Little Nudges... :) 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. If every one would chip in $25 or more, we'd be good for the whole year! So Please - I need your help today! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please 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! ================ __ __ | |_| |______ _,___ _,___ _ _ \--/ | _ |__ | __ | __ | |_| | /`-' '-`\ |__| |__|__-_,_| ,___| ,___|___, | / \ |_| |_| |_| /.'|/\ /\|'.\ __ __ _ _ \/ | |_| |______| | |______ __ _ __ ______ ______ _,____ | _ |__ | | | __ | | | | --__| --__| __ \ |__| |__|__-_,_|_|_|______|_______|______|______|_| |_| ___ \--/ .' `"-._ Since this is the time /`-' '-`\ / , `'-_.-. for goblins and bats, / \ / /`'. ,' _ | /.'|/\ /\|'.\ `-' `-. ,' ,'\\/ \/ \, ,' ee`-. Halloween spirits and / ./ ,(_ \ , ghosts and cats, (_/\\\ \__|`--' || ///\\| \ || ////||-./`-.} .--|| Weird happenings and / `-.__.-`_.-.| witches brew, | '._,-'`|___} `; / '. |/ || ,;'` | '.__,.-` || ':, These are the things | | || ,;' I wish for you: / / _,.||oOoO.,_ | | \-.O,o_O..-/ / / / \ May the only ghost | / / \ that comes to stay, | | | , | / | \ ) ( ) / Be the Holy Ghost jgs | \ ,'.(:, ),: (_.'. to guide your way. / /'.' ="`""="="=="= '. `'"---'-.__.'"""` ` "" "" `"" ,, , ,, ,\\//, .--') ,\\//, ,\\\///, ,, / / May the only spirit ,\\\///, \\\\//// ,\\//, | / you chance to meet, \\\\//// \\\/// ,\\\///, /'.\ (_.'\ \\\/// ###### \\\\//// \ / ###### ////\\\\ \\\/// '--. .---' Be the spirit of love ////\\\\ /////\\\\\###### ( " ) and warm friends sweet, /////\\\\\//////\\\\////\\\\ '-' //////\\\\\\/,///\\\/////\\\\\ _ ///////\_?_\\(_) //////\\\\\\, ( \ May the only tricks .'`---`'. _j_/////\\\\\(_) ) ) you are /.'a a \.'`---`'. jgs ( ( .-""-. A.-.A asked to do, |: ^ /.'d\ /b \ \ \/ \/ , , \ \' www |: ^ | \ \ =; t /= '._____.'\' VVV / \ |"". ',--' Be the trick '._____.' / // | || of getting /_,)) |_,)) a friend or two. >-->3 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our flaming hot new page is from our friend Linda. It is sure to perk your interest with its little known facts that may just surprise you that you never knew of them before! Be sure to check this one out here... |..| ? ? c >| ? \'/ /><\ unknown Amazing Trivia Facts 9! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/triviafacts9.html --- ...Awesome! Thanks Linda! The Halloween Facts are interesting. Checking out the meaning for 'wise woman', it might not surprise you that the first account of the word 'wise' in the bible refers to the Fall of Adam and Eve... Gen.3 [6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. AND we know how God feels about witches. The first account of it says this... Exod.22 [18] Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. And the next says this... Deut.18 [10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, [11] Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. [12a] For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: Pretty plain, huh? -<>- >AN UPDATE - From BizarreNews: *--- Hypercar breaks speed records in Nevada ---* A U.S. company captured the title of world's fastest production car when its latest model reached an average speed of 316.11 mph. SSC North America has announced that the Tuatara hypercar was tested outside Las Vegas in a pair of high speed runs on Nevada State Highway 160 in opposite directions, allowing for the company to account for factors like wind and road variations. The car averaged a top speed of 316.11 mph, capturing the title of the world's fastest production car. The vehicle reached a top speed of 331.15 during one of the runs, capturing a record for the highest speed ever achieved on a public road. SSC said the Tuatara is the second car made by the company to hold the title of world's fastest production car. The record was previously broken in 2007 by SSC's Ultimate Aero car. The company said it plan a production run of 100 Tuatara cars to be sold commercially. --- ... Check It And The Videos For It Out Here... . .. __..---/______//-----. (( ) .".--.```| - /.--. =: ( VROOM! )) (.: {} :__L______: {} :__; __--( __- -_= ) *--* *--* jnh I've updated this page - World's Fastest Cars! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fastcars.html This next too hot to handle new page is from our friend Fran. It's a bit on the bizarre side but you should find it quite interesting as well. Human ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. This little town decided to use their wits to overcome nature. Instead of trying to deal with the extreme heat during an opal mining explosion, they went with the flow and used the mines to their advantage. Check out this amazing unique town along with its videos here... _,__ .: Darwin <* / | \ .-./ |. : :, / '-._/ \_ / ' \ .' *: Brisbane .-' ; | | \ / | / Perth \* __.--._ / \ _.' \:. | >__,-' \_/*_.-' Melbourne snd :--, '/ Australia's Dugouts http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/australia2.html --- ...Absolutely stunning! Thanks Fran! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: "You wouldn't believe On All Hallow Eve What lots of fun we can make, With apples to bob, And nuts on the hob, And a ring-and-thimble cake." -- Carolyn Wells A very interesting story today and it fits in well with Halloween this weekend. We didn't know that clowns had a code and that code was strictly upheld -- looks like David didn't know either. New clowns BEWARE! ,v. _____>o< / |_ (_________) ///,-.-.\\\ _||__|__||_ (_\|_O|_O|/_) )(#__)( ((`---')) _,. \\-.-// ////) \`-'/ (`'//// __/\`-'/\__ _ ) / ,-'|( )o( )|`-. /o`. ,' ,' ||\/>-<\/|| /`-/`. `. ,'`- || /)O_\ || '` `./ /` !||/o.(_)\||!, -..' / .'!|/o_O o(_\|!`-.__.' / .' !|\(_)o Oo/|! /`._.' !||\O.o_o/||! \o | .=!|| `.(.' ||!=. /`-'\ (( \|| o ||/ )) _\ |) )`-||___o___||-'( / `--'\ |//|| | : ||\\| /.--==--.\ |/(X) | : (X)\| o/ ______ \o| |_: | _ [\' `/]| __ ,,,,,| (/ |\`--==--'/||,,,,, | |///| | _ | )/)/`.(' |||oOo| | |///| | (/ | `(_) \) |||OoO| | ''''' | \ `PAINT'/ |''''' _| | _,`-=..=-' | |_| ,'\ | (_/ /( | | \,' | \_) `-.___.-^-.___.-' ,---. |=| |=| ,---. ( # \,,,,&/`-'| |`-'\&,,,,/ # ) \ ) ( / `========'`==' `=='`========' hjw >TEARS OF A CLOWN by Kathleene S. Baker David glanced into the rearview mirror of his car, double- checked his makeup, and straightened his gawdy, polka-dot tie. "I really do look good!" he muttered and smiled at his reflection. With head held high, David strode across the parking lot to his workplace. He had rummaged through tables at Goodwill and visited garage sales to gather items for his perfectly coordinated outfit. Polyester slacks, in a large red, white, and blue check, were his favorite find. After a good spit-shine, his second-hand, navy and beige, wing-tip shoes looked like new, though he wished they fit a bit better. He feared by the end of the day he'd be crippled from blisters -- his red, orange and yellow striped socks weren't quite thick enough for comfort. "David! You look fantastic this morning." Obviously one co- worker approved of his attire as he'd barely walked through the door before she piped up. David politely tipped his red derby hat, exposing a shock of orange hair. "Thanks, Fran, and so do you. You should wear that shade of purple more often." They both chuckled. David stuck his thumbs under his suspenders and gave them a tug. Compliments from co- workers continued. David was all but giddy. Devon, Jerry, and David didn't have clients for another half hour, so they stepped into the mall smoking area. Soon the shop would buzz with folks and it might be afternoon before they'd have another smoke break. The three were puffing and chatting, when out of nowhere, she charged like a mad bull. "What are you doing?" screeched the young, shorthaired woman as she closed in on them. The three looked at one another and then at her -- they had not a clue what she wanted. With the stealth of a panther she pounced! David hit the tile floor face first. His red derby hat adorned with a yellow and orange band bounced to a stop several feet away. The attacker grabbed hold and stayed atop David. "What do you think you are doing?" What brought this on, David wondered. His pals stood paralyzed, their eyes enormous. He looked up at them -- why aren't they doing anything to get this crazed woman off of me? With an angry voice the wild woman began lobbing questions. "How long have you been a clown? "Uh, well since about 7:30 this morning," David snapped. Within moments a crowd had gathered. David struggled to get on his feet. Several people offered him a hand. Still, the strange attacker kept a tight grasp on one arm. "Are you a professional clown?" Her dark eyes were flashing. "No!" David spat. "Then where did you get that costume?" David explained he'd assembled his costume from a mishmash of items found at Goodwill. She looked skeptical, very skeptical! The livid female kept at it. "Who did your makeup? It looks too professional." "I did my own makeup, thank you! But, I'm not a professional clown if that's what you're driving at. The Regis Hair Salon dresses for Halloween each year and this year I'm a clown. Got it? We do it for fun." She continued her death grip on David's arm! "How many hours will you wear that clown suit today?" "I'll wear it until I'm finished with my customers and then we're going out to party! Now would you let go of me and leave me alone?" Glaring at the cigarette still on the floor, she loosened her grip and began to explain. "Look, I am a professional clown! Clowns do not smoke." She poked David in the chest with her forefinger and ordered, "Do not smoke while dressed like that! I mean it. Don't let me see you do it again." "Lady, don't poke me! I'm a clown for Halloween and that's all. If you are finished manhandling me, I'm going to work." As David walked toward the salon she gave him one more warning, "I don't want to see you smoking in that clown outfit again today!" The early morning assault left a damper on the usual Halloween merriment at the salon. As for David, the day had been downright ruined. The few smoke breaks he took were wrought with angst for he knew his assailant was lurking somewhere in the mall and might strike like a cobra at any moment. Constantly looking over his shoulder, he felt like a criminal on the run. He vowed to never again dress as a clown. In days to come David made it a point to learn about professional clowns. He found there is more to "clowning" than entertaining others with nonsensical fun. They adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and smoking is not tolerated when dressed "in clown." Still, he found little solace in their principles after being subjected to an attack on his person by a crazed woman. Strict Code of Ethics, indeed! An old song played incessantly in David's mind the rest of that horrid Halloween day, "Tears of a Clown"... -- Kathleene S. Baker __________________________________________________ Kathleene is from Texas. =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Empowered by God's Spirit - Part I "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."1 Some time ago a lovely Broadway actress wondered how one person could possibly fill Madison Square Gardens with 20,000 people every night for four months? Impossible, she thought. And the only reason she attended Billy Graham's New York Crusade was to find out how he did it. This actress had a longstanding illness that she described as "a terrible cavity somewhere in the abdominal region." Fearing she had some dreaded disease, she had been examined by several doctors and had insisted on exploratory surgery. Not one doctor could find anything physically wrong with her. But that night as she sat listening to Billy Graham and trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, without warning, she was gripped with this dreaded emptiness more severely than ever. Suddenly, she realized that its cause wasn't physical at all. It was spiritual. So she responded to the invitation to receive Jesus Christ into her heart as personal Lord and Savior--and her overwhelming emptiness vanished, never to return. Not all emptiness has a spiritual cause by any means, but much of the emptiness that plagues modern society does. Or it may be a combination of causes, including the spiritual. People are not only physical and emotional beings with a need for food and friends, but they are also spiritual beings with a need for God. Without Christ in our lives we are spiritually dead, but when we receive Him as our personal Lord and Savior, we become spiritually alive2 and are immediately indwelt by God's Spirit (the Holy Spirit), and become a part of the body of Christ and the family of God. As the Apostle Paul said, "For we were all baptized (immersed) by one Spirit [God's Spirit] into one body ... and are all given the one Spirit."3 Every true Christian, therefore, has God's Spirit dwelling within him or her. But God doesn't only want us to be merely indwelt by, but also to be filled with His Spirit. His injunction is to "keep on being filled with the Spirit"4 which is not a once-for-all experience, but needs to be a continuous, daily experience. When we are filled with God's Spirit, He fills the spiritual vacuum in our life and empowers us to help us overcome temptation and sin,5 and to produce in us the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.6 The Holy Spirit also helps us to become effective witnesses for Jesus Christ.7 How then can we be filled with and empowered by God's Holy Spirit? We will answer this question in Parts II and III of this series. Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that when I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I was indwelt by Your Holy Spirit. But I don't want to be a half-hearted Christian and only be indwelt by Your Spirit. Help me to understand and learn how to be daily filled with Your Spirit so that Your light will shine through me and impact others for Jesus. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus Christ's name, amen." To be continued. 1. Ephesians 5:15-18 (NIV). 2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV). 3. I Corinthians 12:13 (NIV), 4. Ephesians 5:18 (literal translation, NIV). 5. Romans 8:12 (NIV). 6. Galatians 5:22, 23 (NIV). 7. Acts 1:8 (NIV). <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Empowered by God's Spirit - Part II "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive."1 Yesterday we explained how every Christian can be filled with and empowered by God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and thus have God's presence and power dwelling within him or her at all times. Today and tomorrow we want to answer the question: "How can we be filled with and thus empowered by the Holy Spirit?" First, desire and faith. As with all of God's gifts, so is the filling of the Holy Spirit. We need to truly want it, and we need to believe that God will give it to us as He said he would. As noted in today's Bible verse, "Jesus said, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive."2 Second, commitment. If my heart and mind are filled with anxiety, anxiety will control me. If anger, anger will control me. If fear, fear will control me. But if my heart and mind are filled with God's Spirit, my life will be filled with His love, joy, and peace and these will control me. Furthermore, what we are filled with is what we are committed to. If we are committed to ourselves, we will be controlled by our selfish desires plus our anxieties, fears, and so on. But if we are genuinely committed to Christ and make Him Lord of our everyday life, we will be controlled by His Spirit and our life will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Third, confession. It should go without saying that if we have any unresolved sin in our life, we need to confess it and put it behind us. We cannot be living in sin and be controlled by God's Spirit at the same time. The good news is that, as the Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."3 When we confess our sins and make our life right with God, we are able to receive the fullness of God's Spirit. Fourth, openness. The real issue isn't how much of the Holy Spirit I have, but how much of me does the Holy Spirit have? As we have said, when we receive Christ as Lord and Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit in all His fullness. The difficulty is that most of us don't know how to open ourselves to the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit. Fifth, personal honesty. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Spirit of Truth. Thus, to be filled with the Spirit of Truth, we need to be truthful with ourselves as well as with God. If we have committed our lives to Jesus and dedicated our hearts and minds to God's control but still don't have His love, joy, and peace, it isn't because God or His Spirit has left us. It can be because of barriers in us that block the flow of God's Spirit. These barriers can be caused by unresolved feelings of fear, inadequacy, guilt, hurt, anger, hatred, resentment, and so on, that we have either consciously or unconsciously hidden or repressed. In many ways these unresolved issues keep us bound within ourselves, which in turn, block out God's Spirit. Therefore, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, I need to ask God if there are any areas of my life that are causing barriers between myself and Him. If so, I need to be courageously honest about these, and with God's help, and the help of a qualified counselor if necessary, confront and resolve these. Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I want to be filled with and empowered by Your Holy Spirit. To the best of my ability I surrender the control of my life to You. If there are any unresolved issues in my life that are hindering or blocking my being filled with Your Spirit, please reveal these to me, and lead me to the help I need to resolve them so I can be fully filled with and controlled by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus Christ's name, amen." To be concluded in Part III. 1. John 7:37-39 (NIV). 2. John 7:37-39 NIV). 3. 1 John 1:9 (NIV). <:))))>< When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== >-->Doing All Things - In Moderation? by emb __ ( y--. .=-. \_\/_,' / | --("))))))= __|__ | / < > > `\ .=-. .-' `-:._.-. | | / \' / | .\_. | | | ,- `(\|.--. .' \ . / \ / `'| ),' `-\_/ |` ` (\ `-'| / \ ' ; .' \ , /\ .' \ '`-.___.-> \ .> \ /\\ `---'| `. -' || `-..-' hjw .=`-....___ || / _.-`--=._ `----.___// \.' _.-'-.`-. `----' '\ ;' \ ; _.'`-. .' / ___ ' _.-'`. / / ,' , `-._ _.-| / /.--\ \ `._ __.---' `./ | \' \ `. `._.-' `. ``. | | `. d8oooo._\_ `. \ /\ / 988888888b. `. \ /::`-.__.'\ 688888888888b : | ___ |::::::::::\ "d8b""888888, ; |`-. .' _`. |::::::::::::. 8888888 | `. / .::::\ |::::::::::::::. /888888' / / /:::::| \:::::::::::::::.._ .' d88888 ___ .' | |:::::| `:::::::::::::::::"--.' `88888`. .-' _`._ |:::::| `::::::::::::::::-' d8889 `/ ,.::.\`-.__ |:::::/ `::::::::::;'`-._ `"' / /:::::| `-. \:::;' ``''''' `-._ /::::::| `-`"' `-._ |:::::::/ `-._ |::::::/ `. \:::;' `--`"' My daughter brought this little gem up to me. She, like me, had adopted a life philosophy of most things are OK to do in moderation. Like eating, sleeping, drinking, partying, - well you get the idea. Once we go over that middle line is when we get in trouble - being a gluten, a sluggard, a sloth, a drunk, a fool and so on. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. So most all our useful and fun things are from God. They serve a good purpose. However, the devil is the one that turns them into something bad. With moderate use and Godly wisdom, we can enjoy most all of God's gifts to mankind - like He intended for us to do. But then when it comes to God Himself, that whole philosophy gets blown to smithereens! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' God says no moderation when we pray... 1 Thes.5: [17] Pray without ceasing. God says no moderation when putting on His armor... Eph.6: [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. God says no moderation in loving Him... Mark.12: [30] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. God says no moderation in our commitment to Him... James 4: [7] Submit [addict] yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. With God, we are not to be in moderation! He wants all of us! Rev.3: [15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Check out these Teachings God First! http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/GOD_FIRST.htm Taking ACTION on the Word of God! https://tinyurl.com/y4kzvwr4 =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: /\ ejm97 '\/ ' + ' + ' + ' + ' + ' + ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' __ ' \o . ' \\/ /\ / / A Word From Billy Graham "There is a story about a boy flying a kite. The kite was so high that it had disappeared into the clouds. A man came by and asked, `What are you doing, son, holding onto that string?' The boy answered, `I've got a kite up there.' The man looked up and said, `I don't see it.' The boy replied, `Well, I know it's there because I can feel the tug.' That's like the witness of the Holy Spirit within us. We may not see the evidence, but we feel a tug in our hearts constantly, letting us know that we are in touch with God. That is the witness of the Holy Spirit." Quiet Nudges "I have determined that throughout each day I will be alert to the Holy Spirit's working in my life. For example, one Sunday afternoon when I was about to sit down and relax with the newspaper, I suddenly remembered a relative whom I knew was lonely. I silently thanked the Lord for the quiet nudge and proceeded to follow through by visiting with my relative for part of the afternoon. I have come to realize that there is an effort required of us if we are to progress in the Christian life. But we need to trust God and rest in Him so that we can be aware of His quiet nudges" (Lorraine Joy Burt). -<>- _,-""`""-~`) (`~_,=========\ |---,___.-.__,\ | o \ ___ _,,,,_ _.--. \ `^` /`_.-"~ `~-;` \ \_ _ .' `, | |`- \'__/ / ,_ \ `'-. / .-""~~--. `"-, ;_ / | \ \ | `""` \__.--'`"-. /_ |' `"` `~~~---.., | jgs \ _.-'`-. \ \ '. / `"~"` >Less Stress "A relaxed attitude lengthens a man's life." I remember reading about a small bridge in a rural area. Its load limit was ten tons. It served its community very well for thirty years until a twelve-ton truck tried to cross it. The added stress was beyond the bridge's capacity--it collapsed under the extra load. We're all like that. Each of us has a limit as to how much stress we can handle before we break. It is well documented that too much stress is a killer. Thus we need to know just how much we can handle and learn to limit the load we carry. However, even though my load limit may be "ten or fifteen tons," if I'm not flexible and able to bend with the winds of adversity and learn how to go with the flow of life's circumstances, I may collapse well below my load limit. Furthermore, as the Bible taught three thousand years ago, we also need to learn how to have a relaxed attitude in the midst of stressful and pressured situations. While it isn't easy, in a nutshell we need to limit the load we attempt to carry, eat right, exercise regularly, work hard but take time to relax, laugh a lot, cry when we are sad, never bottle up negative emotions but learn to express them in healthy ways. And above all, we need to learn to commit and trust our life to God every day! -<>- .--. .--. / ' .\ |'. ( .-. \ \ . ` /\. /`. / ) ( `.' .' '--'` (\ \.' .' ) \`. \ _/ _..--' `. \ /`'<_/ : )"'``..`-3 : :. `"'. ) / |-.'' (_.-._ | / ( .'`--..J ' |-'( |_| | : >` '. .'' : | Y | < | : > ' \ `_ : '` \ / :- ' || : / ./: | \ .'J /_ ) : | '% | a:f /.-.`). : I | / ( \ ) : .^) `-' `..-' (`"' / ===' >MAKING SENSE OF LIFE By: Joseph J. Mazzella "Does life ever make sense?" This was a question asked to me by a friend the other day. Like all of us this lady had seen a lot of suffering, a lot of injustice, and a lot of insanity in this world. She had seen parents having to bury their children, good people having to go through cancer, and hard working souls having to struggle to make ends meet. She had seen wars, famines, and natural disasters. She had seen cruel and selfish people prosper while others with more caring hearts dealt with loss and tragedy. As she looked me in the eyes and asked me that question, I smiled back and said the first words that came from my heart: "only when you love." I think now that those words must have been sent to me by God, because the wisdom in them eased her mind and touched her heart. We talked peacefully a while longer and she thanked me before going on her way. In truth, only love can make sense of this life. It is only when you love that you can grow better and more caring from the pains life brings you. It is only when you love that you can face injustice with a passion to make things better. It is only when you love that you can meet the insanity of the world with the sanity of your soul. Love helps you to see the precious value of every life no matter how limited or how brief. Love helps you to face a life threatening disease with a greater joy for living. Love helps you to see that true wealth comes from the soul and not the things you own. With love in your life you realize the senselessness of war and the pricelessness of peace. With love in your heart you see every famine and natural disaster as a call to help others even more. With love in your soul you feel God's love everywhere as well. If you want to make sense of this life then just love. It won't stop the questions, but it will help you live the answers. It won't fully explain this life, but it will get you ready for the next. -<>- / .' .---. \/ (._.' \() ^"""^" bug >The Transformation of a Hideous Beetle One afternoon, a man, lying in a canoe close to shore, saw many beetles in the muddy bottom of the lake. He felt sorry for these lowly creatures which would never know any other world except gloom and mud and water. Then a big, black beetle came out of the water. He crawled up on the gunwale and sat there blinking at him. Under the heat of the sun the beetle died. Then a strange thing happened. His black shell cracked down the back. Out of it came a shapeless mass whose hideousness was transformed into a beautiful, brilliantly colored life. Out of that mass gradually unfolded four iridescent wings from which the sunlight flashed a thousand colors. The wings spread wide as if to worship the sun. The man realized that he had witnessed the transformation of a hideous beetle crawling in the mud to a gorgeous dragonfly soaring above the waters. The body that was left behind still clung to the gunwale of the canoe. While the dragonfly explored the wonders of his wings and his new world, the other beetles were still crawling in the mud. He knew that he had seen a miracle of nature. Out of the mud had come a beautiful new life. The thought occurred to him, if the Creator worked such wonders with the lowliest of creatures, what must be in store for His children created in his likeness!? That is our hope and our victory on this day. That is our comfort and our peace. O. Garfield Beckstrand II, In Sure and Certain Hope, CSS Publishing Company, Inc. -<>- ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >Your Valuable Friends I heard a story about an older woman who stood in line at the Post Office. She struck up a conversation with a young man next to her. He noticed that she had no packages to mail, and asked why she was standing in line. She said that she just needed a few stamps. "Ma'am, you must be tired standing here. Did you know there's a stamp machine over there in the corner?" He pointed to the machine built into the wall. "Why yes, thank you," the lady replied, "but I'll just wait here a little while longer. I'm getting close to the window." The customer became insistent. "But it would be so much easier for you to avoid this long line and buy your stamps from the machine." The woman patted him on the arm and answered, "Oh, I know. But that old machine would never ask me how my grandchildren are doing." She had a need greater than the need for postage stamps -- a need to feel connected to other people. And it was a need that could not be met by a stamp machine. When Harry Truman was thrust into the U.S. presidency at the death of Franklin Roosevelt, a colleague and friend -- Congressman Sam Rayburn of Bonham, Texas -- gave Truman some fatherly advice. Rayburn said, "Harry, from here on out, you're going to have lots of people around you. They'll try to put a wall around you and cut you off from any ideas but theirs. They'll tell you what a great man you are, Harry. But you and I both know you ain't." Friends can say those things to each other. Later, when Sam Rayburn discovered that he was seriously ill, he told his friends in Congress that he was going home to Bonham for medical tests. "But there are excellent doctors and medical facilities in Washington D.C." some of them argued. "Why would you want to go to Bonham?" "Because," the congressman replied, "Bonham is a place where people know it when you're sick, and where they care when you die." Rayburn had a need greater than good medical assistance. He needed friends. Someone to ask how his grandchildren were doing. Someone to sit by him and stop by his home. Someone to care. A few close friends meant more than the best medical facilities in the world. Who is such a friend to you? That person is more valuable than your greatest possession. Have you said ... thanks? ~ Steve Goodier ~ -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) I Believe In You http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ibelieveinyou.html Horse Costumes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/horsecostumes.html BibleStudy: FEAR http://tinyurl.com/39wvs2 BibleStudy: Haunting http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/haunting.html Polar Bear Encounter http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/polar.html 'Invisible' Animals 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/invisible2.html Wisdom For Life!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wisdomforlife.html LEGO Church!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/legochurch.html Strange Hotels!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hotel.html World's Tallest Treehouse!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/treehouse.html Great Engineering Achievements!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/engineering.html World's Most Spectacular Places 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/spectacularplaces3.html World's Worst Predictions! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worstpredictions.html Eagle Rescue http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eaglerescue.html Fall & Halloween Index! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/halloweenindex.html -<>- for KING & COUNTRY - God Only Knows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5cPQg3oq-o Moving into the House of God https://www.truthortradition.com/articles/moving-into-the-house-of-god What’s in a Word? – Service https://www.truthortradition.com/articles/wiaw-service What’s in a Word? – Cursing https://www.truthortradition.com/articles/wiaw-cursing How “Divine Intervention” from God Saved This Police Officer’s Life / Meet the 5 Pro-Life Women Running for Senate / The Satanic Temple Sues to Force Billboard Company to Display “Abortion as Religious Ritual” Ad AND More: https://www.christianlifedaily.com/ Hillsdale College Symposium on Race in America – Watch Now This symposium addresses the following topics: Race In America: Colorblind Constitution?, Economics, The Black Family and Education These sessions are now available online, free of charge at this secure link: https://tinyurl.com/y3ftdv76 This Socialist Initiative To Control the Family Unit May Be Coming To a City Near You And More: https://mommyunderground.com/ What Socialism brings - Venezuelans 'dying slowly' in rat- and roach-infested homes https://tinyurl.com/y6823t7h -<>- >In The News: VA: New Electronic Health Record System, 25 Events To Join, Veterans Day Discounts https://tinyurl.com/y4qbtt5w Must See - Makes me wonder about the Obama administration: - we've learned of Hillary pay to play corruption with her charity - FBI spying and Obama lying and now - (Tucker) - Joe Biden Corruption https://www.bitchute.com/video/9a249ahJP0i1/ FOX NEWS: Trump denounces White supremacy '38 times' in new campaign video, amid Biden-Harris criticisms - “The Biden campaign continues to sow division and inflame racial tension by spreading this false narrative,” the Trump campaign official added. “Enough is enough.” https://tinyurl.com/y4zujp8x Joe Biden Refers to Himself as Harris’ Running Mate at Atlanta Campaign Event / Move Over Grinch, Cops Threaten to Bust Christmas Gatherings in UK / BLM Targets Jews in PA Riots / CDC’s Own Research Cast Serious Doubts on Mask Strategy and More: https://reliablenewsnow.com/ Melania Trump: 'Children... in our country deserved a better display of political responsibility' https://tinyurl.com/y33k4d7m Joe Biden’s Family Scandal Continues to Grow and You Won’t Believe Where It Leads And MORE: https://deepstatejournal.com/ NEW Emails REVEAL Hunter Giving Access To Papa Joe For CASH! https://threepercenternation.com/ Westwing News: The Great American Recovery: Third Quarter GDP Blows Past Expectations https://www.whitehouse.gov/westwingreads/ WhiteHouseNews:Donald Trump fought the establishment—and won https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: Recall macaroni and cheese http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: CDC Warns Against Halloween Traditional Activities, High Risk http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://tinyurl.com/y2abb8d2 -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Professional magician, comedian and corporate entertainer Chris Rose fools Penn and Teller with a cookie. https://youtu.be/mF0afU5bF4M A beautiful, awesome and amazing performance by the Cirque du Soleil artists of the popular show Alegria. https://youtu.be/t_uh30gjVcY iPad Halloween Magic: Magician Simon Pierro shares an iPad Halloween story as he displays some wonderful sleight of hand skills during this digital magic performance. Simon is a wonderful entertainer and has won several prestigious awards, including 2002 Magician of the Year, 2003 Vice- World Champion of Magic, and 2004 Siegfried & Roy Award in Las Vegas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-bXE6xHFRg --- ...Sweet! Thanks LouiseAu! Irish singing group Celtic Thunder performs Amazing Grace in this entertaining music video. Amazing Grace has always been one of my favorite songs and I love to hear various musicians perform it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMlZdvERkG4 Amazing Grace by Celtic Woman: Irish musical group Celtic Woman performs “Amazing Grace” in this beautiful music video set at an outdoor concert. Celtic Woman is a group of female singers that evolved from the popularity of Irish musical shows like Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsCp5LG_zNE --- ...Beautiful! Love these! Thanks LouiseAu! Don't Get Tricked!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78eWdDoUPJI --- ...Wow! Gave me goosebumps! 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 ========================================================== , /\ , / '-' '-' \ | POLICE | \ .--. / | ( 19 ) | \ '--' / '--. .--' jgs \/ >-->YOU'RE NOT A COP UNTIL YOU TASTE THEM The department was all astir, there was a lot of laughing and joking due to all the new officers, myself included, hitting the streets today for the first time. After months of seemingly endless amounts of classes, paperwork, and lectures we were finally done with the Police Academy and ready to join the ranks of our department. All you could see were rows of cadets with huge smiles and polished badges. As we sat in the briefing room, we could barely sit still anxiously awaiting our turn to be introduced and given our beat assignment or, for the lay person, our own portion of the city to "serve and protect." It was then that he walked in. A statue of a man - 6 foot 3 and 230 pounds of solid muscle, he had black hair with highlights of gray and steely eyes that make you feel nervous even when he wasn't looking at you. He had a reputation for being the biggest and the smartest officer to ever work our fair city. He had been on the department for longer than anyone could remember and those years of service had made him into somewhat of a legend. The new guys, or "rookies" as he called us, both respected and feared him. When he spoke, even the most seasoned officers paid attention. It was almost a privilege when one of the rookies got to be around when he would tell one of his police stories about the old days. But we knew our place and never interrupted for fear of being shooed away. He was respected and revered by all who knew him. After my first year on the department I still had never heard or saw him speak to any of the rookies for any length of time. When he did speak to them all he would say was, "So, you want to be a policeman, do you hero? I'll tell you what, when you can tell me what they taste like, then you can call yourself a real policeman." This particular phrase I had heard dozens of times. Me and my buddies all had bets about "what they taste like" actually referred to. Some believed it referred to the taste of your own blood after a hard fight. Others thought it referred to the taste of sweat after a long day's work. Being on the department for a year, I thought I knew just about everyone and everything. So one afternoon, I mustered up the courage and walked up to him. When he looked down at me, I said "You know, I think I've paid my dues. I've been in plenty of fights, made dozens of arrests, and sweat my butt off just like everyone else. So what does that little saying of yours mean anyway?" With that, he merely stated, "Well, seeing as how you've said and done it all, you tell me what it means, hero." When I had no answer, he shook his head and snickered, "rookies," and walked away. The next evening was to be the worst one to date. The night started out slow, but as the evening wore on, the calls became more frequent and dangerous. I made several small arrests and then had a real knock down drag out fight. However, I was able to make the arrest without hurting the suspect or myself. After that, I was looking forward to just letting the shift wind down and getting home to my wife and daughter. I had just glanced at my watch and it was 11:55, five more minutes and I would be on my way to the house. I don't know if it was fatigue or just my imagination, but as I drove down one of the streets on my beat, I thought I saw my daughter standing on someone else's porch. I looked again but it was not my daughter as I had first thought, but merely a small child about her age. She was probably only six or seven years old and dressed in an oversized T-shirt that hung to her feet. She was clutching an old rag doll in her arms that looked older than me. I immediately stopped my patrol car to see what she was doing outside her house at such an hour by herself. When I approached, there seemed to be a sigh of relief on her face. I had to laugh to myself, thinking she sees the hero policeman come to save the day. I knelt at her side and asked what she was doing outside. She said "My mommy and daddy just had a really big fight and now mommy won't wake up." My mind was reeling. Now what do I do? I instantly called for backup and ran to the nearest window. As I looked inside I saw a man standing over a lady with his hands covered in blood, her blood. I kicked open the door, pushed the man aside and checked for a pulse, but unable to find one. I immediately cuffed the man and began doing CPR on the lady. It was then I heard a small voice from behind me, "Mr. Policeman, please make my mommy wake up." I continued to perform CPR until my backup and medics arrived but they said it was too late. She was dead. I then looked at the man. He said, "I don't know what happened. She was yelling at me to stop drinking and go get a job, and I had just had enough. I just shoved her so she would leave me alone, and she fell and hit her head." As I walked the man out to the car in handcuffs, I again saw that little girl. In the five minutes that has passed, I went from hero to monster. Not only was I unable to wake up her mommy, but now I was taking daddy away too. Before I left the scene, I thought I would talk to the little girl. To say what, I don't know. Maybe just to tell her I was sorry about her mommy and daddy. But as I approached, she turned away and I knew it was useless and I would probably make it worse. As I sat in the locker room at the station, I kept replaying the whole thing in my mind. Maybe if I would have been faster or done something different, just maybe that little girl would still have her mother. And even though it may sound selfish, I would still be the hero. It was then that I felt a large hand on my shoulder. I heard that all too familiar question again, "Well, hero, what do they taste like?" But before I could get mad or shout some sarcastic remark, I realized that all the emotions had flooded to the surface and there was a steady stream of tears cascading down my face. It was at that moment that I realized what the answer to his question was ... Tears. With that, he began to walk away, but he stopped. "You know, there was nothing you could have done differently," he said. "Sometimes you can do everything right and still the outcome is the same. You may not be the hero you once thought you were, but now you ARE a police officer." For the Christian ~ "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Rev 21:4 You're Not A Cop Until You Taste Them. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From CupO'Cheer: _____ (((\\\\\ )_ \\\| / \\|\/ \\( ), & \) ( (( |` \\ ))) _ | \` __| ` | , \ ` , \ | \ ,\ , \ ' \/ \_ \/ \ `_,`-._ ` \ ejm / `-. _ \ ` / ,`. \ === / '== =`. | ==== / | === ` / /========= / | / , /______| / , ======== __-' | = === / ,======= ' - -- ( \ \ \ ` \ ` \ ` \_____ \ / ` _/ / '-- ' >LIVING IN 'WANT' "I WANT to be happy," is an often repeated phrase. People who say it, get exactly what they're asking for. They live in the 'want' of happiness. Wanting a million dollars won't put money in your bank account. Wanting a Porsche won't turn your Neon into a lean mean driving machine. Wanting to be a bird won't give you wings or get you off the ground. The more you 'want' those things, the more 'want' you get. It comes in extraordinary amounts and becomes a physical ache, when you want something 'really bad'. Instead of curling yourself into a tight little ball and remaining clutched in the 'want' of happiness, open yourself up to the opportunity of receiving it. Fill the holes in your life with the joy of being alive. Work at happiness from the inside out. Remove the weight of 'want' off your heavily burdened shoulders and make yourself available to bliss. When you achieve inner happiness, it shows. It seeps from your eyes and rolls off your words. Your peace of heart, supported by a solid foundation, is unflappable. You see external happiness for what it really is, a precarious source of self fulfillment. Your 'want' is gone, and without it, you stand in the wake of grand possibilities. Your eyes see the positive in what you have, instead of the negative in what you lack. Happiness starts coming at you from a multitude of directions. Live in the 'want' of being happy, or 'be' happy. The choice is completely up to you. -Terri McPherson- -<>- ,________________ / \ \ |.-| | .-', | ,_______ | / | """""| | | O\__.--| '-' | ,=` _|______________| ',,,==` `~~~~|||~~~~~~~` ` ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| \\ |||, // jgs . ..::::\\\||////::::.... '' ' "" ' '"" "" "" '' ""' "'' >NEEDING A NUDGE A wiser person than I once said that humans have four basic needs. One is the need to be nurtured. Next is the need to be needed. Third, the need to be noticed. And finally, the need to be nudged. Although I never had much luck nudging my own children, I've often thought of a story about a small boy who could not be nudged to quit banging a drum. Various attempts were made to do something about quieting the child. One person told the boy that he would, if he continued to make so much noise, perforate his eardrums. This reasoning was too advanced for the child, who was neither a scientist nor a scholar. A second person told him that drum beating was a sacred activity and should be carried out only on special occasions. A third person offered the neighbors plugs for their ears; a fourth gave the boy a book; a fifth gave the neighbors books that described a method of controlling anger through biofeedback; a sixth person gave the boy meditation exercises to make him placid and docile. None of these attempts worked. Eventually, a wise person came along with an effective motivation. He looked at the situation, handed the child a hammer and chisel, and asked, "I wonder what is INSIDE the drum?" No more problem. I agree that we sometimes need to be nudged. At times, we may need to be nudged into healthier behaviors. Or maybe nudged out of destructive relationships or patterns. Or simply nudged to think a little bigger; to do or be a something more challenging and less mediocre. No doubt, that is why the motivational industry is so successful. (And no, it is probably not true that if you listen to your motiva- tional tapes backwards you will become a failure. I think a couple of you may have been worried about that.) It seems to me that good leaders know about this basic human need to be prodded, challenged and encouraged. They also know that the best way to nudge someone is often simply to invite them along a path that is more appealing than the one they've chosen. The best leaders teach us to dream and tempt us to do more than we ever thought possible. They challenge us to be a part of something great. Writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." Sometimes all we need is a nudge to desire something magnificent. Is this the nudge you need? - Steve Goodier -<>- .----. _.'__ `. .--(#)(##)---/#\ .' @ /###\ : , ##### `-..__.-' _.-\###/ jgs `;_: `"' .'"""""`. /, JOE ,\ // COOL! \\ `-._______.-' ___`. | .'___ (______|______) >BELIEVE GOD FOR GREAT THINGS! The poet wrote, "Beware of those who stand aloof, and greet each venture with reproof. The world would stop if things were run, by those who say, ‘It can't be done.'" Refuse to let the word "impossible" stop you. Jesus said, "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) If those who've changed the world had left every "impossible" task undone, we'd still be living in the Dark Ages. Here are four examples: * German experts predicted that trains traveling at 40 kph would cause severe nosebleeds and the passengers would suffocate going through tunnels. American experts added that we'd need more mental institutions because people would go mad when they saw the first trains. * When the YWCA first announced typing classes for women, there was a furious backlash on the grounds that the "female constitution would deteriorate under such strain." * Experts insisted that iron ships would never float, that the iron would wreak havoc with the compass readings. * In 1797, New Jersey farmers denounced the first cast-iron plough, insisting it would poison the land and stimulate weeds. So much for "experts!" More of us are persuaded into believing for too little than believing for too much. Vision is essential for survival. And a God-given vision is conceived by faith, sustained by prayer and fueled by God's Word. It's not about what you can do, but what God can do with your life when it's fully surrendered to Him. It encompasses things outside the realm of the predictable, the safe, and the expected. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). If God has given you a vision, pursue it, and believe Him for great things! as seen in FirstIMPRESSIONS -<>- .------------------------. | PSYCHIATRIC | | HELP 5¢ | |________________________| || .-"""--. || || / \.-. || || | ._, \ || || \_/`-' '-.,_/ || || (_ (' _)') \ || || /| |\ || || | \ __ / | || || \_).,_____,/}/ || __||____;_--'___'/ ( || |\ || (__,\\ \_/------|| ||\||______________________|| |||| | |||| THE DOCTOR | \||| IS [IN] _____| \|| (______) jgs `|___________________//||\\ //=||=\\ ` `` ` >"A TWISTED TRUTH IS STILL A LIE." By Bob Perks I am a tired American. I'm tired of all the lies. I am tired of being bombarded by messages meant to confuse, misguide and lead me where you want me to go. Here's the truth. No one party has all the answers. Not the Republicans, Democrats, Tea Party, Coffee Party (yes there is one) or any other. You see us as sheep and you the sheep herders call us, not by name, you don't know our names. But by demographics, group, age, economic status and race. You take aim at the vulnerable. You tell the elderly that the other party will steal your security, make them stand in lines for healthcare. The elderly cry "fixed income" and you promise, "We'll fix it." The only thing you need to fix are the broken promises you've all made before. You create fear-filled television messages, with ominous looking images of angry people plucked from unemployment lines and senior centers, while you recite facts twisted to fit your view. In truth they are snippets of reality, incomplete sound bites and images of your opponent looking their worst. You wave the flag and gather your family for a portrait, shake hands with our military, nod your head in agreement with union members, stand near a tractor with a farmer whose very livelihood is being plowed under by over regulation and huge corporate control and we become numb to the relentless pounding of the distant drums of doom. It has been called the "dumbing down of America." You talk about securing our borders, strengthening homeland security and the possibility of the next terrorist attack. All of this while you fight on the floor of congress, in the halls of the state legislature and the corrupt chambers of local government over nothing more than the betterment, not of the people you serve, but your party's agenda and control. No one individual can solve all of America's problems. Not the President of the United States, majority or minority leaders, political celebrities or on air personalities. We all must work together or together we fail. America was established as "We the People." That means that we control this country. That is, my friend, a huge responsibility. It should not be taken lightly. How do we do it? By vote. That vote is the most powerful weapon on earth and it is placed in the hands of every American. It can be used as a weapon to destroy or a tool to build up. Don't vote against something, vote for what you know to be the truth. The difference is a vote is like buck shot. When you try to single out one thing you hit it all, taking down the good with the bad. Before you vote, research, read, talk it over with friends, family, check the facts, recheck the facts and yes, pray. We can still pray in America. Voting demands participation. Being an American is more than holding a birth certificate as proof. It is holding on when things get tough, holding out when others give in, and holding to this simple truth, that "All are created equal." Whether you pull a lever, tap a video screen, punch a hole, check a box, or sign your name to an absentee ballot, you are declaring, "I've done my job. I've taken responsibility, I've made an educated decision based on my own research, I've voiced my opinion and I declare myself one of the proud members of "We the people of the United States of America." Don't be led by the sheep herders any more. Vote smart for the good of all, not the betterment of a few. A twisted truth is still a lie. "I wish you enough!" - Bob Perks To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. --- ...President Trump: Promises Made - Promises Kept: https://tinyurl.com/y4u8vzba ========================================================== _ ______ / `'. ,-"` '. / /'-.'. ___ .' \ \/ '.\.' ' | .| .'`\ | /`"'--., / \ , _.--'` \/_ | ,----.| _ `_--;` ``` `\-. | | \ | -- C -- _/ \ \ | \ 0 0 / . | | \| ) | '. _.' |.__/ ; \ `'---` / / __ '. .' | (__) /'-._____,-` \ /---'.-""-.\ '. / ||,- \\ ;---`;-._||-= |\ , ."""-. \ ) `|'.___.' \ ___ \'. / '-. \ /`-`-; / \ ,/ `) \ \| \ `` | | \|| / /'.| )_ / || | | \/ .' \ \ .-'/ ` |` |.-' .-~ ~-~-._ |.'` \ ` '-. \___/,__/ ~` _ `~~-., `-.,_\_)`-.,_\) `~-,___ ~___~,,..-~~/ jgs \___/`\____/'._.' >-->RECIPE FOR KINDNESS Fold two hands together And express a dash of sorrow Marinate it overnight And work on it tomorrow. Chop one grudge in tiny pieces Add several cups of love Dredge with a large sized smile Mix with the ingredients above. Dissolve the hate within you, By doing a good deed, Cut in and help your friend If he should be in need. Stir in laughter, love and kindness From the heart it has to come, Toss with genuine forgiveness And give your neighbor some. - author unknown >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $20 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all self-subscribed readers and $5 more will give you the same message also put up for all web site readers. Email me to secure dates. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ********************************************************************** >TO SUBSCRIBE:Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com **********************************************************************