Old Box Of Memories 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 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!! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) I hope everyone had a super blessed 4th of July celebration! I enjoyed it with my family! -<>- ____ || | ||___| _)__<__ _ _ |____|__|:|___|:|_ | |_.---._|___| _ | o| | | |_o_| | || |/| |\| | |_||____|`\___/'|___| V _/-\_ fsc >I'M BACK!! I've been having computer problems. With my little grandsons here, I went to a site to show them some movie trailers. I run McAfee all the time and it warned me it had just nabbed a trojan just as I clicked on the movie download. I thought it was fine. But obviously it was badder than McAfee as it shut down my Windows and my McAfee Firewall. This is serious business. I've spent the last couple of days using other virus programs to clean my computer and block this malware virus from stealing my information and sending to goodness knows where. Today I thought I was going to have to scrap my computer Windows and start over when Paul found Windows has a security program. We've been using it to clean and so far it is doing what no others could do. Which is good because the main file infected was one of Windows that couldn't be deleted! So I wanted to let you know if you have a computer virus problem, check out Microsoft Security System to see if it can fix it for you. ============================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: -| -' | -' | __(). ==wkm=====|'\/ `.O__ \ `, _-^. `. `---, : ____________________________________ ///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\ >DUNK NOT by Joseph B. Walker It was a slam dunk. At least, it should have been. Everyone in the arena knew it as the tall, graceful athlete glided toward the basket. There was no one within 20 feet of him, no obstacle to prevent him from scoring as he had so many times before. The only question was: what kind of dunk would it be? A thundering, two-handed power dunk, complete with the obligatory chin-up on the rim? Or a more aesthetically pleasing one-handed dunk, perhaps with a little windmill action, or some over-the-shoulder bravado? In any case, it was going to be two points for the good guys (read: My Team) at a critical juncture of a close, competitive NBA playoff game. And that was really all that mattered. Mentally, I added two points to our score as I watched the player -- My Player -- move into position for a shot that 99 percent of NBA players would slam home 99 percent of the time. And then the unimaginable happened. He missed. Torn between dunking and simply laying the ball in the basket, My Player clanged the ball off the rim. I couldn’t believe it. Never mind that he was running at full speed during a pressure-packed game, with thousands of opposing fans screaming at him to miss. As far as I was concerned there was no excuse for missing such an easy, automatic shot. "How do you miss that shot?" I moaned to my son-in-law, who was watching the game with me. "A professional does NOT miss that shot, not in a game like this!" For the rest of the game, I was all over My Player. I groaned at every missed shot, every blown defensive assignment, and every bad pass. There’s no question that he didn’t play a perfect game. In fact, he played poorly -- especially after the missed dunk. But in my mind, every mistake was magnified by the memory of the ball clanging off the rim. By the end of the game, I was prepared to blame the three-point loss on the slam dunk that should have been. "You’re a pro," I scolded him through the television screen as he walked to the locker room, his head bowed in defeat. "A pro doesn’t make mistakes like that!" Later that evening I was doing some filing when I paused to re-read a column from several weeks earlier. I winced when I came upon a typo -- at least, I’m pretty sure it was a typo. Did someone slip the word “tje” into the English vocabulary when I wasn’t looking? I didn’t think so. So I messed up. Instead of "the" I had written "tje." But it was an understandable error. After all, the letters “h” and “j” are right next to each other on the keyboard. Anyone could slip and hit the wrong key. And as for missing the error in the editing process... well, I had been in a great hurry that week. Besides, anyone reading the column would know that I meant to write "the," not "tje." And I was sure the editors to whom I send the column -- outstanding professionals one and alll -- would catch the mistake and fix it before it went into publication. I had just about rationalized the mistake into oblivion when a local sportscaster began showing highlights from the game. Sure enough, the first clip he showed was My Player missing that easy basket. My stomach started churning all over again until I glanced down at the column in my hands. My eyes went directly to "tje." And somewhere in the back of my mind I heard a familiar, scolding voice: "You’re a pro. A pro doesn’t make mistakes like that!" Especially not on "the," which should have been... you know... a slam dunk. I guess it’s true –- we don’t really have a right to expect perfection in others until we’re prepared to expect it in ourselves. And not just professionally. This also holds true on the highway, in the grocery store, at the movies and most especially in the home. Unless we can offer ourselves as a perfect example, we ought to be willing to cut each other a lot of slack. In other words, judge not... even if you dunk not. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ To read more by Joseph B. Walker, go to http://www.josephbwalker.com ========================================================== >-->Tips From Our Friend Jo Ann :) O_ __)( ,' `. (_".`. : : /|` | | ((|_ ,-. ; - /: ,' `:(( -\ / -' `: ____ \\\-: _\__ ____|___ \____|_ ; | | '-` : :_____|:|__________________: ; |:| : : |:| : ;_______`'___________________: : : |______________________________| `---.--------------------.---' |____________________| | | |____________________| |SSt | _\|_\|_\/(__\__)\__\//_|(_ >Cucumbers....I didn't know this 1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. 2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours. 3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance. 4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area. 5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the photochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too! 6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!! 7 Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation. 8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water. 9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone! 10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams. 11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath. 12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean. 13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!! Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems.. --- ...Wow! Pretty Cool! Thanks Jo Ann! I checked with Snopes.com - even they don't know if all these are true or not - Soooo check these out for yourself - probably some do and some do not work. =============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >SCRIPTURES: God is ready to take your call. No waiting required. Isaiah 65:24 (Before they call I will answer. While they are still speaking....I will hear.) It takes hard work to change, but through Christ, change is possible. Read Proverbs 15:1 (A gentle answer turns away wrath.) I thank God daily that He has set eternity within my heart that no earthly thing can ever satisfy me wholly!! AMEN!! Read Matthew 6:19-20 (Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.) It doesn't take super-human energy to be an energizer. Just some true interest and compassion. Read Philippians 2:4 (Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.) I am satisfied that when the Almighty wants me to do or not to do any particular thing, He finds a way of letting me know it. Read Proverbs 8:1, 14 (Does not wisdom call out? Counsel and sound judgment are min. I have understanding and power.) --- ...Sweet! Thanks Bunni! ============================================================ >-->From CupO'Cheer: >QUOTES _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ "We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties." --Oswald Chambers "To be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions, but not contented with yourself until you have made the best of them;…to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends, and every day of Christ; and to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit in God’s out-of-doors—these are little guideposts on the footpath to peace." --Henry Van Dyke "The person who believes God loves him, as he is, with all of his "hang-ups," believes the unbelievable. Such love is beyond us, it's too good to be true. Now and then we catch a glimpse of it reflected through the selfless love of others. At other times it's just a feeling, a knowing that is too deep for words. And with that knowledge there comes a security, a confidence that enables us to risk loving and living in ways we never dared before." Richard Exley "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "What small thing is the Lord asking of you today? Are you tempted to brush it aside as inconsequential, of no real concern? May I suggest you reconsider? Each act of obedience, no matter how small, prepares us for what God has for us in the future. If we don't take the small steps of obedience today, we will never be able to take the leap of faith when it is required of us." Richard Exley "God, who is love—who is, if I may say it this way, made out of love—simply cannot help but shed blessing on blessing upon us. We do not need to beg, for He simply cannot help it!" --Hannah Whitall Smith -<>- >GIVING I was part of a medical team working in Haiti at the time of the earthquake in January 2010. During my time there, I learned about real giving. One day my son and I were playing soccer with Haitian children. During a break, we handed out some caramels. One of the boys bit his caramel in half and offered one half to me. I was on my way to eat more than this boy would get in several days, yet he offered me half of what he had. Our team continued operating the medical clinic after the earthquake, but it wasn’t clear how or when we were going home. We decided that we should begin conserving our food as well as our fuel for the generators. One of our interpreters said he would bring us food from his home if we needed any. He and his five children live in a house smaller than most of our living rooms, and we had more food in our kitchen than his family would eat in two months. His ability to provide food for his own family would soon be in question. Yet he offered us a gift beyond measure. He knew about real giving. God calls us to be generous stewards of all our gifts. How well are we doing with that? as seen in Inspiration Plus --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...Check out: Overseer http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/overseer.html Financial Stewardship http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/financialstewardship.html -<>- ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( ( ( ( ( ) ) ) ) ) ) (~~~~~~~~~) (~~~~~~~~~) | POWER | | POWER | | | | | I _._ I _._ I /' `\ I /' `\ I | N | I | N | f | |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| f | |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| .' | ||~~~~~~~~| | .' | | |~~~~~~~~| | /'______|___||__###___|____|/'_______|____|_|__###___|___| unknown >USE SOLAR LIGHTS WHEN THE POWER IS OUT! I have a friend who used her Solar Lights inside the house at night when the electric power went off during a hurricane. She stuck them in jars and bottles and said they gave off plenty of 'free light' in each room. She put them outside in the daytime and brought them back inside at night for several days while the power was off. They are safe to use and cheaper than batteries. She recommended we bring a Solar Light into our own house one night to test it for ourselves. Due to a thunderstorm, we lost power for about 5 hours one night. We were scrambling around in the darkness, looking for matches, candles, and flashlights. Then we looked outside and noticed our Solar Lights shining brightly all around the patio, stairs & dock. My wife walked outside and brought several of the solar lights inside. We stuck the Solar Light pipes into plastic drink bottles and they made the nicest, brightest, safest, lighting you could imagine. We put one in the bathroom, one in the kitchen and in the living room. There many types of Solar Lights available. We bought quite a few and put them all around our yard. They look nice and do not attract flying bugs like the outdoor lights around our doorway. The lights we have fit into 20-oz. water bottles and also fit into most larger 2 liter bottles. If you need a weight in the plastic bottle to keep them from tipping over, put in a few of the colorful flat marbles they put in aquariums and vases. You can also use sand, aquarium gravel, or whatever you have available. The Solar Lights we have are perfect inside our home. They burn all night when needed and next day we take them back outside where they recharge and are ready for use again when needed. Solar Lights are the perfect light solution for power outages. I had never thought of it before seeing what my friend did, and now you know about this idea too. author unknown -<>- _ (_) <___> | |______ | |* * * ) | | * * (_________ | |* * * |* *|####) | | * * *| * | (________________ | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | | * * *| * | | | | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | |~~~~~~| * | | | | |######|* *|####|##############| | | |~~~' | | | |######|########|##############| | | | | | | |######|########|##############| | |~~~~~~| | | | | |########|##############| | | '~~~~~~~~| | | | |##########JGS#| | | '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | >FLAG OF THE FREE Look at the flag as it floats on high, Streaming aloft in the clear, blue sky, Rippling, leaping, tugging away, Gay as the sunshine, bright as the day, Throbbing with life, where the world may see- Flag of our country, flag of the free! What do we see in the flag on high, That we bare our heads as it passes by, That we thrill with pride, our hearts beat fast, And we cheer and cheer as the flag goes past- The flag that waves for you and me- Flag of our country, flag of the free? We see in the flag a nation's might. The pledge of a safeguard day and night, Of a watchful eye and a powerful arm That guard the nation's homes from harm. Of a strong defense on land and sea- Flag of our country, flag of the free! We see in the flag a union grand, A brotherhood of heart and hand, A pledge of love and a stirring call To live our lives fro the good of us all- Helpful and just and true to thee, Flag of our country, flag of the free! Flutter, dear flag, o'er the lands and seas! Fling out your stars and your stripes to the breeze, Righting all wrongs, dispelling all fear, Guarding the land that we cherish so dear, And the God of our fathers, abiding with thee, Will bless you and trust you, O flag of the free! ...Walter Taylor Field Compiled by: Kimberly B. Quiggle. Available Free by E-mail every other day. To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ============================================================= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .-""-._ / ___/ \ _&_ _.--""|/ `\| // \\ .' ( ^/ ^ )'. / / \ \ / | _ | \ // / \ \\ | _\____/ | /_/_/_\_\_\ | .' \____/-._ | .-"-. | / `; /# \ | / / _|_.---\ | | |.-.; :--.-(_/.____/.-""\___/"-. / \ / ~~/ /\ \{"=.______.="} /--. ; /___/_~~/ ; .--\"=...__...="} / \-/ `\______|/ \-.______..-; | /`| | \ | |||| || | /_ | |_______/ | |||| || | \_/| |-------' |--'||'--._|| | | | | || |> |______| |____________|._ || _..-;| | [___] | `||() || |______ |\/|____________|jgs|| () (__) \__/ (__) () >The Old Box Of Memories ~Bill Walker~ I remember that old card board box from my early child hood, to about five years before my mother passed on. Mother always seemed to carry that box where ever we moved. It was hers, and it was to be taken care of. I think all the women folk of her clan had one. When we went to visit one of the sisters, or to grandmother Sonner, sooner or later that box would be brought out. I think most of them had it tucked away where the small fry couldn't get into it. Mother kept hers under the bed. I knew better then drag it out. I can't say that for some of her relation. I believe some knew where she had the Box. Some times after they visited, a letter or a picture was known to have taken legs. A letter I will tell about a bit later showed up at a sisters house. One to an uncle. Now in that box one would find a letter, well a lot of letters. Some were quite old. The pages were yellow with age. The postage stamps were two cents. A lot of old penny post cards. They really sold for a penny too. The mail man got to do a lot of reading of those. As a rule they didn't say much, the card that is. Most of them just said. "I am fine, found a job, be here for a while, let you know more later." Something like that. Times when these were wrote was tough. I remember a letter from someone to my Uncle Homer. He was always looking for people with the same last name. That would be Sonner. He found these people that lived in South Dakota. I believe that is where they lived at the time. Now I have no idea how it happened he found them. But there was a letter. And yes it was proved out many years later we were related. We all fell out of the same tree some years back. Maybe it is better to say from the same old oak tree. That would be the line from Johan Phillip Sonner. Johan had I believe it was three sons. A couple moved north into Ohio and up that way. Became blue boys type. Had sons and daughters. These people came from one of those tree limbs. Anyways when the War Between the States came about, these two limbs fought against us that was true to the cause. That would be my limb of the tree. Maybe I should say I learned a lot of the family history just a few years ago. Johan came over from Germany about 1740 and made his way to Virginia. So this part I never got out of the little card board box. But Uncle Homer must have prized that letter. I wonder, and I would think he did answer it. In that box was also the paper clippings of the accident where Homer was struck, and was taken to the hospital. Also about his death due to the accident. The court case and the taxi company closing their doors, and saying they were broke. There was letters and cards, and pictures of men in hats. Yea a lot of them. Some looked like the pictures you see of the mob from the big city. I think about ever so called well dressed man wore a hat. Anyways those old time pictures showed men in hats. The women all wore some kind of goofy looking thing on their head. The pictures were old and faded. All black and white pictures. The womens shoes were with a heel of about a couple inches maybe not quite. No holes, you know open air jobs. Now there may have been a hole in the sole. Times were tough. Mother told me that a time or two. Sometimes she would look at a picture and say, "that old rag I had on was about on it's last go. Those shoes, I put a card board paper in the bottom of your shoes, remember that?" Some of the pictures, someone got cut off, torn off in most cases. Beats me as to why. Never ask. If you did you got told some off the wall reason. something like, "I looked like a fool there, or, oh I forgot who was torn off." I remember a picture of me standing out in a back yard holding my first Peke. MingToy. Wish I had that picture yet and it was in color. She was a Princess. I was about 7 then. Mother would get out a letter and read it. Cry a bit and then tell me. The letter was from a woman of her age. They grew up together. Got married, but about once or twice a year would write one another. This letter said they were really up against it. They lived out in the country a couple miles from a little town over close to where we lived for a year or two. One time we were down that way not long ago. We passed by some old shacks off on the side of the road. Mother said Rose Lea lived in one of those when this letter was wrote. Cotton picker shacks they were called. These people had a baby. They named it Billy. This was in the box. I have no idea if any more letters ever came. Mother hung onto that one I know. There was a letter from one sister telling about one of the others, son missing in the war. There was one or two that relayed the news. Mother and one sister didn't get along to great. Then came the news after some time he was a P.O.W.. She liked to lost her mind. These bit of letters were in the box. There was lots old funeral papers. Some of the people I never heard of. Some were dear friends. Some one would send one when a person she knew died I guess. I remember hearing about Mary E and her sister Cora. There was something in there about them. Anyways we always had to take the few steps over to their graves when we went to Myrtle. Mother would tell me about those two. I never quite figured it all out. But in that box was a letter from those two. I would hear the story of their times, and what a rough life they went through. A old worn box, with lots of old worn memories. A box of worthless paper, pictures, odds and ends. Just junk to any one but the owner of the box. But oh how that owner would take care of the BOX. I said at the start, I remember the box up to about five years before mother died. What happened to it I have no idea. When I found it, it was empty. Maybe she thought some where in her last years, that no one wanted to see her memories. I can still see her setting on the bed. With the box. She would some times dump everything out. Then go through each letter, paper, and picture. Other times she would take everything out one by one. Then all at once scoop them all back into the box. You would see the hankie dap at the eyes. The lid was placed on the box. Sometimes she would tie a string around it. Not to see light of day till the next time. Which might be a couple hours, or maybe next week, or longer. It would all depend on if the right thought came up, or the right question was asked. Those were her memories. Hers and hers alone. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Are Angels Real? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html Our Valuable Anchor http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html You Are The Only You God Has! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html Dominic And Jobe http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jobe.html Proud Of Our Troops 6 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops6.html Real Three Bears! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bears.html Typewriter Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/typeart2.html Auto Motorplex http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/automotorplex.html Baby Thoughts http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/babythoughts.html Humor in Religion 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hreligion3.html Miracle In Utah! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/utah.html Ward's 1934 Wish Book! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wishbook.html 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 If You haven't joined LynnLynn's mailing List yet, send a blank e-mail to LynnLynns-links-subscribe@Yahoogroups.com ========================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: . -|- | /A\ //^\\ ,// _ \\, |/`/_\`\| | , | | /^\ | |//'\\| ,//` _ `\\, ,//` .'|'. `\\, ,//` |-|-| `\\, ,//` [_|_] `\\, |/T T\| | _ __ __ _ | | /_\ | | | /_\ | | |_| | .|. | |_| | | |__|__| | jgs '----[_______]----' ======= ====== ====== >Senior Discount Our minister announced that admission to a church social event would be six dollars per person. "However, if you're over 65," he said, " the price will be only $5.50." >From the back of the congregation, a woman's voice rang out, "Do you really think I'd give you that information for only 50 cents?" >From our friends at Aikens Laugh. to subscribe go to http://www.AikensLaughs.com Brought to you by the Sermon Fodder list. To subscribe to the Sermon Fodder list drop an email to sermon_fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. ===================================== Worth Quoting..... The mark of a saint is not perfection, but consecration. A saint is not a man without faults, but a man who has given himself without reserve to God. -- W. T. Richardson ===================================== , |\ ____ \ \.-./ .-' T \ _ _( /| | |\ ) | .)(./ | | | | \( \_|_/ ( | \ | ) | \VvV | ( | |\,,\ | ) | | ^^^ | ) ( | |__ | ( ) / `-. _| ) ( / / `\ / ///_ | /jgs (((-|' ```| >This Story Doesn't Wash!, by Rubel Shelly The criminal-tragic tale of two fugitives suspected in the murder of a prison guard in my home state last week ended on a tip from a cab driver. He had dropped off the pair at a motel, without making a connection between them and the ongoing national manhunt. Then he got to thinking about them. "The cover story they gave me didn't really seem to 'wash' too much," Mike Wagers said. "I could kinda see through that. But I had no indication that these guys were really dangerous or they were on the run." During the 115-mile trip from Kentucky into Ohio, there had been some conversation. What Wagers called their "cover story" was the explanation they somehow felt compelled to give about hiring a cab for such a long trip. They told him they were on their way to an Amway convention. "They didn't strike me as the Amway type because, to be honest, they weren't very pushy about their product," continued Wagers. "And I've dealt with [Amway distributors] before, so that was my only real suspicion." Now don't any of you who sell Amway products get defensive! I have no quarrel with people who sell Amway or Chevrolets or widget baskets promoting their products. Sure, the word "pushy" has negative connotations. And some people cross that line with their sales pitches. But, the way you create a market for a product is advertising. Promotion. And word-of-mouth ads are the best of all. Wonder if the claim some of us make to be disciples of Jesus ever sounds hollow? The name "Christian" seems like a bad fit? If anybody ever thought about it later and mumbled, "I'm not sure that person's claim 'washes' with me!" Christians almost certainly hurt our cause when we are too abrupt and pushy in our evangelistic efforts. I don't like in-your-face recruiters. Intrusive sales people. Or brassy Christians who think the gospel justifies rudeness. But is it too much to expect that we speak well of our faith? The church? And Jesus? Disciples (i.e., students) of Jesus are always learning about him. Making the effort to imitate him. And it's unthinkable to me that we would never get his name into conversations or tell people the difference it makes to know him. Give him credit for something good that has happened to us or through us. Explain why we think or act a certain way in terms of commitments made to him. If it shocks a cabby that Amway dealers aren't talking about their wares, it should certainly stun people when Christians have nothing to say about Jesus. Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. (1 Peter 3:15 CEV) --------- (c) 2005 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's "FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. Go to for previous issues of the "FAX of Life." For more articles like this one and a daily devotional go to www.heartlight.org ================================================================= .--.-. ( ( )__ (_, \ ) ,_) '- \\---' _\\ \\ . '.\:.' .':`(\ ' \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ _ \\/@) /(&\ (@(\&\ <*****> ` \/ \.=^=. .""". .=^=. \ \```\\(/a a\)//```\\ \ \ ( L ) }} {\ \ __ \ = / }} {{\ '--,/'-'\,---. }} {{ \ |`-._/\_.-'| \ }} {{ \| || |\ \}} {{ |___o()o___| > )} {{ |__((<>))__|` .'}} {{ \ o\/o /`` }} {{ ,'\ || / ', }} {{.' \ || /| '.}} |'.||.' | | : | | : | | : | | : | | : | | : | jgs |____:__| (_/ \_) >Standing Up for What's Right Story Editor: by Aryeh Abramovitz Joyce Schowalter Israel "Are you refusing my order?" half-shouted the sergeant. "No", I said quietly, "I just can't do it". Before our confrontation generated court-martial threats, the squad commander called him aside. Returning, he read off, "Abramovitz, Guri... get on the truck to main camp". "Consider yourself lucky", he said as I passed. Sitting on the hard truck bench, I pondered my predicament. I had looked forward to fulfilling my patriotic duty, even daydreamed of glory and machismo. Then a freak accident broke both wrists and injured my back. At preliminary induction, two months before boot camp, both my hands were in casts. "Don't worry," they said, "first week of boot camp everyone's re-evaluated". Filled with motivation to serve my country as a combat soldier, I hoped to heal completely before final induction. At re-evaluation my profile adjusted downwards only slightly; I was still labeled combat-fit. For days I ran around with the other fresh-faced inductees, determined to make it. When I put on my fully-loaded battledress, an immediate deep pain seared my back. The medic temporarily excused me from wearing loads. Thus began the humiliating process of medical appeals. 75 days and several medical committees later I was still in the combat-fit platoon, doing kitchen patrol and guarding tents -- and being called "a shirker". Then I slept without my gun strapped to me, and an officer had "stolen" it, an offense for which I knew a court-martial was probably waiting. That week the sergeant told me to report to the clinic doctor, then to the camp commandant's office -- no doubt for the court-martial. Sitting at the clinic I steeled myself for a stint in the brig. "Abramovitz?" I heard from the doctor's office. "So, you're the famous Abramovitz. Have a seat", he said. "Your case was reviewed by the public ombudsman from your mother's appeal, but I can't understand the medical committees' decisions." "Back injuries automatically are non-combat-fit for a year from date of injury. I'll write my diagnosis and recommendation. You'll report to the medical committee at Haifa". I discussed my orders to the commandant's office, likely for a court-martial, and "besides, I can't travel in a work uniform". "I will order you hospitalized in my clinic tonight, tomorrow I'll send you out of the camp on a special pass, including a permit to travel in your work uniform". Most army authorities I encountered represented the "rules and regulations army". Even if they understood my injuries, they wouldn't stick their necks out on my behalf. The doctor acted independently, human-ly in the midst of a dehumanizing system. He could have written his diagnosis and recommendation and sent me along, leaving me to deal with "the system" by myself. Instead, he circumvented my court-martial. The rest of my uneventful army service was completed in a non-combat fit job. Both results, I owe to the doctor who refused to accept the influence of the atmosphere around him... and instead acted according to what he believed to be right. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY <*****> ."^". ,;;;, ."^". {.'^'.\//a a\\/.'^'.} {{ (( L )) }} {{ \ = / }} {{ .-'\`-`/'-. }} {{ / \_/ \ }} {{ / \ }} {{/ /| |\ \}} {| | | | | |} {\___| >===;=< |___/} {{(_/ | : | \_)}} {{ _/| : |\_ }} {{ _/ | : | \_ }} jgs {{/ | : | \}} `-` | : | `-` | : | | : | | : | |___:_| (_/ \_) Dawn's 3-year-old son got in trouble for hitting his younger sister. So he had to sit on the couch. When he was allowed off the couch he found a play necklace. He laid it on top of his head and said, "Look, Mommy, I'm an angel!" Not one of the three adults in the room could keep a straight face. -- Dawn of Minnesota At church while they were singing "Because He Lives" Dart heard Amberlyn, 5, singing, "He bled and died to buy my popcorn... and life is worse for living..." (It should be, "He bled and died to buy my pardon and life is worth the living just because He lives.") -- Dart (mother of Waverly, Amberlyn and Devin) of San Diego Claire, 4, spent the weekend with her Daddy and Pappy at the hunting cabin. When she returned her mother asked her if she had fun. She was so exicted she could hardly stand still. "Yes, Momma," she said. "And do you know what happened when me and Daddy and Pappy went out to eat? They let us get our own food! (She was referring to a buffet.) That was so cool!" -- Alison Hummel (mother of Claire) of Danville, Pennsylvania _ _ (_\ /_) )) (( .-"""""""-. /^\/ _. _. \/^\ \( /__\ /__\ )/ \, \o_/_\o_/ ,/ \ (_) / `-.'==='.-' __) - (__ / `~~~` \ / / \ \ \ : ; / \|==(*)==|/ : : \ | / ___)=|=(___ jgs {____/ \____} When Patsy's nephew, Michael, was 3 he presented her with his hand-picked bouquet of weed flowers and said, "Here! Now you're married." -- Patsy Shinn of San Antonio, Texas Jarryd, 2, wanted to know what his mother was doing on the computer. She replied that she was working on Microsoft Word, thinking that would avoid a long explanation. When Dad got home and asked what Mom was doing on the computer, Jarryd piped up, "She's working on MICROWAVE SOFT WORD!" -- from Jarryd's father Brent Labuschagne of RandPark Ridge, South Africa Jarryd, 2, was naming body parts... eyes, nose, ears... When he noticed the hair on his father's arms he asked, "Whiskers?" Jarryd had been in the bath too long and his fingers had wrinkled up. "Wow, fire-fingers," Jarryd said, explaining the wrinkles looked like flames. 0_ \`. ___ \ \ / __>0 /\ / |/' / / \/ ` ,`'--. / /(___________)_ \ |/ //.-. .-.\\ \ \ 0 // :@ ___ @: \\ \/ ( o ^(___)^ o ) 0 \ \_______/ / /\ '._______.'--. \ /| |<_____> | \ \__|<_____>____/|__ \____<_____>_______/ |<_____> | |<_____> | :<_____>____: / <_____> /| / <_____> / | /___________/ | | | _|__ | | ---||_ | |L\/|/ | | [__] | \|||\|\ | / jgs | | / |___________|/ Pam is a school nurse. One day, a small kindergarten student was in need of a change of clothing because of an "accident." After she refused four different pairs of pants because she didn't like the color or the style, Pam had to tell her she needed to choose one from the four. After crinkling her nose, she chose the pink sweatpants. Pam only had one pair of girl's underpants and she wondered what she would do if the little girl rejected them, too. So Pam told her she also had a choice between two different styles of underwear. She could choose either the purple girl's panties, or the white boy's briefs. The little girl put her hand on her hip, cocked her head, and said in an exasperated voice, "Are you crazy or something?" -- Pam Alexander of Frankton, Indiana Trudi remembers when her granddaughter Chelsea visited them the summer before she turned 5. She stayed with Trudi and her husband at their summer home in Maine. One weekend they took her into the North Country to spot some moose. The drive was several hours away and Chelsea chattered nonstop throughout the adventure. Trudi and her husband commented out of earshot of Chelsea how her incessant talking was beginning to hurt their ears. That evening while Trudi was tucking her into bed Chelsea said, "Grandma, I am sooo tired. Even my mouth hurts!" -- Trudi of Florida (who says Chelsea is a teen now and she doesn't see her often... Chelsea's chattering would now be music to her ears! When Dewayne's niece Kasey's baby was about a year old, Kasey was washing dishes when she saw something flash out of the corner of her eye. Then she heard her baby, Megan, giggle. Kasey went into the living room to find a roll of toilet paper strewn across the room. "Megan!" Kasey exclaimed. "Didn't do it!" Megan responded with an innocent look. "Then who did?" her mother demanded. To which Megan replied, "Daddy!" (Daddy was at work.) -- Dewayne Bastrop of Louisiana The day before Veteran's Day one of Tom's children asked him, "How come we are celebrating the animals tomorrow?" The child thought it was "Veterinarian's Day!" -- Tom of Riverside, California , _..._ , {'. .' '. .'} { ~ '. _|= __|_ .' ~} { ~ ~ '-._ (___________) _.-'~ ~ } {~ ~ ~ ~.' '. ~ ~ } { ~ ~ ~ / /\ /\ \ ~ ~ } { ~ ~ / __ __ \ ~ ~ } { ~ /\/ -<( o) ( o)>- \/\ ~ ~} { ~ ;( \/ .-. \/ ); ~ } { ~ ~\_ () ^ ( ) ^ () _/ ~ } '-._~ \ (`-._'-'_.-') / ~_.-' '--\ `'._'"'_.'` /--' \ \`-'/ / `\ '-' /' jgs `\ /' '-...-' Max, 3, overheard his grandmother's phone conversation with a friend who said their dishwasher was broken, their underground lawn sprinkler system was in need of repair, and several other household problems were occurring at the same time. Sandi remarked, "What a bummer!" A few minutes later, Max was playing with his toy cars, and Sandi heard him say, "What a bummer!" Then he came to Sandi and asked, "Nana, what is a bummer?" -- Sandi in Florida Cali, 3, was home playing the day after Halloween. She fell down and hurt her knee. She climbed up on her dad's lap to get some lovin'. Her dad had some candy on the table beside his chair from the trick-or-treat candy and asked Cali if she needed some candy to help her feel better. She said yes and her dad opened the candy and gave it to Cali. She then put it on her knee and held it for a little while. She thought putting it on her boo-boo would make it feel better. -- Cathy (mother of Cali) of Dillard, Georgia Grandpa was holding two-year old Sadie in his arms as she said good-night to everyone. He then said, "What about ME?" and pointed to himself. From then on she called him "ME." She is four now. The other day she took his tobacco pouch, went outside and strew his tobacco over their yard. She came in and announced to her mother, "I helping Me quit smoking." -- Sister Lita Camozzi of Toronto, Canada | |: | .-T-. ___|:_|__ / \ // \ | }=) o o (={ b\__/FIRE | \_===_/ |_______|(_) _.-"""-._ |: | |\/`/+' _ '+\`\ .----. |: | \__\ +[_]+ /=| /[====]\ |: | )====={\=\_ |'----'| |: | | . | `( ) |USMAIL| |: | |_/ \_| | """" | |: | <__| |__> | | |: | |=| |=| |:____:| |: | |_| |_| jgs |/----\| |: | (___Y___) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rissa's sister and her husband taught their two daughters how to do the sign of the cross before prayers. The girls loved to pray. One night Emilynn, 3, began telling her mother all about her day. It went a little something like this, "and then baby Justin fell down and he bumped his "father." Her mother was confused at first but then she realized Emilynn thought her head was called "father" because that is where you point and say "father" while doing the sign of the cross. -- Aunt Rissa of Ballwin, Missouri ========================================================== .-"''-. _ .' `( \ @/ ') ,--,__,-" / / \ / / _/ __| , |/ / .~ `\ / \ , | / .~ `\ ` / _/ _/ .~ `\ ~~`__/ / ~ `--'/ / / / / /' /jgs >-->THE WHISPER OF A CHILD (Author Unknown) A child's love is like a whisper, given in little ways we do not hear. But if you listen closely it will be very clear. They often do not say it loud, but in how they come to you... "Daddy, will you play with me?" "Mommy, tie my shoe?" The many ways they tell you, changes as they grow. "Dad, I made the team today!" "Mom, I've Got to go!" "Pop, I need some money, You see there's this girl at school..." "Mama, I met a boy today and Wow, he is so cool!" "Dad, I've got something to tell you... I think she is the one!" "Mom, he asked me to marry him. Would you love him as your son?" "Dad, I've got some news for you... It's going to be a boy!" "Mom, I'm kind of scared of this, yet I'm filled with joy!" A child's love is like a whisper, given in little ways we do not hear. But if you listen closely, it will be very clear. They often do not say it loud, but in how they come to you... "Grandpa, will you play with me?" "Grandma, tie my shoe?" It is never ending; A blessing from above. Listen to the whispers of a child's love. >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? 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