Happy Father's Day Weekend ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net =========================== *~* HAPPY FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND! *~* ()-() /o o\ _\ Y /_ .--. _ O__`&`__0 /____\ ,_(')< / \ [B] \~~~~/ jgs \___) ()/^\() [A][C] '--' ESPECIALLY TO ALL OUR DAD'S OUT THERE! _....._ .--. _.-' `-._ o/o-;;; ( `-._ _.-' ) (_, z) `:-._'---'_.-:' ,,,, _|-' / : `'''`_,-/`-._ /.. ) /\`--/"\ : [_./_ /_ _(_& _P / \_/, | : :`-/(_`_____ _\-'_/___/ /| : _.-: 8 \=__))____/ | : |'_.-: \_ | / F : | : : //`7/ / / : | :.-: (( (( L_______/ : |o : /_>/_> / Y / : |_.-': / / / : : J J J (`'-._____,-'`) | | | | | | | | | | _J__J__J (_ _) (__(_____) cjr'-..___..-' 2may01 >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) >Sizzlin' HOT off The Shangy Press... Our friend Bob sent us a forward I just couldn't resist turning into a page - I just love learning of the culture of other countries. So refreshing! See what You think! |\_ ==== _/| /# \ / #\ .=\ |/""\ /""\ | /=. _//""\_,H =# || #= H,_/""\\_ ./ /#.| .=()=. | #\ \. ./ # =# |\x("(vv)")x/| #= # \. || /==" #_/ \ \/xx\/ / \_ #" ==\ || )) """ /# # #\______/# # #\ """ (( \_\ =/# # # # # # # # # # \= /_/ """" # # # # # # # # # # # #"""" / W 3 W 3 W 3 W 3 W 3 W 3 W\ #W.W.W.3.W.3.W.3.W.3.W.3.W.# # 3.3.3.3.W.3.3.3.W.3.3.3.3# \W3.3.W.3.3.W.W.3.3.W.3.W/ \======================/ |#\ #| # ./"\. # |# /#| |#\ #| # ./"\. # |# /#| |#\ #| # ./"\. # |# /#| |#\ #| # ./"\. # |# /#| |#\ #| # ./"\. # |# /#| |#\ #| # ./"\. # |# /#| .#######################. _/*.*.*.*[@@@@@@@@].*.*.*.*\_ / * @@* *[@x ... x @] * *W@ * \ # * W@* *[@...x..x...@] * *@W * # #**@W* * [@xxxx[]xxxx@]* * *W@**# #**W@ * *[@...x..x...@] * * @W**# # * @W * *[@ x....x @] * * W@ * # ## W@ * *[@@@@@@@@] * * @W ## \========================/ )[S@yaN] * [16.08.2002]( | | | | | | | | | | | | ===================== ## NATIONAL EMBLEM OF INDIA ## This Is India http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/india.html --- ...Wonderful One Bob! Thank You So Much! -<>- >This is from our friend Lorraine :) She was kind enough to think of us and send this one our way. When I saw it, I couldn't resist turing it into a sweet Father's Day page. Check it out here: .-"''-. _ .' `( \ @/ ') ,--,__,-" / / \ / / _/ __| , |/ / .~ `\ / \ , | / .~ `\ ` / _/ _/ .~ `\ ~~`__/ / ~ `--'/ / / / / /' /jgs Most Valuable http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuable.html --- ...Thank You bunches Lorraine! -<>- >We are coming up to Flag Day June 14 in the US... ======;===========;() #######:::::: #######:::::: #######:::::: jgs #######:::::: ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# New Flag animations are here: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_f-j.html AND we celebrate Father's Day this sunday June 15th Dad Animations http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_a-e.html Father's Day http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_f-j.html I was surprised to see that Fathers' Day in Australia & New Zealand isn't until September 7th - so we're jumping the gun here for them :) -<>- >This is New with Paul & I ... Tired Of Those Nasty Gasoline Prices? ^ | | @#####@ (### ###)-. .(### ###) \ / (### ###) ) They've Got Us Under Their GUN! (=- .@#####@|_--" /\ \_|l|_/ (\ (=-\ |l| / \ \.___|l|___/ /\ |_| / (=-\._________/\ \ / \._________/ # ---- # # __ # \########/ We are tired of them too! So Paul is currently checking this out... * Convert Your Car To Burn Water + Gasoline = Double Your Mileage! Hi Guys, With over 20,000 satisfied customers worldwide and 900 registered manufacturers, Water4Gas is quickly becoming the web's standard for DIY technology to save fuel using WATER! Water4Gas is running a limited-time F'ree Gift at http://tinyurl.com/577ylb They are offering a 7-day e-mail course so you can learn this in your spare time, daily. This course is normally priced at $49.95 but FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY are giving it away FREE to a limited number of students. (Deadline unknown, may disappear any moment.) You do NOT have to buy anything or answer any questions!!! I just want you to have this information. Each lesson is easy and short. In about 10 minutes a day you will discover the simplicity and power of using water to clean emissions and save tons of fuel in your car or truck. Also in this course: ways to MAKE MONEY from this! If you've been searching for a unique way to SAVE $$$ ON FUEL, grab this f'ree deal - perfect for this time of rising gas costs: http://tinyurl.com/577ylb --- ...Maybe you should too!?! so we all can become ... .-.____________________.-. ___ _.' .-----. _____________|======+----------------+ /_._/ ( | /_____________| | THE | / ` _ ____/ | UNTOUCHABLES | |_ .\( \\ |________________| .' `-._/__`_// .' |""""' / / / | | ' | \ `-._____.-' Jay C -<>- >From JibJab: Daddy-O! This Father's Day do something special for your dad by making him the star of this delightful ditty! http://lyradmin.jibjab.com/t/29674302/118751910/76751/0/ World's Greatest Dad This 1940s newsreel features fanfare, parades, Harry S. Truman and YOUR DAD - now that's the way to say "Happy Father's Day!" http://lyradmin.jibjab.com/t/29674302/118751910/76754/0/ More Father's Day Laughs Through the good times and bad, Dad's been there. The least you can do is send him a JibJab Sendables eCard! http://lyradmin.jibjab.com/t/29674302/118751910/76757/0/ *~* Please Be Sure To Share These With Those You Love! ======================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: Father's Love Letter .="""=." /__ .. `"." ` `".`: `." <*^*^*>\ : ." (((()\ | : ." < ^((()|| : ." __, /\, = )))/ : ." .-"`{*} \_/ `~)_\/.' ." ." ::{*} \ \ / |: ." / .:. {*} \ \/ / |: ." |:: ' ::{*} \ / |: ." {^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^} |`"""|._.=" |^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^| | \ | .:. .:. .:. .:. .:. | | `\ | ' :: ' :: ' :: ' :: ' | / `\ | .:. .:. .:. .:. .:. | | `\ | ' :: ' :: ' :: ' :: ' | | `""-. _ {"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"} \ `\\ jgs `.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.` `-.__..-.__.-._.-\) My Child ~ You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4 And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13 I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32 Love, Your Father, Almighty God Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ================================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: MY DADDY by Traci Walker .-. _,,,,,_ .-. ( , ' : : ' , ) / : : \ ; 0.---.0 ; \ / _ \ / \ | (_) | / ." `\ -'- /` ". / `"""""` \ / .' .-== '. \ / / .-=='\ \ ( / \ ) '-;`. .';-' jgs /_ `-.______ .-` __\ /` `\ / `\ / `\ \ | / \ | / `'--'` `'--'` Just a good ol' boy from North Carolina As country as could be Packed his bags, jumped in his car And headed to Tennessee. Fresh out of school, he went to work At the local KFC Frying chicken, working hard The way that it should be. One day he asked a sweet little lady Who worked there just for fun, Do you know any nice girls? She said, "No, not one. But one day that little lady's daughter Decided to stop by, And that lovely blond daughter Caught that Carolina boy's eye. The lovely daughter had two little girls And a cozy little home, But due to circumstances The lady was alone. So the Carolina boy Asked the lady for a date I guess the rest is history Or you could call it fate. The two of them got married And began a brand new life The Carolina boy now had two daughters And a lovely new wife. Things weren't always perfect As every family knows You have your share of ups and downs You have your grief and woes. Through it all, looking back I can say with a happy smile The memories we made along the way Were worth every mile. Of all the gifts life has given me And all the treasures I have had One of the greatest is the Carolina boy, That I proudly call my Dad. All my love, Traci (your big girl) -- Traci Walker /:""| .@@@@@, (\/) |:`66|_ @@@@@@@@, \/ C` _)aa`@@@@@@ \ ._| (_ ?@@@@ ) / =' @@@@" /`\\ \(``` || |Y| //`\ || |.| / | || (\/) || |.| \ | || \/ || |.| \| || :| |=: |_|\ ||_|,| |_| \ \)))|| ((( | (\/) | || |____| \/ | || |____| > )) | || | || | || | || | || |_||__ /~)) jgs (____)) /_/YY The Story Behind the Poem, My Daddy: When I was seven years old and my younger sister was only four, our father was tragically killed in an automobile accident just two weeks after his twenty-seventh birthday. Mom was devastated and although we were really too young to understand what was going on, somehow I knew life would never be quite the same. After about a year, my mom's friends thought she should start dating and hopefully meet someone to fill the void in her life. Although mom was young and beautiful and certainly desirable, she was more interested in her girls and making sure our life was as comfortable as possible. We had a nice home, plenty of what we needed and all the love you could ask for, but we sure missed our father. Mom was lonely too, so just about every evening we would go to our grandparent's house for a visit. My grandmother, Nanny as we called her, had begun working part time at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Her boss was a nice young man named Charles who had recently moved to Tennessee from North Carolina where he was fresh out of college. His older brother had purchased two Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises and Charles was managing one of them. One day he asked Nanny if she knew any nice girls, to which she replied, "No, not a one!" We still laugh about her statement to this day! Mom, my sister and I decided to eat dinner at Kentucky Fried Chicken one evening and when Charles met my mom, he was interested in getting to know her better. To make a long story short, the two of them dated for a few months and decided to get married. My sister and I were so excited that we were getting a daddy. They had a quiet ceremony and we all went to the Smoky Mountains on a honeymoon. That was just the beginning of 32 very wonderful years for us. We were never called or considered "step" children, but we were his girls from day one. My mother was a queen and we were princesses. Daddy soon left Kentucky Fried Chicken and became a banker, which he did for 28 years before retiring in November 2003. He was a very loved and respected member of our community, a deacon at our church and a man that we were so proud to call our Daddy. He was passionate about his relationship with God, his love for his family and was an avid golfer. On October 29, 2004, we received news that would forever change our lives. Daddy had cancer. He had been living with Parkinson's for over ten years and dealt with it head on just like everything else. He seldom complained and was determined to squeeze as much out of life as possible. The treatments did not work and as a result we knew our time was running out. I have never experienced such overwhelming agony as I did seeing my Daddy suffer and wilt away. I have also never seen such courage demonstrated as I did as he bravely faced his destiny with as much humor and determination as he could muster. I will never forgot the day I was spending the morning with him and he had gotten violently ill. Mom and I were sitting outside the bathroom in case he needed assistance. All of the sudden he began singing, "Just A Closer Walk With Thee." That was such an inspiration to me that even though he was facing death, he still had a song in his heart. Daddy went home to heaven seven weeks to the day that he was diagnosed, so on December 17, 2004, I said goodbye to a man that was more than a father -- he was my daddy, not by blood, but by love and God's plan. I wrote the poem one week before he passed away and he loved it! ====================================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` >A PICTURE By: Joseph J. Mazzella I have a new favorite picture. It was taken on Memorial Day weekend at a family reunion. They say that, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Well this one is worth a thousand books. I look at it whenever I need a reminder of what life is all about. In the background is a family graveyard with fresh flowers placed everywhere. The sun is shining through the trees and glistening off the stones with a glorious light. In the front of the picture in the shade of the trees is my daughter. She is holding her 2 year old cousin in her arms and gently kissing her on the cheek. This single picture holds so much. There is beautiful nature, flowers, sunshine, and trees. There is life, death, remembrance, and the promise of an even greater life after this one. There is renewal, youth, and growing up. There is hugs, kisses, joy, and laughter. There is family, caring, and sharing. There is wonderful togetherness. There is light, shadow, happiness and sadness. Most of all, though, there is love. There is love for those who have passed and for those who remain. There is love for life and love for each other. There is also our love for God and God’s love for us. I can’t help but feel that Heaven must have been smiling down when this picture was taken. It was one of those glorious moments of love that God meant for us to live. Life is a series of pictures. It is moments of love chosen and cherished. It is wonderful memories created and enjoyed. It is instances when we share laughter, bring joy, offer kindness, give goodness, and deliver delight from our hearts and souls. It is times when we think, learn, pray, and grow. It is seconds when we finally begin to realize what we are truly here for and what life is really about. May all of your pictures be happy ones then. May they all be taken with love. And may you always feel Heaven smiling down upon them. -<>- Links: Nothing Like A Good Book http://www.buffalosjokes.com/60545.htm I'm My Own Grandpa http://www.buffalosjokes.com/041632.htm Never Take A Man's Last Beer http://www.buffalosjokes.com/041636.htm Scuba Diving Cat http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42006.htm Respect Your Elders http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42004.htm Shark VS Octopus http://www.buffalosjokes.com/42009.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ====================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: 8 8 8 /```| .@@@@@, 8 8 | 66|_ @@@@@@@@, 8 (\/) 8 C _) aa`@@@@@@ 8 \/ 8(\/) \ ._| (_ ?@@@@ 8 |8:\/:~:~) /:~:~: =' @@@@~:~:8 |8::::::/\\/`\;_:::\ (__:::::8 |8:::::| \ '\___/``\\// `\)::8 |8::::|| | '|::/ / ^^ \ \::8 |8::::|| | ' \:| \__/\__/ |::8 |8o:::|\ \ ' |:\_\ /_/:::8o |"8o:::=\ \===::/`\`%%`/'\:::"8o |\"8o~| \_\ \| `""` |:~:\8o \ \"8o\ ))) \ \:::"8o \ \"8o:`. \ \ \:::"8o \|~~~~~| -|| -|mmmmmmmmmmmm~~~~| `~~~~~| || |~~| |~| |~~~~~` jgs | || | |__| |__| | || | \ | \ | |__||__| (~~^\(~~^\ ( \ \ `-._)`-._) `-._)-._) >THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAITS by Francis "Frank" P. Cotter I always knew since I was a child, that my father was something special. I could never quite put my finger on it, but my dad was someone unique. I wasn't the only one that felt this way either. I don't know how many times people told me how lucky I was to have him as a father. He never had an unkind word to say about anyone. He was always there with a helping hand for all, especially the elderly and the poor. He was warm, friendly and above all honest. My father was born on Christmas Day in 1916. My grandmother put my father in a wicker basket and placed him under the Christmas tree -- he was her special Christmas present froom God. As a teenager my father did a stint with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the early 1930s, and after worked in a nail foundry, before enlisting in the army during World War II. I believe his unique character was forged in the fires of the Great Depression. My father, like his brothers had to quit school and go to work to support the family. My grandfather was unable to work due to a long term debilitating illness. The boys collected potato scraps and spoiled fruits and vegetables from the rear of the local market. The scraps were then trimmed down to what was edible and boiled into a stew that fed the family. My grandmother would never accept charity even when it was offered, because as she put it in her thick Irish accent, "There are people much worse off that need this food." My father had to walk along the railroad tracks in order to find coal (that had fallen off coal cars) for the family "Pot Bellied" stove, which was their only source of heat in the "cold water" flat. My father's family had very little in the way of possessions, but what they did have was a remarkable gift that radiated from each and every one of them. They were decent, hardworking people who lived to help others. They never complained and always held their heads high, even during the worst of times. My sister was born in 1953 and I was born two years later in 1955. We learned from an early age that decency and respect were the two most important traits a person could possess. Material possessions were nice, but never valued over honesty and integrity. My father was the most decent, highly respected person I ever knew, then or now. He never complained and was always satisfied with what little he had. As a kid, I can remember my father being out of work and not having enough money to buy oil for the furnace and little if any money for food. I can remember my Aunt Helen bringing over bags of food for us and sticking whatever money she could spare into my dad's pocket. My Aunt Helen, like my father, his brothers (Gerald, Jim and John) and his other sister Kay, possessed this magic quality in volumes -- help others before you help yourself. I can remember, how even in the face of terrible adversity my father never wavered. In 1972, my sister was severely injured in a car accident. My father took the news like he did everything else, with his head held high. My sister lingered in a coma for more than twenty years, and never once during this time did I ever hear my father complain. In 1989, when my mother died, my father finally had enough. In 1991, my father passed away quietly in his hospital room never once complaining. He died as he lived with that wonderful smile still on his face. At my father's wake you would have thought a president had died. There wasn't a dry eye in the house or an empty seat. My father had achieved the most important things in life -- friends and respect. -- Francis "Frank" P. Cotter ____________________________________________ Frank says, "I am married to my one and only sweetheart Patty. I have three children. I have worked for Rutgers University for the past 30 years as a Project Manager in the Facilities Department." ================================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: , ; , .-'"""'-. , ; , \\|/ .' '. \|// \-;-/ () () \-;-/ // ; ; \\ NaaNaa //__; :. .; ;__\\ `-----\'.'-.....-'.'/-----' '.'.-.-,_.'.' jgs '( (..-' '-' >My Dad Owns Hell! Three small boys were bragging about their fathers. The first boasted that his dad owned a large farm. The second said his dad owned a factory. The third boy, a pastors son, replied: "That's nothin'. My dad owns hell." "No way," one of the other boys scoffed. "How can a man own hell?" "Sure he can," the preacher's son said. "I heard my mom tell my grandma that them elders of our church gave it to him last night during their board meeting." By way of --------- Worth Thinking About... If we exclude the Bible from the top of the best sellers list, the top selling books in the country are cookbooks. Diet books are number two. What's wrong with this picture? --------- _, _, _, (/}(/}(/} / Veni, Vidi & Vici ]n\dn\dn\d \o'\o'\o' _|\ _\ _\ _ N" Y" Y" Y" Cigarettes, Candy, C-Rations, and Freedom Throughout history, the sight of armed soldiers has always terrified civilians. Soldiers almost always meant an orgy of looting, pillaging, rape, and even murder. That was certainly the case at the end of World War II. Historian Stephen Ambrose, writing in the WALL STREET JOURNAL, notes that, at war's end, "The most terrifying sight to most civilians was a squad of armed teenage boys in uniform." Whether it was the Red Army in Warsaw, the Japanese in Manila, or the Germans in Holland, this sight meant trouble. There was one exception to this tragic rule. "Everywhere in the world," Ambrose writes, "whether in France, Belgium, the Philippines, Germany, or Japan, the sight of a twelve-man squad of GIs brought joy to peoples' hearts." Why? "Because the sight of those American kids meant cigarettes, candy, c- rations, and freedom. They had come not to conquer or terrorize but to liberate." What made those American soldiers so different, even from their European counterparts who shared a common western and Christian heritage? What made them different was a commitment to and a love for a set of ideals. These were the classic ideas of the American founders. Unlike other nations, American identity is not based on ethnicity or geography. It's based on a moral proposition. This proposition comes straight from the faded and yellowed document: The DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." When I went into the Marine Corps, this is what I was willing to die for, and this is what being an American has meant to GIs through the years. This belief, in turn, has shaped the way GIs treated civilians -- even in enemy countries. After all, how can you terrorize men and women when you are fighting to protect the life and liberty of every human being? Sadly, in the past twenty years, Americans have weakened in their commitment to principles contained in our founding documents. Our nation has begun to systematically exclude entire classes of people from its guarantees. We've excluded those waiting to be born. We've excluded people with handicaps like Downs syndrome. Through physician-assisted suicide, we've begun to exclude the elderly and the infirm. Today, many are proposing that we add to this tragic list: Through cloning, they want to create human life only to destroy it. If we continue down this road, I have to ask myself: Will American GIs in some future conflict be as welcome as those who liberated Europe after World War II, or those who more recently unshackled Afghanistan? And will those troops have the same respect and compassion for the innocent? It's something to ponder with thoughts of Memorial Day still fresh in our minds. This week BreakPoint will continue to focus on the theme of Memorial Day, remembering those who have gone before us and served. So why not take a moment with your family to discuss the moral truths that lie behind the holiday, that have motivated our GIs over the years -- truths that have guarded the innocent in ages past and, God willing, will guard them in the future? For further reading: Michael Novak, ON TWO WINGS: HUMBLE FAITH AND COMMON SENSE AT THE AMERICAN FOUNDING (Encounter, 2002). You can read the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (4 July 1776) at the National Archives and Records Administration Website: ============================================== Copyright (c) 2002 Prison Fellowship Ministries Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of BreakPoint must set forth the following credit line, in full, at the conclusion of the portion of BreakPoint that is used: Copyright (c) 2002 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries. ============================================================== >Change of Outlook Story Editor: By Jennifer Hoeneise Joyce Schowalter Michigan, USA I participated in an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) in 2001 through Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In ASB, participants travel someplace during spring break to do volunteer work. Education is a primary focus of ASB; before break we learn about the issue we will volunteer with. I spent that spring break in Atlanta working with AIDS patients. My group helped Project Open Hand prepare and deliver meals to homebound patients. We also helped one day in a daycare for children affected by the virus. (Either they had AIDS, or their caregiver did, or both.) On the third day, Wednesday, three of my group members and I piled into the van to deliver coolers of food. Several meal recipients lived in high rises and some had specific instructions for delivery: leave food in cooler next to door, knock loudly, and similar. One client had no cooler outside because someone had been stealing his food. There was a note next to his name to leave the food with his neighbor. "He must have just stepped out because I just saw him," the neighbor told us. We wanted to leave a note on his door so he would know his food was waiting next door, but we lacked pen and paper. We went down to the building lobby to find what we needed. We had just finished writing the note and borrowing a piece of tape when I heard a voice behind me ask "Have you already been upstairs?" I turned and saw a frail-looking black man, very thin with hollow cheeks. He gestured to our large red cooler bags. "Are you Paul?" one of my friends asked. "Yes, that's me," he answered. We told him we left the food with his neighbor. He thanked us and then said, "Don't forget to smile, your smiles make the world a better place." Even now I feel a shiver run down my spine and tears well up in my eyes at the thought of Paul. You could tell by looking at his body that he was sick, but when you looked at his face you saw no fear, anger or pain. There was a wonderful shine in his eyes and a broad smile on his face. Paul was sick, sick enough that he needed to have his food prepared and delivered to him, but he didn't let that get him down. I went down to Atlanta to help people, but I never expected one of them to help me. Now whenever I face a tough situation I think of Paul and his undefeatable attitude. If he can look death in the eye and smile -- then surely I can get through less difficult situations. I knew that my ASB experience was going to change my outlook on life, but I am surprised that I can sum it all up in one sentence. Don't forget to smile, your smiles make the world a better place. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From PetWarmers: When a man's best friend is his dog, that dog has a problem. -- Edward Abbey You will absolutely love Karen's story today. It's a Father's Day tribute to her grandfather -- a special man who loved many things, including dogs. He was known for always carrying some treats with him to share with his neighborhood friends. Let us know what you think of today's wonderful tale. And Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there! _ _ (_'-----'_) (_.'""""._) fsc >MILK BONES Even though his daughters were all well into their sixties, they still called him "daddy". He called all of his grandchildren "honey" even after several of them became big strapping men. Nobody minded. I lost this man, my grandfather, recently. He died suddenly and left a hole in my life. There are many things that he was -- soft-spoken, funny, incredibly kind, patient, gentle. He loved children. He loved animals. He loved the woods and his garden. My mother tells me whenever it was decreed that she or one of her sisters was to be spanked, he always cried after the discipline was doled out. There are fewer things that my grandfather was not. He was not an educated man. He had to leave school early when his father died to take care of his mother and sister. He was also not a rich man. He didn't build buildings or leave trust funds. He didn't travel or speak different languages. Truthfully, he didn't leave many material things behind to define his life. But he did leave me chocolate, ice-cream cones and dog biscuits -- the things he used to teach me about life and what makes it worthwhile. The chocolates were dome-shaped and filled with something that looked like marshmallow, but tasted better. They were contained in a little brown paper sack, kept seemingly at all times either on his person, or on a particular shelf in the pantry. I don't know where he got them. I have never seen them sold anywhere and their mysterious origin adds, in my mind, to their magic. They had a way of materializing, just when I most needed someone to notice how I was feeling. There would be a familiar paper rustling, a conspiratorial wink and a hush-hush whisper to not tell my mother or grandmother, as the treat was slipped silently into my hand. Being the recipient of one of these candies always made me feel special just when I needed it the most. My grandfather liked to walk. So did I. I especailly liked walking with him because our route almost invariably included a stop at the ice-cream counter. My grandfather, a chocoholic himself, would always tell me I could have any flavor I wanted, except chocolate -- the only flavor I was even remotely interested in. He said it with a twinkle in his eye and would always laugh loudly and mock-protest with a "Hey! I said no chocolate!" when I invariably marched up to the counter and ordered a chocolate cone to match his own. Lastly, the dog bones. My grandfather adored dogs about as much as he liked chocolate, but at this time in his life, he didn't own one. But that didn't keep him from always stocking his trouser pockets full of dog biscuits. After all, one should never be empty-handed in the event of running into old friends. And sometimes, I think the purpose of his walking was more to greet and treat his many canine buddies than to exercise. He was like a one-man sunshine committee for the four-legged population of his town. He knew every dog on his route by name, and there were a lot of them. There was no leash law back then and dogs were free to pay us a visit on the sidewalk. Sometimes, if I was lucky, he'd let me do the honors. I guess you could say the milk-bone of human kindness ran from my grandfather's pockets. My husband says that I remember events and people by their associations with food. And, I must admit that this is true. Many of the pictures, the memories of my life are tied into flavors, and scents and textures and colors. I like to think that maybe this is why my food memories are so vivid, and why chocolates will always remind me to take the time to notice and let others know I care. And why seeing chocolate ice-cream melting in the heat of a summer day, dripping down the side of a cake cone, will always remind me that a sense of humor is a delicious thing. And why the vaguely cracker-like scent of dog biscuits reminds me to stop often, enjoy my journey, and keep in mind that delight in life comes from making others happy. These are the things my grandfather left me. And with his legacy of chocolate and dog biscuits, I can't think of how any man could possibly have been considered more successful. I'm carrying on, Grandpa, with a pocketful of dog bones, but rest assured, you will be missed. -- Karen Driscoll ____________________________________________ Karen lives in Connecticut with her husband and their four children. ____________________________________________ Email addresses in our publication have a space before and after the @ symbol. This is to prevent viruses from reaching our writers and others. 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