Happy Father's Day Weekend! ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our ShangyFunList: Group Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: 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. If every one would chip in $25 or more, we'd be good for the whole year! So Please - I need your help today! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *~* 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 ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our too hot to handle new page is from our friend MariT and LouiseAu. It's a humorous, adorable page for all those who value their cute fluffy pets. For your aww quota for the day, be sure to check it and its sweet video out here... _ ___ _.--. \`.|\..----...-'` `-._.-'_.-'` / ' ` , __.--' )/' _/ \ `-_, / `-'" `"\_ ,_.-;_.-\_ ', fsc/as _.-'_./ {_.' ; / {_.-``-' {_/ For Cat Lovers http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catlovers.html --- ...Such a heartwarming funny one! Thanks Ladies! Our smoking hot new page is from our friend Linda. It's of a contest showing off various artist's talents with their real animal photos and detail work with the Photoshop art program. As you'll see, all of these are quite remarkable. Which one is your favorite? Check them out and the real drone robots video here... , __,.._; ) ,--``' / ,";,\ | __; `-' ; |``` ; _ '-""`!------'/ _,-'`/ "===`-'"|_|" ____,(__,-' (ctr`.________,,---``` ;__| | ,-"""""\-..._____,"""""-. |;;;'''':::````:::; ;'''': : (( .---. )) ( ( .---.) ) : \ \ ; ____ : / / ; \ |````|',-"----`-| |' (`----' `----' /(____\ /____) ,-\ / / ,\ \ (_ _/ / (__\ \ ,-\ / ;-._ | (___)_/ (____\| Animal Robots http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/robot.html --- ...Wow! Pretty stunning! Thanks Linda! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: 'He didn't tell me how to live. He lived, and let me watch him do it.' -- Clarence Budington Kelland .---. /_/ \_\ ,;;;, ( '>') (((( )) \ -/ ('<' ))) )-(_ \= ((( / `-\'--.)_())) | \ |--./--' \ |\ \;_ /\\_ / | |_\___|_/) / / / | / /_/\ \ || | ((( | | || | | | || | | | || |_____| | || || | jgs |__||_ ||_| (___)_) ((_/Y >FATHER'S DAY ROOKIE by Joseph Walker Technically, Adam is a father this Father's Day. I know -- he hasn't changed a single diaper, or taken a turn staying up late with a fussy baby. He hasn't rocked his son to sleep, or bounced him on his knee, or tucked him sweetly in his cradle. And there isn't one spit up stain on any of his jackets or collars. But he's still a father this Father's Day. Technically. Adam's first child won't actually be born until September. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we already know he is a boy -- he and Andrea have named their son Alexander -- and that he has Adam's nose and, according to one observer anyway, Andrea's eyes (although I can't for the life of me figure out how anyone could tell that -- I mean, his eyes are still closed, for Pete's sake!). So Adam is still a rookie when it comes to being a father. He's doing a great job of taking care of Andrea through a sometimes- difficult pregnancy, so he's earning his stripes there. But he's yet to step up to the plate and take his first swings at hands-on fatherhood. So you can't blame him if he's a little nervous about it. These are, after all, life's ultimate Big Leagues. The margin for error is slight. You can go from Hall of Fame Father to bush league dad with one raging outburst of anger and frustration. Plus, the other team has great pitchers throwing hard, dirty stuff at you -- stuff like drugs, alcohol, gangs, cynicism and indifference. It's tough being a good dad under the best of circumstances. These days, with an extraordinary array of negative influences swirling all around us and blurring our values and priorities, it can be overwhelming. Especially for a rookie. Thankfully, Adam has a great image in his mind of what a father can and should be. He had a terrific dad, with whom he had a close and loving relationship. He has seen and experienced the positive influence of a good father in his life. But his dad passed away some time ago, so he won't be available to provide on-the-job training and encouragement. His mom is a great lady, and she'll fill in as much as she can. Andrea will certainly put in her two-cents worth from time to time -- you can count on that. And he has older friends and family members who will share their insights, experiences and -- occasionally -- warnings. But for the most part, he's going to be on his own, trying to figure out fatherhood as he goes along. Which is pretty much what we all do, now that I think about it. My dad was around for my first 25 years of fathering, and I did solicit his input from time to time. But for the most part I just winged it. And with Anita's help and God's, things turned out OK -- if you don't count the overwrought late-night lectures, the "Russia has just taken over America" experiment and the incident in the cul-de-sac. Don't ask. Fatherhood isn't a science, it's an art. Which means that there are precious few hard and fast rules, and almost no absolutes. There are no textbooks, no laboratories, no scientifically calculated models that can turn you into a good father. It's something you can only learn by doing -- which means that what you do will occasionally be... well... wrong. But guided by love and fortified by faith, you can overcome your mistakes. And so, thank God, can your children. Even if you're a rookie. -- Joseph Walker -<>- +&- _.-^-._ .--. .-' _ '-. |__| / |_| \| | / \ | /| _____ |\ | | |==|==| | | |---|---|---|---|---| |--|--| | | |---|---|---|---|---| |==|==| | | ^jgs^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >HIS IRON CHARIOT by Shelley Madden My grandfather, Clarence Madden, had no life of luxury back in the late 1930s. Though he was born with a bad heart, he toiled relentlessly in the fields each day, coaxing crops from the parched soil to feed his wife and four children. He owned 60 acres of farmland in the heart of Texas. His summer days were spent on an ancient kerosene tractor, which sported a metal seat and matching iron wheels, guaranteed to sizzle your blue jeans into your hide the moment you perched on its throne. Kerosene in those days was a whopping twelve cents a gallon. It was used to fuel the tractor, and the little cook stove my grandmother could often be found hovering near, as she dabbed the sweat from her brow. When lunchtime drew near, she'd throw a white pillow on the roof of the low-slung farmhouse porch, signaling granddad it was time to eat. He'd watch for the pillow from the fields, park the tractor, and drive the half mile home for his meal. The aged car felt like a Cadillac to him, after spending half a day clinging to the bumpy tractor seat. There was no electricity on the farm, nor did they have the luxury of running water. It was stored in a large wooden barrel, which was kept under the water pump in the front yard. They'd bring a bucketful into the house, and set in on the table to dip from throughout the day, to quench their thirst. The ice man came round once a month, only then would the family indulge in the fine luxury of homemade ice cream. Bath time consisted of a short trek to the windmill, where they would soak in the large number three washtub beneath, once a week. The oldest kids got the bath first, moving right down the line until the youngest was squeaky clean. As the temperature soared day after day into the hundreds, the family struggled to stay cool in the little farm house. It was too hot to do much inside, and by bedtime, the heat drove them to the sleeping quarters on the unscreened front porch, where they hoped to catch a rare summer breeze. In those days, a screened porch to sleep under was a luxury. The boys slept under the stars out back, on army cots. Those kids, nor my grandma never complained. They were too eager to begin each day anew, to help out with daily chores, to feed the hogs and cows, and help in the fields and garden. They'd often sneak into the barn loft after shelling peas, and pinch a peanut or two out of the fresh cut peanut hay for a hearty afternoon snack. Back then, they thought they had it made. When I find myself toiling on my five acre farm in the summer heat, I can't help but think of my grandpa, driving his ancient tractor, fighting the heat and the sun and the bugs and the droughts to feed his family, all without a complaint. He had no choice. I do. No one twisted my arm to buy a hobby farm, along with a handful of ponies and poultry. We now live in the future. An era of electronics and sleek cars and cell phones and fancy kitchen gadgets of every kind to come home to. We have the oh-so- wonderful luxury of air-conditioning in our homes and cars. We don't have to throw a pillow on the porch at lunchtime to call grandpa home. We have a means to escape the heat now, unlike our forefathers in summers past. As I ride my little tractor with a cushioned seat in the summer sun, I think the mowing will never end. I stop for a moment to wipe my brow, and gaze into the horizon. When I peer through the clouds, I can see granddad on his ancient iron chariot in the sky, blazing across the heavens as he plows its barren acres into a bountiful harvest. He will inspire me to get through this wretched heat. His strength will be my strength. If he could do it with what he had back then, then I know I can do it with what I have now. As hard as it is, I won't fret about the heat, and the mowing and the seemingly endless outdoor chores. Because I know I can crawl into my house when the sizzling sun finally sets, and enjoy the luxury of air-conditioning, and a refreshing indoor shower. And, maybe even the quenching coolness of store-bought ice cream. -- Shelley Madden __________________________________________________ Shelley is an author who resides in Wise County, Texas, along with her ponies, poultry, dogs and cats. She enjoys writing, fishing, shooting her pink guns, and falling off her horse, Diamond. She writes a weekly column for an entertainment magazine, is a guest columnist for a local paper, and is a frequent contributor to Heartwarmers and Petwarmers. Her short stories have also been published on numerous websites and e-zines across the nation. She aspires one day to learn how to change the light bulb in her gun cabinet. =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The Secret of Being Content “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."1 Two old friends met each other on the street one day. One looked sad and almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What has happened to you, my old friend?" The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars." “That’s a lot of money," said his friend. “But you see," the sad man continued, “two weeks ago, a cousin I never knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand dollars, free and clear." The friend replied, “That sounds like you have been very blessed." “You don’t understand!" the sad fellow interrupted. “Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million from her." The friend was really confused and said, “Then, why are you so sad?" “This week I didn’t get anything!" Have you ever taken God’s blessings for granted? I know I have at one time or another! Like the man in today’s story, it is easy to start expecting these blessings and act as though we are entitled to such blessings. But what happens when these blessings are taken away or we find ourselves in difficult situations? Often, we are quick to complain and question God as to why this happened. Paul is a great example of what it looks like to have plenty and nothing. His circumstances while writing today’s passage were miserable, as he was shackled in prison. Yet he writes, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation..." Paul had learned to focus more on what he had instead of focusing on what he didn’t have. He focused on the forgiveness he had received in Jesus, on the eternal life awaiting him, and the love and grace God had given him. He had learned that what he had in Christ was far greater than the things he didn’t have here on earth. When we come to the realization that this life is temporary (including the material possessions we may enjoy), we can see whatever happens as part of our preparation for eternity. When we focus more on what we have in Christ and less on what we don’t have here on earth, we, too, can learn the secret of being content knowing that whatever God gives us or doesn’t give us, we can face every circumstance because He will be our strength. Suggested prayer: Dear God, allow me to count my blessings, big and small, and never take them for granted. I ask that you help me live focused on all the things I have in you... things that are eternal instead of temporary. Whether I have plenty or nothing, I pray that I, like Paul, can learn the secret of being content in you. Thank you for being my strength in every situation. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray, amen. 1 Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT). <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >I Have a Problem "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner'"1 A man went to visit a psychiatrist, or so the story goes, and said, "Doc, I've got two problems." The psychiatrist said, "Okay, tell me all about it." The man began, "Well, first of all, I think I am a Coca-Cola Machine." The psychiatrist sat the man down and started therapy. For weeks, he gave it his best shot but nothing seemed to help. Finally, out of exasperation, the psychiatrist jumped up one day, took two quarters (25-cent pieces) out of his pocket, shoved them in the man's mouth, grabbed him by the ears and shook him till he swallowed them. Then he hollered, "Okay, now give me a Coke." That's when the man said, "I can't, Doc. That's my second problem, I'm out of order."2 Jokes aside, the only people who have a problem that anyone can ever help, and the only ones that God can help are those who admit, "I have a problem. I need help. I'm out of order." As long as we blame anybody else for the way we react to situations, we will never overcome our problems. What others do to me is their issue. This is not to justify what they have done. However, how I respond is always my responsibility. In other words, whatever bothers me is my problem/issue and I need to resolve that. Overcoming any problem means acknowledging that I have a problem, admitting what the problem is, seeking help to overcome it, and persistence to hang in until the problem is resolved. We all have issues, but once we admit it, God can step in and the healing begins. Suggested prayer: "Dear God, whenever I have a problem, please give me the courage to admit it and then do something about overcoming it … and lead me to the help I need to do so. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen." 1. Luke 18:13 (NIV). 2. Parables, Etc. Nov. '86, Submitted by Ed Rutherford, Cerritos Assembly, Cerritos, California. When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: . . : . '. . : . .' ._ '._.-'''-._.' _. '-..' '..-' --._ /.==. .==.\ _.-- ;/_o__\ /_o__\; -----|` ) ( `|----- _: \_) (\_/) (_/ ;_ --' \ '._.=._.' / '-- _.-''. '._.' .''-._ ' .''-.(_).-''. ' jgs .' ' : ' '. ' : ' ' >MAGICAL MOMENTS By: Joseph J. Mazzella I had a truly magical experience last night while I was out walking my dogs after dark. Like most magical moments it caught me off guard. That seems to be the time when magic and miracles work the best. That seems to be the time that they can get past all the negative thoughts and daily baggage we carry with us and fill our hearts with their love, joy, and light. This magic moment came at the end of a long day when all I wanted to do was go to sleep. What I got instead was a wonderful sight. The fireflies had returned once again to the woods here. They were dancing away in their twinkling lights. It was a joyous dance of celebration and life under the bright shining stars of the night sky and the light and smiling face of a full moon. The sight made my lips smile, my heart jump, and my spirit sing in joy. It filled me with more energy, vitality, and love than I'd had all day long. It made me glad to be alive and reminded me once again that there must be a loving God and a glorious Heaven out there if Earth can be this beautiful. Life is full of such magical moments. Life is full of miracles, love, joy, beauty, and delight. Life is full of goodness, kindness, happiness and wonder. Life is God's glorious gift and we should never take it for granted. Take the time to notice the magic then. Take the time to take it into your heart and let it fill your soul. Take the time to become one with love, joy and God. Take the time to share all of these things with the world. Don't make magic have to catch you off guard to feel its wonder. Open your life to it, create it in your own soul, and give it to everyone everywhere. God loves us all and wants us all to live magical lives full of love, joy, and light. Let's not pass up the chance to be a part of the magic. -<>- __..--.._ ..... .--~ ..... `. .": "`-.. . .' ..-'" :". ` ` `._ ` _.'`"( `-"'`._ ' _.' ' ~~~ `. ~~~ .' / ( ^---' Lester >"Eyes" By Bob Perks I can look at you and know the truth. I can see it in your eyes. Blue eyes, brown, whatever they are, they speak to me before you do. With a passing glance two strangers connect in such a way as to leave them both a bit more fulfilled, complete without ever knowing it. I have seen the stars at night and stood long enough to feel insignificant in comparison, but I have stood face to face with another soul and looking into their eyes, felt like the most important person in the world or the least. I have watched the eyes of children dart back and forth, scanning the world around them. Consuming every bit they can, never seeming to have their fill, they learn first by watching. Watching you, watch them. Watching you respond to the world, too. I look into the eyes of the elderly and want to know what they know. I wonder what they saw on the way to this moment and how do they see tomorrow? I have seen pain in the eyes of someone hurting and joy in the eyes of those in love. I've looked into the eyes of the blind and although they could not see me or the world around them, their eyes reflected all that God wants us to be. For it is not what you see but what you believe. It is not how we see the world but how we live in it that matters most to Him. The challenge for happiness and success in life is not "I'll believe it when I see it," but "I'll see it when I believe it." It is the stuff that makes faith the only real answer. Faith sees God within. Fear sees a world without. My friend, I pray that one day we will see each other face to face. I will look into your eyes and say "Thank you!" Until then..."I'll see you in my prayers!" "I believe in you!" Bob Perks Bob@... copyright 2004 Bob Perks I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information attached so that new readers can find their way here. Use of this story for commercial use is prohibited without direct permission from the author. -<>- _____ / \/_ //\__(\_\ |\ ^ ^ | .//_O \O_ \ \_ (_) / \ \_/ / __/\ /\__ / \ \ / / \ / \/\/\/ \ / | . | \ / | . | \ JRO >The Other Side of Here When I am tired of work, pain and my troubles wear me down, I leave here and go to the Other Side of Here. In that place, my attitude uplifts me and I feel free. In that place when it rains I run outside and let the rain fall against my face and I laugh as it cleanses me. So I am asked "Is it there where you go?" "No" I respond. "Here and there have the same problems. I must go to the Other Side of Here to cleanse and purify myself." The Other Side of Here is where I should be and if I work hard enough, the Other Side of Here will be the new Here. I need to improve my spirituality, my balance, my harmony, my faith before I can connect the two. -BJ Cassady Guthrie, Oklahoma -<>- _ ,:'/ _..._ // ( `""-.._.' \| / 6\___ | 6 4 | / \_ .--' (_'---'`) / `'---`() ,' | , .'` | )\ _.-' ; / | .'` _ / /` / .' '. , | / / / \ ; | | | \ | | .| | | \ `"| /.-' | | | '-..-\ _.;.._ | |.;-. \ <`.._ )) | .;-. )) (__. ` ))-' \_ ))' `'--"` jgs `"""` >Does A Dog Think? Bill Walker wildbill6807@... Does a dog think? Sure they do, what kind of stupid question is this? I have one right now, she has to think which toy she wants to play with first, then the next one right to the last one. She even has a couple out in the car, for travel play. She I think has them named and numbered. She got a new one today, Got out of the car and here she comes wagging it into the house. She is a normal girl, lets you know these are mine, all mine, keep your paws off of them. I have had her now for a little over 2 years, the guess was she might have been maybe 2 years old when I got her. When I got her I was told she gets along good with children and cats. I thought fine, no problem anyways. I have none of those. my 2 children died leaving me all alone. These was Tinker and Poo. Cats I sure don't have any of those things. Now in this house laying here and there was cats, and I noticed she paid no mind to them at all. I got her in the car and made the long trip home. From Tulsa, to Beatrice is a long trip. There is only 2 towns in the U.S. named Beatrice. This is the one in about center of this nation, The other is way down south. It took her about a week and I guess she figured it out, this is now home. After maybe a couple months I don't believe I could have ran her off. She would go out, and if I made a move to come in the house here she came trotting right in the door. Now she came with a toy, but I thought I would get her another. I picked out one and she had a new toy. This goes on and one day I got her in the car and went to see a lady I had wrote to a few times. Now this lady has two dogs. These poor dogs has a house full of toys. Little Girl takes one look and starts to get all the toys picked up and piled them at my feet. When it came time to go, she had picked out one and tried to get out the door with it. I made her give up that idea. We went one day to get her hair done. You know she is a girl, has to go to the beauty shop once in a while. I am standing there paying the bill, she walks over to the toy rack and picks out a new toy. And to top it off she don't pick out the cheap one either. Just like a girl, she finds the one that is the highest price on the rack. So she has a new toy. Later we go into a pet store, same deal, she grabs one and makes for the door. I guess she thinks a girl never has enough toys. Little Girl has now been here a bit over a year and half. When this strange woman shows up. Strange woman moves in with 3 stinking cats. You cat people may find something else to read, this gets nasty. Try as one could, Little Girl was none to happy. One day one cat got brave, walked in front of her, she nailed cat. Shakes to see how many 9 lives was left. Well in this cat most if not all was used up. Woman spent right at 2,000 dollars on vet bills and gas to and from different places to see if there was any 9 lives left. It had about half of one left. One vet right up front told her it was a hopeless case. That was the first vet to see the poor thing. But Little Girl was only trying to help it on its way out. Woman threw a hissy and slapped Little Girl, came running to me telling me. I had to do something about that dog. I said well it is HER house you know. I got the speech about, I thought you said she gets along with cats? I said it still is her house, never thinking just what I said, as I will tell in a bit. Cat must have told the others, cause I noticed they stayed in her room a bit tighter. Then after a couple weeks goes by here come the other bag of bones slipping by on way to kitchen sink. It gets nailed, and this time Little girl didn't mess around, she had a good grip on cat, looking for me to come and open door, so she could drop it in the garbage can. Well Cat Woman once again out ran me and poor Little Girl got another slap. And I get more talk about I got to do something about dog. By this time Cat Woman is down to 2 cats. That one has spent its 9 lives also 2,000 dollars. A bit more then 6 months goes by with Cat Woman and her 2 remaining cats. The one by now looks like nothing but bones held together by a little skin. Cat Woman cranks up and leaves. Little Girl is singing Happy Days Is Here Again.. We got rid of that mess, right Boss? One of the last notes I got from Cat Woman is bones lost the war. Now all this is leading me to my thoughts about Little Girl and getting along with cats. It is very simple if one stops and thinks. Yes a dog does think, they reason things out, most of the time better then we think. When she was taken to this place, cats was all ready there. She knew maybe those belonged there, she didn't. So she made due, she put up with it. After she has been here a short time, she figured this is now her home. Then after a year and some here shows up this Cat Woman and 3, count them yes 3 stinking cats. This is not no way their home, this is my home, and dad gum it all I run this place. So you guys step to my tune. Yes I believe that was her thoughts. So a dog does think and reason things out. Oh and she got a new toy today.. It is getting a good work out. I guess I told you already.. But I figured you might have forgot. And if she makes a visit to your home, lock up any thing that looks like a toy. Right Kathy, Jene? -<>- ___ .~- ` `' "' ` -~. ____ :~+.-` .-"-. .-"~._ `-.+~: ! / -` ` `'--~:.l :' . '. / /-". : . \` .` /.-"\ : `- ^ :` ^ "` `. \:'._ \ `!` : :-===-. .-===-.\ .!/'. '.; / . : : : `.l .mPm.\ .mPm. |/ l . : :': | \ ' d: ' / : : '-: " :-;: ` . . ._..._. :::` _ / :: ;::;. ! . . :;:. .::::;: ' . : : : `:::'. .'::::;::. \ '/. . . `::l '-. .-' '|:::::::. ; : |: :: ::__`.-. _.-.::::::_ ; .~"` \ \ :`"/ `-..- ` \"`// "~. / \ \ . ___ /\ ___ .// \ : \ \.-` _.~l)=~ `' -.:" ` '/ . ":`-. \ : . -:: _lm. .` zi. | \ /`-' :::- ::.: : !:` ": : . ' "-._:: ^: . ; `-" \::_.~' : : : ' ' : ' : >His Small Angel - Helen Dowd He looked in the mirror, repelled by the sight, a constant reminder of his last fire-fight. 'Though he'd rescued a man, a dog, and a boy, his fame as a "hero" brought him little joy. For his wife had now left him for a more handsome man. She said, "Care of an invalid was not in my plan." As he stood there bemoaning his unhappy state, he was filled with self-pity, with anger and hate. His dreams for the future now turned upside down, he limped to the park, on his face a deep frown. As relief for his mind, he sat down to read. To the movement around him he paid little heed. Then out from a group of some children at play a ragged young girl approached, her head turned away. Standing close to his side, her eyes to the ground, she stretched out her arm and said, “Look what I found! She held in her hand what looked like a weed, all wilted and brown, its flower gone to seed. The man growled in answer, "Just leave me alone. Get on with your playing, or run along home." But the child was undaunted. "I picked these for you. They're awfully pretty, and I think you are, too." The man was annoyed, for her eyes seemed to shift. He pushed her aside, refusing her gift. He thought that she mocked him, as others had done-- the object of ridicule, the target for "fun". And then something happened. God opened his mind. A new look he took: the wee girl was blind! He reached out and touched her. He patted her head; then accepted her flowers, although they looked dead. His anger and hatred had started their melt. God's love, through this child, he knew he had felt. The man turned to thank her, but she wasn't there. She seemed to have vanished into the noon air. Although day after day to the park the man came, he never did see his small angel again. But the child had awakened in him a desire to start a new life, to forget that last fire. He went to the hospital, where once he had been. He stood there and stared at familiar scenes. He watched the burn patients in their therapy. In some he saw anger, in some, agony. Remembering so vividly the pain he'd endured, he knew that the "inside" was the hardest to cure. From that moment on, he knew what he'd do. He'd help these folks heal. And his soul would heal, too. -<>- ,'-', :-----: (''' , - , ''') \ ' . , ` / \ ' ^ ? / \ ` - ,' `j_ _,' ,- -`\ \ /f ,- \_\/_/'- , `, , , /\ \ | / \ ', , f : :`, , <...\ , : ,- ' \,,,,\ ; : j ' \ \ :/^^^^' \ \ ; ''': \ -, -`.../ ' - -,`,--` \_._'-- '---: Storm Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash with Wylie Post in 1935, was probably the greatest political sage this country has ever known. Enjoy the following: 1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco. 2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day. 3. There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works. 4. Never miss a good chance to shut up. 5. Always drink upstream from the herd. 6. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. 7. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket. 8. There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves. 9. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. 10. If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there. 11. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back. 12. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Will Roger's Quotes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/willrogers.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 Incredible Architecture http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/architecture.html Antique Vehicles http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/antiquecars.html Sweet Wooden Car!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woodcar.html Mighty Bison!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bison.html WaterCar's Panther!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/panther.html Old Trains And Cars!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trainsandcars.html Bear Rescue 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bearrescue3.html Feather Painting!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/feather.html Black Deer Fawn!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/deer.html Thailand's Tigers!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tiger.html Dangerous Critters!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dangerouscritters.html Most Expensive Cars!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/expensivecars.html Indian Paper Sculpture!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/indianart.html Arrows Across America!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/arrows.html Beautiful Exotic Birds 2!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/exoticbirds2.html Amazing Albino Animals!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/albino.html Hong Kong's Noah's Ark!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/noahsark2.html Attitude Is Everything 4!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude4.html Bible: Stretching For The Lord!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/stretching.html Moms and Dads INDEX http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/momsanddadsindex.html -<>- Sonship Rights here: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/Promises.htm GOD'S HOLY AND ROYAL PRIESTS http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/royalpriests.html Full Bible Menu http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Contents.htm -<>- >In The News: Hannity With Trump 6/17 AND More Conservative Videos: https://smashleft.com/2021/06/17/hannity-full-interview-trump-06-16-21/ Federal Reserve Keeps Rates Near Zero but Expects to Raise them by 2023 / In a 7-2 Vote SCOTUS Rejects Obamacare Challenge / 8 MILLION Face Foreclosure or Evictions as Moratorium Ends / Europe Opens Up for American Tourists / Biden Breaks Promise to Only Tax the Rich; Death Tax Kills Middle-Class / A Weak Biden Gives Putin List of 16 Things He Wants ‘Off Limits’ to Cyberattacks / 75 Percent of Middle- Class Households will see a Tax Increase Under Joe Biden’s Plan https://reliablenewsnow.com/ Latest From Deep State Journal: https://deepstatejournal.com/ Latest From 2020 Conservative: http://2020conservative.com/ Latest From Independent Minute: https://independentminute.com/ Latest From TPN News: https://threepercenternation.com/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://tinyurl.com/y2abb8d2 -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) I guarantee you you've never held a pair of pistols like these before! That's because it's the only matching set of gold-and- enamel, diamond-encrusted singing-bird pistols in the world. The detail and precision is astounding - and they hide a surprise you'll never guess until you see it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd8SaNzeZqk&feature=player_embedded A compilation of some of the best scenes from 147 videos that can be found on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C72BwDRCWY&feature=player_embedded They say girls take about an hour to get dressed. 'Soul Mystique' demonstrates efficient fashion at Australia's Got Talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7w1M_YIO_L8 --- ...Awesome ones! 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 ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >PRAYER Lord, take control of this day, whatever you want is what I want to do—I may not understand it but I want you to tell me what you want of me. This day I am turning over to you my thoughts, my plans, my family, my work—everything. His timing is always perfect, precise, and exact. He is always on time. He may change our schedules because our schedules don’t match up to His—His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. When He makes changes, sometimes we feel like the rug’s been pulled out from underneath us, but that’s okay because we are to live in the Spirit. It’s an exciting life…when you are living in the Spirit, God can do anything He wants at any moment of our day. -Beverly Lessin --- ...God's Timing... It is difficult for us to see the whole picture, to know what and when something is best for us. However, God doesn't have that problem. He knows exactly what is best for us and when it is best for us. Because of that, we often get frustrated waiting for Him. We have to have patience and trust in Him - always! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >See These great teachings... Trust In The Lord http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Trust_In_The_Lord.htm Patience – Longsuffering http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/Patience_-_Longsuffering.htm Wait On God http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Wait_On_God.htm -<>- ____ .---. ,-----. _____ .' `,.': :'' : :.' `. | : : ' ' ' ' : : \ | ' ' ' ' \ | v \ | | v \ | | | v \ | |_ | () | \/ | (= | \ | | | | | \ | | | | | \ | | | | | \ | ===== | | | | ) \ --- /| ===== | | | / `---' \ --- /| ===== | ===== | / `---' \ ---- A ----- / / `----'.`-----' / / / '-._ / dp '. / `----' >INVISIBLE TATTOOS There are those who have physical challenges others cannot see. Have you ever seen someone park in a handicap spot and questioned what right they had to it? Sure there are some who shamefully take advantage of it and know they have no right. But, there are millions who suffer from chronic pain and neuro-muscular diseases in early stages. If you saw them you might not be aware that, although they look perfectly fine to you, most of their life their disease keeps them from functioning well in everyday tasks. Their invisible tattoo is pain. You can't see it, but it's there. Why then are we so skeptical? Why do we first choose to criticize, doubt, and reject others who are different then ourselves? You may argue that your life is such that you can clearly declare you have no "invisible tattoos." Under the black light you may discover that "denial" is yours. I believe if I keep my mind and my heart open I can benefit from every person who crosses my path. By shining the light of love I will See the markings of goodness in them. Remember, too, everyone has invisible gifts to offer the world. Those are often shadowed my insecurity and doubt. By shining the light of mistrust and skepticism, one only reveals to the world their own markings of prejudice and fear of the unknown. Don't judge me for what you see, love me for who I am. - Bob Perks -<>- ///"\ |6 6| \ - / .@@@. __) (__ @6 6@/ \./ \ @ = @ : : : \ _) (_'| : |) ) /' \./ '\ : |_/ / /\ _ /\ \=o==|) \ \ ) (/ /%|%%' '7/ \7%%|%%' | |`%%|%%' | |`%%|%%' | | %%|%% |_.._| /_|_\ pjb >THE MOST IMPORTANT THING (Part One) Moments Together for Couples by Dennis & Barbara Rainey Psalm 91:3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper. Several years ago, Barbara and I were had the opportunity to enjoy dinner with Dr. James Dobson and his wife, Shirley. Jim is president of Focus on the Family and his radio program is one of the largest of its kind. Shirley, meanwhile, is national chairperson for the National Day of Prayer. Both are very special, godly people. There was one question I always wanted to ask them, and that night I was able to. "What is the most important thing Barbara and I could do as we raise our kids?" Without hesitation, both Jim and Shirley looked at us and answered with one word: "Pray." And then they told us why they were so confident about their answer. One night they had gone to bed when, at about 11:15 P.M., they began to feel uneasy about their daughter, Danae. Jim said he fought the urge to fall asleep. Instead they got out of bed, got down on their knees and prayed for Danae. Later they learned that, at that very moment, Danae and a friend were in a pull-out curve in the mountains-looking over the lights of the cities below and eating a meal. They were just having a good time when a police car came by and shined a light on them. It made them think to lock their doors. As soon as the police car went by, a bearded man crawled out from under their car and grabbed the door handle, attempting to force his way into the car. They quickly switched on the ignition and sped off. "No one will ever convince me that our prayers did not have an impact in that situation," Jim told us. That story reminded us how important it is to pray for our children. No matter what you do as parents, in the end it is God who is in control. Prayer:That God would protect your children and deliver them from the snare of evil. Discuss: What are the greatest needs, challenges and pressures of your children right now as seen in Moments Together For Couples -<>- .-=-. ////"\\ .=. ( 6 6 ) //"\\ \ - / (/6 6\) _.) (._ )\ = /(-` `:` `\ _(_ ) ( _)-| : |\ \ (_/ `\_/` \ | : |/ / / (_ @ _) \\_ : _/ / \ \)___(/ / |===|_) \/`"""`\/ | L | | | | | | | | | | | |_____| | | | ||| | | | ||| | | | ||| |_|_| jgs / Y \ / T \ `"`"` `"`"` >THE MOST IMPORTANT THING (Part Two) Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have refuge. As a parent you know that, no matter what you do to raise your children, God is ultimately in control of their lives. You want them to walk with Him, to have "strong confidence" in Him. The greatest power you have is to pray for your children. But how should you pray? First, pray that God will teach your children. I'll never forget when two of our kids were having a conflict. We tried everything- rewards, punishments, threats, and nothing worked. Finally we said, "Okay, Lord, we'll pray." For two nights we prayed. On the second night, one child in the conflict had a dream that the other child had died. He came to us and said, "I was sad I'd treated him so badly." The problems stopped, just like that. In one night, God changed what we couldn't change in weeks. Also, pray that you'll catch your kids when they do evil. You know what it's like: One of your children is lying or stealing or manipu- lating others, but you can't catch him in the act. Pray, "Lord, help me catch this kid. Give me some evidence." I've knelt beside the bed of a child we couldn't catch and laid my hands on him and said, "Lord, you know the truth in this matter. If this child is lying, I pray you'll help me catch him." Does God answer these prayers? You bet He does. I think God has compassion upon the helpless parent! The third thing is to pray with them. Just get down next to their cheeks, cuddle and pray. Pray for the important things going on in their lives, and pray for their futures-that they will walk with God, marry a godly spouse, etc. They love it. And so does God. Prayer: That God will give you wisdom as you raise your children, and that He will teach them what they need to grow in wisdom, and help you to catch them if they stray from what is right. Discuss: What do you want God to teach your children? Write down at least two items for each child. as seen in Moments Together For Couples -<>- ( ( ) ) ) ( ( ( ` .-""^"""^""^"""^""-. (//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//) ~\^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^/~ jgs `================` >GREEN GRAPE PIE A woman finds out what hope feels like firsthand during the Great Depression. By Jean Bell Mosley Old Man Pack lived in an abandoned chicken coop. He was allowed to stay there as long as he mowed the owner's lawn. This was during the Great Depression, when any roof over your head was a good one. Pack removed the pole roosts, salvaged the lumber and made himself a bunk bed. He painstakingly collected the cleanest straw he could find and stuffed it between two ragged blankets to make a mattress. "I mixed in some pennyroyal and mint stalks with the straw," Pack proudly told me. "It gives the bunk the sweetest of aromas." That was Old Man Pack for you, reveling in even the smallest luxury, even though he was worse off than any of us. So many things those days were a chore, from finding enough soap chips to do the laundry to finding new ways to prepare the same bare-bones meals for my family. I often got frustrated. But Pack never did. One spring day Pack arrived at my kitchen door with a "Good day, madam." He had made our home a regular stop on his route, going from neighbor to neighbor asking if they were willing to trade any table scraps, or a sliver of soap perhaps, in return for odd chores. If you said you had nothing to spare, Pack would simply bow gracefully and say, "I do understand. Truly I do." He never made you feel sorry for him. I looked forward to his visits. "Good day, Pack," I said, brightening just a bit. It had been a hard week, and today especially I couldn't wait to hear of his latest triumph. "Madam," Pack continued, "would you make a green grape pie for you and me?" He had to be joking. "Sure," I answered. "That's a great idea. My family hasn't eaten meat in two weeks, but I'll make us a green grape pie. Then maybe you and I can sit in the shade of my apple tree and eat it, while I wonder where our next square meal will come from." "Your grapes are about at the right stage. It would be a shame to let them go to waste." I could hardly believe my ears, but he wasn't joking. "Pack, do you know how much sugar it takes to make a green grape pie?" "Yes, madam, I believe I do," he said. "About two cups' worth." "Well, where on earth are we going to find that much sugar?" Pack's face darkened. "I just thought we could do it," he began. "That pie would have tasted so good." "Pack, you are a dreamer." And who could afford dreams? "It's okay, madam," Pack conceded softly. "I do understand. Truly I do." But I had disappointed him. Pack always seemed to come along when I was at a low point. Hearing him go on about how grateful he was to the Lord for providing his third hand kitchen range or pennyroyal-scented mattress had given me hope when I didn't think I had any left in me. Now here I was wrecking that same spirit I depended on. Pack had already gone a few steps down the walk, head held high. "Wait!" I called, stopping him in his tracks. He turned around and came back up the walk. "Okay, Pack, we'll do it. I don't know how, but we'll do it." Pack's eyes lit up. "Shall we say two weeks?" Pack nodded in agreement and said finally, "One cup of sugar apiece." I closed the front door. I had no idea where Pack would possibly get his sugar. But I immediately got very creative with finding mine. I started in my own house. My husband put sugar in his coffee every morning, but wouldn't stir it. When he finished drinking, I'd spoon out the leftover wet sugar and let it dry. By the end of 14 days, I figured I'd have about one-eighth of a cup of sugar. If I did without sugar on my breakfast cereal for 14 days, I'd have another fourth of a cup. That would leave five-eighths to go. I made a list of everyone who lived nearby, marking down those with large families who might need soap powder more than sugar. I asked them all if they'd trade a half-cup of sugar for one-and-a- half cups of soap powder. No one would. A week and a half into my project I didn't see any way I'd make it. Lord, I prayed, show me a way. On day 12 I was standing at the counter in the grocery store, waiting for the clerk to finish filling an order. The customer had requested sugar, and when the clerk lifted the paper sack of sugar to put it into her basket, the sack sprang a leak. All the "white gold" began to spill out! I quickly cupped my hands under it. The clerk got a new sack and re-measured the sugar, while I stood there, my two hands full. "May I have this?" I asked with as much dignity as I could muster. The clerk simply shrugged and gave me a paper sack to put it in. I held my head as high as Pack and walked out triumphant. On the 14th day, Pack knocked at my kitchen door, paper bag in hand. Though I'd worried about meeting my own quota, I never doubted he'd meet his. Pack's sugar was lumpy and tan-colored. There were even some splinters in it that I had to pick out. I didn't ask questions. My sugar didn't look so great, either. Later that day, in the shade of my apple tree Pack and I ate the whole green grape pie. We savored every crumb in silence, except for two pieces I set aside for my family. It was hard to believe we'd only added two cups of sugar, because that was the sweetest pie I'd ever tasted. I was now a coconspirator in one of Pack's many small victories. This is what hope feels like firsthand, I thought. Pack looked at me, a smile forming on his face. "I believe you understand. I believe you truly do understand," he said. And I did. I understood that God puts certain people in our paths. He put Pack in mine to show me that when you get a little creative and hold tight to your faith, you can do the impossible. And hope finds a breeding ground. From the depths of the Great Depression right up until today, I meet life's challenges with the indomitable, unshakable belief of Old Man Pack. No matter the circumstances, there's always a chance for sweet success. I do understand. Truly I do. Because I baked a pie that proved it. as seen in Inspiration Plus To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. =========================================================== _ .-.-.=\-. jgs (_)=='(_) >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: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >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 ========================================================== , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >-->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 -<>- .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >GIVE A KIND WORD author unknown Do you know a heart that hungers, For a word of love and cheer? There are many such about us, It may be that one is near. Look around you. If you find it, Speak the word that's needed so, And your own heart may be strengthened By the help that you bestow. Never think kind words are wasted, Bread on waters cast are they, And it may be we shall find them Coming back to us, some day. Coming back when sorely needed, In a time of sore distress, So, my friend, let's give them freely, Gift and giver God will bless. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $25 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all web site list readers. Email me to secure dates. 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