In The Still Of The Night... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* 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!! ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ _..-""""-.._ _.-' `-._ / \ : .-'; ;'-. : | / _.-: :-._ \ | : ; ; o/ \o ; ; : / \_!-' '-!_/ \ :'-..__ __..-': / \ / \ .'\ \ / /'. .' ; `-. .-' ; '. ; : '..' : ; : | __...__ | : ; | .-' `-. | ; : : / \ : : : / / \ \ : ; .' : : '. ; ; : : : : ; ; : : : : ; : / : : \ : ;; \ / ;; ;-. '-. , .-' .-; ;;'-... '-..___..-' ...-';; ";, \ ""--....________....--""/ ,;" '. .' '. .' \ / \ / : : : : : \ / : / '. .' \ .' _. / : : '. __________________"/_) : ') \_/ (' : ( \"_______________fsc__ '-\ '-.' '.-' /-' *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. 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 ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This super hot one comes from our friend Linda. It is so adorable, I couldn't resist doing it up right away to share with all of you too. Check it out here... A--A .-./ #\.-. '--;d b;--' \# \/ / \'--'/ |==| | #| |# | / #\ ; # ; | # | /| ,, #|\ /#| || | \ .-.' |# || |# '.-. (.=.),'| ||# |',(.=.) '-' / #)( \ '-' jgs `""` `""` Margaret The Giraffe! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/giraffe.html --- ...Awww, so cute! Thank You Linda! ============================================================ >-->From Heartwarmers: ,-----. /' `\ ; ----,---- ; | `o- |`o- | | |_ | | _____, | \_ _/ | `-----' | __.-; ;-.__ _,-' ; : ; ; `-._ _,' `. ,`-,_____ \ : : / ____,-'-, /' ```----. .----''' `\ >FEELS FINE Dad was fine. At least, that's what he said when I asked him how he was feeling. Of course, that's what he ALWAYS says when I ask how he's feeling. But this time he said it with a big black-and-blue smile. The fact is, he wasn't doing very well that day. And neither, come to think of it, was I. In the middle of the previous night, one of the residents at the Alzheimer's care center where Dad lives got up to use the rest room. Evidently, he got a little confused in making his way back to his bed, because he ended up trying to climb into Dad's bed -- with Dad still in it. As you might expect, my father was startled to have a stranger climbing into his bed, and he offered some feeble resistance. The other man was doubtless similarly surprised to find someone sleeping in what he thought was his bed, and he responded to Dad's resistance in a frightened, angry manner. Being younger, stronger and more alert than Dad, the confrontation was a mismatch. Simply stated, he beat the heck out of my dad. And Dad looked it. His face was a mass of bruises. His eyes were swollen shut. His lips were split, with traces of dried blood still clinging to them. Even his arms were bruised where it appeared he held them up in an attempt to block the blows. I handled the news of the incident pretty well. After all, these things happen among Alzheimer's patients. In fact, Dad had been guilty of an occasional impropriety as well. And it's not as though there was anything malicious about the other man's intent. He was simply dealing with a situation as best he could given the limitations imposed upon him by this horrific disease. I was being calm. Mature. Philosophical. And extraordinarily compassionate. Then I saw Dad -- battered, bruised and smiling. Good-bye, maturity. Hello, WWF. "Where is the little thug?" I coldly asked my sister, whom I met at the care center. "Joe, I don't think that's a good idea," she said. "Why? I'll bet I'm bigger, stronger and faster than he is. I'm pretty sure I can take him." "Joe, the man is in his eighties!" "OK, maybe not stronger and faster," I reasoned. "But I'm still probably bigger than him." "Joe!" Sisters can be such spoil sports -- especially when they're right. I was just so angry after actually seeing the damage that had been inflicted upon my father. But Dad was, by his own estimation, "fine." His injuries were ugly, but they weren't serious. He was medicated, so he wasn't in pain. He was going to get through this, more or less intact. The only question was: would I? "It seems to me that we have a choice," my sister said. "We can get angry and lash out, or else we can forgive and forget and move on. What do you think Dad would want us to do?" She wasn't playing fair. Of course Dad would want us to put the incident behind us. That's the way he lived his life. If he didn't invent the "this too shall pass" philosophy, he certainly perfected it. And so in deference to him, and out of respect for what he taught us, we chose to move on. We took care of his injuries, and worked to find forgiveness within us for the man who had inflicted them. And you know what? Finding forgiveness wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Actually, it was pretty easy, because it turns out that forgiveness feels better than anger or retribution or even revenge. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say that forgiveness feels downright... you know... "fine." -- Joseph B Walker _____________________________________________________ Joe Walker is a newspaper columnist, author and Heartwarmer Gem. If you aren't reading his wonderful stories in your hometown newspaper, you better tell your local editor! Have your editor email Joe at: valuescom@juno.com to find out how to be included. ============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Johanna :) __-----__ ..;;;--'~~~`--;;;.. /;-~IN GOD WE TRUST~-.\ // ,;;;;;;;; \\ .// ;;;;; \ \\ || ;;;;( /.| || || ;;;;;;; _\ || || ';; ;;;;= || ||LIBERTY | ''\;;;;;; || \\ ,| '\ '|><| 1995 // \\ | | \ A // `;.,|. | '\.-'/ ~~;;;,._|___.,-;;;~' ''=--' - Daniel C Au - >Penny From Heaven That Little Penny In The Parking Lot Remember this every time You pass that little penny in the parking Lot. I always thought that it Was for good luck, but I love this version Better. I found a penny Today Laying on the Ground. But it's not just a Penny, This little coin I've Found. Found pennies come from Heaven, that's what my Grandpa Told me. He said Angels toss them Down. Oh, how I loved that Story. He said when an Angel Misses you, They toss a penny Down; Sometimes just to cheer You up, To make a smile out of Your frown. So, don't pass by That penny When you're feeling Blue. It may be a Penny from heaven That an Angel's tossed To you. So now pass this On to people you care about And who you feel are Angels to you.. I just Did... An Angel is now watching Over you. Have A Great Day! --- ...A sweet Classic! Thanks Johanna! ============================================================ >-->From Our Friend Linda :) ,-~***~-._.-~***~-. / \ / .--~~~--..--~~~--. \ ,' /._,/\._,/\._,/\._,\ `. ~-. \.-~ .-~ // ,-~ \/ ,* / ,* // / the R O L L I N G S T O N E S / ,**' / ,*'// / /,***' / ,**'// / /,***' / ,**'// / / ***' / ,***'// / : ~** ` ,***'/.-~ | **' / \ .' ~-.. ..-~ -Artist Unknown ~~~~~ >Six Truths in Life 1. You cannot stick your tongue out and look up at the ceiling at the same time, a physical impossibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. All idiots, after reading #1 will try it. . . . . . . . 3. And discover #1 is a lie. . . . . . . . 4. You are smiling now because you are an idiot. . . . . . . . 5. You soon will forward this to another idiot. . . . . . . . . . . . 6. There is still a stupid smile on your face. I sincerely apologize about this but I'm an idiot and I needed company. You now have 2 options, delete it, or send it along to put a smile on someone's face today. --- ...LOL! Thanks Linda! This April Fool had been fooled before so now I was smiling because I knew it was a lie and was glad I was not fooled the 2nd time. Still it made me smile all the way through and so I bring this joy around back to all of you! ============================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: "Especially in our wilderness times do we need to stay close to God, clinging to Him as we would to a plank floating by should we be shipwrecked in the ocean. Cling to Him as a baby bird clings to its mother because it knows she will protect and care for it. Weld yourself to Him as if you had nothing else to which to cling, nowhere else to turn. When we strip away everything else, God is really all we have." - Rocky Henriques The Lift ___ .'``.``. ___/ (o) `, `. '-==`, ; `. \ : `-. / '; `. / .' `. | ( `. `-.._ \ \` ` `. \ `-.._ `. ;`-.._ `-`._.-. `-._ `-._ `..' `-.```. `-._ `-.._.' `--..__..-`--' `-.,' `._)`/ / / /--( -./,--'`-, ,^--( hjw ,--' `-, >He Cares For You! (By Roy Irwin) According to my wall calendar, this past week marked the start of the spring season. Even with the unseasonably warm weather we've experienced, I don't need a calendar to tell me that spring is upon us. I have something better...the Robins! The past few weeks we have been visited by a number of Robins. From the time that I was a child, I've always associated spring with Robins. When you see the Robins, you know that spring isn't far behind! We have an abandoned Robin's nest in a tree in our front yard. Seeing the nest reminds me of a story that I had once read. The story is about a lumber company that was about to clear a section of land for the timber. The foreman in charge of the project was walking the land, reviewing the trees that were marked with paint indicating that they were to be harvested. As he walked over the tract of land, the foreman heard the sound of baby birds crying out for their mother. Following the sound, he located the nest that held the hungry birds. Unfortunately, the nest was in a tree that was marked to be harvested. The foreman made a few notes, and marked the tree so that it would not be cut down, and in doing so saving the baby Robins. Several weeks later, the foreman returned to the tree which had held the Robin's nest. Using a ladder, he climbed the tree to make a closer inspection of the nest. He smiled at seeing the empty nest, knowing he had saved the birds. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a small piece of paper that the Robins had used to pad their nest. On the scrap of paper were the words: "he cares for you". The foreman recognized the words from a verse in the Bible, 1 Peter 5:7 which reads: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (NIV) Apparently, the Robins had found a small piece of a Bible tract. The foreman smiled at the irony. Obviously the Robins could not read this verse, but God cared enough to save them through the foreman's actions. When I think about this story, I am reminded once again at how much our Lord cares for each of us. If there was ever a doubt as to the sincerity of God's love, we need look no further than one of the most famous verses in the Bible, where in John 3:16 we read: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not be lost but should have eternal life." (Phillips Translation) This summer, as you begin to see the Robins making their yearly appearance, may they serve as a reminder of the love that God showed for us through the gift of His Son Jesus. That 2000 years ago and today, you can be certain that "he cares for YOU." "Lord Jesus, thank you for the Robins. Thank you for the promise of the warmth of another spring. But mostly Lord, thank you for the gift of eternal life, made possible by your death on the cross. Amen." (Copyright 1998 Argyle Giraffe Productions. This may not be resold or used for the enhancement of any product sold without the written permission of Argyle Giraffe Productions.) 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 --- ...Reminds me of these... Spring's Coming! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/spring.html Choose His Children? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/choosehischildren.html ================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Sandi :) ,="=-. ,`'oo' \o`. ( .88 |^||^)) ) , ) ) `@ (@' (. ( ` , `C ' ) `) `-=' ,/ ._c/ `-=' ,-( `-.,')-. gpyy `( ) `' '` >A Five year old's first job Here's a truly heartwarming story about the bond formed between a little 5-year-old girl and some construction workers that will make you believe that we all can make a difference when we give a child the gift of our time. A young family moved into a house, next to a vacant lot. One day, a Construction crew turned up to start building a house on the empty lot. The young family's 5-year-old daughter naturally took an interest in all the activity going on next door and spent much of each day observing the workers. Eventually the construction crew, all of them "gems-in-the- rough," more or less, adopted her as a kind of project mascot. They chatted with her, let her sit with them while they had coffee and lunch breaks, and gave her little jobs to do here and there to make her feel important. At the end of the first week, they even presented her with a pay envelope containing ten dollars. The little girl took this home to her mother who suggested that she take her ten dollars "pay" she'd received to the bank the next day to start a savings account. When the girl and her mom got to the bank, the teller was equally impressed and asked the little girl how she had come by her very own pay check at such a young age.. The little girl proudly replied, "I worked last week with a real con- struction crew building the new house next door to us." "Oh my goodness gracious," said the teller, "and will you be working on the house again this week, too?" The little girl replied, "I will, if those dumb jerks at Lowe's ever deliver the day-gone sheet rock..." Kind of brings a tear to the eye - doesn't it? --- ...Oh My! An April Fool's Heartwarmer! Thanks Sandi! -<>- Sandi Also sent us a forward of one we already have done up here: Jesus Laughing Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html --- ...I love this one! Thanks for the sweet reminder Sandi! ============================================================= >-->From CupO'Cheer: ()._ _.--. (##)_`-. / . ``u (##), ` `. \__) _/ (##),--. \ | --' ()' \ \ / | | | ,' \ _,' / ,' | ,;--// / ___\ |/ ___V__{(_ | ' \| || ,'-===- `,'| __| ,' /| || |""""""""|-L| ,`__. < _)))_))) |________|,' gnv (,' ool >JUST ASK FOR IT A snooty millionaire took some of his upper class friends yachting. They passed a deserted island where a man with a long beard and tattered clothes stood, waving his arms and screaming in their direction. "Who is that?" asked the friend. "I don't know," said the host, "but every time we sail by he goes crazy." That may be an exception to a universal rule, which is that most people are happy to help if they can. But there is another universal principle in play, which is, unless you are stranded on a deserted island, you are probably reluctant to ask for help - especially from a stranger. Thankfully, most of the time we are not coping with a mayday emergency. I recently learned that the word "mayday" has nothing to do with the month of May. Instead, it comes from the French word "m'aidez," which means "help me." But it is used only as a last resort. The plane is nose-diving. The ship is fatally wounded. "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!" a voice screams over the radio. If help doesn't arrive quickly, all will be lost. We laugh at the notion that men are famously bad about asking for directions. But, in truth, most people do not easily ask for the help they need. They wait until they are hopelessly lost, or the marriage is on the brink of collapse or a simple job has become a nightmare before they seek help. And it is also true that help is not usually too hard to get. But we have to ASK for it. Entrepreneur Brian Tracy puts it well: "Ask for what you want. Ask for help, ask for input, ask for advice and ideas -- but never be afraid to ask." Or like one man is fond of saying, "You don't always get what you ask for, but you never get what you don't ask for (unless it's contagious)." I once heard of a little girl who confidently approached a police officer. "Are you a cop?" she asked. "Yes." "My mommy said that if I ever needed help I could ask you." "Of course you can," the officer replied. "What do you need?" She stuck out her foot. "Can you please tie my shoe?" Do you need help? It may be easier to get than you think. Just ask for it. --Steve Goodier Life Support -<>- .-=-. ////"\\ .=. ( 6 6 ) //"\\ \ - / (/6 6\) _.) (._ )\ = /(-` `:` `\ _(_ ) ( _)-| : |\ \ (_/ `\_/` \ | : |/ / / (_ @ _) \\_ : _/ / \ \)___(/ / |===|_) \/`"""`\/ | L | | | | | | | | | | | |_____| | | | ||| | | | ||| | | | ||| |_|_| jgs / Y \ / T \ `"`"` `"`"` >LONELY? I know I am speaking to quite a number of people today. You have made a commitment to Christ as your savior – but nearly every day, you find that you are feeling lonely – and seemingly lonelier as each day passes. Let me give you some practical pointers for overcoming your loneliness. First, you need to quit dwelling on your loneliness. Instead, reach out and try to help someone else who is lonely. Luke 6:38 promises us that when we give, it shall be given to us. There is a locked-in likeness to what we give. It is the law of the harvest. Proverbs 18:24 tells us that if you want friendship, you must show yourself friendly. Take this concept and make it become reality in your life. You can easily begin with doing this. Keep a stack of cards and a pen handy, and write little notes of encouragement to others. Get a prayer list and intercede for others. You can travel around the world by means of prayer. No life is as empty as a self-centered life. And there is no life so Christ-centered as a self-emptied life. As you pour out yourself to others, the Holy Spirit will continually pour Himself into you. Let me challenge you to do at lease one of these things each day: 1. Write someone an encouraging email, text message or a letter. 2. Do something good for one of your contacts or co-workers. 3. Pray for five people who are lost that God would save them. 4. Go on a prayer walk around your neighborhood, or a prayer drive around your town, and pray that the people there would get saved. 5. Call a new friend and ask how you can pray for him or her. 6. Share a meal with a stranger and share the Gospel. 7. Bless a servant of God with your grateful greetings. Do this whole-heartedly, and I will guarantee you that your loneliness will quickly disappear! Senior Pastory Timothy Satryan as seen in firstIMPRESSIONS -<>- .-""""- F .-' F J I I L `. L `-._, `-.__.-' ## ### # #### _____ ## .---#####-...__ .--' `-### .--..-' ###### ""`---.... _____.----. ###`.._____ .' ####### a:f ### / -. ####### _.--- ### .( ####### # : `--... ###### # `. ``. ###### : :. ##### .' ) ### .' / ## _.' | .## ,:' | ' .' < ' | / | ' . ` >IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT Heavenly Father it is with heartfelt delight, that I fall on my face and Thank You tonight. I know I’m not perfect my flaws are more than a few, but I know I’d be worse if it weren’t for you. I Thank You for every good thing I have in my life, in fact I Thank You too for my trials and strife. I Thank You for Salvation and all You’ve done for me, I shall Thank You Father throughout eternity. I know that I take for granted the air I breath, in fact I sometimes forget it’s You provides my needs. I forget that without you I wouldn’t wake up each day, and if it weren’t for Your help I’d neglect to pray. Father please know I love and appreciate You so much, and I’m forever grateful for Your loving touch. I just want to Thank You with my heart, mind, and soul, doing Your perfect will is my heartfelt goal. Thank You for Loving me in such a special way, Thank You in advance for a brand new day. Thank You for the Peace and the calm within, Thank You for the day that’s about to begin. Thank You for every single thing You do for me, Thank You Father for loving so abundantly! Thank You for waking me in the still of the night, spending this time with You is such a delight! Thank You for Prayer and it’s soothing effect, Thank You for the results I’ve learned to expect! Thank You for the promises given in Your Word, Thank You for the answers that have already occurred. Thank You for the results no matter what they will be, Thank You Heavenly Father for listening to me. Thank You for the inner joy, the absolute delight, for being able to come to You in the still of the night! --March 7, 2011 Barbara Philbrook -<>- &&&&& |~ |~ && -.-& |~ o' o' Music To My Ears & . o' jrei __)` -(_ >WHEN GOD WHISPERS YOUR NAME The sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. —John 10:3 WHEN I SEE a flock of sheep I see exactly that, a flock. A rabble of wool. A herd of hooves. I don’t see a sheep. I see sheep. All alike. None different. That’s what I see. But not so with the shepherd. To him every sheep is different. Every face is special. Every face has a story. And every sheep has a name. The one with the sad eyes, that’s Droopy. And the fellow with one ear up and the other down, I call him Oscar. And the small one with the black patch on his leg, he’s an orphan with no brothers. I call him Joseph. The shepherd knows his sheep. He calls them by name. When we see a crowd, we see exactly that, a crowd. Filling a stadium or flooding a mall. When we see a crowd, we see people, not persons, but people. A herd of humans. A flock of faces. That’s what we see. But not so with the Shepherd. To him every face is different. Every face is a story. Every face is a child. Every child has a name. The one with the sad eyes, that’s Sally. The old fellow with one eyebrow up and the other down, Harry’s his name. And the young one with the limp? He’s an orphan with no brothers. I call him Joey. The Shepherd knows his sheep. He knows each one by name. The Shepherd knows you. He knows your name. And he will never forget it. I have written your name on my hand (Isa. 49:16). Quite a thought, isn’t it? Your name on God’s hand. Your name on God’s lips. Maybe you’ve seen your name in some special places. On an award or diploma or walnut door. Or maybe you’ve heard your name from some important people—a coach, a celebrity, a teacher. But to think that your name is on God’s hand and on God’s lips . . . my, could it be? Or perhaps you’ve never seen your name honored. And you can’t remember when you heard it spoken with kindness. If so, it may be more difficult for you to believe that God knows your name. But he does. Written on his hand. Spoken by his mouth. Whispered by his lips. Your name. And not only the name you now have, but the name he has in store for you. A new name he will give you . . . When God Whispers Your Name is a book of hope. A book whose sole aim is to encourage. I’ve harvested thoughts from a landscape of fields. And though their size and flavors are varied, their purpose is singular: to provide you, the reader, with a word of hope. I thought you could use it. You’ve been on my mind as I’ve been writing. I’ve thought of you often. I honestly have. Over the years I’ve gotten to know some of you folks well. I’ve read your letters, shaken your hands, and watched your eyes. I think I know you. You’re busy. Time passes before your tasks are finished. And if you get a chance to read, it’s a slim chance indeed. You’re anxious. Bad news outpaces the good. Problems outnumber solutions. And you are concerned. What future do your children have on this earth? What future do you have? You’re cautious. You don’t trust as easily as you once did. Politicians lied. The system failed. The minister compro- mised. Your spouse cheated. It’s not easy to trust. It’s not that you don’t want to. It’s just that you want to be careful. There is one other thing. You’ve made some mistakes. I met one of you at a bookstore in Michigan. A businessman, you seldom came out of your office at all and never to meet an author. But then you did. You were regretting the many hours at work and the few hours at home and wanted to talk. And the single mom in Chicago. One kid was tugging, the other crying, but juggling them both, you made your point. “I made mistakes,” you explained, “but I really want to try again.” And there was that night in Fresno. The musician sang and I spoke and you came. You almost didn’t. You almost stayed home. Just that day you’d found the note from your wife. She was leaving you. But you came anyway. Hoping I’d have something for the pain. Hoping I’d have an answer. Where is God at a time like this? And so as I wrote, I thought about you. All of you. You aren’t malicious. You aren’t evil. You aren’t hardhearted, (hardheaded occasionally, but not hardhearted). You really want to do what is right. But sometimes life turns south. Occasionally we need a reminder. Not a sermon. A reminder. A reminder that God knows your name. -- Max Lucado From When God Whispers Your Name Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1999) Max Lucado -<>- To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ================================================================= >-->From Archive InspiredBuffalo: __,-, ____ ,-' \ \ _( ) \ | / ,' \ \ \ (__ ) --( )-- / \ \ _,==; (___) / | \ / \ \.,="| | \ \ /' | | \ /'--,_o_| `<'_,---|#, pb >Who's packing your parachute? CHARLES PLUM, A U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a jet fighter pilot in Vietnam... After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a Communist prison. He survived that ordeal and now lectures about lessons learned from that experience. One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did - if your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today." Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform - a Dixie cup hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom trousers. I wondered how many times I might have passed him on the Kitty Hawk. I wondered how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you,' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute? Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day." -<>- ||\ \ .__. || \ \ \ = \ . ~ ~ . || |\ \ \ \` ~ ' ~ ~` || ||\ \ \ = \~ ~ ~' -( ____ || || \ \ \ \~ ! . /= / || || \ \ _____ \ = \`:~; /= =/ || || ||\ .\===/ \ \--.=-. /_,_/ || || || \ | | \ = \ ) /"/ || || || \| | \ \ \__/ / @\`@ ~\@/ %| |____________\== \__._/__. ,_______________ @~ \%\|/@*/~@~| \___________\ \ % \|/ %|*/~@~\@| // \\ \ , @~ \%\/|@*/~/@*| .//________\\ \ \ @ \/ @<|/@<*`\@| // \\ \ \ `@*,\^@|/^@/| | .`'// \\. \ \ www @ *| www| |Pru `-._`------------''''.) \. ____________________________```-------'''----'|\__+________ ___________________________________________________________ >SWEET FORGIVENESS By: Joseph J. Mazzella "Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge." I saw this wonderful old saying again in a book recently. It got me to thinking about all the times that I have been able to forgive others in my life and all the joy that it has brought me. One memory stands out particularly well. I was a young boy spending a week at 4-H camp during the Summer. I was having a great time and enjoying everything about it except for another young boy about my age. To say we didn't get along would be an understatement. We spent most of the week irritating, insulting, and picking on each other. Words finally came to blows on the next to last day of camp. We got into a fist fight which I lost. Thankfully, older boys broke it up before I was hurt too much. I spent the rest of the day alone, sulking and stewing in my own anger. The next day my spirits were lifted, however, when my Mom brought the boys in our cabin some of her delicious homemade pizzas. I was enjoying a few slices of it when I saw the other boy sitting by himself at the bottom of the steps outside. He seemed very lonely right then. I am not sure what moved me to do so, but I took my pizza down and shared it with him. It made all the anger and pain inside me go away. We became friends after that. I never got into another fist fight either. I had found out that sharing and forgiving were way more fun and a lot less painful. Forgiveness truly is the sweetest revenge. It can turn an enemy into a friend. It can free a heart from the chains of anger, hatred, and pain. It can open a soul to the sweetness of love and joy once again. It can help you to live by the Golden Rule and to create a Golden Life. It can bring you back to oneness with God in everything you think, feel, and do. That is why I often pray, "God help me to forgive, help me to give, and help me to love." May your life always be full of sweet forgiveness then. May you always delight in its Heavenly charms. -<>- ,--. _/ <`-' ,-.' \--\_ ((`-.__\ ) \`' @ (_ ( (_) ,'`-._(`-._/ ,-' )&&) )) ,-' /&&&%-' ,' __ ,- {&&&&/ / ,' \| |\&&'\ ( | |' \ `--. (%--'\ ,--.\ `-.`-._))) `---'`-/__)))`-._))) hjw >Sighs Matter Puppy Size This is one of the neatest stories you will ever hear. You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end. "Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer. "What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked. "Puppy size!" replied the mother. "Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for." "I know.....we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration. Just then Danielle came walking into the office "Well, did you find one?" asked her mom. "No, not this time,"Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?" The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed "You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said. Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said. Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added. Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one." It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer. "Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" She screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!" "But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said. "No not size... the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!" The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both. "Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said. Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!" Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day. They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear. "Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment What A Wonderful World http://www.buffaloschips.com/71604.htm What Old People Do For Fun http://www.buffaloschips.com/71605.htm What The West Would Have Been Like With Shetland Ponies http://www.buffaloschips.com/71606.htm When The Parents Are Gone http://www.buffaloschips.com/71607.htm Whit Arlington http://www.buffaloschips.com/71608.htm Walking In Power http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.html Healing Part #1 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/healing1.html Awesome Tree Houses! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/treehouses.html Angel Wing Decoys http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angel.html Military WWII Posters! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/militarywwii.html Scotch Tape Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tapeart.html Boeing 727 Suite http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/727suite.html Peek-A-Boo Panda http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/panda.html Word Origins http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/origins.html Until We Write Again http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/write.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com ==================================================================== \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz >You Never Know Who Story Editor: by Chuck Keller Joyce Schowalter Missouri, USA We'd moved to St. Louis, but the Veteran's Administration (VA) said if I wanted to stay in queue, I'd better get myself to the appointment I'd made at the VA medical facility in Marion, Indiana. So after working Wednesday, May 30, 2007, I drove the five hours to Marion. While I sat in the waiting room another man sat down beside me. We started talking. He said he was a Marine. He still looked strong at about 60, had sandy brown hair which was graying, and a quiet voice. His right eye was gone and the face and skull around it were deformed because of an obviously horrible injury. I didn't ask how or what happened because some of us don't like to talk about or remember some things. What I did ask was if he was in Vietnam. He said he was. I asked when. He said 18 months in 1967 and 1968. That's when I was there so we began to talk about places and things. He was in recon, which is tough and dangerous work. We talked about the troops in Iraq and the PTSD they will face. We talked about how loud noises still make us jump after 40 years. Recently in a store someone dropped an empty pallet behind me that hit the concrete floor with a very loud bang. My heart stopped -- as it always does when I hear sounds like that. He nodded agreement. We discussed a woman's son, back from Iraq for July 4th, 2006. He formerly enjoyed fireworks immensely, but couldn't stand them now. That will be a sad -- and profound -- fact of life for many people returning after service in this war. I asked if he made it to Danang. He said that's where they took him when he was hit and lost his eye. That was the third time he was wounded so it finally sent him home. I told him I might've carried him off the chopper and taken care of him before his surgery. I was a Navy Corpsman at Danang hospital, in the Receiving Unit. We ran out to the choppers, took the wounded into our Quonset hut, and tried to save their lives. We stopped bleeding, started IV's, stabilized them enough to give them a chance to live, and prepared them for surgery. When it was my time to see the doctor, I told him Semper Fi and walked away. After seeing the doctor I came out and the Marine and I happened to walk along side by side for a minute. He said, "Doc, if you ARE the one who carried me and saved my life... thanks." I just nodded and our paths parted. I hadn't felt better than that in a long time. That former Marine said something else very profound during our conversation. "You never know who the drunk sitting at the bar might be, or the homeless guy on the corner. He might have saved your life once." He was right. =======HeroicStories======= >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Chhristian 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 DDARE 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? 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