Remember This Study? And More ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@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 =========================== >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) ________ W = '\ `._ \ \` \ ) \ / , ) | / _| /' / | | / / / / / |' ( | | | | | |\ ( ( (/ /) ' \" " " / _ \ \ ( ,-' _\_) ') _.,-'-/ b'ger . ... ",",,,,,,,'.'_ _.,-' .. . '-,-/_ /_ Still fighting the weather over here. It is very cold! I pray you are staying warm and safe! I added some more to the Awesome Photos page. I am especially impressed by the last picture. The artist is sweet! You can click on it to go to the website to see more of GREG OLSEN's work. I'd love to afford this one in the 27 inch size. Nice! See what you think. Visit our page here: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/awesome.html I also updated our FUN URLS Page. It is almost time again for our little furry friend to let us know about winter. Visit the page here: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/urls.html Speaking of groundhogs, I added more of the cute animated ones for our animated gifs page here: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_f-j.html Please NOTE: You may have to refresh your browser to get the updated pages. -<>- >Can You Read This? /; / |'-,. / ' `"---,.__ / ' ,' , '"--,"| / ' , ,' ,"::| / ' ,' , ,"::::| / ' , ,' ,"::::::L / ' ,' ,' ,"::::::::L / ' , , ,":::::::::J k-,._ ,' _.":::::::::::J \. `"----'"".J::::::::::::| \. .-, .L:::::::::::| \. ( .J:::::::::::! \. `-- .L:::::::::/ \. .-. .|::::::::/ \. ( ) .J:::::::/ \. `-' .L:::::/ \. L .|::::/ \. !__ .J:::/ \. __ .L:/ \. L_) .|/ `-,__,-' kth Remember this study... If the first and last letters are in the right place our mind fills in the rest like this ... i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it. Remember this study? If the first and last letters are in the right place our mind fills in the rest like this ... i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it. Anyway, I ran across this again last night while I was checking some things out and then this morning it dawned on me while I was talking with Father. Perhaps this is why some people have such difficulty reading the KJV of the bible. It's written in old English. With our brains allowing us to read and understand what we are reading faster than having to sound things out, this doesn't work well for people who are not familiar with Old English. After all, the more you read the KJV bible, the more you become flaunt in Old English. Maybe these people just need to practice reading it more so they can understand it better when they try to read it like normal English. Just a thought. This is also a good reason why we need to take a little time when we study God's Word so we aren't reading something other then what is there and getting a different meaning for the verse. Here is an easy example ... Exodus 21:18,19 "And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed." 2 Timothy 3:17 "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." Exodus used the word thoroughly while 2 Timothy used the word throughly. If you were not careful you might not of noticed it and thought the same word was being used in both verses. God is most accurate and means what He says. These words are not the same because God meant different things. The word thoroughly was used with healed to convey an exact meaning. According to the dictionary, thoroughly means: Absolute; utter So the man that got hurt would get compensated for his time off work until he was absolutely and utterly healed. In 2 Timothy however, God chose the word throughly. It would be better understood as 'That the man of God be perfect, 'without reserve; sincerely' furnished unto all good works." - No holding back - whatever the man of God needs to do good works - he's perfect - he's furnished - he's got it! Two words that are close but certainly Not The Same. For more on Bible Study, check out these teachings: Biblical Research http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/biblicalresearch.html Private Interpretaion http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/interpretation.html STUDY: BE DILIGENT! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/studybediligent.html STRENGTHENING YOUR FAITH IN GOD http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/strengtheningfaith.html STUDY GUIDE! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/studyguide.html -*~ AS ALWAYS, PLEASE DO SHARE THESE - TTHANK YOU MUCH! ~*~ ==================================================================== >So Many Wonderful People Story Editor: by Jaqi Joyce Schowalter Texas, USA In December of 2006, I moved away from my family and friends to Texas with my fiance. When we broke off the engagement in June 2007, I decided to keep my job and stay in town, even though I still had trouble making any lasting friends. My ex-fiance decided to let me use the car we shared (it was in his name) until I was able to buy my own car, hopefully in about a month. However, three months later, the company I worked for cut the commission rates so effectively that my paychecks were half of what had been. I struggled to stay on top of my bills. Worst of all, I was still relying on my ex to drive me everywhere. He was understanding until one day I didn't pick him up from work. He stopped talking to me and refused to drive me to work the next day. I set off on the 5-mile trek to my workplace at 6 a.m. the following morning. An hour later I was almost there, but tired and unsure if I would make it (my asthma and heart condition were not advantageous in the situation). Suddenly a car pulled over and a friendly woman on the passenger side asked if I needed a ride. Hot, tired, and looking forward to eight hours at work, I agreed to get in. She and her husband drove me to work, and when I got out, thanking them over and over, they told me just to pay it forward. I told them I'd never forget their kindness and went in to work. Two young girls fresh out of high school, Ashley and Chelsey, saw my sweaty face when I went to the bathroom to freshen up and asked if I'd just been in the exercise room. I told them no, I'd walked from home because I didn't have a car. I knew them because they sat a few desks over, but didn't talk to them much. At once, Ashley said it was unacceptable for me to walk to work and said she'd drive me to and from work from then on. After I got home that day, I sat on my balcony contemplating the long walk to the grocery store and whether I had the strength for it. My neighbor, who shared the balcony, came outside and we started talking. He offered to take me to the grocery store that day, and every week until I had a car. When I left for work that morning, I was unsure whether I'd be able to keep my job, and trying to decide whether to move back into my parents' house. By the end of the day, I had met so many wonderful people I knew I didn't need to move at all. I procured a car, and am now doing fine. All that is thanks to one day where a group of people I barely knew all came together to help a disillusioned little me. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From InspiredBuffalo: __ __ ,-' `' \ _---``-- / _ _ ; __ `. / / `' \; /`----- ) / .-/ ,( ), \-. ; | \( \ / )/; | - _5 `7 -; / ( ___-' `-____ | ( ___`-_ \ ____| \ / `,/ \ _(\__ / \ \ ; \ .' /' `i. / | | \ _-'( _\__-/ `- | | ` ,` `_ | BP Together As Brothers ==================== We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it." ~Martin Luther King Jr.~ -<>- >GIVING YOUR LIFE AWAY By: Joseph J. Mazzella E _ \ o .|.:.|.:.|.:.|.:.|.:.|. \/() \cjr//\/'.'.'.'.'.'.\//\\//\/ \7] \__, \/\\//\\/'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'\//\\//\/<,] /==() .:.|.:.|.:.|.:.|.:.|.:.|.:.|.:.|.:.|. Sometimes the greatest lessons in life come at the oddest moments. One of mine came when I was helping to harvest our gardens as a boy. We had four of them and they took a lot of work. In the fall, however, they produced more than enough vegetables for the whole year. Every year my Dad would separate a part of them to share with friends and people in the community. One time while we were loading up a bag full of corn to take to a needy family I asked my Dad why we always gave so many of our vegetables away. He said, "Son, not everyone has as much as we do. They can use our help. Besides, if we didn't give these vegetables away they would just go to waste." Now that I have been on this world a lot longer I can see the wisdom in my Dad's words. I can see too that they apply not just to vegetables but to our entire lives. What good are our lives, after all, if we don't give them away? What good are the things we have if they just go to waste? We all come into this world naked and shivering with nothing. We can take nothing with us when we leave here either. Our lives and possessions then are only momentary gifts. They have meaning only when we share them and use them to help others. In fact, the real riches of life come from every act of giving, helping, and sharing we do. These true riches are love, joy, and oneness with God. They are the wealth of the spirit and the treasures of Heaven. The best thing about them too is that they never run out. The more you give them away, the more God pours them into your heart, soul, and mind. Don't let your life go to waste. Give it away. Give it joyously in service to others. Give it lovingly in service to God. Give your money, your time, your talents, your help, your skills, your energy, and your love. Give without fear knowing that God will always give you back even more. Make yourself rich in the treasures of Heaven and bring a little Heaven to Earth as well. -<>- >12 rules of life __,_____ (( __.==--" - - - - - - -------- ==> /\(-' `-)))/))) (((((\( )/)\)\\ ,//(((((\\. ((( (! !) ))) "bAd hAIr dAy" _))) - |(_ ._//\ O /\\_. `-'_/`,-.'\-`- ,' \/===\/ `. hjw 1. Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas. 2. You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use the tape. 3. The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship are "I apologize" and "you are right." 4. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. 5. Never pass up an opportunity to pee. 6. If he/she says that you are too good for him/her -believe them. 7. Learn to pick your battles; ask yourself, "Will this matter one year from now? How about one month? One week? One day?" 8. When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm. 9. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance! 10. Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was right about you. 11. Work is good, but it's not that important. Money is nice, but you can't take it with you. Statistics show most people don't live to spend all they saved; some die even before they retire. Anything we have isn't really ours; we just borrow it while we're here....even our kids. 12. And finally... Be really good to your family and friends. You never know when you are going to need them to empty your bedpan. -<>- >EIGHT GIFTS THAT DON'T COST A CENT _____ .---...-. ,' -. `. ,' _____...' / - _ - \ : .' _ _ \\ : ' _)' : | :-(_).(_):: (_ ;) | | -' || \ _ / ; | _ || `..___..' `-'..____.'`' ;._: _; :_ / \ SSt ,' `' `. SSt This simple checklist can help measure how you are nurturing your relationships. The Gift of Listening But you must really listen. Don't interrupt, don't daydream, don't plan your response. Just listen. The Gift of Affection Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. The Gift of Laughter Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you." The Gift of Solitude There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others. The Gift of a Favor Every day, go out of your way to do something kind. The Gift of a Written Note It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime. The Gift of a Compliment A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job," or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day. The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. (Author unknown) -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment friends are for http://www.buffalosjokes.com/121102.htm >From Metcalfe Impossible http://www.buffalosjokes.com/121103.htm Funny kids http://www.buffalosjokes.com/121104.htm Funny George W Bush At His Best http://www.buffalosjokes.com/121105.htm Isle http://www.buffalosjokes.com/60535.htm Why Your Dog Really Goes Outside http://www.buffalosjokes.com/33107.htm Dog http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22614.htm Micro Folk Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/microart.html Why God Gave Us Pets http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpets.html Kitty Dream http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/kitty.html US Zip decoder http://acg.media.mit.edu/people/fry/zipdecode/ To Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ================================================================== >-->Continuing from last week from Our Friend Tony in Australia :) &(`)&& & && && &\/&\|& (`)|/&&&& &\/(/&/&||/& /_/&/_& &(`)&\/&|(,)/& \/&&& & (`) &&&&_\_&&_\ |& |&&&/&&_/_& && (`) &&&& &| &| /& & (`)& /&& &&_---&--\&&|&&-&&--&-(`)~ && |||} Y {||{ {}_}|||} ,~, ,~, ||} ))) ))) , -=-~'{`.-^- _ ((((, .-``-. `} \) \ (/\ /) { (( \\=/ | (/ |/` \ / )) (| (/ / \| ejm98 -_ -_ \) |) -- _- >Part three Who are Gods Chosen? I mentioned ‘narrow minded’ in part one of this writing and I want to give you a scripture that could be said, is ‘narrowminded’ “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 What Jesus is really saying here, is that whatever we do or say or even think! HE has to be our focal point! Anything that we preach, any teachings, songs, traditions or beliefs MUST center around Jesus Our Savior! and everything that is taught that doesn’t glorify Him and His name……….is false … Let me explain….. Now where in the Bible does it say that The “ so and so Church” is the True Church and you must follow its teachings…..instead, Jesus puts it much more plainly when He says… “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life!” So……how much more simple can that be? He told the masses that gathered in front of Him… “ if you want to follow me, then do so, but first…TURN from your selfish ways! ( Repent!) Take up your cross EVERYDAY! and follow me! ( do as I do!)If you don’t choose to change your life, you will lose it ! he wasn’t talking about just ‘dying!” He was talking about going to HELL! Then he said… “ But if you give up your life and follow me…….YOU WILL SAVE IT!” Oh folks! what a promise! Bible says we are to work out ‘our own salvation’ but it doesn’t take much working out if you read those scriptures for yourself! What Jesus was saying is that we must always be found following the will of God! and it then BY GRACE! we are saved! We MUST have God as the central focal point of our lives at ALL times……not just on Sundays… Those Pharisees that the Bible talked about, who insisted in having man made traditions and religious practices that honored themselves and not God are LONG gone! Jesus tried to warn them as he warns us today that if we step aside God to adhere to man made tradition and religion we will be the losers! Are we hypocrites? as were the Pharisees? --- .-----. / ` | `. / (`..-------. __ / \ .'.-\. | \_ \ '-' `.-).' (.\`` -( `-.- _ - / `-._ `. __` -` ``--- `. / / / \- `. .` / |`.; / \ - / / ' -( / / / / \ .- / ' / / ' `' ( _-_ _ ( _/\. -' .''BP `--' \ `. `--. | \ | -. \ \ ( ` '. \/``, ` '----------) | `. .' ('--|`\ \ >Part 4 Who are Gods Chosen? It doesn’t say anywhere in the Bible that living a life for Jesus is going to be easy. Some of the Biblical heroes who lived for God had tough times too ya know! 100 years of hard work and ridicule! to build a boat! Being tossed into a hole, freed then imprisoned, driven away from your own home because of jealousy and greed! Being ‘conned’ by an uncle! and living three nights in the belly of a whale…..Well, all of these things weren’t so bad when you think of how some of the Disciples lived and died uh? Well, God doesn’t expect that of us these days, even though there are times when we hear about missionaries in far flung ungodly countries and how they have met their ends. But lets not feel sorry for them! Regrets YES! that they lost their lives but they gave up for Jesus! and they are in a far far better place right now than you and I! Living for Christ WILL involve suffering and also sacrifice! But it’s suffering the loss of ‘worldly’ things! and sacrificing ‘worldly’ things that Christ asks of us! He asks of us to follow Him unconditionally! If He was to turn up on your doorstep and say… “Hey, if you have a garage sale and sell all you have and give the proceeds to the poor, then come and follow Me, then I will take care of you FOREVER!” what would you say? Could any of us do that? “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.’” Luke 9:59-62 Sorry folks, I didn’t say that….. the Bible did! and it was JESUS who put the words there! None of us are rich ! what we have belongs to Him anyway! But the promise is….that we will have riches in heaven! We wont need money! we wont need to go see the Doc for pain killers! there wont be any ‘hoons’ tearing up and down the street at 2 am on motor bikes! God will take care of all of those things in HIS own way. We just had a change of Government here in Australia and one of the worlds leaders was ousted out by another. Mr Howard had obviously reached his use by date! Tony Blair recently lost his seat…. these so called, 'world leaders'…are temporary and I guess for a time, they didn’t do so bad a job…..but that wont get them a seat on the Glory train! Suddham? well probably feels like he is s part of the fuel in the boiler! maybe he still is? who knows….. But the One true Church of God will only have ONE leader, one ‘authority’ on what and how the world will go on and ONE who has final authority over spiritual matters...... and His Name is Jesus! Most Highly exalted! He lives on! and He has a mansion prepared for all those who WILL suffer and sacrifice! Perhaps some of you have already don’t that, I don’t know, but I do know that this world has much suffering in its future and I for one, don’t want to see that! Christ gave the ultimate! he gave HIS blood and in the worst of ways for you…..and for me. That’s not fruit juice we drink at Communion. Its HIS blood! that’s not biscuit! or bread! That’s HIS body the we take on! This world can only live by HIS grace……. The Bushes, the Blairs, the Howards and all the rest of them..are ‘temps’ Jesus! is FOREVER! One Blind man leads another in this world, the ditches are full of them! So where do we turn to? We turn to One Who is the Alpha and Omega! No good turning to man! Man doesn’t have the answers…………… CHRIST! Does…. God has sent us a Counselor, the Holy Spirit. --- ...Thanks Tony! We will continue this more next week. ======================================================================== >A Cold Night in Detroit Story Editor: by Michelle Clayton Bennett Michigan, USA The night wasn't going so well. I had won two tickets to see the Red Wings play against Phoenix, but my date stood me up, and I wasn't really enjoying myself. It had nothing to do with the game. During the first period break, I decided to walk around the concourse. Near the information stand, I heard a man asking the attendant for help. He had tickets for himself and his three children, but the tickets were in two separate sections. Since there were two empty seats next to me, and I had two seats to myself, I decided to give him my tickets and just go home. I asked the attendant if she could find someone to walk me back to my car. The game was in full swing, and I didn't want to go out to the garage alone and in the dark. She found Gary, who was the head of security for Comerica Park. I had parked my truck in the garage when it was empty. Now it was full, and I became disoriented, and couldn't picture the spot where I had parked. I already felt bad, and that just made things worse. Even though Gary was walking with me, I felt very much alone, and wanted to cry. Gary encouraged me to talk about why I was upset. He told a few jokes and stories, and cheered me up immensely. He remained patient and friendly the entire time it took to find my truck, even though that meant spending 45 minutes in the bitter cold air of an open deck garage. When we finally found my truck, I saw that it was out of gas. Gary walked me down to security and told them about my situation. The man in the security office let me warm up in front of a heater, sent a guard out to get gas, and refused to let me repay him for the gas. He said he wanted to make sure I was taken care of, and not to worry. When the guard returned, he drove me to my truck and stayed with me until the truck started. At that point, I was ready to cry again -- but not because I was upset. I was incredibly touched by the kindness Gary and the garage security staff showed me. You see, recently someone told me in a derogative way "You're too nice". Having been raised to treat others with the respect I'd wish to be treated with, sometimes I wonder if people today remember to simply be kind. Having so many people going out of their way to help allowed me to feel I have good company in being kind. Thanks, guys, you saved me from more than just a cold night and a long wait for a tow truck. =======HeroicStories======= >--->From SermondFodder: The Proposal Some teachers at state universities get to know their students fairly well. One instructor told his communications class of his plans to propose marriage. A student spoke up and said that he had recently asked his girlfriend to marry him as well. "What was her answer?" the instructor asked. "I don't know," the student replied. "She hasn't e-mailed me back yet." Received from Joke du Jour. This post is brought your way by Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To subscribe go to http://www.sermonfodder.com or drop an email note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please leave this attached if you forward this to friends. -<>- If writers were businessmen they'd have enough sense not to be writers. -- Irvin S. Cobb -<>- /\ __ \ .-':::. \ :::::|\ |,\:::'/ \ `.:::-' \ `-. \ ___ `-. | .-'';:::. NO MORE `-.-' / ',''.;;;\ | ','','.''| Of These For You |\ ' ,',' /' `.`-.___.-;' YOU ARE ON A DIET! `--._.-' AsH >Diet Church Interested in a new strategy for the church? What about a move toward "light church." Not light as in letting your light shine before men. I mean light as in "less filling." This new church could sport reclining pews, equipped with remote control (go ahead- change the volume of your music guy). Ushers could offer peanuts and your choice of beverage so that you're not distracted by thoughts of the 1:00 Sunday buffet. (Of course, if serving communion, refreshments might vary.) What if we emphasized the "worship" less and the "service" more in the worship service? How about a "full-service" service? Wouldn't it be lovely if, in addition to the fresh-cut flowers at the front of the auditorium, you could also find your numbered seat all ready for you? There's nothing like a mint on your pew and having someone turn open your hymnal. Instead of coming forward to make commitments, ushers on roller skates could come to your seat. (Your request would be filled in the order received.) But you'd still need to walk from your car to pew, and then back again. So how about a drive-through window? You could choose a topic from the menu, order, then pay your tithe at the window, pick up your "sermon-in-a minute" tape and be on your way. I can see the ad now: "Church in 30 minutes or less or it's free!" For those needing an alternative style--and just in case the whole drive-through scene might be too demanding--how about "Fairway Church of the Eighteenth Hole?" If we held services on the fairway and the invitation on the green, can you imagine the great response at the altar call? We could call it "Church--the easy way." But Jesus didn't call us to an easy way. He called us to a "most excellent way," in 1 Corinthians 12:31. Then he gave us 1 Corinthians 13--the Love Chapter. A church ministry without Jesus' kind of love is really no ministry at all. It's an experience that you probably really can pick up just as well at a drive-through. But the Lord's plan for his church includes loving each other, sharing with each other and bearing with one another. Real church involves people. It involves loving them. It involves work--even sacrifice. And each one's sacrifice is vital. Ephesians 4:15-16 says: "From him (Christ) the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (NIV) A church that's less filling? Nah. We're called to be filled--completely filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Can you imagine a Ding Dong with no filling? I might cry just thinking about it. It's even worse without the Holy Spirit. And that diet church thing will leave you just as empty. Where's the filling? In Jesus! And in the words of that profound cupcake commercial: "Now that's the stuff!" == Contributed by Rhonda Rhea (rrhea@juno.com) Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of great Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her new book, Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her website at www.rhondarhea.net -- By Way of Daily Wisdom To subscribe, mailto:dw-subscribe@lists.gospelcom.net ===================================================================== >--->From PetWarmers: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ; ; ; ';, ; ; ; 'b * ; '$ ;; ;; ; ; $: ;: ; ;; ; ;; *; @): ; ; ; ; :@,@): ,;**:' ; ; ;, :@@*: ;;**' ; ; ';o; ;:(@';@*"' ; ; ; 'bq,;;:,@@*' ,* ; ; ,p$q8,:@)' ;p*' ; ; ' ; '@@Pp@@*' ; ; ; ; ;; Y7'.' ; ; :@):. .:@:'. .::(@:. -Sam Blumenstein- THE ARTIFICIAL LIMB by Kay Seefeldt "Something orange just flew into the thicket," I excitedly told my husband as I stood up from digging weeds in our "swamp" garden. "It has to be an oriole!" We'd been feeding birds ever since moving to our Itty Bitty Dirt Farm in 1978, but never had a Baltimore oriole graced our expanding bird sanctuary. Roy and I waited for a glimpse of orange to reappear, but it didn't happen. In the evening, when Roy had a phone chat with his elderly mother in Wisconsin, she suggested putting out orange halves to "toll them up" as they like eating them during nesting season. The next day Roy nailed an orange feeder he'd built to the cherry tree near where I'd seen the flash of color. Within a couple of days, it was obvious an elusive diner had been partaking of the citrus halves. Closer inspection revealed hornets hovering over the fruit. Could it be they were responsible for eating the fruit clean to the rind? We resorted to espionage from the bathroom window hoping to "catch" our mysterious visitor. "Look, Babers, something is on the orange feeder," Roy announced, "but it's definitely not an oriole." Drawing the image closer with his binoculars, he caught Mr. Chipmunk "red-footed" gorging himself on the fruit. Being the cool little critters they are, we continued supplying oranges for our furry friend while hoping the oriole might welcome our hospitality as well. Our patience paid off. Ms. Early Bird was feasting at the orange feeder one morning and a few more mornings before she went incognito for the rest of the season. The following spring, anticipating the possible return of the orioles, we put out oranges the first of May and hung a plastic oriole feeder filled with orange colored nectar. To our delight, both male and female orioles began eating from the fruit, but wouldn't take a sip of the orange nectar -- preferring instead, to raid the hummingbirds' red nectar. (Is this similar to the grass is always greener concept?) After draining it down as far as their beaks could reach, they'd cleverly jump onto the feeder from a nearby pole or branch causing it to swing back and forth. As the nectar sloshed toward the openings, they'd siphon off the rest. (Bird brains?) Eventually, we noticed the female making numerous flights into the high branches of one of the huge poplar trees near the end of our house. The pair had constructed their long stocking-like nest only several yards from our living room window! How exciting! We would have a prime view of the goings on. One afternoon, a severe but quick moving thunderstorm hit our area. When we arrived home from grocery shopping, leaves and twigs littered the driveway and lawn. Immediately, we investigated to see how the nest had weathered the storm. My heart sank upon discovering a large branch had crashed to the ground. The oriole's nest lay limply on the rain-soaked ground beside it. Amazingly, it was still attached. Gently, Roy lifted the edge of the nest and peering inside discovered four dull, white eggs. "I can't believe this! They're all miraculously intact! What are we going to do?" I asked. "With any luck, I am going to perform tree surgery and give it an artificial limb," Roy chuckled and headed for the barn. He returned carrying his twenty foot ladder, his cordless power drill, and a carpenter's apron full of sheet rock screws. While I steadied the ladder and held my breath, Roy balanced on a top rung juggling the branch in one hand and drill in the other. "Mission accomplished," he said at last and descended to terra firma. The reattached limb proudly jutted towards heaven once again, and the nest has none the worse for the ordeal. "We've done all we can do. Now we can only hope the mother will reclaim her nest and the eggs haven't cooled off," Roy said. We exited the scene together with a silent prayer in our hearts. Stationed at the window, we were totally relieved as the female went directly to her nest from wherever she'd been hiding. Our greatest joy came from seeing mommy and daddy oriole feeding their four hungry fledglings as they huddled together on the same branch that had nearly turned them into scrambled eggs. Every spring since, Itty Bitty Dirt Farm has been blessed with a bumper crop of brilliant Baltimore orioles -- quite possibly the children and grandchildren of that original pair. They devour nearly a bag of oranges a week, still trespass at the hummingbird feeders, and continue to call the wimpy poplar "Home Tweet Home" trusting in Roy to make any necessary home repairs. -- Kay Seefeldt ____________________________________________ Kay lives with her husband Roy in the great state of Maine. Besides her life long thrill of bird watching, she enjoys writing and painting in watercolors. As Roy is the key player in this story, she wrote "The Artifical Limb" as a "cheep" birthday gift for him. Kay has several other stories to her credit in the Gardenwarmer and Petwarmer archives. You can reach her at: mailto:birdnest@megalink.net --- ...On Cold days like we have been having, this is a good reminder to remember or feathered friends by thowing out food scraps or seed! ===================================================================== >-->Quotes: It's easy to come up with new ideas; the hard part is letting go of what worked for you two years ago, but will soon be out of date. - Roger Von Oech, Creativity expert and writer "A commitment is like your signature on a contract: it binds you to a course of action." -- Nido Qubein "Throw yourself wholeheartedly into your work; the more you enjoy it, the better you get." -- Brian Tracy "You make up your mind before you start that sacrifice is part of the package." -- Richard M. DeVos "I was told over and over again that I would never be successful, that I was not going to be competitive and the technique was simply not going to work. All I could do was shrug and say 'We'll just have to see'. ~~- Dick Fosbury, who won an Olympic gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Games after he invented a revolutionary high-jump technique. ---> Visit my CyberHome - ALWAYS OPEN HOOUSE :)Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/index.html Shangrala ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales && Service You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. Please phone us at 419-238-5806 ************************************************************************ -->This is for all you who love food andd DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. 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