Like A Shepherd... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* 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 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 fun hottie is a compilation from our friends Johanna, PatDeE, Linda, Geniann, And LouiseA. It is sure to give you some SMILES! Turn on your sound and be sure to see the video here too! _______________ | | | |\ |\ |\ | | | | |_\|_\|_\ | | | | _|__|__|__ | | | |~~~\_________|~| | | |_______________| | | ___ | | __|___|__ | | ('o_o') | | ________ _\~-~/_ ___________| | | / \/|\/ \ /| | | / / \ \ || | | ______\ \_____/ /________ || | |/ \_\ /_/ / || | / \_) (_/ /__|| / /________________________/__/ |/ |||_______|__||__|______||__|/ || <___||___> || || ||jro MacGyver - How To Do It #6! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/macgyver6.html --- ...I get a kick out of this series! Thanks My Friends! I especially like the ATM one and the video! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .===. _ _ / _/\ \ / )%.===.%( \ \/6.6\/ | // ,,, \\ | ( _ ) \/ \/6.6\/ \/ .===. _)---(_ /\ ( _ ) /\ / ,,, \ / `~` \ ^^ /()-()\ ^^ ( /6.6\ ) /\/ \/\ / /o o\ \ )( _ )( \ | | / (._\ Y /_.) (_/;---;\_) \|_____|/ (O_`&`_O) / `"*"` \ | L | / / \ \ ( (_.@._) ) |__|__| / ()/^\() \ /'._\|/_.'\ | | | /. . . . . . .\ /. . . . . .\ |_|_| `"`"`|`|`|`"`"` `"`"|"|"|"`"` jgs _|_|_|_ _|_|_|_ _|_|_|_ (___|___) (___|___) (___|___) >DIAPER SPELLED BACKWARDS by Darlene A. Buechel Last August I was feeling somewhat bummed by the thought of turning 49. After all, with the big 5-0 breathing down my neck like a demented dragon, I was starting to feel tired, achy, and old. Then I opened a gift from our daughter, Dani, and her husband Mark -- an empty silver picture frame with "Our First Grandchild" engraved on the bottom! I gasped and grinned until Dani finally said, "Read it out loud." Then my husband gasped and grinned too. "Congratulations," I said. "Did you tell Mark's parents yet?" Mark said they just came from there (his parents live about a mile from our house) and he gave his Mom a similar picture frame engraved "Happy 26th Grandchild." Can you imagine? Of course, Mark is the youngest of nine kids, but that still seems like a huge pile of grandkids to dote over. The great news is Mark's mom Mary was equally thrilled. We can't wait for March to spoil the sweet new addition. I was surprised to learn Dani had found out she was pregnant many weeks before the announcement. It seems you can pee on a stick these days and find out you're pregnant even before a missed period! She said, "We thought we'd better tell before you guessed 'cause of my bump and all." Truth be told, I hadn't noticed a baby bump yet, but I was glad she shared the good news. "Soon we'll be buying diapers, onesies, and all that fun stuff," Dani said with a huge grin. "Yes, and did you know diaper spelled backwards is repaid?" I added helpfully. "That should give you plenty to think about." Actually, Dani doesn't need to be repaid for bad baby behavior. Since both of my kids were over nine pounds at birth, they ate good, slept good, and did a good job filling diapers. Of course, 24 and 22 years later, I'm probably forgetting a few hundred crying jags and tantrums (some of them generated by the babies), but I enjoyed pregnancy and the babyhood of my kids. It seems to me it was the tween and teen years that added growls, gray hair, and sleepless nights to my repertoire. An old Yiddish proverb said it best -- "Small children disturb your sleep, big children your life." Still, every "big child" starts out a cute, cuddly cutie-pie. The more I get used to this whole Grandma idea, the more I like it. Yes, I'm still working full-time, but I think I'll have more time and patience for a Grandkid than I did when my two were little. As a young mom, I was torn in 99 different directions after work, while my husband did his farm chores and strolled into the house when it was almost bed time for the rug rats. This time around I'll get to watch the little tyke when I want to, and I'll appreciate every hour we spend together. Did I mention March can't come soon enough? I can't wait to meet and greet the new little tyke that's already in my heart. I'm sure he or she will be the best baby in the world. As the late writer and humorist Teresa Bloomingdale said, "If your baby's beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule, burps on demand, and is an angel all the time -- then you must be the grandma." -- Darlene A. Buechel __________________________________________________ Darlene is a Wisconsin Cheese Head and excited Grandma-to-be. She spends her time reading, writing, and enjoying life in the country. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >Wisdom of the day [edited] 1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout. 2] Why is a Car's WINDSHIELD is so large the Rear view Mirror so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on. 3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes only a few minutes to burn, but it takes years to write. 4] Things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either. Only God is forever! Look to Him when you need guidance. 5] Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are a Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold! 6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, beloved, it's just a bend, not the end! 7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities. 8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!" 9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE. --- ...Amen! Good ones! Thanks Jass! ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend PatDeE :) !|| !|||| ,/|||| !|'''| `\ | )\ \ ejm / \ \ \ >GUTS!!! don't pass on this Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard: Heavenly Father, We come before You today to ask Your Forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ''Woe to those who call evil good,'' but that's exactly what we have done. We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that; we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism; We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism; We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle; We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery; We have neglected the needy and called it self preservation; We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare; We have killed our unborn and called it choice; We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable; We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem; We have abused power and called it political savvy; We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition; We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression; We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of this state and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state of Kansas. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your Will. I ask in in the name of your Son, The Living Savior, Jesus Christ The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa, and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on "The Rest of the Story" on the radio and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called one nation under God. If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything." --- ...A great One! Thanks PatDeE! From TruthOrFiction.com This event actually happened in the Kansas House (not Senate) in Topeka on January 23, 1996. Joe Wright is the pastor of Central Christian Church in Wichita and was guest chaplain that day. He prayed a prayer of repentance that was written by Bob Russell, pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. According to an article in the Kansas City Star from January 24, 1996, his prayer did stir controversy and one member of the legislative body walked out. Others criticized the prayer. The controversy didn't end there. Later that year in the Colorado House, Republican representative Mark Paschall angered lawmakers by using Joe Wright's prayer as the invocation. Some members there also walked out in protest. Paul Harvey did air the story and the prayer. He got such a large response that a phone number was set up to handle the calls. He's aired it a couple more times since. Full read here: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/k/kansasprayer.htm#.VLgbC8kZluB ========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: /|\ [] |"""""""""""--__ /| |\ / | \ || |____________--"" ( |__| ) | ( ) | || | | \ / | .-. | || | | |12| ]( 0 )[ || | | | | / `-' \ || | | | | / /' `\ \ || | | | | | | | | |%%| | | | | | | | | ,'`, | | | | | | | | |||| | | |14| | | | | |||| | | / __ \ \ \ / / |||| | | ( | | ) `-' `-' `--' `-' \| |/ pb >THE CARPENTER’S TOOLS Brother Hammer served as the chairman. The other members of the tool belt informed him that he must leave, because he was too noisy. But brother Hammer said, “If I have to leave this carpenter's shop, then brother Gimlet must go too. He's insignificant and makes a very small impression.” (A gimlet is a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and a cross handle for boring holes). Little brother Gimlet arose and said, “All right, but brother Screwdriver must go also. You have to turn him around and around to get anywhere with him.” Brother Screwdriver turned to the other tools in the belt and said, “If you wish, I will go, but brother Plane must leave, too. All of his work is on the surface; there's no depth to what he does.” To this brother Plane leveled his terse reply, “Well, then, brother Saw will have to depart too. The changes he proposes always cut too deep.” Brother Saw complained, saying, “Brother Ruler will have to withdraw if I leave, for he's always measuring other folks as though he were the only one who is right.” Brother Ruler then surveyed the group and said, “Brother Sandpaper doesn't belong here either. He's rougher than he ought to be, and is always rubbing people the wrong way.” In the midst of the discussion, the Carpenter of Nazareth walked in. He had come to perform his day's work. He put on His tool belt and went to the workbench to make a pulpit. He employed the ruler, the saw, the plane, the hammer, the gimlet, the screwdriver, the sandpaper, and all the other tools. When the day's work was over, the pulpit was finished, and the carpenter went home. All the accusations against each of these tools were absolutely true, yet the carpenter used every one of them. No matter which tool He used, no other tool could have done the work better. We are all “tools” in Jesus' tool box. Each of us has a purpose, ability, and a task to perform. “For we are God's fellow workers...” (1 Corinthians 3:9) -- Author Unknown -<>- ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) >The Quilt of Life, old but good reminder! As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.' May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through! God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.' When there is nothing left but God that is when you find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! Father, God bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you in Jesus Christ's name, Amen. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Just Thinking http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thinking.html Worms! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worms.html Look Who's Talking #3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/talking3.html Mini Baby Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/baby.html Fairy Tale Homes! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fairytale.html Feeding The Eagles! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eaglefeeding.html Bobcat On A Cactus! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bobcatoncactus.html Fire Rainbow Cloud! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/firerainbow.html Real Fantasy Trees 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trees2.html Funny Animal Facts! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/zoo2.html Spain's Wood Festival! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woodfestival.html Arrows Across America! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/arrows.html Origami Dollar Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dollarart.html Beautiful Bridges http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bridges.html LCS 2 USS Independence http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lcs2.html -<>- >From Our Friend PatDeE :) Memories https://www.youtube.com/embed/HzSaoN2LdfU --- ...HaHs! Thanks PatDeE! WARNING!! Expose of blatant disregard for hygiene practices in the hotel industry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObnO8vy7Q_k --- ...Oh My GOODNESS! Thanks PatDeE! This is why I don't like staying at hotels/motels etc. Ode to Jöy: IKEA Flashmob https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86ukcgSnME0&feature=youtu.be --- ...Love these! Gives goosebumps! Thanks PatDeE! -<>- >From Our Friend Fran :) Good Health Blessing http://www.mamarocks.com/good_health_blessing.htm --- ...Sweet! Thanks Fran! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) A compilation that shows us that there are many humans who care about animals, care enough to rescue them even under the worst conditions, as long as they can see the animal safe and sound. A heart warming video that should be seen by everyone! https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kLMbePMdNOY A great magic show doesn't have to involve spectacular performances or complicated props, but it must have a display of skill and talent just like you're about to see. This young magician was not afraid to get up close and personal with the judges and amaze them with minimalistic and unbelievable tricks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZTy3qG_qInU Celtic Woman, the all-female musical ensemble from Ireland, with their most beautiful performance of 'O Holy Night.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_8uxCiJXFVs Comedians Laurel and Hardy demonstrate that comedians don’t make very good carpenters in this classic clip. Just about everyone has seen an old black and white clip of a Laurel and Hardy act so when I stumbled upon this colorized version I enjoyed watching it even more. I’m certain I wouldn’t want these two clowns installing and windows or doors in my home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DZ8D-bnwBK0 --- ...TeeHee! Thanks LouiseA! Everyone knows you can defog windows using the defrost switch in your car's ventilation system. But that's time you could be sleeping in on cold mornings. You can keep your car windows from ever fogging up using this trick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4t4mzMS-ZZ8 --- ...How Easy! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) Cave-digging artist finds inspiration underground https://www.youtube.com/embed/oxcftjJ39BU --- ...Wowsers! Thanks Melody! 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 ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >While We Were Still Sinners (By Alan Smith) Some years ago, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an article by Dr. Paul Ruskin on the "Stages of Aging." In the article, Dr. Ruskin described a case study he had presented to his students when teaching a class in medical school. He described the case study patient under his care like this: "The patient neither speaks nor comprehends the spoken word. Sometimes she babbles incoherently for hours on end. She is disoriented about person, place, and time. She does, however, respond to her name... I have worked with her for the past six months, but she still shows complete disregard for her physical appearance and makes no effort to assist her own care. She must be fed, bathed, and clothed by others. "Because she has no teeth, her food must be pureed. Her shirt is usually soiled from almost incessant drooling. She does not walk. Her sleep pattern is erratic. Often she wakes in the middle of the night and her screaming awakens others. Most of the time she is friendly and happy, but several times a day she gets quite agitated without apparent cause. Then she wails until someone comes to comfort her." After presenting the class with this challenging case, Dr. Ruskin then asked his students if any of them would like to volunteer to take care of this person. No one volunteered. Then Dr. Ruskin said, "I'm surprised that none of you offered to help, because actually she is my favorite patient. I get immense pleasure from taking care of her and I am learning so much from her. She has taught me a depth of gratitude I never knew before. She has taught me the spirit of unwavering trust. And she has taught me the power of unconditional love." Then Dr. Ruskin said, "Let me show you her picture." He pulled out the picture and passed it around. It was the photo of his six-month-old baby daughter. I'm not sure exactly what the doctor's point was intended to be when he presented that lecture, but it reminds me that those of us who are parents do things for our children that we would never dream of doing for anyone else. Allow me to clarify that thought just a bit: We do things for those we love that we would not be willing to do for anyone else. It's true, isn't it? We make sacrifices for those we love, but we are unwilling to make the same sacrifices for those we don't know well (or that we don't know at all). We gladly give of our time, money and energy to assist those we are close to. But when Jesus told us to do good to those who are our enemies, it goes against our natural instinct. What seems so obvious to us is used by Paul to demonstrate the amazing love of Jesus Christ. "Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us." (Romans 5:6-8, God's Word) To have the love we are willing to express toward our children and those we hold dear, and be willing to show that same sacrificial love toward toward who oppose us -- enough that we are willing to die -- is love beyond anything we have ever experienced (or can even imagine). But such is the love that God has for each and every one of us. May that love motivate you to respond to the one who has given up so much just for you. --- ...Without a doubt! Thank You LouiseA! ========================================================== W __ __ [ ] |::||::| 3 ._. |::||::| ._. /| |:| ._. |::||::| |/| \|// / |:|_|/| |::||::|_ |/| -( )-| |:|"|/|_|::||::|\|_|/| _ J V | |:|"|/|||::||::|\|||/||:| ___ ' / ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \ \/ | ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ >The Gotham Gentleman Story Editor: by Rise Keller Joyce Schowalter Colorado, USA In early July of 1976, on a six-week road trip around the northeastern U.S. with my father, stepmother, and little sister, we stayed with my stepmother's relatives in Pennsylvania. I went roller-skating with the kids at their local rink. Someone crashed in front of me, I tripped over them, and my ankle hurt like crazy. The X-ray revealed a broken leg. I got a cast and crutches. The next leg of our trip: New York City. At that time NYC had a rough reputation, and we feared rudeness and difficulty. A friend's mom hosted us at her tidy, bright Brooklyn apartment for three days and nights. "Call me Aunt Mary," she insisted, though she'd never seen us before. Aunt Mary worked in a publishing house and went to work early every morning, leaving us with directions, tips for public transportation and which routes to avoid. We cooked dinners, ate and laughed together in the evenings after she got home. My parents had the brilliant idea that sightseeing in the Big Apple would be far easier if we had a wheelchair. They rented one, and at subway stations, if anyone was around, they always came to help my father maneuver my wheelchair up or down the steps. One of my dreams for our Manhattan visit had been to see Fifth Avenue's shops with my own eyes, and maybe go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But we had three strikes against us, we learned as we got into the city: The museum was closed on Mondays, most shops and businesses were closed for the Fourth of July holiday, and it was raining. By now we were drenched, so we ducked under the awning of the Gotham Hotel to decide what to do next. A man had emerged from the hotel and was about to get into a cab. He saw us and stopped. "Wait right here!" he said to us. Curious, we waited under the awning, watching the taxis come and go, picking up and dropping off men in raincoats with their briefcases and umbrellas. Two minutes later, he reemerged from the hotel carrying an exotic item: a collapsible umbrella. He showed my father how to operate it, and handed it to him. "For you. Enjoy your visit!" he said, as he hailed a cab. "We can send it back to you...." "No, just keep it!" We thanked the man as he stepped into his taxi and rode off with a wave. We never saw him again, but his elegance and generosity ended any remaining fears that we wouldn't be treated gently in New York City. Even now, every time I see a collapsible umbrella, I think of that glamorous fellow outside the Gotham Hotel who took the time to do a small favor -- that made a big difference to us. I'm reminded how the compassion of people can surprise you, no matter where you are. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From CupO'Cheer: __ _ .-.' `; `-._ __ _ (_, .-:' `; `-._ ,'o"( (_, ) (__,-' ,'o"( )> ( (__,-' ) `-'._.--._( ) ||| |||`-'._.--._.-' ||| ||| Artist: Bob Allison >LIKE A SHEPHERD By Os Hillman He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart (Isa 40:11a). Sometimes we can see Christ modeled in the most unusual ways. Gerry, our neighbor, is a shepherd to the neighborhood dogs. Once Buddy, the roving black lab of the neighborhood discovered that Gerry was a wellspring of treats by simply pushing open his broken front door, he began bringing other dogs on his visits. They made themselves welcome in his front foyer. One of them was an older cocker spaniel named Joe Cocker. But unlike Buddy, Joe didn't leave after thirty minutes. He ended up staying for two days! Finally Gerry called the name listed on his dog tag and found out that his owner lived up the road. As Gerry started to walk him home Joe stopped as soon as he reached the hill because he was too weak to climb it. So Gerry picked him up and carried him home. It was not a short walk and Joe was not a small dog. Day after day this routine continued and I was amazed at how much Gerry grew to love that dog. He'd let him stay at his house for days at a time and Joe was content to just hang out with him and loved to sleep on top of his dirty laundry. Then one day Gerry got a call from Joe's owner to let him know that Joe had died. When Angie called Gerry to see how he was, he choked back the tears as he talked about him. Jesus is often referred to as the good shepherd in the scriptures and his followers are referred to as His sheep He carries close to His heart. There are times in our lives when Jesus knows that we cannot make it up our own hill in life. It may be because we are facing financial ruin, debilitating health or insurmountable grief. But no matter what the reason, we can trust that Jesus is there to carry us. Allow Him to pick you up so you can find rest in His arms and comfort in hearing His heartbeat as he carries you close to his heart. as seen in Today God is First -<>- _ \"-.-"""""-.---.---. "-. .-".' ; ; _, ;-" : : 's / ; : / / : :s_.-" : ; \ ; : bug j ;.'; ; :'.__. : ; ; : :; ; : : : ; :; : ; ; : ; ;: :; ; ; : : : : :: : ; : | | :_; ; ; ; : :_; | | '-' :_; >YOU KNOW YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IF… 1. You've never met any celebrities. 2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway. 3. "Vacation" means going to the family reunion. 4. You've seen all the biggest bands ten years after they were popular. 5. You measure distance in minutes. 6. Any festivals in the city are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, or animal. 7. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it no matter what time of the year. 8. You use "fix" as an adverb. Example: "I am fixing to go to the store." 9. You've ridden the school bus for an hour each way 10. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent. 11. Instead of hoses, the Fire Department uses water pistols. 12. You have to make a reservation to use the parking meter. 13. The local Motel 6 ONLY sleeps six. 14. The municipal water system's pump was supplied by Water Pik. 15. There is no town idiot -- everybody has to take turns. 16. In order to paint traffic lines, the road has to be widened. as seen in Laugh and Lift -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >THE "GREAT" LETTER by Dennis and Barbara Rainey Colossians 1:10 So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. One privilege of my ministry is to receive letters from people whose lives have been transformed by the love and grace of Jesus Christ. One of my favorites came from a wife and mother in Maryland, who wrote to tell of the discovery she made one day while listening to our radio program, "FamilyLife Today," while driving to work: I've been married to a terrific man for almost eight years and have two wonderful boys, five and one. But until last year, when I began to listen to your program regularly on my 30-mile commute to work, I never realized I had been short-changing my family and myself by not turning my marriage over to the Lord. Yes, I viewed myself as a Christian woman with decent moral standards, but I just wasn't allowing the Spirit of Jesus to work. I thought I needed to transform things all by myself. Disappointed with my drifting relationship, I became controlling, critical, and even resentful at times. I began to let down my "hedges" at work, and to become dangerously close to sacrificing everything I hold dear. When I tuned in to your "Building Your Mate's Self-Esteem" series, I couldn't believe it. Here was my life, coming over the radio. As I listened, I wept, realizing how I was tearing down my wonderful man, and subsequently robbing our family life of real happiness. I resolved to turn my marriage and family life over to the Holy Spirit, and to look for ways to encourage and lift up my husband. I have never been happier or more satisfied in my life. My marriage has been transformed and is happy, fun, and alive. I see my husband with new eyes and a renewed heart. My children must feel the strength and stability as they see their parents touch and support each other in daily life. Like wheel alignments on a car, all of us are in need of correcting attitudes that are out of alignment with God's Word. Is there any area of your marriage that you need to turn over to God? Prayer: For one another that you would increase in the knowledge of God, and that you would "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord." Discuss: If appropriate, discuss a time in your marriage where you dropped your guard, even for a short time. What characterized your marriage? Your spiritual life? Share what you can do today to keep your hedges of protection strong. as seen in Moments Together For Couples -<>- ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >31 WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR YOUTH by Unknown The following are suggested verses that you can pray over your youth. There is one verse for each day of the month. Pray for a spirit of Humility. "The willingness to submit" (James 4:10). Pray for a spirit of Reverence. "The fear of the Lord" (Proverbs 9:10). Pray for a spirit of Purity. "A desire to be clean" (Matthew 5:8). Pray for a spirit of Purpose. "A wisdom to set goals" (Proverbs 4:25). Pray for a spirit of Simplicity. "A lifestyle uncluttered" (Romans 12:8). Pray for a spirit of Commitment. "A dedication to the ‘cause' " (Joshua 24:15). Pray for a spirit of Diligence. "A willingness to work hard" (II Peter 1:5). Pray for a spirit of Servanthood. "The ministry of helps" (Galatians 6:9,10). Pray for a spirit of Consistency. "The quality of faithfulness" (James 1:8). Pray for a spirit of Assurance. "A depth of faith" (Hebrews 10:22). Pray for a spirit of Availability. "A willingness to go." (Isaiah 6:8). Pray for a spirit of Loyalty. "A zeal for fidelity" (Ruth 1:16). Pray for a spirit of Sensitivity. "Openness of heart" (Luke 10: 30-37). Pray for a spirit of Compassion. "Love in action" (Mark 8:1,2). Pray for a spirit of Tenderness. "A willingness to weep" (II Kings 22:19). Pray for a spirit of Maturity. "The capacity to grow" (Hebrews 5: 12-14). Pray for a spirit of Holiness. "Christ-like behaviour" (I Peter 1:16). Pray for a spirit of Reliability. "A depth of dependability." (I Corinthians 4:2). Pray for a spirit of Revelation. "Learning to listen" (Ephesians 1:15,18). Pray for a spirit of Denial. "A sacrifice to surrender" (Luke 9:23). Pray for a spirit of Confidence. "The strength of the Lord" (Phillipians 4:13). Pray for a spirit of Integrity. "The quality of truthfulness" (Romans 12:17). Pray for a spirit of Repentance. "A willingness to change" (Luke 3:8). Pray for a spirit of Trust. "A fearless reliance" (Psalm 125:1). Pray for a spirit of Submission. "Choosing to yield" (Ephesians 5:21). Pray for a spirit of Teachability. "A quality of meekness" (Titus 3:2). Pray for a spirit of Prayer. "A longing to wait" (Isaiah 40:31). Pray for a spirit of Unity. "A respect for others" (I Corinthians 1:10). Pray for a spirit of Restoration. "A ministry of healing" (Isaiah 61:1,2). Pray for a spirit of Authority. "A capacity to command" (Matthew 16:19). Pray for a spirit of Generosity. "The desire to give" (Matthew 10:8). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As seen in Retirement With a Purpose http://www.RetirementWithAPurpose.com ,-----. W/,-. ,-.\W ()>a a<() (.--(_)--.) ,'/.-'\_/`-.\`. ,' / `-' \ `. / \ / \ / `. ,' \ / / `-._.-' \ \ ,-`-._/| |=|o |\_.-< <,--.) |_____| |o____| )_ \ `-)| |// _ \\| )/ || |' | `| || | | | || ( )|( ) || | | | || | | | || |_.--.|.--._| || /'""| |""`\ [] `===' `===' hjw >MAKING THE REST THE BEST By Paul J. Meyer Being 70+ I commenced on an adventure I spent seventy years preparing for - my eighth decade. I looked forward to it with great gusto, and I can already tell I have good news for you. Life begins at seventy! I thought being sixty was incredible, but being seventy is almost incomprehensible. Other people aged, but I simply did not believe it would ever happen to me. Many, many years ago, the very idea that I would ever reach seventy was as remote as the thought that the year 2000 would arrive. The inevitable has finally arrived, though. Now that I have reached seventy, I can relax. People don't generally expect as much of me. When I was in my sixties, people expected me to retire to a rocking chair on the front porch of a condo, "take it easy" and complain about all my aches and pains. They were always asking questions like, "Do you think you should be doing that at your age?" or "What are you going to do when you retire?" I never planned to retire at sixty, or sixty-two, or sixty-five, even though people expected me to. Fortunately, I didn't feel guilty when failing to meet their expectations. Now that I'm seventy, I still am doing all the fun things I enjoy, including playing tennis, climbing mountains and flying airplanes. I am considering retirement. But nobody asks me about it anymore. Another benefit of being seventy is having lived long enough to accumulate more than a few gray hairs and smile lines. I go into this season of life with a rich reserve. And I'm not referring to my bank accounts. I'm referring to the reservoir of experiences I've gained. I fully intend to apply the lessons I've learned - first and foremost, to maintain a positive mental attitude. I also plan to keep an open mind to new ideas and to maintain a good sense of humor. Over the years, my gratitude has grown for the many people I've met along the way - family and friends, as well as thousands of acquaintances. Some I've crossed paths with I like very much. Some I love. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I never met anyone I didn't like. But I am proud to say there were hardly any I simply couldn't stand. I've always been accused of putting more on my plate than is possible for one human to handle. But my philosophy has always been to bite off more than I can chew - and then to promptly chew it. I have loved living this way. I'm realistic enough to know, however, that I will never be as vibrant as I was twenty, thirty or forty years ago. I am still in good health and capable of living a rich, full life - spiritually, emotionally and mentally. But now if I get carried away and promise to be three places at once, no one thinks badly of me. They just chalk it up to my being seventy. Being seventy has other pleasant surprises. For example, everybody seems astonished that I'm still going strong. Some are amazed I can still walk without losing my balance and talk without forgetting what I'm saying. Since no one expects someone in their seventies to have perfectly good hearing, I can pretend I can't hear if I want! Once you reach seventy, people offer to open restaurant doors, help you with your jacket and save a place for you. If you're late, they know you'll arrive eventually. When you're over seventy, you don't need an excuse; people are just glad you make it. During an evening's conversation, people don't rudely interrupt you as often. They tend to treat you with respect just for having lived so long. Being seventy is better than sixty, and it's significantly better than being fifty. When you're in your fifties, people hold you responsible for things over which you have very little control - the economy, social conditions, increasing crime, and the list goes on and on. Also, by the time you are seventy, your kids are old enough to recognize that you did the best you could as a parent and no longer hold you responsible for their problems. I am grateful my grandkids have taught my kids that important truth. When you are seventy, you are given more choices. You can act either young or old. If you act too young, people say you're going through your second childhood. If you act too old, they think you're getting senile and smother you with kindness. You do have to guard against people expecting that you have all this time and nothing to do with it. Convincing them otherwise is sometimes a challenge. I keep telling people how busy I am, how I have goals enough to keep me busy until I'm one hundred, but I still have to say a lot of no's. I have noticed that I've had to say fewer since I put up a poster in my company headquarters office saying, "Retired - gone fishing, hiking, golfing, flying, cycling, snorkeling, swimming, reading, napping and smelling the roses. . . . Meanwhile, have a nice day. Enjoy your work. . . . I've been there and done that." Being seventy has reinforced a belief and practice I have held tenaciously to all my life. I don't have to be overly concerned about pleasing others. I don't have to wear suits, starched shirts or ties. I can wear tennis shoes, or no shoes, for that matter! I can take a nap whenever I feel like it. I'm only sorry that I didn't start sooner. After all, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, so I've heard, took naps throughout the day all their lives and no one was bothered. People, in fact, just considered it part of their being geniuses. Being seventy also gives me more perspective. I've learned not to sweat the small stuff. It's all small stuff. Time is very precious. It's too often wasted on hate, bitterness, holding grudges, or being unforgiving or vindictive. Now that I've lived long enough to discern what is noble and what is not, I have recommitted myself to doing more good and also encouraging others to do more with their oppor- tunities. I am convinced that doing good will keep my heart and mind strong and vibrant. I do not know what the rest of my life will bring, but I am setting goals and planning for it to be a great adventure. I look forward to this new season of life, making the rest the best. I'm convinced right now that life begins at seventy. Of course, when I ask my older friends, they insist that life begins at eighty. I wonder if it really begins at ninety. I'll let you know when I get there. -<>- To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ========================================================== _____ / \/_ //\__(\_\ |\ ^ ^ | .//_O \O_ \ \_ (_) / \ \_/ / __/\ /\__ / \ \ / / \ / \/\/\/ \ / | . | \ / | . | \ JRO >-->Life Life can seem ungrateful and not always kind... Life can pull at your heartstrings and play with your mind.... Life can be blissful and happy and free... Life can put beauty in the things that you see ... Life can place challenges right at your feet... Life can make good of the hardships we meet... Life can overwhelm you and make your head spin... Life can reward those determined to win... Life can be hurtful and not always fair... Life can surround you with people who care ... Life clearly does offer its Up and its Downs... Life's days can bring you both smiles and frowns... Life teaches us to take the good with the bad... Life is a mixture of happy and sad... SO Take the Life that you have and give it your best... Think positive, be happy, let God do the rest... Take the challenges that life has laid at your feet... Take pride and be thankful for each one you meet... To yourself give forgiveness if you stumble and fall... Take each day that is dealt you and give it your all... Take the love that you're given and return it with care... Have faith that when needed it will always be there... Take time to find the beauty in the things that you see... Take life's simple pleasures let them set your heart free.... The idea here is simply to even the score As you are met and faced with Life's Tug of War -- Author Unknown >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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