Managing Your Elephant And More... :) 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 ================ *~* 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 sizzling hot new page is from our friends Linda, PatDeE and Geniann. It's one of those that may haunt your dreams. She's a very talented surreal artist a bit on the creepy side. Be sure to check her art work out here... <-> <=> <=> <-> <-> <=> <=><-> <-><=> ;--; | | | | |LI| \__/ <=-> <-=> <=-> <-=> <=-> <-=> jgs <=-> <-=> Choo-San Body Paintings! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bodypaintings.html --- ...Wowsers! Thanks My Friends! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .---. .--. ___/ \ / `.-"" `-, ; ; / O O \ / `. \ /-' _ J-.__; _.' (" / `. -=: `: `, -=| | F\ i, ; -| | | | || \_J fsc mmm! `mmM Mmm' >MANAGING YOUR ELEPHANT by William Santoro Being a physician, I run to help me get through each day. Running lets the pains seep out and the joys of life sink in. I also enjoy acting. Some of my actor friends tell me they use performing the way I use running. But I am a runner who acts, not an actor who runs. Recently I landed my dream role. I was George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. To me running is reality and acting is fantasy. I get to be someone else while on stage. In reality, I wear running shoes and I have a pierced ear. I have not worn anything but running shoes for 20 years and I have worn an earring for about 25 years. Well, George Bailey doesn't wear running shoes nor does he have a pierced ear. When my daughter saw me and remarked, "I can't believe my Dad is not wearing running shoes." I reminded her that while on stage I'm not her Dad. On stage I live in this fantasy world and reality has no place in it, until the two worlds collide. I was juggling work and performing, reality and fantasy, and thinking I was doing well. One afternoon I saw a 19 year-old student in my office. She was young, pretty and full of angst about college. I treated her while thinking of my own 19 year-old daughter in college. Two days later, I received a call from the hospital -- the student was brought in by ambulance at 3am. She died at 9 that morning. I received the horrible news at 1pm, six hours before going on stage. (Her death was not related to her office visit. However, like every physician, I kept going over in my head the scene of her visit, trying to come up with scenarios, which may have changed the course of events.) Although I put my grief as far back into my mind as possible, it remained one thought behind the words I spoke on stage. I know I missed some lines, although I could not tell you which ones. I know my teammates caught me, if I knew who I would thank them. Honestly, the entire show was just a blur. I got through the performance and then fell apart alone in the dressing room. I wanted to run, but couldn't. When I run, I run for myself. I let the run do what I need it to do for me. If I run slowly or fast, if while I run I laugh or cry, or stop or walk, only I am affected. I needed something or someone, but didn't know what or who. Bob, who played my brother in the show, asked if anyone wanted to get a bite to eat after the performance. My first inclination was to say no, but I ultimately decided it was be a good idea. Seven of us went to eat. The conversation at the table was lighthearted. People talked about the show and about other shows. I felt like I was observing, like a person sitting in a theater watching a play. I often like to observe people, however, I was observing myself as much as I was observing the others. Somewhere, someone suggested we pass around a placemat and each draw an elephant on it. None of us were artists. Some of our elephants were skinny, some looked more like dogs. My elephant was especially painful. Watching this unfold I couldn't help but think of the elephant in the room I was trying to avoid. I wondered how many other elephants were in the room. Sitting there watching each person draw their own elephant I made the connection between life and the play, reality and fantasy. We all come with baggage, each with our own unique elephant. The play is about how one shy, introverted, unassuming man can affect so many other people. And there in that restaurant I saw how each of us, some introverted and shy others extroverted and funny, can help another person heal and manage his or her own elephant. And I realized that strangers are simply friends we have not yet met. -- William Santoro __________________________________________________ William says, "I am a physician specializing in two fields, Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine. I enjoy long distance running, photography and writing." =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) ____________ / _.'\ \ / _.' \ \ /_.-' \___\ |\_\ `` .- \ _/| | _\___________. | P | / \ | r |/ \| 5 |__________________| 9 >The Three Envelopes (By Alan Smith) A fellow had just been hired as the new CEO of a large high tech corporation. The CEO who was stepping down met with him privately and presented him with three numbered envelopes. "Open these if you run up against a problem you don't think you can solve," he said. Well, things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later, sales took a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat. About at his wit's end, he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope. The message read, "Blame your predecessor." The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO. Satisfied with his comments, the press and Wall Street responded positively, sales began to pick up and the problem was soon behind him. About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight dip in sales, combined with serious product problems. Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope. The message read, "Reorganize." This he did, and the company quickly rebounded. After several consecutive profitable quarters, the company once again fell on difficult times. The CEO went to his office, closed the door and opened the third envelope. The message said, "Prepare three envelopes." What do you do when things go wrong? How do you react? Imagine for a moment that the Holy Spirit via the apostle Paul has prepared three envelopes for you when life gets tough: The first envelope contains 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." The second envelope contains Philippians 1:19-21 (read it if things are getting worse!) "for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." And the third envelope contains 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (save this one for extreme situations!) "Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." ---- In God's Word, we have all we need to give us the strength to meet the struggles of life this day and every day. In difficult times, read some of Paul's letters, or the words of Jesus to His disciples on the last night He was with them before His crucifixion, or break out the "healing balm" found in the Psalms. Life and healing are found in the Word of God! -<>- __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >Quiet Power (By Dr. Bill Bright, Founder and Chairman of Campus Crusade for Christ International) A dear friend, Dee Jepsen, wife of former U.S. Senator Roger Jepsen, attended a luncheon in the Senate Caucus Room on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Congressmen, Cabinet members, top leaders in government, and many other respected guests were seated in the impressive room with its ornate pillars, high ceilings, and huge chandeliers. The room seemed to swell with influential people who had gathered to honor a humble servant of God. Then Mother Teresa entered the room. Mrs. Jepsen said, "She looked so tiny and out-of-place in her blue-and-white habit, old gray sweater, and sandals that had obviously carried her many miles. The room and prestigious guests seemed to dwarf her." Immediately the top leaders of the most powerful country in the world along with the other esteemed guests rose to their feet and applauded. Many had tears in their eyes. "I was struck with the contrast," Mrs. Jepsen said. "I thought, Lord, this frail woman has more power than I see in the Halls of Congress. She reflects Jesus everywhere she goes, and everyone is strangely moved." Mother Teresa doesn't own anything; she has never asked for material possessions nor held up her fist to demand rights for herself. Yet she has been raised to a pinnacle of recognition for her work with the destitute and dying in Calcutta, India. She has reached down into the gutter and loved those whom the world has called unlovable. A shining example of selflessness, she proves the power of God's love to transform people and touch a starved world. This is real power and, unlike that of the world, it confounds the wise and humbles the mighty. It is the power of God working through ordinary men and women for His glory. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was an example of sheer, unlimited power, but controlled and restrained for His mission, and driven by love. When we are filled with His Spirit, we have that same power inside of us. But He wants us to be vessels of His mission, to walk in His humility, and also to be driven by His love. Then people will not see us, but will see Him in us. Like Mother Teresa, we will display a power the world does not know. But His Spirit working in us will draw others to Himself. --- ...So True! Good wisdom. Thanks LouiseA! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: O_ <| | |\ |/ """""""""""""""""""""""""""" >Maintain Your Integrity A while back, there was a story about Reuben Gonzolas, who was in the final match of his first professional racquetball tournament. He was playing the perennial champion for his first shot at a victory on the pro circuit. At match point in the fifth and final game, Gonzolas made a super "kill shot" into the front corner to win the tournament. The referee called it good, and one of the linemen confirmed the shot was a winner. But after a moment's hesitation, Gonzolas turned and declared that his shot had skipped into the wall, hitting the floor first. As a result, the serve went to his opponent, who went on to win the match. Reuben Gonzolas walked off the court; everyone was stunned. The next issue of a leading racquetball magazine featured Gonzolas on its cover. The lead editorial searched and questioned for an explanation for the first ever occurrence on the professional racquetball circuit. Who could ever imagine it in any sport or endeavor? Here was a player with everything officially in his favor, with victory in his grasp, who disqualifies himself at match point and loses. When asked why he did it, Gonzolas replied, "It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity." -<>- __..._ ,-` `', ,' \ / | ,' , \ ,' ,/-'` \ _ ./ ,.'`/ \ .-` `^\_,.'` / `\__ 7 / / _,._,.,_,.-'.` `\ \A __/ ,-```-`` `, `, ` ,`) ^-` / ` ,/ -ART BY- ( , ,_ ,-,_,<` -ZEUS- \__ T--` `''` ``` _,\ \_/|\_ ,.-` | | _/ | |T\_ _,'Y / +--,_ <``` \_\/_/ `\\_/ / `\ / ,-- ` _,--,_`----` _,,_ \ / ` | <_._._ > ` \ ` \` | | , ` | | V| \ | | |` \ \ / / / \x \_ | /-` / \ `-,| ,/--` /` \x_ \_ /--'` , / \x_ `` ,,/` ` `-,_,-' ,'` _| |`\ ( `-``/``/`_/ `-`-,.-.-` >Seven Ways To Deal With Negative People Have you ever been faced with trying to stay positive when others around you are negative? Negative people can be a challenge to be around. They will bring you down and drain your energy. A negative person can throw your best laid plans to be positive right out the window. Whether your child or spouse has an occasional negative day or you deal with a family member, friend or co-worker that is chronically negative, there are things you can do to remain positive in the face of negativity. Let the Negativity Pass Whatever you do, do not argue with a negative person. Arguing only adds fuel to the fire. A negative person will feed off any negativity that will strengthen his mood or attitude. I have noticed when my children are in a crabby mood, it is best to avoid trying to convince them to analyze and adjust their attitude. As soon as I take the approach of being in opposition with them, they seize the opportunity to prove to me that life stinks. Their negativity intensifies and the situation gets worse before it gets better. Sometimes the best thing to do is remain silent and let the negativity pass. Negative People Need Love You know how difficult it can be to give love and positive attention to negative people. Unfortunately, that is often exactly what they need. Deep inside that mean and critical person is a person that is usually afraid he or she is unlovable. It is our challenge to rise above the negative attitude and love the injured person inside. How do you show love when someone is negative? You must listen to what she is trying to tell you. Acknowledge the feelings she has by saying something like, "You sound very angry right now." Even if you don't quite understand the person's feelings, know that your reality is different from someone else's. Ask how you might help the negative person. This shows legitimate interest in her happiness. Offer a hug even if you get rejected. Remember not to take a rejection of your love personally. A negative person often has difficulty receiving love from others. Focus on the Positive If you try really hard, there is always something positive to be found in any situation. Pretend you are on a treasure hunt and search for any gold or jewels you can emphasize. Even a negative person has positive qualities. When a person is drowning in negativity, it can be difficult for them to see the positive. So often my clients focus on the negative aspects of themselves. They forget about all the great things they are doing. I admit that sometimes a negative person doesn't want to see the positive. This might require her to shift her outlook. Negativity can become a habit and habits are hard to break. Be patient and gently remind your grumpy friend or family member to look for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Hopefully, in her down time, she will begin to reflect on what you have said. Ask Negative People to Elaborate You may hear a negative person say things like: "Women are fickle." "You can't trust doctors." "My husband makes me miserable." These kinds of statements are a type of cognitive distortion referred to as generalizations. To help a person sort through her distorted thinking, ask for more specifics. Questions like "Which women are fickle?" or "What specifically about your husband is making you miserable?" forces a person to evaluate what he or she is really trying to say. A negative person will give up because either it takes too much effort to explain himself, or he or she will get to the bottom of the issue. Detach and Avoid Trying to Change the Negative Person Learning to detach emotionally from a negative person can greatly benefit you and the other person. A negative person will fight you if you try to change them. If you want, you can try a little reverse psychology and agree with everything she says. I once read a great article about a mother who was exasperated with her son's negative mood. Everything she tried to soothe him and make him feel better backfired. She finally gave up and started agreeing with everything he said. When her son told her his friends were mean, she agreed with him. When he complained that his teacher didn't know anything, she couldn't agree more. After several minutes of this kind of dialogue with her son, his mood suddenly shifted. He declared that he was tired and he went to bed with a smile on his face. Stay Away from Negative People If you have negative people in your life that are critically affecting your mental and physical health, you need to evaluate whether or not you want these people in your life. Some people are so chronically negative that you have no other choice but to remove them from your life. It's possible to do that with friends. You can find another job if your boss or other co-workers are bringing you down. Other people, such as children and spouses, are difficult to remove from your life. In this instance, professional counseling may be the answer. To protect your well being, you need to enforce very strong boundaries with negative people. Keep Your Own Negative Thoughts in check If you do nothing else but focus on managing your own negative thoughts and behavior, you will come a long way toward remaining positive. A negative attitude is contagious, but a positive attitude is infectious as well. Hang out with positive people that encourage you to be your best self. Use positive affirmations to overcome negative self-talk. Express your gratitude for all the positive things in your life. Take the time every day to watch all the beautiful things going on around you. Read inspirational material and listen to joyful music. Take care of yourself spiritually. Do whatever you have to do to remain positive and happy despite the negativity you face. The world will be a better place because of you and your attitude. And you never know, you just might help a negative person make a change to a better way of living. © Copyright Lori Radun. All rights reserved. --- ..::''''::.. .:::. .;'' ``;. .... ::::: :: :: :: :: ,;' .;: () ..: `:::' :: :: :: :: ::. ..:,:;.,:;. . :: .::::. `:' :: .:' :: :: `:. :: '''::, :: :: :: `:: :: ;: .:: : :: : : :: ,:'; ::; :: :: :: :: :: ::,::''. . :: `:. .:' :: `:,,,,;;' ,;; ,;;, ;;, ,;;, ,;;, `:,,,,:' :;: `;..``::::''..;' ``::,,,,::'' ...Remember - Giving = Receiving - If you give negatives, more negatives will come back to hit you in the face. If you give positives, more positives will return to brighten your life! Turn that frown to the orangy side and think of all the good things you have to be thankful for. When we think our life sucks... just think about how some folks are lacking even their most basic needs. Phil.4: [19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. You've got it made in the shade compared to them! Always something to be thankful and happy to Praise God for! Global Rich Test http://www.globalrichlist.com/ -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Beautiful Cactus Blooms http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cactusblooms.html God's Paintings!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpaints.html The Blue Ribbon!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Maxine On Jesus!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonjesus.html Rescued Squirrel!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rsquirrel.html No Words Needed!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nowords.html Adam In Paradise!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/adam.html Harvest Moonbow!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/moonbow.html God's Night Lights!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/night.html Angel Wing Decoys!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angel.html Jesus Laughing Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html Akiane - Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Attitude Is Everything 5!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude5.html Bible Study: Our Valuable Anchor!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html -<>- >Please Visit This Link to Get New Traffic For Shangrala :) Fun Pages http://www.funpageexchange.com/go.php?uid=3559 -<>- >From Franklin Graham: Decision America Tour This is a chance for Christians to stand together, hand in hand, to pray for our leaders and our nation. It’s also a chance to let our politicians know that the Christian voice and the Christian vote count. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). http://tinyurl.com/z64l3px -<>- >From Our Friend Bunni :) Slippery Squirrel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9-rE5RBZvU Walk at the White House (Fantastic) Be sure to watch this, you'll be glad you did ! http://hawthornephoto.com/walk.htm --- ...Good ones! Thanks Bunni! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) George Carlin talks about the importance of "Stuff." Classic comedy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac&feature=player_embedded Russian acrobatic team 'The Cats' with their beautiful performance of 'Memory' at the French TV Show 'The Worlds Greatest Cabaret.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAPkB_g02N8&feature=player_embedded --- ...Beautiful! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) Paper Is Not Dead! https://www.youtube.com/embed/V_gOZDWQj3Q?rel=0 Life Is Like Coffee http://www.flickspire.com/_videos/flash/LILC/LILC.swf --- ...Sweet! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) 10-year-old Alex Pirvu from Romania makes the jury cry with his rendition of 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra. http://tinyurl.com/n58rdny How Not To Instagram! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lncwRnV4Gsg --- ...Scared the heck out of me! Geesh! Thanks Geniann! 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 ========================================================== | --====|====-- | .-"""""-. .'_________'. /_/_|__|__|_\_\ ;'-._ _.-'; ,--------------------| `-. .-' |--------------------, ``""--..__ ___ ; ' ; ___ __..--""`` jgs `"-// \\.._\ /_..// \\-"` \\_// '._ _.' \\_// `"` ``---`` `"` >The Tall Man Story Editor: by Caitlin Mercer Joyce Schowalter California, USA It didn't start out as a big deal. We were waiting to board our flight out of Portland, Oregon, heading to Ontario, California on a Friday evening. The gate had been changed, and everyone was now just anxious to get on the plane and get home. A man escorted an elderly Asian couple through the line. I assumed he was their son. At the head of the line, it was clear the couple spoke almost no English. A gate attendant was kind enough to escort them out onto the tarmac and onto the right gangway to our plane. I boarded the plane a few moments behind them and witnessed some confusion. The couple had taken the first two open seats, not understanding the seat numbers on their boarding passes. A tall man tried to show them how to identify the correct seat numbers, and when they didn't understand, he motioned to them to follow him, and kindly guided them to their correct seats. I noted his kind act and smiled, though I figured it was the sort of little kindness any one of us would do. We waited for an eternity to depart, and finally the captain announced that there was minor trouble with a cargo net and we would be delayed. After more time passed, we were advised we would need to deplane and wait for another plane. I thought immediately of the Asian couple and how confusing this would be for them. I waited for one of my carry-on luggage pieces to come out of the cargo hold, and when I got into the terminal I looked for them. I needn't have worried. The same tall man was with them. He guided them to the terminal where we were to wait, gesturing for them to stick with him. Our terminal was now overcrowded with impatient commuters waiting for the replacement flight, and there was nowhere for them to sit with three adjacent seats. The tall man spotted a woman sitting alone with an empty seat on each side of her and explained that he was looking after the couple. He asked if she would be willing to give up her seat, and she graciously did so. We waited another 45 minutes before boarding the new plane. The tall man sat with the couple during the wait, made sure they found the restroom, got a cup of coffee, a snack, anything they needed. Maybe another aggravated, tired commuter would have seen this as a pain in the neck. But this man didn't. I'm not sure if it "put him out" to help them. When the opportunity arose, he took responsibility for seeing it through. Really, it seemed he hardly saw it as an inconvenience at all -- just a chance to do good. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: It's nice to have money and the things money can buy. However, it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money cannot buy. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' The High Cost of Living (Author Unknown, Provided by Student Discipleship Ministries, TX) Matthew 16:24-27 (NIV) says: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.'" What does Jesus say about "profit" in this passage? How do you think that relates to your life? When the city of Pompeii was excavated, the body of a woman was found, embalmed by the ashes of Vesuvius. Her feet were pointed in the direction of the city gate, but her face was turned back in the direction of her outstretched hand. Just beyond her frozen fingers was found a bag of pearls. In her flight to save her life she had hesitated, though death was hot on her heels. Her hesitation likely cost her life. Was a bag of pearls really worth that price? How much is real life worth to you? What is it that you are reaching out for that could cut you off from the life the Lord has for you? Sometimes the very thing we want most may cost us more than we ever dreamed. Think about that area and make a choice to turn away from it, turning your face toward the Lord. -<>- "We get no deeper into Christ than we allow Him to get into us." - John Henry Jowett , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Who's Controlling Your Life (By Alan Smith) I heard recently about a company that sometimes puts on what they call "Lunch and Learn" seminars during the employees' lunchtime, dealing with a variety of physical and mental health issues. If the seminar lasts beyond the normal lunch hours, the employees are supposed to get managerial approval to attend. So, recently, this flier came around: "LUNCH AND LEARN SEMINAR: WHO'S CONTROLLING YOUR LIFE? (Get your manager's permission before attending)" Looks like that question's been answered! As Christians, we know what the answer is supposed to be for us. But it sometimes helps to remind us by asking the question again: "Who's controlling my life?" Jesus is often referred to in the New Testament as "the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". It seems to me that we are sometimes anxious to claim Jesus as our "Savior", but somewhat reluctant to make him our "Lord". As our Savior, he offers us eternal life. As our Lord, he demands full control of our lives. And that can be a scary thing because we want to maintain some control ourselves. May we strive for the day when we can say with the apostle Paul: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20) Who's controlling your life? SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: o o \__/,'`.,'`._, /,-. \ / <_, > - )/ / <_, \__,/ / ,' _/_(_/______/__ ( (_ ,,--'---^,\\ ___/ \ / ___,' /,---' \\ \_ `. ` / `. \ | \_ \ |/\/\/\| `. \ \ | /\ `.`. \( /\ \ `.`. | \ `.`._, `-\_, | /| `-' |/\( |(_\\_ | / \ ( /_/gnv\_\ >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY The Rev. Dan Barker has a morning routine of going into the sanctuary to read and pray. Two little girls from the church's day care ministry ran up to him as he was leaving the sanctuary. One of them asked, "Pastor Dan, why did you go there (to the sanctuary)?" He replied, "I go there to read and pray." "Why?" the little girl asked. "He goes there to talk to God and to Jesus and to the Tooth Fairy!" the other girl explained. -- Rev. Dan Barker of Kendallville, Indiana Mattison, 2, recently came to her cousin Blake's 12th birthday celebration. Being a rare afternoon of warmth in northeast Texas, everyone was out by the trampoline. Mattison proceeded to climb on the trampoline with her mother, Darla, in tow. "I like the bounceline," Mattison proudly announced. -- Joan Henry (grandmother of Mattison) of Sulphur Springs, Texas .n"~~|"-. / | | /\ |"-.| | | | | | | |-._| _ \/ | | / ||| `-.L__.>' ||\_ ,; ,; \ "=;'. _|| | | `.-" / _________ | | | | | ,--. \ | | | | ,--. | | | | ,--. ,--. | | | | ,--------. =; ;=== ,========, | `""' < | | | | | | | | | |""| | | | | |____ | |"") | | | | | | | | | | |==;==' | | `-____ | | L__J | | L__J | | | | | | L_____ | L___ _____J | `---------' `-----'--' `--' `--' `--------' `-----' `--------' Bridget was at a basketball game and she saw Wyatt and his daughters and talked with them. Bridget asked Rylie, 6, where her little sister was and Rylie informed Bridget that her baby sister couldn't walk, talk or do "anything" so she was home with Mom. So cute! -- Donna M. Johnson (grandmother of Rylie and a friend of Bridget) of Ashby, Minnesota Riley's mother gets off work at 5am. One morning Riley, 4, got up on her own for preschool, got dressed, did her hair and put her backpack on ... all without waking her mother. (Riley's mother takes turns with other moms taking the children to preschool and that day another mom was driving.) When Riley's ride came she left -- without waking her mother. When her mother woke up and Riley was gone she was obviously frantic. She called the school and found out Riley was OK. That night at dinner her mother said, "Riley, don't ever do that again. Wake Mommy up when you go to school. I thought somebody stole you!" Riley replied, "Mom, you know me. If anybody would steal me they would just bring me back!" -- Jeane Aichele (Riley's grandmother) of Kendallville, Indiana (.,------...__ _.'" `. .' .' `, `. `. ` . .' .'/''--...__`. \ . .--.`. ' "-. '. | '' .' _.' .()) .--":/ ''( \_\ ' (()( ''._' ( \ ' ' `. `--' ' `.: . `-.___.' ' `. . _ _ .' ) .____.-' .'`. (--.. .' \ /\ / / `. .' \( \ /|/ `. .' \__/ `. / | o | \ | | | jro Keagan, 5, went to church with his Memaw. He likes to suck his first two fingers instead of his thumb. Every time he put his fingers in his mouth, his Memaw would pull them out. He finally got tired of it and looked at his Memaw and said, "My teacher says keep your hands to yourself!" -- Linda (Memaw) of Otto, North Carolina Allison, 4, recently asked Dan, "Grandpa, are you potty trained yet?" -- Dan Martin of Kendallville, Indiana Spencer, 3, was visiting his great-grandparents in Ohio recently. He was telling them all about the things he has been doing lately. One of his activities was that he goes off the diving board at the YMCA and does candy balls (cannon balls)! -- Harold and Ellyne Sollenberger (grandparents of Spencer) of Kendallville, Indiana Mary works in a classroom with children with special needs. Each morning the teacher, the paraprofessionals and the children gather in a circle for their "Responsive Classroom Meeting." They had just had the day before off in celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The gathering centered on the day off. When William, 10, was asked if he knew what Martin Luther King's speech began with, he proudly beamed and said, "Yes, capital S!" -- Mary of Springfield, Massachusetts ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.---------------. .'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__,` . ____ ___ \ |\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ _:\ |:. \ \___ \ \\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\_`.__| `. \ \___ \ \\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __: \ \\'\__\'\__\'\__\ \__\'\_;-----------------` hh \\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ : | \|______________________;________________| At Christmastime this year Diane had an expensive box of chocolates. Alton, 3, loves candy and Diane offered him one. He began chewing it and made a face, saying he didn't like it, and spit it out into Diane's hand. He proceeded to take a bite out of two more pieces with the same reaction. Diane told him to stop wasting her expensive candy. Later in the day he found a Hershey's Kiss. He popped it into his mouth and sighed, "Ahh... now THAT'S good chocolate!" -- Diane Schlemmer (grandmother of Alton) of LaGrange, Indiana Liam Patrick Ryan, 3, sat down with his mom, Sherri (Trish's youngest sister) and Trish's sister Donna looking at Trish's wedding pictures. Sherri had only been six years old when she was the flower girl at Trish's wedding so she said, "Look at Mommy, how small she is." Sherri kept pointing to each member of the bridal party and each time she would tell him the name of each person and he'd have a look at it. When she finally got to Trish's sister Donna's picture, he looked at the picture and then he looked at Donna. On the wedding picture Donna had really long hair but these days she wears her hair short. He kept looking at the picture and then back at Donna and finally he smiled and said, "Oh Donna, that's you with a different head!" -- Trish Bradley (aunt of Liam) of Mount Pearl, NL Canada Tiffani was explaining Leap Year to her three daughters, Rebekah, 7, Ember, 5, and Colette, 5, and telling them how Feb. 29th "leaps" ahead four years before it's Feb. 29th again. They all thought about it for a bit and Rebekah said, "It must be a GIANT frog because that would just take too long for a small frog to jump four years!" -- Tiffani Schreiner of Bloomington, Minnesota ____________________ / {)][o>][_o][c_][o][| |-==)| | &_____________________L ejm 96 ( ) ( ) Myrle's granddaughter, Mackenzie, 8, came home from school and said, "Guess what, Nanny." Myrle asked, "What?" Mackenzie said, "My friend at school has a crush on a boy in my room." Myrle said, "Do you like Hunter (a boy Mackenzie has talked about)? Do you have a boy friend? Is it Hunter?" She replied, "You hit it right on the door knob!" (She meant to say, "You hit the nail on the head.") Asked what she was going to do about it, Mackenzie said, "I haven't figured it out yet." -- Myrle Brown of Georgia Angela, a school bus driver, had her son Cordell, 11, riding with her on the bus on a particularly noisy day. The family watches a lot of nature shows on PBS and National Geographic Channel. Cordell kept telling his mom that the children were very noisy. When they finished the route and returned home, while Angela was finishing her paperwork Cordell said, "Mom, I know what you really need on that bus -- a trampolizer gun!" -- Angela Fulkerson of Upton, Kentucky This is a story from a few years back. Weazie, about 4, went into the kitchen where Mary Caroline, her older sister, was getting supper started, and asked for a cookie. Since Weazie was the much-loved baby of the family of five, Mary Caroline gave her one but told her not to tell her brother and sisters that she had one. Weazie immediately put her hands behind her, went outside, and announced, "I don't have a cookie behind my back!" -- Susan Meadors (family of Weazie) of Georgetown, Kentucky . . . . . . . . . _.-/`/`'-._ . What a nice day! . /_..--''''_-' . . . . .` //-.__\_\.-' `..' _\\\// --.___ // ___.---.._ _- /@/@\ \ ||`` `-_ .' ,\_\_/ | \_||_/ ,-._ `. ; { o / } "" `-._`. ; ; `-==-' / \_| ; | |>o<| }@@@} | | <(___<) }@@@@} | | <(___<) }@@@@@} | | <\___<) \_.?@@} | ; V`--V`__./@} ; \ tx ooo@} / \ / `. .' `-._ _.-'ls ``------'''''''''------`` Another Weazie story: Weazie was watching her daddy turn over the soil in the garden. All of a sudden she exclaimed, "Good for you, Daddy! I found a worm!" And a third story from Susan. Her daughter Sippy had been in kindergarten a couple of months and seemed to really enjoy it. She was a sweet, quiet, little girl, and never, as far as Susan knew, caused her teacher a bit of trouble. One day she came home a little on the downcast side. When Susan asked her what was wrong, she replied, "Mama, Mrs. H never lets me sit in the thinking chair. Doesn't she know I can think?" (Susan told the story to the teacher who was a family friend. It was re-named the time-out chair.) Kelly, 11, is extremely fond of sweets, and even likes to eat plain sugar (much to her mother's chagrin). When she was 8, someone noticed this and asked her, "So you have a sweet tooth, huh?" Kelly responded, "All my teeth are sugar teeth!" -- Debbi Armstrong (mother of Kelly) of Orlando, Florida Ember, 2, is being potty trained. Her grandmother babysat her one weekend and her cousin, Daniel, 19 months, came to visit. Ember was in the bathroom sitting on the potty and Daniel walked in the door. Ember said, "Daniel, go back in there, I'm on the potty" but he just looked at her and grinned. So Gram said, "Daniel, go find your mommy" but he just grinned and stood there. After a few minutes, Ember really wanted Daniel to leave. She held up her fingers and said, "Daniel, 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, you better mind me right now", and he turned and walked out. Ember looked at Gram and said, "He's a good boy, he minds real good!" -- Suzette Temple (Gram) of Lufkin, Texas ,-. .'\ _ ,' \ .' (_) J '-._ /\ .' (,_) / _ / ,'# )_ _\_ (_) / '_Y' /_.,' \ ( _') \ | _ / ,'\/ . | '. __) \ |'.Y / # ) --' / _.-' __) .' _._\,' ,'__,' / _\ / \ .' ,'-_ / _.-' _\ / \.' ' (_ _.-' _.-' \/ \ _.-' _.-' '-. ./ -' .-' '-.-'/ | \o _.-'####/ | \o_.-' \#####/ |_.-#\ \###/ ######\ \/' Ralf Stauder # #####`-. Sean, 7, and Barbie, 4, were spending the day with their grandmother, Barbara. They were outside taking turns driving the motorized car in the loop. It was Sean's turn to drive, and Barbie's to be the passenger. Barbie got upset when she couldn't remain the driver, and she tried to hide behind the neighbors' brick pillar by the street. Sean kept calling her over to ride with him and after much coaxing, she said to her Grandmother, "OK Gammie, but, you'll have to carry me over there, because I have a broken leg." Gammie quickly came back with, "I would but, I can't because I have a broken back." Rather than miss the fun, she started walking the 3 feet to the car, and responded with, "That's OK, I can walk now, my leg is all better." -- Barbara Gocus (Gammie) of Clackamas, Oregon. Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) _|_ | / \ //_\\ //(_)\\ |/^\| ,%%%% // \\ ,@@@@@@@, ,%%%%/%%% // \\ ,@@@\@@@@/@@, @@@%%%\%%//%%%// === \\ @@\@@@/@@@@@ @@@@%%%%\%%%%%// =-=-= \\@@@@\@@@@@@;%#####, @@@@%%%\%%/%%// === \\@@@@@@/@@@%%%######, @@@@@%%%%/%%//| |\\@\\//@@%%%%%%#/#### '@@@@@%%\\/%~ | | ~ @|| %\\//%%%#####; @@\\//@|| | __ __ | || %%||%%'###### '@|| || | | | | | || ||##\//#### || || | | -|- | | || ||'#||###' || || |_|__|__|_| || || || || ||_/` ======= `\__||_._|| || jgs__||_/` ======= `\_||___ >Today I've shut the door on yesterday, Its sorrows and mistakes, I've locked within its gloomy walls Past failures and heartaches. And now I throw the key away To seek another room, And furnish it with hope and smiles And every springtime bloom. No thought shall enter this abode That has a hint of pain, All worry, malice and distrust Shall never therein reign. I've shut the door on Yesterday And thrown the key away - The Future holds no doubt for me, Since I have found Today! --- ...Oh Yeah! Thanks Bunni! >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? 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 ************************************************************************