Life's Too Short... :) 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 ~ === (`\,;+++;,/`) (- (((^.^))) -) (- ))\-/(( -) (- (() ()) -) \ `/`@`\` / \ / \ / \/ \/ / \ /_/_/_|_\_\_\ ldb *~* 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! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This flaming hot new page is from our friend Bunni. It is sure to give your aww quota for the day with its endearing rescue story. Be sure to check it out here: . _ . . , /;-._,-.____ ,-----.__ (( . (_:#::_.:::. `-._ /:, /-._, `._, ` \ _|`"=:_::.`.); \ __/ / , `./ \:. `. )==-' . . ., ,-=-. ,\, +#./` \:. / / . . \/:/`-' , ,\ '` ` ` ): , /_ -o . /:+- - + +- : :- + + -:' /(o-) \) . . ,=': \ ` `/` ' , , ,:' `'--".--"---._/`7 `. ( \: \,-._` ` + '\, ," _,--._,---":.__/ \: ` X` _| _,\/' .-' . ":._:`\____ /:' / . . \::. :\/:' / + . `.:. /:' } . . ):_(:; \ . /:. _/ , | . (|::. ,` . . |::. {\ |::.\ \ `. |:::(\ | O |:::/{ } | (o ) ___/#\::`/ (O "==._____ O, (O /` ~~~w/w~"~~,\` `:/,-(~`"~~~~~~~~"~o~\~/~w|/~ dew ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\\W~~~~~~~~~~~~\|/~~ Abandoned Chihuahua Boo! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/boo.html --- ...Aww, this was so heartwarming! I wrote Bunni to thank her for it and to also see how she was doing as I hadn't heard from her in a very long time. The last time I reached out to her, there was no reply. This time her husband informed me that Bunni had passed on March 15 and sleeps in Jesus now. So Sad, I have many more email forwards from her and eventually will get to them all marking them as a loving memorial tribute to her and her thoughtfulness of sharing with us and others. She was such a good loving friend, I shall miss her. =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: %%%% %%%%-( _%%%%%_/ \ ' / _%%%%%%%% - (_) - _%%%%%%%/ \% / , \ %%%%%%%%%\\ \_ %%%%%% \ \\ ) /\_/ /(___. \ '----' ( / ) ---....____/ (_____ __ _ ___ ___ __ _ _ _____ _ _ ___ / )---...___ =-= = -_= -=_= _-=_-_ -=- =-_ ,' ( ```--.._= -_= -_= _-=- -_= _=- ,-' ) ``--._=-_ =-=_-= _-= _ '-._ '-..___( ``-._=_-=_- =_-= ``---....__) `-._-=_-_=- )|)| `-._=-_ gnv '-'-.\_ `-. >LIFE'S TOO SHORT by Kristine Lowder I never told a soul. Far as I know, no one knows. Till now. Back in my college days -- some three decades ago -- I decided to cut classes one morning and head for the beach instead of the books. It was one of those bright, balmy, eighty-degree San Diego days. Sapphire-blue, sun-soaked. Postcard-perfect. Especially for playing hooky. I didn't plan on bailing out of Western Civilization and Physical Anthropology 101. But I found myself chugging down the I-8 in the exact opposite direction of Mr. Asmov's lecture hall. To put this in context, it was one of two days I "played hooky" in my entire scholastic career. I'm more of the "nose-to-the-grindstone" type. Steady. Responsible. Reliable. As impetuous and impulsive as a gimpy snail in a molasses factory. So why did I suddenly decide to do something as utterly uncharacteristic as spend a gorgeous sunny southern California day playing hooky? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe I was tired of being "responsible and reliable." Maybe I was in a rut and wanted to stir some spontaneity into my schedule. Maybe I wanted to "carpe diem." Seize the day. Instead of the other way around. It was a day worth seizing -- wading, sand castle-building, soaking up some rays. Lunching under swaying palms. Sucking in huge chunks of salt-spiced sea spray. (Okay, I also finished two essays, a book report, studied for exams and updated my Day Planner to a year out. Nobody's perfect.) Know what I discovered on that hooky day? Playing hooky is fun. Delicious. I don't remember diddly from most of my lecture notes, exams, textbooks or Day Planner, but I remember that "hooky day" like it was yesterday. There was something about seizing the day that was soul-stretching. Refreshing. Recharging. Energizing. Effervescent. I loved it. I celebrated my 50th birthday last fall. It felt weird. On one hand I feel I'm way too young to be that old. I mean, my mom was 50! On the other, it seems my half-century status is supposed to result in pearls of wisdom and sage sagacity. Kind of like a modern Oracle of Delphi. Truth is, I've never gotten the hang of that oracle thing. Most of what I've learned and gleaned in my five decades isn't all that earth- shattering: Put God first. Honor your parents. Love your spouse. Hug your kids. Work hard. Serve. Eat chocolate. They say "you're only as old as you feel," which probably puts me somewhere in the Sesame Street demographic. I'm not exactly turning cartwheels over that "older woman" bit. There are still plenty of other "olders" out there, thank you very much. If they're real "olders," I'll pass. Maybe you know the type. They rehearse their daily litany of moans and groans, aches and pains with the regularity of day following night. They've kept records of all the people who've wronged them over the years. They're gonna get even one of these days. Or they spend so much time resting on their laurels and looking back at "the good ole days" that "carpe diem" would give them whiplash. This phenomenon isn't unique to the Geritol crowd, is it? Some things transcend age: -- Comparing kids, outfits, income and accessories so the other person always gets short shrift. -- Mammoth-sized me-ism -- Excising "I'm sorry" from vocabularies like it's malignant -- Crammed closets compensating for shallow souls -- External busyness hiding internal barrenness I'd rather seize the day. Reach out. Restore. Get real. Laugh. Apologize. Play hooky once in a while. Grab the kids and scarf down that second banana split, guilt-free. While I'm hoping the cost of cake candles doesn't break the bank this year, I have some regrets from the past five decades. Some shoulda-woulda-couldas. But I've never regretted that hooky day. Don't tell anyone, but I sometimes wish I'd taken more. A few things I CAN tell you from my perch here in the middle-age rafters is that raspberry white chocolate cheesecake tastes better when it's shared. Lucy and Ethel in the bon-bon factory deserve an Emmy. Toothpaste can't be squeezed back into the tube. It's amazing how much less I know at age fifty than I did at eighteen. Family, faith and friends matter most. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And while sapphire-skied, sun-soaked days are perfect for playing hooky, carpe diem is for every day. Life's too short not to. -- Kristine Lowder __________________________________________________ Kristine has authored eleven books. Her byline has appeared in over a hundred ezines and numerous print publications. She enjoys camping, hiking and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Chris, their four sons and one yellow Lab. ----------- ,``'.' / \ \ \ / \ | | ''''''.| | | `````'` | | | /'''' - (| | | /'``` . | | | / ''''' / ./ / '```` / |/ / ''''`| \/ / ' |` / / / /| /| | / '. || | ) ++ | \ | | | | \ .. \ _/ \ ' ./ | >FAIRWAY ANGEL With summer approaching and golfers getting their clubs ready, it reminds me of my first and only golf game. Last year, the director of my department at work decided that we should have an annual golf afternoon. As the game of golf never interested me nor had I ever even held a golf club in my life, I was less than enthusiastic. In fact, I was downright anxiety ridden -- worried about what a fool I was going to make of myself in front of my co-workers, all of whom were very proficient at the game. After we arrived at the 9-hole golf course, we made our way to the first hole and gathered around discussing how we were going to do things. We then noticed an older gentleman, with a golf club, standing watching us. Thinking he was waiting to play, we offered to let him go ahead of us. He said, "Oh, I'm not playing," Then suddenly he looked straight at ME and said, "Do I have a golf ball for you." He then walked up to me and placed a bright fluorescent pink golf ball in my hand and then walked away. As my favorite color is pink, I was delighted. On the first hole, after watching everyone else hit with precision, it was finally my turn to swing. Not really knowing what I was doing, I just basically said a little prayer and with the stiffest arms you could imagine, I swung my club at that tiny pink ball. Lo and behold, the club and ball connected and it went straight down the fairway -- and for the next 8 holes, I repeated this phenomenon and managed to not make a fool of myself as I had thought I would. So you see, angels are everywhere -- even on the fairway. -- Susan MacGregor =========================================================== , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >-->Jealousy and Envy by emb Many people are unaware of how jealousy and envy control them in their lives. I've tried to help my children understand the nature behind most people who bully other people but neglected to educate them about what the bible warns us of which is envy. I used to tell my children that people who bully them are mostly doing so for one of two reasons or a combination of the two. One they are jealous of you and resentful towards you or they want to make themselves feel better by belittling you. Normally bullies are sad people who don't have very high esteem for themselves and want to be powerful over others so they can feel better about themselves. However, it never works so they continue to be mean towards others in a vain attempt to fix their own shortcomings and pitiful life. By putting others down, they try to bring them down to their own level. I thought envy was pretty much the same as jealousy so I didn't teach them the difference. However, I often wondered why God would say this about Himself... Exod.34 [14] For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: And then the bible groups envy in with murder and other bad things... Rom.1: [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, So I wasn't really understanding the difference, but didn't pursue it until recently when a discussion with my son made me delve more into it for my own better understanding... I found this that makes more clear the difference between the two: __ (`/\ `=\/\ __...--~~~~~-._ _.-~~~~~--...__ `=\/\ \ / \\ `=\/ V \\ //_\___--~~~~~~-._ | _.-~~~~~~--...__\\ // ) (..----~~~~._\ | /_.~~~~----.....__\\ ===( INK )==========\\|//==================== __ejm\___/________dwb`---`______________________________________ Covetous: The Difference Between "Jealousy" and "Envy" March 21, 2013 By Merrill Perlman The pope gets to wear nice red shoes, and a friend said, "I'm really jealous of those!" But, technically, she couldn't be jealous, unless she thought the shoes were hers, and the pope had stolen them. Instead, she "envied" the shoes, and was "envious" that he gets to wear them. "Jealousy" and "envy" have very similar meanings and are often confused. In many ways, the difference is whether you have some claim on the object of your desire. "Jealous" is defined as "very watchful or careful in guarding or keeping," and "resentfully envious. "Envy" is defined as "a feeling of discontent and ill will because of another's advantages, possessions, etc.; resentful dislike of another who has something that one desires." "Jealousy" has stronger emotions attached. It's no coincidence that "jealous" comes from "zealous," which means "ardent devotion." The first uses of "jealous" in English were attached to biblical devotion, then to lovers. If you have, or had, something, and are trying to protect it, you are "jealous" of it. [So this explains why God said he is a Jealous God. He is very watchful and careful in guarding and keeping us safely His.] "Envy," on the other hand, is more like "want" and "desire" than "zeal." It's sometimes considered a "nice" word for "jealousy." The Biblical sin, though, is "envy," not "jealousy": When you "covet thy neighbor's wife," you are resentful that your neighbor has her, and you don't. (If she was yours first, then you can be "jealous." But that could involve violating another commandment or two.) "Envy" derives from the Latin word "invidere," which means to "look askance upon," as in "give someone the evil eye." Its previous uses include "malice" and "spite." So "envy" isn't as benign as some might have it. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/ybu4n2p4 So that explains the difference and why God refers to Himself as Jealous and envy as being sinful. I was simply confusing the two. Here's a great teaching concerning ENVY and why it is bad: 'Sometimes our material possessions make our lives more complicated and difficult than they should be, and hamper us from becoming like Christ. What should we do if that is the case? It may take great courage (fighting the flow of culture usually does), but we can rid ourselves of those things that are weighing us down and holding us back, and move toward a more simple lifestyle that allows us more time and energy for the things that really give us joy and peace. The tension between trying to have peace in life and wanting more things, usually spurred on by advertisers, is recognized in Scripture: Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Sometimes people are led by the atmosphere of the age into having physical possessions not for the sake of owning them but for the prestige they bring ('prestige' means 'reputation, influence, distinction'). Other people seek prestige by how they look, who they hang out with, etc. Interestingly, our English word 'prestige' comes from the Middle French prestige, which means 'an illusion' (World Book Dictionary). From God's perspective, having prestige among men is just an illusion. There is nothing about it that has real substance or worth, and prestige with men is fleeting at best. Nevertheless, prestige among men has been, and continues to be, a powerful cultural influence, and it has deterred many people from taking a bold stand for Christ and to be Christ-like. This was as true thousands of years ago as it is today.' See the full teaching and video here: https://tinyurl.com/y7kfeslq See Also: The Ten Commandments http://www.truthortradition.com/articles/the-ten-commandments =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: /(_ /_ (_ / O \ |_. | \ | | |\ / | \ | \ (-.\ fish walking _)\ \ ( )_/\ \_( \ / ) ( _ _ _ / _ \ /'\/'\'\ / _// / \(/\(/(/ \\_/_/ \_\/ ./<./Catching Fish In A Jar -Jami Sell When I was between eleven and twelve years old I decided one bright sunny day that it would be fun to go fishing. I didn't have any fishing gear and I had never done much fishing other than to play on the stream banks while my father fished. I also didn't want to "hurt" the fish I just wanted to catch them and then let them go. I looked around the house for what I could use and I found a washed out old mayonnaise jar. You know the old style jars with the big open "mouth". I walked to a nearby pond and put the jar down in the soft dust-like mud of the water's edge with the open "mouth" of the jar facing toward the center. I then stirred the waters a little and made them cloudy so that the fish would have trouble seeing me. Then I waited hovering over the jar. Gradually, cautiously a small fish would swim up to the clear jar to investigate the disturbance and when it swam into the jar I dropped my hand into the water and over the jar mouth. I caught a fish, then another. I just let them all go and returned my jar to the cupboard. Then I decided to use wire "box trap" to go fishing and rigged a string to the door. This way I could drop the trap in the water and not have to "hover over" it like I did with the jar. I sat very relaxed on the bank of the pond and sure enough I caught a fair sized bluegill. I took it home in a water filled plastic waste basket to show my dad and afterward returned it to the pond. When I told people about how I had caught the fish they just paused and laughed nervously. You see unlike these people, I didn't know that you couldn't catch fish in a jar. If I would have asked them they would have scoffed and said, "You can't catch fish in a jar or a box trap!" No one in my life had ever dreamed of telling me that so my belief system did not contain these words or the impact that they would have had on my "day of fishing". Only a free minded kid could come up with an idea of using a jar or a box trap to catch fish! No one had told me that this was impossible so I just used what I was familiar with and what I had available and I succeeded. Maybe today finds you facing a situation that seems impossible. You have a desire but no visible way of bringing it into being. You may need to find that "kid" inside you who thinks "outside the box" and the normal ways of achieving things and let him or her catch that fish in a jar! See your situation from a different angle. Start looking at the resources that you already have and the things that you are already familiar with. A fresh perspective and a childlike sense of wonder may surprise you and there's no telling what you will come up with! -<>- >Laying It On The Line -W.W. Clay As a New York skyscraper went up, hundreds paused daily to glance up at it. One day they watched a ponderous metal beam go up to take its place in the steel skeleton. As the girder came near, a workman leaned out from the sixteenth floor to seize it. The spectators gasped as he lost his balance and fell. Desperately, he clutched the girder's end with arms and legs. The ground crew stopped the hoisting engine, but the man's weight at one end began to tilt the beam to a vertical position, which would eventually cause him to lose his grasp and fall to his death. With swift decision, another worker on the same floor, seeing his friend's predicament, leaped through space and landed on the other end, where his weight leveled the beam. Amid the applause of the crowd, both men were safely lowered to the street. Every day people around us lose their balance on moral questions - they consider having an affair with a co-worker, taking company funds, lying to close a deal, toying with drugs and alcohol. Wrong decisions will hurt them and their families for years and cost their souls in Eternity. They need friends who are interested in helping them keep their balance, by leading exemplary lives, by sacrificial living, by speaking a word for Christ. Here on this earth, no one will applaud, but it will be worth it all when we receive the approval of the Master. (1 Cor 4:5) Live your life in the manner which Christ lived and others are sure to take notice. W.W. Clay From "Choice Illustrations" --- ...Reminds me of something... _ |_t+.__________________......_ /;_ ;________________/ : \ t""o.\__ :---|------------------t-----^-`--' / \__L___________________\____________\ ""-. o .--. \--'/ l .-t+. \ ( l) ;"" : / _ _ _ l `--" o; Y |_||_ |_|| \ """""";: .-. :\ | |:_ | |:_/ :: '-' ;\ _ _ _ _ _ _ ;; : ; | ||_l | \|_ |_|| \ :: bug ;| :_l|`, :_/:_ | |:_/ ;'-------'; '"------"" I watch shows on the ID channel. They tell stories of mystery, murder and how the criminal was caught. I often marvel at how one little choice we make can determine our everything. Like this story I watched last night - A man met an old girl friend while out partying. He called up his friend who at the time was asleep with his wife and small baby to please come and give them a ride. The man didn't want to leave his wife and child but it was his best buddy who was asking him. The friends were buddies who could always depend on each other for such things. So this young married man came out and picked up his friend with his old girl friend only to find another man was with them and wanted a ride too. Seems this man was a friend of the girl and had pushed himself on them. They were uncomfortable with him coming along but didn't say no. They all chose, however begrudgingly, to give him a ride. This man had evil on his mind. Once he got them to drive him to his destination, he asked them to wait for him that he'd be right back. He went in a house to get a gun to rob them. The young married man was kindhearted and trusting so he waited for this man to return even though his two friends felt there was something wrong and urged him to leave. He chose to stay and wait for the stranger anyway. These seemingly innocent choices led to murder. The stranger returned, came up to the car and shot each one of them in the head. The married man was killed along with his friend's woman friend. His friend recovered after a coma but survived only to suffer horrible remorse for causing his best friend's death by calling him for a ride that night. This one little choice led to an evil domino affect of consequences. We often don't know how important our choices are and what consequences may occur when we don't heed God's warnings. Yes, God tried to warn them all. But they didn't heed Him and suffered the consequences. God won't MAKE us do something - all He will do is warn us like He did this trio by making them feel uncomfortable and giving them bad gut feelings - waving super red flags of alarm at them. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Life's Little Oops 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops3.html The Sleep Metaphor http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/sleepmetaphor.html Short Life Stories http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/lifestories.html Living Tree Church http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/treechurch.html Never Give Up http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html Beautiful Bridges http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bridges.html Amazing Bus Stops http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bus.html Miracle Coyote http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/coyote.html Koalas In A Heatwave http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/koalas.html Amazing Human Body http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/humanbody.html Ten Life Tips http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetips.html Amazing Trivia Car Facts http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/triviacarfacts.html Pay It Forward http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/payitforward.html -<>- >Please Visit/Follow Me On StumbleUpon: https://tinyurl.com/y8wmfrtu Some of Shangrala's Best Pages http://www.amazfamily.com/index.html -<>- Mr.Mom Website: http://mrmom.amaonline.com/default.htm I shall http://mrmom.amaonline.com/poems/IShall.htm New Article: Enjoying the Bible https://tinyurl.com/y8uzhcgu A Quick Reference to the Books of the Bible https://tinyurl.com/y84o98rj Alice Cooper believes his faith saved him from alcoholism, temptations of rock star lifestyle Cooper acknowledges that a lot of people don't understand how he can be a rock musician but still be a Christian. "There’s nothing in Christianity that says I can’t be a rock star,” he explained. "People have a very warped view of Christianity. They think it’s all very precise and we never do wrong and we’re praying all day and we’re right wing. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with a one-on-one relationship with Jesus Christ." https://tinyurl.com/ybgmhv2k Fat cells converted into stem cells can repair any damaged tissues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8S_Yf9TK2Q Patient uses fat stem cells to repair his wrist By Samantha Bresnahan, CNN https://tinyurl.com/y8rrje9r No Irish Luck: Ambulance Called for Heavily Bleeding Abortion Patient on St. Patrick’s Day http://www.operationrescue.org/ Diamond & Silk Call Out Zuckerberg: Facebook Becoming Dems' 'Political Playground' Diamond and Silk, two outspoken supporters of President Trump, accused Facebook Monday night of discrimination and censorship after they said the social media giant branded them as “unsafe to the community.” Facebook later backtracked, but Diamond and Silk claim there are still algorithms in place that make it difficult for their fans to view their content -- and other conservatives' content -- on Facebook. https://tinyurl.com/y8qo9uw2 --- ...This is so sad! Conservatives and Christians are targeted not only by them but other social media - I've been limited by these liberal companies - so glad these ladies are speaking out for all of us! Limiting conservatives and Christians is wrong! Here's some History on them and how they got involved with what they do now... Trump says they never paid these two for their contributions to his campaign https://tinyurl.com/zzfm594 Speaking of limiting - if you haven't gotten your EXTRA from Yahoo yesterday, let me know and I will send you a copy direct. 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/ -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) If you've flown anywhere recently, you probably took a very large commercial plane. It may not have been the most comfortable experience, with little legroom and tiny snacks, but compared to previous aircraft designs, today's large jets are luxurious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwrIf_5gEEM --- ...Wowsers! Thanks LouiseAu! 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 ========================================================== >-->Story Time From Our Friend Geniann :) \ i. / s / \ \ / / .n' | a |_.-._ / / / .-' `-. --._ / / | / \-.__' `. | ( | | _ \ _ .-. \ | `-.-' | .-' '-. | ' `-. ( )_ | `-._ \ ( | \ / \ `-' `. `--. \ ) \ \`-' / | .' \ .- '-.| `-._.-' \ / \ | / \ . `._.-' | | / | | ' / | (_/ | `-._ _.' \ //\ .| `--' \" \ '\ \___/)_ | | ` \_ \` , \ \ (\ .o-`-o | \__ _______,-'\` \ ( | | | \\ | [nabis] b "" \ >There were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, ‘Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.’ Then the second tree said, ‘Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and Queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.’ Finally the third tree said, ‘I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people willalways remember me.' After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, ‘This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter’, and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree the woodsman said, ‘This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.’ The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down. When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His Ways are always best. Please keep this moving... Pass it on, so God may inspire more people on the way. May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the palm of His hand. Blessings, always. --- ...A sweet classic! Thank You Geniann! ========================================================== .._ ; ; ; : :\ ; \\ : :\ ; _.--"""--.___ :; '-.' ,=" "-=,`."-, '. ;=" " ; '-. '-.; _..._ ; '-. : .-. ___ .-. ; \ ; ;.-".-."-.; ; : ; .' '._.' '. ;`,__.-.' ; ; _,_ ; ; `--" ; '..-" "-,.' ; '. `-.___.-' .' __..--" `-.__ __.-' "--..__ .-" /,\""/,\ "-. ; __.. , :",:@:=,"; , ..__ ; '._ __.-," '.'/ \'.' ",-.__ _.' """ ;, " " ,; """ ; . , : ; ' ' ; ; : .-"". `. ', ." .""-. /,""-.'. '. ; .' .'.-"",\ :: ' ; ; ; __ ; : : ' :; ;; ; ; /' '\ ; ; ;: :'. : ;,' ',: : .'; \ '._/ ; ; \_.' / `-._.' '._.-' fsc >The "California Girl" Sales Girls Story Editor: by The Customer Joyce Schowalter USA In early 2012 I saw a giant lump on my body after taking a shower. "Oh gosh," I thought (euphemistically speaking). "If it's that big, it must be everywhere inside me by now. There'll be no way to combat it." You see, people in my family get cancer. Then they die. Often quickly. I mean, I'm not so old, so "two more years" seems like I'd be really cheated on lifespan. And I love my job, non-profit work, really changing things and helping people. But I don't have insurance. I work hard. But insurance costs in the USA have skyrocketed... I can't afford it. I figured, "I won't have any treatment." I was despondent, thinking I'd die a painful, awful death, soon. I wasn't in denial. I stopped into a Goodwill store soon after finding the lump, for spare gardening shoes. Sometimes they have $100 shoes there for $8.00 -- it's amazing. Standing on the aisle, I thought, "Wait! I might not need any more shoes than I have. I should leave." I left, reeling. Then I noticed that instead of dying, I was living. And REALLY wanted to live. Then a neighbor said, "Go to this clinic. They'll refer you to another clinic, which does lots of charity cancer treatment." I went. A seemingly endless series of appointments began. During the initial appointments, before knowing if I'd qualify for charity treatment, still scared I'd soon die, I went to the mall. To celebrate the possibility of LIVING, I'd buy something decent to wear. Specifically, jeans that weren't "mom jeans". First up, a decent women's store. Two salesgirls on the floor... you might say "California girls". Cute, young, seemingly preoccupied with their appearance. One girl began helping me find jeans. She showed me several store sections. After picking out several pairs, I tried them on. She popped back and gave me feedback... she didn't think they fit well enough. Sigh. She was right, as well as honest. Yes, they looked ten times better than mine, but for the price, not good enough. I tried it on a sweater, but it was too big. She got another for me. I liked it, and headed to purchase it, still lacking decent jeans. When the total rang up, I was shocked. It was on sale, half off! They laughed with me when I was excited about it, and suggested I look at that sale rack. I did. Didn't find another, but they were kind to suggest it. What those girls did for me that day, they'll never know. They treated me like any other customer. They were helpful, talked to me and genuinely laughed at my jokes -- though I was older and wearing "mom jeans". They allowed me to feel like I was still normal, too. I think of them as "my California girls", gratefully, and find I pick that sweater to wear often. You never know when -- just by being a normally nice person to someone -- you may be having a profoundly wonderful effect on them. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "Could it be that God 'feels'? Could God be capable of passion? Could God be excited or must He be austere? Are we comfortable with the image of God as Father and nervous about God as Lover (some of us even prefer God as Parent - less a personality, more an ideal). Are we happy to have God be the Creator, but scared to think of Him as being Creative? Do we like God being an engineer, but balk at His being an artist? Does His being a logician comfort us, but His being a poet threaten us? Do we enjoy the glow of God's light, but shade ourselves from the heat of his flames? Does the idea that Jesus tolerated the sinful woman's anointing of His feet and John resting his head on Jesus' breast make us squirm, so the thought that Jesus enjoyed this makes us sick? How is it that we can accept that Moses saw a bush that burned and was not consumed, yet we doubt that God can love in a rage and never cool?" - Rich Mullins, the "Awesome God" guy ,,-,-.,-. ,-. ,,-. ,-,-. ,-.-. ,-.. ,-. ,-.,-.-.. (( ( ( ( '( ' ( ' ) ' )' ) ) ) )) \\ \ \ \ \ ,\ /. / / / / // \\ \ /\ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /\ / // gpyy'' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '' >The Face of Love (By Bonnie Jensen, Senior Writer, DaySpring Cards) "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." I CORINTHIANS 13:12, 13 NIV What will it be like to see love face to face? When we think of love do we imagine words that define it, or do we consistently see a picture of Jesus in our mind's eye? I Corinthians chapter 13 gives us a description of love. It begins with two qualities referring to what love is, followed by a long list of what love is not. I've often wondered why God chose to emphasize the negatives in the description. There is a reason. God knows us more fully than we can ever hope to know ourselves. He understands our weaknesses beyond our ability to even recognize all of them - or how often we allow them to prevail. As I read through each admonishment regarding what love is not, I see my weaknesses bubble to the surface...."love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...." (I Cor. 13:4, 5) I'm guilty of each of these antonyms of love. At one time or another, I've allowed my weaknesses to overcome God's directive to love. But there is beauty in falling short. It's a constant reminder that we are powerless to do anything worthy of praise without the lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. Our heart's desire and ability to love others is directly related to our willingness to surrender to Him. He is love. If we begin to look into the eyes of others and picture our Lord looking at us, our perspective will change. God looks at us through eyes of love. Every morning He sees us through the filter of His infinite mercy - He sees us falling repeatedly, yet is never tempted to be impatient or unkind; He sees our wrongdoings, but doesn't record or remember them in light of His grace. God alone exemplifies the absolutes of love - He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres - He never fails. He is the One we should see when we look at others...and we need look no further than God's clearest reflection - His Son, Jesus - to truly see the face of love. -<>- "The churches are fighting one another over theological debates, when we should be fighting for people who can't read or don't have enough to eat...I think you can profess the Apostles' Creed until Jesus returns, but if you don't love somebody, you were never a Christian." - Rich Mullins, the "Awesome God" guy Note from Chris: This story's been around a long time and even been made into song, but I still don't tire of it because it showcases what love towards others can do in a clear and understandable manner. Following the story, I've included some additional application for us as believers. -Chris ,ae, ,88888e ,a888b.9888888i 888888888888888 88888888888888Y '8888888888888' "S888888888" unknown "7888888Y "e88j "Y >Joe: A story of sharing love with others (Author Unknown) He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country. He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on. You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you m'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm. By the way, my name is Joe." Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk. She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Joe added "........and think of me". He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor, it didn't ring much. Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe. After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes, when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too. Someone once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do. Don't let the chain of love end with you." Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be alright, I love you Joe." Pass it on...Heb. 12:1-3 ----- Follow up note from Chris: You know, Jesus said the following to His disciples shortly before He was to be crucified for our sins and showcase HIS love clearly for us: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35) As Christians, we understand that Jesus loved us and thus we love Him, but Jesus calls us to do more - to love others. And He specifically tells us that it is because of this love that others will know we are His disciples. In other words, it is love that is to be our distinctive. It is love, which should be a trademark of our life, that will draw people to Jesus. As we show love towards others and really give of ourselves in doing so, people will see that we live differently. While the rest of the world is absorbed mostly in themselves, as we showcase a life that is God-centered AND others-centered, it sends a very strong signal and makes people hungry for what we have...because what we have must be real! May we all remember that there's a world watching us... Love to YOU this day, Chris 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 ========================================================== __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >-->STILL HE WALKED He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"... He could hear the hatred in their voices, These were His familiar people. He loved them, And they were going to crucify Him. He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... His heart was broken, But still He walked. He could see the crowd as He came from the palace. He knew each of the faces so well. He had grown up with them. He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear, But now they were contorted with rage and anger...His heart broke, But still He walked. Was He scared? You and I would have been So his humanness would have mandated that He was. He felt alone. His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed Him. He searched the crowd for a loving face and He saw very few. Then He turned his eyes to the only One that mattered And He knew that He would never be alone. He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting At Him, throwing rocks at Him and mocking Him and He knew That because of Him, they may never be alone. So, for them, He walked. The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through The crowd. The sounds of His cries echoed even louder, The cheers of the crowd, as His hands and feet Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow. Loudest of all was the still small voice inside His Heart that whispered "I am with You, my Son", And God's heart broke. He had let His son walk. Jesus could have asked God to end His suffering, But instead He asked God to forgive. Not to forgive Him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting Him. As He hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death, He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd, But also, the face of every person yet to be, And His heart filled with love. As His body was dying, His heart was alive. Alive with the limitless, unconditional love He feels for each of us. That is why He walked. When I forget how much My God loves me, I remember His walk. When I wonder if I can be forgiven, I remember His walk. When I need to be filled with hope, I remember His walk. When I need reminded of how to live like Christ, I think of His walk. And to show him how much I love him, I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to Him, And I walk. >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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