack. They decided to order pizza, but Brandy realized she didn't know the address. So she asked Zack what his address was and he replied, "You're crazy. I'm a boy. I don't wear a dress!" -- Brandy of Balm Beach Ontario Canada Starla took Sarah to a garage sale. Little Sarah had $2 to buy whatever she wanted. She bought a porcelain doll. The next day when they were at a wedding rehearsal dinner, Starla told a friend what they had found at the garage sale and Sarah piped up: "Yeah, I got a personal doll!" -- Starla Smith of Marion, Iowa Ryan came rushing in from outside heading for his room to find a special place for his new found treasure. He had a handful of lava rocks and he stated that he found "magic rocks!" His teenage sister was amused. Her comment was: "Magic rocks? Wow! How do they work?" Ryan's comment: "Just fine!" -- Kyna Rickett (mother of Ryan) of Glendive, Montana Clayson has decided to run for a class office at his school. His grandfather asked him what office he was going to run for and he replied, "Vice-Principal." When he saw the expression and smile on his grandfather's face he realized what he'd said and trying to cover up his mistake said, "I don't think I really have the time to be Vice Principal so I think I'll just run for Class Vice-President instead!" -- Jay Miller (grandfather of Clayson) of Slaterville, Utah .-. .-. / \ / \ | _ \ / _ | ; | \ \ / / | ; \ \ \ \_.._/ / / / '. '.;' ';,' .' './ _ _ \.' .' a __ a '. '--./ _, \/ ,_ \.--' ----| \ /\ / |---- .--'\ '-' '-' /'--. _>.__ -- _.- `; .' _ __/ _/ / '.,:".-\ /:, | \.' `""`'.\\ '-,.__/ _ .-. ;|_ /` `|| _/ `\/_ \_|| `\ | ||/ \-./` \ / || | \ ||__/__|___|__|| / \_ |_Happy Easter_| / jgs .' \ = _= _ = _= /`\ / `-;----=--;--' \ \ _.-' '. / `""` `""` Jared, 4, learned in Sunday School about going to heaven and God giving us a new body. As he processed the idea, he told his mother that he hoped God would let him wear his favorite tennis shoes in heaven. He also asked if there would be Spiderman pajamas in heaven. Then after a moment of silence he asked, sounding slightly distraught, "Oh, Momma, I sure hope God doesn't give me a girl body!" -- John King (husband of Jared's Sunday School teacher) of Murfressboro, Tennessee Tina's 7-year-old daughter was helping Tina clean out their china cabinet. Tina told her daughter she had tried to sell it, but now she was giving it away. Her daughter asked, "Who are you giving your Chinese cabinet to?" -- Tina Strong of Chatsworth, Georgia Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) _ xxxx _ /_;-.__ / _\ _.-;_\ `-._`'`_/'`.-' `\ /` | / /-.( \_._\ \ \`; > |/ / // |// jgs \(\ `` >Think of JESUS Think Of Jesus there beside you, like a friend who is glad to know you Feel the comfort of HIS presence and the kindness. Think of JESUS warmly smiling, telling stories, sharing laughter, Bringing joy that lights the moment, peacefulness that lingers after… Think of JESUS speaking gently with a glow of love about HIM, And you will feel the calm assurance that you will never be without HIM. written by Shashank Patel, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India --- ...Beautiful! Thanks Bunni! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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