God And The Spider ... :) Shangy >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ .,uuuuuu,, ,%%uuu==#uuuu%%\ ,,,<%%uu".a.=#uuuu%%%% ,;;;;;)#uu...,#/uuu%%%%%%% \;;/####\%mmmmmmmmmnu%%`%%; u####"""' (mmmmmmmmmmnu%%`%%%% uuuEE,..:;;#\mmmmmmmnuu%;,`%%%% uuuu\#####/uu,mmmmmnu%..;, :.%%% \uuuuuuuuuuuuu,mnu/\.;; :..%% >##&&#######<%%% \;' :.%% (###&&&#######%%%%% :%' (###&&&&######(%%%%%% (#####&&&####(%%%%%%%%% (###########(%%%%%%%%%%% Susie Oviatt %%(###########(%%%%%%%%%%%% ;%%%(##########'%%%'%%%%%%%%% (%%%%; ;n####n'%%%%'n%%%%%%%%%%(@) \%%%' %%nnnn'%%%%'nnnn%%%%%%%(@@@) ``' %%%nnnn``'nnnnnn%%%%%%%%(@@@@) ,%%%nnnnnnnnnnn%%%%%%%%%(@@@@@ ,.,nnn%%%%nnnnn)nnnn%%%%%%%%%/ (@@) (u(uuuuuuuuuuuuuu/ (u;;;;;;u) (uuuuuuu) ()()() *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2010 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2010 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ >-->3 Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This one is soo hot it is Smoking! It comes from a forward from our friend Johanna. Another one of those that I wasn't aware of but find it really awesome! Check it out here... ,________________ / \ \ |.-| | .-', | ,_______ | / | """""| | | O\__.--| '-' | ,=` _|______________| ',,,==` `~~~~|||~~~~~~~` ` ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| \\ |||, // jgs . ..::::\\\||////::::.... '' ' "" ' '"" "" "" '' ""' "'' From Russia With Love http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/teardrop.html --- ...Very moving! Thank You Johanna! -<>- This next hottie is from a forward from our friend Wesley. For those of you who love motorcycles - even the unusual ones, you'll love this one! Check it out here... Awesome Bikes! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/awesomebikes.html --- ...Sweet collection! Tnanks Wesley! -<>- This next one comes from a forward from our friend Wesley. A very touching one I felt needed to be preserved so I did it up in a page for all to see and share. Our troops sure are awesome - bless their hearts! .0. / \ ; \_/ ; | | | | | | _______; ;_______ `======='\ /`=======` \ / _ | | _ _( \____|=|____/ )_ ( .---. .---. ) `-' / \ '-' / HUG \ ; ; | .---.|__, jgs : / :--' .--\ \ | `" `"".-' < =""` `"== `""""""` =""` `"""===="""` =""` `""==="""` Proud Of Our Troops 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops3.html --- ...Thank you Wesley. I had not heard of this before! ====================================================================== __...._ .'` .-`. / //``\\____ / .-. .'\\_.'/ `'. | / \ /'-'` \ | \ / | ;) \ '-' | .' '-.,_ | __..-' _'=,_______'-,\__.-' .=[_______.-'(___( _ -"` / __|__/ )_ / .--. ) / / -\-.-' / \ | ~; ;-' _| | jgs ___.| ` | `'---'`---------' >I'll Take Half Story Editor: by Donna Quist Joyce Schowalter Virginia, USA In 1979 I joined the Air Force, following the tradition of my family. I sought a coveted slot in the Air Medical Evacuation Squadron. After two years of hard work, I held orders to report to flight school in 60 days. Seven days later, I was rear-ended at a stoplight by a car going 55 m.p.h. I was shoved through the intersection -- the driver kept going. I was hospitalized for three weeks with severe whiplash and two torn back muscles. I knew the minute the flight surgeon was notified, my dream job disappeared. Friends pressed me to call an attorney. At first I was too depressed, but I became angry, realizing this woman had destroyed my dreams. I would sue. Six weeks later, there was no word rescinding my orders. A few months later, miraculously, I was living my dream job. When my attorney asked about my condition, I told him honestly I was usually in pain. My job required lots of lifting. Nonetheless, I couldn't see the flight surgeon or be grounded. My attorney said, "A guaranteed minimum $500,000 for loss of career." With the idealism (or stupidity) of youth, I didn't want money, I wanted to fly Med Evac. He had to settle the case. Months later, he said he could only get $14,200. It sounded like a fortune, but he explained that after the Air Force claimed for my medical care and his fee, I'd get $3,500. I had my dream job, so told him to settle. When I signed the papers, he handed me a check for $8,200. My eyes bulged, I knew that amount couldn't be right. That was a year's salary for me, tax free! My attorney explained that my injury was honest and probably permanent, yet I would get less than anyone in the settlement. That bothered him. He contacted the Air Force to convince them to lower their claim. They agreed... on one condition. If he'd reduce his fee to me, the Air Force would match it, up to 50 percent. He called their bluff, dropping his fee 50 percent. He said he saw so many people wanting to scam the system. While he understood my position, he believed (accurately) my injuries would catch up with me. He wanted to make sure I had as much compensation as I could under the circumstances. One year later the military forced me into another field. Five years later, I was medically retired due to back problems from that accident. I went home to family in northern Virginia a very scared young woman. At age 30, with no transferable skills, my back injury limited me to a non-physical profession. Cost of living in Virginia was high, but the settlement money had been invested and allowed me to buy a home. With my entry-level wages, I never could have saved enough to purchase a home. I literally owe the roof over my children's heads to the generosity, kindness and integrity of that attorney. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend John-Paul :) , , \`-.|`. _, ) ` / .-'6 6 '--, ( ,-' `---. (`--' ,__ / \____, '=| ,==' _, \ \__.-'' ( '.____.`---='`` __||_\\_ jgs '===':.=' >~~ " SPRINGTIME " ~~ ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^ I walked with Spring along a path Where roses took a dew-dropped bath, Where flowers with many colorful hues, Saluted the day with raving reviews. I danced with Spring along a creek, Where frisky frogs played hide-and-seek, where Dogwood trees wore lacy gowns, Neath canopies of cotton crowns. The Earth stood still, While my cares took flight; My Soul was filled with "Pure Delight," I walked with Spring where Nature trod, And gazed upon the face of GOD! ~o~ Now, here is a new version of a wonderful old song, for us who have been on this `Old World` several years. mmmm "Jesus Loves Me" JESUS LOVES ME this I know, Though my hair now, white as snow. My sight is poor, and growing dim, Still Jesus bids me to trust in Him. YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. My steps are short and so slow, But my hand in His I shall go, Through this life, come what may, He'll be with me all the way. YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. As nights become so dark and long, In my heart He puts this song. Telling me in words so clear, "Fear not, for I am always near." YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. When my work on earth is done, All life's victories have been won. Jesus will take me home above, I'll then understand His wonderious love. YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. I love Jesus, this He knows. I will forever tell Him so and I know He hears me say, That I shall love Him forever, and a day. YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME. YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. ~John-Paul~ --- ...TeeHee - Always And Forever! Thanks John-Paul! ========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: __,=,__ .~`` .` `.``~. | . . |____ `-;=============;""""` ( (. _).) \ | | \ `-.___.' / '._ _.' /`''''\ / \ | |/\/\/\/|.-. |-|/\/\/\/|;' ) (__/_______| _) #########'._) jgs |==|=|__ ,,,(______)_),,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,, ,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;, >"STORIFYING" by Kristine Lowder Say the word "family" and what comes to mind? Most people think of folks they're related to by blood or adoption -- mom and dad, grandparents, brothers aand sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and so on. I realized that all of my most cherished memories involve family. Ditto the biggest challenges, most hair-raising adventures, greatest triumphs, deepest heartaches and happiest moments. Family is where life happens. Where we share our lives, our hearts, and our stories. No one was better at "storifying" -- telling or spinning stories -- than my uncle, Norman Naas. In fact, there are no words for my Uncle Norm. He used them all. In spades. Uncle Norm smoked like a chimney, loved a roaring fireplace, good food, fine wine, and traveling. He loved feeding and entertaining friends, Romans and fellow countrymen by the bus load. The more, the merrier. Even in retirement Norm was a party waiting to happen. The thing I remember best about Norm was how much he loved books. Outside of dad, Norm was the best-read person and most voracious reader I've ever met. His rambling, bougainvillea and camellia-draped house groaned with books. They were everywhere, sprouting like weeds in a garden. You couldn't sit down without first removing a book from your planned perch. Books populated the kitchen, family room, living room, bathroom, bedrooms, coffee and kitchen tables and every available space. Even the garage housed shelf after shelf of books. When we visited Uncle Norm, I looked forward to afternoons when I'd climb into my uncle's ample lap with a book. "Well dear, what do we have today?" he'd ask, adjusting his glasses and oohing and ahing over my selection. "Ah, this is a good one!" he'd smile, even if it was the same "one" we'd read nineteen times in the last two days. Not surprisingly, Uncle Norm could quote entire scenes out of Shakespeare. He'd tell us about writers and literature for hours. Not lectures. These were more like command performances. Norm gobbled up books like a starving man, barely taking time to chew. After dinner Norm would regale us with his "storifying" expertise. Remember that Mel Gibson movie from 1993, Man Without a Face? Gibson plays Justin McLeod, a former teacher turned recluse after his face has been horribly disfigured in an auto accident. Known as "Hamburger Head" to the locals, McLeod is the subject of many rumors and wild stories. Chuck Norstadt (Nick Stahl) is a young boy determined to get into the same military school as his father. Desperate for a tutor, Chuck encounters the reclusive McLeod, and together they begin to help each other deal with a world that has shunned them both. There's a scene where teacher and student are reading Shakespeare (I think it's The Merchant of Venice). Except that they're not really reading it. At least, not in the usual sense. They're interpreting the text, acting it out with costumes and props. Teacher and student aren't reading the story. They ARE the story. That's what listening to Uncle Norm tell or read a story was like. Uncle Norm and I corresponded regularly when I was in high school and college. We did this the old fashioned way -- with paper and pen and postage. This was before email. A running dispute developed over an arcane theological point. I was as right as Norm was, as shy as a cyclone in making my own case on paper. I recall how disappointed I was when my uncle stopped writing. No, that's not it. Not exactly. His letters petered out slowly, over time. Like twin guttering candles. So did mine. It wasn't until my junior year in college that I noticed that I never heard from Uncle Norm anymore. I never asked why. An "oops" moment. I didn't detect any rancor between us -- we just got busy elsewhere and moved on. Another oops. Norm died a few years later. In one of my last missives to my uncle, I told Norm how much I liked to listen to him talk when I was a child. His rich, sonorous bass was as smooth as glass. That was nearly forty years ago. I sometimes wonder what else Norm might have said -- what else I might have said -- if just one of us hadn't allowed the other to drift. It's easy to take people for granted, isn't it? Especially family. How many things we would, could, should say and share and laugh about or argue over or lean back in our chairs and storify -- and never quite seem to get around to it? That uncle, that aunt, those parents, siblings, children or spouse seem as regular as the seasons. We mistake familiarity for permanence, which is a clever but deceptive chimera. That's why I choose to thank God for uncles. For books and letters and storyifying. And family. If we let Him, God somehow smoothes out the frayed edges of our oops-blotted lives, rewrites the smudges and slips in something new and fresh and beautiful. He can give us a fresh start. A blank page. A second chance. A new story. Like the one I'm writing now. Uncle Norm would've loved that. -- Kristine Lowder __________________________________________________ A multi-published author, Kristine Lowder resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Chris, their four sons and one yellow Labrador Retriever. ==================================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: _ ______ / `'. ,-"` '. / /'-.'. ___ .' \ \/ '.\.' ' | .| .'`\ | /`"'--., / \ , _.--'` \/_ | ,----.| _ `_--;` ``` `\-. | | \ | -- C -- _/ \ \ | \ 0 0 / . | | \| ) | '. _.' |.__/ ; \ `'---` / / __ '. .' | (__) /'-._____,-` \ /---'.-""-.\ '. / ||,- \\ ;---`;-._||-= |\ , ."""-. \ ) `|'.___.' \ ___ \'. / '-. \ /`-`-; / \ ,/ `) \ \| \ `` | | \|| / /'.| )_ / || | | \/ .' \ \ .-'/ ` |` |.-' .-~ ~-~-._ |.'` \ ` '-. \___/,__/ ~` _ `~~-., `-.,_\_)`-.,_\) `~-,___ ~___~,,..-~~/ jgs \___/`\____/'._.' >GOD'S PLAN OF salvation has completely leveled the playing field... In almost every area of life people have some kind of advantage. In the system called Christianity, all so-called advantages disappear. This is conclusive proof that God views the prominent people of society in the same way as factory workers and housewives. Men may put more value on the converted souls of the rich, powerful, well-educated and "well-connected," but God does not. An elderly couple had worked in Africa for many years. They were returning to the United States on an ocean liner. On this same ship was President Teddy Roosevelt (he was returning from a big game hunting expedition). The missionary couple watched the fanfare given the President and his entourage. When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet him. The Mayor was there to welcome him. Several newspapers had sent reporters to cover his return. During the commotion the missionary couple slipped quietly off the ship and found a cheap apartment. They had no pension, were in poor health, and felt discouraged. The husband was especially disturbed. He could not understand how God would allow the President to be treated so well while the years of service he and his wife had offered seemed to be unnoticed and unappreciated. He claimed that God was being unfair to them. He bitterly complained to his wife. She finally turned to him and said, "We're not home yet." Brad Price KneEmail: "And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.'" 1 Cor. 1:28-30 Bible reading for 04.05.10: Luke 8:26-56; 1 Samuel 1-3 --- ...Please pray our InspiredBuffalo Lady - Nancy - who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. -<>- ,--.,-"";-"-. .-;-/ / / .- `\ .-. ` ( ' ' ` ; `\/ \ \ / \ / (. C . ) | .-. | | _ / (` / | \ /}| | )(\ | `-> (____.| / ||| / \=====| | |\| | |====| \ _/ ` \__/=====| |` `-'======| \ |=======/ | |=======| | .--, ########\ |/ / jgs |_|__|| ` `--. ,---;-'--'\ `--. `---`-------'-.___,___.---' >Enjoy The Simple Pleasures Whenever you are weary And feeling a little down Stop and take a good look At the beauty all around. Enjoying the simple pleasures That surround you each day, It is a wonderful little gift That God has sent your way! Take time every day to Stop and smell the flowers! -<>- ,--""""-., .'` ', / | | _ / __,'(,-'/ `\ _. / .=="=| '-. | .'===,=|-. | / /===\==\| \ \ _;' | |====\==\ '.___,u' \__/ |===.##,=\ |==/####\='-.__ \#|#####|`/^|_))._________________ #######/`| |_.-'""""""=' ] #####/\/ /__,________;------.---' jgs `###' |_/ V V >-->WHO I AM IN CHRIST (Thanks to Vince DeMartino for this) [Edited] If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, this doesn't just mean that you are the same person but have just "accepted Jesus and going to Heaven". No, it means that you are a whole new creation - NOW and for all eternity. You are "born again" spiritually (see John 3) and have become a new creation in Christ. Even as believers for years, we often fail to see all that we are in Christ and/or just plain need some reminders. So here are some reminders straight from God's word - He tells us just who we are (whether we FEEL like it or not!!) Let's all soak in these truths today and remind ourselves of them often. :) I am a Child of God! "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12) I am not the Great 'I AM' but, I am what I am! "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect." (1 Cor 15:10) I am the Salt of the Earth whereby others see Jesus! "You are the salt of the earth." (Mat 5:13) I am the light of the World whereby others see Jesus! "You are the light of the world." (Mat 5:14) I am a branch in Christ! I will bear much Fruit! "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) I am Christ's Friend! "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15) I am Chosen by Christ! I will bear much Fruit! "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." (John 15:16) I am free from Sin! I am a slave to Righteousness! "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Rom 6:18) I am a Slave to God! I have Eternal Life! "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Rom 6:22) I am a Son ( Daughter ) of God! God is MY Father!!! "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" (Rom 8:15) I am an Heir of GOD and a Co-Heir with Christ! "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Rom 8:17) I am the Temple of God! God's Spirit lives in ME! "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (1 Cor 3:16) I am part of the Body of Christ! "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Cor 12:27) I am a NEW Creation - the Old has gone the New has come! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor 5:17) I am Christ's Ambassador! "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf:" (2 Cor 5:20) I AM A SAINT! ( i.e. Forgiven Sinner ) "To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:" (Phil 1:1) I am God's workmanship! I have work to do that he planned! "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph 2:10) I am a Member of God's household! I BELONG! "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household," (Eph 2:19) I am Created to be Like God in Righteousness and Holiness! "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph 4:22-24) I am a Citizen of Heaven! "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ," (Phil 3:20) I am Hidden in GOD! "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Col 3:3) I will be with Christ in Glory! "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Col 3:4) I am Chosen, Holy and Dearly LOVED! "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Col 3:12) I am of the Light! "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (1 Th. 5:5) I have a Heavenly Calling! "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." (Heb 3:1) I am Chosen, Royal, a Priest, part of a Holy Nation and belong to GOD! "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Pet 2:9) I am an Alien to this World! "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." (1 Pet 2:11) I will be like Christ when He appears! "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) I am SAFE in CHRIST! Nothing happens to me that doesn't pass through Christ! "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him." (1 John 5:18) I am able to do ANYTHING if it is Christ's will! I am totally dependent on Christ! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philipians 4:13) "...Apart from me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5) I am being changed each day to be more of who God intends for me to be! "...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) -<>- Links For Your Enjoyment What A Wonderful World http://www.buffaloschips.com/71604.htm What Old People Do For Fun http://www.buffaloschips.com/71605.htm What The West Would Have Been Like With Shetland Ponies http://www.buffaloschips.com/71606.htm When The Parents Are Gone http://www.buffaloschips.com/71607.htm Whit Arlington http://www.buffaloschips.com/71608.htm The Red Hat http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/redhat.html Orang-Utan Hospital http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/orang.html God's Little Love Notes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/notes.html Amazing Albino Animals http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/albino.html Free Audio Class - New Life In Christ! http://tinyurl.com/yk8q6rd Vietnam Veterans Tribute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCMcMsG3bcA Our God Is An Awesome God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RGcb7alSk0&feature=related Shine Jesus Shine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr5Y63bDNNg&feature=related Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =============================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: .----. _.'__ `. .--(#)(##)---/#\ .' @ /###\ : , ##### `-..__.-' _.-\###/ jgs `;_: `"' .'"""""`. /, Jesus ,\ // IS COOL!\\ `-._______.-' ___`. | .'___ (______|______) >Tell Someone About Jesus A woman of Samaria came to draw water... - John 4:7 NKJV John records, 'A woman of Samaria came to draw water.' After five failed marriages her trust levels are demolished and her self-worth is zero, so she approaches Jesus cautiously. Brick by brick He takes down the wall she's hiding behind. When He gets through, she leaves trans- formed. What a contrast: one chapter earlier, Nicodemus, a religious leader, came to Jesus by night, suggesting he didn't want to risk being seen with Him. After telling him he must be born again, Jesus said, '... Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light... ' (John 3:21 NIV). At that point, Nicodemus has to make a choice. There are three lessons here: 1) Christ sees potential in you when others don't. '... The Pharisees... complained, saying, 'This Man receives sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2 NKJV). They were right! This woman was the first person Jesus introduced Himself to as the Messiah. Why didn't He do that when He called His disciples, baptised John, cleansed the temple, performed His first miracle, or interviewed Nicodemus? Because Jesus doesn't measure you by your past, He measures you by your potential. 2) Christ will change you, then use you to change others. Amazingly, she was the first person to preach the gospel in Samaria. '... Many... Samaritans... believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified... ' (John 4:39 NKJV). 3) Christ doesn't need to be defended, just introduced. '... Many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world"' (John 4:41-42 NKJV). Today, tell someone about Jesus. SoulFood Bible Readings: Num 8-10, Mark 6:45-56, Ps 37: 25-31, Pr 11: 5-6 as seen in The Word For Today -<>- .o. | | _ , .', L.-'` `\ || __\___,|__--,__`_|__ | % `=` | | ___%_______________| | ` | | -------------------| |____________________| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| jgs | ---------------| , \| | _______________| / / \. \,\\|, . . /, / |///, / >Follow Him Outside... He didn't follow the crowd, but the crowd followed Him. He didn't care what people thought. He feared no man. In the world but not of the world, He was an outsider...and He liked it that way. Jesus spent most of His life on Earth on the outside. Hebrews 13:12-13 says "And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore." Jesus was taken outside of the camp to be crucified. Those who really loved Jesus and were closest to Him, had to venture outside the city walls to be near Him. Yet He would have it no other way. Jesus knew His purpose would be fulfilled on the outside. Can the same be said about you and your purpose? Today we don't really like being on the outside. We want to be "in." We don't like feeling like an outsider, so we do everything we can to be part of the "in" crowd. After all, no one wants to feel alone. To avoid the outside we will drop our standards, loosen our morals, and re-adjust our values... all in hopes of acceptance. To some people, the only thing that matters is the approval of others. Jesus did things differently. He never looked for the approval of men, only the approval of Heaven. He knew that abundant life, joy, peace, and the Father's blessing would be found outside the camp...and so He went. You'll be hard pressed to find the will of God inside the camp. That still small voice can be hard to hear in a crowd. Jesus' loved ones followed Him outside the camp when He was crucified. They were part of that experience and were drawn closer to Him as a result. It may not always feel like it to us, but we are closest to Jesus when we are outside of the camp. Jesus draws near to those who draw near to Him. Remember, it's better to be in God's will alone than out of God's will in a crowd. The crowd will only keep you from being close to Jesus. Get out of that crowd! Seriously, do it now! Make a break for it and run like mad! Follow Jesus outside the camp today! Leave the comfort of man's approval and the desire to be "in" that brings you a false sense of security and purpose. I think I hear Him calling your name...go ahead, Follow Him outside. Bill Purvis Minsitries :: www.billpurvis.com -<>- .------------------------. | PSYCHIATRIC | | HELP 5¢ | |________________________| || .-"""--. || || / \.-. || || | ._, \ || || \_/`-' '-.,_/ || || (_ (' _)') \ || || /| |\ || || | \ __ / | || || \_).,_____,/}/ || __||____;_--'___'/ ( || |\ || (__,\\ \_/------|| ||\||______________________|| |||| | |||| THE DOCTOR | \||| IS [IN] _____| \|| (______) jgs `|___________________//||\\ //=||=\\ ` `` ` >TEN OLD WAYS TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW If you are surfing to TodaysTen.com from another productivity site, you are in danger of getting stuck in your routine. Its time to try something new! New experiences will bring new problems and also their solutions. Creative people use free exchange of ideas to cross link solutions to create new mash ups of solutions that can solve old problems. That is only one benefit of increasing your areas of knowledge. So try something new today! When was the last time you learnt something new? 1. Learn A New Language This is a pretty hard thing to do, but the benefits will pay off. Learning a new language opens an entire foreign culture to your perspective. Every culture has a different way of solving problems and interacting. For now, the best languages to learn will be Spanish and Chinese because of the sheer amount of people you will be able to communicate with. Lucky for me, I have only Spanish left to tackle. 2. Talk To Someone You Are Unfamiliar With Another usually hard thing to do. Most of our social circles are limited to people within our same age range or have similar interests. Interacting with these people will not bring you new experiences and opportunities. There are reasons why networking sessions are so strongly recommended. They bring diverse people together who are interested in meeting more people. Each participant gets multiple opportunities to learn something new, either from the speaker or their peers. If you are less inclined in meeting people, try surfing to some internet forums you have never been to before. 3. Surf to an unknown Website Alexa http://www.alexa.com/site/ds/top_sites?ts_mode=global&lang=none provides a list of the top 500 sites in terms of traffic numbers. Choose one that you have never heard of before and dive in. Multiple top sites are in Chinese which is another great reason to get familiarized with the Chinese language 4. Read a best selling book you have no interest in The fact that it is a bestseller means that at least the quality is assured. Looking at Amazon's top seller list http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books? , I realized that many of the books are in the self improvement category. Try to not select these although you will be interested in them. 5. Take a walk In the absence of the danger of physical harm, try to take a walk around your neighbor hood. You might just discover something interesting that you have missed because you were driving too fast down the road. You might also rediscover neighbors whom who you forgotten exist! 6. Go to a class Sign up for a class. Dance classes, hobby related classes seem very popular to people who have a bit more time. They might have something of interest to you too. There are numerous places online to learn something new. One class I am attending now is the Adobe Photoshop CS2: introduction by HP. It is completely online and free too! 7. Get a hobby Another great way to try something new. Some people also manage to successfully turn their hobby into part time businesses. 8. Listen to a random radio station Visit podcast alley http://www.podcastalley.com/top_podcasts.php?num=50 to see what the popular podcast are. Download one and starting listening to it on your compute now! 9. Read every article in your newspaper Have you been guilty of scanning article titles and only reading the ones you have interest in? You paid the full price for the newspaper so make full use of it. Read every article. It might take you an entire hour by the price is well spent. Newspaper articles are usually well researched and have quality writing in them. That's something you won't find online consistently. 10. Come back to TodaysTen.com everyday Yes, it's a shameless plug. But I believe that your areas of experience will increase with our Daily Top Ten articles. To see the reason why Top Ten articles are so powerful, read my post on Why you need TodaysTen.com http://www.todaysten.com/2007/02/why-you-need-daily-top-ten.html To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com ================================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: ,-"""-. / - -'. db, 0 0 '---. 88b, \ 8888 0 | 8888, '.____,'/ Y88P \ .------' Do I look that shady? jgs `` |=( / ', | \ | \ | | ; | | | ,_(__/ / `--\ .-' | ||__ / '--.` '------` I just got a GPS for my car, and my first trip with it was to a drugstore. Since the manual said not to leave it in the car unattended, I brought it with me into the store. While there, the GPS came alive, and a voice stated, "Lost satellite contact." I wasn't embarrassed until a woman turned to me and said, "Your ankle bracelet monitor is talking to you." == From Clean Laughs.. To SUBSCRIBE: http://www.gophercentral.com/sub/sub-jokes.html === This post is brought your way by Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To get a regular dose of Christian humor and a modern-day parable drop a note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or to ajokeaday7-subscribe@topica.com. Please leave this attached if you forward this to friends or post on the net. ====================================== Worth Repeating..... Who needs fathers? We all do. We especially need our Father in heaven, who forgives our parenting inadequacies for Jesus' sake and who enables us each day with a fresh start. Just as the loving father in Luke's gospel welcomed home his lost son, our Father will one day welcome us into heaven together with all others who love and trust in Jesus. -- Dr. Rodney Rathmann ===================================== ..-"""--. .' '. .'_ _ \ _..-' 0) 0) ,;;,'. .' /,;;;;; \ / ___ / ,;;;;; | ; (;;;) , ,| ;;;;;; | ; `"` ,_ .'(.-')| ;;;;;; / \ \ ` ( \';;;'.' '._;--' _ _ '-./`--` '-, _ _ ) (`-/ \/ |_--; ;- \ ) \ \.' .-' | / | / \ /'._.'\ .-""-./`'---;-""-. | / \ / \ | | | | ||__.-`) | | | |/__.-' | |_.| |' jgs \ / \ / '----' '----' >A RADIANT GLOW by Janet Perez Eckles At 13 years of age, my parents and I visited an ophthalmologist. As I sat in the examining chair, my face firmly on the chin rest and pupils dilated, the doctor looked into my eyes, shining a bright light. "She did inherit it," he said with coldness. "You need to be prepared. There is no cure for this retinal disease." My father carried the Retinitis Pigmentosa gene causing a deterioration of the retina which, in most cases, results in blindness. Although my brother's retinas seemed to be fine, I'd inherited the gene. Fifteen years after my initial diagnosis, my father began to lose his eyesight and so did I. He was 55 years old, but I was only 28. In a matter of two years, we had both lost our sight completely. I focused on the effects of my own darkness. My world crumbled as the black curtain fell, destroying the dreams my husband and I had for us and for our three little boys. But when I turned to God for hope and strength, He responded by opening my eyes to a new revelation. My father had given me not just the RP gene, but the example of determination and tenacity as well. We were all living in Bolivia in 1964 when he defied the family's opposition to move to America. He and mom worked tirelessly to satisfy the requirements imposed by the U.S. Immigration Department to enter the country and establish residency. Once in the states, he overcame humiliation, intense loneliness, helplessness and uncertainty. He endured ridicule due to his lack of fluency in English, but he pressed on. And he managed to gather enough money for the basics -- rent a small apartment, buy modest furniture from thrift stores and put a down payment on a car. Nine months later, he sent airline tickets for my mom, my brother and me. Decades later, as an American citizen, I look back at what he'd shown me. He taught me the determination to move forward when facing adversity. He set an example proving that humility is crucial to success. He demonstrated the commitment to family and the importance of setting priorities. His journey taught me valuable lessons for my own path in the darkness. Much like a baby takes its first steps holding tight to his father's hand, my dad held onto God as he stepped from the comfort of our hometown in Bolivia to the unknown in a foreign land. I did the same as I stepped into the unfamiliarity of a sightless world. Holding onto God's hand, I gained confidence and learned the language of gratitude. With profound appreciation for my father's example, I learned how he had applied a powerful blend of faith and tenacity -- the same blend I used to fulfill my own role as a wife, mom, Sunday school teacher, Spanish court interpreter, inspirational speaker and writer. What I inherited from my father helped me to see my life with a more radiant and meaningful glow. -- Janet Perez Eckles ______________________________________________ Janet is an inspirational national speaker, freelance writer, and contributor to seven books including Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has authored "Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming adversities in Life." She imparts insights, inspiration and messages to uplift the soul at: http://www.janetperezeckles.com as seen in Heartwarmers To JOIN (it's free!), send an email to: join@heartwarmers.com ===================================================================== >-->From AndyChaps: _,,_ __ ." ".' '. / ) | /`-.__.' \ _| (, \_ ,_\ ( ) \ `\ __\ '-'.__/ (_ MORE CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPERS jgs | .---' ** ~ As soon as the weather clears up, the men will have a goof outing. ** ~ Fifth Sinday is Lent. ** ~ Thank you dead friends. ** ~ Diana and Don request your presents at their wedding. ** ~ Lent is that period for preparing for Holy Weed and Easter. ** ~ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget all His benefits. ** ~ For the word of God is quick and powerful...piercing even to the dividing asunder of soup and spirit. ** ~ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peach to men. ** ~ Persons who are shut-in during bath weather. ** ~ Bring one dozen coolies wrapped for Christmas. ** ~ The lovers in the exhaust fan are not working... ** ~ Don't forget that elections for Head Deacon and Dead Deaconess will be held at next month's business meeting. ** ~ We pray that our people will jumble themselves. ** ~ May God give us increasing hunger for the Blob. ** ~ There will not be any Women Worth Watching this week. ** ~ Hymn of Response: Crown Him With Many Cows ** ~ Child care provided with reservations. ** ~ Tonight, Pastor will preach on "Diving Healing." ** ~ Janet Smith has volunteered to strip, and refinish the communion table in the sanctuary. ** ~ Were you there when they laid Him in the bomb? ** ~ Christ is a member of Boy Scout Troop 36. ** ~ Mark your calendars not to attend the church retreat. ** ~ My joke is easy and my burden is light. ** ~ I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirty and you gave me drink. -<>- At our adult Sunday-school class, the teacher asked us to think of everyday ways in which we could practice our religion. The topic of driving courtesy came up first. "How do you respond to the driver who rudely cuts you off?" the teacher asked. A woman piped up, "Turn the other fender?" ================================================================== >-->From Laugh&Lift: ____ .-'& '-. / \ : o o ; ( (_ ) : ; \ __ / Spiders Can Be Good `-._____.-' /`"""`\ / , \ /|/\/\/\ _\ (_|/\/\/\\__) |_______| __)_ |_ (__ jgs (_____|_____) >God and the Spider (Author Unknown) During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen." After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. "Hah," he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor." As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall." We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget what God can work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. And remember with God, a mere spider's web becomes a brick wall of protection. SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ================================================================== If we would talk less and pray more about them, things would be better than they are in the world: at least, we should be better enabled to bear them. -- John Owen .0. / \ ; \_/ ; | | | | | | _______; ;_______ `======='\ /`=======` \ / _ | | _ _( \____|=|____/ )_ ( .---. .---. ) `-' / \ '-' / HUG \ ; ; | .---.|__, jgs : / :--' .--\ \ | `" `"".-' < =""` `"== `""""""` =""` `"""===="""` =""` `""==="""` Belief is the acceptance of a map, faith is taking the voyage. >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! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Pass this on as it should be of interrest to all who served. The study was carried out in Austrialia on their Vietnam Veterans. ABC Nat. Radio Health Report Autralian Vietnam Vets: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/HealthReportVV.mp3 VV ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food 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: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************