Happy St.Pat'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! ================ _ _ _____ ____ ____ _ _ ( ) ( ) ( _ ) ( _ \ ( _ \ ( ) ( ) | |_| | | (_) | | |_) )| |_) ) \ \_/ / | _ | | _ | | ,__/ | __/ \ / | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) ____ _____ ____ _____ _____ ____ _ ___ _ _ _ ____ ( _ \(_ _) ( _ \ ( _ )(_ _)( _ \ ( ) / _ \ ( ) ( )( )( _ \ | (_(_) | | | |_) )| (_) | | | | (_) )| || ( (_)| |/ / |/ | (_(_) _\__ \ | | | __/ | _ | | | | / | || | _ | , < ' _\__ \ ( )__) | | | _ | | | | | | | | | |\ \ | || (_( )| |\ \ ( )__) | \_____) (_)(_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_)(_) \___/ (_) (_) \_____) ____ _____ _ _ __ ( _ \ ( _ )( ) ( ) ( ) | | \ \ | (_) | \ \_/ / | / | | ) )| _ | \ / |/ | |_/ / | | | | | | _ (____/ (_) (_) (_) (_) .-----. ()() / \ .'() |__...__|/ |_....._| .-' ___ '-. \_.-`. .`-._/ __ .--. _ (|\ (_) /|) .-;.-"-.-;`_;-, ( \_=_/ ) .(_( `)-;___),-;_), _(_ _)_ (.( `\.-._)-.( ). ) /` ||'-'|| `\ ,(_`'--;.__\ _).;--'`_) _ /_/ (_>o<_) \_\ // )`--..__ ``` _( o )'(';,)\_//| || : || |\\ \;' ````` `\\ '.\\--' |`"""""""`|// / ':.___// \___,___/\_( | '---'| |__|__| ; ; ;""|""; \ / [] | [] '. .' .' / \ '. jgs'-,.__ __.,-' `--' `--' (___/`````````\___) ~*~ May You Have A Most SAFE And Blessed St. Patrick's Day WEEKEND! -<>- >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our flaming hot new page is from my daughter Tammy and our friend Geniann. They say this is the most popular petrified park in the world, yet I had never heard of it before and it is right here in America! Go figure. It is pretty awesome as instead of wood that is hard as stone, it actually has stone inside the wood! Not just any stone, but beautiful, rainbow shimmering in the sunlight, quartz stone! Be sure to check this out here... _ |.| _ |~| jgs \\/ ._\//_/__/ ,\_//__\\/. \_//__/_ Amazing Petrified Forest http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/petrifiedforest.html --- ...Wow! So Stunning! Thanks Ladies! Our next sizzling Hot new page is from our friends PatDeE and John-Paul. Our society is full of blunders and mistakes that simply prove we are human. This'll give some smiles and perhaps some chuckles for your day as you check out this latest in a series of funny accidents. Be sure to give it a couple minutes and check it out here: .-------------------. ___ ( Have we landed yet? ) / /] `-------------. ,-' / / ] \ | _____,. ' /__] ) \| ,-' _> ( ` _/ G-BUMR ,. '` ) / | _,. '` ( /. / | ) , /` ./ ( \_/ //_ _ ) / // (_) _,~'# (/. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~#~~#~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Life's Little OOPS 15 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops15.html --- ...LOL! Oh My! Thanks Gentlemen! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through. -- Irish Blessing We hope the luck o' the Irish is with you -- enjoy your St. Patty's Day! _____________ ( ) | | ( ) %%%%%%% |____-----____| ( ) %%%% %%%% | \___/ | ( ) %%%% %%%% _______________________ ( ) %%% %% %%% \\ // ( ) %% %% (o)(o) %% \\__~~~_______~~~__// ( ) %% ____ %% / \ %% |\ |(0) (0)| /| ( ) % / __ \ %% / \ .. ) % |\ \| (. .) |/ /| ___ %% / / \ \ %% /\__/ %% \ ||| , ||| / [ ] % ( \ \ \/%% / % |||| \_______/=============| | %% \ \__ \/ %% __ %% ||||| --- ||||| \_/ % \ \/ /%% /__\ % ||||| ||||| ||||| %% \__ ' /\ %%// \> %% ||||||||||||||||| %% \ /\ \_%% %% ||||||||||||| %%% \_/ \__/%% %%% ||||||||| %%%% %%%% ||||| %%%% %%%% %%%%%%% Mike Jittlov >THE WAITING GAME by Kathe Campbell Nature had shaped my face at 20, and a good life reshaped it by 50. But at 75, instead of charismatic laugh lines about my mouth and eyes that twinkled charm, energy, and youthful ideals, worry wrinkles were haunting me. Coping with a bad case of jitters, I picked up the phone to make an appointment with my doctor, for I had found a good size lump on my thigh. A lump, I pondered. Just what I need. I've lost an arm, now I'm about to lose a leg. How wonderful, as I pictured myself a sorry crippled old prune keeping my little ranch and stock in good fettle. Along with rheumatoid arthritis and spinal stenosis, just one more thing to raise my walking drugstore status. My doctor inspected the lump and advised sending me headlong under a gargantuan machine resembling some medieval torture device. "I really don't think it's anything to worry about, Kath," he remarked as I pulled on my jeans to begin that awful waiting game. Whether my doctor was worried about me or not, those were the words I liked hearing. It was an expression of reassurance that allowed me to return to daily routines without anxious wondering what lab reports would bring. When feeling uptight, I'll simply take deep breaths to avoid sleepless nights and panic, and probably heal easily in these days of modern miracles... or so I told myself. But, alas, unable to think past worrywart butterflies, I pushed in a half dozen CD's and plunged into a major kitchen and pantry make-over. Saving aside a box for the food bank, and reorganizing drawers and cupboards made one afternoon fly. The next day I tackled the linen closet, and day three found me fine tuning two bathrooms. Physical exercise and wearing myself to a frazzle left me gratified, and did wonders for my disposition. Now if I should suddenly call it a day, the grandkids could say, "Yes, our Granny kept such a lovely home!" Four eternal days passed with fear creeping in like hoar frost, characterized by episodes of chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath and profuse sweating. Should I call the doctor's office? How long can it take for a lab crew to check out those samples? Surely the old adage, "no news is good news," has merit. There was no doubt about it, despite my doctor's reassurances, I was dying. Still a miserable wreck, I crawled into bed exhausted, but woke up wired in the middle of the night, pacing about, my befuddled canine pal dogging my every step. Wooziness and nausea consumed me, and I had trouble reading the newspaper or absorbing a movie on TV. My imagination was on a rampage again, and if I wasn't sick before, I was doing a bang- up job giving myself a full-blown panic attack. The following day I again bugged my sweet daughter with my tale of woe, did my volunteer duty, and the dog and I took a little ride in the truck to drive out worry demons. But in the end, can the amazing truth be that the God of the whole world might be interested in little ole' me? It must be so, for He said, "fear not," and I knew somebody up there had His eye on this pitiful sparrow. When I heard the doctor's nurse on the phone, I froze. Why was Maura calling, and not my doctor? "The x-rays, ultra sounds, and lab results show nothing, Kath. Doctor says all is well. It's just a large non-invasive fatty lump. Watch it, and if it changes, be sure to come in, OK?" Heaving a giant sigh, worry wrinkles gone in a flash, and feeling like a kid again, I trumpeted aloud to my faithful pooch as he felt my relief and jumped in circles... "Now wasn't that just the dumbest? Getting myself all tied up in a dozen knots over this crazy thing, Corky? I'll not be putting us through that again!" Wanna bet? -- Kathe Campbell __________________________________________________ Kathe lives her dream on a Montana mountain with her mammoth donkeys, a Keeshond, and a few kitties. Three children, eleven grands and three greats round out her herd. She is a prolific writer on Alzheimer's, and her stories are found on many ezines. Kathe is a contributing author to the Chicken Soup For The Soul and Cup of Comfort series, numerous anthologies, RX for Writers, magazines and medical journals. -<>- *** *** ***....** **...*** **........** **.......** *** **..........*.........** *** **.....** **..................** **.....** **.........** **..............** **.........** *..............* *..........* *..............* **..............* *......* *..............** **..............** *....* **..............** *......................................* **..............**........**..............** **..............* *....*....*..............** *..............* *........* ...*..............* **.........** *............* ...**.........** **.....** **...............**....**.....** *** **...................**...* *** **...........*...........**...* **.........* *.........** *...*..*..*..* *......** **......* *........* ** * * ** *...* * May God give you... For every storm, a rainbow, For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise, And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song, And an answer for each prayer. >ST. PATRICK'S DAY PEACOCK by Joseph Walker I don't know how my green sweater ended up in the same batch of laundry as my white underwear. Mom didn't usually make mistakes like that But there was the evidence, neatly folded in my drawer -- green underwear. "You can't even tell they're green," mom said, defensively, when I asked what in the name of J.C. Penney was going on. "Besides, it's underwear. You don't show off your underwear, do you?" She had me there. Underwear-showing was high on the list of things we tried not to do back in those days. Still, I was an underwear traditionalist. It was the mid-1960s, and in my neighborhood we wore 'em white and tight -- the whiter and tighter, the better. None of that multi- colored, boxer-style, hippie-dippie stuff for us. No, sir. White, tight underwear was the foundation of all that was noble and right in the world. To wear anything else was the first rebellious step on the slippery slope of anarchy. So it was principle, really, that drove my refusal to wear green underwear. I wouldn't be caught dead in it (which, of course, was my greatest fear -- that I would be in an accident, and would be forever remembered by doctors as the boy who died while wearing green underwear). Then came St. Patrick's Day, the day for the wearin' o' the green. In our neighborhood, if someone didn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day, you could pinch him -- hard. But if the guy you pinched was covertly wearing green, he could punch you -- harder. Green underwear provided the perfect opportunity to trade pinches for punches -- the ultimate St. Patrick's Day triumph. So I slipped on the green underwear and hurried through mom's traditional St. Patrick's Day breakfast of green scrambled eggs and green orange juice, and ran to meet George on the way to school. I could tell he was quietly checking me out. At last he pinched me. "Gotcha!" I shouted, and prepared to punch him. "Hey, wait!" George replied. "You gotta prove it!" He was right, of course. You couldn't just say you were wearing covert green -- you had to show it. So I showed him the green underwear -- and then I punched him. He agreed it was a great joke, and volunteered to send victims my way. It worked great on Dean and Albert. Their pinches hurt some, but the pain was offset by the knowledge that I was going to get to slug them. Then George threw a curve ball at me: Gayle. Gayle was the cutest girl in the fourth grade and the object of my pre-adolescent affection. Her light pinch felt like an angel kissing my arm, and I was lost in the magic of her laughing eyes -- until I noticed George and the rest of the guys poking their heads around a corner, urging me to finish off the joke. Talk about your moral dilemmas! In order to play the joke on Gayle I'd have to show her my green underwear, and there was no way I was going to do that. Besides, she was a girl, and I didn't believe in slugging girls -- at least, not one who wasn't my sister. So I just shrugged and blushed and laughed away Gayle's pinch with some innocuous comment about how I'd forgotten it was St. Patrick's Day, and hey -- she could pinch me anytime she wanted. My buddies were outraged until it occurred to them to send more girls my way. Eventually, every girl in the fourth grade pinched me, including Colleen, whose father was a dentist so she naturally enjoyed inflicting pain. By the end of the day I was a St. Patrick's Day peacock, with black and blue arms to go with my red face and green underwear. I remember that day every year at this time, and I think about what a painful thing it is when principles collide. All we can do is decide which principle gets the greater value. And then prepare to be pinched. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ Joe is a Heartwarmers Gem from Utah. =========================================================== __ | +| ,,,|__| $$$ , , $$C > $$$; _< _______/ /_ ___ | |__` \~/o\ _,]-]___]-----> | / \( ) )\/.-// _( \ ) / \ | //| / ,/ \/ '/ o \ / o \ /______/\_\ \ || / \ || / \ || / / )( \ |/ \| :] [: o| |o /o| |o\ b'ger `-' `-' >-->David French: Get the Vaccine or You're a Bad Christian Concerns about COVID vaccines are not "spiritual problems" https://technofog.substack.com/p/david-frenchs-spiritual-blackmail Well, this is interesting isn't it? I for one do not like anyone calling anyone a bad Christian over such things. Being a Christian is an on going process. We are to continually work toward renewing our mind to the Word of God. Once we become a Christian, we are perfect inside with the God in Christ spirit that God gives us, but we still have what the bible refers to as our old man mentality. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Eph.4 [22] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Rom.12: [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Col.2: [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: [20] Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, [21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [22] Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? - read the full verses Col.2:6-22 So, in my view, calling someone a bad Christian is ridiculous. How can you be a bad Christian? God doesn't do bad work. You are complete. One can say you need to renew your mind to the word of God but as far as getting the vaccine goes, the bible doesn't say you must be vaccinated or you are a horrible sinner. Nope. The bible says you need not be subject to worldly ordinances. We go by what God tells us. Phil.3: [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (Christians), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Apostle Paul didn't say he'd reveal it to them, he said God shall (absolutely) reveal it to you. I was speaking of this to my oldest brother as our brother was was encouraging us all to get the shot. I told him we hadn't been thinking much about it here. So much news good and bad that I am waiting until I feel compelled to by God. Like the flu shot last year I didn't feel like getting it, but this year I felt compelled to get it, so made sure I got it. I leave things up to God. That way, I know it is for the best. The very next day my oldest brother emailed me this... 'ON THE SHOT, THE VA INFORMED ME TO GET IT ANY WAY I COULD, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WOULD HAPPEN... SO AFTER I DID SOME SHOPPING AFTER THE LAB WORK I HEADED HOME AND IT MUST BE THE HAND OF GOD ...I ARRIVED AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER RIGHT BEFORE THEY STOPPED GIVING THE SHOTS, I WAS THE LAST ONE TO GET IT. I SIGNED ALL THE PAPERS, GOT MY CARD AND GOT MY 1ST SHOT AND WILL GET THE 2ND ONE THE 30TH... IT'S LIKE YOU SAID, GOD LEAD ME TO IT, IN A DAZE I WAS SAYING HOW DID I GET HERE AND WHY....HA, HA....BUT WE KNOW HOW AND WHY...RIGHT?...RIGHT!' My brother is more at risk being older and out and about more than I am, so I am sure God directed him because it would be best for him. I was tickled as he also said when he got home, two of his friends in his town had just gotten the shot too. Perfect timing. God's timing is always perfect! When all else fails, you can always trust God. :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' See these Great Teachings... The Renewed Mind http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/THE_RENEWED_MIND.htm The Exact Right Moment in Time https://tinyurl.com/ahdbr9dk Trust In The Lord http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Trust_In_The_Lord.htm Our Christian Stand http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Our_Christian_Stand.htm =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The Lies We Tell Ourselves "When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false [an honest man].'"1 In working with relationships over the years, I have often heard people try and verbalize what they wish they were in an effort to somehow make it a reality. Or they will constantly bring out the faults in others in an effort to hide their own flaws. It's amazing the lies we tell ourselves and the amount of denial we are in--in order to avoid facing the painful reality of the truth. Jeffrey Gitomer agrees. He said, "My experience has shown me that if you have to say what you are, you probably aren't. Think about that for a moment. 'I'm honest,' 'I'm ethical,' even 'I'm the boss,' or 'I'm in charge,' often indicates just the opposite." What freedom and release we find when we have the courage to admit our faults, sins, and problems--not as a means to put ourselves down--but as a means to quit the merry-go-round trap of denial, and grow in love and maturity. It's amazing what being honest and becoming real will do for improving our relationships--both with God and others! Denial is a mask to hide behind but masks can't relate. Only real people can. Furthermore, only God can help us to the degree that we are honest with ourselves and with Him. It's the only way to live life to the full! Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be open-faced, honest and real--with myself, others, and above all with You. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus Christ's name, amen." 1. John 1:47 (NIV). <:((((>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Blueprints for Character “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it."1 There is a Minister who received an urgent note that said that a man in his congregation wanted to get a hold of him. The man’s problems have been 10 years in the making but have become urgent when the consequences of neglect suddenly materialized. The minister met the man at his office. He was a builder by trade and kept in touch with most of his customers by telephone. That explained why he was on the phone when he entered the room. He continues to talk for 10 minutes while the minister waited. After the man got off the phone, he didn’t even begin with any small talk but rather tears welled up in his eyes and anger rose in his voice as he described his son, his 2 daughters, and his wife. His children were teenagers and he felt that he should be getting combat pay. His wife, he complained, was plotting with the kids for his first visit to a cardiac care unit. His kids were driving him crazy. One of his daughters had teamed up with a wayward young man and had committed a felony. A legal firm was handling their problems with the state, but he hoped that the minister would be able to help his daughter solve the moral nightmare that had created the mess. He was trying to subcontract his family problems to the minister. The minister wanted to help his friend, but it required a whole lot more attention than he would normally give. He was hurting and the minister wanted to help. After asking him what he had done so far and what his plans were the man said that he had done nothing and didn’t know what to do. The answers to those questions could’ve encompassed his whole career as a father. Maybe it wasn’t so surprising but his own father’s track record was very similar. He was desperate to show the man that nothing that he might do would have any lasting effect until he established a plan that considered the unique needs of his children’s lives from start to finish. He needed an object lesson - something that works when words fall flat. That’s when the Lord opened his eyes to an illustration that was laying right in front of him on the man’s desk. A set of blueprints. He spread out the blueprints flipped through a few pages and then asked, “what comes first, the building or the blueprints?" The answer barely required an answer and of course, he gave the obvious response, “the blueprints." He looked at the man and said, “you wouldn’t think of dumping a lot of building materials at a certain construction site and then giving the subcontractors the freedom to put them where they think they looked and worked best, would you?" He pointed to other points in the blueprints and as he pointed to the foundation, the roof, the walls, the windows and doors, and the electricity, plumbing, heating, and insulation. The minister pointed out that the blueprints predetermine how the building will be put together. He asked the man, “Have you ever developed a set of blueprints for your children’s character?" "What’s the foundation on which you’re structuring their lives? Have you picked out the best windows and doors for them to access the outside world, capture the view, and benefit from the light of the world? Have you factored in the proper insulation to protect them from life’s dangerous elements, and attach them to the right kind of power to light them for a lifetime?" The Man talked about the church and the Christian school, but the minister reminded him that they were only subcontractors. They merely help him put together what God has ordained him to build. The man would never erect a building without a predetermined set of plans. It was obvious that he and his wife had not determined much of anything for their children. If he had applied the same principles that he uses for building a structure to building people, he would have found himself in a much better situation. Now he was forced to do some demolition and restructuring which would demand heavy commitments of time, energy, and resources. It wasn’t too late. But it was going to be emotionally expensive.2 Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I ask that you give me the tools necessary to build a firm foundation, based on your Word, for my children to grow upon. Allow me to make my family a priority and invest the time and energy needed to direct and teach them your path. Please lead me so I can lead them. I surrender to you and trust that you will be with me every step of the way. I pray that you would guard their hearts, and that as they grow, they would develop a personal relationship with you as well. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen." Proverbs 22:6 (NLT). Dr. Tim Kimmel, “Raising kids who turn out right." When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .---------. _ |:: [-=-] | | | |_________| |~| |_| ,;;;;, I\ ,__ ,;;;, __, ///\\\\\ I |{ / . . \ } / " \\|| I | ) ( _ ) ( \_= _/// I |{___'-. .-'___}\___ )_\ I ||~/,'~~~~~,\~~|'---(( \ I \ // \\ | \ \ \ I \/ // | | /-/ I (/ (/ | |/||\ I | | | | I | | |____/ I :-----_o_-----: || | I | /~~|===|~~\ | (( | jgs I || |===| || ||_/ /^\ "~ '^^^' "" ((__| >He Wasn't Cured But He Was Healed (Based on Tony Compolo's "Year of Jubilee" Preaching Today Tape #212) Tony Compolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Compolo prayed boldly for the man's healing. That next week he got a telephone call from the man's wife. She said, "You prayed for my husband. He had cancer." Compolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been eradicated! But before he could think much about it she said, "He died." Compolo felt terrible. But she continued, "Don't feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He knew he was going to be dead in a short period of time, and he hated God. He was 58 years old, and he wanted to see his children and grandchildren grow up. He was angry that this all-powerful God didn't take away his sickness and heal him. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him. It was an awful thing to be in his presence. But the lady told Compolo, "After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him. Tony, the last three days have been the best days of our lives. We've sung. We've laughed. We've read Scripture. We prayed. Oh, they've been wonderful days. And I called to thank you for laying your hands on him and praying for healing." And then she said something incredibly profound. She said, "He wasn't cured, but he was healed." -<>- _,_ (;;;) ,__/a /;\ (__ |;|_ '--. \;/;) @\(,;)'\ (;;) '._ \ / _ '-. ||| | `\ _ |||`-.\ \ (;;) ((;;) (;;).' \\ jgs (((_) (((__) (;) >Cody-Joe In 1996, I took a new job in a different city. I moved first, while my wife stayed behind with our two young children. They planned to join me when the house sold. I couldn’t afford an apartment, so I rented a room in a couple’s home and lived with them and their toy poodle, Cody-Joe. Bill and Liz quickly became a mom and dad to me. Cody-Joe was a challenge. He was shy and stayed in their room, when they weren’t home. If they were home, he would stay away from me and bark whenever I walked in the door, including, when I came in at 1AM, after working an evening shift. Cody-Joe was fond of tennis balls. He drove Bill crazy. All evening long, Cody shoved the ball at Bill, sat back, and yapped for him to throw it. It went on all night, as Bill watched television. One night, I grabbed the ball, and threw it for him. Cody-Joe took off, brought it back, and dropped it by my feet. It was a breakthrough in our relationship. I threw the ball for more than thirty minutes. I grew tired of the game and stopped throwing the ball. Cody-Joe kept pushing it toward my feet, but I ignored him. He lost patience, grabbed his ball, ran up, and stuffed it between my thigh and the side of the chair. It was the first time he ever touched me. Cody-Joe continued his normal barking and shyness around me, but when I sat in that chair, he’d grab his ball and make me play. One night I was making a bologna sandwich for my lunch. I looked to my left, and there was Cody-Joe, peeking around the corner at me. I threw him a piece of meat. He walked toward it, not taking his eyes off me. When he thought it was safe, he grabbed the meat, and dashed away. It became a nightly thing. I was wearing him down with kindness and food. Liz had to go on a business trip one week, and Bill was working long hours. I was working a night shift. I’d be home alone with Cody-Joe. Liz asked, “Mike, could you take Cody for a walk in the early afternoon. He’ll need to go to the bathroom. Bill won’t be home until late.” I agreed, but was skeptical. Would Cody-Joe allow me to walk him? The first morning, Cody-Joe stayed in Bill and Liz’s bedroom. When it was time to take him for a walk, I called, “Cody!” He wouldn’t come out. I called again. He still wouldn’t come. I waited awhile and called again. He stayed hidden. I grew concerned. Would he make a mess in their room. Their door was partially open, to allow Cody-Joe to come and go as he pleased. I slowly open it, “Cody?” There was no sign of him. I got on my knees and looked under the bed. “Cody?” From way in the back came a growl. It was dark under there, and he was black. I couldn’t see him, but I heard his warning growl. “Cody, you come out here!” I said in a stern voice. There were more growls. I grew impatient, “Cody, get out here!” I got an idea. I opened the door to the bedroom all the way, and jumped on the bed while yelling, “Get out here!” There was a flash of black. Cody shot out from under the bed, across the floor, and into the hallway. He ran into the den and hid under a coffee table. I ran after him and slammed the bedroom door closed behind me. I got his leash and kneeled in front of him, “Cody, let’s go for a walk. Cody, want to go for ‘walkies’?” He bared his teeth and growled again. I left him where he was and went for Bologna. He growled and would not accept my gift. I gave up and left him with the food for an hour. When I came back, the bologna was gone, but he was still hiding under the table. I got more. He ate it in front of me this time. I got more and while he ate, I clipped the leash to his collar. We had a wonderful walk. When we got home, he was a different dog. He followed me around, came into my room, and jumped on my bed to cuddle with me. He never realized he needed me. From that day on, Cody and I were pals. Cody-Joe was as sensitive as a small child. One night, I was playing a board game with Bill and Liz. I got up, turned the corner into the hall, and there was Cody with something sticking from his mouth. It looked like a cigar. I checked. It was the bone from a drumstick I had thrown one in my trash earlier that day. I ran to my room. My trashcan was on its side, and everything inside was spilled on the floor. “Cody-Joe! You stinker!” I scolded. He ran to the kitchen. When I got there, he was in Liz’s arms and wouldn’t look at me. We continued our game. Every so often Cody would look at me. “Don’t look at me! I’m mad at you.” He would quickly bury his face in Liz’s arms. The next day, I was in my room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cody peering around the corner. “Don’t come in here!” I said, “I’m still mad at you.” It went on for days. He sulked around the house, without me speaking to him. It was obvious he was hurting. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Cody, come here, boy.” I said. He ran to me, leaped at my legs, and wagged his stubby tail. We were buddies again. A year later, my house sold. My family and I found a place of our own. Soon after, we moved to another city. When we made a visit to Bill and Liz two years later, Cody-Joe ran around my feet, barking and whining. My heart swelled. He remembered me. Cody is 13 now, going deaf and takes pills for his heart every day. He still drives people crazy with his ball, but he has to stop. He wants to keep playing, but because of his heart, he starts coughing and can’t continue. Even though Cody is old and ailing, he can still be a pain. He has an internal clock, which doesn’t allow him to nap for more than an hour. After that, he beats on the side of the bed or the couch, until Liz can't stand it any longer and has to get up. He does the same to Bill. We are all going to miss him when he’s gone. Many years ago, Cody-Joe didn’t know he needed a play mate. I was away from my family and didn’t know I needed someone to love. We came together, when we both needed someone. Thank you, Cody. You made many lonely days bearable. -Michael T. Smith mtsmith@qwestonline.com -<>- __..._ _...__ _..-" `Y` "-._ \ Once upon | / \\ a time..| // \\\ | /// \\\ _..---.|.---.._ /// jgs \\`_..---.Y.---.._`// '` `' >Two True Heartwarming Stories During the Vietnam War the Texas computer millionaire, H. Ross Perot, decided he would give a Christmas present to every American prisoner of war in Vietnam. According to David Frost, who tells the story, Perot had thousands of packages wrapped and prepared for shipping. He chartered a fleet of Boeing 707s to deliver them to Hanoi, but the war was at its height, and the Hanoi government said it would refuse to cooperate. No charity was possible, officials explained, while American bombers were devastating Vietnamese villages. The wealthy Perot offered to hire an American construction firm to help rebuild what Americans had knocked down. The government still wouldn’t cooperate. Christmas drew near, and the packages were unsent. Refusing to give up, Perot finally took off in his chartered fleet and flew to Moscow, where his aides mailed the packages, one at a time, at the Moscow central post office. They were delivered intact. ~~~~~ On a summer morning as he was fixing his breakfast, Ray Blankenship looked out his window to see a young girl being swept along in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his Ohio home. Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with a roar underneath the road and then emptied into the main culvert. Ray dashed from his home and raced along the ditch, trying to get ahead of the flailing child. Finally, he hurled himself into the deep, churning water. When he surfaced, he was able to grab the girl's arm. The two tumbled end over end and then, within about three feet of the yawning culvert, Ray's free hand felt something protrude from the bank. He clung to it desperately, the tremendous force of the water trying to tear him and the child away. By the time fire-department rescuers arrived, Blankenship amazingly had pulled the girl to safety. Both were treated for shock. In that heroic moment, Ray Blankenship was at even greater risk than most people knew . . . since . . . Ray couldn't swim. -<>- _ _ .-. | | | |M|_|A|N| |A|a|.|.|<\ |T|r| | | \\ |H|t|M|Z| \\ "Bookshelf" by | |!| | | \> David S. Issel """""""""""""""""" >THE ONLY ANSWER THAT REALLY MATTERS It's said that we begin to cut our wisdom teeth the moment we bite off more than we can chew. But do we ever feel as if we have enough wisdom? That we have arrived; that we are wise? Jeff Hull writes about his great aunt, called Momma J. At 96, she was the last of her generation. As the family was gathered at her sister's funeral, a cousin remarked to Jeff that they were soon to be moving into the family's oldest generation. Jeff looked at his cousin and said plaintively, "But Mary, I don't feel like I know the answers yet." After everyone had a good laugh, Mary turned to Momma J. and said, "When does that change, Momma?" Momma J., from her wheelchair, smiled and said, "I don't know yet, dear." Upon reflection, Jeff Hull asks this penetrating question: "How often do we let our own story about our limitations stop us from doing what we want to, what we are committed to, in life?" He is asking, "How often do we feel as if we have to know the answers before we can proceed, before we can follow our hearts, or before we can attempt something big?" I like the wisdom of Sydney Harris. "Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time," he says, "It is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." You and I do not have all the answers yet. Truth is, we never will. But if we wait for all the answers, we will never move forward. For no regrets, the only answer that matters is...take that next step. With courage, follow your heart's desire. The path ahead may be dark and hazy, for we can never see far into the future. But it is always clear enough to take one more step. And it's the way to a full and happy life. BY Steve Goodier -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Ten Life Tips http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetips.html Signs Of A Bad Day http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/badday.html One Of Those Days http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/days.html Worms http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worms.html Angel Wing Decoys! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angel.html Jesus Laughing Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html Cano Cristales River! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cristales.html God's Water Paintings! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/water.html Adam In Paradise! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/adam.html Harvest Moonbow! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/moonbow.html God's Night Lights! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/night.html St. Pat's Day/Spring Index! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/springindex.html -<>- A More Excellent Way https://tinyurl.com/ypr5j9vx Loved by the Creator – Of Decaf and Delight https://tinyurl.com/y8w37c79 Mike Huckabee Warns Christians of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris / Catholic Leaders Warn Biden to Stop Using the Church to Shield His Pro-Abortion Policies / Bullied at School – This Pro-Life Teen Credits Her Faith for Pulling Her Through / In Regards to Gender, Congressman Publicly Proclaims ‘God’s Will Is No Concern of This Congress’ https://www.christianlifedaily.com/ -<>- >In The News: VA News: Celebrating Women's History Month and Women Veterans https://tinyurl.com/26p7wfye Hannity 3/10/21 (Texas town report 25% of illegals tested positive for Covid-119!) https://one-news.net/hannity-%E2%80%93-31021-fox-news/ California Seeks To Fine Retail Stores For Having Separate Girls And Boys Sections Hoping to completely eradicate any sense of male and female – they’re now forcing stores to do away with girls and boys toy and clothing sections – or face a $1,000 fine. All in the name of “gender equality” – just wait until you hear about their latest plan to shame children into abandoning their biological gender. https://tinyurl.com/ray59f7j Ivanka Trump delivers food boxes in Florida in first public appearance since leaving White House https://tinyurl.com/b4dtabnm Union Bosses Get an $86 Billion Bailout in New COVID Bill / Voter Fraud Charges Filed Against 5 In DuPage County, Illinois / Communist China Pushes Global Health Tracking Codes / George Soros Funded District Attorneys are Releasing Illegal Aliens / Ted Cruz Grills Controversial Biden Nominee Vanita Gupta on Big Tech Censorship / Jen Psaki Melts down when Asked why Schools Aren’t Open But Facilities for Illegal Alien Children Are / Trump Says U.S. Being Destroyed at the Border by Illegal Alien Surge https://reliablenewsnow.com/ This ‘Woke’ Big Business Just Made Kneeling to the Cancel Culture Mob ‘Normal’ / Biden Administration Could Be Done Due to This Major Criminal Investigation https://deepstatejournal.com/ Markle Insider Just Confessed That It Was ALL LIES! / Ted Cruz Just Summed Up Sleepy Joe In Three Words! http://2020conservative.com/ Border Crisis Escalating, The Biden Plan Has COLLAPSED! / Biden Has Abused It For The Last Time! It’s Time To Remove Him NOW! 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 -<>- Revisiting... >From Our Friend Geniann :) Animal Encounters on the PGA Tour http://www.chonday.com/Videos/animalspga2 --- ...LMAO! Hilarious! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Have you ever heard of cat owners using a spray bottle to deter their kitty from bad behavior? That definitely wouldn't work on this cat! For some reason, he LOVES getting sprayed in the face by water. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE0ScjTo6-Y&feature=player_embedded I like to think of the Internet like a language. If you grew up speaking it, you're already fluent. As an adult, it's harder to learn. But in the 21st century, it's a critical language to know. These seniors are getting a crash course in the Web - and you'll never guess who's teaching it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bemDf6wuHJ0&feature=player_embedded --- ...Wow! Pretty Cool! 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 Our Friend Fran :) Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. Buddha It is good to dream, but it is better to dream and work. Faith is mighty, but action with faith is mightier. Desiring is helpful, but work and desire are invincible. --Thomas Robert Gaines The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just. --Abraham Lincoln -<>- ( ,&&&. ) .,.&& ( ( \=__/ ) ,'-'. ( ( ,, _.__|/ /| ) /\ -((------((_|___/ | ( // | (`' (( `'--| _ -.;_/ \\--._ \\ \-._/. (_;-// | \ \-'.\ <_,\_\`--'| ( `.__ _ ___,') <_,-'__,' jrei `'(_ )_)(_)_)' >Touch a Life In the summer of 1983, I worked at a camp near Lake Arrowhead in Southern California. This was the last summer of my college years and would likely be the last I could afford to spend at a camp. At 22, I was among the more senior staffers in age. The camp director, Norman, was not only my boss that summer, but had been director at a camp I attended as a child. In 1982, when we met after many years, Norman was recruiting for positions of counselor, unit head, specialist, and a maintenance crew. Norman's goal was to put an all-Jewish staff in place for this Jewish summer camp. Never before had the camp's entire maintenance crew been Jewish. I had the skills needed, and gladly accepted his offer. I proudly served as a camp maintenance man in 1982 and 1983. As staff members, we were encouraged to participate in activities for the kids. In 1983, Norman went one step farther. The night before the first session of the summer, Norman challenged each of us to "touch a life." He said that if each of us could walk away from the summer having touched the life of just one child, we should consider the entire summer a success. As a maintenance man, I faced a challenge. How could I touch a life by hauling trash, setting up a room, or plunging a toilet? The call to action was clear, but how could I make it happen within the confines of my job? One day after lunch, one of the kids sat down next to me and asked, "Are you really Jewish?" I told Roger that I was indeed Jewish. He asked how I knew how to fix and build things. He asked how I learned painting, electrical, and plumbing. In his frame of reference, an affluent Jewish family in Southern California, he how ever encountered Jewish manual laborers. I told him about shop classes in high school, about training and working at a different Jewish camp. I told him how I had worked on a kibbutz in Israel for five months as the facility manager's assistant. Norman must have hoped this type of interaction would take place. It was indeed an important lesson to demonstrate to the kids: that *everyone* can learn to work with their hands and body. And that no task should be thought of as being "below" us, not even collecting the trash. I knew from that moment that I had definitely "touched a life" and that I did so every day that the kids saw me working around them. I retain that concept to this day and use it when faced with ethical challenges. I ask myself, "What example would each choice set for children?" What I didn't realize until later was that Norman touched MY life that summer with his challenge, and I'm a better person for the experience. by Joe Blachman --- ...So True and Sweet! Thanks Fran! ========================================================== ______ _\ _~-\___ = = ==(____AA____D \_____\___________________,-~~~~~~~`-.._ / o O o o o o O O o o o o o o O o |\_ `~-.__ ___..----.. ) `---~~\___________/------------````` = ===(_________D -Roland >The Tall Man Story Editor: by Caitlin Mercer Joyce Schowalter California, USA It didn't start out as a big deal. We were waiting to board our flight out of Portland, Oregon, heading to Ontario, California on a Friday evening. The gate had been changed, and everyone was now just anxious to get on the plane and get home. A man escorted an elderly Asian couple through the line. I assumed he was their son. At the head of the line, it was clear the couple spoke almost no English. A gate attendant was kind enough to escort them out onto the tarmac and onto the right gangway to our plane. I boarded the plane a few moments behind them and witnessed some confusion. The couple had taken the first two open seats, not understanding the seat numbers on their boarding passes. A tall man tried to show them how to identify the correct seat numbers, and when they didn't understand, he motioned to them to follow him, and kindly guided them to their correct seats. I noted his kind act and smiled, though I figured it was the sort of little kindness any one of us would do. We waited for an eternity to depart, and finally the captain announced that there was minor trouble with a cargo net and we would be delayed. After more time passed, we were advised we would need to deplane and wait for another plane. I thought immediately of the Asian couple and how confusing this would be for them. I waited for one of my carry-on luggage pieces to come out of the cargo hold, and when I got into the terminal I looked for them. I needn't have worried. The same tall man was with them. He guided them to the terminal where we were to wait, gesturing for them to stick with him. Our terminal was now overcrowded with impatient commuters waiting for the replacement flight, and there was nowhere for them to sit with three adjacent seats. The tall man spotted a woman sitting alone with an empty seat on each side of her and explained that he was looking after the couple. He asked if she would be willing to give up her seat, and she graciously did so. We waited another 45 minutes before boarding the new plane. The tall man sat with the couple during the wait, made sure they found the restroom, got a cup of coffee, a snack, anything they needed. Maybe another aggravated, tired commuter would have seen this as a pain in the neck. But this man didn't. I'm not sure if it "put him out" to help them. When the opportunity arose, he took responsibility for seeing it through. Really, it seemed he hardly saw it as an inconvenience at all -- just a chance to do good. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "I hear people say, 'Why do you want to go to church? They are all just hypocrites.' I never understood why going to church made you a hypocrite because nobody goes to church because they're perfect. If you've got it all together, you don't need to go. You can go jogging with all the other perfect people on Sunday morning. Every time you go to church, you're confessing again to yourself, to your family, to the people you pass on the way there, to the people who will greet you there, that you don't have it all together, and that you need their support. You need their direction. You need some accountability, you need some help." - Rich Mullins, the "Awesome God" guy "I think I would rather live on the verge of falling and let my security be in the all-sufficiency of the grace of God, then to live in some kind of pietistic illusion of moral excellence." - Rich Mullins, the "Awesome God" guy _,._ ,' ,`-. |. / |\ `. \ \ ( ,-,-` ). `-._ __ \ \ \|\,' `\ /' `\ \ \ ` |, , / \ \ \ \ \ `,_/`, /\,`-.__/`. \ \ | ` / / `-._ \\\ `-/' / `-. \\`/ _______,-/_ /' \ ---'`| |` ),' `---. , | \..-`--..___|_,/ / / | |`,-,...,/ ,' \ | |_| / ,' __ r-'', |___|/ |, / __ /-'' `'`) | _,-' ||__\ /,-' / _,.--| ( .-' ) `(_ / _,.-' ,-' _,/ `-------' `--'' `''' Zeus >Humble Thyself (by Frank Harris based on a vision given to him) The battle was raging and I could hear the clang of swords against shields. Just over the next ridge, the sound of fury and terror filled the skies. I could hear the enemy - mocking, cursing, taunting. I stood alone in the valley below; my weapons at the ready. Unable to move my feet, I stood, useless and ineffective. I wanted to join the battle, but something didn't feel right. I felt unprepared and ill- equipped. I inspected myself - sword, shield and armor. All that the world had said I would need for battle I had gathered. My training, my skills and my experiences were all at the ready, but in my heart, I knew that I was not. Almost imperceptible at first, I began to hear a small voice call out to me. I had to turn my ear away from the noise and the chaos of the nearby battle so that I could hear it. I listened intently . . . "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord . . ." "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord . . ." "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord . . ." "And He will lift you up, higher and higher!" "And He will lift you up." "Lord!" I cried, "It is you!" My eyes welled up with tears. Deep inside me, I knew why I had not joined the battle. I was not ready. But what more did I need before I could join the battle? And again, I heard, "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord . . ." What I was thinking made no sense. Surrender all in order to win. Trust in the Lord for the outcome and give up all that I had gathered for my part in the battle. The Lord wanted to be my refuge. Surrender all? My sword? My shield? My armor? What of my skills, my plans, my actions? "But what if I fail, Lord?" I said. "Surely I will die." "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord . . ." The words swept softly over me. Despite their sovereignty, they were gentle and compassionate. There was a promise in His words, and love. "Lord, I'm scared," I cried. "What you ask of me is so hard, I'm not sure I'm strong enough." "And He will lift you up, higher and higher . . ." I knew what I had to do. I closed my eyes and prayed, "All I have, I give to you. All that I am, I give to you. In victory or defeat, success or failure, I surrender all to you." I began by laying down my shield. All the defenses I had accumulated over the years I placed on the ground beside me. My sword was next. I had used it many times to fight life's battles and my hand clung to it, unwilling at first to let go. It had been the only weapon I had ever possessed - my thoughts, my words, my actions. What would I do without it? I could do but one thing, as I would not go back on my promise. I lay it on my shield. Was my surrender complete? I still had my armor. "Surely, Lord, you would not ask me to go into battle without my armor?" "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord . . ." There was no way around it. If my surrender was to be complete I had to yield. First my helmet, than my breast plate and belt, and finally my sandals - I placed each one on top of the next. I must be done now . . . "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord . . ." "Lord, what more do I have?" My clothing was all that was left. Without them I would be walking into battle naked and vulnerable. "These, too?" I asked. But I already knew the answer. One by one, I removed my clothes and lay them on the pile. The garments that kept me warm at night and covered me during the day were gone. I had stripped myself of everything that had once defined me as a warrior. All my defenses, all of my weapons, even my clothes, now lay in a heap upon the ground. I was done. I should have been scared. In another time I would have thought myself mad, but there in the valley, I surrendered all to Jehovah - God. I began to walk up to the ridge where, in the next valley, the battle raged. I steeled myself for what I was going to find. I had neither plan nor strategy. I had given everything to God and I was not sure what fate awaited me on the other side. Despite this, I was at peace. He was my God and I no longer feared the unknown. I had weighed the cost and was prepared to pay the price . . . As I neared the top of the ridge I could hear angelic voices singing. A choir of unknown numbers lifted their voices to the Lord, singing as one: "And He will lift you up, higher and higher!" I looked down at what just a few moments earlier was my nakedness. But I wasn't naked anymore! Pure white garments covered me. Their fit, perfect, as if tailored just for me. Gold and silver thread was woven into the fabric and the signet of the King was embossed over my heart. I continued toward the ridge. "Lord!" I cried, "Thank you for clothing me!" As I walked up the hill, I became aware of other changes, too. Besides the clothes, I now wore armor. Sandals, belt, breastplate and helmet, all gleaming, as if made of purest light. In my left hand I held a shield through which no weapon of the enemy would pass. In my right hand was a sword that sang as I wielded it through the air. Its blade was so sharp that it could slice through dimensions of time and space; even flesh and spirit. I was about to the ridge now. I looked back at the pile of possessions I had left behind in the valley. What I had always seen as my great treasures I now saw for what they really were; an old mop bucket for a helmet and the lid of a trashcan for a shield. My sword, once used in my daily battles, was made of nothing more than wood, and the armor that I had so proudly worn before laying it down was simply old cardboard and duct tape. On the top of the heap were the clothes that I had held onto for my dignity. Tattered and dirty, they were nothing more than old rags, barely able to cover my skin. "And He will lift you up, higher and higher!" "And He will lift you up." I was ready now. My God, my Lord, my Redeemer had come. It was time to do battle . . . 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 ========================================================== _____ / \/_ //\__(\_\ |\ ^ ^ | .//_O \O_ \ \_ (_) / \ \_/ / __/\ /\__ / \ \ / / \ / \/\/\/ \ / | . | \ / | . | \ JRO >-->Take Time The past has gone; the future has not come; the present is all we have. We cannot change the past, nor can we draw upon the future, but we can use the present. So, let us touch the philosopher's stone, for it is the foundation of successful living: Take time to look -- it is the price of success. Take time to think -- it is the source of power. Take time to play -- it is the secret of perpetual youth. Take time to read -- it is the fountain of wisdom. Take time to pray -- it is the greatest power on earth. Take time to love and be loved -- it is a God-given privilege. Take time to be friendly -- it is the road to happiness. Take time to laugh -- it is the music of the soul. Take time to give -- it is too short a day to be selfish. Take time to work -- it is the price of success. Take time to do charity -- it is the key to heaven. -Author Unknown >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. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe **********************************************************************