Peacemakers, Faith, Normal 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 ================ >-->OoooWEeeee!! oo 8 "} > @ < .8 .-._/| .'_'`')`_.' \| ) / (>'/ |_,_ | (,| .' ,'\| `._/ ) \| '`- -- ''-- --- VK/ejm I'm doing a 'Happy Angel' dance! Why? Because Shangrala has been blessed with another donation from our long time Shangrala Angel, Cloie from NH! May God Bless her abundantly! She is a loyal supporter contributing to help Keep Shangrala Alive! We sure do thank God for her and all our past most sweet, caring and wonderful angels! Shangrala is only here because of you! Thank You! If you'd like to help too and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. EVERY LITTLE BIT WILL HELP! Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This flaming hot new page is from our friend Geniann. She's as popular and as famous as her husband John F. Kennedy due to her lovely style and picture perfect grace and beauty. Jacqueline Kennedy exemplified glamour back in the 60's just as our first lady Melania Trump does today. Be sure to check out this and the videos on there here... o#######o o###########o o#############o ################# ###### \########o '#;^ _^,/---\#####! ,` /^_ .-~^~-.__\# / ^\/,,@@@,, ;| | \!!@@@@@!! ^, #. .\; '9@@@P' ^, ###./^ ----,_^^ /@-._ ^--._,o@@@@@@ ^;@@@@@@@@@ ^-;@@@@ Jacqueline Kennedy http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jkennedy.html --- ...Quite striking! Thanks Geniann! This smoking new page is from my daughter Tammy. It is one to give you your aww quota along with some heartwarming smiles for your day. Who says watchcats have to be mean? Not this cat! Be sure to check this and the 3 cool videos with other watchcats here... _.. /}_{\ /.-' ( a a )-.___...-'/ ==._.== ; \ i _..._ /, {_;/ {_// fsc Leon The Watchcat! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/watchcatleon.html --- ...Awesome and adorable! Thanks Tammy! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." -- Henry David Thoreau We're coming up to the painful anniversary of September 11 -- a day that will be marked in history as a turning point. Today, our correspondent, Joe Walker, shares his insightful views about how the tragedy was perceived elsewhere in the world. .-"|"-. .' | `. .' | `. | | | | /|\ | `. / | \ .' `./ | \.' `-.|.-' itz >PEACEMAKERS To tell you the truth, I don't know a lot about Nazmia. In fact, I'm not even sure if Nazmia is a "she" or a "he." Our e-mail conversations haven't really had anything to do with gender. Mostly, they've had to do with being a parent in a world in which that task is becoming more and more complicated. Somehow, in the midst of those conversations, I've had the impression that Nazmia is a woman, so that's how I'll refer to her here (and if you're reading this and that isn't the case, my friend, please consider it a compliment!). Nazmia lives in the Middle East. In many ways, our lives are vastly different. But through the first two or three years of our intermittent correspondence, I was more impressed with our similarities than our differences. Being a parent is tough these days, regardless of ideology, geography or definitions of the word "football." Lately, however, I've been thinking more about those differences. It started about a year ago. On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I wrote an anguished column as I watched horrifying events unfold on the television set next to my desk. The words were impulsive and honest, coming directly from my gut and my heart without pausing to linger long in my mind. But they were also uninformed and naive. Which Nazmia, to her credit, pointed out. "I understand your rage," she wrote. "This was a horrible thing, beyond reason or comprehension. I mourn with you the tragic loss of life. "But do you understand how it makes us feel when you and your countrymen express such outrage for one act of senseless violence, while we must live with it day after day? Few of us here have not been touched by it. Almost all of us have lost a friend or a family member. It is part of our daily life and routine. "And so, as we look at this horror you are now experiencing, we can't help but wonder why you seem so surprised that such a thing would happen," she continued. "In much of the rest of the world, terrorism is a fact of life. You have been fortunate to not wake up each day wondering if this day would be the last for you or one of your children. The fear and uncertainty you are now feeling is what many of us in the rest of the world have been feeling for years." She was right, of course. Although American society is relatively violent -- particularly with regards to violent crime -- we haven't known the unpredictable trauma of terrorism in our streets. Today we are more attuned to it -- and more frightened by it -- even when it takes place many miles away. At least, we should be. I've only heard from Nazmia a couple of times since then. But I've been following with horror a series of terrorist attacks and counter-attacks in her part of the world. I fear for her safety, and for the safety of her family. I mourn the loss of innocent life. I hurt for families torn asunder by explosions of hatred and mistrust. And I wonder why it has to be so. We live in a world filled with remarkable possibilities, including technological tools that can break through centuries-old barriers of fear by providing limitless opportunities for understanding through information and communication. This should be an age of enlightenment and an era of peace, but it can't be as long as we allow ourselves to be blinded by anger, intolerance and vengeance. We have to be peacemakers and use technology to reach out to people across the street and around the world in love and acceptance and friendship. Even if we don't know a lot about them. -- Joseph Walker ___________________________________________ Joseph Walker, from Utah, is a Heartwarmer Gem, and a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. If his column doesn't appear in your local newspaper, have your editor contact Joe at the email address above. Your neighbors will thank you. You can also get his book here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573453005/heart/ref=nosim --- ...This brings to mind some good Trump news... ___________________________ | ____ | || _ \ ___ __ _ ___ ___ | || |_) / _ \/ _` |/ __/ _ \ | || __/ __/ (_| | (_| __/ | ||_| \___|\__,_|\___\___| | |___________________________| | | .,:;:;,. | :;.' `.::: | %%%%%%%%%&' | : o o :` .\ p : c : .' \ ) :`. - .': .' .` ;::`--'::: .' .'| _.:;:oooo::;._ .' .' ." :::.__.;:: "' .' ' ::: ::: .' . .' ' . .-|-. .' . ' . | . : ' , `./|\.' : . . `"' : ' : : . ': : .____' : : ' ' :______________: '''' :`-.' -,.._`; :'.-.-`_.-.,': :-'.'_`'.-,.,: :.-`_.-_.-` -: : -'.'`,`.,`-; :'.` -'_'. _.: ;-`.,-`-','._: ;`- `-`- '. _: :-.`,_.`'.-.`: :,-'.`-.',-_': :._,`-''.,-.-; ;.-`--`.-,.,`: :,.-`._'.`-._: :`.'.-_.''.`.: `-.'`-'.---.-` `..' `..' mh >The White House - September 8, 2020 Another major deal! How President Trump brought Serbia and Kosovo together President Trump met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovan Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti at the White House on Friday, where the leaders announced a historic commitment to economic normalization between Serbia and Kosovo. “By focusing on job creation and economic growth, the two countries were able to reach a major breakthrough—something that nobody thought was going to be possible,” President Trump said. WATCH: President Trump decided to try something creative and new https://tinyurl.com/y5675e47 President Trump’s Administration has delivered recently on a number of major peacemaking deals. The agreement between Kosovo and Serbia follows just weeks after another huge breakthrough brokered between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. A key side benefit of the Serbia-Kosovo deal, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said on Friday, is that it now allows for “the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kosovo, a majority-Muslim state, and the State of Israel.” In the Oval Office, President Vu?i? and Prime Minister Hoti thanked President Trump and his team for their commitment to peace and stability in the region. “I look forward to seeing Serbia and Kosovo prosper as we work together on economic cooperation in the region. Going forward—I look forward to going to both countries someday in the not-too- distant future,” President Trump said. Serbia-Kosovo deal comes from Trump's different brand of diplomacy https://tinyurl.com/y5bgbhe6 President Trump is reversing 20 years of bad Middle East policy https://tinyurl.com/yywwh52n -<>- ooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooo oooooooo oooo oooooooo ooooooo oooo ooooooo oooooo oooo oooooo oooooo oooo oooooo ooooo oooo ooooo oooooo oooooo oooooo oooooo oooooooo oooooo ooooo oooooooooooo ooooo oooooo oooo oooo oooo oooooo oooooooooo oooo oooooooooo oooooooo oooo oooooooo oooooooo oooo oooooooo oooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooo Bob Allison Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for UAE-Israel and other peace deals, cited for no new U.S. wars “I’m not a big Trump supporter,” he told Fox News. “The committee should look at the facts and judge him on the facts – not on the way he behaves sometimes. The people who have received the Peace Prize in recent years have done much less than Donald Trump. For example, Barack Obama did nothing.” Tybring-Gjedde also noted that Trump was the first president of the United States to not deploy U.S. troops overseas in over 40 years. "Indeed, Trump has broken a 39-year-old streak of American Presidents either starting a war or bringing the United States into an international armed conflict. The last president to avoid doing so was Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter." https://tinyurl.com/yxttm5k7 =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The Power of Faith (believing) "According to your faith be it unto you."1 This is what Jesus said to the blind men whom He had healed. I believe it was Napoleon Hill who said, "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe can be achieved." I wouldn't necessarily accept this statement in totality, but there is a lot of truth in it. The idea of course wasn't original with Hill by any means in that it is very much akin to what Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto you." Certainly we need to be realistic and not overestimate what God will do through us, but it's equally important not to underestimate it either. It all depends on what God has called us to do. Former President John Kennedy and NASA scientists not only conceived placing a man on the moon but believed it was possible and were in a position to make it happen. And they did. According to my interests, knowledge, and training it would not have been possible for me to be a part of that team. So, obviously we need to be realistic about what we conceive. However, it is amazing what God can and will do through anyone who is totally committed to Him. He's not going to call most of us to walk on the moon, but He is calling every one of us to walk worthy of Him on the earth and to achieve all that we are meant to be and to do. That's the challenge we all need to face and accept, then add a good dose of faith in God and you and I can also be among the heroes of faith as listed in the Bible.2 These heroes were ordinary men and women who knew what they were meant to do--and by faith in and help from God they did it. Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please show me how I can best serve You and exactly what You want me to do with my life--be it large or small. And give me the faith to do it. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus Christ's name, amen." 1. Matthew 9:29 (KJV). 2. See Hebrews 11. <:((((>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Observing the Obvious "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles."1 I have read how in a park on the beautiful island of Bermuda there is a rock hanging on a rope with a large sign beside it which says, "Weather Station: Check the Rock. If it's wet, it's raining. If it's moving, it's windy. If you can't see it, it's foggy. If the rock is gone, it's a hurricane." Don't you just love it? At least it's reliable! I sometimes joke, too, that the best way to get the latest weather report is to look out the window! Some things in life are obvious, and yet it is amazing how the obvious can stare us in the face and we not see it. Sometimes, with God, instead of "looking out the window" where the answer is staring us in the face, we want a special sign from him! All the evidence was staring the Jews in the face and still they refused to accept Jesus as their promised Messiah--because he didn't arrive the way they wanted or expected! Sometimes we, too, want a special sign from God for various reasons when the answer is staring us in the face. Sometimes we want God to be co-dependent and tell us everything we should or shouldn't do--or even do for us what we need to do for ourselves. It should be obvious to the alcoholic who wants his wife and family back that he first needs to come to grips with his problem and overcome it, before he can expect his wife to return to him. Instead, he wants God to deliver him from the obvious consequences of his irresponsible behavior and give him his wife and family back now. It doesn't work that way. Never has. Never will. I have to admit that, when in college on more than one occasion, I prayed that God would help me pass an exam when I knew very well that I wasn't adequately prepared because I hadn't studied sufficiently throughout the school term. It had nothing to do with God's mercy that I passed this course. I had studied enough to get by. Had I not done this, I would have failed ... with God's blessing, no less! But God isn't codependent. He will not do anything for us that we need and can do for ourselves. Otherwise He would be keeping us over-dependent and immature. He will give us wisdom if we ask for it and guidance if we trust our life to Him, but He does not and will not make our decisions for us, any more than a healthy parent will tell their adult children what they should or shouldn't do. A healthy and wise parent will be a good sounding board for their adult children and help them to see their options so they can make their own decisions and choices. God will also do this for us if we ask Him. God has given us both a head and a heart and expects us to use them both. God's will for us covers a broad spectrum and a large framework. The important thing is that we live in harmony with His will; that is in accordance with the principles for effective living as found in His Word, the Bible. When we do this, while no life is perfect, we will find that most of life falls into place in harmonious ways. The only way we can discover what these principles are is to read them in the Bible. People who want God to tell them every detail of their lives are like little children wanting mommy or daddy to tell them every move. God wants us to grow up and be responsible, to become whole, and learn to make healthy choices and decisions. As I so often say, it's only to the degree that we are made whole will our lifestyle, behavior, actions, relationships, choices and decisions be wholesome. So where do we begin to know how to make right choices? By reading, studying and knowing God's Word, the Bible. This is where we find his principles for effective and wholesome daily living. Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a love for Your Word and with the help of Your Spirit, help me to understand it and learn Your laws and principles for healthy, wholesome living. And please give me a longing to be made whole and a willingness to accept responsibility to do what I need to do. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen." 1. 1 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV). <:))))>< When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .-. __ / \ __ ( `'.\ /.'` ) '-._.(;;;)._.-' .-' ,`"`, '-. (__.-'/ \'-.__)/)_ \ /\ / / ) '-' | \/.-') , | .'/\'..) |\ |/ | \_) \ | | \_/ | \ / \|/ _, jgs / __/ / | _/ _.' |/__/ \ >September Tapestry Beautiful blooms on flowers Growing in the bed Have been lovingly cared for Nurtured and fed. In the spring they were carefully planted Grown from tiny bulbs and seeds Showered with summer sunshine And relieved of all their weeds. Then God raised his hand into the air And waved it all around He opened up a sea of blooms With colors that abound. Oh! Their elegance and beauty They are in their prime! Their wonders will amaze you And will catch your breath each time! God put them here upon the earth For each of us to see Giving them all the beauty of This September Tapestry. -Jeannie Nourse -<>- W .__. .__. [ ] |::| |::| E ._. |::| |::| ._. |\ |:| ._. |::| |::| |/| \ \\|/ |:|_|/| |::| |::|_ |/| |-( )- |:|"|/|_|::| |::|\|_|/| _ | V L |:|"|/|||::| |::|\|||/||:| \ ` ___ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | \/ / ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~pwh >Lessons Learned From September 11 Alan Riley There are certain events that are forever burned into our memory, events that everyone remembers where they were when they first heard the news. The attack on Pearl Harbor, the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King, the Challenger Disaster... and of course September 11, 2001. Today there will be extensive media coverage as America and the world remembers, even if just for a day, the horrible events that took place on this date years ago. But the stark reality is that for most of us, life has returned to normal. In the aftermath of 911 we were all united. Democrats and Republicans put aside their differences and stood on the Capitol steps and sang "God Bless America." Our churches were filled with people who hadn't gone to church in years. We all realized how fragile life can be. Policemen and Firemen were recognized as heroes. We were truly thankful for our freedom. We loved our country, warts and all. Then things went back to "normal". The Left and the Right started fighting again. Church attendance returned to pre-911 levels. We started taking all those things and all those people for granted again. I hate normal. I don't want to be normal. To be normal is to be mediocre. To be normal is to be average. The events of September 11, 2001 reminded us all how short, how fragile life can be. My time here is limited. I only get one shot at this life, so I want to make the most of every day, take advantage of every opportunity, cherish every moment spent with those I love, touch as many people as I possibly can. I don't want to be normal! A "normal" husband takes his wife for granted. A "normal" father is distant from his kids. A "normal" neighbor doesn't know or care about those who live around him. A "normal citizen" doesn't bother to get involved or to vote. Worst of all, a "normal" Christian is lukewarm, rarely prays, seldom reads the Word and hardly ever spends time alone with God. I don't want to be normal! I don't want to be a "normal" husband; I want to give my wife the love and honor she deserves. I don't want to be a "normal" father; I want to leave a legacy of love, laughter and faith for my children. I don't want to be a "normal" neighbor; I want to reach out and show the love of Jesus to all those who live around me. I don't want to be a "normal" citizen; I want to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem with my country. Most of all, I don't want to be a "normal" Christian. I want to be a passionate, wholehearted follower of Jesus whose heart burns to know and do His will and to demonstrate His love in both word and deed. This is my prayer for me, for my church, for my nation, and especially for the Body of Christ on this day: Lord, deliver us from normal! Help us rise above normal to be extraordinary people who make an impact on our world. With Much Love From Christ Look to Heaven in 2007 Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Proverbs 16:20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. --- . | . \ | / `. \ ' / .' `. .-*""*-. .' "*-._ /.*" "*.\ _.-*" : ; ____ """"': .. ; _.-*" \ `.__.' / "*-._ .' `-.__.-' `. bug .' / . \ `. / | \ ' | ` ...I Want Back To NORMAL! This was written in 2007... Not to be mean, but here we are in 2020 with his prayer being answered. Be careful what you pray for! America is far from 'normal' now. We are hardly recognizable from our days back in 9/11. Now it is racist to fly the flag, praise our Lord Jesus Christ or hear our National Anthem without taking a knee. We are considered selfish if we go out without a mask covering our face and can expect to be thrown out of stores or off of planes or buses or even pepper sprayed for such callous disregard for our fellow human lives! People are trying to escape this new America by overusing drugs or alcohol. They don't like this new vision of our world full of limits and controls and feeling guilty about everything bad that ever happened any where any time in history. They don't like all the hate and violence and inhumanity towards others who don't look exactly like they look or think exactly the way they think. I, on the other hand, thank God for normal - For Blue skies and sunshine and days of love and carefree happiness, For my vision being clear and bright and my body functioning normally without pain. I thank God for my normal every day! Where there is no evil or darkness or pain or sorrow. I especially thank God for Him and his Son Jesus Christ who make my life normal and so full of their love, joy and happiness! My normal is the way God intended things to be. Gen.1: [31] And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. -<>- __________ /________ /| | XII | | | | | |IX .* III| | | .' \ | | |'___VI___| | | \ | | | \ | | | \ | | -|- | /` |/ -|- | /` |/ | ( )| | | | \, |\ | | \, |\ ejm |_________|/ >At Just the Right Time David Langerfeld The following devotional is actually a sermon I preached last week in Latacunga, Ecuador. I share it with you once again to remind you that God continues to work in our lives, "at just the right time". -David "At Just the Right Time" Romans 5:6 In 2005, I was part of a medical-dental mission team to Latacunga, Ecuador. While preaching one night, my stomach began to hurt. I assumed maybe it was the food or maybe it was the 8000' altitude, but I was confident that it would soon go away after some Pepto- Bismul. It didn't go away. Later that night, my discomfort turned into immense pain and moved to my right side. One of my roommates, a plastic surgeon, heard my cries of anguish and made a tentative diagnosis. After a confirmation by another surgeon on our team, I had to have an emergency appendectomy the next day. When I shared this with a relative, he laughed and said, "Well, looks like you were in the wrong place at the wrong time." What a great opportunity for me to share my faith. I told him it was just the opposite. God had everything prepared for me. He had the right people, in the right place, at the right time. The Right People First of all, God had the right people - a surgeon, a surgical nurse and a surgical nurse translator who were part of our Medical-Dental Mission Team. The Right Place Second, God had me in the right place. If this had happened in the middle of the night at my home in Tupelo, I wouldn't have had a surgeon in the room with me to diagnosis the problem. I wouldn't have had nurses in the next room to take care of me before and after the surgery. I would have been trying to locate someone in the middle of the night to stay with my wife, Lynda, who is disabled. The Right Time Third, God did this at just the right time - If this had happened one day earlier, we would have had one fewer doctor and two fewer nurses to work in the clinic on our busiest day of the week. If this had happened just one day later, I would have been in an airplane over the Gulf of Mexico and the outcome could have been much different. In fact, if this had happened one day later, I might not be here sharing this with you. The Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time I could write a separate sermon on each one these points, but today, I want to focus on just the last one. Romans 5:6 says, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." The first part of this verse has taken on new meaning to me. "At just the right time, when we were weak and powerless..." That night in the motel room in Ecuador, I was physically weak and powerless. But God had already prepared for me... God had already provided for me... God had already protected me... Although I will always be grateful for his physical provision in this situation, it pales in comparison to his spiritual provision. Look at the scripture once again, "You see, at just the right time, when we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." When I was powerless to save myself. When I was powerless to forgive myself. When I was unable to avoid spending eternity in Hell When I was unable to pay for my sin Christ paid the price for my sin Christ died on the Cross for me At just the right time, Jesus Christ died for this ungodly sinner. --- ...Reminds me of these... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' 9/11 WTC Twin Towers [Tribute] Only Time (Enya) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHCC2p7DD7A 9/11 Where God Wants Me (perfect timing) http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wheregodwantsme.html Wait On God - When God does something, it is done at the exact right moment in time. http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Wait_On_God.htm -<>- _________________________________________________________ ||-------------------------------------------------------|| ||.--. .-._ .----. || |||==|____| |H|___ .---.___|""""|_____.--.___ || ||| |====| | |xxx|_ |+++|=-=|_ _|-=+=-|==|---||| |||==| | | | | \ | | |_\/_|Black| | ^ ||| ||| | | | | |\ \ .--. | |=-=|_/\_|-=+=-| | ^ ||| ||| | | | | |_\ \_( oo )| | | |Magus| | ^ ||| |||==|====| |H|xxx| \ \ |''| |+++|=-=|""""|-=+=-|==|---||| ||`--^----'-^-^---' `-' "" '---^---^----^-----^--^---^|| ||-------------------------------------------------------|| ||-------------------------------------------------------|| || ___ .-.__.-----. .---.|| || |===| .---. __ .---| |XX|<(*)>|_|^^^||| || , /(| |_|III|__|''|__|:x:|=| | |=| Q ||| || _a'{ / (|===|+| |++| |==| | | |Illum| | R ||| || '/\\/ _(|===|-| | |''| |:x:|=| |inati| | Y ||| ||_____ -\{___(| |-| | | | | | | | | | Z ||| || _(____)|===|+|[I]|DK|''|==|:x:|=|XX|<(*)>|=|^^^||| || `---^-^---^--^--'--^---^-^--^-----^-^---^|| ||-------------------------------------------------------|| ||_______________________________________________________|| Qryz >THOUGHTS OF YESTERDAY By: Joseph J. Mazzella I am running out of wall and mantle space here in my little home. It seems like almost every square inch of my walls and mantles is now covered with framed photographs. It looks really crowded but happy up there. It is a delight seeing all of those joyful faces smiling down on me. They are far more beautiful than any wallpaper. My cats, however, have given me more than a few annoyed looks as they walk around the smaller frames on my mantles. It may be they miss their old napping spots or it may be because there are no pictures of them there. Either way I am not taking a single frame down. Each one of them is a second of joy frozen forever in time. Each one brings a warm thought of yesterday to my mind and a peaceful smile of happiness to my face. Each one brings a memory of love to my heart and the sweet taste of laughter to my lips. They are all moments of life and light that I cherish. Sadly, not every moment of our lives can be as joyful as these beautiful pictures. Some of our thoughts of yesterday are full of pain, grief, and loss. Some of our times on this world are ones of great growth but great suffering as well. Sometimes we stumble, fall, and make mistakes. Sometimes we are hurt by others and sometimes we hurt others as well. We can take heart, though, in knowing that "All things work together for good for those who love God." God is always there waiting to help us through our pain and to forgive us when we hurt others. God is always there to see us through our struggles and lead us back to love and joy. God is always there to heal our yesterdays, improve our today, and make our tomorrow blessed. With His help we can fill the walls and mantles of our hearts, souls, and homes with photos of love and happiness. With His help our thoughts of yesterday, choices today, and plans for tomorrow can all work together to create pictures of Heaven here on Earth. -<>- ;, .,, ,,;, ,, '||: :||||;;;::; ,,, ;|; ,||,;;, || || '||| ||' ;|||;||;;'' ||||||;|| ,|| ,||' ,,,|||, '''|||;,, ||'' || ||',, ,|'||||' ,|||' ,|;||'|;; ||||||;|| ,||||| ' || '' ;;':|| '';||'' || ,,|||'|| ||' || .'' :|; :|||||;;;' '|'' |,,|' , || '||, , .'' .,, '''.,, ,|||, || || '||| || |; ';|;, '||;, ,|||, :||; || '||| ;|| '|; ';;: '|;;; ,||'' |||'||' || || :|| '|;, ., '' '' '' ' ,,,|| '' '|;;:,,,,,,,,||, '||| ''::::::::'' ''' >200 Pounds of Stuff Fred Craddock tells the story of a missionary family in China who was forced to leave the country sometime after the communists took over. One day a band of soldiers knocked on the door and told this missionary, his wife, and children that they had two hours to pack up before these troops would escort them to the train station. They would be permitted to take with them only two hundred pounds of stuff. Thus began two hours of family wrangling and bickering--what should they take? What about this vase? It's a family heirloom, so we've got to take the vase. Well, maybe so, but this typewriter is brand new and we're not about to leave that behind. What about some books? Got to take a few of them along. On and on it went, putting stuff on the bathroom scale and taking it off until finally they had a pile of possessions that totaled two hundred pounds on the dot. At the appointed hour, the soldiers returned. "Are you ready?" they asked. "Yes." "Did you weigh your stuff?" "Yes, we did." "Two hundred pounds?" "Yes, two hundred pounds on the dot." "Did you weigh the kids?" "Um ... no." "Weigh the kids!" In an instant the vase, the typewriter, and the books all became trash. Trash! None of it meant anything compared to the surpassing value of the children. Source: "Thought for the Day" by Alan Smith, Helen Street Church of Christ, Fayetteville, -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Semper Fidelis!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/semperfi.html Signs For Woman! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wsigns.html Humorous Signs! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hsigns.html Our Valuable Anchor http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html Proud Of Our Troops 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops3.html Thoughts For Today http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thoughts.html Keukenhof Gardens http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kgardens.html Montreal Gardens http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/montreal.html Transparent Butterfly http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/butterfly.html Jesus Clinic http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/clinic.html Ronald Reagan Quotes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/reaganquotes.html Akiane - Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Beautiful Rare Flowers!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rareflowers.html Church Mouse Wisdom!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/churchmouse.html Story Behind The Photo!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/photostories.html Love Caught On Camera!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lovecamera.html 9/11 And Troop Index http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/911andtroopsindex.html -<>- 'God Is Our Shelter': Iowa Churches Step Up In These Powerful Ways After Derecho https://tinyurl.com/y6c25zra Franklin Graham Encourages You to Join This New Movement https://tinyurl.com/yyj7r5ps From NOAH - WeLoveTrump: President Trump's personal photographer for two years with unparalleled inside access, Gene Ho, published a book called TRUMPography: How Biblical Principles Paved the Way to the American Presidency. https://tinyurl.com/yy5dkjwm Praise You In This Storm - Casting Crowns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoqbKyeKOBI To God Be The Glory ( Royal Albert Hall, London) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15v9iworAU Home Free - How Great Thou Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXQpDDcrN-w You Raise Me Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcLl0A-lXIc Amazing Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n145-J8ejg The Ten Tenors - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen Cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9R6FBEe_10 What we need to do now... Selah - "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJgFa4MZLg Casting Crowns ~ Only Jesus (Lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFGZzyrClzU -<>- Homeschooling Multiple Grade Levels? We Share Some Tips for Success and Sanity https://tinyurl.com/y3dw54rs PRO-LGBT Teachers Fear If Parents Have Access To Child’s Virtual Learning It Will “Damage Gender” https://tinyurl.com/yxtvywkv 12-Year-Old Boy Suspended From School For Having Toy Gun During Virtual Class https://tinyurl.com/yy6833k7 -<>- >In The News: UPDATED: Prayer Chain For Trump Reaching Around The World! Add Your Support! (I just did :) https://tinyurl.com/y2ovspu4 VA News: Free Flu Shots, Video Urgent Care Appointments, Wellness Resources, Virtual Events https://tinyurl.com/y4ptpwvu My HealthVET: See Your Doctor Safely | COVID Test Results | Veteran Suicide | Hearing Loss https://tinyurl.com/y356844z First Lady of Georgia outlines work with Trump administration to 'end modern-day slavery once and for all' https://tinyurl.com/y58tkrov Donald Trump Officially Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian Official / Nancy Pelosi Continues to Hold Up Coronavirus Aid Package / American flags Hung on Overpasses After 9/11 Being Removed / More: https://reliablenewsnow.com/ Meghan McCain & The View Pile On Over Refuted Trump 'Loser' Story / New Op-Ed to Pastors for Biden: “Have You No Fear of the Almighty?” / President Donald Trump Receives Official Endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police in 2020 / Ohio Sheriff to Protesters: "You shoot at the police, expect us to shoot back" / And More: https://welovetrump.com/ Exposing BLM Real Motive: After Rioters Burned Down Her Business, the City of Minneapolis Did This to Her https://tinyurl.com/y4nbgvgb DE BLASIO'S NEW NORMAL: 6-year-old, 10 others shot so far over violent holiday weekend https://tinyurl.com/y5n3sawb Mail-in Voting Takes Another Hit as Bags of Mail Being Dumped Caught on Camera https://tinyurl.com/y26h2n4q Former Obama Aide: Biden Deteriorating “He’s lost a step and he doesn’t seem to have the same mental acuity as he did four years ago.” https://tinyurl.com/y2oeappc Going International: Trump Rallies Now Springing Up In Japan / Wounded Vet To Liberal Groups Using His Image: “You’re Scum. Take It Down” / Trump MAGA Rally in North Carolina Packed to Capacity; Overflow Crowd in the Thousands https://tinyurl.com/y3aruc3r Trying To Put HOBBY LOBBY Out Of Business Again / BREAKING: Antifa “War Camp” Discovered In Ultra Liberal Portland! / The Reason Why This BLM THUG Tried KILLING A WHITE MAN At Random Will Make Your Blood Boil! DEMOCRAT Tulsi Gabbard Just EXPOSED KAMALA For Who She Really Is - MORE: ? https://threepercenternation.com/ Country Singer Issued A Trump Warning That Instantly Blew Up In Her Face https://tinyurl.com/y6kwyr4m Westwing News: https://www.whitehouse.gov/westwingreads/ WhiteHouseNews: 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: 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 :) There is no way this man could be President of the United States! I feel everyone should see this montage proving that this man is incompetent. What are the Democrats thinking & what is his family thinking? Epic Montage: You Don't Have to Like Trump, But After Seeing This, You Can't Vote for Joe Biden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGJGI1d96Ns&ab_channel=DrewBerquist --- ...He is a joke. Thanks LouiseAu! No One Should be voting for Biden to be the leader of the US! 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 ========================================================== /())) //( oo (/|| _ \__ /||||/ '._-' / \ |\ / \ \ \_____ | \ \.___ /==, | ='.___/=. | ) '.______ | (______( | || snd |_|| _/ | |_\ '---'--' >Archie and Abby Story Editor: by Kelli Clayton Bennett Indiana, USA As a child I was sort of a tomboy. The family members I spent the most time with were my two older brothers and three boy cousins. I wanted to do everything they did, and followed them everywhere. When I was seven or eight, my brothers and I spent many weekends with my cousins at my aunt's house. We didn't like to stay at home because our parents argued a lot. One of the nights we stayed there, my oldest cousin, who was about fourteen, started to touch my genitals after he thought I was asleep. Even at that age, I knew something was wrong with the way he was touching me, and where he was touching me, but I was afraid. I just rolled over and pretended to be asleep. It happened again on a few other occasions, and each time I pretended to sleep. My parents often yelled at each other, and I was afraid that if I told them what my cousin had done, there would be more yelling -- or worse, that no one would believe me. I started having trouble sleeping, stopped eating, and refused to stay at my aunt's house. But there were still situations that put me in the same place as my cousin. I tried to stay away from him, but he would always touch me after he thought I was asleep. __ __ (( \---/ )) )__ __( / ()___() \ \ /(_)\ / \ \_|_/ / _______> <_______ //\ |>o<| /\\ \\/___ ___\// | | | | | | | | `--....---' \ \ \ `. hjw \ `. One day at school we were taken to the gymnasium for a special program. A woman was there to perform a show with puppets named Archie and Abby. I sat in that gymnasium riveted to the puppet show. The puppets described exactly what I was going through. They discussed what were good touches and bad touches, and repeated over and over how important it was to tell your parents if anything like that happened to you. In that show, the puppets addressed all my fears and put them to rest. They also helped get rid of my sense of shame, and thoughts that I had somehow deserved it. I left that gymnasium that day feeling better than I had in months, and knowing I would talk to my mother that very day about what was happening. I was still scared, but I gathered my courage and talked to my mother. I now knew that she could stop the pain I had been feeling. It was not like I feared. There was no yelling, no hitting, and never once did she accuse me of lying. She never again left me alone with my cousin, and it never happened again after that. Every year, hundreds of children see the same puppet show I saw, performed by the same woman. I am thankful every day knowing that she does this, and hope she knows that she has helped at least one child. =======HeroicStories======= .-------. |(~\o/~)| _.||\/X\/||._ ,-" || \ / || "-, ,' () ||o X o|| () ', / () ,-|| / \ ||-, () \ : o ,' ||/\X/\|| ', o ; .----------._)~ ~(_.----------. |\/)~~(\/\ (~\ /~) /\/)~~(\/| |(X () X) >o >-X-< o< (X () X)| |/\)__(/\/ _(_/|\_)_ \/\)__(/\| '----------' ) ( '----------' ; o ', ||\/~\/|| ,' o ; \ () '-|| \o/ ||-' () / ', () |(~\X/~)| () ,' '-._ ||\/ \/|| _.-' '|| \_/ ||' || X || ||\(/\/|| ||=)O(=|| ||/\/)\|| || X || || / \ || ||/\X/\|| jgs |(_/o\_)| '._____.' >-->Catholic priest: 'You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat. Period' - American Wire - Bill https://tinyurl.com/y4kwcbxy Among Christians, it's usually the Protestants – most notably Baptists and Pentecostals – who are best known for preaching fire and brimstone to the faithful. But the Rev. James Altman, pastor of the St. James the Less Catholic Church in Wisconsin, recently unloaded a little ol' time religion for the political realm. In a 10-minute video on YouTube that first aired last month, that now has been viewed almost 373,000 times, Altman argues, 'You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat. Period.' The priest's talk begins with a prayer and references to essential Catholic doctrine, asserting, by human nature, 'we will not willingly serve a God who we do not love, and we will not love a God we do not know.' He then maintains that Catholics are failing in that regard, as seen by 'the many godless politicians, and the godless educational system, and the godlessness of so many sheeple,' as images of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and presidential nominee Joe Biden flash on the screen. Both Pelosi and Biden are Catholic. The images selected for Altman's video show Pelosi speaking at a pro-choice rally, and Biden observing what appears to be a gay wedding. The Catholic Church vigorously opposes both. Altman said it was 'baloney' that Catholics should remain silent about politics. When 'politics and politicians act in an immoral way, we most certainly do have a duty and an obligation to speak up about it,' Altman said. He then noted that the Rev. James Martin, a liberal Catholic priest from Pennsylvania, was a guest speaker at the Democratic National Convention. 'I guess it's OK for James Martin to spout off for the Democrats on their national stage but, God forbid, a priest speak out against their godless platform,' Altman said. 'Here's a memo to clueless, baptized Catholics out there: You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat. Period,' Altman said. 'Their party platform is absolutely against everything the Catholic Church teaches.' He then urges Catholic Democrats to 'repent' of their support for the party's ideology - or 'face the fires of Hell.' 'There will be 60 million, and counting, aborted babies standing at the gates of heaven barring your Democrat entrance, and nothing you can say will ever excuse you for your direct or indirect support of that diabolical agenda,' Altman maintained. He then calls out 'gutless cowards' among Catholic clergy who refuse to make that point 'crystal clear.' Altman further noted that 'zero' faithful Catholics supported Barack Obama and Biden in 2008 and '12. Those Catholics who did were 'pretenders,' 'impostors,' and 'a lot of people masquerading as Catholics, laity and clergy alike.' In defense of President Donald Trump, Altman also denounced bishops who support attacks on the 'one, best pro-life president and his Catholic wife,' and who 'silence any priest who dares to step out of line.' He concluded by saying that the Catholic Church risks losing more of the faithful because of a hierarchy that refuses to 'straighten up' their ways and that 'covers up truth through a conspiracy of fear.' --- __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown ...What he said, really hit home and brought tears... I'm not a Catholic but I pretty much hold the same view. It amazes me how people can support a party that allows late term abortion when there is no medical reason to. I've heard the arguments but I have to admit, that this one really hit home... 'There will be 60 million, and counting, aborted babies standing at the gates of heaven barring your Democrat entrance, and nothing you can say will ever excuse you for your direct or indirect support of that diabolical agenda,' Altman maintained. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Rom.14: [12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. If we don't stand against the murder of innocent babies, what are we going to tell God as to why? Are you as the Democrats cite going to tell God that the woman has the right to decide if her baby lives or dies? That she knows better than God who commanded Thou Shalt Not Kill so it doesn't apply to her? , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Matt.5 [21] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: Rom.13: [9] For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. .-"''-. _ .' `( \ @/ ') ,--,__,-" / / \ / / _/ __| , |/ / .~ `\ / \ , | / .~ `\ ` / _/ _/ .~ `\ ~~`__/ / ~ `--'/ / / / / /' /jgs Would you have preferred your mother not to have given birth to you? What if she hadn't? ,,, _,_ _@_ _(_ _?_ >*< _/. .\_ _/- -\_ _/, ,\_ _/' '\_ _/a a\_ _/. .\_ (.\_o_/.) (.\_-_/.) (,\_e_/') (.\_^_/.) (.\_~_/') (.\_c_/.) (.`,.`'.') (.`,.'.'.) (.`'.,'.') ('.,'.`'.) (.'.,'.`.) (.,'.,'',) ('.`,'`,) ('.`,'',) ('.','.`) ('.,'.',) ('.,'.`.) (',.'`.,) ('.`,'`) ('.','`) (.'.,'.) ('.`.,') ('.','') (.'.'.') jgs `--'"` `--'"` `--'"` `--'"' `--'"' `--'"' All those aborted babies will cry before you saying: 'Why didn't I have the same chance at life like you had? Why didn't you care about me? Why didn't you stand up for me and stop me from not having my breath of life? Why did you turn your head the other way and not hear my screams and feel my pain as I was being ripped apart from the womb? Why did you not feel my pain and my tears? Late term abortion is horrible! Former Abortionist’s Remarkable Conversion Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGpTbamcvaM Dr Anthony Levatino describes a 3rd Trimester Surgical Abortion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwDDes4f8Fw Are you going to stand before God and defend voting for someone that not only condones but mandates tax payer support for the senseless murder of defenseless little babies? The National Day Of Remembrance For The Unborn is Sept. 12 As leftist pressure to vote 'pro-choice' ramps up, it's crucial to remember what that means. 'Pro-choice' is simply a way of advocating for the death of innocent children. Instead we should mourn these children, and the opportunity to do so is just around the corner. Will You Join In? https://tinyurl.com/yxv9k4zu ========================================================== . | . \ | / `. \ ' / .' `. .-*""*-. .' "*-._ /.*" "*.\ _.-*" : ; ____ """"': .. ; _.-*" \ `.__.' / "*-._ .' `-.__.-' `. bug .' / . \ `. / | \ ' | ` >-->A New Dawning I awaken sleepily yawning A bright new day is dawning, Time to arise and greet the morn A new world is just being born. I hear the morning doves coo Another restful night is through, A glorious sunrise for me waits, Out near the rose garden gate. God has painted the skies and land With a gentle gesture of his hands And the autumn colors of the leaves Are a wonderland of delight to see. I take my seat in the old wicker chair And marvel at sights around me there, I tremble but not from the cold As God's majestic miracles unfold. The countryside like a kaleidoscope Reflects new colors and inspiring hope, I witness God painting from his palette And am awed by the pure majesty of it. Dark clouds part making room for hues Of sun struck gold, orange and blues And as sunbeams warm my smiling face I prayerfully thank God for his grace. I am reluctant to leave God's show But it's time to get ready to go As I rise to bid farewell to the dawn I pray for this earth we live on. Written by: Kenneth J. Ellison >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. 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