Recipe For The Soul 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!! ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ ___________________________ | ____ | || _ \ ___ __ _ ___ ___ | || |_) / _ \/ _` |/ __/ _ \ | || __/ __/ (_| | (_| __/ | ||_| \___|\__,_|\___\___| | |___________________________| | | .,:;:;,. | :;.' `.::: | %%%%%%%%%&' | : o o :` .\ p : c : .' \ ) :`. - .': .' .` ;::`--'::: .' .'| _.:;:oooo::;._ .' .' ." :::.__.;:: "' .' ' ::: ::: .' . .' ' . .-|-. .' . ' . | . : ' , `./|\.' : . . `"' : ' : : . ': : .____' : : ' ' :______________: '''' :`-.' -,.._`; :'.-.-`_.-.,': :-'.'_`'.-,.,: :.-`_.-_.-` -: : -'.'`,`.,`-; :'.` -'_'. _.: ;-`.,-`-','._: ;`- `-`- '. _: :-.`,_.`'.-.`: :,-'.`-.',-_': :._,`-''.,-.-; ;.-`--`.-,.,`: :,.-`._'.`-._: :`.'.-_.''.`.: `-.'`-'.---.-` `..' `..' mh *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. 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 ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) We've got a super hot tottie from our friend PatDeE! This one will amaze you! Check it out here... .+++++. | ~~~~~ | ) '*_*' ( ( ._. ) '.._..' ScS _,/\ /\,_ / ':' \ World's Best Dad! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wbdad.html --- ...Totally stunning! Thanks PatDeE! -<>- Linda sent us a forward that made me realize our one page was missing a pretty important part! So of course I updated it right away! Check it out here... ,., ('=(""")=') '))|+_+|((' ('_\=/_') /||___||\ ScS /,||_|_||,\ \_| | |_/ Funny Isn't It? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/funny.html --- ...Thank You Linda and GloriaB for this one! I sat glued to my chair and thought - I'm not going any where. What about you? Would you run? The last enemy to be destroyed is death, [1 Cor.15:26] so we know God doesn't want any of us to die for Him or Christ. It doesn't do them any good with us 6 feet under. However, to me, it's a matter of principle. ============================================================== >--->From Heartwarmers: |\ /| |\ /| | \ / | |\\ //| | | | | | \| |/ | \ | | / \ || || / \ |_| / \||_||/ .' '. .' '. | | |o o| / \ /= Y =\ `'-. .-'` `'-.^.-'` _| |_ _| |_ /` `\ /` `\ | / \ | | | |/ \| | ( ) | / \ /\ \ / /\ | .-~-. | | '._)_.' | \ { } / \ / jgs \ '-=-' / \ '.___.' / .--' ;---; '--. .--' \---/ '--. `-------' '-------` `-------' '-------` >EASTER, SPRING AND REBIRTH by Nancy Julien Kopp I've been thinking about Easter celebrations of my childhood years in the Chicago area during the 1940s. When Easter fell in March or early April, we donned spring dresses and coats to walk to church in sharp north winds, even a little snow on occasion. On one of those bitter cold Easter mornings, I had a new aqua-blue spring coat and matching hat that I'd looked forward to wearing. Mother told me it was much too cold to wear it. "You have too far to walk to church. You'll freeze," she said. I begged and begged. "Please let me wear it. I'll wear a sweater underneath." Tears slipped from my eyes as I waited for her to give in. They were genuine, not a ploy. Wearing that new coat was a monumental need at that moment at age eight. Mother relented, but I did have to wear the sweater I'd proposed underneath my lightweight, pastel colored coat. I think I was very glad to have it as my brother and I headed to church to hear the Easter story once again. My parents never attended church with us. Theirs was a mixed marriage -- Dad was Catholic and Mother Methodist, and neither ever gave in to the other. But we kids all attended the Methodist church and Sunday School. Dad polished our shoes every Saturday night so we'd look our best on Sunday mornings. The day before Easter, we dyed eggs in glorious colors. Coffee cups filled with hot water, a dye tablet and a splash of vinegar covered the kitchen table. We arranged the eggs on a big platter lying on artificial grass. The Easter Bunny would hide them while we slept that night. The Easter Bunny usually brought us a few chocolates, jelly beans and a new comic book. He also hid the brightly colored eggs in our living and dining rooms. What fun it was to discover the decorated eggs, one or two of which we always found in Dad's shoes left out overnight. Later in the day, aunts, uncles and cousins joined us for a special dinner. Mother usually fixed a leg of lamb or a big ham, glazed with brown sugar and mustard, cloves inserted in the scored top. Many side dishes weighed down the dining room table -- scalloped or mashed potatoes, two or three vegetables, a jello salad, homemade rolls, pickles, olives and pickled beets, and a springtime dessert of some kind, cream pies, berry pies, or a cake with whipped cream frosting. The aroma of all these good things filled our small apartment. When we were all too full to move, it was time to do dishes. No dishwashers, but all the women pitched in and they were finished in no time. The kitchen filled with the clatter of dishes and the chatter of women. My cousin, Carol, and I were drafted at an early age to dry the silverware, a job neither of us liked. We hurried through so we could walk to the park to play the rest of the afternoon. We played outdoors or occasionally went to a movie to finish the Easter Sunday celebration. The rebirth of springtime flowers, trees and bushes still symbolizes the meaning of Easter for me. Christ's resurrection created a rebirth for all Christians, and as He taught us to love one another, I also think of the love of family as part of our Easter celebrations. We will be spending this Easter holiday with our daughter's family, going to church, having a celebration dinner, and being together. Not so very different than all those years ago. -- Nancy Julien Kopp __________________________________________________ Nancy grew up in the Chicago area but has lived many years in Manhattan, Kansas in the Flint Hills. Her work is in eleven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and many other anthologies, ezines, magazines and newspapers. A former teacher, she still enjoys teaching through the written word. You can see her website at: http://www.writergrannysworld.blogspot.com --- ...Check Out... Easter Joy http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/easterjoy.html ==================================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: __ ___ (__`\ /`___) ). \| | / .( \_ // ) \ _/ _ / `\ / / \ ,/-.`._/ / | \ \))_(_) \ /( \ )'--'` ;-` \ / \ |/ / \ \\ / ,/ '. |) ( \ / /; |\ \ | /\| |/\ | ( \(_'. / )/ ) jgs `-` '-'/_/ >The Searcher (By Mike DeVries) "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, 'Where are you?'" - Genesis 3:8-9 In the Scripture passage above, God's question strikes me as odd. "Where are you?" Is God truly at a loss to find the man and his wife? Is He walking in the garden thinking, "Now where are they? They hid so well. I hate it when they do this!" Is this what is going on, or is there something so much larger being said here? The opening chapters of the book of Genesis poetically paint for us the picture of how the world we know came into being and why that world is the way it is. In other words, in the midst of the words and the drama, it answers the larger questions of life: Why are we here? Why is life the way it is? Genesis 3 tells the story of a choice and the ramifications of that choice. God tells the first humans that they can eat of any tree in the garden, except of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In essence, God lays before the first humans a choice: Do you want to live the way I created you to live, fully alive and fully connected to your Creator? Or, do you want to live the way that you feel is best? It's a choice that not only faced the first human beings, but has faced every human being since then. What we find is that the first humans chose to live the way they wanted to live, and the ramifications were immense. Their relationship with their Creator was damaged. Their relationship with one another and creation was damaged. When they heard the sound of God in the garden, they did the first thing that came to mind - they hid. Does it really work to hide from God? Can we really find places to hide where God is not, or where God cannot see the state of our lives? Have we really fooled God? God calls out to the man, "Where are you?" This is not so much a statement about God's inability to find the man, but is more about the nature of who God is. God is a lover... and a searcher. God is about searching for that which needs to be healed and mended. This is the picture that is being painted for the reader. So next time you feel the urge to hide, thinking that God will never find you (and that this is better than being found out by Him), just remember that our lives are already completely laid bare before the eyes of Him who loves and searches us out. He loves you just the way you are... just as you are. "Where are you?" SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com --- ...Check Out These... _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` In The Beginning http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/inthebeginning.html Christianity http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/christianity.html ===================================================================== >-->From DevineHalowings: _....._ .' `'-. / (- J-E-S-U-S ->< '._ _,.-' \ jgs ````` >How a Crusty, Old Angel Saved My Son My story occurred three months ago when we had that terrible noreaster here in NY with heavy rain, wind, and floods. My 22-year-old son, Kevin, was living alone on a houseboat when he awoke to a big bang and found his bed floating in water. He was immediately up to his neck in water and unable to get out of any exits. Somehow, he was able to make one phone call which alerted [my husband and me] to his desperation. We contacted Cory, the owner of the boat our son was on. Cory jumped in his small boat and sailed out to help Kevin. Meanwhile, Kevin was desperately trying to punch out the small porthole window in the roof of the boat. He was able to pull himself out through it. The five anchors holding this boat had all broken loose, so the boat was no longer in the same spot it had originally been in. We don't know how Cory was able to even find Kevin, let alone get out to save him in time, but he did. Kevin was clinging on to the mast of the boat. The boat was totally submerged and had drifted onto a sandbar. His hands were cut up and he had hypothermia, but he was alive. Everything that transpired...were all miracles leading up to a big miracle. No one but the crusty, old fisherman named Cory could have saved Kevin so quickly. I was actually at Mass when this was happening. I felt so helpless, but I was in the best place I could have been. There was nothing I could physically do, so I began praying for Kevin's safe return home. Well, as you can see, he was saved. I believe it was a miracle, and I believe he was surrounded by many angels that day and his guardian angel was right by his side the whole time. - Lorraine W. -<>- __ -=- __ /-.\//\/.-\ | \\_// | | / Y \ | | //)=(\\ | |/` | | `\| | _/| |\_ | |/ | | \| jgs |_| >RESCUED BY UNSEEN HANDS In 1997, when I was in the sixth grade, I believe a guardian angel protected me from an accident. My mother drove me to school just as she always did, but unfortunately we were just a bit late and had to park across the street from the school. My mother is the type of mom that teaches her children to be very cautious and always be aware of your surroundings. So needless to say, I was and still am a bit overcautious as a result. Anyway, I got out of the car on my side, which was against the curb. My mom rolled down her window and leaned out to check traffic. I took a lean forward and also checked traffic. My mother and I both looked at each other and nodded as to confirm we both saw it was clear. I remember the next moments very clearly, and writing this now makes my chest tight and my eyes water. I took a step forward and heard a loud engine whirring to my left. I then felt myself being lifted up by my backpack and I was lifted so high I saw the ground beneath me and the top of my mom's car and the top of the car that was just about to hit me. The moment felt like slow motion, but it was only seconds. After the moment had passed, I ran quickly to my classroom and continued to shake for a large portion of the day. Upon arriving home, I told my mom thank you for pulling me back. She said she didn't and had spent the morning crying and thanking our angels because she saw me get pulled backward by my backpack -- but no one was behind me! Upon writing this down, I feel a new appreciation for my life because I once again realize it could've ended so quickly. – A. Leal --- __ -=- __ /-.\//\/.-\ | \\_// | | / Y \ | | //)=(\\ | |/` | | `\| | _/| |\_ | |/ | | \| jgs |_| ...This reminds me of my brother's story: He told me one day early in the morning as he was delivering papers, he was just about to cross one of our busiest streets. It was so early, there was next to no traffic. He had looked any way and had just about stepped off the curb into the street when he heard a sound that caused him to stop and look behind him. Sure enough, a newspaper had dropped out of his over the shoulder paper bag. He couldn't figure how that had happened. Just then he was hit by the wind and the sound from a semi truck roaring right past him! Had he not been stopped by the sound of the falling newspaper out of his bag, he'd been hit by that semi! He figures it was an angel from God that saved him since according to him there was no way the newspaper could of fallen out of that bag by itself. He's never had a paper do that before or after. Check Out... _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` Are Angels Real? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html ==================================================================== .-------. ;"|| \\ .-----------'-''-----`'----. |_ :- () (__/""\______________/""\___) jgs \__/ \__/ >The Tow Truck Hero Story Editor: by Mike Gallagher Joyce Schowalter Florida, USA About 1976 my family and I left North Georgia to spend Christmas in Orlando, Florida. We were driving a 1972 Audi sedan, which was comfortable for us with our two children, 10 and 12 years old. The car developed what sounded like an engine miss, soI stopped several times to check under the hood. Except for a worn spark plug wire I could find no problems. We got on the Florida turnpike in Wildwood, and got into Orlando, where the car quit and wouldn't restart. It was around 4:00 p.m., traffic was heavy and we had passed a service area fifteen miles back. With darkness under an hour away I hitchhiked back to the service area leaving my family in the car, catching a ride right away. At the service area I met a wrecker driver named Wendell. I had run the battery down trying to restart the car but Wendell told me not to worry, he'd take care of it. We left immediately. Back at the car we tried to start it -- in vain. Wendell loaded it on the wrecker and towed it back to the service area. But when we got there the mechanics had left for the night. Wendell then towed the car to Wildwood, found us a motel, and dropped the car off at a local garage where he knew the owners. His bill for the several hours he spent with us was only $35.00. Safe for the night and fed from vending machines, my family slept while I sat up all night worrying about the car and how much it would cost to repair. At first light I was waiting for the garage to open. When it did, the mechanic got right on his diagnostic process. Wendell stopped by in his pickup truck to see how things were going. It turns out the head had developed a leak, allowed antifreeze into the engine which now required an overhaul. Since it was an Audi and it was 1976, the closest place to repair it was in Orlando, fifty miles away. All I could think about was a very expensive wrecker bill and a more expensive repair. Wendell kindly went and borrowed a small car trailer, cut a hole in his step bumper to allow the towing ball, loaded the car on the trailer and took all of us, and the car, to the Audi dealer in Orlando. My wife and kids rode in his truck's front seat while I rode in the car on the trailer, still upset, wondering how I would pay him when we got to Orlando. When Wendell unloaded the car, to our amazement, he gave the kids a hug, refused to take even gas money, simply wished us a Merry Christmas and drove off towards Wildwood. ----------==========----------o----------==========---------- Did someone say "BOOKS"? HeroicStories benefits when you Buy Books via our Amazon links for 3 countries Quick, Easy, Simple http://www.heroicstories.com/bookresources1.html THANKS! =======HeroicStories======= >-->From CupO'Cheer: .--.-. ( ( )__ (_, \ ) ,_) '- \\---' _\\ \\ . '.\:.' .':`(\ ' \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ _ \\/@) /(&\ (@(\&\ <*****> ` \/ \.=^=. .""". .=^=. \ \```\\(/a a\)//```\\ \ \ ( L ) }} {\ \ __ \ = / }} {{\ '--,/'-'\,---. }} {{ \ |`-._/\_.-'| \ }} {{ \| || |\ \}} {{ |___o()o___| > )} {{ |__((<>))__|` .'}} {{ \ o\/o /`` }} {{ ,'\ || / ', }} {{.' \ || /| '.}} |'.||.' | | : | | : | | : | | : | | : | | : | jgs |____:__| (_/ \_) >DON'T FORGET THE POWER What do you think of when you think of power? I generally think of something that demonstrates power or force, such as Niagara Falls or an Atomic Bomb. Sometimes we think of power in the form of people or armies, maybe political power or maybe the power to influence or persuade others (such as he or she is a powerful speaker). Of course we know that God is the ultimate power, but being human we sometimes forget how he works in our world. We think of him only on a spiritual being that doesn't interfere with the world in which we live. This concept was brought into focus for me by the following true story: A teacher writes, "I had been teaching my seventh-graders about World War II, and a test question was, "What was the largest amphibious assault of all time?" Expecting to see "the D-Day invasion" as the answer, I found instead on one paper, "Moses and the plague of frogs." How would you have answered? Do you think God still has an interest in our world? Paul reminds the church in Rome of this fact in Romans 13:1 where he writes: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." I like another illustration of God's power in Romans 1:16 where Paul writes: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." The word "power" in the Greek is the word dunamis (doo'-nam-is) and is the same root word from which we get the words Dynamo or Dynamite. So, when things get difficult in your life or you are facing some crises, don't forget the greatest power. Don't forget we have a connection to the creator and sustainer of the universe, Our God! Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart --- ...Check Out... _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` Walking In Power! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.html -<>- sSSSSSSs SSS'\\\\SS SSS` - -'SS SS(, a \a S SSSSS -' |S 'SSS\ '= /S/| 'S|`-. __.' / | .-'| `-.__.' .-\ / /-. | | { _/ \_ } | | `| | | | | '. | | .' jgs '-.| |.' `"` >THE PAGES LONG FORGOTTEN John stepped into the used book store, smelled the age of old pages and smiled. Here was a wealth of old stories, history waiting to be read, and a host of other joys. On a back shelf, he found what he was looking for, two tiers crammed with the forgotten. They'd served their use to those who once held them dear, but now gathered dust in the darkest corner of the store. There were Italian, American, French and Greek. They contained secrets from around the world. There were collections of chicken, beef, pastries, bread, and desserts. They waited, hidden in a little explored part of the store, and hoped someone discovered their treasures. John knew what to do. He picked one up, held the spine in his hand and let the book fall open. They always opened to the most used pages, the recipes loved by lost generations. The page in front of him was for a recipe called, "Beef-filled cornbread". The picture showed a delicious layer of meat and cheese, layered with cornbread and covered with a hot sauce. The pages were stained with splatters of tomato sauce. It was obviously a favorite of the previous owners. He'd try this one. Those used the most are the best. He found several other books, each with its own marked pages, carried them to the counter and made his purchase. "I hope you found something you like." The cashier said. "Oh yes. Very much! I'm sure these are exactly to my taste." He paid for his purchase, left the store and carried them in a bag on his way to work. In the locker room, he placed his books on the top shelf and changed into his scrubs. The recipes would wait. He had a duty. Freshly dressed, he walked his floor. "Hello, Mrs. Smith!" He smiled at the elderly lady sitting in the sun room reading a book. In her day, she must have been a beautiful woman. She still was, for a woman in her eighties. "How was your day?" "Horrible!" she growled. He sat beside her, held her hand and looked into her eyes. "My grandson didn't visit me." she continued. "He promised me he'd be here today." She adjusted her shawl and tried to hide the tears about to spill from her wizened eyes. "Maybe tomorrow." he replied. "You know how busy these young people are." He noted the tear in the corner of her eye and changed subject. "Mrs. Smith, didn't you tell me you lived during the great depression?" A smile came to her face. "Oh, yes. What a time that was. There was no work, ya know. But we survived.""How did you get by?" "Well, we all worked together. Everyone worked together. We helped each other." She frowned. "It's not like today, where people are too busy to worry about anyone but themselves. In those days, we worked together. If you didn't, you starved." "It must have been a hard time, Mrs. Smith. I don't know how you did it." "I didn't." she grinned. "We did. We did it together, the neighbors and my family." He left her smiling and hoped her grandson paid a visit the next day. He moved down the hall and stepped into Mr. Walker's room. "Hey, Walk! How's things?" He used the name Walk, as all the others in the center called him. It made Walk feel comfortable. Mr. Walker looked up from a puzzle he leaned over. "Could be better, John. This dang puzzle has me stumped. These eyes aren't what they used to be." "I know, Walk. Just take your time. There's no rush." "There is too." Walk chuckled. "I need to finish it before I die." "Not too soon I hope." John said. "Soon enough. Be glad not to have to work on this darn thing anymore anyway. Say! Have I told you about the guy who walks into a bar with a giraffe under his arm?" John chuckled. Walk loved a good joke. "I don't believe you have." Walk's face broke out in a smile. "You see, this guy walks into a bar with a giraffe under his arm. He has a few beers. The giraffe falls asleep on the floor. The bartender looks down, sees the giraffe and asks, 'What's that lying on the floor?' "The guy says, 'That's not a lion! That's a giraffe.'" Walk broke into a laugh that turned into a coughing spell. John slapped him on the back. "Come on, Walk. Cough it up." Walk got himself under control. "Thought I wasn't going to finish this puzzle after all." "You're OK now. I got your back." "I know about covering someone's back." Walk sat straight in his seat. "I was in WWII ya know." "I heard that. Did you have a hard time?" John asked. "John, you have no idea. It was the winter of '41, or was it '42. I can't remember now. Snow was up to here." Walk pointed to his thigh. "We were on the front. The enemy was close ..." Thirty minutes later, John said, "WOW! That's a story, Walk." He paused. "Walk, I knew you were in the war, but I don't think I ever thanked you. I want to say, 'Thank you.' You made us safe." "Ah, stop it. It was nothing." Walk turned to his puzzle, too embarrassed to continue their talk. He and others knew what they did, but don't want to take credit. It's an unspoken rule between the veterans. They did what they had to. John continued on his rounds, held hands, shared hugs and listened. Here they were, like the cookbooks, sitting in dark corners, ignored. John knew what to do. He held them, let their hearts fall open, and found the pages stained with use. They are the most valued. They are the pages long forgotten. -- Michael T. Smith --- ...Check Out... To BEGIN With http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/begin.html Value Of Life http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/value.html Autumn Of Life http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/life.html Give Me Flowers http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/flowers.html To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ================================================================ >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >In Case of Emergencies . . . When You Have Sinned . . . Call Psalm 51 When You Deal with Fear . . . Call Psalm 34:7 When You Need Someone to Trust . . . Call Proverb 3:5 When Someone Comes Against You . . . Call Isaiah 54:17 When You Need Christian Assurance . . . Call Romans 8:1-30 When You Need God's Mercy . . . Call Psalm 56 When You Get Tired of Doing Good . . . Call Galatians 6:9 When You Get Angry . . . Call Ephesians 4:26 When You Feel like You Can't Go on . . . Call Philippians 4:13 When You Need Help . . . Call Psalm 121 -<>- __.............__ .--""``` ```""--. ':--..___ ___..--:' \ ```"""""""``` / .-` ___.....-----.....___ '-. .:-""`` ~ ~ ``""-:. /`-..___ ~ ~ ~___..-'\ / ~ '`""---.........---""` \ ; ; ; '::. ' ~ .:' _. ; | '::: ' .:' ~ | |~ .:' . _ ':. | | .:' ':.~ | | ':. . ~ . _ .: | ; '::. _ /|| .;' ; ; ': ( } \||D ; \.:'.:':. | /\__,=_[_] / \ ':. ~ |_\__ |----| ` / '. '::.. _ | |/ |--. |_ ~ .' '-._':' | /_ | | `'-_.-' jgs (``''--..._____...--''``) `"--...__ __...--"` ````` >Live Backwards Ben’s first duty as a new pastor was to conduct a funeral service for Albert, a man who had died in his eighties. Since he didn’t know the deceased, he invited members of the congregation to say a few kind words about Albert. No one budged. “Many of you knew Albert for years,” Ben prompted them. “Surely someone can say something nice.” After an uncomfortable pause, a voice from the back of the room said, “Well, his brother was worse.” If you died tomorrow, what would people say about you? Would their comments make you proud of the way you lived and the choices you made? There’s an old saying: “If you want to know how to live your life, think about what you’d like people to say about you after you die…and live backwards.” Thinking about the legacy we want to leave can help us keep our priorities straight. When the end is near, it’s not likely any of us will say, “I wish I’d spent more time at the office.” Unfortunately, many of us only begin to realize the value of the time we have after we’ve frittered much of it away in shallow ruts going nowhere important. It’s hard to think now what will matter later. But doing so can dramatically improve our chances of living a full and meaningful life with few regrets. Knowing how we want to be remembered also allows us to make a strategic plan for our lives. How much wiser would our choices be if we had the wisdom and discipline to regularly ask ourselves whether all the things we do and say are taking us where we want to be at the end? In a sense, we write our eulogies by the choices we make every day. - Michael Josephson -<>- __ {\ <__> {\ \ _)( _ { ~\ \ _______ //|! _.-'| {* \ \ <:<:<:>:> //||! | | { ~ * \ \(((//^^\ //|||! | () {* ~ \((((/ e e //||||! () { * ~ * |))))c o ) //|||||! {* * ////'_/~` //||||||! {~ * (((( `.`\ //|||||||! _ `{.~ ~ )))`\ \))_.-||||||! |`-._ _. `{ ~ *(() `\_.-'`|||||||! | | |=' `{.__.* `-*. ||||||||||! () | | .* ~ *.||||||||||! () () .*. * ~ *.|||||||||! .* . . *.||||||||! .* ~ * *.|||||||! .* * ~ *.\|||||! jgs .* ~ . *. `\|||! .* * . ~ * ~ *. :~~: ..* ~ * ~ *. .::::::. ~~* ~~* ~~* ~~* ~~* ~~* .::::::::::. >Love Early in the 20th century, two young medical school graduates and their father started a small sanitarium for mental patients on a farm outside Topeka, Kansas. This was a time with the "rest cure" was in vogue in psychiatry, and patients were sent to impersonal institutions to live out their lives. This father and his sons had a different idea. They were determined to create a loving, family atmosphere among their patients and staff. The nurses were given special training and were told "Let each person know how much you value them. Shower these people with love." The doctors were Karl and William Menninger, and the Menninger Clinic, with such "revolutionary" methods, became world famous and has helped countless numbers of people. Karl Menninger said, "Love cures people - both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it . This intangible thing love ... enters into every therapeutic relationship. It is an element which finds and heals, which comforts and restores, which works what we have to call for now, miracles." -<>- _..._ .~ `~. / } \ _.'`~~/ {_,} -( ,'-,___.' .-. / |_ /| __| |__ / ` |_/ [__ __] / \ / | | / '--;_ | | _\ `\ | | / |`-.___. / | | ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >THIS IS A REFRESHING PRAYER ! Dear GOD: I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me. God is just so good and he's good all the time. --- ...ALSO... _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` Mark 16: [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Signs and wonders always follow those that do one thing: [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. [19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. [20] And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Signs and wonders always follow them that BELIEVE! THANKING God FIRST is Believing God that you ALREADY HAVE IT! -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Fedex Castaway http://www.buffaloschips.com/012123.htm Femme http://www.buffaloschips.com/012124.htm Over head Bin http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3243.htm panda http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3244.htm parachut http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3245.htm German Engineering http://www.buffaloschips.com/012125.htm God Bless The USA http://www.buffaloschips.com/012126.htm Grimper Rocher http://www.buffaloschips.com/012127.htm Never Give Up! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html Emergency #'s http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/help.html Just Thinking http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thinking.html Ray's Freedom Rock http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/freedomrock.html Real Fantasy Trees http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trees.html Montreal Gardens http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/montreal.html When Sandman Attacks http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/sandman.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com ================================================================ >-->From HeartsAndHumor: .-""-._ / ___/ \ _&_ _.--""|/ `\| // \\ .' ( ^/ ^ )'. / / \ \ / | _ | \ // / \ \\ | _\____/ | /_/_/_\_\_\ | .' \____/-._ | .-"-. | / `; /# \ | / / _|_.---\ | | |.-.; :--.-(_/.____/.-""\___/"-. / \ / ~~/ /\ \{"=.______.="} /--. ; /___/_~~/ ; .--\"=...__...="} / \-/ `\______|/ \-.______..-; | /`| | \ | |||| || | /_ | |_______/ | |||| || | \_/| |-------' |--'||'--._|| | | | | || |> |______| |____________|._ || _..-;| | [___] | `||() || |______ |\/|____________|jgs|| () (__) \__/ (__) () >I Learn and I Succeed "Come on, Mike!" My older brother, Vic, yelled. "Hold it still!" "I am, Vic!" I screamed back. "I'm holding it as steady as I can, but your hammer just missed my finger." "You're such a sissy!" "Am not! You just don't know how to hammer." "Just hold the nail, Mike; we're almost done." "Don't hit my finger!" "Do you want a go-cart or not?" "Of course I do, but I won't be able to use it if you break my finger." "But I will!" he sneered. "I want to ride it too!" "Not if I bust your finger!" "That's what I mean! You don't want me to ride our go-cart. I'm going to tell Mum!" "Stop being a sissy." "I'm not a sissy!" "Then hold the nail!" "I am!" Vic swung: I jumped; the nail fell to the ground. "What are you doing?" "Saving my finger." "Sissy!" "Butt face!" Several days later, we had our cart ready. We painted it with a half full can of grey paint - something we found in the cellar. Four old lawnmower wheels, spiked into 2X4 axles supported it. The front axle was fastened to the frame by one spike, so it would swivel when we pulled on the ropes we'd nailed to each end. Next to one of the rear wheels, we nailed a length of lathe. With only one nail, we could pull on one end and force the other end of the lathe against the wheels to act as a brake. We rolled our contraption to the top of the hill leading to Grandmum's house. "I go first!" Vic said. "No!" I whined. "You said I could go first!" "Did not!" "You did to! I'll tell Mum!" "Tell Mum! I'm going first!" He leapt onto the wooden seat and grabbed the rope steering wheel. "Push!" he yelled. I pushed. He rolled down the hill and pulled the rope to steer straight, but snaked down the hill out of control. Before he crashed into a telephone pole, a wheel popped off. Our rickety cart ground to a halt. I tried not to laugh but couldn't help it. We dragged it home with thoughts of improving it, but it sat forgotten by the corner of the house. Our young minds moved to other things. ************ "Let's build a camp!" Chris said. "Cool!" Craig agreed. "Yeah! We can build it in the woods on Hart's point." Wade chimed in. "We can find lumber on the shore. My dad has a saw." I chimed in. "We can build a cool camp. No girls allowed!" "No girls!" Wade agreed. "They're a pain." We found four trees. They stood in what could be considered a rectangle. It was close enough in shape for our needs. They'd be support beams for the best camp in the world. Within a few days, we had enough lumber to create the floor. We ran out of wood. The camp was forgotten. We moved on to other exciting things. News spread of a dead whale washed ashore on a beach nearby. ************ Vic and I pulled the old boards we found into the front yard. We planned a new camp. We'd gathered old the lumber from an abandoned house to be torn down. Vic pulled the nails from the rotting wood. Together, we straightened them with rusted hammers we collected scrounging throughout the neighborhood. In a few days, we had the floor completed. It was a rugged mess of wood. Stuck together with used nails, with holes in places the woods didn't meet properly, it was a pathetic piece of work, but we were proud. We ran out of lumber. Our camp sat on the lawn, killing the grass. One evening, after a rain, our dad, angry at us, tore it apart as a rainbow lit the eastern sky in a blaze of color. ************ They were the dreams of a children playing grownup. We planned, worked, and failed. Something always came up to distract us from our projects. It took years for me to realize the lesson of finishing a commitment. I have to plan a project and complete it. If I leave something half done, I've failed. If I complete a project that doesn't work out the way I planned, I haven't failed. I've learned. I plan, fail and learn. I learn and I succeed. - Michael T. Smith If you want to send a comment along, send it to: HeartsandHumor@gmail.com [mailto:HeartsandHumor@gmail.com] ============================================================= -=====- -=====- _..._ _..._ .~ `~. .~` ~. ,_ / } { \ _, ,_\'--, \ _.'`~~/ \~~`'._ / ,--'/_, \'--,_`{_,} -( )- {,_}`_,--'/ '.`-.`\;--,___.'_ _'.___,--;/`.-`.' '._`/ |_ _{@} {@}_ _| \`_.' / ` |-';/ _ \;'-| ` \ / \ / | _ {@}_ | \ / \ / '--;_ _ {@} _Y{@} _;--' \ _\ `\ {@}\Y/_{@} Y/ /` /_ / |`-.___. / \Y/\|{@}Y/\|// \ .___,-'| \ ^^jgs^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^`--`'------`--`^^^^ >-->A GLORIOUS RECIPE FOR THE SOUL Fold two hands together, And express a dash of sorrow; Marinate it overnight, And work on it tomorrow. Chop one grudge in tiny pieces Add several cups of love, Dredge with a large-sized smile, Mix in ingredients from above. Dissolve the hate within you, By doing a good deed; Cut in and help your friend, If he or she should be in need. Stir in laughter, love and thankfulness, From the heart it has to come; Toss with genuine kindness, then share with folks who may need some. The amount of people served, Will all depend on you ... This recipe can feed an entire world, If you really want it to! ~Author Unknown >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 Chriistian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DARRE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************