Not Home Yet 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 ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. If every one would chip in $25 or more, we'd be good for the whole year! So Please - I need your help today! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This too hot to handle new page is from our friends LouiseAu and Fran. It's sure to give you some chuckles and ease your tensions during these tough political times we are living in. That is, as long as you are more Conservative leaning [1]. Be sure to check this one out here... .--'"""""--._ .-' o\\b.\o._o.`-. .-'.- ) \d888888888888b. /.' b Y8888888888888888b. .-'. 8888888888888888888888888b / o888 Y Y8888888888888888888888b / d888P/ /| Y"Y8888888888888888888b J d8888/| Y .o._. "Y8888888888888Y" \ |d Y888b|obd88888bo. """Y88888Y' .od8 Fdd 8888888888888888888bo._'|| d88888| Fd d 88\ Y8888Y "Y888888888b, d888888P d-b 8888b Y88P' """""Y888b8888P"| J 8\88888888P `m. """"" | || `8888888P' "Ymm._ _J |\\ Y8888P ' .mmm.YM) .mMF"' | \\ Y888J ' < (@)>.- ` /MFm. | J \ `YY ""' :: MM @)>F L /) 88 : | ""\| | ( ( Yb . ' . | L \ bo 8b . . J | \ "' . . . . L F o._.:. . . \mm,__J/ / Y8::'|. / `Y8P J `|' J: . . ' . . | F | L ' . _: | | `: . .:oood8bdb. | F `:. "-._ `" F / `::. """' / / `::. "" / _.-d( `:::. F .-'.-888b. `::::. . J VK .' Y888888b. `::::::::::' _.--' `Y88888888bo. `::::::d .--' `"Y8888888888boo.._ `"dd88b. . ' `"Y8888888888888bood8888P `-._ .- . `"Y8888888888888888P `-._ ' - . ""Y88888888888P ` .`-. ' - - - __. ""Y8888P' . `. . _ ""' . Humor In Politics 19! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/politics19.html --- ...Oh My! HaHa! Love this series! Thanks Ladies! 1. Conservative leaning in the US https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Hope you had a safe Memorial Day. Meantime, today's story will be a reminder of what we were commemorating. Whatever freedoms you enjoy have been bought and paid for by others -- and it didn't come cheap. M-16 ______ |\_______________ (_____\\______________ HH======#H###############H####################### ' ~""""""""""""""`##(_))#H\"""""Y######## )) \#H\ `"Y### dew " }#H) >WHAT THEY CARRIED by Tim O'Brien They carried P-38 can openers and heat tabs, watches and dog tags, insect repellent, gum, cigarettes, Zippo lighters, salt tablets, compress bandages, ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens of water, iodine tablets, sterno, LRRP-rations, and C-rations stuffed in socks. They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots, bush hats, flak jackets and steel pots. They carried the M-16 assault rifle. They carried trip flares and Claymore mines, M-60 machine-guns, the M-70 grenade launcher, M-14's, CAR-15's, Stoners, Swedish K's, 66mmLaws, shotguns,. 45 caliber pistols, silencers, the sound of bullets, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes the sound of silence. They carried C-4plastic explosives, an assortment of hand grenades, PRC-25 radios, knives and machetes. Some carried napalm, CBU's and large bombs. Some risked their lives to rescue others. Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the death and damage. Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to survive. They carried malaria, dysentery, ringworm's and leaches. They carried the land itself as it hardened on their boots. They carried stationery, pencils, and pictures of their loved ones, real and imagined. They carried love for people in the real world and love for one another. They carried memories for the most part, they carried themselves with poise and a kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when panic set in when they twitched and made moaning sounds and covered their heads and said "Dear God" and hugged the earth and fired their weapons blindly. They cringed and begged for the noise to stop and went wild and made stupid promises to themselves and God and their parents, hoping not to die. They carried the traditions of the United States military, and memories and images of those who served before them. They carried grief, terror, longing and their reputations. They carried the soldier's greatest fear -- the embarrassment of dishonor. They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced under fire, so as not to die of embarrassment. They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it. They carried the emotional baggage of men and women who might die at any moment. They carried the weight of the world and THEY CARRIED EACH OTHER. ALWAYS Remember and honor those who served our country by both defending it and defending our way of life. -- Tim O'Brien -<>- BEING GREEN oOh!..ooOh!.. \ UuuaaAARRrghHH... \ ooOOh!..ooOOOh!.. __ _ / / _` \ / (_( \_ \ ___________ \o^o-)/___ |___ ___ | | __(_/_/_ _)_) |::::| | | | /_/ \/ | |::::| | | | __(/ ___> ) | |oo__| | | | (_)_\_`_/_,---' | \____\__|_|_| ( > / | _||_____||_ ____ __/ __( )________| |oo____|_||_| \ \ _\___/__/__\________) miK __||_____||__ __\___\ (___/|_/ (__)|_/ \_| |_______|_____| |___)___) Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman, that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The young clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations." She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day. Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags, that we reused for numerous things, most memorable besides household garbage bags, was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our schoolbooks. This was to ensure that public property (the books provided for our use by the school) was not defaced by our scribblings or got dirty from little hands that had been playing on the playground for recess). We were also able to personalize our books on the brown paper bags. But too bad we didn't do the green thing back then. We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day. Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throwaway kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy- gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day. Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then? =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: .-""-._ / ___/ \ _&_ _.--""|/ `\| // \\ .' ( ^/ ^ )'. / / \ \ / | _ | \ // / \ \\ | _\____/ | /_/_/_\_\_\ | .' \____/-._ | .-"-. | / `; /# \ | / / _|_.---\ | | |.-.; :--.-(_/.____/.-""\___/"-. / \ / ~~/ /\ \{"=.______.="} /--. ; /___/_~~/ ; .--\"=...__...="} / \-/ `\______|/ \-.______..-; | /`| | \ | |||| || | /_ | |_______/ | |||| || | \_/| |-------' |--'||'--._|| | | | | || |> |______| |____________|._ || _..-;| | [___] | `||() || |______ |\/|____________|jgs|| () (__) \__/ (__) () >Character Counts - Part I "So get rid of your feelings of hatred. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs. Now that you realize how kind the Lord has been to you, put away all evil, deception, envy, and fraud. Long to grow up into the fullness of our salvation."1 According to the organization, Character Counts, "The Six Pillars of Character are: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship," to which we could add a seventh, personal honesty. Trustworthiness: Some time back we heard on the news how one teacher failed a student whom she caught cheating on her final exam. The cheater's parents were so outraged that she, the teacher, was forced to resign! Teaching at Harvard Business School years ago, Chuck Colson noted that the students didn't have a clue about ethics. Hence today we are reaping the results of failed businesses. Sadly, cheating for far too many students and people has become an accepted norm by too many today. But the fact remains, when we break trust, we reap what we sow--even if it is eventually. Respect: Another thing I was taught when growing up was to respect my elders and others in general. From answering the phone, to the way I answered adults by saying, "Yes, ma'am" or "Yes, sir". Guess I'm still pretty much old-fashioned because I still do these things. I also believe strongly in respecting and appreciating the men and women who invest their lives in helping to protect us and the freedoms we enjoy--the price of which has been paid for by others. And how I wish people would learn from an early age to respect other people's property, the blessings and benefits of our advanced society, and our beautiful countryside! Responsibility: The blame-game is a very common practice these days. However, we will never succeed and be able to grow unless we are willing to be responsible. John C. Maxwell states, "The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up." When we stand before God, we won't be able to pass the blame. The Bible says that each of us will give an account to God. So it is best for us to start practicing personal responsibility now! To be continued ... Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be trustworthy, respectful, and responsible in all that I am and do and thereby bring glory to Your name. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen." 1. 1 Peter 2:1-2 (TLB-NIV). <:))))>< >Character Counts - Part II "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."1 Yesterday, in discussing seven pillars of character (the first six of which are from Michael Josephson of the organization, Character Counts), we talked about, trustworthiness, respect and responsibility. Today we address the following characteristics: fairness, caring, citizenship, and personal honesty (integrity). Fairness: It is true that in many ways life isn't fair, for as the Bible says, "It rains on the just as well as the unjust."2 This is one reason why bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. We just happen to live in a broken world, which affects us all. However, we can offset much of the unfairness of life, if we all seek to treat all people at all times with fairness. Caring: The highest law always ought to be as God's Word teaches: to love one another.3 If we truly love God, we will love and care for one another. And as Jesus said, if we love God and others, we will be fulfilling all of God's laws.4 In so doing, we can and will make our world a better place for ourselves, our children, and our children's children. Citizenship: As the Australian Citizenship website states, "Citizenship is a serious commitment." Whether we are citizens of a country or citizens of heaven, while we have privileges and rights, we also have duties and responsibilities. Good citizenship requires both. Thus to have healthy communities, along with our rights and our privileges, it is our duty and responsibility to be model citizens and all work together to make our church, our club, our family, our society, and our nation a better world in which to live. Personal Honesty (integrity): In my opinion, denial is perhaps one of the most practiced, subtle, and self-destructive "sins of the saints." When we speak of denial, we are not talking about denial of self, which, with an honest motive, is another healthy characteristic. We're talking about denial of one's reality, the failure to admit one's character weaknesses, the denial of one's negative feelings, and blindness to one's motives. We are reminded that it is the pure in heart who will see God5 and that God desires truth in the innermost being.6 Without access to one's own truth or inner reality, there is no growth, no healing of persons, no forgiveness, and no resolution of personal problems or relational conflicts. So here they are--seven pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and personal honesty. And whether we believe and accept it or not, character does count ... for time and eternity! Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be mindful of the fact that character does count. Help me not only to be trustworthy, respectful and responsible, but also exercise fairness, always be caring (loving), practice good citizenship, and always be honest and maintain integrity so that in all ways I will be like Christ and bring glory to Your name. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus Christ's name, amen." 1. Matthew 5:8 (NASB). 2. Matthew 5:45. 3. John 13:34. 4. Matthew 22:40. 5. Matthew 5:8. 6. Psalm 51:6. <:))))>< When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ,ae, ,88888e ,a888b.9888888i 888888888888888 88888888888888Y '8888888888888' "S888888888" unknown "7888888Y "e88j "Y In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote. "Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less." -<>- _|_ | / \ //_\\ //(_)\\ |/^\| ,%%%% // \\ ,@@@@@@@, ,%%%%/%%% // \\ ,@@@\@@@@/@@, @@@%%%\%%//%%%// === \\ @@\@@@/@@@@@ @@@@%%%%\%%%%%// =-=-= \\@@@@\@@@@@@;%#####, @@@@%%%\%%/%%// === \\@@@@@@/@@@%%%######, @@@@@%%%%/%%//| |\\@\\//@@%%%%%%#/#### '@@@@@%%\\/%~ | | ~ @|| %\\//%%%#####; @@\\//@|| | __ __ | || %%||%%'###### '@|| || | | | | | || ||##\//#### || || | | -|- | | || ||'#||###' || || |_|__|__|_| || || || || ||_/` ======= `\__||_._|| || jgs__||_/` ======= `\_||___ >PLEASE DON'T QUIT.. Please don't quit attending the services of the church when the preacher offends you... Allow me to be personal. There may be times when you think my approach in a sermon was unwise, my attitude unkind, and my content unworthy. I will try to improve. Please don't quit, "For God so loved the world." Please don't quit when a brother or sister offends you. We've all said things that have hurt others; let's try to do better. Good people can sometimes be very insensitive and hurtful. Whatever you do, please don't quit for, "they crucified Him..." Please don't quit participating in the work of the church when things don't go your way. Your wisdom in a particular decision may have been best, but it was not the path taken by the church. Your idea may have been shot down, and that experience can be disheartening. Please don't quit cooperating in the work of the church, for God will "render to every man according to his deeds." If you are one who has already quit the church, citing one of the reasons above or something related, please listen closely. We miss you. Many love you, and it breaks our hearts that you have chosen to leave. Why leave God because of what man may have done to you? Repent. Please come back. -<>- $$$$$$$$$$$$R$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$V "Y .""**##%%$$$$$$$$$ $$$$# `$$N$$$$$$$$$mmmuuu:.""# $$R $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $! @$$$$$""R$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $> '$$$$$F $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $W $$$$: R$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$ $$8$$R:x@$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$ $$$$x$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$ $N$ "$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$ $$$$ @ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $` u$$$$$ R$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ N$R$$$$ R$$$$$$$$$$$$$ *$$@$$$f .i. `$$$$$$$$$$$$ k 9$$$. $$$$$$$$$$$ R M$$$$$. $$$$$$$$$ $ 4$$$$$$$. $$$$$$$$ $ @$$$$$$$$$b-B>R$$$$ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ < $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $b $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$i $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$c #$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$R ?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ .i. #$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$R d$b M$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$r $$$$$$ 9$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$# X$$$$$$$od$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Bob Allison >How To Dance It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch, and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health; he told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is'. I had to hold back tears as he left; I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life'. True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This one I thought I could share with you. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did. 'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, But how to dance in the rain." -<>- |..| ? ? c >| ? \'/ /><\ unknown >What If... What if God couldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday? What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we did not follow Him today? What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain? What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day? What if God took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today? What if God took away His message because we failed to listen to His messenger? What if the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart? What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others? What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday? What if God answered our prayers the way we answer His call for service? What if God met our needs the way we give Him our lives??? -Author Unknown -<>- _ _|=|__________ / \ / \ /__________________\ || || /--\ || || ||[]|| | .| ||[]|| ()||__||_|__|_||__||() ( )|-|-|-|====|-|-|-|( ) jgs^^^^^^^^^^====^^^^^^^^^^^ >Let Your Yes Be Yes In one of his first attempts to run for political office, Lincoln was given $200 by the Whig Party to cover his election expenses. He won the election and then promptly returned all the money he had not spent on the election, $199.25. He explained that he had traveled on his own horse and stayed at the homes of his friends. He said, “My only outlay was 75 cents for a barrel of cider which some farm hands insisted that I treat them to.” Lincoln illustrated Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount when He said, “Let your yes be yes and your no, no.” Source: Reader’s Digest, February, 1959, p 252. -<>- ___________ / | | | ,' ,' \/',_ __ ,'__/ | ',| "'-,,,,,,, ,/ _|', | | \ | | |', \ | \ |__| | ', ', | \ / | ', ,_"""""---'-_,'______\ / | ',,_-'" | | ', |_________| | / | / ',,'""""| |__ | ,____/ | _| / |___ / '\___| ,'_,'|_,-,_______| | / , '/ \,' _', _/ ,, ,',| | \ | '" ,' \ / |_ , | \|||| ,' | ,'| _"" |,' ' ,' ', | ||||| __ ,' _|_ ,' | |""---/ ' ,"""','"""""" | / \"""| / |_____|_ __''" \ | | | / """""" | \ / \ / | | / \--' | / | \__ _|__ | | |__ | ',,,| | |____| / | / _| ,,'_ | |__________|___,' ,,' / \ ---' \,/ ,' \ | ,,,' \_/ | |_,'' |/ | | []_| \___' / \ __,' \_____/ FoulWing >NOT HOME YET By: Joseph J. Mazzella I love the story of the old missionary couple. A couple went to Africa to serve as missionaries right after they were married. They had planned to serve only a couple of years and then return home. They soon fell in love, however, with the kind people they had come to help. They stayed on year after year setting up a clinic and a school, helping the people build a sanitation system so they could have clean water, teaching children to read and learn, and sharing their faith and love daily with the villagers that they cared so deeply about. Finally, after over 50 years of faithful work, failing health caused the couple to decide to come home again. They wrote to their hometown community and church to let them know when they were coming. After sailing several days they arrived in the port community that they grew up in. They smiled when they saw a large crowd cheering the boat as it anchored. Their smiles and hearts fell, though, when they saw that the crowd was there to cheer a local politician on the same ship. The old man told his crying wife that he was going to ask God in prayer why after so many years of service not one person was there to greet them when they arrived home. He went into their cabin for several minutes then came out with a peaceful and joyous smile on his face. His wife asked him if God had said anything to him as he prayed. "Yes," he replied. "He said ‘You are not Home yet!’" This is something we all should remember as we journey through this life with all of its challenges, pains, and struggles. We are not Home yet. Home is the place where our loving Father awaits us. Home is the place where our true reward lies. Home is the place where the love we learned, the good we did, and the joy we shared will reside in our souls forever. Rejoice in your life here then. Love, help others and be happy. The lights will be on when you get home. --- .---------. _ |:: [-=-] | | | |_________| |~| |_| ,;;;;, I\ ,__ ,;;;, __, ///\\\\\ I |{ / . . \ } / " \\|| I | ) ( _ ) ( \_= _/// I |{___'-. .-'___}\___ )_\ I ||~/,'~~~~~,\~~|'---(( \ I \ // \\ | \ \ \ I \/ // | | /-/ I (/ (/ | |/||\ I | | | | I | | |____/ I :-----_o_-----: || | I | /~~|===|~~\ | (( | jgs I || |===| || ||_/ /^\ "~ '^^^' "" ((__| ...Reminds Me Of This... My daughter had recently returned home from having surgery at our local hospital. She was talking to me and said, "I must have fallen on my head or something when I was little - did you drop me on my head?" I told her no and she continued saying that she must have some sort of brain damage as she cannot remember her surgery. She has had many due to her health issues. She related she normally remembers the prep time and all the people hovering around her right before the surgery and even having the mask put on her face before going in to the surgery room with the doctor. But she remembers nothing of all that this time. I told her it was the medicine they gave her. I related to her that I had the same thing happen to me when I was in the hospital with her brother and had to have a D&C to have the placenta removed. One moment I was in my hospital room and the next I was in the recovery room after having the surgery. We agreed it was rather a scary experience because we could have died and not even known it! She didn't like that thought, but I told her it was scary to me too until I thought that that was probably how it was going to be when we died and Christ returned for us. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' 1 Cor.15: [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. We could be dead for just a minute or for many years and then voilà! Christ returns and we only remember the time before we died and nothing of the time in between. Why? Because we will be asleep. Not dream like sleep but this deep sleep of nothingness and no awareness. The bible gives an account of Jesus raising the dead here... Luke 8: [49] While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. They felt there was no need to ask Jesus to heal her as she had already passed on. [50] But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. [51] And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. Jesus only wanted true believers in with Him - no negative believers. [52] And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. [53] And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. They were all way too negative in their belief! So... [54] And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. [55] And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' The bible teaches us this... 1 Thes.4: [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope (not Christians). [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus (dead Christians) will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (go before or stop) them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words. It is a rather comforting thought that 'snap' just like that! One moment remembering being alive on earth and 'poof' finally home with all our loved ones, Christ and God Almighty! How sweet! :) See this teaching: The Sleep Metaphor http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/sleepmetaphor.html -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: WORMS!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worms.html Greetings!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/greetings.html God Is Like!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/godislike.html Kids Being Kids!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kids.html Here's Your Frog!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/frog.html Reasons To Smile!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smile.html Jesus Laughing Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html Why God Gave Us Pets!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpets.html Woman - Darkest Before Dawn!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womandbd.html The Sacred Secret!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/secret.html You Are The Only You God Has!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html Bible Study Menu http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/BibleStudy.html -<>- The Law of Believing Menu http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Believing/Believing.htm Babies Are Being Saved From Abortion Due to COVID-19, Even Where the Procedure Is Considered “Essential” https://tinyurl.com/yaelw3xg 100K Come to Christ After This Ministry’s “Quarantine Revival” Digital Event Went Viral https://tinyurl.com/yaa7l3dw Italian Christians Rejoice as Church Services Resume, But With These Significant Changes https://tinyurl.com/yd7sxjl8 VP Pence Just Asked U.S. Christians to Pray for This One Specific Thing https://tinyurl.com/ycpgcgzt Samaritan’s Purse Field Hospital in Central Park Brings Hope to New York City https://tinyurl.com/y7zuyfur Cut Short in Theaters by Shutdown, “Best Christian Movie of the Year” Now Available Online https://tinyurl.com/yb32eetn Artifact Found by Archaeologists Confirms Yet Another Bible Story as True https://tinyurl.com/ya3haejn -<>- >In The News: CDP’s Senior Advisor, Lt. Col. Allen West was in a bad motorcycle accident this weekend. He has just been released from the hospital and sent home to recover. Will you send a personal get well card to Allen? Follow this link to write your card, and we’ll personally deliver your get well message to him. https://tinyurl.com/y9pr4jby CDC provides some good news about COVID-19 Amid the fog of the national media’s unrelenting efforts to promote bad news about COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its fatality rates with some positive results. A CDC report released May 22 revealed that its newly revised figures estimate 0.4% of people who show coronavirus symptoms will die from the disease. That translates to four of every 1,000 people. Yet the health agency also estimates that 35% of people with COVID-19 never show symptoms. Once they are factored into the mix, the overall fatality rate drops to 0.26%. https://tinyurl.com/ya69tv92 “Exactly three months since President Trump tapped Vice President Mike Pence to head the White House Coronavirus Task Force, it is shifting focus to reopening the American economy,” Paul Bedard reports. Vice President Pence explained that America “will be ready this fall” for any potential second wave. https://tinyurl.com/ybyqf7zz TRUMP SAYS HE'S ORDERED DOJ, FBI TO INVESTIGATE GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH, CALLS IT A 'VERY, VERY SAD' SITUATION President Trump on Wednesday said he expects to get a “very full report” soon on the death of George Floyd, calling the death of the Minnesota black man who died in police custody earlier this week a "very, very sad, sad event." | Fox News https://fxn.ws/3gx1iin Judge Napolitano on George Floyd's death: Why haven't the officers been arrested? https://fxn.ws/2zGYcHY VA News: Gift Cards for Veterans, Compete in the Endeavor Games for Free, Virtual Employment Services, Home Loan Benefits https://tinyurl.com/ycwktrlj “NASA: We’re going back to the moon, and beyond” https://tinyurl.com/y76lop67 McEnany's style rubs some the wrong way. Good. https://tinyurl.com/ycu8e92l Let's Hear It for Women at the NSC! For the first time in history, half of the directorates on the National Security Council (NSC) are women. “In business, President Trump has always recognized that some of our best leaders are women, and he’s brought that view to his Presidency," Kayleigh McEnany told The Post. "On his watch, the NSC team is streamlined again and more capable than ever, and a lot of that has to do with strong women leadership.” https://tinyurl.com/yaele3ao Lara Trump: Top Dem women play 'vicious partisan politics' when it comes to #MeToo https://tinyurl.com/ybbgo99g Westwing News: Why are US Taxpayers Funding a ‘Voice of the Mullahs’ in Iran? https://www.whitehouse.gov/westwingreads/ WhiteHouseNews: President Trump delivers for America’s seniors https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: Shoes, Medication, Furniture http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://tinyurl.com/y2abb8d2 -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Spanish Champion of Magic Adrian Carratala completely fools Penn And Teller with a disappearing ring trick. https://youtu.be/Jvk8IOLKj9s Magician and comedian Tom Mullica's magic tricks are amazing and hilarious at the same time. https://youtu.be/GCm4r0F0tts --- ...Quite Amazing! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- >From Our Friend Fran :) She sent us one we have here... Let's Dance! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dance.html --- ...A Fun one! Thanks Fran! Food City Salute https://www.youtube.com/embed/uoABty_zE00?rel=0 --- ...Very sweet! Thanks Fran! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== >-->From our Friend Fran :) "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." --Oscar Wilde "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." --Ralph Waldo Emerson ,''@, |.~.| : - : \-/ .-|\_/)-. / | Y -- \ / /\o /\ \ \ \_|___|_/ / \_/ \_/ | _ | | | | ( | ) | | | Sher^ | | | |__|__| (__|__) >Thanks, Dr. Mike! I've been a maternal-child nurse for over fifteen years, and also worked in a pediatrician's office, so often my family comes to me for advice on children's health. My nephew, "Bill", his wife, "Deseray", and their daughters went to a general practitioner doctor who didn't believe in ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) as a legitimate diagnosis. Because my son has ADD and benefited from treatment, they asked if the doctor I work for would evaluate their older daughter's "classic" ADD symptoms. My boss suggested they instead see his colleague, Dr. Mike Blefeld, who specialized in ADD. They were pleased with his care for her, and Jessica was transferred to his practice. The rest of the family stayed with their first doctor. In September 2001, Bill and Deseray were concerned about their younger daughter. Ashley's energy level was low, she seemed pale, and one day she had a strange rash on her chest. Her parents thought she might have hives and followed telephone advice from their doctor. Her symptoms persisted and she had a fever, so they insisted on their daughter being seen in the doctor's office. Unfortunately, she was given only a very cursory exam, the rash wasn't looked at and the family left the doctor's office feeling as if they had been an annoyance to him. Concerned about Ashley, my nephew called Dr. Blefeld and asked if he would see her even though he had only seen her sister once and Ashley wasn't even his patient. Mike asked them to come in immediately, with no hesitation about the formalities that Ashley was not his patient, he barely knew the family, etc. He was immediately concerned that Ashley had tiny bruises (often mistaken for a rash and known as petechiae) on her chest and an enlarged spleen. He drew blood and sent Bill to the lab with the sample for analysis. With the results returned, he had to give the family the frightening news that Ashley had leukemia. He admitted Ashley to Yale-New Haven Hospital that very evening, and turned her over to "Dr. Joe", a personable, well-liked pediatric hematologist. Ashley started right in with tests and chemotherapy treatment. When all this happened, I was off work due to a car accident. Several months later I finally returned to work at the Newborn Nursery and Labor and Delivery unit. I immediately thanked Dr. Blefeld for recognizing the need for my great-niece to be properly evaluated, and for not using the excuse that she wasn't his responsibility because she wasn't his patient. Because of pressures from managed health insurance and a more litigious society, many medical practices today are run in a rigid, corporate manner. It's heartening to know that doctors like Dr. Blefeld continue to practice medicine as an art and a science, with compassion and flexibility, and not just as a business. Thank you, Dr. Mike! Ashley's treatment brought her into remission, where she remains today. by Nancy L. Middleton =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." - E.M. Bounds \ \\// // //\\ \\// // //\\ \\// / / >When The Tapestry Is Unraveling (By Ron Hutchcraft) I hope I don't have to be an expert on a subject to talk about it - in this case, weaving a tapestry. Actually, Carol, our receptionist, is a very "crafty" type woman, and that includes making some beautiful tapestries. She taught me something about this kind of artwork the other day - that it likes to unravel. All those threads that she so skillfully weaves into a creative pattern have this natural tendency to unravel, thus destroying that design that she's worked so hard on. So how do you keep it together? Carol says you put this frame around the tapestry, and with everything held together by the frame, you can keep weaving the tapestry without it unraveling. Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "When The Tapestry Is Unraveling." God's been weaving you into one of His tapestries - your family, your church (that's the tapestries that HE does), maybe the people you minister with, your network of Christian relationships. The threads in God's masterpiece are His children, who like threads in any tapestry, are very different from one another. People who are mostly head, people who are mostly heart, soft people, rough people, outspoken people, soft-spoken people, compliant folks, controlling folks, race horses, plodders. In Ephesians, God describes His family as a healthy body, "joined and held together by every supporting ligament," a body that "grows and builds itself up in love" (Ephesians 4:16). We're supposed to be held together in love and harmony. But, like a tapestry, there's this tendency to unravel. Which may be what is happening with the tapestry you're part of. There's strain, tension, misunderstanding, negativity, criticism, maybe backbiting or backstabbing, there's unrest, trash talk, growing resentments, little cliques or power blocs, or walls developing between people. God knows we tend to unravel from each other. That's why He gives us a framework for keeping the tapestry together in our word for today from the Word of God in Ephesians 4:2-3. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." That "make every effort" word in the Greek is a verb from which we get our word energy - "put a lot of energy into staying unified." If the tapestry of believers around you seems to be unraveling some, would you be the one who does whatever it takes to stop that unraveling? You may need to be the peacemaker, or maybe the confronter of what's causing the problem, or it could be that you need to play the role of the forgiver who allows a healing process to begin. If you're harboring any anger or resentment, if you're nursing a grievance, if you're allowing distance or harshness to develop, then you are contributing to the unraveling of the tapestry that God has so carefully woven together. To keep the tapestry together, you need to be that person who is "completely humble and gentle ... patient, bearing with one another in love." Allow no walls to develop and no wounds to go untreated. Aggressively try to keep everyone's eyes on Jesus, the Frame Who holds us together forever. We've all been to the same cross to have our sins forgiven. We're all indwelt by the same Holy Spirit. We'll all be together in the same heaven forever. We all bow at the same name, the name of Jesus. Jesus has worked hard to weave the tapestry you're part of. He's spent an awful lot on it. Don't be a part of letting it unravel. [Copyright (c) 2003, Ron Hutchcraft. Permission to distribute this material via email, or individual copies, is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes, and will not be sold.] 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 our Friend Fran :) \ \ ` / / ' \ ` \ ` ' / / ` ' \ . * * * * * . / ` \ ` * * * * * * * * * / \ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ' \ ` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ / \ ` * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ' / ` @ @ @ @ * '@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ \ * * * * * * * * * * * * * ' ` @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ / * * * ** * * * * * * * * \ ` @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ' * * * * * * * * * * * * * / ` @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ . * * * * * * * * * * * * *. \ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ >Rainbow Across The Sky Moseying down that country road Squirrel running long side Ducks floating in the lake Or the ocean's gentle tide. Summertime is so much fun Just relaxing while we drive Time just seems to stand still We don't care when we arrive. School is out and children play In yards and in the parks Picnics seem to be rampant Excited screams and barks. You never know what nighttime brings We don't even question why Sunrises and sunsets are Like a rainbow across the sky! -Unknown --- ...I always look for them when out and about! Thanks Fran! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $20 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all self-subscribed readers and $5 more will give you the same message also put up for all web site readers. Email me to secure dates. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ********************************************************************** >TO SUBSCRIBE:Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com **********************************************************************