Let Freedom Ring... :) 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 or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: -| -' | -' | __ ==wkm=====|'\/ () /| `O /` : /\ \ \ ` ` ____________________________________ ///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\ >DUNK NOT by Joseph B. Walker It was a slam dunk. At least, it should have been. Everyone in the arena knew it as the tall, graceful athlete glided toward the basket. There was no one within 20 feet of him, no obstacle to prevent him from scoring as he had so many times before. The only question was: what kind of dunk would it be? A thundering, two-handed power dunk, complete with the obligatory chin-up on the rim? Or a more aesthetically pleasing one-handed dunk, perhaps with a little windmill action, or some over-the-shoulder bravado? In any case, it was going to be two points for the good guys (read: My Team) at a critical juncture of a close, competitive NBA playoff game. And that was really all that mattered. Mentally, I added two points to our score as I watched the player -- My Player -- move into position for a shot that 99 percent of NBA players would slam home 99 percent of the time. And then the unimaginable happened. He missed. Torn between dunking and simply laying the ball in the basket, My Player clanged the ball off the rim. I couldn’t believe it. Never mind that he was running at full speed during a pressure-packed game, with thousands of opposing fans screaming at him to miss. As far as I was concerned there was no excuse for missing such an easy, automatic shot. "How do you miss that shot?" I moaned to my son-in-law, who was watching the game with me. "A professional does NOT miss that shot, not in a game like this!" For the rest of the game, I was all over My Player. I groaned at every missed shot, every blown defensive assignment, and every bad pass. There’s no question that he didn’t play a perfect game. In fact, he played poorly -- especially after the missed dunk. But in my mind, every mistake was magnified by the memory of the ball clanging off the rim. By the end of the game, I was prepared to blame the three-point loss on the slam dunk that should have been. "You’re a pro," I scolded him through the television screen as he walked to the locker room, his head bowed in defeat. "A pro doesn’t make mistakes like that!" Later that evening I was doing some filing when I paused to re-read a column from several weeks earlier. I winced when I came upon a typo -- at least, I’m pretty sure it was a typo. Did someone slip the word “tje” into the English vocabulary when I wasn’t looking? I didn’t think so. So I messed up. Instead of "the" I had written "tje." But it was an understandable error. After all, the letters “h” and “j” are right next to each other on the keyboard. Anyone could slip and hit the wrong key. And as for missing the error in the editing process... well, I had been in a great hurry that week. Besides, anyone reading the column would know that I meant to write "the," not "tje." And I was sure the editors to whom I send the column -- outstanding professionals one and all -- would catch the mistake and fix it before it went into publication. I had just about rationalized the mistake into oblivion when a local sportscaster began showing highlights from the game. Sure enough, the first clip he showed was My Player missing that easy basket. My stomach started churning all over again until I glanced down at the column in my hands. My eyes went directly to "tje." And somewhere in the back of my mind I heard a familiar, scolding voice: "You’re a pro. A pro doesn’t make mistakes like that!" Especially not on "the," which should have been... you know... a slam dunk. I guess it’s true –- we don’t really have a right to expect perfection in others until we’re prepared to expect it in ourselves. And not just professionally. This also holds true on the highway, in the grocery store, at the movies and most especially in the home. Unless we can offer ourselves as a perfect example, we ought to be willing to cut each other a lot of slack. In other words, judge not... even if you dunk not. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ To read more by Joseph B. Walker, go to http://www.josephbwalker.com =========================================================== _ (_) <___> | |______ | |* * * ) | | * * (_________ | |* * * |* *|####) | | * * *| * | (________________ | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | | * * *| * | | | | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | |~~~~~~| * | | | | |######|* *|####|##############| | | |~~~' | | | |######|########|##############| | | | | | | |######|########|##############| | |~~~~~~| | | | | |########|##############| | | '~~~~~~~~| | | | |##########JGS#| | | '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | >-->Let Freedom Ring - By EMB I started thinking of this song, well at least 'Let Freedom Ring' late last night as I heard the booms of our city's 4th of July fireworks celebration and it dawned on me. That is what the Left is doing. They are trying to silence our freedoms. I never really thought about what the author was saying - 'Let Freedom Ring'. I mean how does freedom ring? Freedom isn't a bell. The definition of 'freedom' is: - The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. - Absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government. - The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. The last two are easy to see. The left likes big government. They like rules and regulations and give the people free stuff so they get dependent on the government instead of using their own awesome God-given abilities to succeed. The Democrats like to enslave people by making them afraid for their livelihood. They want to subject the people to their will by controlling them under the guise that the government knows what is best for you better than you know yourself. So they try to do things like the Mayor of NY did with 'no large soda pop' for you. Trump is doing the opposite. He is deregulating and abolishing the oppressive laws Obama put in place. For every new law, he demands congress remove 4 old laws. This frees up the country so there isn't such a burden on everyone's shoulder. And of course, Trump's IRS and other departments does not do like Obama's did and penalize people for being of the opposite political party. That's unconstitutional and illegal here in the United States. Let's take the first one. The left is trying to restrain freedom at every school Campos or anywhere with riots, violence and force against any Conservative or Patriot speakers or rallies or prayer meetings. The left is also trying to restrain and hinder our freedoms by taking away our right to act, speak, or think as we want by intimidation of violence and force if we even wear a red cap or Trump shirt or want to wave our American flag in public. Even those who merely worked on Trump's campaign are now being subjected to the group of prosecutors under the unlimited power of the special council headed by Mueller and his merry band of 17 left leaning Trump hating Democrats. Mere Witness in Russia Probe Faces Financial Ruin https://tinyurl.com/y8jfrxvv Now leading Democrat Maxine Walters is calling for people to get in the face of anyone that works for us under President Trump and restrain their freedom of being in the public - at the gas station, restaurant or where ever they may be. Calling them liars that deserve to have their freedoms restrained and to be embarrassed for working for this President. https://tinyurl.com/y9agnmjg Who, by the way, has done America more good than any President in recent history has. This was after President Trump actually made an order to keep illegal families together at the border while Congress was just busy fighting about amnesty for all illegals. I find it irritating that Maxine talks about God. I'm thinking she must be talking little g as our big G God is not about restricting people's freedom by intimidating them so they don't feel safe to go out in public with their family like Sara Sanders now has to have a security detail with her at all times. God is all for freedom of choice. It is the devil who likes to ensnare and entrap and possess people. Even though Trump fixed this problem, people took to the streets in protests all over the US over the separation of illegal families at the border. Considering over 12.5 million illegals are in the US and that Soros and the left organize and pay protesters it is no wonder that these occurred. Any excuse to rally against Trump and America they'll be hot on it. They even want to destroy our history tearing down statues all around the US just like ISIS did when they invaded an area. Tear down what ever opposes their ideology. The left says American is evil because of our history of slavery and taking over the Native Americans (Indians). Which is not very factual. They call whites evil for owning slaves but if that were the case then Muslims, Arabs and Africans are evil too. White Christians were taken as slaves by Muslims over a span of 250 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_slave_trade See Also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_slavery Slavery has been a part of our world since civilization... 'Slavery enters human history with civilization.' https://tinyurl.com/2qhrkq Countries get invaded. That is normal all through history - are all invading countries evil? If so, practically the whole world is. Go find a country to live in that hasn't invaded another and used slaves. You'll be hard pressed to do so... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_invasions Now look at Greece with more invasions than most... https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-invaded-country-in-history The left just want to cause hate because they are the haters. They hate America. They do all they can to destroy America even if it means destroying those of color. For instance, anyone who is of color like Ben Carson, sisters Diamond and Silk, and Kanye West who support Trump are bullied, ridiculed and name called by the left. https://tinyurl.com/yafyrlho Remember, Obama came out of a church he attended regularly for some 20 years by the Preacher Rev. Wright - the G.D. America man - and Louis Farrakhan, a virulent, anti-Semitic racist - his church gave a lifetime achievement award to Louis Farrakhan - who many Democrats like Maxine and Obama view as a wise man. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_Wright_controversy This intimidation makes it clear that you will be subject to harassment and violence if you support Christianity, conservatives, republicans and Trump. So that is what this song is all about. I hadn't heard this song in years yet this must be why I thought of it with the resounding booms of the fireworks last night. They are trying to silence our very freedom! Our rights and way of life are at risk. ============;===========;() # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # jgs # # # # # # # >My Country Tis Of Thee (Let Freedom Ring) Let freedom ring Let freedom ring My country, 'tis of thee Sweet land of liberty Of thee I sing Land where my fathers died Land of the pilgrims' pride From every mountainside Let freedom ring My native country, thee Land of the noble free Thy name I love I love thy rocks and rills Thy woods and templed hills My heart with rapture thrills Like that above Let freedom ring Great God, our King From sea to shining sea Let freedom ring Let music swell the breeze And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song Let mortal tongues awake Let all that breathe partake Let rocks their silence break The sound prolong Let freedom ring Great God, our King From sea to shining sea Let freedom ring Our fathers' God, to thee Author of liberty To thee we sing Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light Protect us by thy might Great God, our King Let freedom ring Great God, our King From sea to shining sea Let freedom ring Let freedom ring Great God, our King From sea to shining sea Let freedom ring Oh Great God, our King Let freedom ring My Country Tis of Thee (lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ywDLpfBHg It is what we are fighting for. Yes, Freedom isn't free! Even we at the homeland must fight for it to keep it! Not with violence at our opponents, but with our Constitutional rights of free speech and voting for what we believe is right according to God's Word! We can not be lackadaisical during these highly controversial times. We must stand up with God for our family and for our country! How much does President Trump Love America? https://tinyurl.com/yalt99hk Poll: Economic Fireworks As Optimism Surge https://tinyurl.com/yda4lx9q .''. .''. *''* :_\/_: . :_\/_: . .:.*_\/_* : /\ : .'.:.'. .''.: /\ : _\(/_ ':'* /\ * : '..'. -=:o:=- :_\/_:'.:::. /)\*''* .|.* '.\'/.'_\(/_'.':'.' : /\ : ::::: '*_\/_* | | -= o =- /)\ ' * '..' ':::' * /\ * |'| .'/.\'. '._____ * __*..* | | : |. |' .---"| _* .-' '-. | | .--'| || | _| | .-'| _.| | || '-__ | | | || | |' | |. | || | | | | || | ___| '-' ' "" '-' '-.' '` |____ jgs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Take a look at the beauty of America as The Charlie Daniels Band sings their song “My Beautiful America” in this entertaining music video. The United States is a vast land and there are so many beautiful places to see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2AEkfjc6-o Hopefully, on July 4th and other national holidays, people will take the time to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America and be grateful for everything this country has to offer us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daqwGRdRIsk --- ...So it is fitting that that song plays at all Trump's rallies! Absolutely VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! Thank you LouiseAu! God Bless The USA! :) =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _..._ (,-'-,) / `"""` \ | /_ _\ | .--.\( _ )/.--. / .' '-...-' '. \ | / _/|\_ \ | / | -' \|/ '- | \ / \__..-'-..__/ \ ( / \ ) '-'._/ \_.'-' / \ ( ) jgs \ / `'-._____.-'` >So Much To Thank Him For When I look around and see the good things He does for me I know I'm unworthy of them all But His blessings He freely gives, I owe my life to Him I've got so much to thank Him for And I've got so much to thank Him for, so much to praise Him for, You see, now He's been so good to me And when I think of what He's done, and where He brought me from I've got so much to thank Him for And sometimes, while on this Way, I kneel, I stop and say, "Thank you, for all You've done for me" One day I'll reach sweet Heaven's shore, oh please, let me kneel once more I've got so much to thank Him for And I've got so much to thank Him for, so much to praise Him for, You see, now He's been so good to me And when I think of what He's done, and where He brought me from I've got so much to thank Him for And when I think of what He's done, and where He brought me from I've got so much to thank Him for Song Wav: "I've Got So Much To Thank Him For" by The Melody Trio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRUKw-mFVKk -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >"Pao, Senhor?" He couldn't have been over six years old. Dirty face, barefooted, torn T-shirt, matted hair. He wasn't too different from the other hundred thousand or so street orphans that roam Rio de Janeiro. I was walking to get a cup of coffee at a nearby cafe when he came up behind me. With my thoughts somewhere between the task I had just finished and the class I was about to teach, I scarcely felt the tap, tap, tap on my hand. I stopped and turned. Seeing no one, I continued on my way. I'd only taken a few steps, however, when I felt another insistent tap, tap, tap. This time I stopped and looked downward. There he stood. His eyes were whiter because of his grubby cheeks and coal-black hair. "Pao, senhor?" (Bread, sir?) Living in Brazil, one has daily opportunities to buy a candy bar or sandwich for these little outcasts. It's the least one can do. I told him to come with me and we entered the sidewalk cafe. "Coffee for me and something tasty for my little friend." The boy ran to the pastry counter and made his choice. Normally, these youngsters take the food and scamper back out into the street without a word. But this little fellow surprised me. The cafe consisted of a long bar: one end for pastries and the other for coffee. As the boy was making his choice, I went to the other end of the bar and began drinking my coffee. Just as I was getting my derailed train of thought back on track, I saw him again. He was standing in the cafe entrance, on tiptoe, bread in hand, looking in at the people. "What's he doing?" I thought. Then he saw me and scurried in my direction. He came and stood in front of me about eye-level with my belt buckle. The little Brazilian orphan looked up at the big American missionary, smiled a smile that would have stolen your heart and said, "Obrigado." (Thank you.) Then, nervously scratching the back of his ankle with his big toe, he added, "Muito obrigado." (Thank you very much.) All of a sudden, I had a crazy craving to buy him the whole restaurant. But before I could say anything, he turned and scampered out the door. As I write this, I'm still standing at the coffee bar, my coffee is cold, and I'm late for my class. But I still feel the sensation that I felt half an hour ago. And I'm pondering this question: If I am so moved by a street orphan who says thank you for a piece of bread, how much more is God moved when I pause to thank him ----really thank him----for saving my soul? --Max Lucado -<>- ( (_) ### . (#c __\|/__ #\ wWWWw \ \-. (/. .\) /\ /`\/\ /\ |\/ \_) (_| `\.' ; ; `' ;`\ `\; ; . ;/\ `\; ; ;| \ ; .' ' ; / |_.' ; | /) ( ''._;/` | ' . ; |.-' .:) | | ( .' : | |,- .:: | | ,-' .;| jgs_/___,_.:_\_ [I_I_I_I_I_I_] | __________ | | || | | || | _| ||_|__|_|| |_ /=--------------=\ / \ | | >Freedom is Not Free Why do we call it freedom When freedom is not free. The cost was blood and sweat And tears that bought our liberty. Look beyond our nation's banner Waving proudly in the breeze Across the plains and mountains Thru the valleys, o'er the seas. And see a people of variety Living side by side In God we trust, our motto Just laws our leaders' guide. Yet some still take for granted They neglect to understand How great a sacrifice was made To dwell in this free land. For many left their loved ones Their friends, their families Standing true to oaths once taken To defend our liberties. Holding fast they fought for freedom Both at home and then abroad Spilling blood upon the waters O'er the ground on which they trod. Wounded from the many battles In mire and blood their bodies lay The dead with mouths wide open Forming words they'd never say. Seeing eyes no longer seeing Hearing ears no longer hear Hearts once beating stilled and quiet Loved ones close no longer near. And though their hopes and dreams were shattered Let their deaths not be in vain We must keep forever burning Freedom's torch, the victor's flame. For they died for you, America Your freedom was not free For t'was their blood and sweat and tears That bought your liberty. So when you speak again of freedom May your hearts be filled with pride And your gratitude for those Who for your freedom fought and died. - Cheryl Berger -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Freedom Isn't Free http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/freedom.html Chevy: American Pride http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/chevypride.html Military WWII Posters http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/militarywwii.html Bleed American http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bleed.html Building Advertising Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/buildingads.html Wall Mural Art 2!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wallart2.html Expensive Hotels!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ehotels.html Garage Door Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/garageart.html Strange Buildings!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/buildings.html Big Baby Big Dogs http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bigdogs.html Here's Your Frog http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/frog.html New Office Policy http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/office.html Picture This http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/picturethis.html Tech Horror Stories http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tech.html Worms! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worms.html You are The ONLY YOU God Has http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html Eagle Sculpture Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eagleart.html Mexican Lion http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lion.html -<>- Be sure to watch this with Hannity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-gApadvoH4 Or the full show here: Life, Liberty & Levin 7/1/18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luxa9lkwlcM WhiteHouseNews: https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Latest From RightAlerts: http://rightalerts.com Latest At FoxNews: http://www.foxnews.com/ Latest From MRC News: https://tinyurl.com/ya6uruck Latest From TrueDailyNews: http://truedaily.news/category/news/ Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Move America Forward http://www.moveamericaforward.org/ -<>- Revisiting... >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Experience a marvelous birds-eye view of some of the most beautiful scenery in America. 'Barnstorming' over the Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls, Mt Rushmore, the Mississippi River, Monument Valley and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Directed by Super 78. Music by Yessian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcuDdPo0WZk This link plays the song that was Number #1 on the day you were born. And if there's a video available with the artist, it will play it too. http://playback.fm/birthday-song Every night of Kentucky's All State Choir conference, all the singers come out of their rooms at the Hyatt Hotel in Louisville. What happens next is indescribable, unbelievable and heartbreakingly beautiful. I wish I could be right in the middle of that lobby! https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OAEmpdSHC10 Here's a simple but beautiful concept: Set up a slow-motion camera to watch puppies racing for their dinner. Then make a time-lapse video of them growing into adults. The results are the most adorable video you'll see all day! Watch and bask in the cuteness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=niLxhiywXqw When a magician is right in front of you, he or she can interact with you, can misdirect your attention and read you for cues. But how can an illusionist fool you over YouTube, when you can pause and rewind, but you can't respond? Watch this video to see if you can figure out how this magician guesses your card right every time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfT8AJbo8C4&feature=player_embedded Until I watched this video it never occurred to me that neon signs have essentially disappeared. I remember many cars from those years that no longer are built: Packard, Studebaker, Hudson, Nash, DeSoto, Plymouth, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Kaiser, Frazer and Edsel. This list is incomplete but it does give an idea of how many things have changed since the 1930s and 1940s. The Michael Dingman Collection - NEON SIGNS AND OLD FORDS. Interesting and sad too when you consider people like this gentleman are regrettably becoming a thing of the past. Dingman must have had a lot money to assemble his collection. He put his Ford and Neon Sign Collection up for auction in June 2013. This video of him recounts the manner in which his collection occurred and pictures of all. Click here... https://www.youtube.com/embed/6IYISQ6DVwk --- ...Most interesting! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) These two brothers are sandwich shop workers and can really harmonize. Richard and Adam singing 'The Impossible Dream' - Week 2 Auditions | Britain's Got Talent 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTmhDyxBybU Some of the old westerns you may have forgotten: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gA0gGK6Mew Some short run 60’s shows you may remember: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqx-D0440pA Some 60’s commercials: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yWTsFVkrFc --- ...Sweet! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend PatDeE :) WWII Photos http://tinyurl.com/9btkxco --- ...Amazing History! Thanks PatDeE! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== o /\ /::\ /::::\ ,a_a /\::::/\ {/ ''\_ /\ \::/\ \ {\ ,_oo) /\ \ \/\ \ \ {/ (_^____/ \ \ \ \ \ \ .=. {/ \___)))*) \ \ \ \ \/ (.=.`\ {/ /=; ~/ \ \ \ \/ \ `\{/( \/\ / \ \ \/ \ `. `\ ) ) \ \/ jgs \ // /_/_ \/ '==''---)))) >Change of Outlook Story Editor: By Jennifer Hoeneise Joyce Schowalter Michigan, USA I participated in an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) in 2001 through Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In ASB, participants travel someplace during spring break to do volunteer work. Education is a primary focus of ASB; before break we learn about the issue we will volunteer with. I spent that spring break in Atlanta working with AIDS patients. My group helped Project Open Hand prepare and deliver meals to homebound patients. We also helped one day in a daycare for children affected by the virus. (Either they had AIDS, or their caregiver did, or both.) On the third day, Wednesday, three of my group members and I piled into the van to deliver coolers of food. Several meal recipients lived in high rises and some had specific instructions for delivery: leave food in cooler next to door, knock loudly, and similar. One client had no cooler outside because someone had been stealing his food. There was a note next to his name to leave the food with his neighbor. "He must have just stepped out because I just saw him," the neighbor told us. We wanted to leave a note on his door so he would know his food was waiting next door, but we lacked pen and paper. We went down to the building lobby to find what we needed. We had just finished writing the note and borrowing a piece of tape when I heard a voice behind me ask "Have you already been upstairs?" I turned and saw a frail-looking black man, very thin with hollow cheeks. He gestured to our large red cooler bags. "Are you Paul?" one of my friends asked. "Yes, that's me," he answered. We told him we left the food with his neighbor. He thanked us and then said, "Don't forget to smile, your smiles make the world a better place." Even now I feel a shiver run down my spine and tears well up in my eyes at the thought of Paul. You could tell by looking at his body that he was sick, but when you looked at his face you saw no fear, anger or pain. There was a wonderful shine in his eyes and a broad smile on his face. Paul was sick, sick enough that he needed to have his food prepared and delivered to him, but he didn't let that get him down. I went down to Atlanta to help people, but I never expected one of them to help me. Now whenever I face a tough situation I think of Paul and his undefeatable attitude. If he can look death in the eye and smile -- then surely I can get through less difficult situations. I knew that my ASB experience was going to change my outlook on life, but I am surprised that I can sum it all up in one sentence. Don't forget to smile, your smiles make the world a better place. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Laugh&Lift: "Our joy will be complete if we remain in his love--for his love is personal, intimate, real, living, delicate, faithful love." - Mother Teresa The Lift __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >Thirty-Five Years in the Light: Reflections on My Conversion (by Chuck Colson, August 12, 2008) A lot of people have asked me what I think about when I remember back to that hot, humid August night in 1973 when Tom Phillips, then the president of the Raytheon Company, witnessed to me in his home. I left his house that night shaken by the words he had read from C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity about pride. It felt as if Lewis were writing about me, former Marine captain, Special Counsel to the President of the United States, now in the midst of the Watergate scandal. I had an overwhelming sense that I was unclean. After talking to Tom, I found that when I got to the automobile to drive away, I couldn't. I was crying too hard - and I was not one to ever cry. I spent an hour calling out to God. I did not even know the right words. I simply knew that I wanted Him. And I knew for certain that the God who created the universe heard my cry. From the next morning to this day, I have never looked back. I can honestly say that the worst day of the last 35 years has been better than the best days of the 41 years that preceded it. That's a pretty bold statement, given my time in prison, three major surgeries, and two kids with cancer at the same time, but it is absolutely true. That's because, for the last 35 years - whether in pain, suffering, joy, or jubilation, it makes no difference - I have known there was a purpose. I have known that I belong to Christ and that I am here on earth to advance His Kingdom. Would I have ever known that if Tom had not witnessed to me? The reason I visited Tom that fateful night was that I was coming back to his company as counsel. But before he met with me, Tom prayed about how he should treat me. After all, here was his lawyer, mixed up in the Watergate affair. Tom later told me that God spoke to him: "Tell Chuck Colson about me, because he needs a friend." God was certainly right! I was as desperate and lonely as a man could be. But get this: Never before in Tom Phillips's life had God told him to share the Gospel. Never before had he done so. But in total obedience, Tom followed God's lead, and the result? A ministry that now spreads all around the world to 114 countries, tens of thousands of men and women coming out of prison being redeemed by the blood of Christ, and then finding their place in community; and the whole Church being sensitized to the needs of the least of these in our midst. I also wonder what might have happened to me, personally, had I not encountered the living God that night or some other time. I do not really think I would be alive today. Before my conversion I drank, partied, and smoked heavily. I do not think I would be seeing my 77th birthday, which I will this October. And if I managed somehow to survive the high-powered party life in Washington among the rich, famous, and powerful, I would have been so miserable I don't think I could have lived with myself. If I did not know for sure that the God who created us sent His Son to die on a cross that my sins might be forgiven, I would have long ago suffocated in the stench of my own sin. So how do you celebrate 35 years as a Christian? By recommitting yourself to use every available moment, every ounce of energy, in service of the King. For what He has done for me, how could I ever do less? ---- So how do we celebrate our life as a Christian? By recommitting ourselves to use every available moment, every ounce of energy, in service of the King. For what He has done for us, how could we ever do less? -<>- __ _.-' \ (-' \ \ \ \ \ \ _.-' \ \' \ \ \ \ .-.\_ \ .( )_ _ _\( `-..-' )`-.\\ /__'`-._.--' .' )/ VK \ \- _ .-' .' `---`/.\\_.-' \_// >Mowing God's Lawn (by Bruce Foggerty) I pushed my little plastic mower around the yard of my universe trying to help God mow. God didn't need my help, but he let me tag along anyway and let me feel important. Back and forth I labored in neat little rows wasting the years, oblivious to the absence of any real motor or cutting blade in my toy machine. I made rumbling sounds to heighten the sense of my importance and occasionally emptied my press clippings bag of imaginary accomplishments. Lawn finished, I attacked the hard edges of my life with my imaginary toy weed eater, hacking at perceived problems that had sprouted on my landscape. And, the Great I AM, softly chuckled, when I finally ceased struggling, as at last I realized he had long ago installed astro-turf. (Galatians 2:21, Galatians 4:7, Galatians 4:27) -<>- . _ . .__ . . __,--' (_) ' /__\ __,--' ' . ' . '| o|' [IIII]`--.__ | | `--.__ | :| `--.__ | | `--.__ ._,,.-,.__.'__`.___.,.,.-..,_.,.,.,-._..`--..-.,._.,,._,-,..,._..,.,_,,. unknown >A Thought: There are three kinds of givers -- the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb. To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver are you? 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 ========================================================== ___ .dSSSS$$pp.. .dSSSS$$$$$$$$; .dSSSS$$$$$$$$$$$ :SSP^" T$$$$$$$$$$b_ dSSP $$$S$$$$$$$b` dSS$;_. .:$$$SS$$$$$$b dSS$$$_ ; __."^TSS$$$$$b dSS$$P;" ""' :lSS$$$$$b :SS$$$ ; ::SS$$$$$$b_. SSS$$$ : ` ;:SS$$$$$$$bp. :SS$$$$b \ -=- .-" SSS$$$$$$$$$$b SSS$$$$$b.`. / d$SS$$$$$$$$$$$b :SS$$$$$$$; ""T :$$$SS$$$$$$$$P^^t--' SSS$$$S$$$ : $$$$$SS$$$$$$$ : :SS$$$SS$; __; _$$$$$$SS$$$$$$ : SSS$SS l;: ; : $$$$SS$$$$$; ; :SS$SS $;: ; : $$$SS$$$$$$; /; TSSSS :$ \ ; ; :$S$$$$$$$$.-"/ `SP; :; ;: ; T$$$$$$$$; /; : ; ; : `.; /)T$$$$$P .' : ; : : ; .'/ :$$$P'.' .'\ ; \ :; / /$P^".' .-" ; : ;: .' .-" / \ `.____/_'.___:--""\ --' .' ) .-" .' "-._ "-._ ..--"")\ :-' : "-. "-._ ---""" /; ; : : \ "-._....____; : : \ :\ `. \ ; ; \ \\ \ \ ; : : `. \\ \ \ : ; ; ;"-t\ `. \ : : : : `; \ ; ; ; ; : \ / : : / ; \-..__ .'; : ; / : ; """T ; : / / ; \ : ; ; ;/ : : \ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; : ; ; / : : : ; ; ; / ; :; : ; ; / : :: ; ; ;_ `""--..__; :_; __ ;____;.-;'; ;.__.: :..t-"" j" ; ; : ; ; ;--"" \ [bug] ; ; ; : ; : \ ; ; : \ ; ; ;. ; ; \ \ ; : / ; ; ; \ \ ; : ; ; ; \ `-. ; ; .' ; ; \ \ ;___/ /______;.-' \ ---; / / ;______: .-' / '-------' >-->If one day by Ntsiab Si Vaj If one day my tears are running because I'm so hurt inside I know you will be there and I wouldn't have to hide. If one day I see beauty that no one cares to see I know you will be there to cherish it with me. If one day I grow old and nothing seems worth while I know you will be there to share with me your smile If one day my eyes give up and I couldn't see the stars at night I know you will be there to share with me your sight. Because God loves me so much He sent someone true He knows deeply of friendship and He saw it in you. (¯`v´¯) `*.¸.*´ ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. Huggums!... :) Shangy! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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