Let Us Pray! .... :) 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 ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News: >Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press... This one comes from a forward from our friend Sandi. It was one of those I knew right away that I would be doing a page on next. ___ ~ _>/O O\<_ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ( o o ) ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ _/ \_ (__/( )\__) _/ \_ (__/'.'\__) Johan de Koning The Hippo And Tortoise http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hippo.html While checking the above out to make sure it was true, I came across the update for it. So touching that I actually did both pages at the same time! .-''''-. _ (' ' '0)-/) '..____..: \._ \u u ( '-..------._ | / : '. '--. .nn_nn/ ( : ' '\ ( '' '' / ; . \ ''----' "\ : : '. .'/ '. / / '. /_| ) .\| | /\ . ' '--.__| '--._ , / /'-, .' / | _.' snd (____\ / \ \ '-'-'-' The Hippo And Tortoise 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hippo2.html --- ...Absolutely adorable! Thank You Sandi! -<>- >-->Comments From Our Friend Carol :) [POLITICS] >IE Obama's Muslim Meeting at the White House Carol said she was having trouble with her WebTV displaying this web page. So for all of you with simular problems, here is theinside page of this: http://islamoncapitolhill.com/Home_Page.html Along with some links for WebTV users... WebTV Hints http://www.graphics-by-celeste.com/webtv.html Rebirth of WebTV http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the_rebirth_of_web_tv.php Thank You Carol for bringing this to my attention! If You Have helpful WebTV hints or sites, please share them with us! Thanks! -<>- >Muslim Meeting at the White House: This 9/25 prayer rally of Muslims got me so upset, that I sent off emails to 5 active conservatists groups. I've only heard back from one of them so far. AFA which is connected to OneNewsNow wrote me: Yep, we’re aware of this and will have stories on it late this week and into next week. But yes, there will be a Muslim day next week at the Capitol. Jody Brown Editor-in-chief, OneNewsNow.com A service of the American Family News Network And Here Is Their Story: Will Obama greet Muslims on Capitol Hill? Gary Bauer says he wonders whether President Barack Obama -- who essentially spurned Christians onn the National Day of Prayer -- will give a special greeting to a Muslim gathering scheduled later this month on Capitol Hill. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=684692 -<>- ,-"-. ,' .----. _________ `. ,' ) (@)__))___) |`-.-'| # \\ `---' ^ hjw >Our Friend Viv shares why the above is upsetting: Very interesting... the University is standing by their professor and not bowing down to special interest groups! http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/wichman.asp Professor Wichman E-mail Claim: A Michigan professor sent an e-mail telling Muslim students to leave the country. Status: True. The story begins at Michigan State University with a mechanical engineering professor named Indrek Wichman. Wichman sent an e-mail to the Muslim Student's Association. The e-mail was in response to the students' protest of the Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist. The group had complained the cartoons were 'hate speech' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Enter Professor Wichman. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In his e-mail, he said the following: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Moslem Association, As a professor of Mechanical Engineering here at MSU, I intend to protest your protest. I am offended, not by cartoons, but by more mundane things like beheadings of civilians, cowardly attacks on public buildings, suicide murders, murders of Catholic priests (the latest in Turkey), burnings of Christian churches, the continued persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt, the imposition of Sharia law on non-Muslims, the rapes of Scandinavian girls and women (called 'whores' in your culture), the murder of film directors in Holland, and the rioting and looting in Paris, France .. This is what offends me, a soft-spoken person and academic, and many, many of my colleagues. I counsel you dissatisfied, aggressive, brutal, and uncivilized slave-trading Moslems to be very aware of this as you proceed with your infantile 'protests.' If you do not like the values of the West - see the 1st Amendment - you are free to leave. I hope for God''s sake that most of you choose that option . Please return to your ancestral homelands and build them up yourselves instead of troubling Americans. Cordially, I. S. Wichman Professor of Mechanical Engineering ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As you can imagine, the Muslim group at the university didn't like this too well. They're demanding that Wichman be reprimanded and the university impose mandatory diversity training for faculty and mandate a seminar on hate and discrimination for all freshmen. Now, the local chapter of CAIR has jumped into the fray. CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, apparently doesn't believe that the good professor had the right to express his opinion. ~~~~~~~ For its part, the university is standing its ground in support of Professor Wichman, saying the e-mail was private, and they don't intend to publicly condemn his remarks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Send this to your friends, and ask them to do the same. Tell them to keep passing it around until the whole country gets it. We are in a war. This political correctness is getting old and killing us. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you agree with this, please send it to all your friends. "Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right, from the frame of their nature, to knowledge, as their great Creator, who does nothing in vain, has given them understandings, and a desire to know; but besides this, they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge; I mean, of the characters and conduct of their rulers." -- John Adams, Dissertation on the Canonn and Feudal Law, 1756 --- ...Thank You Viv! Granted this is old 2005 news And it is based on Muslim religion extremists - however, I think we have had enough especially when they demand more respect for their religion then is given to our Lord Jesus Christ. ============================================================== '-. '-. _____ .-._ | '. : .. | : '-._+ | .-' / \ .'i--i / \ .-'_/____\___ .-' : fsc: >The Busiest Day Story Editor: by Michelle Rizley Joyce Schowalter Texas, USA The shock from eight days ago, September 11th, 2001 is beginning to wear off. I am an information specialist operator for cell phone users. I heard about the first plane crash as I was dropping my son off at school. As I drove to work the radio DJ came on to say *two* 747's had hit the World Trade Center. My heart stopped. My company has an office in that building. I called work and told my supervisor. She turned on the TV, then said, "Bye, gotta go!" I got to work as the third plane hit the Pentagon. Our employees answering phones had no idea what was happening. One girl thought it was a prank when a customer called and was screaming that the tower had been hit. We quickly ran to inform every operator on the floor. It was mass panic on the other end of the line for us. Two of our major clients are New York City and Washington DC. We were halfway across the country and completely helpless. Then evacuations of all government offices began nationwide. Two more of our clients are Dallas and Chicago, and the World Trade Centers in those cities were being evacuated. People were scared and panicking -- with good reason. They called us because they needed numbers for schools, spouses' jobs, etc. Then calls began from the rest of the nation, people trying to see if their families were OK. Phones were down in NYC -- yet we couldn't tell people that the government offices for NYC were in the WTC. We had to send them somewhere else. I was chosen to watch TV and write appropriate contact numbers down. I said "No!" Instead I called the local TV station and talked to a gal in the newsroom. We developed a relationship immediately and kept each other informed throughout the day. Fire fighters, police officers, and Emergency Services personnel called from all over, wanting to go to DC or NYC to help. I was able to give them phone numbers for the proper people to talk to. Then the second wave of calls came in: people seeking blood banks, continuous back-to-back calls. On September 11th, 2001, over 1500 pints of blood were collected in the city of San Antonio alone. Everyone felt inspired to give what they could. By September 19th, 2001, the calls had not stopped. People still wanted to know what they could do, still wanted to know what was going on. The most requested numbers were for the Red Cross, Salvation Army, churches, flag stores, flower shops, and last but not least, military recruiters. To each and every one of you who called, to you who answered the phones: Thank You! The co-operation, dedication and desire to serve others I witnessed were incredible -- both from those who called, and those who answered the phones. =======HeroicStories======== >-->From Our Friend Jo Ann :) . | . \ | / `. \ ' / .' `. .-*""*-. .' "*-._ /.*" "*.\ _.-*" : ; ____ """"': .. ; _.-*" \ `.__.' / "*-._ .' `-.__.-' `. bug .' / . \ `. / | \ ' | ` I'd like to wish you a happy day. A happy day is letting the breeze blow through your hair. A happy day is sunshine warming your skin. A happy day is eating your favorite meal. A happy day is having personal time to yourself. A happy day is walking away from the stresses of life. A happy day is appreciating having your health. A happy day is reflecting on all the special people who are there for you. A happy day is appreciating that you were given this day to enjoy, so make the best of it. I hope you have a happy day! --- ...Awww, Thank You Jo Ann! -<>- \\\\, / \\ '<' ) \- / _)_(_ .'\___/'. /.-.___.-.\ [_________] | | ( | , | (\/) ) _\)_ | -|- | <_@__> _(/_ || | | | (/\)(\/) || || | | (\/) <_@_> || || | | <_@_>'(/\) || || | | (/\|/|-. || || .---------. _|_|_ || ||_,-'---------'-,__ |WWWWW| ___jgs|_|____________________|_\_____/__ >The Heart "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..." "You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted. The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, to see how much damage has been done..." "but when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there," said the boy. The surgeon looked to the parents, who Sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up, and I'll plan what to do next." "But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart." The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well." "You'll find Jesus there too.. He lives there." The surgeon left. The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis: here he paused, "death within one year." He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud. "Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death.. Why?" The Lord answered and said, "The boy, my lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow.." The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?" The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for He has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb." The surgeon wept... The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?" "Yes," said the surgeon. "What did you find?" asked the boy. "I found Jesus there," said the surgeon. --Author Unknown --- ...Thank Jo Ann! This is a sweet and sad one all at the same time. I don't agree with it. I think God heals and does not kill and I believe God's Word when Jesus Christ said... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' 'I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.' - John10:10b The more abundant life certainly doesn't include a lamb being added to the flock in heaven. Else we would all commit suicide so we could all be in God's heavenly flock now. That is probably what satan would like and why we see so many of these explanations of sickness and disease and death. God who is the creator of this whole entire universe doesn't need to create a little boy just so He can kill that same boy early just so that he can add to His numbers in heaven. That is not logical. And if it is not logical it of course is not of God because as you know, God's ways are perfect and true and full of life and vitality. And in a nut shell... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' "He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err" - Mark 12:27 , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' See Biblical Teachings: Third Heaven And Earth http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/thirdheavenandearth.html Prosperity And Health http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/prosperityhealth.html Healing Part 1 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/healing1.html Healing Part 2 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/healing2.html Haunting http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/haunting.html On Death - Topics: http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=15 ========================================================== >-->From HeartWarmers: . \ | / _\|/_ .' ' ' '. ___ _.|.--.--.|.___.--'___`-. .'.'|| | ||`----'"` ``'` .'.' ||()|()|| .___..-'.' / \ `----'"` / .-. \ (.'.(___).'.) `.__.-.__.' jgs |_| |_| `.`-'.' `"` >HITTING THE TOP by James Colasanti Jr. I have always had a passionate hatred for gym class. Whether it was the arm-pit stained T-shirts, the navy-blue gym shorts, or the sneakers with an odor that would put Pepe Le Peu to shame, I couldn't say, but I know I hated it. The twice-weekly ordeal by torture was devised to separate those who can from those who would like to but who could not. Every third period on Mondays and Wednesdays I would hesitantly enter the crowded locker room. The sweat-stained air would slap me in the face as the door swung open and I entered the row upon row of military-green metal lockers. There I would change into my unfashionable gym attire causing the fashion editors of GQ Magazine to go into coronary arrest. After lacing up my high-top sneakers I would go out into the "big room" facing the horrors of the class to come. But in actuality every week was the same because it always began the identical way with my worse nightmare there before me. In truth, my arch nemeses were the thick unknotted ropes that hung from the two-story ceiling, reaching all the way to Heaven for some, but not for me. Not only were they a blockade, but for me they were like an excursion to Hell. At the beginning of each class we were instructed by the coach to climb to the top, hit the rafter, and yell out our name. It never happened for me. Never! Not even in my wildest dreams. My arms would have no part in lifting me up from the floor on that imposing sisal. Then I would have to endure the mocking jeers of my fellow gymnasts for failing to climb the two-story obstacle. And every week was the same. I just wasn't strong enough to do it! Until one day, when everything changed... The tables were turned by the good intentions of one of my fellow classmates. The saints in Heaven would have been proud. Jimmy was an all-city bowler. His father owned the local bowling alley and Jimmy had bowled many a 300-game. We had both been casual acquaintances but both of us hung around in different circles. He, however, had a reputation as being an all-around nice guy. He came up to me where I had shied away on the sidelines trying to become the invisible man. "Jimmy," he began, (my name was Jimmy,too), "How about I show you how to climb those ropes with ease?" "Yes," I said, "Sure, I'd love it but my arms just aren't strong enough." In my mind I could hear Charles Atlas rolling over in his grave except at that time he wasn't even dead yet. "Never you mind," he said, "I'm gonna show you how and you won't even be using your arms, except to guide you up the rope." I looked at him bewildered -- fully knowing that his intent was sincere but not understanding how he would manage to get me up one of those ropes. He started his instructions by simply saying, "I want you to wrap the rope around the back of your left leg, where your thigh is, and then bring it around your calf to the front and then over the instep of your foot." No one had ever taken the time to show me or to help me. It was always just do it or fail trying. "You will need to pull yourself up off of the floor first while you do this and keep the rope loosely wrapped around your leg. Now I want you to step hard on the rope where it meets your instep and at the same time pull yourself up like you are walking up a flight of stairs. Let the rope slide down as you go up -- keeping it in place -- and step hard on it again -- and pulll yourself up. Just do this exactly as I have told you and before you know it, you'll be at the top." My skepticism with Jimmy's plan disappeared as I really wanted to make this work. Not only for me but to show everyone in the class that if you put your mind to something it really can be done. After everyone else had climbed up and down, I went over to one of the ropes. The coach was about to make a snide remark but thought better of it and remained silent. I pulled myself up a few feet off of the floor and let the rope wind loosely around my left leg. Still fearful, I stepped hard on the rope and eased myself up. And ease it was! As Jimmy had said it was like climbing a flight of stairs. Step and ease up, step and ease up, little by little I went, not wanting to get in a hurry and not make it. The sweaty crowd watched in awe unable to comprehend what they were seeing. Then words of encouragement spewed forth from the onlookers -- now all were hoping that I would make it to the top. "Go on -- keep going," came the shouts. "You can make it -- come on." "Just a little more..." I can remember reaching and hitting the ceiling rafter so hard that it hurt my hand. The sound that emanated from that "hit" echoed throughout the gymnasium -- followed by the uproarious cheers of my fellow classmates. A Heavenly chorus of bells must have also rung out as well. And then I yelled out, "Jimmy Colasanti has made it to the top!" And I finally had. It was one of those momentous high school happenings that has remained in my thoughts and feelings to this day -- an accomplishment to remember. -- James Colasanti Jr. ______________________________________________ James is a lead clerk with Barnes & Noble Booksellers. A past president of the Animal Rescue & Foster Program of Greensboro, NC., James shares his home with a housemate and 11 dogs. His stories have appeared in New York Dog Magazine, Dog & Kennel Magazine, Best Friends Magazine, Pasta Magazine, Guilford Record, News/Record, and also in the archives at Petwarmers. ============================================================ >-->From InspiredBuffalo: .---------. _ |:: [-=-] | | | |_________| |~| |_| ,;;;;, I\ ,__ ,;;;, __, ///\\\\\ I |{ / . . \ } / " \\|| I | ) ( _ ) ( \_= _/// I |{___'-. .-'___}\___ )_\ I ||~/,'~~~~~,\~~|'---(( \ I \ // \\ | \ \ \ I \/ // | | /-/ I (/ (/ | |/||\ I | | | | I | | |____/ I :-----_o_-----: || | I | /~~|===|~~\ | (( | jgs I || |===| || ||_/ /^\ "~ '^^^' "" ((__| >A Lesson for a Lifetime By Janet Seever When I arrived at 6 a.m. in the large hospital kitchen, Rose was already checking name tags on the trays against the patient roster. Stainless steel shelves held rows of breakfast trays which we would soon be serving. "Hi, I'm Janet." I tried to sound cheerful, although I already knew Rose's reputation for being impossible to work with. "I'm scheduled to work with you this week." Rose, a middle-aged woman with graying hair, stopped what she was doing and peered over her reading glasses. I could tell from her expression she wasn't pleased to see a student worker. "What do you want me to do? Start the coffee?" Rose sullenly nodded and went back to checking name tags. I filled the 40-cup pot with cold water and began making the coffee when Rose gruffly snapped, "That's not the way to make coffee." She stepped in and took over. "I was just doing it the way our supervisor showed us to do it," I said in astonishment. "The patients like the coffee better the way I do it," she replied curtly. Nothing I did pleased her. All morning her eagle eyes missed nothing and her sharp words stung. She literally trailed me around the kitchen. Later, after breakfast had been served and the dishes had been washed, I set up my share of trays for the next meal. Then I busied myself cleaning the sink. Certainly Rose couldn't criticize the way I did that. When I turned around, there stood Rose, rearranging all of the trays I had just set up! Totally exhausted, I trudged the six blocks home from the University of Minnesota Hospital late that June afternoon. As a third year university student working my way through school, I had never before encountered anyone like Rose. Fighting back tears, I wrestled with my dilemma alone in my room. "Lord, what do you want me to do? I can't take much more of Rose." I turned the possibilities over in my mind. Should I see if my supervisor would switch me to work with someone else? Scheduling was fairly flexible. On the other hand, I didn't want to be a quitter. I knew my older co- workers were watching to see if my actions matched my words. The answer to my prayer caught me completely by surprise -- I needed to love Rose. Love her? No way! Tolerate, yes, but loving her was impossible. "Lord, I can't love Rose. You'll have to do it through me." Working with Rose the next morning, I ignored the barbs thrown in my direction and did things Rose's way as much as possible to avoid friction. As I worked, I silently began to surround Rose with a warm blanket of prayers. "Lord, help me love Rose. Lord, bless Rose." Over the next few days an amazing thing began to happen. As I prayed for this irritating woman, my focus shifted from what she was doing to me, and I started seeing Rose as the hurting person she was. The icy tension began to melt away. Throughout the rest of the summer, we had numerous opportunities to work together. Each time she seemed genuinely happy to see me. As I worked with this lonely woman, I listened to her--something no one else had done. I learned that she was burdened by elderly parents who needed her care, her own health problems, and an alcoholic husband she was thinking of leaving. The days slipped by quickly as I finished the last several weeks of my summer job. Leaves were starting to turn yellow and red, and there was a cool, crispness in the air. I soon would be returning as a full- time university student. One day, while I was working alone in one of the hospital kitchens, Rose entered the room. Instead of her blue uniform, she was wearing street clothes. I looked at her in surprise. "Aren't you working today?" "I got me another job and won't be working here no more," she said as she walked over and gave me a quick hug. "I just came to say good- bye." Then she turned abruptly and walked out the door. Although I never saw Rose again, I still remember her vividly. That summer I learned a lesson I've never forgotten. The world is full of people like Rose--irritating, demanding, unlovable--yet hurting inside. I've found that love is the best way to turn an enemy into a friend. © 2002 Janet Seever , the mother of two adult children, lives with her husband in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she is a writer for Word Alive magazine. Her articles have previously appeared in a variety publications and Web sites, including HeartTouchers. A short story of hers was published last year in The Essence Collection: Celebrating the Season. "A Lesson for a Lifetime" took place in 1966. Thought For The Day: "One-half the trouble of this life can traced to saying yes too quick, and not saying no soon enough." -<>- | |/ | ,,,,, ,+ /| / \ () | || \ C '\ /|_() || ) _| .'___/,,,// || .'=. (____E.' / / \ || | \)`-\ _F_.' \ c `\ || \ \ !'__/ ) _| || \ \,' / /`._( || |`. .' / \ \ || \ `-' | .-. | | \ E || >====[] | \ |__| | O OE || / |_/ | |___)| `.__j____ \|E || \_ | || __`.________ `. |""|\| \ |\ ||| \///_ _|__|_| \ __ | \ ||`""\\""""//"' \`. \ | |[__]| \ ||.---\\__//---. | | \____| ||__|/ / \|____________|\ |/ | | | / || || /| | | -----| |/------------||-||-/`| |----------| /| | || ||/`-|___| | /\| | || \\._ [____] h| /`.|____| || \\ `-/ '`._ j| `=.\____/ || \\__`-.____) w| ) '`--. _.-||-._ `""""""" | `='====' ,-' ' ` `-. | `-.________.-' | >The Barber Shop A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things and various subjects. Suddenly, they touched the subject of God. The barber said: "Look man, I don't believe that God exists as you say so." "Why do you say that?" - asked the client. Well, it's so easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Oh, tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be no suffering nor pain. I can't think of a God who permits all of these things." The client stopped for a moment thinking but he didn't want to respond so as to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barber shop he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy). Then the client again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber: You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How come they don't exist?"-asked the barber. "Well I am here and I am a barber." "No!" - the client exclaimed. "They don't exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street." "Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me." "Exactly!"- affirmed the client. "That's the point. God does exist, what happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him that's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world." -<>- >Checking In A priest passing through his church in the middle of the day. Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle, The priest frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was kinda shabby and his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head, then rose and walked away. In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap. Well, the priest's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, He decided to stop the man and ask him, "What are you doing here?" The old man said, he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time, for finding strength and power. "I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord, this is kinda what I say: "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY." The priest feeling foolish, told Jim, that was fine. He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks." He hurried to the door. The priest knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer: "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY." Past noon one day, the priest noticed that old Jim hadn't come. As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, but he'd given them a thrill. The week that Jim was with them, brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious. Changed people, were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understand when no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had. The priest stayed by his bed, he voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile; "the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that in here all the while everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me: "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS, CHECKING IN TODAY." May God hold you in the palm of His hand and Angels watch over you. ~Author Unknown~ -<>- ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >The Stock Boy by David Langerfeld Kurtis the Stock Boy and Brenda the Checkout Girl In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry-out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand, a distant smile caught his eye - the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love. Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible. He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly, she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us." She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought. Then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome. Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - he had a different mindset. That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with. A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids. So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona, where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals, celebrating Sunday's victory and preparing for the Super Bowl. Kurt Warner quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI and has been the NFL's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player. As great as these accomplishments are, the most important thing he has ever done, according to Kurt himself, was to trust in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. When you check out his website, "First Things First" (based on Matthew 6:33), you will find the following testimony... "I was raised in the church, so faith and God were part of my life, but for me it was just kind of there - there on Sundays and when I was going through a tough time. I always had God as a background, but I never truly accepted Jesus until I was about 25 years old. My arena league teammates, a pastor friend of mine, and my future wife were constantly asking questions about my beliefs, and I began to question where I was and whether I had really put my complete faith in God. Their questions led me to the Truth - that faith is about a relationship, and it's about Jesus. Up to that point, I had never really considered that I struggled for so long and so many things went against me. I was swimming upstream. When I finally gave my life over to God - it was then the joy and happiness came into my life. Now, I realize my role here on Earth is not to throw touchdown passes and win football games, although that is the position and the platform that I have been given. I realize my goal is to win as many people to Jesus as possible. I have an open-door policy, where I'm able to talk about what is most important to me, and obviously, God is #1." -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment If my nose was running money http://www.buffaloschips.com/huyu.htm Important Message http://www.buffaloschips.com/jkjhjgh.htm Impossible http://www.buffaloschips.com/hjkhyui.htm Jet Engine http://www.buffaloschips.com/kjki.htm John McCain http://www.buffaloschips.com/hjjhiu.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ================================================================== >-->From Liberty Counsel: "Let Us Pray!" ___ # |/ ? | , )\ /__/\ \____ ##### ,- / \_/ \ _/_ #### /\,_\ |/| / < _____ _> \ [.[.]-=## ) "\ -|.|--/___/ ,___/___\- /_ )# \ ___Y. _____'-'______|\/______________ |__ # __)/ [_______________________________] \___/ /) \ | | .'\$/\`-. /|| .| | _...._ | ( `.Y.' ( ) __;_||__|_______| ,-' ALT. '-_ |____|:__o___|_|_ [________________| / ASCII- \ |________________] | | | _ _ART ____. | | | Balif | | / / \| ||_)| | | | | RALF | \\_\_/|_|| \|/ | | ____| | -_ ,- | |____ | | `-...,-' | | | | | | |_______________|_____________________________|_______________| / / / / / / Taken from original / / typing by b'ger / and David Palmer's art ________________________________________________________________________ >Santa Rosa decision: "Not Guilty" on all charges! Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman This is a long message, but I hope you will read it to the end. I feel it is important that you do. -- Mat On Constitution Day, after an all-day hearing, Santa Rosa County, Florida, Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman were cleared of criminal contempt charges that arose from the simple blessing of a meal! A wave of relief swept over Frank and Robert. When they heard the decision, tears of joy and cheers swept through the throngs of people who had waited outside in the rain for over ten hours. We are, of course, very pleased and grateful to our God that these fine men - and Assistant Michelle Winkler in an earlier case - no longer face fines, possible loss of retirement benefits and jail time. But, honestly, that's about as far as the rejoicing can go. The outrageous court order still hangs over the school system. The ACLU is still soliciting "informants." And the employees and students of this iconic rural school district remain intimidated and confused about their God- given, inalienable rights as Americans. I want to assure you - right here and now - that we are far from done with the ACLU in Santa Rosa...or anywhere else they try to pull this kind of outrageous legal manipulation!! Our first order of business will be to get the despicable underlying court order overturned. It's like a snake in the grass ready to strike again at the next innocent passerby. And like any other poisonous snake in the grass, it needs its head blown off! ++Please listen to the recorded message I've prepared for you After the long day of trial in Pensacola, it is late in the evening and I am in the Charlotte airport waiting for a connection to Nashville, where I will record a "Fox and Friends" segment about today's events at 4:30 a.m. From there I fly to Liberty University where I will speak to 11,000 students about the Constitution. Later, I will fly to Nashville to address the American Association of Christian Counselor's convention about legal developments impacting their members' ability to render Christ-centered advice and counsel. But right now, I AM SO GRATEFUL to you and our many other friends around the Nation that have prayed and stood with us financially in this battle, that I want to share some of my impressions with you. Please go here to listen to my message: http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?U=21604&CID=305&RID=19539620 You might think this is peculiar... ..but as I look back on the day's events, I must tell you that if I didn't know that I was actually experiencing them, I might have thought that I was in another dimension watching an over-the-top "B" movie about hypothetical future events. The reality, however, was that the day's strange occurrences were actually happening! ++The entire day was completely surreal First of all, the facts of the case were ludicrous from the beginning. It is absolutely ridiculous that these distinguished public servants even had to think twice about blessing a meal. Then, how absurd it was that the ACLU was spending Constitution Day trying to deny these life-long educators the most basic tenets of our Nation's founding document! When I entered the courthouse, I passed by hundreds of our clients' friends and neighbors carrying signs who had begun gathering at dawn in a steady rain to show their support. The Liberty Counsel legal team and our clients were met with swelling rounds of applause as we entered and left the courthouse at various times during the long day's proceedings. It was very touching and, well, humbling. Emotions ran high. Chants of, "We came to pray for Lay! We came to pray for Lay," the Lord's Prayer and familiar hymns were at times audible inside the courtroom itself. The Pensacola News Journal noted that the chants were heard many blocks away, and also said... ++ By 9:00 am, when the hearing started, the scene took on the characteristics of a revival The Lord was on the scene! Inside, we were told that bus loads of church members, Christian associations and everyday citizens who wanted to show their support were arriving from throughout the region and emptying into the congested parking areas. Many stayed and prayed all day long! How then was it possible, in this Nation that was literally born in prayer, that we were listening to the ACLU's harsh recitation of CRIMINAL charges against two of the community's most beloved citizens for...praying? There's a lot more I want to share with you - please go here to listen to my recorded message: http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?U=21605&CID=305&RID=19539620 Folks, I REALLY thought I was in the Twilight Zone when I entered the courtroom and saw, prominently hanging on the wall, one of the largest reproductions of the famous John Trumbull painting "Signing of the Declaration" that I have ever seen. It was large enough to hang in the State Capitol building! Didn't everyone in the courtroom know that the Founders spent many, many hours in fervent prayer during the drafting of our Declaration of Independence? Again I thought, "Can this be happening in America?" Several times during this most peculiar day I felt I was a player in "the theater of the absurd." I wondered how I would describe this series of incongruities and contradictions to friends who weren't there. For instance: After sharing a letter of encouragement to our clients endorsed by over 60 Members of the United States Congress...we were forced to pay rapt attention to the distorted and embarrassingly off-base complaints of our ACLU adversaries. It was just bizarre! ++We were all encouraged by the prayers and warm expressions of support that flooded in from around the Nation Perhaps Congressman Randy Forbes of Virginia, Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, said it best in a News Release from his office in Washington, D.C.: "Today it is the school employees in Santa Rosa County. Tomorrow it could be your kid's high school coach, your school's athletic sponsors, or your spouse. If we do not stand up today for our liberties and the right of all Americans to pray according to their faith, our children and grandchildren will have no foundation left on which to pray... ++I wish it weren't so, but there is still much left to do We have come to a point of crisis in the history of justice in the United States of America. The super-funded ACLU is completely out of control and, encouraged by massive donations from the likes of billionaire George Soros, is running amok. The ACLU literally mugged this small Florida school system! What outrageous bullies! And as Congressman Forbes said, it could have just as easily been your school district, your community, and your dedicated public servants. This story has shocked the entire Nation. I cannot emphasize strongly enough what a crucially important case this continues to be. The future of American law and our precious freedom of religious expression still hang in the balance in this small Florida Panhandle community. ++The ACLU won't rest until they've criminalized Christianity Paul, the super-rich, ultraliberal ACLU bullies fully intend to add precedent upon precedent in highly targeted cases like Santa Rosa County until it is a CRIME to express one's faith in a public setting ANYWHERE in the United States. ++The original court order cannot stand! The ACLU must not be allowed to win! We have spread the word of the ACLU's outrageous attempt to criminalize Christianity in America in every way we can. We have appeared on the Fox News Channel, CNN, and scores of other national broadcast outlets, and will continue doing so. But today, even after our victory on Constitution Day, I need your help in two very important ways: ACTION ITEM ONE: Please continue to pray! As the Pensacola newspaper said, this case is turning into a revival! And the ACLU can't make headway on their secular, statist agenda when we faithfully pray! ACTION ITEM TWO: Tell your Christian friends about this pivotal battle for the soul of our Nation, and ask them to join you in prayer. Pass this message along! We simply MUST win the remainder of this case - both for the good people of Santa Rosa County and also for every other school district in America - but it won't be easy. As you know, we're up against the deep-pocketed ACLU that has hundreds of millions of dollars. We're certainly thanking God that Principal Lay, Athletic Director Freeman, and Assistant Winkler are "off the hook," but the snare is still laid in Santa Rosa County. If you can make a special gift today to help Liberty Counsel attorneys make an end of this ACLU offensive in Santa Rosa County before it hits cities and towns like yours, please go here: http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?U=21606&CID=305&RID=19539620 BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR LIBERTY COUNSEL AND THIS CASE! And please forward this message to as many of your like-minded friends, church members, and associates as possible to enlist their prayers! Liberty Counsel attorneys are on the front line of this battle and we simply can't succeed without your help. Thanks in advance and may God bless you and yours! Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel PS Thank you for taking the time to read this entire message! We are praising God for our initial victory in the Santa Rosa County case, but everyone knows that if we don't get the underlying court order thrown out, we'll soon be back in court defending another group of hapless school system employees who have been victimized. If we let the ACLU succeed in criminalizing prayer before meals in Santa Rosa County, Florida, we will witness an unprecedented assault across the country in the days and weeks to come. And let's face it... with Barack Obama in charge of the Justice Department, the ACLU is emboldened and we can expect to see more and more cases like this one, especially if they start gaining momentum. Your gift right now of $25, $50, $100 -- or whatever the Lord leads -- will help Liberty Counsel continue to fight in Florida and in communities like yours across the Nation. This war with the ACLU is far from being over - even in Santa Rosa County. Please go here to help, even if you've already invested in the Liberty Counsel litigation fund: http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?U=21607&CID=305&RID=19539620 Again, thank you for your friendship and support! =============================================================== >-->What If What if you were a someone Who needed a hug today And what if you were a someone Who'd gone and lost their way? What if you were a someone In need of a friendly face And what if you were a someone Crumpled and out of place? What if you were a someone On a rocky, uphill climb And what if you were a someone With no one to share your time? What if you were a someone Desperate for a kind word And what if you were a someone Speaking out, but never heard? What if you were a someone Who's confidence had been shattered And what if you were a someone Longing to know you mattered. What if you were a someone Feeling ugly, worthless and small And what if you were a someone With no where to turn at all? What if you were a someone Crying tears that wouldn't stop And what if you were a someone Giving up and ready to drop? What if you were a someone Full of sorrow, pain and despair And what if you were a someone Yearning for someone to care? But... What if you're not that someone? What if life's going your way? Would you give yourself to someone else, Be the someone you'll need some day? Dolores >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food andd 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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