No Matter... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! ================ >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) We got a red hottie from a forward from our friend Jo Ann. This art is truly amazing! These people took it to it's next level! Check it out here... . + . . . . _ . . , /;-._,-.____ ,-----.__ (( . (_:#::_.:::. `-._ /:, /-._, `._, ` \ _|`"=:_::.`.); \ __/ / , `./ \:. `. )==-' . . ., ,-=-. ,\, +#./` \:. / / . . \/:/`-' , ,\ '` ` ` ): , /_ -o . /:+- - + +- : :- + + -:' /(o-) \) . . ,=': \ ` `/` ' , , ,:' `'--".--"---._/`7 `. ( \: \,-._` ` + '\, ," _,--._,---":.__/ \: ` X` _| _,\/' .-' . ":._:`\____ /:' / . . \::. :\/:' / + . `.:. /:' } . . ):_(:; \ . /:. _/ , | . (|::. ,` . . |::. {\ |::.\ \ `. |:::(\ | O |:::/{ } | (o ) ___/#\::`/ (O "==._____ O, (O /` ~~~w/w~"~~,\` `:/,-(~`"~~~~~~~~"~o~\~/~w|/~ dew ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\\W~~~~~~~~~~~~\|/~~ REAL Fantasy Trees 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trees2.html --- ...Aww, I love these! Thank You Jo Ann! =========================================================== *\o_ _c/* / * * \ <\ *\o/* /> ) c/* / > *\o <\ /> __o */\ /\* c__ * /> <\ * /\* __o_ _c__ */\ * / * * \ * <\ /> *\c/* ejm97 __)__ >-->From Heartwarmers: THE CHEER by Ron Gold There was not one empty pew in the cathedral. An honor guard of soldiers, firemen and policemen surrounded the flag-draped coffin. A bishop, archbishop and cardinal led the requiem mass. A tall, graying priest rose to deliver the eulogy. "I'm here to talk about Cliff. Cliff Thompson," Father John F. X. O'Toole said. "I knew him very well. We went to high school together, played on the same football team. "Cliff was a solid tight end. He was about six feet tall. Weighed about 180 pounds then. He blocked like a steamroller and was a magnet for my passes. He ran like a swift, single-minded deer with cleats. "In our first varsity game, Cliff and I ran onto the field with the offensive team. After Eddie Newsome's two short runs loosened up the defense, I called a pass play. Cliff was my prime receiver. "Cliff blocked a linebacker, then quickly cut in toward the center of the field where my first pass was waiting for him. He caught his first varsity pass and was immediately hit, knocked to the ground and fallen upon. "He heard the loud crack over the cheers of the crowd. As he tried to get to his feet, the pain smacked him down again. "Our trainers rushed out, gave him their supporting shoulders and carried him to the sidelines, where they put his leg in a splint. "Cliff never heard their full diagnosis or their instructions for caring for his broken leg. He just knew the leg required some surgery, pins and a cast. And that he'd be sidelined for most of the year. "However, what he did hear and see, were the cheerleaders, in their letter sweaters, egging on the crowd to cheer their wounded warrior: "'Yea, Cliff! Yea, Thompson! Yea, yea, Cliff Thompson!'" "Cliff was out for about eight weeks but he made the most of his time and his cast. All the big jocks signed it. And so did the giggly girls. The cast and his crutches gave Cliff greater visibility. And Cliff played it for all it was worth. "When he finally returned, Cliff did so well in the final games -- and the championship game -- that he earned a football scholarship. He studied business with the Wolverines at the University of Michigan. I studied God and man with the Jesuits at Boston College. On TV, we saw Cliff run out on the field in the Rose Bowl game. We saw his picture with the offense squad graphics. And we saw his five catches, two for touchdowns, in replays and on all the late night sport shows. He was even interviewed on ESPN's Sportscenter. "But somehow, all that glory never equaled the thrill of hearing those high school cheerleaders praise him by name. He replayed that memory over and over in his mind's ear: 'Yea, Cliff! Yea, Thompson! Yea, yea, Cliff Thompson! "After College, he got a good job in sales management and became 'Sales Manager of the Year'. He graciously accepted his personal trophy and large bonus check and the polite applause. But, again, there were no cheerleaders. "Cliff enlisted in the Army, graduated from Officers Candidate School and fought with valor in Vietnam. The Secretary of the Army pinned the Silver Star on his chest and Cliff returned the salutes of generals. "He told me how honored he felt but, 'you know, it's not like hearing those cheerleaders'. "On September 11, 2001, he arrived very early at New York City's Twin Towers. He was there to celebrate his promotion to Major at a brunch at The Windows on the World Restaurant. Cliff arrived just before that first hijacked airliner hit the first tower. He ran into the smoking, battered building and joined firemen and policemen, helping crowds of people escape that massive smoking toaster. "He didn't get out alive. His body was recognized by his shiny new Major's gold leaves and by the three scars in his leg, where the oddly placed stainless steel pins used to be. "Again, Cliff Thompson was a hero. And again, he didn't hear the recognition he really wanted to hear. "So let this parish priest play cheerleader right now in this most holy sanctuary. Let's hear it now for a great hero and one of God's finest men! "Yea, Cliff", the padre said, throwing his fist into the air. The congregation yelled "Yea, Cliff!". "Yea, Thompson," he continued. And the congregation repeated, "Yea, Thompson!" "Yea, Yea, Cliff Thompson!" Everyone screamed "Yea, Yea, Cliff Thompson." The organist played, the honor guard snapped to attention. Women sobbed and men held back dry tears. -- Ron Gold ___________________________________________ Ron is Heartwarmer Gem and resides in New Jersey. You can contact him by clicking here: mailto:outthinkresumes@aol.com ====================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) /\ /\ /\ //\\ //\\ //\\ \\// \\// \\// >< >< >< .._||_.. ._||.. ._||.. :/ !! : | \: :/ :; |: :| | | :: | | :: ;| |: :; | | :; | | :: :| |; : | | : : | | :: :| | | | | | ,| |_._.__| |__.__.| |._._._| | | | | | | | | | | | | \_.. ._/ \_. .._/ \_.. ._/ | | | | | | | | | | | | | \._____./ \._____./ | \ / `-.______. . .. ._______.-' \ .. / | | | | | | | | | | |... .| ____/.. . ..\____ _. -' '-._ /___________________________\ pjb >IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME A few weeks ago a woman was killed in an auto accident. She was very well liked, so the office shut down for her funeral and it was on the news…. On the day the workers came back to work, they found this poem in their e-mail that the deceased woman had sent on Friday before she left for home. If tomorrow starts without me, And I'm not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes All filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn't cry The way you did today, While thinking of the many things, We didn't get to say. I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand, That an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand, And said my place was ready, In heaven far above, And that I'd have to leave behind All those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye, For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for, So much left yet to do, It seemed almost impossible, That I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad, I thought of all that we shared, And all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, Just even for a while, I'd say good-bye and hug you And maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized, That this could never be, For emptiness and memories, Would take the place of me. And when I thought of worldly things I might miss some tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, My heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne, He said, "This is eternity, And all I've promised you. Today your life on earth is past, But here life starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last, And since each day is the same way, There's no longing for the past. " So when tomorrow starts without me, Don't think we're far apart, For every time you think of me, I'm right there, in your heart. Send this to all those you care about... because you never know what's going to happen tomorrow... Show them how you care, before it's too late...... May God watch over you and your family now and always. There is no right time to do the wrong thing.... There is no wrong time to tell someone you care. --- ...Sweet poem! Very Well done! Thanks Bunni! ============================================================ >-->From LaughAndLift: __ .'` `'. / \ _ ; __.'` `'. | .'` `'. \ ; / HAPPY \ ; \; First ; | | BIRTHDAY | ; _ ; ;-./-_-` '-. /\ /_(;'/ `\() '. ; '.__ .'\|| ' | '. | ),\| \\ \() (\ ; \ \|/ __/ () \ __ \ \||\.~'_ `'.;-.___.~'` _'~. '.__ _/|/|/{ (_`.' '.`_) } `)/`\\\\ \ .' _ 0_._0 _ '. / .,_ \|| } -.' (_) '.- { _{ `\ \|{_ / '.___|___.' \ } //`._ | /` \ | | } }:'-. ```'"--..==, { ,} \-"-/ .' } {,`-'. //>`\> {` _./|\._. '-' ._ .~` /` ;'. //> |> { {///( `-.-.-` ) _.' / '. ||> /> \ \|\);--`( )`--`(` } `\\>_.'> ; _/`/(__.'/`-'.,__/`, .` `"""` .-'` ;-.( \_(; \ .' .--, (`-._ ./ ` '. `-._..~` /o\\ jgs `'-;/``. `;-"`: |oo|| .--._ _.' . \ o ; . | /| /.-. ` . '._ _.' ' \_// ||oo\ `. `'-----` _.~`--..__,..' |\o | .~`'--......--' \'._/ _.~` `.__.-' >From Conception to Birth "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV) "Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb..." (Isaiah 44:2a ESV) Below is a link to a fascinating short video titled "From Conception to Birth" - it starts with the guy talking about it and then shows it - a very worthwhile view. Click here to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=fKyljukBE70 In concert with the Tim Tebow image yesterday (who if you are not aware was recommended to be aborted) and the Thought For Today, we see that all life has value and purpose to God and He has plans and purposes for all. It is staggering to even contemplate the 50 MILLION+ plans and purposes (since Roe v. Wade in 1973) that God had for lives that were never fulfilled because they were kept from doing so often times by selfish women (and men) who decided they wanted to exercise "their choice" because they didn't want the responsibility of a baby. Oh may God have mercy on us all! (Note: for more on this subject, please see the issue from December 9th, which is still available online at http://www.laughandlift.com /issues ) -<>- You can trust God too little, but you can never trust Him too much. ___()___ _.-'' ,-'`-. ``-._ ,-' ,' `. `-. ,' ,' `. `. / / \ \ /_ / \ _\ ``-./_..---'''|``---.._\,-'' | | | | | | | , | `..' SSt BRING YOUR UMBRELLA (by Steve Goodier) [Edited] One summer, a drought threatened the crop in a small town. On a hot and dry Sunday, the village parson told his congregation, "There isn't anything that will save us except to pray for rain. Go home, pray, believe, and come back next Sunday ready to thank God for sending rain." The people did as they were told and returned to church the following Sunday. But as soon as the parson saw them, he was furious. "We can't worship today. You do not yet believe," he said. "But," they protested, "we prayed, and we do believe." "Believe?" he responded. "Then where are your umbrellas?" The story applies to all of us. There are those people who leave their umbrellas at home. Throughout their lives, they are merely hoping their wishes and prayers will bear fruit, but they expect little. Others expect their God-given dreams and desires to come to pass. It is as if they journey through life always prepared for something to happen. Today, how will you approach that which you are yearning for? Will you expect answers to your prayers and work to bring about hoped-for results? Will you bring your umbrella? -<>- >"We Need Revival" (Written by N.L. DeMoss) [Edited] , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' We Need Revival When: . . . we do not love Him as we once did. . . . earthly interests and occupations are more important to us than Eternal ones. . . . church dinners are better attended than prayer meetings. . . . concerts draw bigger crowds than prayer meetings. . . . we have little or no desire for prayer. . . . we would rather make money than give money. . . . we put people into leadership positions in our churches who do not meet scriptural qualifications. . . . our Christianity is joyless and passionless. . . . we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives. . . . we make little effort to witness to the lost. . . . we have time for sports, recreation and entertainment, but not for Bible study and prayer. . . . preaching lacks conviction, confrontation and divine fire and anointing. . . . we seldom think thoughts of Eternity. . . . God's people are more concerned about their jobs and their careers, than about the Kingdom of Christ and the Salvation of the lost. . . . church services are predictable and "business as usual." . . . believers can be at odds with each other and not feel compelled to pursue reconciliation. . . . Christian husbands and wives are not praying together. . . . our marriages are co-existing rather than full of the love of Christ. . . . our children are growing up to adopt worldly values, secular philosophies and ungodly lifestyles. . . . we are more concerned about our children's education and their athletic activities than about the condition of their souls. . . . sin in the church is pushed under the carpet. . . . known sin is not dealt with through the biblical process of discipline and restoration. . . . we tolerate "little" sins of gossip, a critical spirit and lack of love. . . . we will watch things on television and movies that are not holy. . . . our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless. . . . our prayers are empty words designed to impress others. . . . our prayers lack fervency. . . . our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry. . . . we aren't seeing regular evidence of the supernatural power of God. . . . we have ceased to weep and mourn and grieve over our own sin and the sin of others. . . . we are content to live with explainable, ordinary Christianity and church services. . . . we are bored with worship. . . . people have to be entertained to be drawn to church. . . . our music and dress become patterned after the world. . . . we start fitting into and adapting to the world, rather than calling the world to adapt to God's standards of holiness. . . . we don't long for the company and fellowship of God's people. . . . people have to be begged to give and to serve in the church. . . . our giving is measured and calculated, rather than extravagant and sacrificial. . . . we aren't seeing lost people drawn to Jesus on a regular basis. . . . we aren't exercising faith and believing God for the impossible. . . . we are more concerned about what others think about us than what God thinks about us . . . we are unmoved by the fact that 2.5 billion people in this world have never heard the name of Jesus. . . . we are unmoved by the thought of neighbors, business associates and acquaintances who are lost and without Christ. . . . People complain about prayers not being allowed in schools but churches can't get people out for prayer meetings where it is allowed . . . the lost world around us doesn't know or care that we exist. . . . we are making little or no difference in the secular world around us. . . . the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages and the church. . . . we are blind to the extent of our need and don't think we need revival. 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 CupO'Cheer: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >OBEDIENCE! If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. (Job 36:11 (NIV)) To those who have not been saved by grace, obedience sounds like mindless adherence to the will of someone else. It sounds like you give up your individuality and free will when you are expected to obey and serve. If we could make people understand that if God wanted people to be mindless and simply do everything that He commands, then He would not have given us free will. He would have simply made us to be servants. He has the ability to create anything that He desires. He could have simply made us robots. We would respond to His every desire without thinking about what we do. We would simply do it because we would have been created to serve. To those who have not accepted His grace, it appears that this is the biggest oxymoron of all times. They use this argument to bolster their misguided reasoning that since we have free will, we don't need to obey. They even misuse this and reason that I was created this way, therefore whatever I do is ok. Have you ever loved someone so much that you found yourself doing things for them that you normally would never do under any circumstances? You find yourself wanting to serve their needs because you care for them. You find yourself wanting to "obey" their desires because it gives you joy to please them. How do you think it makes God feel when someone obeys Him out of the very same type of heartfelt desire to please? How do you think it rewards the obedient one? There is a joy present in this obedience. It resonates through the very soul of the person who longs to please God. Perhaps that is the best way to differentiate between the two views of obedience. The unsaved world sees obedience as a form of subjugation and dreaded servanthood. Those who know grace through the atoning blood of Jesus know obedience as the greatest joy and peace that can be obtained. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 (NIV)) God blesses those who desire to obey out of a desire to please Him. What do you desire? Copyright 1998 - 2011 Dennis J. Smock Daily Living Ministries, Inc. -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >PRIESTHOOD ONE OF THE first things I noticed was the demise of a great falsehood that cripples our churches: the Holy Man myth... It's the idea that preachers somehow have a more direct line to God. It cripples a church because it overburdens preachers and underutilizes the gifts of everyone else. It mistakenly equates leadership with superior spirituality. Here's how it impacted me. If someone in our church need prayer, advice, or simply a visit in the hospital, I was the only one they wanted. If someone else showed up, apparently their prayers wouldn't take and their advice wouldn't work. And if I never made it to the hospital, the patient was sure to complain, "No one from the church ever visited me"--even though their friends (who were all from the church) stopped by daily. I could never figure out how people's seeming dependence on my prayers, advice, and physical presence squared with our stated belief in the priesthood of the believer--the New Testament doctrine that every follower of Christ has the privilege of direct access to God. It's hardly a peripheral doctrine. It's one that God Himself emphasized when He ripped open the temple curtain that had, until Jesus' death, separated the Holy of Holies from everyone but the high priest. This event symbolized the end of an era when a special holy man was needed to stand in the gap to mediate between God and man. Small groups (like focus groups) undercut this Holy Man myth because they typically meet in widely dispersed settings. This makes it impossible for the preacher (or any other staff member) to carry out all the preacher roles and functions. They simply can't be everywhere at once. As a result, small group leaders inevitably step up and assume roles of spiritual leadership that they would have otherwise deferred to the preacher and other staff members. That not only changes the way small group leaders view themselves; it changes the congregation's outlook as well. Once people begin to realize that God's work is not restricted to the guy who speaks each Sunday, they whine a lot less when he's not available. Larry Osborne, "How Small Groups Change Everything," Sticky Church, 49-50 KneEmail: "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5; cf. 2:9 Bible reading for 12.20.11: Revelation 11; Micah 1-3 as seen in KneEmail --- ...Also check... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' God's Royal And Holy Priests http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/royalpriests.html Our Gifts And Callings http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/giftscallings.html -<>- __ __ ||____________________________________________|| || _______________________________________ || || { || || { //////\\ ////\\\\ || || { / \ ((((( )))) || || { _| _ _ |_ (( /\ /\ )) || || { |.|-(.)-(.)+. (|_O| |O_|) || || { \| J |/ ((( ^ ))) || || { \ --- / \ V / || || ____nn__ \ / _nn____uu__ | | __uu__ || ||{ "####" ) ||{ \ >A LOST ART? (By Lee Simonson, founder of Heartwarmers4u) [Edited] Why is it that the electricity always seems to go out at the worst possible time? This past week was no exception. In the middle of a late winter storm here in upstate New York, the television stopped - along with the lights, the stove, and everything else. Strange things happen to a family when the power stops. First, it's, "Don't open the refrigerator door, you'll let the cold air out." Then it's, "I can't leave the house, the garage door doesn't open." Then it's, "Don't use all the hot water." In other words, life ceases to exist as we know it. With nothing to do and nowhere to go, everyone starts to congregate in the same room. The search for candles and flashlights begins, but as expected, all the batteries are dead. Fortunately, we have a fireplace and had not run out of our supply of logs to throw on the fire. At least we didn't have to freeze in the luxury of our own home - we could "rough it" with a little comfort. Then, invariably, the comment is made, "Can you imagine what it was like 100 years ago?" Who has an imagination that good, I wonder. How could you explain the idea of a portable hair blow-dryer to someone 100 years ago? Or how a CD player plays music? Better yet, picture yourself telling someone in the year 1899, "In about another 50 to 60 years most everyone will be spending their time sitting in front of a box that has moving pictures of people doing just about anything - these pictures will be sent through the air and bounced off other boxes that are spinning around us in outer space. But not to worry, if you don't like it, you can press a button on something called a 'remote' and watch people doing something else." Forget a hundred years ago... how do you explain television TODAY? But something else happens when the electricity goes out. Something VERY strange that is rarely witnessed in today's sensory-overload attention-grabbing society. Many people think it's a lost art; maybe an art that has seen its best days come and go. But if you listen closely, you'll hear it. What happens when the electricity goes out is nothing less than amazing - a conversation breaks out! You heard me - a real life family conversation. You remember what that is don't you? That's when people, in the same family no less, actually sit down and use their vocal cords to talk with each other. It happens in the same room at the same time. No voice mail, no email, no "chatting" by typing on a keyboard, no texting or cell phones. Just old fashioned face-to-face talking. Without music or the television blaring in the background, these "no electricity" conversations can take on an impressive aura. With no lights, they can even be a bit spooky while you get reacquainted with your family. But there is also a nostalgic romance attached to the moment; doing something that people have done for thousands of years before electricity was even "invented." It's not often you can hear the pendulum ticking in the old grandfather clock. But in between the conversation and some- thing called a "card game," and in between the stories, jokes and laughter, you can still hear time slowing marching forward, with or without electricity. We may not have much practice these days having family conversations, but it's a lot like riding a bicycle. Once you learn, you never forget. Despite all the high tech gadgets at our fingertips and the rat-racy busyness of our lives, sometimes it's not that bad to be thrust into a low-tech existence, even if only for a few minutes. Come to think of it, maybe the electricity should go out more often. To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail With SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ============================================================ >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _ _ ( Y ) \ / \ / \ /^\ _ ) //^\\ -= (_) =- ( // \\ ) // \\ / \ __ // \\ |=^| // _ \\ __|= |__// (+) \\ /LLLLLLL// ~ \\ /LLLLLLL// \\ /LLLLLLL// \\ /LLLLLLL// |~[|]~| |~[|]~| \\ ^| [|] // | [|] | | [|] | \\ | [|] ^| |_[|]_| |_[|]_| |^ ___|______| | /LLLLLLLLLL|_____________________| /LLLLLLLLLLL/LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL\ /LLLLLLLLLLL/LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL\ ^||^^^^^^^^/LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL\ || |~[|]~|^^||^^^^^^^^^^||^|~[|]~|^||^^ || | [|] | || |~~~~| || | [|] | || || |_[|]_| || | [] | || |_[|]_| || ||__________|| | o| ||_________|| .'||][][][][][|| | [] | ||[][][][][||.'. ."'||[][][][][]||_-`----'-_||][][][][]||"." .(')^(.)(').( )'^@/-- -- - --\@( )'( ).(( )^(.) '( )^(`)'.(').( )@/-- -- - -- -\@ (.)'(.),( ).('). ".'.'." ." '.". @/- - --- -- - -\@ '.".'.".'.".'." jgs'' ".".".'.'@/ - -- -- -- -- -\@".'..'".'."'.'.' '.".".''.".''."@/ -- --- --- -- - -\@.".''.".''.".'". >"Love in the Home" If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper--not a homemaker. If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness--not godliness. Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys. Love is present through the trials. Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive. Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood. Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart. Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child. As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love. -Author Unknown -<>- A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, 'What did you do today that made you so happy?' He replied, 'I had lunch with God.' But before his mother could respond, he added, 'You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!' Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, 'Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?' She replied, 'I ate potato chips in the park with God.' However, before her son responded, she added, 'You know, he's much younger than I expected.' Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally! Have lunch with God.....bring chips. Send this to people who have touched your life in a special way. Let them know how important they are. I did. -<>- Never argue with a fool, people may not know the difference... _, ^(o.).__. / , o o) / `u-u',._/ ( _\ \ `|-| ----`.__)------| |------- `-' Ojo98 >Here is a good one for the New Year! In Florida, an atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate. The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel and declared, "Case dismissed!" The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur andHanukkah ...yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!" The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, "Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate, his own atheist holiday!" The lawyer pompously said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?" The judge said, "Well it comes every year on exactly the same date - April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fools Day,' consider that Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture, he is a fool, and April 1st is his holiday! Now have a good day and get out of my courtroom!" Way to go, Judge! AMEN! Rev. Russell J. Roide, S.J. St. Ignatius College Prep -<>- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$'`$$$$$$$$$$$$$'`$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$ '$/ `/ `$' .$$$$ $$$$$$$$. i i /! .$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$.--'--' $$$$$$ $$^^$$$$$' J$$$$$$ $$$ ~"" `. .$$$$$$$ $$$$$e, ; .$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$.' $$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$. $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $by&TL$ ------------------------- I LOVE YOU ------------------------- >Un-learning the Ways of Un-love, When you are absolutely happy in your aloneness, when the other is not a need, it is then that you are capable of love. If the other is your need, you can only exploit, manipulate, dominate but cannot love. Because you depend on the other, possessiveness arises -- out of fear. "Who knows? The other is with me today; tomorrow he/she may not be with me. Who knows about the next moment?" [...] Out of that fear of the future, you become very possessive. You create bondage around the person you think you love. But love cannot create a prison. If love creates a prison, then what is left for hatred to do? Love brings freedom -- love gives freedom. It is non-possessiveness. But that is possible only if you have known a totally different quality of love, one not of need but of sharing. Love is sharing of overflowing joy. You are too full of joy, you cannot contain it, you have to share it. Then there is poetry, then there is something tremendously beautiful which is not of this world, something that comes from the beyond. Often I say, learn the art of love. What I really mean is: learn the art of removing all that hinders love. It is a negative process. It is like digging a well -- you go on removing layers of earth, stones, rocks and then suddenly there is water. The water was always there as an undercurrent. When you remove all barriers, the water is available. So with love. Love is the undercurrent of your being. It is flowing, but there are many rocks, much earth to be removed. That's what I mean when I say: learn the art of love. It is really not learning love but un-learning the ways of un-love. --Swami Chaitanaya Keerti -<>- >Move Me Out Of The Way, Lord I run to the front To take the control But in the end It's harm to my soul. I must be in charge I think I know best "It's my life," I say. I'm leading the quest. Who knows me better Than I know me Though you look You do not see. There's only one Who truly sees me He knows who I am And who I could be The author and finisher Of my holy faith The love of my life He receives all my praise He truly sees me The intent of my heart He understands all He sees not in part The depth of His love For this wretched mean It boggles my mind So I don't understand Why I insist On running my life When in the end It cuts like a knife When I look upon The wreckage I've wrought It all came to ruin It all came to naught It's come to the point Where All I can say Is move me, dear Lord Move ME out of the way Make me decrease Make me small Make me, in the end The least of all Subdue my ego O' Lord bind my pride Have your way, Father Just move me aside To you be the glory Creator of life The author of peace Moderator of strife Flesh cries to be seen Pride desires to be known But I know the glory Is yours alone. So, Lord hear my plea and answer me true. Keep me from running ahead of you. Move me to the rear, drive me to my knees. Lead me to the light, move me Father, please. ~Norris K. Oler~ -<>- ()___ ()//__/)_________________() ||(___)//#/_/#/_/#/_/#()/|| ||----|#| |#|_|#|_|#|_|| || ||____|_|#|_|#|_|#|_|#||/|| jgs || |#|_|#|_|#|_|#|_|| >Quilt of Holes As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheart e! ned. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, thread bare and empty, like binding air.Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.An awe- filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles." "Each point of light in your life is when you stepped asid! e and l et Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through! God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment 90/10 Principle http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/giving.html Advice For The New Year http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/newyear.html Chapel Oak http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oakchapel.html Just Thinking! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thinking.html Playing With Words http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wordplay.html Hand Painting Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hpaint2.html Typewriting Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/typeart2.html Auto Motorplex http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/automotorplex.html Black Deer Fawn http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/deer.html Look WHo's Talking 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/talking3.html When Sandman Attacks http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/sandman.html What Your GPS Won't Show You http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gps.html =========================================================== >-->From TruthOrTradition: _..._ ___ ___ ___ ___ _..._ ,' `::. ,~ `:. ,~ `:. ,~ `:. ,~ `:. ,' `::. : `::: `:: `:: `:: `:: `::: : .::: .:: .:: .:: .:: .::: : .:::`. .;' `. .;' `. .;'.`. .;': .::: : .::: `.' .`.'.: `.' ::`.' :. .::: :. .::' ::: : `: .::: `: .:: : : .::' : .:: . :. .:: : ::' `: .::. .\ `: ,: :. : .::.: :.\ :. :.: :`: .' .::.: ::`. : :':: : `: : .;'.: : `.; :'.:: : :: ;:' :: . :' .::. .: .:: : : :' ::: :' .:: . : `:: : .:: :' .::. .: .::: : .::: ,:. .:. :' .::: : .:::,' `:. ,' `:.: .::: : .::: ::: ::: .::: : .::: ::: ::: .::: `._ .::'.`._.::' `._.::'.`._ .::' _ Seal _ ~~~ :: :: ~~~ [For those who want to sink their teeth into the MEAT of the Word] >Women in the Church Should Women be Silent in the Church? A Biblical Study of 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 35 by John Schoenheit For almost 2 millennia, the voice of women has been stifled in the Church. Interestingly, this has been in large part due to just two references in the New Testament: 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 35. Something about these three verses, however, is that the way they have been translated and handled in the Church is in glaring contradiction to the flow and feel of the rest of the New Testament about women. Right from the start of the Christian Church on the Day of Pentecost, both men and women received holy spirit (Acts 2:17, 18). Women served in the Church and were speaking up in the meetings. There were simple churches in their homes, and there is much evidence that they taught the Word of God. See all the teachings here: http://tinyurl.com/7j932az ======================================================== ._ | | |L___, .' '. T unknown : * :_| '._.' L >One Social Worker Story Editor: by Kelly Kimura Joyce Schowalter Tokyo, Japan We are an American family living in Tokyo. Although we visit our families in the U.S.A. once a year, we didn't really give much thought to the changes my husband's aging parents and aunts were going through. Suddenly there was only one person left: his mother. His mom is a diabetic in her mid-80s, a heart attack survivor with bad knees, and an independent lady whose English is an increasingly rusty second language now that she is alone. Her driving has become more erratic, and she falls more frequently. The house she loves and has lived in for over 40 years has become challenging for her. She is faced with making it safer or moving to senior housing. We made separate yearly visits to give her more company, but otherwise could only try to help from afar. Sometimes our help led to more problems, such as when I arranged to have my mother-in-law's many medications mailed to her. This eliminated the one-hour drive that she had been making for years to a military base pharmacy. As a result, she had to frequently hobble down her steep front steps and walk up an incline along an open drainage ditch to get to her street side mailbox. I applied for a nonprofit community development grant to install a ramp in place of her steps, but the slope of the lawn made the ramp too expensive. On other occasions, we couldn't get the resources my mother-in-law needed right away. On my last visit, she had trouble standing for more than 10 minutes because of a fall. On her limited income, she couldn't afford a helper, so I contacted the county senior services for light housekeeping services. However, there was a waiting list and it was months later when the housekeeping service became available. During the application process, to our surprise, my mother-in-law was assigned a social worker specializing in senior citizens. I assumed it this was just to verify that she needed the service. I didn't realize that Lori, the social worker, could and would do much more. Lori makes home visits and takes the time to patiently understand what my mother-in-law's needs are. She has gone with my mother-in-law to the doctor, arranged for a mailbox and mail delivery at the front door, and even pushed through a modified, affordable version of the stalled ramp project. Lori has even driven my mother-in-law to see several senior housing complexes. On top of all this, she emails me updates to let me know about options and resources. I know it's Lori's job to know what to do and who to go to in order to resolve issues common to senior citizens; however, Lori doesn't stop there. When there is something that would help my mother-in-law, Lori runs with it and sees it through -- as if my mother-in-law were her only case. Thank you, Lori, for making such a difference, both for my mother-in-law and for us. =======HeroicStories======== >-->From KidWarmers: THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY //// !!!! _ \\\\ ! -'/ _ |||| \ / \`-'''| \__| \ / ) | \__\_ ejm / | \ ( \ This Christmas Stephanie, 3, was finally brave enough to sit on Santa's lap. When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas she quickly replied, "A racing car and two hands." Santa was confused and inquired, "Two hands?" "Yes," Stephanie replied, "so that when Mommy is busy she can't say, 'Not now, I only have two hands.' If you give her two more she can play with me and do the dishes." -- Maureen (mother of Stephanie) of Stillwater, New Jersey Deb fondly remembers when her son Casey was 3 (he is 17 now) and learned about body parts at his grandmother's house. When his grandmother asked him, "Where are Grandma's calves?" he looked at her and said, "Well, they are in the barn, Grandma." The next morning he ran to his mother's bed and pulled up his pajama leg, patted his calves and said, "Mama, Mama, see my cows!" -- Deb McFall of Fremont, Indiana Deb also remembers when her son Michael was 3 (he is 19 now) and they were all together with family members on Christmas Eve. Deb had just started dating Harold, her current husband, and he wanted to dress up as Santa for the boys. Michael looked out the window and saw Santa coming. Then Santa entered and there was a flurry of excitement... but Michael headed for the stairs. "Michael, where are you going?" Deb asked. Michael replied, "Santa is here and I haven't gone to bed yet!" He was headed for his bedroom! ,=, __ __ ' )) ./////||\\\. .-'~ `-. ((//'' ''\\)) // \\ G/ @ o @ \? (( e , e )) \ .__. / ,_//\ ._, /\\_) `-.__.-' `-' `.__.' `-' _.-' /\ '-. .--<_ _;.-. / _/ \_ `\/ |O \ / \| |/ / | \ / ' o\ / '/ ; | > ) mb /|._o/__\.__|\___)_.--.__/_./mic Expecting cold weather, Grandpa bought Kaylon, 3, a pair of earmuffs. She had never seen earmuffs before. She put them over her head, covering her ears and waited for a minute. Then she said to Grandpa, "But I can't hear the music!" -- Carol (grandmother of Kaylon) of San Antonio, Texas My sister-in-law Sarah, a teacher, had to work on Jan. 2 but her husband had the day off so John, 2, stayed with him. When Sarah got home John said, "Momma, catch" and tossed her a football. When she caught it, he said, "First down!" Sarah knows what Gary and John did all day. -- Sarah Housholder of Avilla, Indiana .---. .---. ( -o- )---( -o- ) ;-...-` `-...-; / \ / \ | /_ _\ | \`'.`'"--.....--"'`.'`/ \ '. `._.` .' / _.-''. `-.,___,.-` .''-._ `--._ `'-._______.-'` _.--` jgs / \ /.-'`\ .'. /`'-.\ ` '.' '.' ` Sue, mother of Cindy and Christina, had to run over to the town clerk's office to renew their dog Shadow's town dog registration license. Sue told Christina, "Come on, we have to go over to the town hall to renew Shadow's license." Christina, 4, said with a look of amazement, "Dogs can drive?" -- Karen Klein (aunt of Cindy and Christina) of Kenmore, New York Abbey, 6, is getting to the age where she is asking questions about Santa. One question this Christmas was, "Why don't we get everything on our lists at Christmas time?" Her mother Lynn explained that Santa has his list in alphabetical order and because their last name is Walkup sometimes Santa runs out of the most popular toys before he gets to the "W's." Without missing a beat Abbey responded, "Maybe he should go by FIRST names next year!" -- Lynn Walkup of Garrett, Indiana [ |\';c 'c :',;,'";,': ,-- ==- , ] | c ;, : '"-"' ; '~ ,- [ | c_/;'- ', ,' ~' ,-,|,';c .--. (_;__ / ( _ \ |\|; / /: :\ | | c ,=. ^ / . | c |-=----'._.--._-==-=-==:-,-=\ : /=-,.,:.=-== ] | \ '.__=-. \ .' ,-. [ |-. ( ' e\ | : / _ \ ';__ \ , ' . .-'-^ /, | \ / \ \ ,-'_,.-,) |; \!_ \|;. ;/._, \ '--' ) c , ^^= ^= '.__,''------' /\|, \|. , ,\|, .|/ \|/ /| \|/ ,;, ,|.? ^~^ .__ \; \|/ c , '"---.,._ \ | / , ,_,.- ; "', :|; ,; ; ,:/ , - , ;._ _.-=.,-=" ,= , -= , '_.-7_.--.,-="' , -= _AsH Family members were celebrating the New Year in the swimming pool. When Helene's uncle lost his balance and fell into the pool, Bernard, 6, asked what had happened. They explained to him that Helene's uncle had lost his balance. Bernard walked over to his mother and asked, "Mom, what is a balance?" -- Aunt of Bernard, Helene Blom of Cape Town, South Africa Pnina, 2, was watching her father paint. A bit of paint dripped on the floor and Pnina asked him, "Are you getting in trouble?" Pnina told her older brother Gabi, 15, "I sleeped on your shoulder last-day." -- Brandel (mother of Pnina) of Jerusalem, Israel __ __ / '. .' \ | |`\ \ / /`| | \.--' '-' '--./ .' .-'"'"'-. '. / .-(((( ))))-. \ .' / =/_o/___\o_\= \ '. .' / .-' '-. \ '. / / / \ \ \ / | \ \ / / | \ | \ /-`.__.__.`-\ / | \ \ ` \.-./ ` / / \ '-._ , '-' , _.-' / '. /()`'-'-=-'-'`()\ .' jgs `/`\ '()()()()()() /`\` As Aunt Sandy was observing Dana's two pet fish, Dana shared his wisdom about fish. "Yeah," Dana said, "that blue fish there is a beta fish, and the other one that swims around at the bottom of the tank, he's an allergy eater!" He meant algae eater. -- Lori Hasenpflug of Omaha, Nebraska ============================================================ _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >-->NO MATTER No matter what comes no matter what the day may bring, I pray Heavenly Father Your praises I’ll continue to sing. No matter what happens or appears to be, I pray it’s Your will I’ll desire to see. Despite any disappointment or sorrow I may feel, I pray I remember Your love is real. Despite any stumbling blocks I may find in my way, I pray it’s on Your chosen path I’ll stay. Though tests and trials may be my plight, I pray my reactions bring You delight. Though life is sometimes rough to go through, I pray I don’t disappoint You by what I do. Then when my life is over and I stand before You face to face, I pray I haven’t disappointed You or brought any disgrace. For each day is a gift with which I’ve been Blessed anew, no matter what may occur Father I Thank You! - Barbara Philbrook --- ...Amen! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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 andd 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 ************************************************************************