Lest We Forget And More ... :) 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 ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) *~* THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU TO ALL OUR VETERAN MEN AND WOMAN!! .-"""""""-. .' __ \_ / / \/ \ | \_0/\_0/______ |:. .' oo`\ |:. / \ |' ; | | |:.. . \_______ | |::.|' , \,_____\ / |:::.; ' | . '| ====)_/===;===========;() |::; | | ; ; | | # # # #:::::: /::::.|-| |_|-|, \ # # # #:::::: /'-=-'` '-' '--'\ # # # #:::::: jgs / \ # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # H A P P Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # M E M O R I A L D A Y ! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Honor a Soldier This Weekend With Your Thoughts, Thanks, and Prayers! PLEASE HAVE A BLESSED, SAFE, AND HAPPY HOLIDAY! Freedom Isn't Free http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/freedom.html Why My Son? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/why.html Lest We Forget #1 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lestweforget.html Lest We Forget #2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lestweforget2.html Proud Of Our Troops #1 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops.html Proud Of Our Troops #2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops2.html Proud Of Our Troops #3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops3.html Friendly Fire http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendly.html Daily With Our Troops 1 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/daily1.html Daily With Our Troops 2 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/daily2.html Daily With Our Troops 3 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/daily3.html USS New York LPD-21 Tribute http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ussny.html WWI Human Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/humanart.html Military WWII Posters http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/militarywwii.html Military Motivational Posters http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/military.html Liberty Air Show http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/liberty.html -<>- >HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This red hot one comes from both our friends Sandi and Jo Ann. So cute, I couldn't resist doing it up to share with you! More cat insights here... ._ .-' `-. .-' \ ; .-'\ ; `._.' ; | | | ; : ; : ; : / / ; : , NOT ME! ; | .-"7| / .-'" : .-' .': / .-' \ .' .' `. .' `-. ""-.-'`"" `",`-._..--"7 ; . `-.J `-, ;"`.;|,_, ; _.' | `"" `. ."""--. o \:.-. _.' ."" : ,--`; , `--/}o,' ; ; .___.' / ,--.`-. `-..7_.- /_ \ : `..__.._; .'__; `---..__.-'-.`"-, .' `--. | \_; \' `-._.-") \\ `-, `. -.`_): `. `-"""`. ;__.' ;/ ; " `-.__7" `-..._.'`7 -._;' ``"-'' `--.,__.' fsc Taking A Cat Bath! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catbath.html --- ...A Good one for a SMILE! Thanks Sandi and Jo Ann! ============================================================== >-->From Heartwarmer: \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. -- Lee Greenwood -<>- ( (_) ### . (#c __\|/__ #\ wWWWw \ \-. (/. .\) /\ /`\/\ /\ |\/ \_) (_| `\.' ; ; `' ;`\ `\; ; . ;/\ `\; ; ;| \ ; .' ' ; / |_.' ; | /) ( ''._;/` | ' . ; |.-' .:) | | ( .' : | |,- .:: | | ,-' .;| jgs_/___,_.:_\_ [I_I_I_I_I_I_] | __________ | | || | | || | _| ||_|__|_|| |_ /=--------------=\ / \ | | >THIS HALLOWED LAND As I composed this verse, tears melded with the words, as I remembered those friends and acquaintances whose lives were taken. With the utmost gratitude and honor, I offer my deepest respect to those brave young men and women who gave their last full measure, and to those who endured enormous physical and mental hardships in the defense of our homeland. It has been said that only the good die young. Most did not want to die, they just wanted to get back home and live the life that most of us enjoy. They just wanted to be near their loved ones, grow up, marry and raise their children. They just wanted a house, a car, some conveniences, to live in the suburbs, and take photographs on a Sunday afternoon. They just wanted to teach their sons to play baseball, ride a horse, and throw a football. They did not want to point a gun at another human, nor take the lives of other individuals. Their lives were snuffed out so very young, but they did want to do whatever they could, or whatever was necessary, to permit others like you and me to enjoy this hallowed land. -<>- ============;===========;() # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # jgs # # # # # # # >MEMORIAL DAY The Day of Infamy, sixty years ago this year Somehow, the memory is ever so clear. It was in a harbor, the name of Pearl, An American Flag remained unfurled. It was a morn of sunshine clear, The birds could be heard in every ear. A thunderous roar came out of the West, The direction of the sweet robin's nest. A soldier's thoughts were that of home, For now he seemed to be so very alone. The bombs came, they rained their hell! Soldiers, flyers, sailors, and people fell. A bomb fell so very close by, A soldier was heaved high into the sky. Those last few moments of his life, He dreamed of a world without strife. He longed for the folks back home, A girlfriend not, for he was alone. His thoughts were of Mom and Dad As the life from this young man bled. And now once a year in this month of May, from his grave, this soldier has his say. Remember me, and my comrades at arms, Bless those that keep this country from harm. -- Grady Fuller ___________________________________________ Email addresses in our publication have a space before and after the @ symbol. This is to prevent viruses from reaching our writers and others. If you want to correspond, just remove the spaces. ___________________________________________ -<>- \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz >THE GREATEST Although writer-motivator Earl Nightingale left us some years ago, his ideas and concepts remain reasonable. Some are classic. Here, taken from his writings and recordings, are living concepts worth re-reading and reconsidering: The greatest puzzle: life The greatest thought: God The greatest mystery: death The greatest mistake: giving up The greatest need: common sense The greatest invention of the devil: war The greatest secret of production: saving waste The greatest bore: one who keeps talking after he has made his point The greatest comfort: The knowledge that you have done your work well The greatest sin: fear The greatest blessing: good health The greatest law of nature: cause and effect The greatest gamble: substituting hope for fact The greatest joy: being needed The greatest opportunity: the next one The greatest victory: victory over yourself The greatest handicap: egotism The greatest loss: loss of self-confidence The greatest waste: all the talent and ability that most of us have but never quite get around to using The greatest thing, bar none, in the world: love, love for family, home, friends, neighbors... and for the land in which we enjoy our freedom. -- Ron Gold -<>- _ (_) <___> | |______ | |* * * ) | | * * (_________ | |* * * |* *|####) | | * * *| * | (________________ | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | | * * *| * | | | | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | |~~~~~~| * | | | | |######|* *|####|##############| | | |~~~' | | | |######|########|##############| | | | | | | |######|########|##############| | |~~~~~~| | | | | |########|##############| | | '~~~~~~~~| | | | |##########JGS#| | | '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | >LEST WE FORGET by Gail Bracy We all wore them in the 70s -- those stainless steel POW-MIA bracelets. The best-dressed high school students had AT LEAST one each, and we all wore them proudly. After all, war was dirty business, and we were doing our part... by remembering. We were wearing bracelets that had the name and rank of a soldier Missing In Action or who was captured and kept as a Prisoner of War. Our bracelets told which country the soldier represented, as well. They listed where the soldier was stationed when he disappeared and his home state. There was information concerning his last-known address, so if you wanted to, you could send a note to the family, telling them that you had their son's name on your bracelet, and that you'd never forget him. That was the idea, after all -- to wear the bracelet until he came home, or simply to always remember him. I had every intention of writing to the parents of "my guy," but every effort was interrupted by important things thinks like pajama parties, dances, pep rallies, bicycle trips and county fairs. Things like summer camp, tree climbing, book reading and birthday parties. I would remember to write later. I promised myself at least weekly for a number of months that I'd write to his parents, yet never seemed to have the time or the postage stamp. There were no home computers or email messages back then. I would remember next week after final exams. Yes, I'd remember next week. This was important stuff, and I'd remember. We started choosing colleges. I wanted to find a husband and start a family. Sue was going to be a chemist. Cliff was going to be a missionary on some island in the Pacific, and Wanda was going to be a dental assistant. Joe was going to open a car repair shop and Millie was going to marry Fred and start having children. Everyone was heading out into the big world to make his/her mark. Time passed.... I'd occasionally run across my bracelet as I emptied drawers or filled boxes to go to college, my first apartment, another college, our first house. I'd remember to write after I unpacked and before classes started, babies came, jobs, changed, I was sure. This was important, and I'd remember. Part of the hesitancy was a result of not knowing what to say. It was fifteen years after high school graduation that I met John. John sported one of those stainless steel bracelets. No one wore them anymore. Memories of the Vietnam War and life in the 70s rushed through my mind in an embarrassing memory of unmailed letters and unkept promises. I remembered! I remembered the sit-ins, the protest marches, peace signs, "War is not Healthy" posters and black lights. I remembered the perfumes that were named after nature -- Wild Grasses, Ocean Mist, Warm Earth. I remembered John Denver and Annie's Song and bell-bottom pants, chokers and fringed everything. I remembered Richard Nixon's 'ending that war' for us, and how proud I was. I remembered his trip to China. I remembered it all. But the warmth of the memories was soon replaced by the ice-water jolt of the realization that I had unfinished and important business. YOU know the kind -- the complete shock, embarrassment and urgency that makes your heart race and your skin crawl. The kind that makes you hear rushing wind when everything's still, the feeling that you've committed an unforgivable offense. I had forgotten to write The Letter. I had forgotten to wear the bracelet. I had forgotten my commitment to those who were missing or dead. I forgot that these people were somebody's children. I had forgotten to remember. As John fingered the bracelet and told me about his POW, I saw tears glistening in his eyes, threatening at any moment to cut a trail down his cheek and through his beard and mustache. He looked at me and said, "You know, my son graduated from West Point, and he may well be in the same position as these poor guys one day. I pray that it never happens, but if it does, and if God wills it, and my son disappears, I pray that someone remembers. We must never forget." Lt. Col. Bruce G. Johnson (USA, MI, 6/10/65, South Vietnam), please forgive me. Please forgive us all, lest we forget. -- Gail Bracy __________________________________________________ Gail says, "I live in Watertown, NY, and very much enjoy writing. One of my passions is photography, and I hope to one day combine my photos and stories in a book of my own." ====================================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` Happy Memorial Day! For my American friends. America, Why I Love Her! (narration by John Wayne) http://sagebrushpatriot.com/america.htm A Soldier's Heart http://jbreck.com/asoldiersheart.html Oh... I love this song. Hope you do too. Believe http://mjbreck.com/IBelieve506.html -<>- \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz ©This I ask of You Dear Heavenly Father This I ask of you... Please give each soldier a special place in heaven A soft feather bed to lie on... A satin pillow for their heads to rest upon The best food heaven has to offer to nourish their souls The warmth of a hearth fire... to warm them And a heavenly stream to cool them And two loving arms to welcome them home The knowledge that we are grateful for all they've done Goodnight soldier dear, nothing more to fear For you are home at last... Rest in God's eternal love and peace Thank you for allowing me to live free! In Jesus most precious name, Amen ©Copyright, Barbara J. Ervin-Weymouth, May 22, 2005, ®All Rights Reserved -<>- ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` >" MEMORIAL DAY " This is a day to stir our memories, Of the lives lost in wars gone by. A Day to set aside and to honor, The many that were brave enough to die! Oh, they didn't go because they wanted to, But, it was a thing that had to be. If they were to build a great Nation, And keep that nation, FREE! They gladly obeyed when their country called, Though with heavy hearts they went, Marching off to foreign lands, Yes, many to an early grave were sent! As we reminisce and count all wars, We can name them, one by one, And we must recall each precious life given: A Grandfather, a Father, a Daughter and Son. So many and yet, there will still be many more, We know not who they may be. For yes, there are more wars yet to come, If our great nation is to remain, FREE! There will be wars and rumors of wars, Does not God's Word tell us so? But Christian Brethren be not concerned, Just LOOK-UP and be ready to go! Yes, be ready to go home and be with the Lord, For the worst of all wars is yet to come. A war of wars must still be fought, Victory o'er Satan is still to be won! Soon Christ will come with His army of Saints, To end all wars, so march in His Way, And remember, the freedom we have to worship God, Was bought with the lives, we do honor, this day! -Christine. -<>- ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` >The Old Veteran Bill Walker wildbill6807@yahoo.com Memorial Day is here almost. Another Memorial Day. There will be a parade maybe in your town. You can see the newer Veterans marching along, still got some hup, two, three, four in step. Then there may be some older ones in the ranks, that is losing the hup, two, three, four. Then there may be a few cars with old Veterans that has lost it all together. That is the hup, two, three, four. You will also see some old Veterans on the curbs watching. You can always spot a Veteran that is on the curb. He comes to life for a few minutes when Old Glory passed in front of him. .He stands taller then he has for some time. He may even give a dirty look at some scum dirt bag that don't snap to when Old Glory passed by. He knows what that flag means. He has seen the times he fought to get that flag to the top of some hill in some battle. He remembers the times when he looked ahead or off to the side, some one planted Old Glory over there. The shot and shell was still coming, but there is Old Glory. He remembers the ones who didn't make it back. He remembers the ones he may have helped down the hill to a medic. He remembers, he knows what that flag stands for. It isn't just a flag, it is Old Glory. He stands a little taller when Old Glory in all it's Glory goes by. Memorial Day is Memorial Day to an old Veteran. It isn't the first day of summer to him. It isn't a day to go to the races, it isn't a day for a cook out, it isn't a day to have a good time. It is a day to remember, remember those that didn't come back from OVER THERE. Yes you can spot the old Veteran.. He may have tears thinking of where he has been, thinking of things that happened, thinking of those wounded, those that died for just a few feet up the hill. All for Old Glory, and what it stands for. -<>- ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` >MEMORIAL TRIBUTE First known as Decoration Day, To honor those who died.. We mourned the men of Gray and Blue On our own countryside. Those silent hearts were laid to rest; Their memories held dear. By those for whom they took a stand Midst causes bright and drear. But in our mingled tears we grew Beyond our civil shame, And sought, within those memories, To unify our name. Before and since, souls gave their all On near and distant lands. Where God and clouds of witnesses Left footprints in the sands. Lest we forget the price they paid, Let's hold our colors high. For them and others we have loved, Who bade this earth good-bye. So, while we think of those now gone, Think too of those still here. And pray our messages of hope Will echo strong and clear. Yes, pause and bless the heritage Of those along life's way And thank the Lord for each of them This Great Memorial Day. © Ellie Jordan, Tulsa, OK United States of America -<>- ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` >"MEMORIAL DAY POEM." The bugle echoes shrill and sweet, But not of war it sings to-day. The road is rhythmic with the feet Of men-at-arms who come to pray. The roses blossom white and red On tombs where weary soldiers lie; Flags wave above the honored dead And martial music cleaves the sky. Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel, They kept the faith and fought the fight. Through flying lead and crimson steel They plunged for Freedom and the Right. May we, their grateful children, learn Their strength, who lie beneath this sod, Who went through fire and death to earn At last the accolade of God. In shining rank on rank arrayed They march, the legions of the Lord; He is their Captain unafraid, The Prince of Peace . . . Who brought a sword. ~~By Joyce Kilmer.~~ -<>- ()__ ||**Z__ ||**|**=Z____ ||**|**=|====| ||==|**=|====| ||""|===|====| || `"""|====| jgs || `""""` >Links for Your Enjoyment Nextel Dance Party http://www.buffaloschips.com/kjpopo.htm No Fear http://www.buffaloschips.com/kjoppo.htm Bad Luck http://www.buffaloschips.com/fasd.htm Boogie Woogie http://www.buffaloschips.com/fsdjlk.htm Ford Police Chase http://www.buffaloschips.com/sdfds.htm God's Bumper Stickers http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gbumper.html Albino Bears http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/albinobear.html Life's Little Oops 3! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops3.html Odin The White Tiger http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whitetiger.html Koalas In A Heatwave http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/koalas.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com =================================================================== ,====,,'''',,, _____________________________________ _______||__||_______ ''', /' | | ___|_|_____ | | | ; /' Name: ____Daniel_C._Au_____________ | | |HONG KONG| | | | ; / o Address: __dcau@nwu.edu____________ | | | | |_|___ | '''\ School: _Northwestern_University___ | | ___|_|_____ ||USA| | `\ ____Medical_School_________ | | |SINGAPORE| | | | `\.____________________________________| |____|_|______|_|____| >Lost Luggage Story Editor: by Marjorie Searl Joyce Schowalter New York, USA A few years ago, my college-aged daughter traveled to Europe to study German. It's always a bit nerve-wracking to put your child on a plane heading to a new destination. But Meghan is a pretty resourceful individual, and we anticipated that she would manage her connections successfully. In her first phone call to us after she landed, she told us that her luggage hadn't arrived, so she was stuck in Munich, but not to worry. A very nice lady named Carol had invited Meghan to stay in her apartment until her luggage was found and she could continue her trip. She gave us the telephone number, and rang off. As the days went by we didn't hear more from Meghan, and our anxiety mounted until I could stand it no longer. I called the phone number that she had given to us. An American-sounding woman answered, and when I asked for Meghan, replied that Meghan had left. Before I could panic, she continued to speak, and in a very reassuring manner explained the story to me. They had both arrived by plane in Munich in the middle of the night in the same situation -- neither had their luggage arrive. Carol correctly recognized that Meghan was a young college student traveling alone and was now in a strange city where she knew no one. Carol was a law professor from California on sabbatical and teaching in Germany, with an apartment in Munich. She was also a mother of grown children who had, in their travels, needed to rely on the kindness of strangers. She recognized an opportunity to provide similar assistance to a tired and frazzled young woman, and offered to take Meghan home with her and host her until Meghan's luggage turned up. Meghan had certainly heard our many years of warnings about going off with strangers. Nevertheless, she could sense the genuine safety and refuge which was being offered to her by this kind woman. She took her up on the offer, and spent several days with her. Indeed, Meghan spent further weekends at Carol's apartment during the course of her studies in Germany. We discovered that Carol's specialty was law relating to international kidnappings. She had German heritage, too, and was teaching in Germany to reconnect with her German roots. Her Jewish grandfather had been spirited out of Germany by people with good hearts -- so that he would not be transported to a concentration camp. I'm indebted to Carol for rescuing our daughter and keeping her safe during her first few days in Germany. And I will always feel grateful to her for continuing to provide Meghan with friendship (and a mom) during that summer. I try to be open to ways to assist travelers, and to help people who are new to our community to feel less alone. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From AndyChaps: -=- (\ _ /) (`\(")/') (`/\') \\/^\// / \ hjw / \ `-._.-' ** My Security System ** [Edited] Many people have security systems for their houses, or alarms for their cars. They know they have something of value. And they also know that there are thieves loose in the world who are likely to want the valuable possessions they have. While this is true for material possessions, so many people do not have a security system for their emotional and spiritual lives. Part of the reason is that they don't know they are valuable to God. And another part of the reason is that they don't know that a thief is loose in the world who wants to steal, destroy, and kill everything of value that they possess. You can put bars on the windows of your house ... you can put an alarm system on your car that will cause sirens to sound and lights to flash on and off... You can put video cameras and silent alarms in your store... You can put padlocks on your bicycle or on trunks filled with things you hold to be valuable... You can put your most prized possessions in sealed vaults with highly sophisticated security systems... But are you putting something in and on and around yourself to guard your precious emotional and spiritual life from the ravages of the thief who wants to steal from you your very life? You were reborn in the image and likeness of God. That's the only reason the thief needs to want to rob you of who you are. He knows that first and foremost you are an offspring of the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, all-loving God. You are a spirit... that has a soul... and lives in a body that was formed from the dust of the earth. Your spirit comes from God's in-ness, and therefore you can know God in your spirit. In your spirit you have God-consciousness. You have an awareness of Him and a desire for Him. In your soul you have self-consciousness. In your mind, your psyche, your memories, and your emotions you know who you are and what you are supposed to do. In your body, you have world-consciousness. In your body, you know if you are hot or cold, hungry or satisfied, comfortable or uncomfortable. The thief is after you solely because you have a part of God's eternal Spirit in you. Guard your spirit. It's not only the most valuable part of you, it's the eternal part of you. How do we guard our spirits? First, build your relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Spend time communicating with Them. Draw your identity from Them. Second, build yourself up in God's Word. Read your Bible. Study it. Bind the Word of God to your mind. Third, build up yourself spiritually in praise. Worship the Lord. Serve Him in every way you know. Stay on guard. The thief never sleeps. =================================================== -<>- .__=\__ .__==__, jf' ~~=\, _=/~' `\, ._jZ' `\q, /=~ `\__ j5(/ `\./ V\\, Unknown .Z))' _____ | .____, \)/\ j5(K=~~ ~~~~\=_, | _/=~~~~' `~~+K\\, .Z)\/ `~=L | _=/~ t\ZL j5(_/.__/===========\__ ~q |j/ .__============___/\J(N, 4L#XXXL_________________XGm, \P .mXL_________________JXXXW8L ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~YKWmmWmmW@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Perks Pearl of Wisdom: "A promise isn't a wish, it's a commitment. Every day you wake up is a promise kept by God. Now promise you'll do something good with it." Bob Perks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Andy Used By Permission For "The Funnies... An Extra" "Please, God?" By Bob Perks <> All stories are copyrighted 2002 Bob Perks. We all make promises that at the time seem to be the proper thing to do. But in our hearts we know it's just polite chatter between friends. "You know it's been much too long. Let's plan on getting together soon and catch up on all that's been going on in our lives." "Sure. Give me a call." Then we walk away knowing it will never really happen. Millie always meant what she said. "It's a date!" she would say and I would reply "Mark it on your calendar." What seems an eternity ago, I once worked in a retirement center. Not one of those fancy care taker places you see today, but the county rest home. It really looked more like a hospital than a home. It very well may be where my real interest in people began. I met so many wonderful older folks there and because I was in my early 20's their wisdom caught my attention and filled my spirit with hope. Millie was a gem. I would see her several times a day and every time I said, "I'll see you later!" she would reply, "It's a date!" Then she would grab her notebook and jot it down. Millie kept those dates for the first few months she was there. But her time was limited and she knew it. As her body began to weaken her spirit stayed very much alive. She would struggle to reach for her notebook, but always refused to accept help. But the day came when Millie could no longer grasp and hold the book or pen. I had just checked on her and we talked about life and all the joys she had experienced. She would never have a bad thing to say. When I was about to leave I said, "Millie, I'll see you later." There was no response. I couldn't leave. I was so used to hearing her reply that it felt inappropriate for me to just walk out. So I walked closer to her bed and leaned over her. "Millie, I'll see you later, okay?" She smiled and reaching her right hand toward the bed table in front of her, she struggled to pick up the book. "Do you want me to mark it down for you?" I asked. She nodded her head. I took her pen and opened up the note book. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I thumbed through and every single page had the same thing scribbled several times. "Please, God?" "Millie, I thought you were making dates all this time," I said to her. She smiled and reached for my hand. "Bob, I wasn't making dates. I was asking God to help me keep them," she said. I wrote, "Please, God" in her book and laid it back on the table. Every one of those notations were Millie's way of asking God to keep her around long enough to fulfill her promise. On her final day with us, I rushed to her bedside to say my goodbyes before they took her away. Gathering her belongings I picked up the notebook and paged through it one more time. There must have been a thousand notations in that book. But Millie knew when it was time to go. The very last entry in her "Date" book read, "Thanks, God!" As they covered her I said, "Millie, I'll see you in Heaven." I swear I heard her say, "It's a date!" I replied, "Please God?" "I believe in You!" Bob Perks Bob@BobPerks.com -<>- _|_ | / \ //_\\ //(_)\\ |/^\| ,%%%% // \\ ,@@@@@@@, ,%%%%/%%% // \\ ,@@@\@@@@/@@, @@@%%%\%%//%%%// === \\ @@\@@@/@@@@@ @@@@%%%%\%%%%%// =-=-= \\@@@@\@@@@@@;%#####, @@@@%%%\%%/%%// === \\@@@@@@/@@@%%%######, @@@@@%%%%/%%//| |\\@\\//@@%%%%%%#/#### '@@@@@%%\\/%~ | | ~ @|| %\\//%%%#####; @@\\//@|| | __ __ | || %%||%%'###### '@|| || | | | | | || ||##\//#### || || | | -|- | | || ||'#||###' || || |_|__|__|_| || || || || ||_/` ======= `\__||_._|| || jgs__||_/` ======= `\_||___ Ref: 1 Pet 2:2. Like newborn babies you should crave the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto salvation. When I was a boy, my church had Sunday school the year around. At least half of my Sunday school teachers were men. The men in my church assisted in forming my character. The men I remember the most, led their families to church. They led in praying and they sang loudly in service. When I acted up, as most children do, one of the men would come over and sit down beside me, sharing his hymnal and we sang together. My parents never worried about me in church, I had a whole church full of disciplinarians. I began to get the idea that what was done in church was fearfully and wonderfully important to life and living. The Church became awesome to my nature. The year was 1945, our servicemen were returning from World War II. One Sunday when we were singing hymns of praise and giving thanks and reading psalms, two of the servicemen of the church picked up the American flag and the Christian flag and began singing "Onward Christian Solders." Without further queue, all of them stood up and began to march out the door of the church and circled the property, leading us all in praise to God for bringing them home safe. Our Pentecostal brothers have a term for action, they call it a "Jericho March", but this occurred in a Lutheran Church. Now I asked you this question, "What does it take for us to become bold and open in our faith, a War, a National tragedy?" What would inspire you to get off your "Blessed Assurances" and become a fool for God? I am much older now and wonder if I have come up to the standard of those men before me? Am I the man I am supposed to be? Across the fields of yesterday he sometimes comes to me, A little lad just back from play, the boy I used to be. He smiles at me so wistfully when once he's crept within, It is as though he'd hoped to see the man I might have been. ================================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: _ ///-._ ////////-._ /////////////-. ////////////////`. //////////////// .'`. //////////////// . '.'`. '|`'//////////// . .'.::|` : `'/////// . '.':| | . . `'// ' _|- ::| |. .-._ . | . | .':: | |:|:| | ' ' '.::| | |:|:| :. . .'.':| | . |:|:| . | .._.::: : `':| | ' ////-:| |. . | '/////////-._ | . . : .//////////////-._ : : ///////////////////-._ |. |////////////////////////-._ | . . :`'//////////////////////////-._ | . _.-\\\\``'//////////////////////////-._ | /\\\\\\\\..``'//////////////////////////". : . . /. \\\\\\\\\. .``'///////////////////// .'`. : / _ \\\\\\\\\. ``'//////////////// . .'`. | . / (@) \\\\\\\\\. . . ``'/////////// . '.'::|. {`)._ '| _` .\\\\\\\-`:|#| . . ``'////// '. .'.:| `-{_/`| ||::. \\'`.:|:.|#| |#| . ``'/ ' .##:'::: `-| ||||| |`.'::|::|#| |#| |#| . . '| . .|##|'.:| pils | ||||| : .'::|:.'#| |#| |#| |#| | |##|'::| | ||||| .| .'.:|::.'' '#| |#| |#| . : ' |##|'.:| {`\:|||| : .'::|:_.:. . '#| |#| | .|##|'::: `-{_/'|_ |_.-'/}_/'-._ '#| :. |##:'.:| `'{._('}_)-' `-}_}(-._ . . | ' '` .'::| `-' `-.} /-._ . : .'.'_:-'\ `-}_}(-._ | . _.-')_(-' `-/_)`-.:.-{ \{-' `-{_'_)-'' ^ Special Prayers About 2 weeks ago there was a special prayer meeting in our local Elim Church. The Pastor's wife started to pray and ask God to work in the town. she included the various ethnic groups one of which were the Moslems - "and Lord we pray for the Moslems of the town, who read and worship the teachings of the Karma Sutra". Yes, she said the Karma Sutra. Well, most of the young people were laughing so hard they cried. This was followed with a church announcement by the church secretary. The Secretary stood up to give the latest bulletin about the imminent birth of the pastor's new baby. She reported dutifully, "The doctors are going to seduce the pastors wife this morning." The pastor replied, "Well they are a bit late aren't they." Makes you wonder just what they are teaching in the Elim Church! -<>- _ (_) |_________________________________________ |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | |#########################################| | | |#########################################| | | |###################################JGS###| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | | >Memorial Day Special "Kingdom Business" 5/28/04 CyberDailyDevotion by Pastor Bill Scripture: Mark 3:2 „Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near‰ NLT World War II saw the use of German submarines throughout the Atlantic to stop the transport of men and material from America to England. The waters from America passing near Greenland and on to England soon earned the nickname Torpedo Alley. February 1943 was an icy cold time in Torpedo Alley and the waters were just above freezing. On the early morning of February 3 the USS Dorchester a converted luxury coastal liner into a troop carrier was 150 miles from Greenland with 900 sailors, soldiers and civilian workers. Silently the Dorchester and five other ships were making their way to Greenland. At 1:00 AM the German submarine U-223 fired three torpedoes. One torpedo hitting the Dorchester a mid-ship below the water line causing a tremendous explosion, fire and death. In less than 30 minutes the ship settled to the bottom of the Atlantic. 230 survivors were picked up by two escort ships making this the third largest loss of life in American Naval warfare during WWII. There were four Chaplains on the Dorchester that morning. All four Chaplains distinguished themselves as they stepped forward with the ship ablaze and the abandon ship horn sounding --- they stood their ground and began praying for the men --- THIS WAS KINGDOM BUSINESS --- many of those they were praying for would not make it. One witness, Private William B. Bednar, found himself floating in oil-smeared water surrounded by dead bodies and debris. "I could hear men crying, pleading, praying," Bednar recalls. "I could also hear the chaplains preaching courage. Their voices were the only thing that kept me going." The four chaplains were: Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic "Witnesses of that terrible night remember hearing the four men offer prayers for the dying and encouragement for those who would live," says Wyatt R. Fox, son of Reverend Fox. Another sailor, Petty Officer John J. Mahoney, tried to re-enter his cabin but was stopped by Rabbi Goode. Mahoney, concerned about the cold Arctic air, explained he had forgotten his gloves. "Never mind," Goode responded. "I have two pairs." The Rabbi then gave the petty officer his own gloves. In retrospect, Mahoney realized that Rabbi Goode was not conveniently carrying two pairs of gloves, and that the rabbi had decided not to leave the Dorchester. By this time, most of the men were topside, and the chaplains opened a storage locker and began distributing life jackets. It was then that Engineer Grady Clark witnessed an astonishing sight. When there were no more lifejackets in the storage room, the chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men. "It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven," said John Ladd, another survivor When last seen all four Chaplains were arm in arm as the ship sank and the sea rolled over them. The four Chaplains on the Dorchester --- their story --- their bravery and love for their fellowmen has survived in stain glass windows at the West Point Chapel, in the Pentagon and the Chapel at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. A posthumous Special Medal for Heroism, never before given and never to be given again, was authorized by Congress and awarded by the President Eisenhower in 1961. Prayer: Father, thank you for Memorial Day each year where we can show our appreciation for all those who gave their lives so freedom rings. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! Copyright (c) 2004 - Pastor Bill - Christian Cyber Ministries - All Rights Reserved =================================================================== ======;===========;() #######:::::: #######:::::: #######:::::: jgs #######:::::: ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# >-->WE SHALL KEEP THE FAITH Oh! You who sleep in Flanders fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew, We caught the torch you threw, And holding high we kept The faith with those who died. We cherish too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led. It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a luster to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders? fields. And now the torch and poppy red Wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught We've learned the lesson that ye taught In Flanders? fields. In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch, be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields =========================================================== ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >-->AROUND THE CORNER I HAVE A FRIEND (By Andrej Primozic, October 10, 1999) Around the corner I have a friend In this great city that has no end, Yet the days go by and weeks rush on, And before I know it, a year is gone. And I never see my old friend's face, For life is a swift and terrible race, He knows I like him just as well. As in the days when I rang his bell, And he rang mine.... We were much younger then, And now we are busy, tired men... Tired of playing a foolish game, Tire of trying to make a name.... "Tomorrow," I say, "I will call on Jim" "Just to show that I'm thinking of him." But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes, And distance between us grows and grows... Around the corner! - yet miles away, "Here's a telegram sir" - "Jim died today." And that's what we get and deserve in the end.... Around the corner, a vanished friend.... ---- If you love someone, tell them.... Remember always to say what you mean... Never be afraid to express yourself.... Take this opportunity to tell someone what they mean to you... *~* God's Best To You Always My Sweet Friends! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Pass this on as it should be of interesst to all who served. The study was carried out in Austrialia on their Vietnam Veterans. ABC Nat. Radio Health Report Autralian Vietnam Vets: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/HealthReportVV.mp3 VV ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DDARE to make it at home Yep. 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