How Do We Worship God & More ... :) Shangy! >-->How Do We Worship God? \\\\, / \\ '<' ) \- / _)_(_ .'\___/'. /.-.___.-.\ [_________] | | ( | , | (\/) ) _\)_ | -|- | <_@__> _(/_ || | | | (/\)(\/) || || | | (\/) <_@_> || || | | <_@_>'(/\) || || | | (/\|/|-. || || .---------. _|_|_ || ||_,-'---------'-,__ |WWWWW| ___jgs|_|____________________|_\_____/__ __ .-. / \ //)\\ | | ||(|| .-. (\__/) .//\\\. //|\\ _)__(_ / `"""` \ )|||( /` `\ .jgs===================================. | | | | | | Of course, the first thing we need to understand is "WHY do we worship God". Jesus tells us here: John 4:23,24 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Apostle Paul tells us here: Philippians 3:3 "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." OK, we know according to the bible that we worship God because we are SUPPOSED to as born again Christians. Now this is a given. So, how do we worship God? Knowing what worship is according to the bible would be helpful. After all, I could guess all day, but that wouldn't get me any closer to doing the Will Of God. So in order to do the Will of God I must first go to the Word of God and find out what it is. Today, we have a wonderful full teaching so we can begin to understand what God is expecting from us when it comes to actually worshiping Him. >From CES: What is true biblical worship? What is worship? The answer to this question is important, not only because Christians should know what worship is, but in discovering what worship is, we also find out who can be worshipped. Since the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, we need to begin our study of worship by looking at the Greek and Hebrew words that are translated “worship.” Unfortunately, because of the way the Greek and Hebrew words for “worship” have been translated into English, it can be difficult to learn correctly about worship from an English version of the Bible. The Hebrew word shachah and the Greek word proskuneo account for more than 80% of the appearances of the word “worship” in most English versions of the Bible, so these are the two words with which we want to concern ourselves. There are a few other words that are occasionally translated “worship” but have a more specific meaning outside of the idea of worship, and really should be translated differently. An example would be the Greek word latreuo, which means “to serve,” but in a few cases is translated “to worship.” A study of the Hebrew word shachah and the Greek word proskuneo reveals that both these words mean “to bow down.” The Hebrew word shachah (Strong’s number 7812) is used of bowing or prostrating oneself, often before a superior or before God. [1] In the King James Version, it is translated by a number of different English words, including: “worship” (99 times), “bow” (31 times), “bow down” (18 times), “obeisance” (9 times), and “reverence” (5 times). The Greek word proskuneo (Strong’s number 4505) comes from the Greek words pros, “to” or “toward,” and kuneo, “to kiss.” It literally means to kiss the hand to (toward) someone in token of reverence, and among the Orientals, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence. Hence, in the New Testament it means kneeling or prostration to do homage or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication. The examples of “worship” in the Bible confirms that in the biblical culture, people bowed down before those to whom they wanted to show respect or honor. Lot “worshipped” (shachah) the strangers who came to Sodom even though he had never seen them before. He prostrated himself before them to show them respect (Gen. 19:1). Moses “worshipped” (shachah) his father in law, whom he respected and honored (Exod. 18:7). Abigail “worshipped” (shachah) David. She honored him by prostrating herself before him. These three examples can be multiplied many times over, but they show that when someone wanted to honor another, he would fall down before him. The act of falling down is called “worship,” and reveals the heart of the worshipper—respect and honor towards the one being worshipped. Many cultures besides the biblical culture have the custom of bowing to show respect or honor. The Japanese and Chinese bow to those they respect. In the courts of Europe it was customary to bow (or for women, to curtsy) to those of higher rank. In fact, even in the colonial culture of the United States it was common for men to bow in respect of one another and for the women to curtsy to show honor or respect, and occasionally we still see bowing and curtsying today. In some churches the custom of bowing before God has been modified into kneeling or genuflecting. For example, in the Roman Catholic Church people often genuflect, a shallow bow of the knee, to show their respect to God. In most protestant churches although people no longer perform a full bow before the Lord, people “bow” their heads in prayer as a sign of respect. It is important to realize that in both biblical and modern “worship” (bowing down), the outward act of bowing reveals the inner heart of respect and honor. Why do we use the English word “worship” at all? Our word “worship” comes from the Old English “weorthscipe,” which means worthiness. We “worship” someone because they are “worth” the respect they receive. In British English, “Worship” was actually used as a title for various officials, usually magistrates and some mayors. Thus even in the derivation of the English word “worship” we see that it was not exclusively used of God or Jesus, but was used to designate someone worth the respect they received. When the words shachah appears in the Hebrew text, or proskuneo in the Greek text, they usually refer to the action of bowing down, and we can translate them that way into English, as the following examples show. Genesis 23:7 (NIV) Then Abraham rose and bowed down [shachah] before the people of the land, the Hittites. Genesis 33:3 (NIV) He himself [Jacob] went on ahead and bowed down [shachah] to the ground seven times as he approached his brother [Esau]. Genesis 42:6 (NIV) Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down [shachah] to him with their faces to the ground. Matthew 18:26 (NIV) “The servant fell on his knees [proskuneo] before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ It is clear from the verses above that people “bowed down to,” or “worshipped” other people. A study of the Greek and Hebrew words and how they are translated shows something else—something that has misled many Christians. In many Bible versions, when the words shachah or proskuneo are used of one person to another, the translators use the English words “bow down” or something similar. However, when shachah or proskuneo refers to a person “bowing down” before God or Jesus, the translators almost always use the English word “worship.” The three examples below are typical. Exodus 24:1 Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship [shachah] at a distance, Exodus 33:10 (NASB) When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship [shachah], each at the entrance of his tent. John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship [proskuneo] in spirit and in truth." The verses above reveal a pattern that has caused many Christians to misunderstand “worship.” When the Hebrew or Greek words for worship refer to men “worshipping” men, the translators use the English words “bow down.” However, when the act of worship is toward God or Jesus, then the translators use the English word “worship” in their Bibles. This way of translating understandably leads the English reader to believe that only God and Jesus are “worshipped.” How can a person reading the English Bible be expected to know that biblical “worship” is not just for God and Jesus when in his Bible the word “worship” is only used in reference to them? He cannot. Thus, although it is sad, it is understandable that people reading the English Bible conclude that Jesus must be God because Jesus is “worshipped.” As Bible students, we must get the facts straight. “Worshipping,” i.e., bowing down to someone, shows honor and respect. It can be toward anyone the person wants to honor, even, as we saw earlier in the case of Lot, a total stranger. People “worshipping” Jesus does not make him God any more than Abraham “bowing down” before the Hittites makes them God. The Greek and Hebrew need to be translated consistently. When they are, we can see that people “worshipped” other people and God (or they “bowed down to” other people and God). In practical application, superiors, kings, God, and Jesus get most of the honor or worship. There are times when it is not appropriate to honor or “worship” someone. God says that it is wrong to bow down before (shachah; worship) other gods (Exod. 23:24). That makes perfect sense. How could a person with any sincerity honor both God and demons? A different case involved Peter, who recognized that it was not appropriate for Cornelius to bow down to (proskuneo; worship) him, even though Cornelius respected Peter. Peter felt he was not superior to Cornelius, and accepting the worship would have sent the wrong message to Cornelius, so he stopped him (Acts 10:25 and 26). Similarly, the angel stopped John from “worshipping” him. John felt the angel was superior and started to “worship” him. The angel had to correct him and remind him that the angel was only a “fellow servant” (Rev. 22:8 and 9). In the following verse we find an account of the prophet Nathan coming in to see King David. 1 Kings 1:23 (NIV) And they told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed [shachah] with his face to the ground. Nathan was a prophet of God and yet he had no problem with “worshipping” King David, i.e., bowing down before him. It is perfectly appropriate to bow down to (worship) a king. However, it would have been improper for Nathan to bow down to David and then to someone in David’s court that he knew was plotting against David. “Worship” is not a hollow act. True worship comes from the heart. That is why Mordecai would not bow down before Haman, because Haman was an enemy of the Jews (Esther 3:2; 9:10). However when Jesus met the women who had come to his tomb, they “worshipped” him and were correct in doing so because he was their king, and they honored and respected him. The act of placing oneself facedown at the feet of the king showed respect and honor. 2 Samuel 14:22 provides a good example. 2 Samuel 14:22 (NIV) Joab fell with his face to the ground to pay him honor [shachah], and he blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant’s request.” In this verse the NIV translators chose to translate the Hebrew word shachah (bowing down or worshipping) with the phrase “to pay him honor” to reflect the nature of Joab’s actions. Although the phrase “to pay him honor” shows the purpose of Joab’s action, since the Hebrew word shachah is not translated “worship,” the English reader never sees that Joab “worshipped” David. No doubt, had Joab fallen on his face before God, the English translations would have said that Joab “worshipped” God. 1 Samuel 24 contains a record of David “worshipping” Saul. 1 Samuel 24:8 (NIV) Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down [shachah] and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. Saul had been pursuing David in order to kill him. David and his men had been avoiding Saul. One time Saul went into a cave to use the bathroom, not realizing that David and his men were also in the cave. David’s men urged him to kill Saul, but instead he simply cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing. After Saul left the cave, David came out and bowed before Saul and showed him the piece of clothing to demonstrate that he would never hurt Saul. David bowed before Saul as part of his effort to convince Saul that he still honored Saul and that he was not trying to usurp Saul’s throne. Bowing to the king, worshipping him, was a way of demonstrating respect to the king, which, of course, meant that the person had an intent to obey the king. Obedience, then, is an integral part of the worship of God or a king. The outward show of bowing is not really true worship if there is no intent in the heart to obey. If a person comes before a king and bows before him but has no intention of obeying him, then the bow is hollow and deceitful. We see this in action with Adonijah. He bowed before King Solomon but he was still scheming against him. 1 Kings 1:53 (NIV) Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed [shachah] down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.” Adonijah was a half-brother of Solomon and had plotted to usurp David’s throne. But Solomon sent word that if Adonijah would do what was right, then Adonijah’s life would be spared. So Adonijah came and worshipped, bowed down to, Solomon the king as an act of honor and respect, implying that he would be obedient. Actually, Adonijah’s gesture was insincere, and he ended up being put to death (1 Kings 2:25). Bowing insincerely would be similar to calling Jesus “Lord” but then not doing what he said to do (Matt. 7:21-23). It should be that the act of worship comes from a heart of worship. As we have seen, because the English word “worship” is often only used in Scripture of God and Jesus, it is often believed that only they can be “worshipped,” or even that Jesus must be God. This short study should have made it clear that anyone deserving of honor and respect can be “worshipped.” In the biblical culture, the “worship” was evidenced by bowing. However, in our Western society today it is not our custom to bow down to authority figures. Nevertheless, we do honor them, respect them, and in some cases should obey them. If we today honor a notable person by addressing him as “Sir,” singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and giving him presents, we do not call that “worship,” but in fact those acts are one way we in Western society would “worship” someone. In modern Western society we “worship” our authority figures differently than biblical people worshipped their authority figures, but the essence of honoring and respecting is the same. We need to understand how the biblical custom of bowing down before someone as an act of worship can be brought into our modern world. If we see that in the biblical culture the act of bowing was the outward form produced by an inward heart of respect and honor, then we are in a position to ask, “How would we today show someone that we respect and honor him?” Here are a few ideas to consider: If we honor and respect a friend, then our actions show that by us focusing on him and not just only on ourselves. Similarly, we show our respect and honor for God and Jesus by giving them our focus, our time and attention. This is especially important when participating in a spiritual or religious function. For example, a person in church should be focused on them instead of allowing his mind to wander to the trials and troubles of life that occupy the rest of the day. If we honor and respect a friend, then we spend time with him, especially doing things that he wants to do. Similarly, we show our respect to God by doing things He wants us to. We should take an inventory of our lives and see what we spend our time doing. Is it something that brings glory to the Lord or is it something that is just fun? For instance, do we spend more time watching TV than doing something that would serve God or the Lord? By simply taking an inventory of our time we can easily identify what is most important to us. If we find that we are not giving enough time to God, then we should make the commitment to change. Biblically, if we “worshipped” the king, we would make an effort to obey him. Jesus said “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” Often, because we live in an age of grace, we Christians forget that we have commandments. In fact there are many of them that we need to obey. For example, love your brother (1 John 4:21); pray continually (1 Thess. 5:17); do not lie (Col. 3:9); do not steal (Eph. 4:28). If we say we worship God and Jesus then we should obey them. These suggestions are by no means comprehensive. Every Christian who wants to worship God and the Lord Jesus must find a way in which he can outwardly demonstrate the respect and honor he has in his heart. This fine teaching is from... http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=503 For more teachings on Praise & Worship: http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=43 ========================================================================= >-->From Our Friend Pat :) , ( \ ) \ ((\ ) |`-;-._ |`-. ) | \ ( | \ ) | |/ | `| | | | | | | | | |_____| _(_______)_ | | |___________| SSt All you are asked to do is keep this circulating. Even if it's to one more person. In memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer. A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle. Please Keep This Candle Going! This one I do ask that you send on. Thank you --- ...Thank You Pat! I put this photo in our Misc Member Photos here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList/ ====================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Barbara :) May God Richly Bless Ywall! This one kind of makes you think!!! .') _ (_ ) .+(` ) ) -a:f- _ :( ) ) .:(` ) ) -- .-- `. ( ) ) - -- :( ) .( ) ` __.:' `. `( ) ) ( ) ) ` __.:' ))--- ( )) ---- _ ) ) -- --' _ `- __.' .=(` ) .-' (` ). :( ) ( '`. . -- `( ) ) ) ---- ( ) ) --- ` __.:' ` __.:'-' >WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN This is one of the nicest e-mails I have seen and is so true: I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This Is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are Received." I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world. Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth. Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the Door of a very small station To my great surprise, only one angel was Seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Aknowledgment Section," My angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed "How Is it that there is no work going on here?" I asked. "So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked For, very few send back acknowledgments ." "How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" I asked. "Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord." "What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked. "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy ." "And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity." Also... "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day ." "If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ..You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."; "If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, [now get his] three Billion people In the world." [that was BILLION!} "If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare ." "If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair." Ok, what now? How can I start? If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all. Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are. ATTN: Acknowledge Dept.: "Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people to share it with." ---- ...Nice one - very Sweet - thanks Barbara! -<,,>- This is GREAT! ,__ _, \~\| ~~---___ , | \ | Wash.| | ~~~~~~~|~~~~~| ~~---, _ VT_/,ME> /~-_--__| | Montana |N Dak\ Minn/ ~\~_/Mich. /~| ||,' |Oregon | \ |------| { WI / /~) __-NY',|_\,NH / |Ida.|~~~~~~~~|S Dak.\ \ | | '~\ |_____,|~,-'Mass. |~~--__ | | Wyoming|____ |~~~~~|--| |__ /_-'Penn.{,~Conn (RI) | | ~~~|~~| | ~~\ Iowa/ `-' |`~ |~_____{/NJ | | Nev | '---------, Nebr.\----| |IN|OH,' ~/~\,|`MD (DE) ', \ |Utah| Colo. |~~~~~~~| \IL| ,'~~\WV/ VA | |Cal\ | | | Kansas| MO \_-~ KY /`~___--\ ', \ ,-----|-------+-------'_____/__----~~/N Car./ '_ '\| | |~~~|Okla.| | Tenn._/-,~~-,/ \ |Ariz.| New | |_ |Ark./~~|~~\ \,/S Car. ~~~-' | Mex. | `~~~\___|MS |AL | GA / '-,_ | _____| | / | ,-'---~\ `~'~ \ Texas |LA`--,~~~~-~~,FL\ \/~\ /~~~`---` | \ \ / \ | -jorn \ | '\' `~' You'll most likely have to copy this address to your browser: http://oldbluewebdesigns.com/mybeautifulamerica.htm --- ...I Agree - this is wonderfully done - absolutely Great! -<,,>- ,. \ '. > ).--. > ( o ,=====- HummingBird <`'---. `. /, ) ) /^/^' / ) \v/)) /. \' ( ( ) ) . / / / : ' ptr / .' `. This is truly amazing. Be sure to click on NEXT PAGE at the bottom of each page; there are 5 pages in all. A lady found a hummingbird nest and got pictures all the way from the egg to leaving the nest. Took 24 days from birth to flight. Click on this link: http://community-2.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM --- ...I loved this one too - beautiful! Thanks Barbara! ======================================================================= >-->From InspiredBuffalo: >"Tomorrow Christians" (Author Unknown) , {\\ * Tomorrow - tomorrow - we think there is always { \\(} / {_` ;--' T O M O R R O W / \ /__/ jgs // 2 Corinthians 6:2 "He says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." On a phone-in radio program dealing with alcoholism, a caller said, "I pray the good Lord to keep me from driving while drinking." To this the show host replied, "Why don't you ask the Lord to keep you from drinking?" Many people seemingly enjoy sin so much that they refuse to go to the root of their problem. They say, "Someday, Lord, I'm going to get out of this dishonest business I'm in, but not for the present; I'm enjoying the money I'm making." Similar reasoning is brought to other vices: using drugs, living in sinful sexual relationships, cheating on one's income taxes, stealing, and the like. People who think and speak this way are a variety of "tomorrow Christians" -- tomorrow they will repent and make their peace with God; tomorrow they will give their heart to God. Right now, however, sinning is too much fun to quit. The Lord takes a dim view of such reasoning. He reminds us that for many there is no tomorrow, no opportunity to set one's house in order. Therefore His urgent invitation to listen to his voice today! He declares through the holy writer, "Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." True enjoyment and happiness are not found in sinning but in serving Jesus Christ, who in love died on a cross to save us. Angels might well envy us the opportunity to choose the ways we serve the Savior. There is perhaps only one regret on the part of those who have turned to Christ, and that is this: "Alas, that I so late have known Thee, Who are the Fairest and the Best." PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, help me so that here and now I can turn my life around and serve You more. Amen. Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ==================================================================== >-->From Our friends Del, Casey, & MrWu :) __________ __ | ___ _|__|_ | ,' '. {'\) | : O O : )( | : ._\. :/ )\ | '.___\\/ / | | '-' | |_________| | /-----\|___| jrei / \||| .:;; Music was his life, it was not his livelihood, and it made him feel so happy, and it made him feel so good, he sang from his heart and he sang from his soul, he did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole. WOW! You've heard of paint by numbers? Check this out! You have to watch this, and try to guess what it is that he is painting. All I can say is wow!!!!!! Please watch all the way to the end! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIJtKxdRQzY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ye2svGQy8w&NR=1 --- ...Definately a WOW! Thanks Del! ======================================================================= >-->From Our friend Steve: Chinese Proverb Had to grab this one !!! --- ...*Giggles* I can see why! Of course, I had to had it to Steve's photo album in the group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList/ -<,,>- ___ ,-'" "`-. ,'_ `. / / \ ,- \ __ | \_0 --- | / | | | \ \ `--.______,-/ | ___) \ ,--"" ,/ | / _ \ \-_____,- / \__-/ \ | `. ,' \___/ < ´--------' \__/\ | Wny \__// Happiness If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap. If you want happiness for a day — go fishing. If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else. --- ...SO true! Thanks Steve! I heard on TV that when we smile we use 5 facial muscles to do so and that our body releases endorphins that actually help improve our mood ... so SMILING is really the road to Happiness! :) ====================================================================== >A Vastly Improved Outlook Story Editor: by The Traveler Joyce Schowalter California, USA My siblings had planned this spring 2004 pack trip through the Grand Canyon for two years. I was breaking up with a man I adored, yet no way would I miss this trip. Mr. Wonderful called the day before the trip to say he wasn't going -- so I should make my own arrangements to get to Arizona from California. That was something of a problem. I'm far from wealthy, and my 52-year-old eyeballs aren't up to driving in unfamiliar territory. But a family edict is a family edict: I made it. The canyon was spectacular, the weather perfect, the company a hoot. Although we're all middle-aged and several decades from our last wilderness experience together, we comported ourselves quite competently. Sore, tired, yet full of a sense of having accomplished a small miracle, we gathered at a restaurant back on top of the canyon rim for a celebratory dinner. Halfway through, my brother-in-law looked me square in the eye and said, "We're not taking you to the airport." I was flabbergasted! We'd all met in Phoenix, and driven four hours into the canyon together. One naturally assumed we'd return to the airport to catch our respective flights home together. Apparently my flight, an hour and a half before the others, would entail everyone leaving at 9:30 a.m. versus 11 AM, and that just wouldn't work for them. Or something. Eccentric family dynamics notwithstanding, there was neither taxi service nor shuttle vans from the canyon to the airport. I'd just spent the week backpacking. I had no cash. My credit card was maxed out. My sibs were unsympathetic. I was broke, physically exhausted and spiritually drained. And I was stranded. In tears, I walked back to the hotel to try to figure out how to get home. I walked into the lobby at night, totally distraught. The woman at the front desk noticed my sniveling and asked what was wrong. When I told her, she went into action. Roberta W grabbed a phone and started calling. The Phoenix tour bus wasn't running, so she called her son. He couldn't get away to drive me, so she called a co-worker. As I watched slack-jawed, she arranged to switch shifts with him the next morning. "Be here at eight tomorrow, I'll take you. Go get some sleep." She showed up on the dot, and gathered my stuff into her van. I'll bypass the personal travails this dear woman was dealing with, and the challenges she's overcome. The long drive into Phoenix was filled with her wonderful stories and cheerful observations. Not only did I make my flight in plenty of time, I did so with a vastly improved outlook on life and its vicissitudes. I've no idea what motivates a person to spend her day off driving across a state in aid of a clueless stranger, but Ms Whitt's astounding generosity put the previous evening's pettiness into a perspective I have not forgotten. I'd like to publicly thank her for the lesson she imparted. =======HeroicStories======= >-->COMMENTS AND 'SHANGY' MAILBOX NEWS... ,d$Sb, $SS$$S$b. ,S$/ 6`S$S$b ,$SS\ _$S$$$b ;$S$S$) $S$$S$; $SS.-'\ :$SS$S S$/ `./ `.S$ S$/ / \ \$ $/ .'Mm_.V,_mP /S S\ \MMMMMMMMm /$$ $S`.\MMMMMMMM(,S$ $$\) \MMMMMMM|/$S |;/MMMMMMM; \MMMMMMMMM| `\MMMMMMM\ |MMMMMMM| |MMMMMMM| ;MMMMMMMM\ |MMMMMMMMM| fsc /MMMMMMMMMM| |MMMMMMMMMMM\ /MMMNNMNMMN/' ...From Our Friend Janice I DID NOT KNOW THAT YOU WERE A LADY, SHANGY. STEVE TOLD ME, AND SAID THAT YOU WERE A VERY FINE LADY TOO. I WAS REALLY SURPRISED. GLAD, BUT SUPRISED. JANICE I wrote her back with this: "Easy mistake Janice, no problem. The website is a bit feminine for a guy I think - though many seem to think Paul is the one who is the site monitor, I am the programmer. I always tell people - Paul is Hardware - I am software. Love in Christ, :) Shangy! -<,,>- ,-------------------. ,' ; ,' .'| ,' .'# | ,' .'# # | :-------------------.'# # # | | # # # # # # # # # | # # # | | # # # # # # # # # | # # # | | # # # # # # # # # | # # # | | # # # # # # # # # | # # # | | # # # # # # # # # | # # # | | # # # # # # # # # | # # # | | #,-". # # # # # # | # # # | |_/' / # # # # # # | # # # | _.--"" /_ # # # # # # | # # # '__.--, `-.# # # # # | # # / /'"`--.__; # # # # | # _,|\ ,' # # # # # # # # # | `--|._`. ...Ahh, more on are the 'Dead Alive Now'? This came at a perfect time in light of 9-11. I got this from our friend Barbara... Click here: Letter From Heaven HEAVEN IS GOING TO BE SO WONDERFUL,.,,,,,AMEN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I wrote her back with this: "This IS a pretty page, but I am a Christian who believes that we have to wait for the Resurection - when Christ returns as Lord of Lords and King of Kings before we can go to heaven... 1 Corinthians, chapter 15 "51": Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, "52": In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. "53": For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. "54": So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. "55": O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? "56": The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. "57": But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. As CES puts it: "For those who believe in Jesus Christ, he has paid the price for their sin and given them the gift of life in the age to come. Those who do not believe in him will pay the penalty for sin themselves. How? By dying twice, once in this life and once and for all in the lake of fire, which is referred to as the “second death” (Rev. 20:6,14). Everlasting life is just that—life without end—and everlasting death is destruction without hope of recall—permanent extermination. This is God’s perfect justice, and it is definitely “a matter of life or death.” John 5:28 and 29 (28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, (29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [judgment]. Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Visit here for more info on death. http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=15 "So I do not believe the dead are alive in heaven watching over their family or friends. They are asleep waiting for the Return of Christ. -0- Barbara wrote me back and responded withh this: WE SO HAVE THE SAME BELIEFS HERE MY FRIEND THIS IS WHAT WE ALSO BELIEVE.. BUT I JUST SENT THAT LETTER FROM HEAVEN AS SOMEONE HAD SENT IT TO ME WHEN OUR SON DIED HERE IN JAN... -[- Well bless her heart! I wrote her back with this: "I am so sorry to hear of the death of your son. People try to make others feel better with such things, but our true joy will be when we re-unite with our loved ones when Christ gathers us together. Until then, we know they are at peace for God our Father holds them in the bosom of His heart and they are safe and well protected in sleep until Christ Returns and awakens them. "This is how we are to comfort each other - not with worries of whether our loved ones have 'crossed' over or are in some way held back in pain or sorrow or in revenge or some other weird spiritual happening. The dead are asleep - and as the bible says: 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4 "13": But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. "14": For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. "15": For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. "16": For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: "17": Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. "18": Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I am most pleased to know 'all the ghost talk' hasn't deceived you! Love & Hugs in Christ, :) Shangy! ---> Visit my CyberHome - ALWAYS OPEN HOUSE :)Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/index.html Shangrala ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales & Serrvice You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. Please phone us at 419-238-5806 ************************************************************************ -->This is for all you who love food and DARRE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: a href="http://tinyurl.com/2vrfzv">This Weeks regular Shangy emails ************************************************************************ -->Want to ADVERTISE in The Shangy FUN List Publication? >To ADVERTISE: Advertise ************************************************************************ -->Missed Any of These Teachings? 'BABES IN CHRIST','IN The Beginning', 'Crossing The Line','NEVER Give Up', 'FEAR - Feeling Kind Of Buggy', 'HAUNTINGS', 'Christianity And The Renewed Mind', or 'Curse Of The Law' --BE SURE TO Tell me which one you want or yyou'll get them all :) >For a Lesson: Teaching ************************************************************************