Man Was Created For... :) 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 ================ >-->OoooWEeeee!! oo 8 "} > @ < .8 .-._/| .'_'`')`_.' \| ) / (>'/ |_,_ | (,| .' ,'\| `._/ ) \| '`- -- ''-- --- VK/ejm I'm doing a 'Happy Angel' dance! Why? Because Shangrala has been blessed with a generous donation from Dan Libbey from Florida. He stepped up to the plate to become our newest Shangrala Angel. He wrote that he is a veteran that served in Germany and in Vietnam. We certainly do appreciate his service! Thank You Dan and all our veterans! We sure do thank God for him and all our past wonderful angels! If you'd like to help too and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL 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. EVERY LITTLE BIT WILL HELP! Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This flaming hot new page is from our friend Linda. If you've been thinking the world is a bit messed up lately, then this is probably as good a reason as any other as to why. It is sure to tickle your funny bone and give you a few laughs. Check out the video here for more chuckles. o |'-._ | '-._ | _.-' |.--' _____ | _.-' ___ '-._ | .' _.-' '-._ '. | / .' .-. '. \| / / .' '. \ \ / / .' .-. '. \ \ '-' / ( W ) \ '-' '-' | G '-' | '-' '-'_|_ \ | _|_'-' /-- '---------' --\ / ((Q)) ((Q)) \ (=========================) ^-----. _____ .-----^ |_-_| )__|_____|__( |_-_| |_-_|// \\|_-_| |_-_| |_-_| LGB Home, James! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/homejames.html --- ...Oh My! Hilarious! Thanks Linda! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: /`. ( .\ ejm97 \ |`\___ + a:f _._ )| \__`-. /`.-.) .--=' /\ / : |/ d ` --' >SHOE OBSESSION DISORDER by Kathy Gibson Shoes. Contrary to popular belief, Cinderella's stepsisters were not desperate for Prince Charming -- they were desperate for her glass slipper. Unlike shopping for jeans (which is about as much fun as going to the gynecologist), shopping for shoes is an exhilarating experience. Feet don't have hips, feet don't have thighs. After all, feet are "our friends." And what's better than shopping for shoes? Shopping for shoes on sale! Nothing can compare to crossing the threshold of a shoe store or the shoe section of a department store and seeing signs of 20, 30, 40 or 50 percent off original price. It's useless to fight it. Once inside the compound, women wander aimlessly. Loyal husbands and boyfriends sit like gargoyles and loyally guard coveted pyramids of shoeboxes piled high in their laps. The call to shop is even more powerful when you see a shoe department that looks like the aftermath of a war -- mismatched shoes, smashed shoeboxes and crumpled disposable foot stockings abandoned in empty chairs and strewn over the floor. For an area to look like this, the sale has to be extraordinary. It wouldn't be surprising to learn store employees actually fly through the store knocking down boxes and hiding the mates of shoes because they know the effect it has on serious shoe shoppers. All the shoes look perfect when they're on sale. Even psychedelic-patterned, neon-colored, five-inch stack heel misfits look promising when they're 50 percent off. "Hey, I bet I could wear these with black!" Or worse, you decide to buy an outfit just to go with some bargain you can't pass up, which cancels any benefit of the shoes being so cheap. Just open any woman's closet, and you'll find a shoe "Hall of Fame" -- an entire Smithsonian of shoes only worn once in a while, or only once. Occasionally, however, you spot it. Perched on a pedestal, high above the others, is the perfect shoe, illuminating the whole area like the North Star. Making your way toward the "shoe promised land" you hear a choir of angels and euphorically glide to the nearest sales person, shoe in hand. Snap out of it! The chance of the store having the perfect shoes at the perfect price in the perfect size is about as likely as Amelda Marcos donating her shoes to Goodwill. What were you thinking? In cases like this, women have been known to buy the "perfect" shoes a complete size smaller than needed. Like Cinderella's stepsisters when they tried on the glass slipper, women with distorted looks on their faces hobble back and forth in front of mirrors, but nine times out of 10 they'll compromise comfort for cute. Other than having to tolerate a few cramps, swelling and the sensation of prickling needles from the lack of blood flow, having the envy of every woman you know because the shoes are "so cute!" overshadows any excruciating pain. But women do have limits. No woman would buy shoes a whole size too large. No matter the shoes, women are not willing to sacrifice style for everyone thinking she has big feet -- unless she's a size 5. However, there's good news. Whether you wear a size 5 or a size 10, it's guaranteed that at least one supermodel or other famous diva wears the same shoe size as you. In fact, the odds are overwhelming that many drop-dead gorgeous, "Women love to hate me," celebrities share your exact shoe size. You can say that you wear the same size as Cindy Crawford, and you would actually be telling the truth. And if the store has the perfect shoe at the perfect price as well as in the perfect size, women are willing to knock over senior citizens and defenseless children to get them. Furthermore, senior citizens are just as likely to knock over defenseless children or anyone else in their path for the same reason. Shoe obsession disorder is no respecter of age or infirmity. Even the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz was probably a loving, beautiful woman until her obsession with Dorothy's shoes took its toll. The glistening ruby red pumps were the envy of Oz and the last pair in town! No doubt the Witch was simply sick over those shoes and positively green with envy. Even little girls are struck by this obsession over shoes in Kindergarten or before. Just think about their Barbie doll accessories. She has more shoes than any other article of clothing. And how many "practical" pairs of shoes does Barbie own? None! She only owns wild colors and styles because, they too, were probably on sale. -- Kathy Gibson ___________________________________________ Kathy lives in Kingwood, Texas. She is a freelance journalist and covers community news for the "This Week" section of the Houston Chronicle. She is married to Kevin, and mother of two wonderful sons, Wesley, 14, and Kyle, 12. You can reach her here: mailto:kathygibson@kingwoodcable.com --- ...If this article has you wondering of your gender... You are not alone. I am woman proud and true - I'll roar and sing that song to you but - I only own 2 pairs of shoes. The one I wear, the other is uncomfortable so I have them stuffed under the bed. My backup pair so to speak. Unlike the woman in the above article, I have difficulty in finding shoes. I have since I was young. So, I think it is my feet's fault. I always went barefoot as a kid (and now still do) so I think that may have attributed to my extra wide feet. My mom used to give me heck for having such wide, high arched, feet because I was so hard to find shoes for. I also had broken my leg when I was 3 years old so my left foot was bigger than my right one. I always had to try on the shoe no one else tried on giving the shoe sales person a hard time and having to wedge my foot into the newer, stiffer shoe. So shoe shopping for me was and is still no fun. =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) ///"\ |6 6| \ - / .@@@. __) (__ @6 6@/ \./ \ @ = @ : : : \ _) (_'| : |) ) /' \./ '\ : |_/ / /\ _ /\ \=o==|) \ \ ) (/ /%|%%' '7/ \7%%|%%' | |`%%|%%' | |`%%|%%' | | %%|%% |_.._| /_|_\ pjb >Man Was Created For... "Man was created for the purpose of knowing and loving God. Because we alone are made in His image, we have the privilege of prayer. No other creature in nature has that ability...not the tallest tree, the greatest mountain, or the clearest glacier can speak His name. When you express adoration to God, you are living out the evidence that you are different from everything else in the universe that He has made. Among the majestic stars of heaven, the galaxies and myriads of creations, we alone can love God. Yet, He gave us a will, which is free to apply or neglect that sacred ability. Understanding that will have a profound impact on your life. Why? Because those who miss the privilege of knowing Him might as well have never been. Like a flower that never bloomed, they failed to accomplish their sole purpose in life. How ironic it is that mankind offers so little adoration, when that is our crowning privilege as human beings. If a person never loves God, he forfeits his divinely given means to inner fulfillment. He is left with a restlessness and a void that no other quality of love can fill." --- ...Thank you LouiseAu! Let's think about this. When people talk about being made in God's image, many do not understand what that means. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' The bible talks about our bodies here... 1 Cor.15: [39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. [40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. [42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. [45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [Jesus Christ] was made a quickening spirit. [46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord [Jesus Christ] from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Many people think God's image is that of a man or a woman. However, that cannot be since flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The bible tells us what God's image is here. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' John 4: [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. That is why we needed the second Adam - Jesus Christ. Once Adam and Eve had the Fall and died spiritually, mankind needed to be able to have that image of God once again so they could worship God in spirit and in truth. The bible tells us what mankind's whole purpose is... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. We were designed by God to respect Him and to keep God’s commandments. This verse near the end of Ecclesiastes contains a great truth, but many do not understand it. The word 'fear' is a stumbling block to many Christians. We must realize that in the King James Version of the Bible, the word translated as 'fear' in this verse does not mean to be afraid of God. It means to reverence or venerate, or in simpler terms, to regard someone or something with awe and respect. Another word to watch out for in this verse is 'duty'. It is in italics, which means it was a word added by the translators. A current translation of this verse could be: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Ecc.12:12 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Have awe and respect for God, and keep His Word, for this is the whole of man (the reason he was made)." =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: , __ ,__(^) / (^) / \~`/ _`~` _(^) |/_/,\`, ,/ `~\ ,|/ \ (^) (^) ,\ | (^)`~` `~` \|` `~` ,|/lc ~"^"~"^"~ >Life is too short Beautifully stated.... As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. So send this to all of your friends and a miracle will happen. You will make them smile today and bless them for a life time. "Don't be afraid that your life will end, Be afraid that it will never begin." -<>- .-..-. (-o/\o-) /`""``""`\ \ /.__.\ / \ `--` / `) (' , /::::\ , |'.\::::/.'| _| ';::;' |_ (::) || (::) _. "| || |" _(:) '. || .' /::\ '._||_.' \::/ /::::\ /:::\ \::::/ _\:::/ /::::\_.._ _.._ _.._ _.._/::::\ \::::/::::\/::::\/::::\/::::\::::/ jgs `""`\::::/\::::/\::::/\::::/`""` `""` `""` `""` `""` >Mean Moms Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me: I loved you enough . . . to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home. I loved you enough . . . to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep. I loved you enough . . . to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes. I loved you enough . . . to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect. I loved you enough . . . to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart. But most of all, I loved you enough . . . to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too. And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them. Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too. Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less. We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do. She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough! Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16. Because of our mother we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault. Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was. I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms! -<>- _ " _ _ " _ (_\|/_) (_\|/_) _ " _ _ " _ (/|\) (/|\) (_\|/_) " _ (_\|/_) (/|\)_\|/_) (/|\) ejm97 (/|\) >The seed and the scripture A seed is much smaller than what it produces. The problem you face may seem huge. In comparison, the Bhagavat Geeta or any other scripture may seem very small. But when planted, that scripture will grow in you and overcome the problem. A seed always produces after its kind. Whatever you need, or desire, find scriptures relating to that. Then plant those scriptures inside you in abundance. Those seeds will grow up and produce a harvest of what you need or desire. A seed is alive: it contains life. Your physical senses are incapable of judging whether a seed is alive or not. You cannot see, feel, hear, smell, or taste the life in a seed. There is only one way to prove a seed is alive -- plant it. A seed does nothing until planted. Seeds do not grow sitting in a sack on your shelf. They must be planted in the proper place. If you desire the scripture to produce results in your life, you must decide to plant it in your heart and mind and then practice what it says. Then alone, like a seed that is planted, the scripture gives results to you too. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Alcohol And Drug Use http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/alcoholanddrugs.html In The Beginning http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/inthebeginning.html Walking In Power http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.html Making a Difference http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/makingdifference.html I Believe...- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/believe.html True Heroes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trueheroes.html Kid Lessons!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kidlessons.html Love Stories!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lovestories.html All About Hugs!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hugs.html Buttons The Elk!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/buttons.html Thank You Lord!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html The Blue Ribbon!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Short Life Stories!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifestories.html No Words Needed!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nowords.html Dog Rescue Stories!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogrescues.html More Abundant Life!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/abundantlife.html Taking A Catnap!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catnap.html Kitty Dreams http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/kitty.html I Need A Hug W/Garfield http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/hug.html -<>- >Please Visit/Follow Me on StumbleUpon Here: http://tinyurl.com/yd9krw8z -<>- AFA: 30 Senate Republicans defending Democratic Obstruction http://tinyurl.com/y76gd4f2 Happy News: https://www.happynews.com/ CMS - Medicare & Medicaid Services https://www.cms.gov/ National Hurricane Center / Tropical Prediction Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ Learn the Signs. Act Early https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html -<>- >From Our Friend Karen :) THESE PRETTY WELL SUM IT ALL UP! https://flyoverculture.com/ --- ...Interesting reads! Thanks Karen! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) At Arrowhead Stadium Sunday, October 13, 2013.... As you know the budget cuts have eliminated the military flyovers at large events. Well, there's a group of guys in Kansas City who do some formation flying in their own planes and decided they'd volunteer to pick up the slack. They invited a couple of other groups to join them and before they knew it they had 48 guys with their homemade RC airplanes signing up to join in. If they had more time, they probably would have gotten an even larger group as people kept joining and a 49th was added near the event. One additional feature of the flyover was the use of pink smoke for cancer awareness. The folks from the Guinness Book were there and are expected to confirm it as the largest formation flight ever. And to top it off the crowd later set the record for the loudest gathering at a football game. A short video... “Arrowhead Stadium, 49 plane flyover” https://www.youtube.com/embed/VImNBuJW3sQ?rel=0 --- ...Sweet! Very Spectacular! Thanks Geniann! Joys of Muslim Women by Nonie Darwish https://godswordtowomen.org/joys_of_muslim_women.htm Her website: http://www.noniedarwish.org/ Amazing - Dem Congressman Hangs Hijab-Clad Statue of Liberty Painting on Office Wall, Refuses to Remove http://tinyurl.com/ycbkhv4w I find this amazing as this is a MAN who is doing this. I'd take less offense if it were a woman. I think it is oppressive to force a woman to wear any article of clothing - including a Hijab! To proudly display this is merely showing how he feels about women. As the above explains, not all Muslim women agree with the wearing of a Hijab. It has nothing to do with their faith but all to do with how men want to control and belittle women. It should be considered most offensive by all women! I do understand some have been raised with this and therefore feel more comfortable wearing one - like an animal who has been tied up all their life and is suddenly set free from their bonds are not sure whether to run or stay put. Of course, to each her own but it most definitely should be by a woman's own choice - never ever by a man's! As a woman, I do tend to stand up for all women! I find it astonishing that Hillary and other women think Sharia law is OK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNRChLATg5s -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Some filmmakers can do action. Others can do comedy. But for 40 years, the master of combining them has been Jackie Chan. Let's see how he does it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1PCtIaM_GQ&feature=player_embedded 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 --- ...Love these! 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 ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Geniann :) _ , (_\______/________ \-|-|/|-|-|-|-|/ \==/-|-|-|-|-/ \/|-|-|-|,-' \--|-''' \_j________ (_) (_) hjw >GROCERY LIST Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once. Visualizing the family needs, she said: 'Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.' John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store. Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, 'Do you have a grocery list?' Louise replied, 'Yes sir.' 'O.K' he said, 'put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.' Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, 'I can't believe it.' The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said: 'Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands.' The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The other customer handed a hundred-dollar bill to the grocer and said; 'It was worth every penny of it. Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs.' THE POWER: When you receive this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do. Just stop right now, and say a prayer of thanks for your own good fortune... I believe if you will send this testimony out with prayer in faith, you will receive what you need God to do in your and your families' life. So dear heart, trust God to heal the sick, provide food for the hungry, clothes and shelter for those that don't have as we do. Amen & Amen Don't break this, please! Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. May you always walk with Angels God Bless! My prayer for you today: The eyes beholding this message shall not behold evil, the hands that will send this message to others shall not labor in vain, the mouth saying Amen to this prayer shall laugh forever. Remain in God's love as you send this prayer to everybody on your list. Have a lovely journey of life! Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will never fail you because He is Awesome! --- ...AMEN! Thank You Geniann! ================================================================== ,_('--, (.--; ,--')_, | ;--.) .-. |.| .-. \|\|/ .-. .-.`\|/|/`_ `\|/|/` ' `^jgs`^^`^``^``^``^``^`` >An Unexpected Connection Story Editor: by PJ Rose Joyce Schowalter Wyoming, USA It was a lovely Passover Seder at our little temple in Wyoming, with centerpieces on each table sporting seasonal flowers in glass vases. After dinner, as we were helping to clean up, my friend Brian scooped up a few of the floral arrangements, and motioned for me to do likewise. Brian told me to follow him and we walked through a mild spring night to a nearby nursing home. It was quiet and dimly lit inside, with the residents apparently all snug in their beds. We carried the flowers to the nursing station, where my friend asked the nurses to distribute them as they saw fit. Never ones to pass up on a ready opportunity, we were chatting up the pretty nurses when we heard a squeaking sound behind us. Turning around, we saw -- complete with lace handkerchief in her sleeve and seemingly straight out of central casting -- a little old lady slowly wheeling herself our way. She was thin, wearing a blue dress, with stiff white hair, and tortoise-shell glasses with a beaded neck chain. Finally reaching the nurses' station, with an obvious effort she pushed down on the arms of her wheelchair until she raised herself high enough to place her face right up to one of the vases on the counter. After a deep breath, followed by a contented sigh, she slowly lowered herself back into her chair and said, "Ah, lilies. My favorite." We watched her wheel herself down the hall toward her room for a moment before turning back to the nurses. To our stunned surprise, both of the young ladies were slack jawed and bug eyed, with astonished looks on their faces. When they had regained their composure, one of them said that the woman in the wheelchair had not spoken aloud for more than a year, and was thought to have lost the ability to communicate! Who could have guessed that such a random act of kindness instigated by my friend would result in a breakthrough for someone? Indeed, a person who had been assumed by the medical staff at the nursing home to have been "shut in" for a long time? What had started as a small, kind thought by my friend made a huge difference in the life of someone who was thought to be beyond reach, as well as the lives of the other four people who witnessed a small miracle that April night. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Linda :) _|_ | / \ //_\\ //(_)\\ |/^\| ,%%%% // \\ ,@@@@@@@, ,%%%%/%%% // \\ ,@@@\@@@@/@@, @@@%%%\%%//%%%// === \\ @@\@@@/@@@@@ @@@@%%%%\%%%%%// =-=-= \\@@@@\@@@@@@;%#####, @@@@%%%\%%/%%// === \\@@@@@@/@@@%%%######, @@@@@%%%%/%%//| |\\@\\//@@%%%%%%#/#### '@@@@@%%\\/%~ | | ~ @|| %\\//%%%#####; @@\\//@|| | __ __ | || %%||%%'###### '@|| || | | | | | || ||##\//#### || || | | -|- | | || ||'#||###' || || |_|__|__|_| || || || || ||_/` ======= `\__||_._|| || jgs__||_/` ======= `\_||___ >JUST CHECKING IN TODAY A Minister passing through his church In the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altar To see who came to pray. Just then the back door opened, And a man came down the aisle, The minister frowned as he saw the man Hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was torn and shabby, And his coat was worn and frayed, The man knelt down and bowed his head, Then rose and walked away. In the days that followed at precisely noon, The preacher saw this chap, Each time he knelt just for a moment, A lunch pail in his lap. Well, the minister's suspicions grew, With robbery a main fear, He decided to stop and ask the man, 'What are you doing here?' The old man said he was a factory worker And lunch was half an hour Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power. I stay only a moment Because the factory's far away; As I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kinda what I say: 'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found Each Other’s Friendship And You Took Away My Sin. Don't Know Much Of How To Pray, But I Think About You Every day. So, Jesus, This Is Ben, Just Checking In Today.' The minister feeling foolish, Told Ben that it was fine. He told the man that he was welcome To pray there anytime. 'It's time to go, and thanks,' Ben said As he hurried to the door. Then the minister knelt there at the altar, Which he'd never done before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love, As he met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed down his cheeks, He repeated old Ben's prayer: 'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord, How Happy I've Been, Since We Found Each Other’s Friendship And You Took Away My Sin. I Don't Know Much Of How To Pray, But I Think About You Every day. So, Jesus, This Is Me, Just Checking In Today.' Past noon one day, the minister noticed That old Ben hadn't come. As more days passed and still no Ben, He began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him, Learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, But he'd given them a thrill. The week that Ben was with them, Brought changes in the ward. His smiles and joy contagious. Changed people were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understand Why Ben could be so glad, When no flowers, calls or cards came, Not a visitor he had. The minister stayed by his bed, He voiced the nurse's concern: No friends had come to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up And with a winsome smile; 'The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, He's been here all the while.' Every day at noon He comes here, A dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down and takes my hand, Leans over and says to me: 'I Just Came By To Tell You, Ben, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found This Friendship, And I Took Away Your Sin. I Think About You Always And I Love To Hear You Pray, And So Ben, This Is Jesus, Just Checking In Today.' If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart May God hold you in the palm of His hand And Angels watch over you. Please pass this page on to your friends & loved ones. If you aren't ashamed. Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of me,' I will be ashamed Of you before my Father.' If you are not ashamed, pass this on. So, FRIENDS & FAMILY, this is ME ... "Just Checking In Today" --- ...Aww, I do so Love this classic! Thanks Linda! ============================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >THE ETERNAL SALES CALL "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom 10:9). I received the phone call from the technology CEO. It was our second conversation. He began receiving my TGIF devotional a few weeks earlier, compliments of his mother-in-law. Each day he read the daily message and found that it really helped him. He felt his technology product might have some application to my ministry. I asked about how he had started getting the devotional. As he told me his story, I could tell he probably did not know the Lord personally. So, I inquired further with a few more leading questions. Gradually he changed the subject to his product. We discussed the product for twenty minutes or so. He was about to conclude our conversation when I asked, "Could we go back to our original conversation? Tell me more about your spiritual journey and where you feel you are? He told me of his background in which he was raised in a particular Christian tradition. I shared how Christ came not to give us a religion but to have a personal relationship with us. Eventually I asked my friend, "What do you think keeps you from making such a commitment?" "Well, quite frankly, I am a controller. I feel that I can't let go of control. I fear what might happen." I appreciated his honesty. We discussed this at length and I helped him understand that every person has a control issue to overcome. However, Christ requires us to give up control in order to give us real life. It is the great paradox of faith in Christ. I said, "So, now that we have dealt with that issue, is there any reason you would not be prepared to make that commitment to Christ?" "Well, now that you put it that way, no, I guess there isn't," he responded. Bill prayed with me over the phone to invite Jesus to be Lord over his life, not just his Savior. What he intended to be a typical sales call became a call for eternity. Perhaps there will be an opportunity today to see your work as an opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone who is waiting to receive salvation through you. as seen in Today God is First -<>- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * arm * >ARE WE READY TO FOLLOW? Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Thy call, Give our hearts to Thine obedience, Serve and love Thee best of all. Cecil F. Alexander I have been living in a retirement community for the past eighteen months. During this time, I have become acutely aware that there are people whose needs are not always met. I would rationalize and think, What is that to me? However, I began taking several individuals' needs to the Lord in prayer. Over the past several months, I have often sat in the lobby after meals. One night, I looked to see if I could be of help to either a resident or staff member. During this time, there was a distraught younger woman at the desk, expressing a concern about a family member. I recognized the woman. However, being very tired, I decided to go to my room. But the Holy Spirit had other plans for me. Before I could leave the lobby to go to my room, my feet took me to the resident's room. There was the distraught woman, the resident's daughter. She greeted me at the door and almost pushed me into the room, saying, "Why don't you come in and visit awhile?" So I did. The daughter left for the evening. The resident was in her bed. I sat down and talked with her. She was anxious because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to sleep. I recited this Scripture to her: Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV) I explained that we are not to be anxious, but by prayer, we can experience a peace that we cannot understand. I told her how God's peace has come over me when I have been in the same situation. I reassured her that God has asked us to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NIV) Then I began singing some of the old gospel hymns, to which she would join in, as she remembered them. She said she thought that God had sent me to her room. He sure did! Before I left, I asked her if I could pray for her, and she agreed. I was glad that God gave me this opportunity and that I acted upon it. I praise Him for bringing to remembrance the Scriptures and words to the hymns that I sang. I am thankful that I could sing them. My voice was crackly and weak, but God used this encounter for His glory. There are times when we sense the guidance of the Holy Spirit asking us to follow His leading. Are we willing to follow His lead? Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to recognize Your leading and to be willing to follow through and do Your will. Help us to overcome our timidity, and give us opportunities today to be Your helpers in assisting others in their time of need. In Jesus Christ's name, we pray. Amen. Parise Arakelian Arcadia, California, USA as seen in The Illustrator -<>- (.,------...__ _.'" `. .' .' `, `. `. ` . .' .'/''--...__`. \ . .--.`. ' "-. '. | '' .' _.' .()) .--":/ ''( \_\ ' (()( ''._' ( \ ' ' `. `--' ' `.: . `-.___.' ' `. . _ _ .' ) .____.-' .'`. (--.. .' \ /\ / / `. .' \( \ /|/ `. .' \__/ `. / | o | \ | | | jro >BOYS AMONG MEN Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation. Hebrews 13:22, NIV God gave us daughters who need to be protected. God made fathers to protect their daughters. And one of the ways we can do this is by getting to know the young men who ask them out. As of today, I’ve conducted a sit-down interview with my daughters’ dates somewhere between 30 and 40 times. A few of them have been what you might expect: boys nearly fainting in our living room. (These talks have a way of revealing the fact that even wimps can have good taste. Some boys who couldn’t last one round in a character contest at least have the good sense to know a great girl when they see one.) For the most part, however, these encounters have allowed me to get to know several young men who would make their parents proud. And I’ve come away from every one of these interview experiences feeling like a real man. Even more important, these interviews have helped spare my daughters from the predatory passions of even well-meaning boys, while also protecting them from their own human natures. As a result, Barbara and I have watched our daughters enter into marriage with their virtue, not just technically intact, but also reserved—heart, soul and body— for the man God had given them to marry. It is one of the most important investments dads can make in our girls’ lives— challenging their boyfriends to be men, making sure they’re clear on the high value God has placed both on them and our daughters. These young men who like what they see in our daughters need us to look them in the eyes, man to man, and hold them accountable. When you call them to high standards of personal morality, you not only protect your daughter. You help boys become men. DISCUSS Talk about the requirements you’re going to establish (or need to establish now) for your children and their dates. PRAY Pray that the Lord will protect our daughters—and our sons—from mistakes that could cost them for the rest of their lives. as seen in Moments Together For Couples -<>- >DISTRACTIONS If distractions fill your time find some place with peace of mind. If your problems seem real large then let Jesus then take charge. Let tomorrows times ahead not be just a moments dread. Let your worries fall from view as you find each day anew. If you've stumbled and fell down let the lessons come around. Find a viewpoint better seen with the way you view each scene. ©By Bill Pearce July 16, 2011 -<>- >LET US THANK HIM It's among the very simplest of childhood prayers. Maybe you taught your children to say it at the dinner table. Perhaps your parents taught it to you as your first prayer: God is great; God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. I stumbled onto a piece recently that was written by a self- described "secular" person. She was writing about the positive difference it had made both in her life and in that of her family when they began saying a blessing at mealtimes. It was clear that her notion of prayer and blessing wasn't quite the same as mine, but that isn't really the point here. She wrote very candidly and movingly about the positive impact on her busy, noisy life to pause and to be grateful for good things. She's right, you know. When that sense of appreciation for all the positives in your life is coupled with praise to the One who has provided them, you have ... * Meaningful prayer. * A clearer sense of self. * A moment of appreciation to the Deity who is the giver of every good gift. * An affirmation that God's grace is real to you. All are blessings we did not create. Our son was about four years old, and it was his turn to say a prayer of thanksgiving over our lunch. With open-face sandwiches on our plates, he folded his hands and began: "Deah God, we fank fee ..." (Note: He wasn't doing well with his r-words and th-words at four! But back to the prayer ...) "Deah God, we fank fee foh de bwead and de tomato ..." (Another Note: Yes, he was peeking! But back to the prayer ...) "And we fank fee foh de meat and foh ... and foh ..." (Final Note: He knew what lettuce was, but it just wouldn't come to him at that critical moment. So he pointed his still-folded hands toward it and continued to pray ...) "And foh dis stuff. Amen." And I've been telling the story ever since. A mealtime grace or blessing or prayer -- whatever you choose to call it -- is such a tiny little piece of the spiritual life. And they don't even have to be spoken aloud. Why, when I'm with friends in a restaurant and there is an awkward pause as the food arrives, I usually say "Thank you, God!" in the direction of the group. "Restaurant prayer," I explain. No need to call the noisy house to order or to make a production of it. But being thankful is good and honoring to God as the giver of every good gift. So let a woman of what may be marginal faith remind all of us this week about food and air, friends and work, sunshine and rain. All are blessings we did not create. It is good to recognize them as gifts and to be thankful. It makes it even more natural in stressful times to go to that same God to name life's hurts and pains and to ask for aid -- without feeling guilty as a thankless beggar. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6 NLT). (c) 2011 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly as seen in da Mouse Tracks To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: %% `%%;, ,%%#; %%#%%;___%%;` ;%' ;%-\_#%, / _%_-;%'` %_% %/%% / /%%#%' /_'_____/_____________/ _/ _______ _$_____________/ ,%%; %% %-// $ \ \ %#%%___-%%;` %`;-/_%;` \ \______/ __ %%#%%` %%%%#% $ \$_______/,%%#%%;%`, %;` $ $ ,%%` %', ______O_____________O_____ /.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-\ /.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-\ /.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-\ /.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-\ '==================================' \|| ||/ || _ _ || || ('< <') || ||_______\(_)_______(_)/____|| _||__________________________||_ |________________________________|lc >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY McKenzie, 2, was driving with her mother Kristin when Kristen found that the road was closed. While Kristin turned the car around, McKenzie asked, "Why are you turning around?" Kristin replied, "The road is closed." McKenzie then asked, "Do you have a key?" Kristin said no, so McKenzie said, "You can use my magic wand!" (She had a plastic magic wand that she had received as a party favor.) -- Donna Kensky (grandmother of McKenzie) of Fort Wayne, Indiana On a summer day Joshua, 3, made an observation: "That's funny," he said. "That's the sun. And I'm a son. I wonder if we are 'lated?" -- Gale Spence (grandmother of Joshua) of Angola Susan's 15-year-old granddaughter, Shelby, was visiting for five days and helping around the house and yard to earn some money. They also played games, went swimming and went out to eat. Shelby's comment on it all was: "You're sure old, Grandma, but you're really fun!" -- Susan Osborn of Fullerton, California Monica spends every Wednesday with her granddaughter Payton, 4, at her house. Payton's mother gets home from work after 5 p.m. and Monica often stays for dinner. One time Monica wasn't feeling well. She told Payton she had an upset stomach and was going home. "Please stay," Payton said. "Stay for dinner." Monica told her she didn't feel like eating because her stomach was upset. "It's OK," Payton said, "my mom won't cook anything then." -- Monica Ackerman of Hayward, California _..-""""-.._ _.-' `-._ / \ : .-'; ;'-. : | / _.-: :-._ \ | : ; ; o/ \o ; ; : / \_!-' '-!_/ \ :'-..__ __..-': / \ / \ .'\ \ / /'. .' ; `-. .-' ; '. ; : '..' : ; : | __...__ | : ; | .-' `-. | ; : : / \ : : : / / \ \ : ; .' : : '. ; ; : : : : ; ; : : : : ; : / : : \ : ;; \ / ;; ;-. '-. , .-' .-; ;;'-... '-..___..-' ...-';; ";, \ ""--....________....--""/ ,;" '. .' '. .' \ / \ / : : : : : \ / : / '. .' \ .' _. / : : '. ____________________"/_) : ') \_/ (' : ( \"_______________fsc__ '-\ '-.' '.-' /-' Katelyn, 6 was talking to her grandmother about an upcoming trip that "MaMa" was going to make to get Katelyn's older brother Tyler settled into his new apartment for medical school. Katelyn wanted to go on the trip as well and stated, "MaMa, my instincts tell me I need to go, too!" -- Aunt Traci of Lebanon, Tennessee Here is another story from Traci. Her son Casey, 10 is beginning to take pride in his looks by making sure his hair is combed just right and he likes to use body spray or cologne. As he puts it, "he likes to smell good for the girls." He told his mom that he and his friend Nick wanted to have a pool party. Later, Traci found a list that they had made for the party. It read: "Burgers, Hot Dogs, Chips, Vault and 10 hot girls." Ogden, 5, and Alton, 4, were quite excited when Grandpa Fritz bought them a new set of junior golf clubs. They were going to Heron Creek to try them out and Alton boasted, "I'm going to get a hole in one!" Upon their return their grandmother asked, "Well, did you get a hole in one?" Alton replied, "No, I got a hole in A LOT!" -- Diane Schlemmer (grandmother) of LaGrange, Indiana Carla was about 6 the summer her parents hired a handyman to make some cosmetic changes in their house. "Charlie" would tackle about any repair or carpentry job, but often needed a hand. One day, Carla's father came home, tired out, and Janet heard him ask, "Where's your mother gone to?" Carla piped up confidently, "Oh she's up in the shower with 'Charlie!'" Which indeed Janet was, helping the handyman fit some difficult tiles! -- Janet Hounsell (mother of Carla) of Conway, New Hampshire _..._ \_.._ `'-.,--, '-._'-. `\a\\ '. `_.' (| `7 || / .' | /_.-' ,J / \ || / ; _.. || | | /`\.-. .' _ `\ `\ \ | \_/__/ / /e)-,\ '. \ /.-` .'\ / | ,_ | /\ `;_.-'_.-'`\_/ / '-(-.)/ \_;(((_.-; .'--. \ ` .(((_,;`'. \ / `\ | _.--'`__.' `\ '-;\ /` | /.-' .--' '._.'\\ .' ; /__.-'` | \ | .'`-'_ /_.'))) \_\,_/ / -'_.'---;`'-))) (__.'/ /` .'` (_.'/ /` /` _|.' /` jgs.-` __.'| .-'|| | \_`/ ` Kasey heard her daughter Megan crying and went into her bedroom to see what was wrong. Megan said she had a headache. She told her mother to feel her head and see how bad it hurt. Kasey told her that she couldn't because it was on the inside. Megan replied, "Then how do you get it out?" -- Dewayne (uncle of Kasey) of Louisiana Dylan, 7, and Dalton, 5, were told to listen for the washing machine to finish and to then move the clean clothes to the dryer. When Dwayne, their dad, heard a comotion in the laundry room and went to investigate, he found Dalton standing up to his chest in the washer handing the clothes out to his brother, who pitched them into the open dryer. When their dad questioned their method, Dalton explained, "Either one of us couldn't get the clothes out, so I climbed in there to get them." When Dwayne told Crystal, the boys' mom, what had happened, her only response was, "I hope Dalton's feet were clean!" -- Dennis Smith (Dylan and Dalton's PawPaw) of Oak Ridge, North Carolina Betty became an instant grandma last year when her daughter married a man with five children -- and she is enjoying every minute of it. Recently while babysitting she was playing "This little piggy goes to market" with Teagan, 3, and Sophia, 4. Later they were playing with their dolls and Betty heard one of them say, "This little piggy goes to K-Mart ..." -- Betty Murray of Lagro, Indiana -------|-------------------------------------------------|--------- ___|___ ___|___ ////////\ _ _ /\\\\\\\\ //////// \ ('< >') / \\\\\\\\ | (_) | | (^) (^) | | (_) | |______|.===="== =="====.|______| ---------------------------------------------------------------ldb-- Cindy and David were out with their adopted family and their sons. One of whom is their Godson, Mathew, 4. They went to a Mexican restaurant and at the end of dinner Erick, Mathew's older brother, ordered flan for desert. Erick let Mathew try some of the desert and Mathew loved the flan so much he asked if he could get some of his own. David ordered another piece for Mathew and when the server brought the flan David asked Mathew if he was going to share. Mathew replied, "Yes, I'm going to share, all by myself!" -- David Sims of Carson, California In the early 70's, while they lived in Memphis, Dennis' wife worked with a woman who had a 4-year old son, named Christopher. Christopher and his mom were visiting one evening, so Dennis retreated to his basement workshop. In a very few minutes, Christopher appeared at the foot of the stairs. He looked all around my basement then asked, "Where did you get this down attic?" -- Dennis Smith of Oak Ridge, North Carolina Greg and his family were going to the beach for a long weekend. Several days before they went, Jane gave a $10 bill to each of the kids (Gregory, 10, Alex, 7, and Matthew 3) to take to the beach. At bedtime Matthew told his father that he wanted to sleep with the $10. His dad put the money in a plastic bag and wrote Matthew's name on it in black marker. In the morning, the money was gone and so was the name from the plastic bag. The $10 bill was in the pocket of Matthew's pajamas and his hands were black from the marker. To wear all of the marker from the bag, he must have taken that money out and then put it back several times before he finally succumbed to the temptation to sleep with it. When Greg asked how he was going to spend the $10, Matthew looked at his father as if the man had lost his mind and replied, "I'm not going to spend it! Grammy said it was to take to the beach. I'm going to take it to the beach and play with it!" -- Jane McKinnon (grandmother) of Wilmington, Delaware Gloria was disciplining her son Nathan, 3, when Noah, 5, interrupted to defend his little brother. Gloria told Noah, "I don't need you to add your 2 cents worth!" Noah replied, "How about a dollar's worth?" -- Gloria Mangum-McAllen of Texas _.----._ ,'.::.--..:._ /::/_,-;._.:._.;,-=_(.-' __ `._ ,;' _..-(((('' .,-'' `-._ _,'<.-'' _..``'.'`-'`. ` _.-((((_..--'' \ \ `.`. -' _.``' \ ` SSt ,' Noah, and his brother Evan, 6, were leaving karate class when Noah noticed a very pregnant mom. Noah asked his mother Sherri, "Is she going to have a baby?" Sherri said "yes" and Noah then asked, "How does she know it will be a boy?" His mother told him there is a test (like an x-ray) doctors do to look inside and because boys look different than girls doctors can tell if it's a boy or a girl. Evan replied, "Oh, like long hair?" -- Sherri Winther of Huntington Station, New York Bonnie began taking her granddaughter to church when she was about a year and a half old. Bonnie is deaf so she has been teaching her granddaughter sign as well as speech and they sit with the rest of the deaf congregation. Bonnie's granddaughter's sign "Amen" was perfect but voiced was so different that the pastor, his wife and granddaughter started sitting behind them so they could hear her say loudly and clearly, "Men!" after the closing prayer. -- Bonnie Henson of southeast Missouri Sandi was talking on the phone to her daughter, the mother of Max, 5. Then Sandi asked to speak to Max. As he was chatting about his day Sandi was removing earrings and she accidentally dropped the phone, breaking the connection. Of course, she called back immediately. When Max was called back to the phone he said, "I already talked to her today and she hung up on me!" -- Sandi Pound (maternal grandmother of Max) of Lehigh, Florida Here's another one about Max. His mother told him she would take him to the store to choose a backpack/book bag to take to kindergarten. Instead of sounding excited about that, he wistfully said, "What I really want is one of those little machines that makes beeping, buzzing noises." His mother was perplexed until Max pointed out his mother's alarm clock on the table beside her bed. .---. .----------- / \ __ / ------ / / \( )/ ----- ////// ' \/ ` --- //// / // : : --- // / / /` '-- // //..\\ ====UU====UU==== '//||\\` ''`` Daron Brewood Alex, 13, was helping his mother do some chores. Sandi had made a list of things to be done, and designated which ones he would do and which she would complete. Alex noted one item he did not wish to do, so he tried negotiating with Sandi to trade some tasks. He saw that sweeping and mopping the tile was on Sandi's list, so he offered to do the sweeping part and Sandi would only have to mop. Sandi does not like mopping, so she suggested, "How about the other way around?" meaning she would sweep and he would mop. Alex paused for a moment, and with a puzzled tone of voice repeated back, "You're going to mop first and then I'll sweep? That doesn't make any sense, Mom." -- Sandi Gosnell of Tallahassee, Florida Nolan, 3, has a 4-month-old sister. He was playing in his room and being very messy, so his mom asked him to clean up because Uncle Tommy was coming to visit. Nolan asked, "Who is Uncle Tommy?" His mom replied that Uncle Tommy was his Papa Toomar's brother. Nolan asked, "Where is he? In Papa Toomar's belly?" His sister had come out of his mom's belly, so he thought that was where brothers and sister came from. -- Lisa Billingsley of Scaly Mountain, North Carolina .==, _ / \_=' ) / \-' | ./ / _ `. :_ / / / `. (_.\ / / / / /__..'\/ `/. / /|_ `. "_.'.' ` \, .' ) \ | _, ( ) ) \ )( _ .,--=\-.___.' `._ == _.' = \ ~ =\=== ~ `-. == === ~ ) ~ === |== ~ ~ .' == ==)== ,--' ___.---._ _.'MJP/jg `----' This story was told at a Texas camp meeting by the Rev. Scott Graham: "I am very privileged to have my wife and daughter with me. My daughter helps keep me grounded -- sometimes she gets grounded! You know the Bible kinda cautions us about thinking of yourself more highly than you ought. That's what kids are for! When she was in kindergarten, on Easter Sunday morning ... I came out of the pastor's office to head down to behind the platform to where all the platform participants were going to be gathering... My darling little girl was all frou-froued up for Easter. She had the curls and the frilly dress and the whole thing, you know? So I just stopped and made over her a little bit and she said to me (she had started kindergarten and all, you know), she said, "Daddy, I can spell your first name!' I said, "Well, that's wonderful, Sweetheart, let me hear you do that!' She got it! S-C-O-T-T. I said, "Awww Sweetheart that's so good!' She said, "Well, it's on the screen up there.' I looked and it was just like that. And I said, "Ah, you cheated!' She said, "Awh, Daddy! I've seen your name LOTS of places!' I felt pretty good about that! I was thinkin' Youth Congress flyers, General Conference programs, Camp Meeting slots! And I asked, "Darlin', where have you seen Daddy's name?' She said, "TOILET PAPER HOLDERS!' There you have it! To everyone else I might have been this high flutin' youth official, but to her, I'm just paper products, that's all! So I am glad that she is here to help keep me straight this week!" -- Joan Henry of Sulphur Springs, Texas Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== /T /I / |/ | .-~/ T\ Y I |/ / _ /T | \I | I Y.-~/ I l /I T\ | | l | T / T\ | \ Y l /T | \I l \ ` l Y __ | \l \l \I l __l l \ ` _. | \ ~-l `\ `\ \ \\ ~\ \ `. .-~ | \ ~-. "-. ` \ ^._ ^. "-. / \ | .--~-._ ~- ` _ ~-_.-"-." ._ /._ ." ./ >--. ~-. ._ ~>-" "\\ 7 7 ] ^.___~"--._ ~-{ .-~ . `\ Y . / | <__ ~"-. ~ /_/ \ \I Y : | ^-.__ ~(_/ \ >._: | l______ ^--.,___.-~" /_/ ! `-.~"--l_ / ~"-. (_/ . ~( /' "~"--,Y -=b-. _) (_/ . \ : / l c"~o \ \ / `. . .^ \_.-~"~--. ) (_/ . ` / / ! )/ / / _. '. .': / ' ~(_/ . / _ ` .-<_ /_/ . ' .-~" `. / \ \ ,z=. ~( / ' : | K "-.~-.______// "-,. l I/ \_ __{--->._(==. //( \ < ~"~" // /' /\ \ \ ,v=. (( .^. / /\ " }__ //===- ` / / ' ' "-.,__ {---(==- .^ ' : T ~" ll -Row / . . . : | :! \\ (_/ / | | j-" ~^ ~-<_(_.^-~" ->Eagle01<- >-->Dear Lord, I may not see the sun and moon lose their light. I may not witness rivers turn red, or stars fall from the sky. Yet there are times when my world becomes unhinged And the foundations of what I believe crack and dissolve. Give me the grace to believe that Your power is at work In the turmoil of my life. Lead me to remember that Your power is greater than all evil, And though the world may rock and sometimes break, It will in time be transformed by Your Love. - 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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