Happy 4th Of July! ... :) 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 ================ *~* Happy Blessed 4th Of July Weekend! .-"""""""-. .' __ \_ / / \/ \ | \_0/\_0/______ |:. .' oo`\ |:. / \ |' ; | | |:.. . \_______ | |::.|' , \,_____\ / |:::.; ' | . '| ====)_/===;===========;() |::; | | ; ; | | # # # #:::::: /::::.|-| |_|-|, \ # # # #:::::: /'-=-'` '-' '--'\ # # # #:::::: jgs / \ # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # H A P P Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # F O U R T H O F J U L Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # GOD BLESS AMERICA! ================== >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) >Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press ... \ .''. .''. *''* :_\/_: . :_\/_: . .:.*_\/_* : /\ : .'.:.'. .''.: /\ : _\(/_ ':'* /\ * : '..'. -=:o:=- :_\/_:'.:::. /)\*''* .|.* '.\'/.'_\(/_'.':'.' : /\ : ::::: '*_\/_* | | -= o =- /)\ ' * '..' ':::' * /\ * |'| .'/.\'. '._____ * __*..* | | : |. |' .---"| _* .-' '-. | | .--'| || | _| | .-'| _.| | || '-__ | | | || | |' | |. | || | | | | || | ___| '-' ' "" '-' '-.' '` |____ jgs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This one comes from a forward from our friend Viv. When I saw this one, it made me go and check it out to make sure it wasn't a hoax. Sure enough, it was all true! Check it out for yourself here: Amazing Gibraltar Airport! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/airroad.html --- ...Cool! Thank You Viv! -<>- >June was a great Caring And Sharing Month For Us! .''. .''. . *''* :_\/_: . :_\/_: _\(/_ .:.*_\/_* : /\ : .'.:.'. .''.: /\ : /)\ ':'* /\ * : '..'. -=:o:=- :_\/_:'.:::. | ' *''* * '.\'/.'_\(/_ '.':'.' : /\ : ::::: = *_\/_* -= o =- /)\ ' * '..' ':::' === * /\ * .'/.\'. ' ._____ * | *..* : |. |' .---"| * | _ .--'| || | _| | * | .-'| __ | | | || | .-----. | |' | || | | | | | || | ___' ' /"\ | '-."". '-' '-.' '` |____ jgs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ & ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ /| ejm97 ) ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ /|~ /_|\ _-H-__ -~-~-~-~-~-~ /_|\ -~======-~ ~-\XXXXXXXXXX/~ ~-~-~-~ /__|_\ ~-~-~-~ ~-~-~-~-~-~ ~-~~-~-~-~-~ ======== ~-~-~-~ ~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ ~-~~-~-~-~-~ ~-~~-~-~-~-~ If You haven't already, be sure to check out all the new pages made possible by forwards from our sweet friends! Ad Truck Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/truckart.html Wave Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/waveart.html Dog Houses 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/doghouses2.html Peek-a-Boo Panda! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/panda.html Soap Carving Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/soapart.html Humor In Politics 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/politics2.html Weird Rainy Days! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rainyday.html BibleStudy: Healing Part 1! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/healing1.html BibleStudy: Healing Part 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/healing2.html Wall Mural Art 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wallart2.html Friendly Fire! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendly.html Japan's Crop Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cropart.html Dog Logic! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/doglogic.html Moon Art W/MJ Tribute! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/moonart.html *~* SPECIAL THANK YOUS AND HUGS TO ALL OUR CONTRIBUTORS! ~ You Help To Enrich Our Lives! ~ ========================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: _ (_) |_________________________________________ |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | |#########################################| | | |#########################################| | | |###################################JGS###| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | | GOD BLESS AMERICA by Ron Gold She was "The Songbird of the South" -- the on-air host of three popular programs in Radio's Golden Age and one of the nation's three most admired women. She would eventually sell more than $7 million in Defense and War Bonds and be honored by every American President from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan. He was America's favorite composer -- a Russian immigrant destined to create a personal empire by writing both the words and music for some of America's best-loved musical stage plays and movies. Their historic collaboration turned a rejected song from a World War I soldier show into a continuing charity fund-raiser, a professional hockey team's good luck charm, major league baseball's "stretch music", a new president's emotional sign-off statement and... America's second national anthem. In November of 1938, Kate Smith, America's favorite radio personality, wanted to sing a special song to recognize the twentieth anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. Her manager, Ted Collins, asked America's favorite composer, Irving Berlin, to create a new song to honor the occasion. Berlin agreed and began writing, but nothing satisfied him. He then remembered a song he wrote when he was in the Army -- a tune the show's producers rejected for being "too much of a flag-waver". The song was "God Bless America". Berlin reviewed the song and made two changes in the lyrics. He rewrote "Stand beside her and guide her to the right with a light from above", changing the political words "to the right" to the non-political "thru the night". He also changed "From the green fields of Virginia to the gold fields in Nome" to "From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam". Miss Smith loved the song and sang it as her closing number on her November 10, 1938's "Kate Smith Hour". The new anthem was an immediate hit and the singer sang it on almost every broadcast through December 1940, when public performances of ASCAP songs were banned from the airwaves. The lyrics of "God Bless America" were inserted into the Congressional Record in a failed attempt to make the song our nation's new national anthem. The song was sung at both the Democratic and Republican conventions of 1940 and again, via a Kate Smith videotape, at the Republican Convention (which nominated George W. Bush) in 2000. President Bush ends most of his speeches saying the words: "God Bless America". In 1940, Irving Berlin established The God Bless America Foundation which assigned all royalties from his and Miss Smith's performances of the song to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. In 1943, when Irving Berlin produced his WWII soldier show, "This Is The Army" at Warner Brothers Pictures, he included a scene featuring Kate Smith recreating her 1938 radio broadcast. Two decades later, National Hockey League officials noted that, while Philadelphia Flyers' fans were not duly respectful when "The Star Spangled Banner" was played, they were more attentive when the public address system played Kate Smith's recording of "God Bless America". Flyers' fans also noted that their team won most games when Kate Smith's record was played. On the opening day of the 1973 season, Kate Smith strode across a red carpet in Philadelphia and sang the song in person. The Flyers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0. At critical games throughout the season, Kate Smith was driven down from New York to perform "God Bless America". She performed the song the night the Flyers beat the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup. Following the championship game, both teams lined up to shake her hand. The next season she sang it again when the Flyers retained the Stanley Cup, beating the New York Islanders. In 1987, the year after her death, Kate Smith was honored with a bronze statue, recognizing her as the Flyers' "good luck charm". Irving Berlin's "most important composition" has been constantly performed since the Twin Towers disaster on September 11, 2001. On our nation's "Second Day of Infamy", U.S. Senators sang "God Bless America" on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Canadian singer Celine Dion performed America's "Second National Anthem" on a nationwide telethon: "America: A Tribute To Heroes" on September 21, 2001. And major league baseball officials ordered the song to be played during the seventh inning stretches of all their baseball games. Not a shabby resume for a song originally rejected as "too much of a flag-waver". -- Ron Gold ___________________________________________ Ron lives in West Orange, New Jersey. He enjoys writing inspirational stories, mostly about his youth. He is the creative director for two major motivational agencies. You can reach him by clicking here: mailto:outthinkresumes@aol.com You can see the lyrics of the song God Bless America, written in the hand of Irving Berlin, which was sent to Dwight D. Eisenhower on December 28, 1940, here: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/at0067_1s.jpg ================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Viv :) o /\ /::\ /::::\ ,a_a /\::::/\ {/ ''\_ /\ \::/\ \ {\ ,_oo) /\ \ \/\ \ \ {/ (_^____/ \ \ \ \ \ \ .=. {/ \___)))*) \ \ \ \ \/ (.=.`\ {/ /=; ~/ \ \ \ \/ \ `\{/( \/\ / \ \ \/ \ `. `\ ) ) \ \/ jgs \ // /_/_ \/ '==''---)))) This is one of the best clean jokes I've been mailed in a while ! Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument about who was better on the computer. They had been going at it for days, and frankly God was tired of hearing all the bickering. Finally fed up, God said, "That's it! I have had enough. I am going to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those results I will judge who does the better job." So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away. They moused. They faxed. They e-mailed. They e-mailed with attachments.. They downloaded. They did spreadsheets! They wrote reports. They created labels and cards. They created charts and graphs. They did some genealogy reports. They did every job known to man. Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than hell. Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of course, the power went off... Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld. Jesus just sighed. Finally the electricity came back on, and each of them restarted their computers. Satan started searching frantically, screaming: 'It's gone! It's all GONE! 'I lost everything when the power went out!' Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours of work. Satan observed this and became irate.. 'Wait!' he screamed. 'That's not fair! He cheated! How come he has all his work and I don't have any?' God just shrugged and said, "JESUS SAVES...." --- ...TeeHee - A Good One! Thanks Viv! ======================================================== >-->From Joe R Alexander .:::. ':::' .: .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.: :. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.: :. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.: :. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: :. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: :. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: :. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: jgs .: .: .: To All: Please distribute to every Vietnam Veteran on your email list the following (also attached) announcement. This invitation is for all branches of services. Thanks, Joe R Alexander, President 101st Airborne Division Association --- Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Ceremony Fort Campbell, Kentucky 1400H 16 August 2009 MG Jeffrey J Schloesser, CG 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) has announced a Welcome Home Ceremony for Vietnam Veterans during the Week of the Eagle at Fort Campbell Kentucky on Sunday 16 August 2009. Vietnam Veterans from ALL units, branches and services are invited to participate in this very special opportunity. Vietnam Veterans will have the rare privilege of receiving the same welcome home that every member of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) receives when they return from the war on terrorism. To participate, everyone is to enter Fort Campbell, KY at Gate 7 on Sunday 16 August 2009 and assemble in casual patriotic attire no later than 1400H CST (2:00 PM) at the Freedom Fighter Gymnasium near the 4th BCT (506th Currahee) headquarters. Buses at the Freedom Fighter Gymnasium will transport everyone to and from Hangar 3. At Hangar 3, family and friends will assemble inside while the Vietnam Veterans form and “dress right dress” outside the hangar. The grand moment will be when the hangar doors open to the sound of patriotic music, banners, cheers and tears. The Vietnam Veterans will be greeted by our new Commanding General, MG John F Campbell (former Commander 1st Bde 82nd Abn Div), families, friends and other patriots. What a memorable moment! I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and it touches me deeply to know that our Commanding General has made this special effort to include the Vietnam Veteran in the same honors given to our active duty Soldiers. After the Hangar 3 ceremony, buses will return everyone to the Freedom Fighter Gymnasium (air-conditioned) and a sit down free Bar-B-Q meal for the Vietnam Veteran and one guest. The Golden Rule Smokehouse Restaurant is donating the meals. To confirm (1) how many will attend the ceremony (2) to reserve a meal for yourself and one guest, (3) your branch of service and (4) handicap needs, please call the Hopkinsville-Christian County Chamber of Commerce at (270) 885-9096 or email akrohn@hopkinsvillechamber.com NLT 9 August 2009. Also, please show your appreciation to the Golden Rule Smokehouse Restaurant (http://www.goldenrulebbq.com/stores.php) for their generosity to the Vietnam Veterans. The website listing the Week of the Eagle activities is www.fortcampbellmwr.com/woe/. While at the WOE, be sure to visit the 101st Airborne Division Association office at 32 Screaming Eagle Blvd near Gate 4 So, plan your trip, confirm your attendance, come to Fort Campbell, visit the 101st Airborne Division Association office and celebrate the Week of the Eagle with other veterans and members of our active duty Screaming Eagle family. Joe R Alexander, President 101st Airborne Division Association Mary Brenner Membership Administrator 101st Airborne Division Association PO Box 929 Fort Campbell, KY 42223 (931) 431-0199 ext 35 Fax (931) 431-0195 assocmemberinfo@comcast.net =============================================================== >-->From Both Our Friends Viv And John-Paul :) ======;===========;() #######:::::: #######:::::: #######:::::: jgs #######:::::: ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# [Politics] >Pied Piper: There was a Pied Piper who said We live in the greatest country in the world. Help me change it! *And the people said, Change is good! Then he said, We are going to tax the rich fat-cats, *And the people said, Sock it to them! and redistribute their wealth. *And the people said, Show me the money! And then he said, Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody *And Joe the plumber said, Are you kidding me? And Joe ' s personal records were hacked and publicized. *And one lone reporter asked, Isn ' t that Marxist policy? And she was banished from the kingdom! Then someone asked, " With no foreign relations experience, how will you deal with radical terrorists? " And the Pied Piper said, Simple. I ' ll sit down and talk with them and show them how nice we really are and they ' ll forget that they ever wanted to kill us all! Then the Pied Piper said, I ' ll give 95% of you lower taxes. *And one, lone voice said, But 40% of us don't pay ANY taxes! So the Pied Piper said, Then I'll give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay! *And the people said, "Show me the money!" Then the Pied Piper said, I'll tax your Capital Gains when you sell your homes! *And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed. And he said, I'll mandate employer- funded health care for EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage. *And the people said, "Gimme some of that!" Then he said, I'll penalize employers who ship jobs overseas. *And the people said, "Where's my rebate check?" Then the Pied Piper actually said, I'll bankrupt the coal industry and electricity rates will skyrocket! *And the people said, "Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don't care for that part about higher electric rates." So the Pied Piper said, Not to worry. If your rebate isn't enough to cover your expenses, we'll bail you out. Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over! Then he said, illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted. Let's grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches, free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed housing *And the people said, Ole`! Bravo! And they made him King! And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers. Others simply gave up and went out of business and the economy slowed even further. Then the Pied Piper said, I am the Messiah and I'm here to save you! We'll just print more money so everyone will have enough! But our foreign trading partners said, Wait a minute. Your dollar isn't worth what it was. You'll have to pay more. *And the people said, "Wait a minute. Thats not fair!" And the world said, Neither are these other, idiotic programs you've embraced. You've become a Socialist state and a second-rate power. Now you'll play by our rules! *And the people said, "What have we done?" But it was too late. If you think this is a fairy tale, open your eyes and ears. Its happening RIGHT NOW! --- ...Thanks Viv and John-Paul!! Scary eh? It all goes to JOIN A TEA PARTY for the 4th - Have a little fun being loud and obnoxious. Might as well, hey, at least it is free! _..._ ||||||| ||||||| _|*****|_ ( '-...-' ) {`;-----;`} {(| a a|)} \| _\ |/ \ - / jgs '{_}` Tired of the spending? Join a Tea Party! http://www.teapartyday.com/ *~* PLEASE Be Sure To Pass This On! Thanks :) ============================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` Lay It Aside Let us lay aside every weight, and... run with endurance... - Hebrews 12:1 NKJV The Bible says, 'Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it' (1Corinthians 9:24 NKJV). In life you only get to run once, so run to win. To avoid stumbling or losing your place, don't look back. You can't change the past, but thank God you can learn from it and leave it behind. Don't be anxious about the next lap, focus only on the next step. If you miss that you may fall and not get up again. Before you know it you'll soon have more laps behind you than ahead of you, so make every lap count: 'Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.' Many of us carry the weight and worry of burdens that older and wiser people understand are of no real importance. We spend our strength extinguishing fires that, if left alone, would burn out on their own. Time is your most valuable resource. Save it and you've increased your assets and decreased your liabilities. Get rid of the baggage of old relationships, pointless fears, and false indebtedness to those who seek to manipulate you. There are enough painful trials in life; why endure the ones you can lay aside? When blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was within reach he threw off his coat lest it trip him up, and ran toward Him. And his faith paid off: '... Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus... ' (Mark 10:52 NKJV). Today, 'lay it aside' and run! SoulFood Bible Readings: 1 Kings 12-13, Mark 13:12-23, Ps 117, Pr 12: 20-22 as seen in The Word For Today -<>- ( __________ )\ / /\______{,} jgs \_________\/ He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.' Psalm 91:15 NIV A child picks up the phone and dials 000 and asks is Santa there?' Why? Because he had been annoying his Mum!. Did you know that every day people call 000 when they shouldn't. Calls that say I've stubbed my toe' There's a dead cat in the road' I've lost my keys' there's a spider in my bath' There's a rat in my kitchen' I've run out of credit!' sound funny at first. But when you see posters about town saying Call an ambulance for the wrong reason and someone might die' and you realize the seriousness of the situation. What's so great about God is that He can always cope with the amount of emergency calls He gets. He doesn't even mind if they're trivial or not. He just wants you to call. He wants you to know He's always there to help you. Whatever is bothering you bothers Him. You are so important to Him, you matter so much. The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name."' (Psalm 91:14 NLT). Or as it says in the CEV I will rescue you and keep you safe.' as seen in Word4U2Day -<>- . : . __________ '. : .' / /\__.__'.:.' . jgs \_________\/ . .':'. . .' : '. ' : ' If Biblical Headlines were written by Today's Liberal Media On Red Sea crossing: WETLANDS TRAMPLED IN LABOR STRIKE Pursuing Environmentalists Killed On David vs. Goliath: HATE CRIME KILLS BELOVED CHAMPION Psychologist Questions Influence of Rock On Elijah on Mt. Carmel: FIRE SENDS RELIGIOUS RIGHT EXTREMIST INTO FRENZY 400 Killed On the birth of Christ: HOTELS FULL, ANIMALS LEFT HOMELESS Animal Rights Activists Enraged by Insensitive Couple On feeding the 5,000: PREACHER STEALS CHILD'S LUNCH Disciples Mystified Over Behavior On healing the 10 lepers: LOCAL DOCTOR'S PRACTICE RUINED "Faith Healer" Causes Bankruptcy On healing of the Gadarene demoniac: MADMAN'S FRIEND CAUSES STAMPEDE Local Farmer's Investment Lost On raising Lazarus from the dead: FUNDAMENTALIST PREACHER RAISES A STINK Will Reading to be Delayed as seen in Laugh and Lift To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Tony In Australia :) ( (_) ### . (#c __\|/__ #\ wWWWw \ \-. (/. .\) /\ /`\/\ /\ |\/ \_) (_| `\.' ; ; `' ;`\ `\; ; . ;/\ `\; ; ;| \ ; .' ' ; / |_.' ; | /) ( ''._;/` | ' . ; |.-' .:) | | ( .' : | |,- .:: | | ,-' .;| jgs_/___,_.:_\_ [I_I_I_I_I_I_] | __________ | | || | | || | _| ||_|__|_|| |_ /=--------------=\ / \ | | >ABOUT PEACE ( part 1) I was looking through some of today’s posts on some of my lists and I noticed the frequency of the mention of the words.. Happiness and Joy and Peace….. I wonder, do we understand and experience the meaning of these words. Lets take a look at the word Peace.. I don’t think anyone alive today or even anyone who died in bygone years can claim to be an expert in peace. To be an expert in anything takes practice and we human beings are not all that good at practicing peace. Theres a group of ‘clever men’ educated men, historians mainly, who got together and studied human history and they found that since about the year 3600 BC, this planet has only experienced something like 292 years of peace…Now, isn’t THAT amazing? 14,350 wars are recorded to have taken place since back then. Some were small skirmishes and some were devastatingly large, and all….. have been destructive. Some have been in Latin American countries, some in Asia, some in Africa and the Middle East. It almost seems that human kind has its mind set on self destruction… “Peace” just isn’t easy to find throughout the world. Where does it all stem from? This ‘lack of peace’…. Well, I believe that it can come from our own personal lives and the way we live them. We see on TV news programs, the results of ‘gang wars’, we hear of occultism, we hear of political uprisings, we hear of strikes in the work place, strikes in prisons, strikes in the medical fraternity..and the list goes on. Lots of ‘unrest’, ….but very little peace is evident. I read a day or two ago, that gangland activities in some of the southern states of America take as many as 4000 teenage lives in a year! That is unbelievable! 4000 lives are also lost to suicide amongst teens! Peace….. does not cause suicide,…. mental turmoil, causes suicide. I wonder how much money is spent on medications and treatments for people who suffer from depression in a year? I wonder how much is spent in research to get to the ‘causes’ of depression? The ‘powers that be’ may be doing what they can, but whatever they are doing…….. it isn’t enough. We need to get to the bottom of what makes us restless and insecure. One of the greatest Latin Church fathers, was a man called Augustine. He lived from about 354-430, so he was 76 years old when he died. He spent a great deal of his life, searching for peace, so greatly was he committed to his search he almost drove himself nuts but then he came across a man called ‘Ambrose’ who was a Bishop in Milan, and it was Ambrose who led Augustine to the Lord Jesus and at last, he found peace in the Lord. Augustine spoke and wrote the words “ The heart is restless, till it finds peace in Thee”. It is Jesus, who shows us how to make peace between ourselves and God..( Rom 5:1)Those of us who have struggled with God, need to lay down our arms and get on our knees and seek the Cross, because that’s where our peace is made, through Calvary…If we can see Christ in our minds eye, nailed to the Cross and bearing OUR sins, then you will feel Him reach out to you, taking you by your hand and reaching out to God with the other, and that…..is when you will find your peace… Jesus says to us in His Word…. “ I am the Way”….and I believe He is the only way we can find peace ……beyond our earthly measure. Look for more on Peace, Joy and happiness Br Tony -<>- .--.-,-.-.-,-.--. | \ / | | \ / | | .===,=,===. | _/\_; .-'`^`'-. ;_/\_ ( /` /_________\ `\ ) | | |===========| | | | | | | | | | | | , | | | | | ;_{_________; | | | |/===`>========\| | | ;-._<`________.-; | | | | U | | | / | |___________| | \ | | |jgs | '-------------------------' >Happiness and Joy and Peace About Peace( part 2) and now about Joy… David once wrote “I will lie down in peace, and sleep: for You alone O Lord, make me dwell in safety” When we give ourselves to the Lord, we experience a peace we never even imagined existed and our lives begin to change…. I know as Christians, gambling is not the done thing, but what would you feel if you had bought a ticket in a lottery for a charity lets say ( to keep the hounds away! Hah) for a brand new Rolls Royce! And you win! Wow! What a “JOY” that would be! Or a free world trip all expenses paid!, Maybe you win a lot of money! Would that give you great ‘joy’?..... How long would it last? Till you have to pay for that first service on the car maybe? You won’t get a mechanic to look at it for under $1000.00! where’s the joy in that? A world trip? I have been there ! didn’t like that place, all hussle and bussle, so we are going somewhere else next time!.. A lot of money? By the time I paid my tithes, donate some to charity, buy myself a Rolls Royce and take a world trip….ain’t too much left! And the joy is out the window..! Maybe that’s because in reality, we don’t ‘know’ what joy is……think on that.. Let me take some poetic license here and substitute another word for Joy, let me call it “happiness”…. If you won that car, if you won that world trip. If you won all that money….would it make you ‘happy’ ?? Well, for a time …maybe… did that change how you perceive the word ‘joy’? I thought it would. There is quite a difference in Joy and Happiness….Everyone at some stage experiences a measure of happiness, but not everyone gets to experience ‘Joy’… Generally speaking, happiness comes to us through something we see maybe, or hear, or experience in some ‘outward’ way…. A foal suckling, a brilliant sunrise, a bird taking it’s first flight…. All these things make us happy, make us smile and sometimes laugh, but…..Joy, ‘if’ you have experienced joy ,you feel an ‘inside warmth’ don’t you think? In my way of thinking, you may or may not agree, but happiness is the feeling you get, when all is ok with you and what surrounds you physically. Joy is something we feel when things are ok….between ourselves…and God. We feel ‘happiness’ when we are broke and find a twenty dollar note on the ground or when we receive a nice present or something ‘happens’ in our lives..then we are happy.. But Joy! Joy comes into our lives…when Jesus comes into our lives! Happiness is like being on a roller coaster, one time you are up and another down, like a barometer! But joy!... is not like that! Joy doesn’t fluctuate to certain ‘levels’ and Joy with Christ….. is a ‘constant’… Those who live right with God, will be so full of Joy that we cannot help but ‘shout’! Shout to the Earth! About the Joy of the knowledge of God! Ps 32 says Be glad in the Lord and REJOICE! Ps 35 says Let them SHOUT for JOY! And be glad….. Are you too embarrassed to shout in church because you are concerned what people may think? Well folks,let’s worry more about what GOD thinks!.....Ps 16:11 says You will show me the path of LIFE! And in YOUR presence is the FULLNESS of JOY! Praise the Lord! Your presence is the FULLNESS of Joy! What’s the word ‘fullness’ mean? It means to ‘overflow’….let your joy OVERFLOW! And it may just ‘overflow’…..onto others… Br Tony…. -<>- >About Peace part 3( final) For us to be able to give an expression of PEACE, our hearts need to be right with God and it’s the same with JOY. In Hebrew the word ‘simchah’ means gladness or inner joy. Ps 16:11 says this….” You will show me the path of life : In Your presence…… is fullness of JOY (simchah) at Your right hand ..are pleasures for ever more. People, anyone can be happy, but not all those we meet will have found joy. True joy will be seen only in those who have found the pathway of life which leads them to a life in the presence of God! HE! Is the way! And HE is the source of eternal JOY and PEACE and HAPPINESS Amen? Please say ‘amen'... [AMEN] In the New Testament the Greek word for Joy is “ chara”, it also means ‘gladness’.. The word itself, actually implies that with a right mind on God and for God,… we find Joy Christ found Joy!…..He said “ These things I have spoken to you, that My JOY! May remain in you and that your Joy…may be full… Soon after he spoke these words, the Apostles began to take the Gospel throughout Asia Minor and in Acts 13:52 the Bible says “ and the Disciples were filled with JOY! And the Holy Spirit! Paul said this….Rom 14:17…For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Well let me tell you this….this was what Paul felt Peace and Joy!... in the Holy Ghost! He felt it down deep in his heart and why? Because JOY is one of the fruits of the Spirit! Yes Saints, Joy IS different from happiness…..everyone can feel happiness in some measure and at some time… But its just those who are in the ‘right place’ with God, who feel true Joy. Jesus is the WAY to true JOY and PEACE and HAPPINESS….. O let your soul now be filled with Gladness Your heart REDEEMED! Rejoice Indeed! O may the though banish all your sadness That in HIS blood you have been freed, That God’s unfailing Love is yours. That YOU!, the Only Son were given, That by His Death, he has opened Heaven, That you are ransomed….as you are… Joy, Peace and Happiness always to you and yours… Br Tony --- 9::::======= |::::======= |=========== jgs |=========== ...Awesome! Thank You Tony and Right Back At Ya :) Also See... Galatians 5: 22, 23 -- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/fruitofthespirit.html Rejoice in the Lord alway [always – pantote] and again I say, Rejoice. – Philippians 4: 4 Joy Is An INSIDE Job http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/joyaninsidejob.html ============================================================ ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... >-->From InspiredBuffalo: >PARADISE WITHIN By: Joseph J. Mazzella My good friend and neighbor is dying. She has battled more health problems through the years than anyone should have to endure. Now as she approaches her 57th birthday she knows that it will probably be her last. She has started giving away a lot of her things so her loving husband won’t be stuck with her "Junk" as she says. She has already given me several books, containers, clothes for my daughter, and a beautiful Hawaiian shirt to add to my collection. She has given all of us around her much more than just her stuff, though. She has also given us her friendship, her kindness, and her joyous smile. She has given us her wit, wisdom, and sweet laughter. She has given us her shining spirit that has made all of our lives so much brighter. When my daughter turned 19 my friend made her a red velvet cake and talked with her about what is important in life. When a local dog was nearly killed by a bear my friend welcomed it into her home and nursed it back to health. When any of us needed anything she was there doing all that she could with a heart full of love and a soul full of goodness. She did all of this too while her health continued to grow worse and worse. My friend, however, is not afraid of death. She has told me several times that she believes it will only be like a brief sleep and then she will awaken in Paradise. I am sure as well that she will fit right in there, because she already has a lot of paradise within herself. It is the paradise within her that she has so freely and beautifully given to us all. I thank God for giving me a chance to get to know her. She has shown me that we all have a bit of paradise within ourselves. She has shown me too that the best way to enjoy that paradise is to share it with everyone you meet. I wish my friend only joy in her remaining days here and endless love and life in her coming days in Paradise. -<>- I lost a dear friend June 26th Julian Stetnish. The most humble Christian man I have been blessed to have known. A veteran of World War II, a man who knew Will Rogers, an Elder Emeritus and was honored as one of Oklahoma's 'Centenarians' during an OU game. He was the same age as OU. He will sit at the Table with his Master. All of this, he was my friend. I wrote this a few years ago... Julian, my 102 Year-old Friend and our Journey Once a month I try to take Julian, a member of our church for a short trip. Julian has an amazing mind, sharp and clear. He enjoys our time together. I have taken him to Spaghetti Warehouse in downtown bricktown, OKC. I have taken him to see Jackie Chan's sequel to the Shanghai Kid, Shanghai Knights, at the movies. However, yesterday was his favorite trip. After church we took US highway 277 through a lot of small towns and wound up at Meers, Oklahoma, population 3. Meers has a restaurant has is state famous for their longhorn hamburgers. They serve about 100,000 a year according to Southern Living magazine. The restaurant is rustic and has a seismograph as the restaurant is close to a fault. The food was terrific. The drinks were served in fruit jar glasses. Around the restaurant photos of Frank James, Geronimo and photos of cowboys days long past were displayed. After we left the restaurant we drove up Mt. Scott the tallest mountain in Oklahoma(outside of Lawton, Oklahoma). The mountain is a baby mountain but the terrain and the mountain range is very old, older than the rockies. Next stop was the Holy City, a replica of Bethlehem and the site of the longest running passion play in the United States, about 77 years. Tens of thousands watch the play every year on blankets and lawn chairs while the actors work from the tomb, the manger, even the ark of Noah is represented. The church at this location is something else. It reminds me of how a church in old Istanbul might look. The ceilings are painted in the manner of old Christian churches of the middle east. Portraits of the original disciples adorn the inside. This is truly an amazing sight. Of course the last few stops are on open range where hundreds of buffalo and longhorns run wild. Do not try to take a picture close up of a buffalo or a longhorn as they are wild. One little good deed we did was I picked up a native-american lady who was going to a pow-wow. She was scheduled to dance but had a misunderstanding with a loved one and did not want to dance in her mood. She had walked about 10 miles before we picked her up and took her home (another 10 miles). She was thankful and we were blessed as she told us some scenic routes to take. Last stop, Medicine Park, Oklahoma. Without a doubt the most fantastic town I have seen in Oklahoma. Most of the buildings are made of cobblestone so there is a certain conformity to the whole town. A large stream runs through the middle of town and we parked and watched kids climb trees and jump into the water. The water enters town via a waterfall and is about 30 feet or so wide and the depth varies. The town is placed on a hilly area and is beautiful. We had to visit the town a second time before we left the area. Live music drifted through the air from a open area of a restaurant stamping our memory to come back one day. What I remember was Julian laughing with joy at the top of the mountain, Julian laughing with joy at seeing the buffalo roam and the multitude of prairie dogs posing as we drove by and lastly, the firm handshake he gave me at his home with the words of thanking me for showing him parts of Oklahoma he had never seen before. B.J. Cassady Guthrie, Oklahoma A ps Yesterday we said goodbye to Julian. In church, my wife sang him a song, I told him how much I will miss him and 'thanks for the memories.' He is moving to Indiana to be with his son. Julian, who rafted the Illinois river at 81, who rode the rails, who experiences each day as a new child, who is one of the three most humble men I have ever known. Julian, a walking living testimony of how to live life, how to inspire people and how to worship God, is moving away. He said, "This is just another chapter in my life." Julian, my friend go with peace, go with God and someday when you are there with Him put a word in for me because I am certain you are in good standing with the Man. BJ -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Chicken Run 2 http://www.buffaloschips.com/lkjjdflkj.htm Chicken Order http://www.buffaloschips.com/lijlkjd.htm Chickens Revenge http://www.buffaloschips.com/lkjk.htm Child Psy http://www.buffaloschips.com/uyur5.htm Children http://www.buffaloschips.com/ui5.htm Chimp http://www.buffaloschips.com/kl65.htm Michael Jackson - RIP Animations http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_k-o.html A Woman's Dream http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woman.html Tigerfish http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tigerfish.html Roller Coasters: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/coaster.html Mountain Biking http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mountainbiking.html Oregon Aquarium http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oregon.html Truth Matters! http://www.TruthOrTradition.com/seminars Azada: Ancient Magic http://tinyurl.com/kvyxfb Warlords Fighting Game http://tinyurl.com/mjwkf2 Dog Peeing Earns $100,000 http://tinyurl.com/l34n3o Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: _ (_) <___> | |______ | |* * * ) | | * * (_________ | |* * * |* *|####) | | * * *| * | (________________ | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | | * * *| * | | | | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | |~~~~~~| * | | | | |######|* *|####|##############| | | |~~~' | | | |######|########|##############| | | | | | | |######|########|##############| | |~~~~~~| | | | | |########|##############| | | '~~~~~~~~| | | | |##########JGS#| | | '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | >THE FLAGS OF HAYDEN STREET by Stephen T. Banko The 4th of July is upon us and the flags are flying in force this year. There is a street in St. Teresa's parish in South Buffalo, New York, that takes display of the flag very seriously. The flags will fly as an individual act of respect on the porches of nearly every home on the street. They fly as a collective celebration from the street poles along its edges. I like driving on Hayden Street. The respect for the flag makes me feel good. Long ago and far away, I learned a tough lesson about how much flags can mean. My squad was the point element on a hill assault somewhere in a place called War Zone C. As I was about to start up the hill, my commander approached me with some trite words of encouragement. He must have known that survival was all the motivation I needed. He patted me on the back, stuck something in my rucksack and mumbled something like, "Fly it proudly when you reach the top." While he pontificated about pride, I prayed. The hill was only four hundred meters high, but the battle made it seem like Everest. About an hour into the fight and half way to the summit, one of my guys took a grenade fragment in the jaw. He was a scared, young, black kid from Philadelphia. I cleaned the bone and blood and broken teeth from his mouth while the medic struggled to keep him from going into shock. Not long after that, a bullet struck the fallen tree I was using for cover and some bark, or a bullet fragment, or both, struck me below the eye, causing it to swell shut. Such an injury stops a boxing match but not a battle. So the kid with the broken jaw and I helped each other press on to the summit. We helped each other because we both needed help. The issue of skin color wasn't an issue in that rarefied air of interdependence. When I was sitting, in near total exhaustion, on the battered burning hilltop, the issue of color started to matter again. The battalion commander, from a helicopter a thousand feet above the hill, asked my radioman what happened to the flag he'd given me. I had forgotten I had it. I asked one of the guys to pull it out of my pack and stick it on a tree trunk. The soldier who did so was black and he got my attention with a soft, "I'll be damned." The flag I had carried to the summit was not the flag of our nation. It was a state flag -- from my commander's state -- filled by the stars and bars of the Confederate battle flag. Looking at my squad through the filter of that flag, I became acutely aware that almost half the bloodied, tired soldiers who had fought their way up that hill were black. It just didn't seem like the thing to do at the moment, commander or no commander. I tossed the flag into one of the small fires burning near-by and told the radio operator to tell the commander I'd lost it during the fight. This year, our flag means something again. It means that we are one people, one nation. That meaning is the essence of the day we celebrate and the ideal so many have sacrificed for. Just like those flags I see on Hayden Street, the flag on that blasted hill in that God-forsaken place said something important about those who thought it wise to fly it. I like the message on Hayden Street a lot better. -- Stephen T. Banko ___________________________________________ Stephen spent 19 months in Vietnam combat. He was wounded six times, four by gunshot. You can reach him by clicking here: mailto:Duffysboss@aol.com ================================================================= ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` "True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DDARE 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 ************************************************************************