Finally - Back On Line - Happy Father's Day! ... :) 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 ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ _....._ .--. _.-' `-._ o/o-;;; ( `-._ _.-' ) (_, z) `:-._'---'_.-:' ,,,, _|-' / : `'''`_,-/`-._ /.. ) /\`--/"\ : [_./_ /_ _(_& _P / \_/, | : :`-/(_`_____ _\-'_/___/ /| : _.-: 8 \=__))____/ | : |'_.-: \_ | / F : | : : //`7/ / / : | :.-: (( (( L_______/ : |o : /_>/_> / Y / : |_.-': / / / : : J J J (`'-._____,-'`) | | | | | | | | | | _J__J__J (_ _) (__(_____) cjr'-..___..-' 2may01 *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This too hot to handle new page is from our friend Linda. This is a collection of some of the world's most beautiful and fascinating buildings. These architects went over and above all expectations when designing these engineering marvels. Leaving us all to revel at their magnificence. Be sure to check this one out here... nY88Pn 8"""-----....._____ N +N 8 NNNNNN8 N +N nd88n P NNNNNNP N +N N +N d dNN ... dNNNNNN __...---"Nn. N +N N +N 8 NNP dNNP dNN NNNNNNN 8"" NNNNn N +N N +N 8 ""' NNP NNNNNNN 8 oo NNNNN N +N N +N 8 NNNNNNP Y dN NN NNNNN N +N N +N P ooo dNNNNNN b NY "" YNNNN N +N N +N d dNN' dNN NNNNNNN 8 _ bNNNb N +N N +N 8 """ NNP NNNNNNN 8 o8 88 NNNNN N +N N +N 8 NNNNNNN Y BP "" NNNNN N +N N +N 8 nnn NNNNNNP b NNNNN N +N N +N P NNP dNNNNNN 8 YNNNN N +N M +N d "" NNNNNNN 8 NNNNb N +N N +N 8 NNNNNNN Y NNNNN __N___+N__N +N 8 NNNNNNP b NNNNNooooodP""""""""YNNNNNNbcgmmnnn8 dNNNNNN 8 """' `"""""8 NNNNNNN 8 P NNNNNNN Y NNNNNNNNN d NNNNNNN b NNNNNNNNN 8 NNNNNNP 8 NNNNNNNNP 8 dNNNNNN 8 NNNNNNNN; 8 NNNNNNN Y NNNNNNNN: P NNNNNNN b NNNNNNNN; d NNNNNNP 8 NNNNNNNN 8 dNNNNNN ______8__........----------""""""""""""------...8..______ NNNNNNN _________........----------""""""""""""------......_____ """""----NNNNNNN """""----....___ """-- """--- Incredible Architecture http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/architecture.html --- ...I do so love architecture! These are sweet! Thanks Linda! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: /:""| .@@@@@, |: 66|_ @@@@@@@@, C _) aa`@@@@@@ \ ._| (_ ?@@@@ ) / =' @@@@" /`\\ \(``` || |Y| //`\ ."~~~~~". || |#| / | || | .:. | || |#| \ | || A | /6 6\ | || |#| / | || |~|_|_\ e /_|_ .@@@@, :| |=: / | |\ |_|)___`"`___(8 aa`@@@, ||_|,| | |_| \ |~~~~~~~~~| = `@@@ \)))|| | ((( | \_________/ )_/`@' |~~~`-`~~~| `~\~~~~~~| |/ /_\ \| / || @ | | `\ / ()/___\() | || @ |_________| ( || ||~~~~~|| /~|| "` |_________| | || || || /__W_\ | || | || || || ||| |_||__ __|_|| ||_____|| _||| jgs (____)) (:;:;)) ||-----|| ((___) >THE MOST ELUSIVE QUARRY EVER by Shelley Madden My stepfather served a 21-year tenure as an Army Staff Sergeant. After retirement, he would often camp alone on the weekends in our local National forest. He continued to rise before dawn to start his day, as he had done while actively serving. He would hunt and fish during the day, followed by reading and relaxation under the starry sky, his faithful dog at his side. During one of his many excursions, an unknown thief entered his tent late one moonless night. Without waking him, the prowler quietly removed his most valued possession. My stepfather was left behind undisturbed, wrapped in his sleeping blanket, oblivious to the horror which would await him early in the morning. Always on schedule, he woke before daylight. Fumbling around in his tent for the flashlight, he rose and neatly dressed in his usual military camouflage. Ah, he was now the hunter extraordinaire. It was time to start a fire and make coffee, read for a bit, and at first light perhaps do some serious target practice. He began packing his supplies for the day's outing, soon noticing something was missing. They were gone! In a panic, he fumbled around the floor of the tent, searching through his clothing and gear. Boxers, socks and camping supplies were thrown into the air, only to hit the top of the tent and rain down upon him. He quickly unzipped his sleeping bag, searching inside. Nothing! It was empty. How could this happen? How could they just disappear into thin air? He was a grizzled and cantankerous veteran. Trained to sleep with one eye open, always on guard. He soon realized this was no act of simple forgetfulness. His military career had taught him organization skills which he adhered to strictly. It was time to broaden the search. Without hesitation, he burst outside into the dense woods. He would hunt the thief down! Crawling at dawn on the forest floor, he was a well-oiled hunting machine. Years of training had fine-tuned him into a fearless predator. With honed precision and animal stealth, he crept amongst the leaves searching under brush and thicket. Fallen tree limbs arced behind him into the air, as he scattered leaves into the winds, exposing only bare earth. He was a soldier on a mission, decades of stalking his prey came rushing back to him with vengeance. He would not give up the search! Nearly two hours later, by the grace of God, the mystery was solved. A glimmer of white beneath the leaves caught his eye, beaming up at him. He had found his missing possession, his pride and joy, semi-covered in the mossy earth. He carefully picked up his dentures, gently shaking off the dirt and debris. As his little dog stood nearby watching, he soon realized who the culprit was. The rascal! During the night, she had crept into the tent, helping herself to his most needed item. She had carried them out one at a time deep into the woods, playing with his teeth until her master awoke. He looked around for other campers, discreetly rinsed them off in the nearby river, and popped them back into his mouth. With newly regained composure, he stood up straight and proud like the soldier he was, turned on his heel and marched back to camp. It was time to start breakfast -- now that he could finally eat. His little dog followed humbly behind, oblivious to his humiliation. In my mind's eye, I can see my stepfather's hunting trophies lining the shelves in his den. Yellowed pictures of long ago expeditions decorate the walls. He sits at his desk, oiling his gun, or browsing through an outdoor magazine. Just above him, carefully mounted upon a wooden plaque, rest his dentures. The most elusive quarry ever. -- Shelley Madden =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >YOU ARE ENOUGH By Heather Spears Kallus God needs us. This I know. He has ground to till and seeds to sow. Have you ever thought God can't use you? Far from perfect. Mistakes we do. Our feelings of doubt and those of fear, Can hinder God's work all through the year. His knock on our door may be gentle or loud. You'll hear it alone or when in a crowd. Can you be the one to help God out? Be available. That's what it's about. Do you question your gifts, your talents, and more? Be open to see what God has in store. He believes in us more than we see. Saying yes to Him is truly the key. He doesn't call the qualified, but qualifies the called. He doesn't care if you're hairy or completely bald. If you're short or tall or maybe between, A seasoned helper at times or fresh and green. No matter your age, background, or money, If you're quiet, calm, upbeat, or funny. He needs us. He wants us. He'll bless us for giving, Ourselves to Him - instruments while living. Am I enough? Are you enough? He'll take us all - the tender and tough. Temperaments differ. Personalities vary. He needs us - the single and those who marry. On this earth, we're His feet and hands, There's much to do in all His lands. We are clay in His care, ready to mold. He needs the young, middle-aged, and old. Need a sign? Well, this is it. It's time to take action. Don't just sit. You're enough. I'm enough. We are enough, I'll say. God is calling us in a very special way. Thank you, in advance, for your yes to His call. Don't be afraid. He'll pick us up when we fall. Let's spread His love the ways we can, To every child, every woman, and also each man. Are we overly sensitive? A bit too rough? Worry not, my friend, because YOU ARE ENOUGH! --- ...Absolutely! Thanks LouiseAu! __.--._ .' L `.--._ `/ c '` \ `. : ; `. | ; \ /`. | ' / \ / -.\ \ ^ ;/ _ \ : \`.:/ \| `.| ; | :'' ' ; | | |`. _/_ ; [bug] : : `-._____/ `. / \ | :/ , V\ /"\ __.--; _ : `./ / ; ; : |\_/ | \L _..--. `.L.' |`. __ | | ;`. ; _ \\' `. /`+'.'`. | | | | \CT_; `-. ' / / | |-_| | .-'`.___. `-. / / ; : ; :.-' `-./ /. / \/_/ _ \/ `./ " `._.' Often I marvel at Christians simply because they like to lesson themselves before other people. True, it is good to be modest and not to be boastful or full of sinful pride, but really, some people take it way too far. Are you like this? Do you tend to belittle yourself before others? You probably don't have a clue what I am getting at. Most of us Christians are so used to taking the back seat and being modest about ourselves that we negate our own worthiness. We like singing the Christian songs that tell of how unworthy and sinners and wretches we are. But we forget to rail in the fact that we are no longer that before God our Father. God calls us justified, redeemed, righteous and sanctified. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' See Sonship Rights here: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/Promises.htm For those of you who may take offense to the masculine word in the bible 'son' instead of daughter or child, it is important to note why God speaks of 'sons of God'. The bible was written in Eastern culture. The masculine was used then so people could fully understand their rights. As 'sons' of God, they would be entitled to inheritance. Daughters were not heirs to their Father. Only sons. God used the masculine to better define our rights as His children - we all have full rights. Romans 8: [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. We see this Eastern culture here too - why are we 'adopted' when the bible says we are born again and have the seed of God in Christ in us? Because God wanted to make it clear that we were Chosen and wanted. The Eastern culture gave more credence to an adopted child because when you are born to parents, they get what they get but those who are adopted are chosen and preferred by the parents - not just at random. We read on in Romans... [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Being heirs was one of those important points God wanted to get across to us. We are all heirs of Christ whether we be male or female. As Christians, we are all legally sons of God. We, as Christians, are no longer just like any other people who are born dead in their sins, we have been chosen by God Himself to be His child and have life eternal with Him. Check out this teaching... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' 1 Corinthians 3:16 (New Living Testament) Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? Not only was the collective Body of believers the Temple, God also made each believer a priest. 1 Peter 2:9 But you [plural: all of you] are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare [the verb is plural] the praises of him who called you [plural: all of you] out of darkness into his wonderful light. Whereas 1 Peter 2:9 refers to us as a "royal priesthood," 1 Peter 2:5 calls believers a "holy priesthood." In the Christian Church, each believer is a priest, and Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14, 15). We are all to pray for each other (Col. 4:3, 4;1 Thess. 5:25; Heb. 13:18). We are to allow others to confess their sins to us (James 5:16). We are all to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, and continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God along with other "spiritual sacrifices" (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:5). Furthermore, each believer is to do the work of the ministry, which is clearly stated in a proper translation of Ephesians 4:12 (we will deal with the translation question later in the article). , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' More of this great teaching here: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/royalpriests.html Christians like to relate to themselves the way they were before they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior and had not received the gift of God in Christ in them - holy spirit. They also like to speak about how unworthy they are and what a wretch they are. That was then, not now. Time to put on the renewed mind and confess what God says about you! You are worthy because God Chose you and made you worthy! You are NOT a wretch because God gave you His holy spirit and made you a new creature in Christ! As a Christian, you are in the family of God Himself. He saw you in the crowd of all people born into this world and he picked you out and chose you to be His precious child! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' See this teaching: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/choosehischildren.html Now that is pretty awesome! Something you should not only be thankful for, but be proud of that God looked at you and knew you would make such a wonderful addition to His family that He called you out from all others to be His own child. :) =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz >Selfless Intercession by Tim Hall David McCullough in his biography of Teddy Roosevelt shines an impressive light on the president's father. Theodore, Sr. ("Thee," as he was known) undertook an endeavor during the Civil War in which he successfully lobbied for an Allotment System. Under this plan, soldiers from New York regiments could send some or all of their earnings back home to their families, easing some of the suffering on the home front. For months Thee and others traveled on horseback among the Union camps, explaining the program and receiving funds from the soldiers. One might think, "Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. must have gained a great deal of wealth through this plan." But he didn't. He was not paid a single penny for his time and the risk he undertook. His actions were entirely selfless, devoted to helping the struggling families of Union soldiers. -<>- %%%; * * | %%%; %%%~%%%; . . * # |__/__%%%____/_/~%;% . ___%%;______%%;% . * * " " /~ %-// \ \__%#%%_-%%;` | ~%-/_%` \ \_/%%#%%` . # | %%%#% \__/%%#%%;%`, "| ;%%%;` * . | * ( | #| * . . || . . . . | . ` ' ` * # | .'''. ' .'''. * "| * . .. ' ' .. . ' | * ' '.'.' ' . | .'''.'.'''. " | .----------. ' .''.'.''. ' | |__________| . . : . . |_{}_{}/|__________|\{}_{}_{} _'___':'___'_ {}_{}_{}_{}_{}_{}_{}_{} ' #| || ||/____________\|| || ||(_____________)|| || || || || || || || lc'\""""""|| ||""""""""""""( )""""""""""""""""""""""""""" """"" | | _) (_ .^-^. ~""~ ~""~ (_______)~~"""~~ '._.' ~~""~~ ~""~ .' '. '.,.' `'`' >A DREAM By: Joseph J. Mazzella I had a wonderful dream last night. It was one of those powerful dreams that come when you are half-way between waking and sleeping. It was also one of those special dreams that stick in your mind and stay in your heart. In the dream I was just a boy again walking through the woods near my Grandma’s home where we all lived together. I came out near one of our big gardens and saw my dad with two, large water buckets watering the plants. I asked him if I could help and he smiled and handed me one of the buckets. It was full of water but light as a feather. The water inside was so crystal clear that it glowed in the sunshine. I immediately started watering the field of wilted plants. The work that I had always hated seemed a joy to me this time. The bucket stayed full too no matter how much I poured. I laughed and smiled as I watered each plant. Some plants sprung back to life with the first drop and seemed to grow a foot almost instantly. Others needed a lot of water and barely grew an inch. Still other plants seemed to shake off the water and stay wilted no matter how much I poured. After a long time watering I looked up and was saddened by what I saw. The garden had grown so big. It seemed to stretch on forever in every direction. I looked over at my dad in despair and told him that there was no way I could ever water all of it. My Dad just smiled back and said not to worry because there were plenty of Children to help. When I looked back I saw that He was right. Over the endless garden there were thousands of boys and girls with buckets each pouring the life giving water on the thirsty plants. I woke up after that, but I didn’t need Sigmund Freud to tell me what this dream meant. God was just reminding me to keep pouring out His love and light to this thirsty world. It is a lifetime’s work, but there are plenty of us with light heats and full buckets ready to do it. -<>- ____ , /---.'.__ ____// '--.\ /.---' _______ \\ // /.------.\ \| .'/ ______ // ___ \ \ ||/|\ // _/_----.\__ |/ /.-.\ \ \:|< >|// _/.'..\ '--' // \'. | \'.|.'/ /_/ / \\ // \ \_\/" ' ~\-'.-' \\ // '-._| :H: |'-.__ \\ // (/'==='\)'-._\ || || \\ \| || \\ ' snd |/ \\ || || \\ ' >Dazzling Jean Fleming I read of a phosphorescent spider in South Africa that attracts its prey with dazzling light. This spider flashes bright, beautiful light and moths keep coming toward it until they are devoured. That sounds like sin doesn't it? Sin can fascinate us, thrill us and woo us until we too, like the moth are destroyed. It dazzles, then destroys. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Don't let sin trap you into a lifestyle that will ultimately destroy you. Stay away from the flashing, dazzling light of sin that will entangle you with actions and the guilt those actions carry. When we are entangled with sin we cannot hear God and receive His blessings. Repent and break the power of sin. 'Father we pray for discernment so that we may see sin for what it is and not be attracted to it no matter how dazzling it may appear. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen.' -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Moms and Dads INDEX http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/momsanddadsindex.html Most Valuable http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuable.html 90/10 Principle http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/giving.html I Believe!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/believe.html Let's Dance!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dance.html Extreme Homes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/exhomes.html Animal Friends!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalfriends.html Liberty Air Show!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/liberty.html Ladies Unleashed!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ladies.html Butchart Gardens!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bgardens.html Angel Wing Decoys!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angel.html Empire State Building!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/empire.html John Scapes' Basement!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/basement.html Believe In Your Dreams!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/dream.html Proud Of Our Troops 5!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops5.html Expensive Hotel Rooms!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ehotels.html Attitude Is Everything 4!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude4.html Bible: Stretching For The Lord!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/stretching.html -<>- >Please Follow Me On StumbleUpon: http://tinyurl.com/y9j825kx -<>- >From Billy Graham: Biblical Parenting Ideas for Father’s Day Plus free downloadable e-cards for Dad. http://tinyurl.com/y9nrfuov -<>- >Latest From Manhattan Declaration Digest: http://tinyurl.com/yd7chqg4 -<>- >In The News: TOP MUSLIM LEADERS: “In two years America will be land of Muslims and all Christians will be our slaves” [VIDEO] http://tinyurl.com/y8uvfkvo BREAKING: Collusion Between Comey and Obama on Radical Islamic Murder of US Marines Revealed http://tinyurl.com/y8bfm3dn NEWT GINGRICH: Special counsel team full of ‘bad people’ Out To Get Trump [VIDEO] http://tinyurl.com/ybh9cr3g -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) Wow! How'd you like to have this toy shop to play in?? Another great automobile collection! Ed Brown's Auto Shop, Apollo, PA - about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. Take note of the other artifacts along the walls of the shop. http://kithannecarclub.com/brown/brown2.html --- ...Pretty Neat! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) An entertaining look at different species of animals who have made wonderful animal friendships. Some of these animal friendships are cute and adorable while others are just strange and unusual. It is interesting to see how wild animals can manage to get along and makes you wonder why it is so difficult for many humans to coexist peacefully on the same planet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jwckFvvRXZI In what just might be one of the most adorable ads of all time Android presents us with "Friends Furever". The simple message behind this wonderful Android operating system advert is "Be Together. Not the Same." The good thing about this ad for animal lovers is that maybe it'll create a little friendly competition between Apple and Android and we'll see more cute and adorable animal ads in the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnVuqfXohxc&feature=player_embedded --- ...Awww, how sweet! Thanks LouiseAu! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== _ .'` '`. .-", @ `, `. '-=; ; `. \ : `-. / '; `. / .' `. | ( `. `-.._ \ \` ` `. \ `-.._ `. ;`-.._ `-`._.-. `-._ `-._ `..' `-.```. `-._ `-.._.' `--..__..-`--' `-.,' `._)`/ / / /--( -./,--'`-, ,^--( hjw/gs ,--' `-, >Going In Style Story Editor: by Bill Blinn Jack Lewis Ohio, USA In the three years I watched a friend fight leukemia, I learned a lot about living. I knew Ray Jutkins for over 20 years and he was an unusual guy -- never more so than during his illness. More than once, Ray showed up in my driveway on his Harley. I should point out that Ray's house was about 2100 miles away. Ray really liked riding his Harley. Over the years we worked together, and met each other's families. When I had a speaking engagement in San Diego, Ray insisted I stay a couple of days at Rockingham Ranch, and enjoy. "EnJoy" with a capital "J" was Ray's favorite word, and he lived by it. Ray threw his own wake in February, 2004, because "the dead guy never has any fun at the funeral". A month earlier, doctors had announced he had at most six weeks remaining. Having already died and been revived twice during intense chemotherapy, Ray pronounced leukemia "good" because it caused him to rediscover his sister. Ray's wake was amazing. More than 100 people from all over the world showed up at his house outside Roll, Arizona. Roll is 30 miles east of Yuma and Ray's house was five miles farther, beyond the "Pavement Ends" sign. Because the wake was scheduled for week five of his expected six weeks, I'd expected to find him in a wheel chair or gurney. Instead, he was running around, supervising 50 people who had shown up to help pack for his move to California. Cheerful and full of life, Ray handed out coffee mugs as guests arrived. Next to his caricature, the cup read "I Survived Ray's 'Live' Wake." I cherish it. In the months following the wake, Ray and Nancy returned to California to be near his daughter. They traveled. Several times he appeared to be down for the count, but bounced back. I keep a photo of him playing his first game of pool with his granddaughter and her college roommates, after he beat the double pneumonia everyone thought would kill him. In December, Ray sent what he called his final "e-zine". "When you get a call or an email from Nancy," Ray wrote, "dig this out and use it." On January 7, 2005, the email I didn't want to see arrived. I never once heard Ray complain. I told him I hoped, should I face anything a tenth as stressful, that I could face it with a fraction of the courage and grace he and Nancy demonstrated. He replied he was doing nothing special. Perhaps that's true. We all will die. But facing death, Ray didn't avert his gaze. He looked death in the eye and gave the old buzzard quite a battle. Throughout his life -- and particularly during his final three years -- Ray provided lessons for all of us on living life to its fullest. Ray died on January 6, 2005. I miss him, but his lesson lives on. Remember Ray Jutkins and... EnJoy! =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Laugh&Lift: hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses& & hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hu &hugs&kisses s&h es&hugs&kisses&hugs&kiss gs&kisse es&h sses&hugs&kisses&hugs&k s&kiss ses& isses&hugs&kisses&hugs &kiss s&kis sses kisses&hugs&kisses&hu ugs&kiss s&ki isse &kisses&hugs&kisses&h &hugs&kiss gs&k kiss s&kisses&hugs&kisses& es&hugs&kis ugs& &kis gs&kisses&hugs&kisses sses&hugs&k hugs s&ki ugs&kisses&hugs&kisse kisses&hugs &hug gs&k hugs&kisses&hugs&kiss s&kisses&hu s&hu ugs& &hugs&kisses&hugs&kis ugs&kisses& es&h hugs s&hugs&kisses&hugs& i hugs&kisse ses& &hug es&hugs&kisses&hug k hugs&kis sses s&hu ses&hugs&kisses&h & hugs& isse es&h sses&hugs&kisse s& &kiss s gs&ki hugs&kis s ugs&kisse sses&hugs&ki i ses&h k k sses& & &kis gs&kisses&hug isses&hugs s&hugs&kisse s s&kis gs&kisses&h &kisses&hug es&hugs&kisses g gs&ki ugs&kisses& s&kisses&hu ses&hugs&kisses u ugs&ki ugs&kisse ugs&kisses&h sses&hugs&kisses h hugs&k hugs&kiss hugs&kisses& isses&h gs&kisses& &hugs&k hugs&ki s&hugs&kisses kisses ugs&kisses s&hugs& &hugs&k es&hugs&kisse hugs&kisse es&hugs& &hugs sses&hugs&kiss s&kiss &hugs&kiss ses&hugs s&hug isses&hugs&kis gs&kiss s&hugs&kis sses&hugs s&h &kisses&hugs&ki ugs&kisses&hugs& i isses&hug es& s&kisses&hugs&k hugs&kisses&hug k kisses&hug e ugs&kisses&hugs& &hugs&kisses&h & &kisses&hu hugs&kisses&hugs s&hugs&kisse s s&kisses&hu s&hugs&kisses g gs&kisses&h es&hugs&kisse u ugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&hugs&kisses&h -- Matt Ryan >Love Covers A Multitude of Sins: A Father's Day Message (By Chris Long) In light of Father's Day, can I ask you a question? What words come to your mind when pondering your father? On Father's Day, we celebrate dads. All the cards and all the messages that flow around this time make one big assumption (similar to the one made on Mother's Day): that your father ACTUALLY IS/WAS a good father! Sadly, these days that assumption can be highly flawed. What do you do when your father never showed much love to you? Or constantly berated you? Or even hurt you physically (or worse, sexually)? What about the dads that skipped out on their kids to pursue some other, more "exciting" life? What about those that came home drunk every weekend (or worse, every night)? Or the ones that cursed constantly or repetitively got unreasonably angry over even the smallest things? Or maybe just spent all their time engrossed in work, or sports, and never spent any time nurturing the important relationships at home? What do you do with that? I hope that when you think of your father, none of these things even remotely resembles that image. Unfortunately, for far too many, that might not be the case. The stats on absentee fathers are through the roof, for instance. What do you do? Somehow the standard "Thanks Dad for being such a wonderful father!" cards just don't seem to cut it in this instance, do they? Where's the Hallmark card that says: "Well, I guess you tried, but you really stunk as a dad!"? I mean, let's be honest here - that sadly might be a bit more realistic for many. Far too many people don't have the warm & fuzzy feelings when thinking of their dad. Words like "love, happiness, acceptance, character, compassionate, caring, strength, devoted, humble, spiritual leader" are some of the last they'd come up with. So what do you do? First, let's all agree for a minute that this is all really sad. It's really sad that an article like this one even might need to be written. It's sad. A travesty. Step one is that we need to indeed acknowledge what we've all instinctively known, but which all the hoopla and lovey-dovey messages on both Father's and Mother's Day usually ignore. That is that some parents just plain don't/didn't do a good job at it. A dad that abused his kids, for instance, was NOT a good father to his kids. Let's be honest and call "bad", "bad". Let's be honest and say that some men are good fathers. And some are not. Let's not confuse the two. That's step one - and it's an important one. We've got to be honest about the situation. For some of you, right now, this article is already proving painful. You might even be angry as some of the feelings you try to ignore have been surfacing. Your father could even have been dead for many years, and still those feelings can be welling up. And that leads me to step 2, which is equally important, but which many don't ever get to. If all you do is stay in step 1 - acknowledging the wrong - then you can easily stay in bondage (without even realizing you are in bondage!) to those emotions for years and years and years. The negative effects of your childhood can last you your whole life if you let it, even long after your father (or mother) has left this planet. Many people compound the wrong done to them when they were a child, by allowing that wrong to continue to harm them emotionally and hinder them as an adult. This is NOT what God desires for you. God ants you to be whole in every way. He grieves with you that your father was not a good father to you. It hurts you. It hurts Him. But God also desires to take us beyond our hurts, to a place where we are healthy and whole and not hindered by hurts from our past! This can be - and often is - a journey. But it starts with a real willingness on your part to want this as well. Many people when they are wronged (as a child or not) like to nurse that wrong....people can nurse bitterness and unforgiveness and grudges for years to a point that literally the negative effects of whatever wrong was done to them are magnified ten, a hundred, even a thousand times greater, in their life. As Christians, we know that Jesus tells us to forgive, and even tells us very pointedly: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV) Note that this doesn't mean that forgiveness isn't hard to do. One of the keys in dealing with wrongs done to us is to, in a sense, separate the person from the wrong actions the person commits. God loves every person on this planet - and that includes those parents that maybe didn't do as they should. Just because they did some wrong actions, does NOT necessarily mean that they did so maliciously (usually it is out of ignorance on their part, based often on what was modeled for THEM when THEY were a child!). God loves them and still loves them (regardless of your feelings on the matter!). God created them and wants them to come to Him and wants them whole and to live as He wants them to, just the same as He wants for you. The truth is that while they may have been a horrible sinner who did things wrong, we also have been horrible sinners that did things wrong. Oh, maybe not the same "in degrees" as we see them here, but we have still sinned before God. The same Jesus that died for us for our sins, did so for them as well. The same God that is willing through Jesus to forgive our sins and take us forward from them, is willing to do so for them as well. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:8 (NASB): "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins." God's love towards us in Christ covers a multitude of sins. Christ's love working through us can cover a multitude of sins as well. My dad was not the best father to me when I was growing up. In retrospect, I know he loved me, but he didn't show it to me in ways I really needed (he expressed it in other ways that I am only able to appreciate now as an adult looking back - such as in his being a "good provider/hard worker"). He had a bit of a temper and that came out quite often as well. Basically my relationship with my dad was quite strained and produced quite a bit of bitterness and anger in me as a child. My dad passed away in 2006 (not long after having accepted the Lord). About 10 days before he went to Jesus, as he was in the hospital ICU, I told him the strangest thing that just blurted out of me: I told him, among other things, that "I couldn't have asked for a better dad!" And I seriously meant it too. I've thought about that several times since that day. Looking at it in the natural, that would not seem to be a true statement - in fact, one could call me delusional for making such a statement! But it was exactly how I felt. How could I make such a statement? I'll tell you how - the Lord showed me how I could make such a statement: "Love covers a multitude of sins." My love for my dad as the new creation he had become in Jesus washed away the former things. My love for him, in Christ, covered whatever wrongs he may have done. This is how we are supposed to live this Christian life! I have (and surely will) wrong others. I pray they, in love, forgive me. And I need to do the same with others. To top it all off, with the love of the Lord working in me to forgive my dad, it's amazing how many of the "good qualities" of my dad have come to mind that I hadn't really seen or noticed back when I used to only focus on the negative and moan/groan internally of all he had done wrong. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love can make things right. Some of you may be familar with well-known Bible teacher Joyce Meyer. If my memory is correct, her t.v. program reaches 2/3 of the world. On a daily basis she ministers to untold millions! But she started out in life in a terrible family situation - being s#xually abused by her father for many many years. She had to work through all the bitterness and anger from that, but with God's help, she did. God even brought her to a place of actually taking care of her parents in their later years (even though all of her flesh in the natural wanted no part of it!) And she was even able to be used by God to bring her father, the same father that had wounded her so badly, to the Lord not that many years ago. God is able to take ashes in your life and make something beautiful out of it. Joyce details her story and what the Lord did in & through her in an excellent book called "Beauty for Ashes" - I highly recommend it for anyone that needs emotional healing or had a rough childhood. The revised edition (recommended) can be found used on sites like Amazon or eBay for only a few dollars - it's well worth it. And so, with all that said, we come back to the beginning of this article. What do you do on Father's Day when you had a father that did things that really in all honesty shouldn't be celebrated? The answer is you can still celebrate them as a person that God loves and calls you to love. If nothing else, they helped bring you into this world. And the likelihood is they did other positive things too such as giving you food to eat, etc. You can celebrate them (even if only in your mind if they've left this world) as a person that God loves and all the things they did right, without celebrating all the things they did wrong (or maybe still do). And remember: Love covers a multitude of sins. ----------------- This article is Copyright by Chris Long 2011. You may use this article for free for any purpose, whether commercial or non-commercial, as long as you use the entire text and that all text, including this notice, is not modified or removed in any fashion. For any other usage, you must obtain written permission from the author. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. This is version 1.0 of this document (June 17, 2011). Previous versions: N/A This document is provided as a ministry outreach via Laugh & Lift. http://www.laughandlift.com 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 ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: , _/ \_ _,--. < , > .-'.' /(/.\ .' .' .""". `/ ` / / / \ /) ; ; ,_.;._ _;-'}/ | | '. )( /' | | /'-._/\_.-' ; ; \_.' \ , \ \ / | _.'/ '. `'-\ /.-/.;,\ '-._ `"""""`_.|`"""`| jgs `"("\/")` |# | \(_/ `-...-' >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Riley, 6, was at his grandmother's house and they were playing outside, along with his younger sister and brother. There was an egg that a bird had knocked out of the nest lying on the grass. Later his grandmother saw that the egg was cracked on the patio. She asked, "Did you crack this egg?" Riley said yes. His grandmother replied, "Oh, I thought maybe it was going to turn into a baby bird." Riley said, "Oh, I just thought it was a scrambled egg!" -- Lana Turner (grandmother of Riley) of Red Oak, Texas Evan went to the pet store with his mother and aunt. While looking around the store, he heard the birds making a lot of ruckus and wanted to look at them more closely. He noticed one bird was noisier than the rest. His aunt said, "That bird sure is making a lot of noise." Evan said, "I guess he got up on the wrong side of the branch!" -- Trina Richey (mother of Evan) of Evansville, Indiana _____ .'.---.'. // , \\ || `| || || | || || -'- || .-"`'-.,_ _,.-'`"-. / .'--,___`"""`___,--'. \ | /:////_'---'_\\\\:\ | \|:|// `_ _` \\|:|/ '-/| (6/ \6) |\-' \\ | | // `| (._.) |` | _ _ | jgs \ '---' / '--.___.--' Cassie wanted a snack but she couldn't remember the name of what she wanted. It finally came to her. "I know what it is," she shouted. "I want Peter Cottontail!" It took Bobby a few minutes before realizing Cassie meant fruit cocktail! -- Bobby Cardwell of Gray, Tennessee Jackie took her two daughters, ages 6 and 7, out for lunch. They each had a lollipop (of the same flavor) after lunch. The youngest said hers was "delicious." The older daughter tasted hers and said it was "gross!" Her younger sister replied, "Well, we don't all have the same taste 'bugs' you know!" -- Jackie Pluim of Cambridge, Ontario |`-._ .-' `-.-;"\. .--------------------------------..-.. _ .-'\ | /o\ | \\\ |\ ________________________________\\ \\\/ \\ | | ///\ | | __ __ _ __ __ _ __ __ __ ||-||| '. \/ //////| | | |__|__/_\ |__|__|_| |__|__|__| || ||| ///////| | | |__|__)__) |__|_| __.--|__| ||_||| . ////////| | | |__|__|_/ |__|__ _ |__|--'__ | . || \'..'///////// | | |__| |__|__|_| |__|__|__| |( )|| `--`///////; \| | ' ||---. ,,,//////////// jgs'---------------------------------'---' `.//////////////' ```=///////=' Jared, 21 months, and Debbie were sitting on the couch by the window while it was raining. Debbie has a duck pond and if you look out the window just right you can see the ducks and geese on the pond. After a while, the ducks were gone and all was quiet. Jared looked at Debbie and asked, "Duckies go?" Debbie said, "Honey, I bet the ducks went to go find some lunch. Then he came back with, "Duckie goooooooo?" So Debbie, who couldn't think of anything else to say, asked, "What do you think the duckies are having for lunch?" He thought real hard and then said, "UM PIZZA!" -- Debbie Pipkin of Ypsilanti, Michigan Karen was babysitting Rowan who had an imaginary playmate by the name of Stanley. One day Karen's mother, Bunty, offered Rowan, 4, a chocolate. He took one, bit into it and thought he could do better. So he put it aside, saying, "This one is for Stanley," and he reached for another. -- Sister Lita Camozzi of Toronto, Ontario When Dallas' son was young, he loved to watch cowboy shows. One day he was watching a western and they performed a wedding. When it was finished, he looked up and asked, "Daddy, Why do they say 'waffle-headed wife?' (lawful wedded wife)!" When he started school he came home singing, "My country tizzles me, sweet land of livertree..." -- Dallas Phillips of LaGrange, Kentucky _..._ .' '. _ / .-""-\ _/ \ .-| /:. | | | | \ |:. /.-'-./ | .-'-;:__.' =/ .'= *=|NASA _.=' / _. | ; ;-.-'| \ | / | \ _\ _\ \__/'._;. ==' ==\ \ \ | / / / /-._/-._/ jgs \ `\ \ `-._/._/ Mike had four sisters and he always said he wanted a brother. When his mother, Delia, came home with a new baby boy Mike wasn't happy at all. "Why aren't you happy?" his mother asked. "I got you a brother." Mike replied, "I wanted a brother... not a baby!" -- Delia of Minnesota Hayley's church had vacation Bible school recently. The "motto" was "Ready! Set! Race to Jesus!" The kids were supposed to say the words with excitement, really loud. The leader asked the children what the little lines (exclamation points) at the end of each word were and one little girl shouted out, "They're acceleration points!" -- Hayley Hodge of Hilliard, Florida Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >-->MY CHILD, I LOVE YOU, COME CLOSER (By Debbie Preuss, January 9, 2005) My Child, I love you, come closer to Me I know you're not, where you want to be Draw nearer child, don't be afraid I know that your faith is beginning to fade Come closer My child, and then you will see Just how much, you truly matter to Me I miss you so much, when you wander away I'm waiting for you, please don't go astray Read My words. and know that they're true I love you so much, I gave My Son for you I long to hold you, My precious dove To shower you, with My endless love I'm watching you child, I see the tear in your eye I want to hold you, while you sob and cry I see the struggles that you're going through I want to remind you, that I'm here for you No matter what comes, what your struggles may be Come now My child, come closer to Me I'll give you the strength, to get you through For My precious one, I truly do love you So come back to Me, I'm waiting right here I know you feel far away, but I am so near Just turn around, run to My embrace I will wipe every tear from your face I know you're not, where you want to be My child, I love you, come closer to Me >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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 ************************************************************************