Socialism VS Capitalism 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 abundantly Bless her! She is a loyal supporter contributing to help Keep Shangrala Alive! We sure do thank God for her and all our past most sweet and wonderful angels! 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 MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This too hot to handle new page is from our friend PatDeE. It is sure to give you some head nods and smiles as you see the irony of our real life displayed so honestly. Be sure to check this one out here... __________ (\ -=- \ `\ --=-= \ \ -==--=- \ ) -==-==- ) jgs ( =-==-= ( \ -=- \ /_) -=- ) `""""""""""` Humorous Graphs! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/graphs.html --- ...Teehee! So true! Thanks PatDeE! -<>- UPDATED FUN URLS PAGE: Do You Think The Groundhog Will See His Shadow Saturday? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/urls.html =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: __i |---| |[_]| |:::| |:::| `\ \ \_=_\ jsm >MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE by Diane Velikis I remember receiving the call around 11:30pm. With caller ID I knew it couldn't be good news from my mother. "Diane, your sister has been life-flighted to Scranton. There's been an accident. I received a call from the hospital. Right now she's being operated on. That's all I know." "I'm on my way, mom." The drive was 45 minutes, and we had no idea what caused the injury. Was it a car accident? No information was released. Waiting patiently for hours in the waiting room, a brain surgeon came out and gave us the grim news. Her prognosis was she was brain dead, with little hope of survival. A passing motorist saw her lying on the road and called 911. I remembered seeing her lying there in a coma, with life support allowing her chest to rise with each breath. I remembered watching my watching mother reaching for her daughter's hand, and sobbing at the sight of her swollen bandaged head. Joni died at age 45, an unsung hero who donated her organs in spite of the cruel and calculated attempts of a cover-up from a hit-and-run driver. My sister was a giver, even in her death. Eventually police were able to gather forensic evidence which led the man to turn himself in weeks later. Naturally any blood alcohol could not be traced. Before the actual sentencing we received word from a married gentleman with one child who received my sister's heart. The transplant went well and Joni's heart had immediate function. He was very thankful for the opportunity to still have time to spend with his family. Her bone marrow and tissue along with her kidneys were able to help countless others. It was up to me to face the judge, and the man who left her on the road to die. I remember my final words to the court were something like this: "I conclude your honor with an imploring plea from my family that you will consider the maximum penalty on behalf of my sister and our family. It cost my sister her all -- we believe it should cost him his all." Being the oldest child I don't know what was more heartbreaking. Losing my sister, or watching the devastating effects it was having on my parents. The judge told me what the state sentencing guidelines required him to hand down. I had already done my homework and was prepared for the slap on his wrist. He faced a one year prison sentence for the murder of my sister! The reporters who followed me out of the courtroom asked if I was satisfied. My statement was, "I believed the judge did all he could do because of state legislation. I don't believe the sentence was enough, but I know he did the best he could." I had been researching night after night. Something was wrong with Pennsylvania hit-and-run laws. There was a loop hole that was allowing people to get away with murder! When I stumbled across the hit-and-run laws of all 50 states, my crusade began. Armed with information and statistics, I was prepared to wage war, and phoned WILK talk show host Sue Henry and was soon invited as a guest speaker the day after my sister's killer was sentenced. A few days later the local news headlines read: "CRUSADE to change PA. Hit-and-run law gets lawmakers' attention. Sister's death moves Velikis to close loophole." Periodic contact and updates continued. We are still waiting for a bill to be passed. The the ball is in motion. It still needs to be presented before the house, but God used me and my sister as a vessel. Finally, now I have peace. The two things we did have in common were writing, and I know had it been me lying on the road that day, she'd have been trying to do something -- anything -- to make this world a better place. -- Diane Velikis __________________________________________________ Diane is a Pennsylvania licensed realtor and has worked diligently to have Pennsylvania's hit-and-run laws changed. She caught the ear of her state representative, Phyllis Mundy, who wrote up a bill. In introducing the bill, State Rep. Mundy stated, "A drunk driver who hits someone and takes off, and is later tried and convicted on a hit-and-run charge, receives a lesser punishment than he would had he stayed at the scene to render assistance or simply faced up to what he did. This loophole makes no sense from a legal standpoint, and it certainly makes no sense to victims and their families." -<>- ,---._ ,~~,-._ `._ v'~ `-. `. _,- ~. \ .' ,--`. `\_ V-'~ ,'~~~`-. `-. ___ /_/~~~) ` `. `._ ____,---' ; V `.__ `--, `; `-._ ; `. ____) : `.; ; .' ,' _ | ; | ; ,';'~~~`--' `; : ,': .-' `,' __ __ : | )_ `-, ___ __ (__:__) ; ; _,---. \___,'` ~`---; `-. ||| ; ; _,-/ :; ! ` `| `-. |~~~~| ; : _,-' /~ .,' ; !! `.. ``. `. : ; | : ,' ,-' .; `; !! _,'-' ,--._ ====\__/===: `. .' ,-' ,--. ~~`-. !! ~ ,' ` `./ \ | | .' :; ,' \ !: . ;--.__ `;. |. ~.| : ; .' ,; ' ,-'~~`-. ,! ;-' #; `;. \____/ : `. .' ,; /__ `-._,'!!( _(0'~~`-' `;. `. ; ; .' ,; ,' `---._(0)) !! ~ _,-, `; `. ; : ; ,; ,' ;;-.__,-._~~~ !!__,--::::|. `;: : `; ) ; :| ,' ;/;;; :::;;;;----'|:: |::;\/#. `; | ) ; : |: ,' ,' :/ :;; \/))):;;::/ ::' ##: ;; ; ; | | :| :; : `' \/ \/ `' `' ##; ; .' ,' ; : |; || .' ;\. ____ __,--._ ##; ;' .'--' ; _,--`. `. :: `./; /\/;:;,-' `-. `--.__ .'~ ,'~ / ;. `; ``. :::;\;.-'~~`./~~\/\ .. _ ::: --. ' ,-'~ / . `. `; ` ~~~ ;~ ~~~~~~`--.__~~`-. ::: ) ~ /' ;`--`. `. `. :; `; ; `---`._ ,' `. \/ `-.` `_,_ `:,-'-. `. :_,_ ; `--' `. `. ` (___)-: ( ) :--,-'- -(___),'~~~`. {_ `. `.___.' ( ; ;) :((:)): `. ` `--' `.___.' `. `. ;;:::; `- `. ;;;. .; `-. `.__ \\;;; - ;; // `. ` `--..___ \\,--v-, // Killer !!! `--._ ~~~~~`)____(// ) ~~ ~~~~~~; `. ~~ ------; `.~~_ ______,' targon `. `.--';: |: ; `. Cc; Cc `. ; __ `. `-' ~\ `-.__,--'~ >AN UNWANTED GUEST You know, I have never felt comfortable using the term survivor, when referring to myself, or any person who has had cancer and is still alive. A "survivor" to my way of thinking, is a person who has escaped from something -- an accident, a natural disaster, a plague -- like a tornado, a car accident, a small pox epidemic. And I do not think a host is engaged in a war, where they "fight" to "wage the battle" against the cancer within their body. The only military-esque similarity would be the weapons used -- deadly to what is good and what is bad. I look upon my own experience with cancer in a different light. I feel more like a domicile -- a place where cancer had taken up habitation as an unwanted tenant, an undesirable visitor in my abode. And, as directed by established procedure, I went through the necessary steps to evict that resident. But, as may be the record of any dwelling, living or dead, there is usually a good ghost story or two -- a haunting, if you will. So, as with many abodes with a few good years on them, the ghost of cancer past haunts my home, my body. Moreover, much like the Dickens' Christmas tale, the ghost of cancer present, or the ghost of cancer future may visit me. The ghost may decide not to leave, and I am, again, dealing with my unwelcomed inhabitant. Such is the case now. Two months ago I learned cancer has returned to take up residence in my body. I just finished 30 radiation (mis)treatments. In two weeks, I will begin taking chemo, all in an attempt to expel my unwanted guest. So, do I consider myself a survivor? No, I am more the landlord, a proprietor who is haunted by a phantom -- the specter of cancer -- which may or may not take up residence in my abode. And it is not a war, though weapons of mass destruction are used to rid one's body of the invasion. -- Kathy Pippig __________________________________________________ Kathy is an author and animal lover. She says, "One weapon that works is prayer. Perhaps you can whisper your private prayer, then possibly pass this on to someone you love and care about -- someone who may be harboring their own unwanted visitor..." --- ...From Our Friend Victor :) Cure for cancer? Israeli scientists claim to be on brink of development https://tinyurl.com/ybaxoabv --- ...We can hope so! Thanks Victor! =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Cloie :) .-""""- F .-' F J I I L `. L `-._, `-.__.-' ## ### # #### _____ ## .---#####-...__ .--' `-### .--..-' ###### ""`---.... _____.----. ###`.._____ .' ####### a:f ### / -. ####### _.--- ### .( ####### # : `--... ###### # `. ``. ###### : :. ##### .' ) ### .' / ## _.' | .## ,:' | ' .' < ' | / | ' . ` The American People have very short, selective memory. For those that still have a memory, I think that you will find this most interesting and educational. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wx1Kb51kOBQ --- ...A Good History lesson! Thanks Cloie! Here's Another One... Written by a teacher in California https://tinyurl.com/y8mmvw77 --- ...Thank You Cloie! ------- \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp >Socialism VS Capitalism by emb Amazing how things just keep getting worse instead of better. Now we have new 2020 candidates spouting their socialist 'free for all' as part of their promises if elected to American youth who have no idea what socialism really is. They've been taught that spreading the money around and taking from fat cats is good for all. What they don't realize is that in a socialist society that the 'fat cats' turns out to be anyone with money. They want as much of your money as they can get to fund their programs that are unsustainable by any economic standards. Capitalism promotes wealth and happiness while socialism ultimately achieves the opposite. People through all income classes become less happy as they find the government has run out of their money to fund its 'free' programs and they no longer have access to the bare necessities of life. Like this year's 1698488% inflation rate Venezuela is experiencing. Simply put so us math-challenged people can understand what this means - a loaf of bread that used to cost $1 at the store, now would cost $16,984.88 - but that's only if you could actually find a loaf of bread at a store. Where once you might have (with capitalism) 10 different brands of bread to choose from, with socialism you'd be down to one brand of bread available - if in fact you could find it - and you might have to fight your neighbor to be able to buy that one premium loaf of bread. https://tradingeconomics.com/venezuela/inflation-cpi Socialism is all about every man for himself. Where capitalism works to give people diversity of choice and pricing to fit their budget competing with a host of others for each $1.00 they earn from you. Today they say most all those living in Venezuela are fortunate if they even get one meal a day. It is a good example to all socialists spouting off about how great it would be for 'free for all' stuff. It is not great to ultimately have a whole society living in poverty! Capitalism is way more compassionate and giving than socialism is. That is why God promotes capitalism instead of socialism. Capitalism expects people to work to achieve and not just get free stuff - so does God. How do I know? The bible tells me so... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' 2 Thes.3: [10] For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. Notice the free will statement here - 'would not work' - that is what socialism promotes. Getting something for nothing - choosing not to earn what you want or need. God goes to the basics saying 'if you choose NOT to work then you should not eat'. Isn't it amazing how this old some say 'out of date' book, can be right on with what is happening today? This is what is happening in Venezuela. People had a bunch of free stuff and now they are having a problem just being able to get food to eat! Capitalism expects not only that people should work to achieve for themselves but also for society as a whole - like God says... Eph.4: [28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. God expects those who CAN work TO work so that they CAN give to others who cannot work - the disabled and needy. No forcing or taking or stealing your money to give to others but a voluntary giving to those in need. God says so 'that he MAY have to give'. Why? So that when a person by his or her own free will gives to help another person, they in turn invoke a blessing from God. Luke 6: [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. ..::''''::.. .:::. .;'' ``;. .... ::::: :: :: :: :: ,;' .;: () ..: `:::' :: :: :: :: ::. ..:,:;.,:;. . :: .::::. `:' :: .:' :: :: `:. :: '''::, :: :: :: `:: :: ;: .:: : :: : : :: ,:'; ::; :: :: :: :: :: ::,::''. . :: `:. .:' :: `:,,,,;;' ,;; ,;;, ;;, ,;;, ,;;, `:,,,,:' :;: `;..``::::''..;' ``::,,,,::'' God smiles on them by giving them back more than they originally gave. This is why socialism has never worked, it is against God. God always wants what is best for us. :) Check out these experts: Stossel: Sweden Is Not a Socialist Success Many people think Sweden is socialist, but its success comes from free markets. 'Democratic socialists in the United States point to Sweden as a socialist success. But Swedish historian Johan Norberg says, "Sweden is not socialist." Norberg hosts a documentary called Sweden: Lessons for America?, in which he notes that in Sweden, "government doesn't own the means of production. To see that you have to go to Venezuela or Cuba or North Korea."' https://tinyurl.com/y9lmpw68 Hannity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux-BduBdYlY Ingraham - The Angle: Kamala's big con https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdY2xr4JoEo President Trump Hits Venezuela with New Sanctions as U.S. Steps Up Pressure on Maduro “The Trump administration stepped up its pressure campaign on Venezuela’s socialist president Monday, hitting the country’s state- owned oil company with sanctions and calling on other nations to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president,” Dave Boyer reports for The Washington Times. “The United States is holding accountable those responsible for Venezuela’s tragic decline,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. https://tinyurl.com/y965jp8p =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >Two Answers to One Prayer By Allen Klein Steve Wilson is, like myself, a presenter of humor programs. When I interviewed him, Wilson told me about an incident that happened to him related to humor and grief. "I had always gone out," he said, "to talk to community groups about standard psychological subjects - like marriage, divorce, raising kids, stress, depression and things like that. One day," Wilson continued, "I got a call from a woman at a cancer clinic who runs a group called Make Today Count. She heard that I give talks and asked that I come and address the group. I told her that I had a new talk on humor. She said, 'That would be wonderful. I think the group would really like that.'" Wilson was excited to do it. His mother had died of ovarian cancer when he was twenty years old so he thought it would be great if he could be of some help to these people. There were about thirty-five people seated in a circle that night. To get the meeting started each person told the group their name, the kind of cancer they had and the stage of treatment they were in. The first person said, "My name is Susan. I have a brain tumor. They were able to do surgery, and now I'm getting radiation." Then Susan's parents introduced themselves. After that, a young man, who was also there with his parents, announced that he had lymphoma. "I started to realize," Wilson admits, "the gravity of the situation these people were in - and there was a room full of them." As each person went around the room, Wilson started to feel inadequate and questioned whether it was right to discuss humor under such circumstances. "Here were people with really catastrophic illnesses in their lives. I worried that my program wasn't appropriate." To ease his fears, Wilson said a prayer: "God, if this is where you want me to be and there is something in this message that you want these people to hear, then I hope this is the right thing and that you will help me in what I say." The prayer was answered in two ways. First, a man who was introducing himself to the group said, "My name is Lester, and I'm pissed off. I have cancer of the liver. My doctor told me I had six months to live. That was a year ago - and I gave away my winter coat." When everyone in the group started to laugh, it was a validation for Wilson that the group wanted to laugh and that a person in a serious situation could indeed poke fun at himself. With the knowledge that humor was indeed appropriate, Wilson started his talk. He told jokes, played with props and explained the value of humor. It was going well. The crowd was laughing loudly and really appreciating what Wilson was doing. Then there was a knock on the door. A woman opened it and stuck her head in the room. She said, "Listen, I'm trying to run a support group in the room next door..." Wilson thought to himself, Okay, now I'm in trouble. But the woman continued, "and my group would like to come in and join your group." It wasn't until after the program that Wilson found out that the second gathering was a support group for those who had recently lost a loved one. This was the second answer to his prayer. "People who came together to support each other in their grief," says Wilson, "wanted to be where the laughter was." -<>- _____ / \/_ //\__(\_\ |\ ^ ^ | .//_O \O_ \ \_ (_) / \ \_/ / __/\ /\__ / \ \ / / \ / \/\/\/ \ / | . | \ / | . | \ JRO >THE WORLD'S MOST COMMUNICABLE DISEASE There is a story in circulation about an optimistic farmer who couldn't wait to greet each new day with a resounding, "Good morning, God!" He lived near a woman whose morning greeting was more like, "Good God. Morning?" They were each a trial to the other. Where he saw opportunity, she saw problems. What brought him contentment brought her discontentment. One bright morning he exclaimed, "Look at the beautiful sky! Did you ever see such a glorious sunrise?" "Yeah," she countered. "It'll probably get so hot the crops will scorch!" During an afternoon shower, he commented, "Isn't this wonderful? Mother Nature is giving the corn a drink today!" "And if it doesn't stop before too long," came the sour reply, "we'll wish we'd taken out flood insurance on the crops!" And so it went. Convinced that he could instill some awe and wonder in this hardened woman, he bought a remarkable dog. Not just any mutt, but the most expensive, highly trained and gifted dog he could find. The animal was exquisite! It could perform remarkable and impossible feats that, the farmer thought, would surely amaze even his neighbor. So he invited her to watch his dog perform. "Fetch!" he commanded, as he tossed a stick into a lake, where it bobbed up and down in the rippling water. The dog bounded after the stick, walked on the water, and retrieved it. "What do you think of that?" he asked, smiling. "Hmmm," she frowned. "Can't swim, can he?" I believe that attitudes are the world's most communicable diseases. They can be as catching as any known virus. And when negative and cynical, they can be just as deadly. But a stubbornly positive attitude can often make the difference between happiness and misery, between health and illness and even between life and death. Once infected, you'll never be the same. - Steve Goodier -<>- .----------------. ____|.------+-------.|__________________ | 1'9||'7""6"|5"""4""||3""""""2'''''''''1| |____||______|_______||__________________|_______ \ || | 1''|''''''2||""""3""""4"""5""6""7'8'9'1| _/__||_|____|_______||__________________________| | 1''||'''''2|"""""3"||"4"""5""6""7'8'9'1|-------` |____|`------+-------`|__________________| \___\================/_________________/ `--------------` ad >"Thinking Big" My troubles may seem large to me, but in the context of a global view, they're really very small. The activities of every-day life often obscures the rest of the world from my line of vision. Problems, and their sidekick, 'stress', can make my immediate surroundings seem like the only place on earth. When that happens, all my time and energy is absorbed by my own little piece of the planet. I've gone into 'small thinking' mode. MY biggest problem IS the biggest problem in the world. Fortunately, the confines of that place are uncomfortably restrictive. So much so, there comes a point when I'm forced to face the reality of my situation - the walls moving in on me are structures of my own design, and I am the one moving them. It's time to 'get real', to remind myself I am only one person on a planet that is home to millions. The common conveniences and lawful freedoms I take for granted are beyond the reach of a good portion of my global brothers and sisters. The heartache and heartbreak facing many of the people in my own town, country, and continent, are bigger than anything I will ever have to face in my lifetime. My perception widens and my problems narrow. 'Thinking big' is a powerful tool. It shows me just how small my troubles really are. © 2000 Terri McPherson Windsor, Ontario, Canada -<>- . | . \ | / `. \ ' / .' `. .-*""*-. .' "*-._ /.*" "*.\ _.-*" : ; ____ """"': .. ; _.-*" \ `.__.' / "*-._ .' `-.__.-' `. bug .' / . \ `. / | \ ' | ` >To My Child, Good morning, this is GOD. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (Something For God To Do) box. It will be addressed in My Time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it nor remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem. If it is a situation you think you are capable of handling, please consult me in prayer to be sure that it is the proper resolution. Because I do not sleep, nor do I slumber, there is no need for you to lose any sleep. Please rest my child. If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away. My prayer line is open 24 hours of your day. I love you and will always be with you wherever you may go. As with all good things, pass my message on. Love, GOD -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Earth In Perspective!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/earth.html Love Thoughts!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/love.html Creation VS Coincidence!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/creationvscoincidence.html God's Paintings!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpaints.html Jesus Laughing Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html Friendship Greetings!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/greetings.html Why God Gave Us Pets!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpets.html Salvation Mountain!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/salvation.html Rescued Squirrel!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rsquirrel.html God's Night Lights!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/night.html No Words Needed!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nowords.html Cano Cristales River!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cristales.html God's Water Paintings!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/water.html Akiane - Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Attitude Is Everything 4!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude4.html Bible Study: Our Valuable Anchor!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html Valentine Links http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valentineindex.html -<>- Some of Shangrala's Best Pages http://www.amazafamily.com/index.html How Do I Bring Christ to People? https://tinyurl.com/y9zosxms -<>- >In The News: Product Alert: Chicken Nuggets, Ibuprofen, Nut Butters https://tinyurl.com/yac4wquf Real-life robots that will make you think the future is now https://tinyurl.com/y8lgqoxs A step closer to self-aware machines-engineers create a robot that can imagine itself https://tinyurl.com/yd8d2cju Government officials take a closer look at so-called 'deep fakes.' https://tinyurl.com/ycjbtlmf In an interview with The Daily Caller, President Trump harshly criticized Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D-VA) and Democratic state Delegate Kathy Tran’s advocacy of late-term abortion. “I thought it was terrible,” the President said, adding that “this is going to lift up the whole pro-life movement like maybe it’s never been lifted up before.” https://tinyurl.com/y85sdob8 Walls Work “Of all the Democrats’ arguments against a southern border wall, the shadiest is that it would not work,” Deroy Murdock writes in National Review. The evidence says otherwise: “Love them or hate them, their effectiveness is indisputable.” Murdock gives 8 examples. Here’s just one: “A barrier between the Tucson, Ariz., sector and Nogales, Mexico, was erected in 2000. That year’s 616,346 arrests plunged to 38,657 in FY 2017 — down 93.7 percent.” That doesn’t just mean less illegal immigration. It means fewer potentially fatal encounters with smugglers and traffickers for our law enforcement officers, too. https://tinyurl.com/y8dxutls In the Washington Examiner, Eddie Scarry writes that U.S. Border Patrol agents recently apprehended both an MS-13 member and an attempted murderer near the U.S.–Mexico border. “Both incidents happened in the southernmost part of Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley sector of the border, where illegal crossings are more than three times that of any other sector and where agents told me they are in dire need of a physical barrier wall.” https://tinyurl.com/ya5hzegh Experts agree. “The president is right. The wall works,” said Mark Morgan, President Obama’s former Border Patrol Chief. https://tinyurl.com/yb76fn3w In the Washington Examiner, Anna Giaritelli reports that U.S. Border Patrol officials seized bags full of rifles, handguns, and ammunition found near the southern border last week. “An unnamed citizen called the agency after seeing a group of suspected illegal immigrants carrying large bags on nearby land Friday. The area is about 25 miles east of the international border.” https://tinyurl.com/y965jp8p In the Indianapolis Business Journal, Brad Rateike writes that after meeting with the women and men of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it becomes clear that the crisis at our southern border is all too real. “In the coming weeks, we’ll continue to hear the president and Congress discuss next steps for border security. Whatever those may be, rest assured that after my trip there, I know firsthand that there is a real problem at the border, and there’s nothing manufactured about that.” https://tinyurl.com/y84j6frz “President Donald Trump has donated his salary from the third-quarter of 2018 to the federal agency that researches alcoholism and alcohol- related problems. The White House says Trump donated $100,000 to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,” The Associated Press reports. “His older brother, Fred Jr., died in 1981 after struggling with alcoholism, and the president has said he learned from his brother's experience.” https://tinyurl.com/ycxqu73j There is “a wave of disabled Americans joining or returning to the U.S. labor force, breaking a long-running trend that had pushed millions to the sidelines of work,” Eric Morath writes in The Wall Street Journal. “These workers have benefited from a tight economy with a very low overall unemployment rate—3.9% in December, just above lowest level since 1969.” https://tinyurl.com/y743rv2n WhiteHouseNews: Here is where American voters stand on immigration https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ Latest From Big League Politics https://bigleaguepolitics.com/campaign/ Secure the Border - Border Facts https://borderfacts.com/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Today's Best Conservative Humor! https://theusawire.com/2018/03/8092-todays-best-conservative-humor/ -<>- >From Our Friend Victor :) I think we should all say we have PTSD and need help Shutdown leads to continuing psychological issues for federal employees https://tinyurl.com/yd3tvj6s --- ...Oh Gee! Thanks Victor! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) The Ross Sisters perform their Potato Salad song in this classic clip that will leave you amazed at the talent and skill they display. It gets really interesting around the one minute mark as some of the moves they perform are just plain freaky. They would have done very well on America’s Got Talent if it had been around back then. These three beautiful women are very talented dancers and gymnasts as the moves they perform are simply not human. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61cY1ILv60k --- ...Wowsers! They make it look so easy! Thanks LouiseAu! 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 ========================================================== ____ 3 _ ., _ ' `_ _______ ( ) --+-[---------.---(-)-----(@)----|-------|--.-----|-------------.-------|~-- | ] | |~ |~ (@) _ | | |} | | --+-[-----|---+---|-------|--|--(@)---------+-----|----------|}-+---|---|--- |/ | | | | | |~ (@) _ | | _| .. | | | | --Y-------|---+---|-------|--|--|---|---(@)-+-|>( )------|---|--+---|------- /|_ _| | `=_| | | |~ | ~ |>(@) | _| |-@-)---(@)---+-----------------|---|---|---+-------------------+-(@)------- \_|/ ~ | | | | | ~ --+-----------"-------------------------|---"-------------------"----------- | ._} --jw >-->How sweet the sound by Ron Gold My name is Frank Thomas Pulver. I'm an ordained Christian minister. My wife, Clara, and I manage a waterfront chapel called The Mission of Friends. We're located on what most people call "Skid Row". I also work within the community, locating and amassing food, used clothing, bedding and furniture. At the mission I counsel homeless men and deliver a sermon each day. Clara, who cooks and does laundry, also plays piano in our dining room/chapel. Together we minister to the basic needs of misdirected souls who find shelter at our mission. As I said, The Mission of Friends isn't really a church - just a storefront with an almost invisible small sign and the inescapable aroma of good home cooking. We've been here 10 years so the men who need us know us. And we get good daily turnouts. The dining room has three long tables and some 50 hard back bridge chairs. We serve good food - family style on tables dressed with homey paper tablecloths. I personally welcome each visitor with a smile and a hearty handshake. I invite them to sit, relax and enjoy our hospitality. I used to start with a sermon and then say grace but I soon realized that the word of God was a distant second to a good meal often the only food these homeless men have eaten all day. After my post dinner sermon, I invite the men to the basement where they can shower and get a fresh change of donated clothing. Clara plays popular old time tunes and hymns on the out of tune upright piano, keeping time by moving her soft brown curls while she and many guests sing along. I remember one magical evening last March when two neatly dressed men in their seventies entered our mission. "My name is Joey," the smaller balding man said. "This is my pal, Edgar. We're both retired Merchant Mariners. We live on our pensions and we've come to spend time with you and these men. We hope to help you lead them to the good Christian life." Suddenly there was a small commotion as Edgar reached over and stole a chicken leg from one man's plate. He then used his left hand to scoop mashed potatoes from a large serving bowl. Then he hoisted a ceramic pitcher and started gulping milk. He smiled, expelled a loud belch and then a thunderous bass laugh. Joey and I went to make peace, while Clara played more upbeat music. Joey, who separated his laughing friend from irate diners, said, "Please excuse Edgar. He's sick. He cannot remember where he is or how to act. I help him dress and shower. I even comb his hair and shave him. He spends a lot of time watching television but doesn't understand whether he's watching news or a comedy. He loves cartoons. They make him laugh." Joey told me, "I believe Edgar can help you in your ministry. This God fearing wild man, who eats with his fingers and burps loudly, is a former choirboy and what he remembers are the hymns he sang as a young boy. We visit different missions and Edgar sings and people are moved. Will you allow him to sing here tonight?" I agreed. Joey replaced Clara at the piano and began playing some blues chords in stride rhythm. The piano somehow tuned itself! Edgar stood alongside the piano, placing one massive hand atop the upright and began singing. "Amazing Grace," he sang in a pure boy soprano register. "How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! Long was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see." All eyes stared at the large man with the salt and pepper pony tail and the naturally sweet boy soprano voice. "'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed." The mission became silent except for the piano, the giant man with the schoolboy voice, and the sound of sobbing guests. The men at the long tables put down their utensils and stared at the massive man with the boyish voice that overpowered the piano. "Yea, Lord," one man cried. "Hallelujah!" another yelled. "You tell it, man!" a black man added. "Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; The grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home." Joey brought the hymn to an end. And I began speaking about home, love and a grace filled giant with a graying pony tail and a young boy's pure voice. And everyone listened. I turned to thank Joey and Edgar but they had left during my sermon. On the piano keyboard was an envelope with the words, "The Mission of Friends." Inside was a hundred dollar bill. By the way, the piano remains in perfect tune. - Ron Gold ========================================================== ,-=-. [[_ @~] ((a a)) ` = ' _.-) (-._ /( ("+") )\ / \ \./ / \ (=<( \/8\/ )>=) \ \- 8| -/ / \/_> 8|<_\/ ;-.__;,-; | | | | | | | | '-.___,;' ) ) / ' |( ) ( \_ /_|^--' gpyy \_! >At the Station Story Editor: by Grace Joyce Schowalter California, USA My mother and father met while they were in the U.S. Army. Dad said he fell in love with her red hair and great gams. They were married six months later and moved to dad's hometown in California. Mom never liked the town, so several years after he passed away she returned to her beloved Oregon where she lives happily in a small coastal town. Her seven children live in California, and miss her terribly but we're glad she's so happy to be "back home". After mom returned to Oregon she tried different transportation methods to visit us -- driving, flying, and the train. Her first train trip was so pleasant she tried a second time. For her return, the train was scheduled to depart at 11:00 p.m. -- but left at 12:30 a.m. the following morning. Well into Oregon the train came upon broken tracks due to ice. The passengers were taken off the train and loaded onto buses at about 8:30 p.m. Via phone calls to the train company, I monitored my 77-year-old mother's progress, and was upset to learn of the delays. The phone calls were frustrating, to say the least. I finally learned that the passengers on the bus had arrived in Eugene around 11:20 p.m. I wondered what she would do when she arrived in Eugene in the middle of the night. I was sure she would be wrung out after her 23-hour trip, and wondered how she would get her car. Mom had left her car in a parking lot next to the train station. She had told us that when she departed, "a nice young man took her keys and locked her car". Even if she was able to get her car, she still had an hour's drive home. When I was finally able to contact her, she said the "nice young man" was standing at the train station waiting for her when the bus arrived at 11:20 p.m.! He had been monitoring the situation and knew she would not be able to get her car. He opened the parking lot, carried her bags to her car, and told her to follow him to a motel, then made sure she got checked in. I still can't believe someone did this. This man has a family and it was the middle of the night, yet he met my mother to make sure she got her car and got to a motel safely. I asked mom who he was and where he worked. I called him and thanked him on behalf of our whole family. He acted like it wasn't a big deal, and was so nice. Well, his wonderful deeds were a very big deal to my mom and all of her very grateful children. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) , _ )\ __`9) _,/^`^(G)-' < \(\a a ) / ) `(v__/` ,_ (_, ) mic `U) _,) )-(_/ (_/ (_/ >A Dog For Jesus (Where dogs go when they die) I wish someone had given Jesus a dog. As loyal and loving as mine. To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes And adore Him for being divine. As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog, Would have followed Him all through the day. While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well And knelt in the garden to pray. It is sad to remember that Christ went away. To face death alone and apart. With no tender dog following close behind, To comfort its Master's Heart. And when Jesus rose on Easter mourn, How happy He would have been, As His dog kissed His hand and barked it's delight, For The One who died for all men. Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine. DUCHESS so dear to me. And I smile through my tears on these many days alone, Knowing they're in eternity. Day after day, the whole day through, Wherever my road inclined, Four feet said, "Wait, I'm coming with you!" And trotted along behind. --- ...Awww, so sweet! Thanks LouiseAu! ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: When the world is at its worst, Christians must be at their best. __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >The Church Makes a Difference (By Michael Duduit) [Edited] Though we sometimes wonder if the church can make an impact in the 21st century, the evidence is clear: God is doing amazing things around the world. Here are some of the reports shared at the World Evangelical Summit (circa 2005 as reported by Daryl McCarthy and shared with us by Derl Keefer): Mongolia: Once the most closed country in the world with only 4 Christians in 1989, now there are 20,000 Christians worshipping in over 100 churches and 500 house churches. Cambodia: In the late 1970's there were only 2,000 Christians; now there are 150,000. Nepal: The first church began in 1959 with only 29 believers; now there are over 500,000 in more than 5,000 congregations, with a church in every one of the 75 districts of Nepal. China: Unparalleled growth in the entire history of Christianity, from 1.2 million Protestants in 1949 when Communism took over to as many as 90-100 million today. South Korea: South Korea is the largest sender of missionaries in Asia with 12,000-15,000 missionaries. In Ukraine, ten years ago there were 2,000 churches. Now there are over 12,000 churches. In Latin America, Evangelicals total nearly 69 million, or about 15% of the population. In 1998, there were 743 new evangelicals added to the church every hour, or 17,841 every day. There is good news of God's activity around the world, but there is still much to be done. -<>- "It is too bad that anything so obvious should need to be said at this late date, but from all appearances, we Christians have about forgotten the lesson so carefully taught by Paul: God's servants are not to be competitors, but co-workers." - A.W. Tozer __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >God's Odd Road to Greatness: Being Last, Least & Loving the Lowly (By Rev. Kerry S. Doyal - Grace Ev. Free Ch. - www.GetGraced.org) Your decision: is the following question rhetorical or dumb. Have you ever had a conversation you were glad Jesus didn't ask you about later? Perchance you talked about someone in a way that was less than flattering or something that was hardly holy or edifying. Bonus question: ever had one of those chats right after church or a Bible study? How would you feel - rhetorically speaking, of course - if Jesus asked you and your chit-chat mates after such a juicy dialogue: "what were you just talking about?" And, what if - of all things - it were not gossip or garbage but a bragging session about who in your group was the greatest? Unthinkable? One would hope so. However, check out this slice-of-life from Jesus and His disciples as recorded by Mark in his gospel. "From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later." But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me." - Mark 9:30-37 NASV Did you catch that? Right after Jesus tells them He - the exalted Son of Man - is going to be killed, they debate their pecking order. Instead of being good disciples who seek to grasp their Master's meaning, they debate who was top dog. Twelve little Mohammed Ali's clamoring that "they are the greatest." Jesus modeled humble servanthood to His disciples. He also taught them His odd road to greatness: willingly being last, least & loving the lowly. After they fought to be first, He taught them to serve, honor others, even social nobodies. He had graciously made some prime private time with them to teach them about Himself and what was about to unfold: He was going to be given over to men to be killed and He would be raised. Yet, His school session seemed wasted on them. A side note of comfort to all you who endeavor to teach others' God's truth: Jesus - the Ultimate Teacher - was not always understood. At times He had psyched-out, slow learning students. Like we often do - they had assumptions and expectations that keep them from learning. They had God "in a box" and fears that flattened their learning curve. How tragic. How common. This story reminds us that Jesus is aware of far more than we realize. Being divine, He is omniscient (all knowing) & omnipresent (ever present). He walks with us as well, seeing and hearing us. Jesus can make a question a tough rebuke. Can you say "busted!"? What should they have been talking about? Has Jesus ever asked you a question that was a rebuke or life shaping? His query to His companions was devastating. "What were you talking about?" Bad news, Jesus knows about our burning passion [in the natural] for personal greatness and glory. Have you admitted your desire to be great, to be served? Has it been submitted under His rule, kept in check by His Spirit? In splendidly backwards fashion, Jesus counts those great who seek to be last, and live as lowly servants. Let's be honest: Who wants to be last or least? Who wants to have the role and status of a common servant? I recall with pain a Professor in Bible college saying: we all want to be thought of as servants, but none of us want to be treated that way. Ouch! Making it personal, Jesus Himself is honored when we receive the least & lowly. Not just allow them in our midst, but embracing them, linking our identity with them, even at great personal social cost. Forget "going with the go-ers," this is dragging behind with the dregs, loving what the world considers losers in Jesus' name. Who are our socially insignificant, powerless people? Who has Jesus placed in your midst that He wants you to receive? Have you ever confessed your desire to run only with the "big dogs"? Do you need to thank anyone for risking their reputation to be with you? Do you have any relationships you need to re-evaluate? How about first and foremost, your relationship with HIM? Want to be first, great? Here's the secret: fight to be last, seek to serve (secretly, sacrificially) and extend your embrace of acceptance to someone you would rather avoid. 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 ========================================================== , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >-->WHO SHOULD READ THE BIBLE? The Young - To learn how to live. The Old - To know how to die. The Ignorant - For wisdom. The Learned - For humility. The Rich - For compassion. The Poor - For comfort. The Dreamer - For enchantment. The Practical - For counsel. The Weak - For strength. The Strong - For direction. The Haughty - For warning. The Humble - For exaltation. The Troubled - For peace. The Weary - For rest. The Doubting - For assurance. The Sinner - For salvation. The Christian - For guidance. -- Author Unknown >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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