Jesus Loves Me ... :) Shangy! >-->WELCOME To ALL Our NEW SHANGY FUN LIST Yahoo Group Members! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net =========================== >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) I've added more animations for your Halloween Fun: _...---..._ ,'_ _`. / / `. ,' \ \ : \___`._,'___/ : _ | .. /_\ ,, | _ / \ : \`-.___.-'/ : /,\ /,' \ \ `._____,' / /: \ |O) | `.__..---..__.' || ,| _ || .| _ _ _ || O| _ _ _ |' || _ /,\ |'| | /.\ /;\ /,\ |' ;| /'\ /.\ /,\ | ,O| /`\ _|_|_|___|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_'_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|___|_|_|_ -=o===-. __ -___/___\___ ,-==O==-' _ -.__ --- _ ___,-___-___`_| |___.__-o__'_________-.__ |,| | ; | |||| HAPPY || | | |,| |'| | ,|| |`| |o| | | | |'|| HALLOWEEN!|| |;| ||| |,| | |'| |;| _|_|_|___|_|_||___________||_|_|_|_|_|_|_|___|_|_|_ __,--. -.__,--. `-==O=-._ ._ ,- -- _ --=o=-._ ____-o_______-__-'___`_-________.___-______,-._____ |,| |,-'| |,| |;| |o| |'-.| |,| |(| |`| |,-'| |,| SSt/jrei HALLOWEEN GIFS: bats, draculas, ghosts, houses, monsters, trick or treat, witches, words http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs.html -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' I've been working on more of the Bible Study lessons. I hope to get them done this weekend or at least put a huge dent in them. Once you get going on studying the bible, you will find it as fasinating as God's wonderful world He created for you. I've been having trouble deciding which ones I have already done to share with you. That seems to be the hard part for me! I love them all so much. I just completed a series of three that I always found very fun and interesting so I will give you them to chew on until I have them all available or can figure which to share: ., . ,,,8.888*,/\'\8, (\ *88888888888/ /888 \\ /88888888888888/8888" \\.__.88888888888888888,____________, ' _____'"",88888.'__.,,----------.) __.( ,*8888888888888888888888, _( ,8888888888888888888888888888, (____ .'8" ":88888888888888888888 ,88888; '88888888/888/8888888' 888888: *888888/88/8\88888' 888888:-__ _-- *8|888888\ \' 888888| 888888' \ | //88888|=*= \ '=*=' 88888"' \\ // "888| 88 ) \\ ,_// **| 8 s |; \\_, '-' *; '-^' *' /88 '-' : * J888* , ^-^ ' |*' : | ' |-muserna, '.__..' (.------/| __) .----------; ,| \ ,' ,' .9999\ \ / 999999999999, 999999\ / / 99999999999999\ ))))))))\\ / ((((((((((((((((\ ^^^^^^^^^\/,^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^' /' ORIENTALISMS OF THE BIBLE Orientalisms of the Bible 1 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/orientalisms1.html Orientalisms Part 1 Orientalisms of the Bible 2 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/orientalisms2.html Orientalisms Part 2 Orientalisms of the Bible 3 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/orientalisms3.html Orientalisms Part 3 -<>- This week I found a teaching from Truth or Traditions that I think will bless you. Just another part of God's wonderful Word! >-->Figures of Speech /\ ,'.' ',' _.,._ _,.-+`'+-._ .|. _.+'` `.' \ (___) ,' \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ _.-~`'~-._ _\_.-+'`'`+-._\ ag `,' `---` I love figures of speech! Giving human characteristics to inhuman things - like toons - that happy face on a car would be a good example of a visual figure of speech. It gives us fun and variety. So it is with God's Word. He is the perfect Author and He certainly does know how to write and entertain and get a point across! Today we have a teaching from CES that helps explain this better: >Figures of Speech in the Bible [This article was taken from “Figures of Speech Used in the Bible by E.W. Bullinger.”] What is a Figure of Speech? A departure from the normal rules of grammar or word usage. Examples: “breadth and length and depth and height” “The mountains will sing.” What is the purpose of figures of speech? To give special emphasis. To call attention to the point. To add force or power to an expression. Which sentence is more memorable? “A burglar snuck into my house.” OR “A burglar slipped into my house like a cat stalking prey.” Why are figures of speech in the Bible? Figures of speech are universal to human communication. Every language, including the biblical languages, has them. God used figures of speech to call attention to a point in the scriptures. Why it is important to understand figures of speech in the Bible? To get to the correct interpretation of Scripture. Serious misinterpretations of Scripture come from: Calling something figurative that is literal. For example, the 6 days of Creation in Genesis 1 are literal 24-hour periods. But many who want to believe Creation couldn’t have happened that quickly say they are figurative. Calling something literal that is figurative. For example, John 8:58, “Before Abraham was, I am” is used to support that Jesus is eternal and pre-existed Abraham. Really, it is the figure of speech heterosis or switching of word forms (here, verb tense). It emphasizes the certainty of Jesus’ coming. It is not honest biblical interpretation to call something figurative simply because you don’t understand it or don’t want to believe it. The words in God’s Word are perfect. God has a reason for everything He says – where He says it; when He says it; to whom He says it; and how He says it. Figures of speech in the Bible are precise and exact, not haphazard. How do we know when the words should be taken literally or figuratively? The Bible should be understood literally whenever possible. But when a statement appears to be contrary to our experience, or to known fact, or to the general teaching of truth, then we can expect that a figure of speech is present. If a word or words are truly a figure of speech, then that figure can be named and described. It will have a specific identifiable purpose. How can we recognize figures of speech? The words don’t make sense literally. 1 Corinthians 11:16-21, Paul calls himself a fool. He isn’t one, but is using the figure “sarcasm.” Isaiah 55:12, “the trees will clap their hands.” Trees don’t have hands and don’t clap. The figure is personification. The words are clear and literal, but meant to convey a deeper lesson or application, such as in a parable. The words are clear and literal, but are put together in a grammatical or structural way that brings emphasis to the section. This kind of figure may be lost in translation. Genesis 2:17, “you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” The Hebrew reads, “dying you will die,” using the figure “many inflections,” that is the same word in different forms. Ephesians 3:18, “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” The “and’s” is the figure “Many ands” and gives separate emphasis to each part, more than a comma would. What are the various kinds of figures of speech? The study of figures of speech is complex because of the number of languages (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic and English) involved, and because each language has many figures. But the patterns of language are so universally common to mankind that most of the figures of speech cross over from language to language in a recognizable way. Various scholars through the centuries have offered systems of classifying figures of speech. The clearest and best documented is by E. W. Bullinger, as follows: 1. Figures Involving Omission (words or meaning left out) a. Affecting words (grammar or sentence structure) b. Affecting the sense (the meaning) 2. Figures Involving Addition (words or meaning inserted) a. Affecting words (grammar or sentence structure) b. Affecting the sense (the meaning) 3. Figures Involving Change (words or meaning changed) a. Affecting the meaning b. Affecting the order of words c. Affecting the application of words (interpretation of words) Examples of Figures of Speech 1. Figures Involving Omission (words or meaning left out) a. Affecting words (grammar or sentence structure) Ellipsis – words are left out. Matthew 11:18, “For John came neither eating nor drinking.” Being human, John had to eat and drink. What is left out is “declining invitations to eat with others.” b. Affecting the sense (the meaning) Tapeinosis – lessening, demeaning or understatement Acts 5:36, “Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody…” meaning “someone great.” Antenantiosis – meaning “opposite.” Psalm 84:11, “No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless,” meaning He will give him every good thing. 2. Figures Involving Addition (words or meaning inserted) a. Affecting words (grammar or sentence structure) Epizeuxis – duplication; repetition of the same word in a sentence. Isaiah 40:1, “Comfort, comfort my people…” John 1:51 (KJV), “Verily, verily I say unto you…” Translated in the NIV as “I tell you the truth.” Anaphora – like sentence beginnings; repetition of the same word at the beginning of successive sentences. Matthew 5:3-11, “Blessed are the poor… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek…” Polysyndeton – many ands; repetition of the word “and.” Acts 1:8, “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Paradiastole – neithers and nors; repetition of neither or nor. Romans 8:38 and 39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God…” Epistrophe – like sentence endings; repetition of the same word at the end of successive sentences. Psalm 115:9-11 all end in “he is their help and shield.” Epanadiplosis – encircling; the same word and the beginning and end of a sentence. Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, rejoice.” Anadiplosis – like sentence endings and beginnings; the same word at the end of a sentence and beginning of the next sentence. Psalm 121:1 and 2, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord…” Repetitio – repetition of the same word irregularly in the same passage. John 16:12-15, the words shall and will, depending on the translation, appear 11 times in 4 verses. Polyptoton – many inflections. The repetition of the same word in different forms. Ephesians 6:18 (KJV), “Praying always with all prayer…” Revelation 17:6 (KJV), “I wondered with great wonder…” b. Affecting the sense (the meaning) Hyperbole– exaggeration 2 Samuel 1:23, “Saul and Jonathan…they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.” 3. Figures Involving Change (words or meaning changed) a. Affecting the meaning Metonymy – change of one noun for another related noun. Proverbs 10:20, “The tongue (words, speech) of the righteous is choice silver.” Matthew 6:21, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart (thoughts and affections) be also.” Synecdoche – transfer; exchange of one idea for another associated idea. Mark 16:15 (KJV), “Preach the gospel to every creature (man).” Philippians 3:19, “Their god is their stomach (themselves)…” *Metonymy and synecdoche are very similar. The distinction is that in metonymy, the exchange is made between two related nouns; in synecdoche, the exchange is made between two related ideas. Hendiadys – two for one; two words used, one thing meant. 1 Timothy 1:17, “honor and glory” meaning “glorious honor.” Luke 1:17, “He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah…” (the powerful spirit, or spiritual power of Elijah) Antonomasia – name-change; change of a proper name for an appellative. Acts 3:14, “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One (meaning Jesus)…” Euphemismos – euphemism, change of what is unpleasant for something pleasant. Genesis 15:15, “You, however, will go to your fathers (die) in peace…” John 11:11, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep (died)...” b. Affecting the order of words Hyperbaton – transportation; placing a word out of its usual order in a sentence. John 6:60 (KJV), “Hard is this word…” 1 Timothy 3:16 (Greek), “Great is, of Godliness, the mystery!” c. Affecting the application of words (interpretation of words) Simile – resemblance; a comparison by resemblance. Psalm 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of your eye.” Ephesians 5:22, “Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church…” Metaphor – representation; a comparison by one thing’s representing another. Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd…” Matthew 26:26, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Hypocatastasis – implication; implied resemblance of one thing to another. Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.” (both dogs and pigs imply people) Mark 1:17, “I will make you fishers of men.” Parabloa – parable; continued simile. Matthew 13, the parable of the sower. The story may be true or imaginary, but the events must be possible or likely. Gnome – quotation Matthew 1:22 and 23 quotes Isaiah 7:14. Amphibologia – double meaning; has two interpretations both of which are true. Acts 13:22, “…‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” A man after my own heart could have two correct interpretations. From God’s perspective, David was like-hearted with God; from David’s, he was after, or seeking, God’s heart. Eironeia – irony; expression of thought in a form that conveys its opposite. Judges 10:14, “Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!” Job 12:2, “Doubtless you are the people and wisdom will die with you.” Oxymoron – wise-folly; a wise saying that seems foolish. Isaiah 58:10, “Your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” 1 Corinthians 1:25, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” Idioma – idiom; peculiar usage of words or phrases. “break bread,” “turn to ashes,” “hide from your eyes,” etc. Prosopopoeia – personification; things represented as persons. 1 Corinthians 12:15 and 16, “If the foot shall say, “Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body…And if the ear shall say, “Because I am not the eye…” Leviticus 18:25, “The land vomited out its inhabitants.” >This wonderful teaching is from: http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=160 Figures of Speech in the Bible ==================================================================== >-->Just a Moment _, __.=""=._/'/`-,' `"=.__, ( ,"==" ; `=, `^`^`^"`', ; jgs '; ( `` Love that is hoarded molds at last Until we know some day The only thing we ever have Is what we give away. - Louis Ginsberg ===================================================================== >-->From our friend Maxy's Pal :) . + . . . . . . . . . * . * . . . . . . + . "You Are Here" . . + . . . . | . . . . . . | . . . +. + . \|/ . . . . . . V . * . . . . + . + . . . + . . + .+. . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . ! / * . . . + . . - O - . . . + . . * . . / | . + . . . .. + . . . . . * . * . +.. . * . . . . . . . . + . . + unknown How Great Thou Art http://summerhoosier.250free.com/HTML2/Howgreatthour.html --- ...Pretty one! Thanks Maxy's Pal! =================================================================== ', .-`-,\__ ."` `, .'_. ._ `;. __ / ` ` `.\ .--. /--,| 0) 0) )`_.-,) | ;.-----.__ _-'); / It's A Jungle Out There! '--./ `.`/ `"` : '` |. | \ / // \ '---' /' `------' \ jgs/a:f _/ `--... >Respite from the Middle School Jungle Story Editor: by Jennifer Schrader Joyce Schowalter Missouri, USA These days we hear stories about the hazing and cruelty that can exist between kids in middle school. But when I was there in the late seventies, such things were never discussed. A clique of about five girls had it in for me; they would literally wait outside the door to my classes to accost me, taunting me to get a reaction. I was a nerd, and my responses, when I dared to retort, were graceless. Seventh grade was one long year of torment; every day the girls found me somewhere, cornered me and called me names. It never occurred to me to get parental help, but it was easily the worst year of my life. When I entered eighth grade I was afraid. My fears were realized when the same bunch of girls, with new additions, started harassing me again. I struggled on. A few weeks into the year, I noticed that one of the new girls, "Darlene," now led the clique. I didn't know her and never noticed her around when I was attacked, but I feared her. One day, the girls cornered me again, I got angry and yelled insults back, whatever nasty words came to mind. It was an incident like a hundred others, forgotten it by the time I got to gym class. But suddenly I was alone in the locker room with Darlene advancing on me with her jaw set. She confronted me angrily, saying I had insulted her friends, and must answer to her. It was too much for me. I started to half cry, half protest, wailing that they had insulted me first, that they did so all the time, that I was just trying to defend myself. Darlene listened in silence, and when I was done, she said something that changed my life. She said simply, "I didn't realize that. I'm sorry; I'll talk to them." She must have, because they never, from that moment on, picked on me again. What Darlene changed for me, more than anything, was my understanding of my enemies. The notion that they were people, that they could possibly be reasoned with, that they might be kinder to me if I showed them my own humanity and not only my defensive thorns shook my whole understanding of the world. Darlene caused me to believe that strangers might bring something good, and that life is lived best in that hope. She helped me notice that I, too, had been cruel, even though only in defense, and that it was not the best choice. Darlene and I didn't become friends. But I believe she changed me more than almost anyone else through that one compassionate, sensible act. And she gave me a sense of what character and integrity can mean even in the heart of the middle school jungle. =======HeroicStories======= >-->KNOW YOUR WORTH ___________ '._==_==_=_.' .-\: /-. | (|:. |) | You Are God's Trophy! '-|:. |-' \::. / '::. .' ) ( _.' '._ jgs `"""""""` As I arose from bed, this morn, And looked up at the sky My heart gave song, and I rejoiced, As mallard ducks flew by. The mountaintops were shrouded, With early mountain dew And I was glad to be alive, And start the day anew. The songbirds all were waking up, Their sounds soon filled the air The chipmunks and the squirrels, Were scampering everywhere. The flowerbeds were in full bloom, The bees flew to and fro The hummingbird danced up and down, He knew not where to go. I looked around this place of mine, And thanked the LORD, above For blessing me with special friends, And a family that I love. Success to me is not measured, By materials and wealth For you are rich, if you have friends, A family and good health. Some people are not content, until, They have more than they will need But I have found true happiness, Without the stress and greed. Just look about, check for yourself, You'll see that I am right You too are rich, you have so much, Thank GOD for it TONIGHT! © 1988 Joe Pielmeier Sr.  Joe left us on 12/05/02 ================================================================ >-->From InspiredBuffalo: >Making butter long Ago. ___ (___) /` `\ / /"\ \ \_/o o\_/ ( _ ) `\ /` /\\V//\ / /_ _\ \ \ \___/ / \/===\/ || || || || ||___|| |_____| jgs ||| / Y \ `"`"` Memories of growing up visiting my grandparents on the farm. My grand mother would let me churn the milk in a real old churn. They had them in their families for years as they had to be very careful and not break anything. She would let it sit by the fire all day and it turned.. That is when it separates or clabbers, she called it. When she thought it was the right temperature she would let me churn the milk. To churn you used a dasher. It had a handle through the lid into the churn and on the part in the churn was a dasher or paddle like and when you raised it up and down it moved the milk around and eventually made butter. It would be fun at first and then seem like forever before the butter started to make. I would start off standing up but before I was done I needed to sit down beside it. up and down, up and down, until it was getting about ready for the butter, To know when it was getting done, you could see it on the stick as it came up and down. I watched her take out the butter. She would put it into a bowl with cold water in it. That would make it start gathering together. Then she went through all that washing and patting with another little paddle made from wood like a spoon. Then it would form a ball and she kept draining the water away as it formed .You did not just stir it. There was a knack to it. She then put it into a nice mold, and when one got ready to serve it, she turned it out onto a butter plate; there was a nice print all over the top like the shape from the mold. But we did not care that she had went to all that trouble to make it pretty as we were only wanting to taste it on one of her hot rolls or Biscuits right from the oven...that was sooo goood!.. My grand father made his own molasses too. but that is another good memory to pull out and share with everyone who can enjoy the good times long ago. LuciG. @Anne glover. luci@dixie-net.com I live in a small town near tupelo, Miss. I am 64 years old. I was raised on a small farm near my grandparents north of Memphis, TN. my husband was in the army for 25 years and we lived out west and overseas. We have been married for 45 years. We had three children; we now have 5 grands and 5 great grands. I love to sew, read, walk and I write short stories and poems of things I have learned and lived along the way. -<>- >GIVING THE LAW "A HEART" by Roger Dean Kiser ____ _[____]_ ( '7') __)(^_ / ,C^D,\ / /||:||\\ \ \|/:\|// `\\~~~|/ ,##\7|\ \ |#| \ \ |#| / / jgs |#|/_/ |#|\ \ (#_\`' In 1988, I was working as an administrative advisor in California for a county welfare rights organization and represented people whose welfare benefits were threatened. My client, an older gentleman, had been fired by the Salvation Army for having a beer with his lunch. If the charge against him was upheld, then he stood to lose his welfare because, in our state, indigent people without children had to work part time in order to quality for benefits. When the judge finally arrived, we entered the small side room which had been set up for the hearing. We took our positions at the various tables. As the hearing began, the first person took the witness stand. I could hardly believe the heartlessness of the woman who had fired this kind faced old gentleman. She went on and on about how disgusting this man was and how dangerous he was to himself and to everyone in the building who had to work with him. She told the court that he was slow in getting up and down the stairs and that he needed to be reminded, almost everyday, that it was time for him to go home and that the work day was over. Finally, I got my chance to question her. The first thing I asked was if she had ever had a drink with her meal while on her lunch break. She was very quiet and acted as though she did not want to answer the question. Then she finally said, "I never drink beer." "That is not what I asked you. I asked you if you had ever had a drink while eating a meal," I said. "Yes, I have a wine with my lunch almost everyday", she replied, in a harsh tone." "Then why is it wrong for this gentleman to have a beer with his lunch?" I asked. "Because people who drink beer are alcoholics," she told the court. "Then that must make you a wine-o," I said. Of course, the judge told me to tone down my comments and keep my personal opinions to myself. At that point in the hearing the woman started trying to change things around and told the court that the real reason she fired the old man was not because he had a beer, but because the old man was a danger to himself and to everyone working at their facility. She said that the old man was psychotic and depressing and that he could possibly hurt someone if allowed to stay on the job. The judge called for a recess and we retired for a one hour lunch break. I immediately drove over to the Salvation Army office and asked to see the old man's employment file, which the secretary denied me. I was told that I would have to request that information from her supervisor, who was presently appearing in court, and that she would not be back until after court was over. I asked the secretary her personal opinion of the old man and she told me that he was one of the most kind, sweet, and gentle human beings that she had ever met. I then asked her why the old man had been fired if he was so nice and kind. She told me, off the record, that the old man had taken several old stained mattresses from the dumpster and had given them to a woman and her two small children because they could not afford to purchase new beds. I could not understand why he would be fired for such a random act of kindness. It was explained to me that the law prohibited mattresses to be sold unless they had been sterilized. I understood what the woman was telling me. However, the mattereses were given away, not sold. This led me to believe that this was a matter of the Salvation Army losing a sale. That could be the real reason behind this whole thing. I told the secretary that the old man was going to be tossed out onto the street if we did not win this case. She then got up from her desk and walked over to a cabinet and took out a file. She put it on the desk and said she would return in 10 minutes. It was the old man's file and I read it as quickly as I could, noting that the gentleman had been working at the facility for about four years. He was a hard worker and had been known to spending his own money on those in need, even though he had very little. Before leaving, I noticed something in this file which I removed and stuck in my coat pocket. The hearing resumed at 1pm and the woman once again took the stand, and I began to question her. "So what you are telling this court is that the real reason that you fired this gentleman is not because he had a beer with his lunch but because he is a danger to himself, his work place, and all who work there with him. Is that correct?" "That is correct," said the woman. "What makes you think he is a danger at the work place?" I asked her. "Because I have had to take pencils away from him for fear that he might stab himself or somebody else on the job," she replied. "Why would he want to do that?" I asked her. "Because, as I said, he is a psychotic alcoholic and he cannot follow directions. He is just an old man," she said. I walked over to my coat, now hanging on the back of my chair, reached into the pocket and took out a piece of paper and began to unfold it. "So what you are saying is that you have dismissed this man because he is old, drinks beer and will probably kill someone on the job one day. Is that correct?" I asked her. "Yes, that is why I fired him," she told the court. I turned towards the judge and held up the front page of the Modesto Bee newspaper. On the front page was a large picture. I turned the newspaper toward the woman sitting on the stand and said, "Is this the man that we are talking about?" She just sat there not saying a word. Turning towards the judge, I showed him the front page of the newspaper. The large picture showed this same woman smiling from ear to ear while handing my client a large carving knife and fork. They were both standing in front of a long line of about two hundred people and were preparing to carve up fifty or so turkeys to feed the poor and homeless on Thanksgiving Day. I turned to the court and said, "Your honor I belive this vicious killer has a partner in crime." The judge looked directly at me, winked, smiled, and then said, "I think I have seen enough." He dismissed the entire case. I will never forget that case or that old man for as long as I live. He sat there in that court room being talked about as though he was nothing more than an animal -- smiling kindly at everyone the entire time. Though I spent most of my young life in an orphanage, reform school, jail and finally prison, I have always loved and respected the law. I just wish things could have been different for me as a young man. If I had the chance to go to college, I know that I could have grown up to be the kind of lawyer that could have given the law "a heart." --Roger Dean Kiser To Subscribe send an email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ======================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: >Drive-thru prayer? Prayer booth enhances church’s outreach .-. __| |__ [__ __] | | | | jgs | | '-' By Ken Walker - State Correspondent TUSTIN, Calif. (BP) —Two newcomers attended a free Wednesday evening barbecue in late June at The Main Place Christian Fellowship, a Baptist congregation amid the sprawling suburbs south of Los Angeles. One woman was embroiled in a legal dispute with her mother and other family members. The other had just escaped from an abusive relationship. Seniors Pastor Martin Mosier met both women earlier that day at the church’s drive-through prayer booth, a 7-by-10 foot building that used to hold a photo developing shop. Located in a strip mall across the street from the church, the unique outreach has prompted a stir in the community since opening in March. It also has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and on National Public Radio. Missions Pastor David Cottrill said it has spread awareness of the church across the region. More importantly, he said he believes divine guidance is behind the project. “Someone’s coming onto our turf, which gives us an excellent opportunity to point them to Jesus Christ,” Cottrill said. “We get the sense that a lot of people have nowhere else to go. They don’t have a priest, pastor or ... anyone else they can talk to, and we have a lot of people who don’t know what their need is.” After praying with the two women in distress, Mosier said, both had tears in their eyes. They also expressed gratitude that someone could talk with them—and provide them a meal. THE MAIN PLACE Leaders at a Baptist church in Los Angeles say the drive-in prayer booth near Los Angeles is serving a need in the community for people to drop by and share prayer requests, many times when they feel like they have nowhere else to go. “I know from being there it’s a blessing,” said Mosier, one of 10 staff members who cover the booth weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We have people come through who break down and weep because they’re going through a divorce or a child custody battle. “We feel it’s a timely ministry,” Mosier added. “It gets us out among the hurting. It’s exceeded our expectations in meeting needs and showing how desperate people are for prayer. This is the kind of ministry that every church can do.” Cottrill credited Senior Pastor Rich Mathisrud with the idea to open a prayer booth. A successful businessman who became a Christian at age 30, Mathisrud always is “thinking outside,” Cottrill said. “The prayer booth wasn’t unusual because the church has operated a thrift store for 10 years,” Cottrill said. “It’s normal for staff people to pray with others. This is just one more place where people can go for prayer.” In addition to free prayer, the 500-member church offers free 16-ounce bottles of water and Bibles at the booth. During a typical week, staff give away a case of water bottles and thus far have distributed about 40 free Bibles. The first Bibles were in English and Spanish. Thanks to a donation from the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, the church recently acquired versions in Arabic, Chinese and two Indian dialects. Leaders hope to obtain some Bibles in Farsi to serve a large Iranian community in neighboring Irvine, Cottrill said. “Just love ’em” No census of conversions or answered prayers is being taken. But Cottrill knows that people have found jobs, clothing and places to live. Visitors also have seen other breakthroughs in their lives. Each request is forwarded to the church’s prayer group, which meets at 5:30 a.m. during the week and one Friday a month at 7 p.m., he added. Don Rayl, the church’s pastor of prayer and a high school baseball coach, recently prayed with a teenage girl who became a Christian. On each of his visits to the booth Rayl has prayed with at least two people. The prayer pastor also looks for additional involvement as awareness of the booth’s effectiveness spreads. The church advises volunteers to avoid confrontation or trying to meet every need and simply share what Christ has done in their lives. “We tell them not to push on people, just love ’em,” Rayl said. “We don’t want to grab people and be forceful. We want to approach people the way Jesus did and tell them how they can know Him in a personal way.” Interestingly, organizers said, half the booth’s visitors are members of other churches. They either have a need that day, or they know shared requests will remain confidential, Cottrill said. A veteran of international mission trips, Cottrill said the prayer booth is similar to any outreach outside the church where people make themselves available to God. The Main Place’s most valuable aspect is that it shows members they can minister to people any time and in any place, Cottrill said. Many Christians think unchurched people aren’t interested in hearing about God, he noted, but the prayer booth has shown that many people are searching for truth. =================================================================== >-->Jesus Loves Me ... _ xxxx _ /_;-.__ / _\ _.-;_\ `-._`'`_/'`.-' `\ /` | / SO MUCH - He /-.( Gave His Life For All! \_._\ \ \`; > |/ / // |// jgs \(\ `` Jesus loves me, this I know, Though my hair is white as snow. Though my sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in him. (Chorus) Yes, Jesus Loves me.Yes, Jesus Loves me. Yes, Jesus Loves me for the Bible tells me so. Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in his I'll go. On through life, let come what may, He'll be there to lead the way. (Chorus) Though I am no longer young, I have much which He's begun. Let me serve Christ with a smile, Go with others the extra mile. (Chorus) When the nights are dark and long, In my heart He puts a song. Telling me in words so clear, "Have no fear, for I am near." (Chorus) When my work on earth is done, And life's victories have been won. He will take me home above, Then I'll understand his love. (Chorus) I love Jesus, does he know? Have I ever told Him so? Jesus loves to hear me say, That I love him every day. (Chorus) >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :)Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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. 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