Somebody Loves You ... :) 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 ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ | | _.-7 |\.-.| ( ,(_ | a a| \\ \, ) ["|| _.--' \ \\ .-' '-''-..____.-' ___) )\ F _/-``-.__;-.-.--`--' . .' \_L_ | l {~~} ,_\ '.'. ` __.' )\ ( -.;___,; | '- _ :__.'( / | -.__ _/_.'.-' '-._ .' \\ | .' | -- _ '\, | \ /--,--{ . '---.__. .' .' J ;/ __;__]. '.-. .-' )_/ J (-. '\'. '. '-._.-.-'--._ / | | '. .' | \'. '. ._ \ | \ T | \ '. '._ '-._ '. F J | | '. . '._ '-,_.--` F \ \ F . \ '. '. / J \ | J \ '. '. '/ J '.L__| . \ ' | | . \ | \ '. '. / | ' '.| | ,-. ( F | ' ___ ',._ . / '. \ F (.'`|| (-._\ '. \- '-\ \ .-' ( L `._ '\ '._ ( snd /' | / '-._\ ''\ `-' *~* HELP! We NEED 2009 Angels for the Web Site! >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2009 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is appreciated - even just 5 dollars! 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! GOD'S MOST ABUNDANT BLESSINGS TO YOU! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >From our Friend VivianO ... We are coming up to Easter and with it also come many questions. One of which is How many were crucified with our Lord? She was wanting more of a slam dunk for this teaching here: FOUR CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST http://tinyurl.com/dc2rtv Many hold to tradition of there only being two crucified with Jesus, but the scripture says otherwise. Anyway, I was discussing this with Paul as I was trying to help this sweet lady who wanted to have a slam dunk for some of her church members that were giving her and others a hard time about this. She was hoping to be able to use the argument in this teaching about 'Always, with the use of the word "midst", 4, 6, or 8 are indicated.' Unfortunately, that isn't so easy to prove. The author of this teaching must of forgotten about the scripture verse Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." While I found most of the time 'between' was used in the bible when referring to just two things, and midst was used when referring to more then two things, this verse came to mind to kind of shatter that argument. So, while it would seem the easiest argument, God's Word has to be the one to speak for itself here. In a nutshell, "Matthew 27:38 and Mark 15:27 clearly state that there were "two thieves," while Luke 23:32 says "two malefactors." Furthermore, both, thieves (or robbers) reviled Jesus, but only one of the malefactors "railed on him," while the other malefactor defended Jesus. Matthew 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Luke 23:39 and 40 (39) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. (40) But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? So you cannot have both thieves going against Jesus and still have one believe on him. God's Word does not contradict itself. Therefore when it says two thieves and two malefactors it means what it says. Four different people. TruthOrTradition has a simular teaching here: How many were crucified with Jesus? http://tinyurl.com/cas75k Another question that pops up for Easter is 'How long was Jesus in the grave?' - This will blow your mind if you hadn't thought of it before. Most all our churches clearly teach - 3 days and 3 nights just like the bible teaches. So count them out. Jesus died on Good Friday around 6:00 in the afternoon. We celebrate 'He is risen' when? On Sunday. Thus we have Easter Sunday. But the count is wrong. Friday to Saturday is one day and one night. Saturday to Sunday is two days and two nights. We have to go to Monday to have our 3 days and 3 nights. It doesn't take a math genius to figure this one out. Tradition blind sided us on this one! Our biblical understanding of God not doing work on the Sabbath due to it being a day of rest should of been a clue that he would not of raised Jesus on Sunday. Only on emergencies or for the better good like Jesus healing on the Sabbath was this broken. God had this planned out for a long time ahead of time. So God would of kept the Sabbath. Why? Because it was his own rule so it is illogical to think he would plan to break his own rule. Which, of course, God did not. Jesus was raised according to the Word of God on the third day. That would be Monday - not Sunday. Matthew 12:40 'For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.' --- ...Thank You so much VivianO for this sweet reminder! I love the truth of the Word! Beautiful! ============================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: DANCING WITH MY STARS by Michael Segal Everyone loves to dance! Well, it appears that most people either enjoy dancing or watching dancing. I would imagine that the television network, ABC, gambled on their show Dancing with the Stars. It was a gamble that hit the jackpot. Don't let ABC know this, but I don't get it. Perhaps it's because I've always had two left feet. Couple that with the fact that I was almost killed in an injury when I was 19 resulting in right side paralysis, and I guess you could say I now have "1-1/2 left feet." Regardless, I still don't get the phenomenon and I am happy for the show's millions of viewers. Some time ago, after I was injured, I tried to dance. My father was retiring as Senior Rabbi of his synagogue and the synagogue was having a party for him at a hotel ballroom with a band and, you guessed it, there was dancing. Everyone was there, everyone was dancing, everyone was having a good time. Though most might have questioned my attempt to dance, I never let that get to me. So, with the band playing melodiously, I stood up from my seat at the table and calmly asked my 82-year-old grandmother sitting to my left, "Grandma, would you like to dance? My mother's mother then replied, "MichaelŠ oh noŠ my back is killing me and my feet are aching as well. But thank you for the offer." I then quickly went to my grandmother's left where my other grandmother, my 90 year old father's mother, was sitting and asked her the same question. "Honey, my knees are killing me and my neck is so sore, but if you can go out to the dance floor, I can go as well." That was my "bubbie" (Yiddish for grandmother) -- a spit fighter full of spirit, always willing to try anything. My bubbie and I went to the dance floor and began "dancing." All of a sudden, I felt a tap on my left shoulder. "Michael, may I cut in on bubbie?" It was my mother's mother! I smiled and said, "Of course." Both my grandmothers were in pain -- however, both grandmothers were willing to try. Both grandmothers have since passed away, but I will always remember that evening when I was honored to "Dance With My Stars." I believe it was their last dance. As I looked to the heavens, I smiled and lovingly said, "Thank you. First, for the dance, but more importantly, for teaching me so much about life." -- Michael Segal ______________________________________________ Shot in the head during a robbery, Michael Jordan Segal defied all odds by first surviving and then returning to college. He then earned two degrees with honors, married his high school sweetheart, Sharon, and became a father to their daughter Shawn. Mike is a social worker at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, an author and inspirational speaker. You can check out his website at: http://www.inspirationbymike.com ================================================================= >-->From Our Friends Viv & Wesley :) Viv writes: Pretty danged amazing animation---with real audio communications---US Airways Flight into the Hudson. This thing loads almost instantly. Puts you in the middle of it all and shows you the flight path as well. ,--. \ _\_ _\/_|_\____.'\ -(___.--._____( \ \ \ \ `--' jg US Airways Flight - Animated into Hudson River http://tinyurl.com/au9hxz --- ...Awesome! Than you both Viv And Wesley! ====================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: / _, ,_ M\M"_,, `"MMMMMm._ `/MMMMMMP^^", MPTMMM`M `-. .'" MMMm "=, `.`"-. .' / S _"^M :Ww. \ `-. .-' .: ".wW\.; :WP^; `-. `-. .-' .-'/ \ :^WP: ; `--' ;\ `-. `. .-' .-' / /; `..' ; \`. `-. \ / .-' .' / ; .-";`"""--5..`-. `-.\ / .' .-' / | .' ; r`) `-. \\ ; / .-' .-' ;_/ ; _ ; `. \; |' .' .' ( _ _ : `-' :\ `./ `-' / .-r-.`Y `-' : / ; ; .-7" `.`7. | .' | : ' ; ; `--..__.'-""/ ;\ \ ,| | | ..--",-' : ; _ _.7`,_J- ; : ;, _,': /; ; _ .' `--.`-.`-'_.-| `. |/ : .'/ : ; | |`". _.-".+. :`"-. `--`"" ,_: `'7 /.-. ; | / | : 7",' ." | : \ : `-. / ;' / | | `--\ /4 ' / .' ; `. ; \ :`"\ .< ; : _.7 ' `. / /.' \ `.___.-"> ;_/ :---"\ `. ' `.-.. `"--' / fsc `.___..--"/ _mMMMm,.' `-.`-.._ ) `"--. .' `---'"mMMMMMMMMm,_ `-----' `"" `" "^`^MMMP^^mm, >SOMEBODY LOVES YOU By: Joseph J. Mazzella When my children were young I used to read to them every evening before bed. One of their favorite stories was called, "Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch." Mr. Hatch was a lonely man living a lonely life. He never smiled. He walked alone to work everyday and ate his lunch alone in a corner. He never talked to anyone on his way home either. In the evening he would buy a newspaper, read it after supper, and go to bed early. His life changed, however, on Valentine’s Day when he got a heart shaped box in the mail full of candy and a note that said, "Somebody loves you." At first he couldn’t believe it but as he let the message sink in he began to laugh and dance around. That single message had opened his heart to the power of love. Soon he found himself sharing his smile and laughter with others. He became a joy at work and began to help out people in the neighborhood. As the days and weeks went by his laughter, smiles, kindness, caring, happiness and love touched the hearts of everyone in his community. Later Mr. Hatch found out that the candy heart had been delivered to him by mistake. He felt crushed and began again to withdraw from the world. When his neighbors found out, however, they were determined not to lose the light he shared. They surprised him with a party and a huge banner that read: "Everybody Loves Mr. Hatch." Mr. Hatch cried when he realized that somebody loved him after all. Then he laughed, smiled, and rejoined his friends. I think that we all have a tiny bit of Mr. Hatch in us. At times we all feel unloved and unlovable. Somebody does love us, though. God loves us. He loves us with a powerful, unconditional, and life-changing love and He wants us to love each other as well. It is what we are here for. It is what we were meant for. May the pages of your life story be full of love then. -<>- >Happiness Is.. Taking in all the wonders of life -- Its joys, Its sorrows, Its sunshine, Its smiles -- Learning from the experiences each one brings you, And then, from a caring heart, Giving them all away again. - Author Unknown -<>- __-----__ ..;;;--'~~~`--;;;.. /;-~IN GOD WE TRUST~-.\ // ,;;;;;;;; \\ .// ;;;;; \ \\ || ;;;;( /.| || || ;;;;;;; _\ || || ';; ;;;;= || ||LIBERTY | ''\;;;;;; || \\ ,| '\ '|><| 1995 // \\ | | \ A // `;.,|. | '\.-'/ ~~;;;,._|___.,-;;;~' ''=--' - Daniel C Au - >George Pickett's Friend by: Charles W. Moores, Good Stories for Great Holidays George Pickett, who had known Lincoln in Illinois, years before, joined the Southern army, and by his conspicuous bravery and ability had become one of the great generals of the Confederacy. Toward the close of the war, when a large part of Virginia had fallen into the possession of the Union army, the President called at General Pickett's Virginia home. The general's wife, with her baby on her arm, met him at the door. She herself has told the story for us. " 'Is this George Pickett's home?' he asked. "With all the courage and dignity I could muster, I replied: 'Yes, and I am his wife, and this is his baby.' " 'I am Abraham Lincoln.' " 'The President!' I gasped. I had never seen him, but I knew the intense love and reverence with which my soldier always spoke of him. "The stranger shook his head and replied: 'No; Abraham Lincoln, George's old friend.' "The baby pushed away from me and reached out his hands to Mr. Lincoln, who took him in his arms. As he did so an expression of rapt, almost divine tenderness and love lighted up the sad face. It was a look that I have never seen on any other face. The baby opened his mouth wide and insisted upon giving his father's friend a dewy kiss. "As Mr. Lincoln gave the little one back to me he said: 'Tell your father, the rascal, that I forgive him for the sake of your bright eyes.' " -<>- I Believe I believe that life was meant to be embraced, not just endured; Treasured, not just tolerated; Savored, not just survived; Advertised, not just avoided; Illuminated, not just ignored; And most of all, I believe that life was meant to be CELEBRATED! -Author Unknown -<>- An unusual tribute was paid to Abraham Lincoln by Carl Sandburg. The poetwrote, "Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect." Lincoln demonstrated then and now how a person can possess both a will of iron and a heart of tenderness. Nothing deterred the president during the American Civil War from his "noble" cause, and few persons have ever endured more criticism and detractors than Lincoln. Yet he was no more a man of steel than one of velvet. When General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army, Lincoln sent an unexpected message to the enemy commander. "Tell your men they may keep their horses; they'll need them for plowing," said the president. Then this: "Tell your men they may keep their rifles; they'll need them for hunting." When Lee read those words he wept. -<>- _____________ ( ) | | ( ) %%%%%%% |____-----____| ( ) %%%% %%%% | \___/ | ( ) %%%% %%%% _______________________ ( ) %%% %% %%% \\ // ( ) %% %% (o)(o) %% \\__~~~_______~~~__// ( ) %% ____ %% / \ %% |\ |(0) (0)| /| ( ) % / __ \ %% / \ .. ) % |\ \| (. .) |/ /| ___ %% / / \ \ %% /\__/ %% \ ||| , ||| / [ ] % ( \ \ \/%% / % |||| \_______/=============| | %% \ \__ \/ %% __ %% ||||| --- ||||| \_/ % \ \/ /%% /__\ % ||||| ||||| ||||| %% \__ ' /\ %%// \> %% ||||||||||||||||| %% \ /\ \_%% %% ||||||||||||| %%% \_/ \__/%% %%% ||||||||| %%%% %%%% ||||| %%%% %%%% %%%%%%% Mike Jittlov >PATRICK OF IRELAND'S LIFE Patrick was born in Britain. His father was a wealthy alderman and a Christian. Pirates captured Patrick at the age of 16, during a raid and sold him as a slave in Ireland. During this time, Patrick dedicated himself to religion. He was a slave for 6 years, and then escaped back to his home of Britain. Patrick's experiences in Ireland made him driven by the idea of converting the Irish to Christianity. He studied in the monastery of Lerins, on an island off the southeast coast of France. Patrick also went to Auxerre, France, and studied religion under Saint Germanus, a French bishop. His religious superiors were reluctant to let him return to Ireland as a missionary, because of his inadequate education. But Palladius, the first Irish missionary bishop, died in 431. Pope Celestine I then sent Patrick to Ireland. No one had ever preached Christianity in northern and western Ireland,so this is where Patrick began his work. He gained the trust and friendship of several tribal leaders and soon made many converts. Patrick founded more than 300 churches and baptized more than 120,000 people. He brought in clergymen for his new churches from England and France. Patrick preached in Ireland the rest of his life. Patrick was chiefly responsible for converting the Irish people to Christianity. He became known as the Apostle to the Irish. His name in Latin is Patricius. Patrick wrote CONFESSION in his later years, an account of his spiritual development, to justify his mission to Ireland. This, along with his other writings, are the most important sources of information about his life and work. The Confession of St. Patrick From Christian Classics Ethereal Library His writings serve as the most important sources of information about Patrick's life and work. During his later years, he wrote Confession, an account of his spiritual development. Patrick wrote this book to justify his mission to Ireland. Many stories about Patrick are based only on legend. One of the best-known tales tells how he charmed the snakes of Ireland into the sea so they were drowned. According to another legend, Patrick used a three-leaf shamrock to illustrate the idea of the Trinity. Many people believe the shamrock came to be the traditional symbol of Ireland as a result of this legend. Today, Irish Catholics throughout the world celebrate Saint Patrick's Day on his feast day, March 17. I arise today To witness a mighty strength: God's power to guide me. Patrick of Ireland (389-461) ST. PATRICK'S DAY Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th, the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is a national holiday in Ireland. It also is celebrated outside of Ireland in cities with a large number of people of Irish descent. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is primarily a religious holiday. People honor Saint Patrick by attending special religious services, enjoying family and community gatherings, and wearing shamrocks. St. Patrick's Day is primarily a secular holiday in the United States. Many people wear green clothing, and they hold parties and march in parades. The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in the United States was held in Boston in 1737. Today, more than 100 cities hold parades. The parade held in New York City is the largest. -<>- .-..-. (-o/\o-) /`""``""`\ \ /.__.\ / \ `--` / `) (' , /::::\ , |'.\::::/.'| _| ';::;' |_ (::) || (::) _. "| || |" _(:) '. || .' /::\ '._||_.' \::/ /::::\ /:::\ \::::/ _\:::/ /::::\_.._ _.._ _.._ _.._/::::\ \::::/::::\/::::\/::::\/::::\::::/ jgs `""`\::::/\::::/\::::/\::::/`""` `""` `""` `""` `""` >Read any good books lately? Send a new or gently used book to teenage patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia. The teens are undergoing rehabilitation for bone, spine and muscle injuries and would love to read a book while receiving treatment or waiting. You probably have a paperback or two lying around, don't you? Just put them into an envelope and mail to: Attn: Kate Spier Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140, Book suggestions: sports, mystery, romance, humor and classics. -<> >Links for Your Enjoyment 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 Hand Boeienin Bed http://www.buffaloschips.com/012128.htm Hill Climb http://www.buffaloschips.com/012129.htm Inviro Wacko http://www.buffaloschips.com/012135.htm Jay Leno On Oil Drilling in ANWR http://www.buffaloschips.com/012136.htm Gas http://www.buffaloschips.com/0103.htm George Gobal http://www.buffaloschips.com/0104.htm German speed bump http://www.buffaloschips.com/0105.htm Eagle Vs Swan! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eagleswan.html St.Patricks's Day Animations http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_p-t.html Burning The Chaft http://tinyurl.com/cryayv WYOMING COWGIRL! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/cowgirl.html Giant Catfish http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/giantcfish.html Real Simple http://tinyurl.com/c5qql8 All About Alcatraz http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/mainpg.htm Free 80's Arcade Games http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/80s_games/ Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ========================================================== >-->From Laff&Lift: `-=-.______ |\ ____ ____ \\ .---\ ,='`=. /._||___\ / \ / ,-=-. __ ,='`=. ,-=-.||| // \\---..--./|| || // \\\ \ // \\ // |||== ||____|| || ' ||____|| || O |||\\ ||____|| || ||| |.----.| || |.----.| || ||| \\ |.----.| || //| ,|| || || || || \\ //|| || || || `=._,='_`_-_/__\ /__\ /__\ /__\ /__\ `=_='/__\ || /__\ /__\ |/ ___ ___ |\ _____ _____ /\ |\ __ ______ \ \ / /,-=-. /._||____,-=-.\ ,-.\ \ ,-.\ `' || // \ .---\ ||\\_//||// \\---..--.// \\|| // || /< |\ ||/< || || \_/ ||| O || || '| O |||/< ||//\\|| |,'\\ ||== || | ||| || || || ||,'\\ |,' ||| || \\ || || | ||\\ // || \\ //|| \\ || //| || \\ || , /__\ | /__\`=_=' /__\ `=_='/__\ \\/_`_;='__Y__\ \\/_`_-_/ | _ __ _ `-' `-' _ - _ - - _ - _ - _- _____ -_ - _ /\ __ _/ __/ __ /\ _ ___< \/ // _/ \ \/ >___ __< < < |/ / | > > >__ <_ < <\/ ,--==--. > > _> <_ < \\ |___ ___| / > _> <_ \\ \___><___/ _/ _> - <_ \\ |..'`..| / _> - <_ \\ `""""' / _> _ _,-'=- \""/ -=`-._ _ _,-'_ "" _ `-._ (((____) (____))) - \ \ / / - \_\__.-==-.__/_/ /``(( ))''\ - ( ||`--'|| ) - \ | | | | / _ \| | __ | |/ _ | |/||\| | - | |||||| | - _ | |||||| | _ __ /\ | |||||| | //\\ || - | |||||| | - // \\|| _ \_||||||_/ _ \| //|| - |||||| - _// || _ |||||| _ \/ \/ |||||| __ __ __ cjr \||||/ \/ \/ \/ >Mixed Messages (By John Fischer) [Edited] There is a bar in Laguna Beach, California, that becomes a celebrated biker hangout every Sunday afternoon. There is always a live band playing and rows of gleaming Harleys on either side of the street, with people inspecting them as if they were in a showroom. The riders all leave their helmets out with their bikes, and I've found the helmets to be a study in and of themselves. The most popular look like they are from World War I, with various kinds of rebel markings, and a few have little stickers that serve as a sort of biker bumper sticker. ("Biker bumper sticker" - try saying that five times real fast!). One I saw particularly caught my attention because it said, "JESUS LOVES YOU." Now I am aware that there are various biker ministries out there where committed followers ride for Christ and seek to spread the word about His grace and forgiveness. I have always loved this - the Gospel in a rebel context - being aware that the message of Christ is in some ways better suited there than it is in more respectable circles. You can't read about Jesus without coming to the conclusion that He would mix-it-up with the biker crowd. But as I got closer to the Jesus sticker, I noticed there was another message in much smaller print underneath the more visible "JESUS LOVES YOU." It read: "I think you're a jerk!" (That isn't exactly what it said, but it will work for our purposes.) At first, I was somewhat repulsed. Where I thought I had a Jesus biker, I actually had a form of sacrilege. But the more I thought about it, I realized there probably was more than a kernel of truth in this version of a familiar Christian message. I can think of times when I might as well have been sporting a "JESUS LOVES YOU; I think you're a jerk" sticker for all the thoughts I harbored toward the people to whom I was announcing His love. And, of a certainty, He does love them. The question is, do I? "How can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?" wrote James (2:1), or in the words of John: "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar." (1 John 4:20) It's not enough just to announce the love of Jesus without loving the same people He loves. If "Jesus loves you" is going to be our message, we need to make sure our love goes along with His. 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 ============================================================ >-->From CupO'Cheer: | | *tock* | | *tock* | <-*) | |(() | |"/ | |' PhS >OPENED AND CLOSED By Marion Smith Luke 6:38 The red headed woodpecker was perched on the tree, intently pecking away. He was a large bird and the colors on his head and back were very vivid. It was a lovely vision; one I didn’t think could be improved upon. Then he took off in flight. When he spread his wings I knew the sight was more beautiful to behold. In the moments I was able to watch him before he flew out of sight, I saw a pattern to his wing span that was remarkable. This woodpecker was definitely more beautiful with his wings opened up. The same is true of an oriental fan. When the fan is closed you are unable to see the beauty of it. You know it is there, but until that fan is unfolded, you are not able to have a visually enjoyable experience. But just shake that fan out,.. let it unfold, and they beauty of the design or picture appears. This is also true in the life of a Christian. If we stay all folded up, into our selves, and never fan ourselves out, the beauty of God in our lives will not be shared. It is good and wonderful to have the love of Christ within ourselves, but even as we do, God calls us to open our wing of love – serving others and sharing with them what He has given to us. Let’s start today and unfold our wings, taking off in flight in whatever direction God sends us. Marion Smith as seen in Food For Thought To subscribe: subscribe@dailyfoodforthought.org or go to: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/ -<>- 1+1=2 /\ \ c") ;-/\> || kOs >WHAT GOD DESIRES FROM YOU Dr. Robert Jeffress, Pathway to Victory You know the drill. Your teenager asks for help on his math homework. Although you feel exhausted from the day's activities and still have more tasks to complete before bedtime, you agree to help. Before you know it, you are the one trying to decipher a complex algebra problem while your child is in the next room chatting online with a friend. If you supervise other people, you probably have had the experience of giving one of your employees a task to fulfill, and later when you check up on the assignment, your employee says, "I put it aside because I didn't understand how to..." So you patiently explain how to solve the problem. A few days later your employee offers another excuse for not completing the job. With your own deadline approaching, you reason silently, it would be easier if you just did the task yourself. So you do! Or maybe you receive a letter from your accountant in January reminding you that "April 15 is just around the corner," encouraging you to fill out the enclosed questionnaire to aid in the preparation of your tax return. So you spend most of a Saturday with a calculator and stacks of files, answering questions about earned income, deductions, losses, and gains. Suddenly it dawns on you: Wait a minute. Why am I spending hundreds of dollars for an accountant when I'm the one doing all the work? If similar incidents have ever happened to you, you are a victim of "upward delegation." We become victims of upward delegation whenever we allow a subordinate to give a job back to us that belongs to him. We are guilty of practicing upward delegation whenever we give back to a superior a job that he has assigned to us. In our spiritual lives, we are often the perpetrators of upward delegation - and God is the victim. We give back to Him assignments He has given to us. For example, maybe a single mother in your small group at church mentions a specific request during prayer time: "My car recently lost its transmission, and I don't have the money for the necessary repairs. Without the car I can't get to work. Would you pray that God would provide the money for the repair work?" So you pray aloud, "God, we know that You own the cattle on a thousand hills. Nothing is too hard for You. Please, Lord, answer our dear sister's request so that she can have a car and be able to provide for her family's financial needs. In Jesus' name, amen." However, your small group really doesn't need God's help in the matter. Each person in your group has the ability to contribute at least $50 dollars to the cause; together you probably could cover the entire bill. But instead of passing the hat, you have collectively chosen to pass the responsibility to God. You have given Him a job that He has already given to you. Consider carefully what James wrote to his fellow Christians: "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself," ( James 2:15-17) Sanctification is the term that describes the process by which God takes converted sinners and transforms their character. "The Potter's Wheel" Dr. James MacDonald, WALK IN THE WORD Or maybe you have a family member who is not a Christian. For years you have been praying for his salvation: "Lord, please provide an opportunity for him to hear the gospel so that he might escape an eternity of separation from You." Tears stream down your face as you imagine your loved one engulfed in the flames of hell. Yet, in spite of your sincere interest in your family member's eternal future, you have never mustered up the courage to share the gospel with him. Instead, you've asked God to do the task that He has already assigned to you. Sure, God could miraculously shout the Four Spiritual Laws from heaven or supernaturally switch the television program your loved one is watching from Friends to an evangelistic crusade. But God's preferred plan is for you to explain the way of salvation to your family member. "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?... So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:14,17). One more example. Frustrated with a mediocre spiritual life and hungry for something more in your relationship with God, you pray, "God, I am tired of living a life of continual defeat and disappointment. I need to experience Your power in my life. I'm tired of fighting by myself. If anything supernatural is going to happen, You are going to have to do it. Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I pray in Jesus' name, amen." Have you ever prayed such a prayer? If so, you have once again practiced "upward delegation." When we ask God to fill us with the Holy Spirit, we are handing back to God a responsibility He has given to us. God commands us to "Be filled with the Spirit," (Ephesians 5:18). Contrary to popular thought, the filling of the Holy Spirit is not something God does for us, but something He has commanded us to do for ourselves. In this month's series I WANT MORE! on Pathway To Victory radio (www.ptv.org), we are going to discover what we can do to experience the Holy Spirit's power in every part of our lives. (Adapted from I WANT MORE! by Robert Jeffress, Waterbrook Press, 2003) May the Lord richly bless you! The Oneplace.com Team http://www.oneplace.com Listen for Life! To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com ========================================================= __..--.._ ..... .--~ ..... `. .": "`-.. . .' ..-'" :". ` ` `._ ` _.'`"( `-"'`._ ' _.' ' ~~~ `. ~~~ .' / ( ^---' Lester >-->HOW'S YOUR VISION? One woman laughs about the time she took her 14-year-old daughter and her daughter's best friend to a Peter, Paul and Mary concert. They were all fans of "oldies" music from the 60's and 70's and felt lucky to get front row seats. When they returned home, her daughter said, "During the show, we looked back and saw hundreds of little lights swaying to the music. At first we thought the people were holding up cigarette lighters. Then we realized that the lights were the reflections off all the eyeglasses in the audience." (Thanks to "Reader's Digest") My eyesight isn't what it used to be, either. But as Helen Keller (who could neither hear nor see) said, "The greatest tragedy in life is people who have sight but no vision." Maybe I should be more concerned with my vision than with my eyesight. There are numerous stories of people who lacked vision. A Hollywood producer scrawled a curt rejection note on a manuscript that became "Gone With The Wind." He had no vision for the success that movie would enjoy. Orville and Wilbur Wright felt excited. On December 17, 1903, they had finally succeeded in keeping their homemade airplane in the air for 59 seconds. Immediately, they rushed a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio, telling of this great accomplishment. The telegram read, "First sustained flight today fifty-nine seconds. Hope to be home by Christmas." Upon receiving the news of the successful flight, their sister was so excited that she rushed to the newspaper office and gave the telegram to the editor. The next morning the newspaper headed the story: "Popular Local Bicycle Merchants To Be Home For Holidays." The hapless editor saw what was obvious, but missed the real story. Vision is never about seeing the obvious. It's about looking ahead; about seeing what is not there -- YET. It's often about seeing the potential behind the obvious. Like the potential in people. Spotting the potential for success in a student who, as is obvious to everyone else, will likely fail. Or recognizing the potential for something good to come from a situation others are writing off as lost. If we want to see what is really going on, we will need to learn to spot what is not there, then act on it. So... your eyesight may be perfect, but how's your vision? -- Steve Goodier ======================================================= >-->Tomorrow He was going to be all he wanted to be, Tomorrow. No one should be kinder or braver than he, Tomorrow. A friend who was troubled and weary he knew, Tomorrow. Who'd be glad for a lift and needed it, too, Tomorrow. On him he would call and see what he could do, Tomorrow. The greatest of workers this man would have been, Tomorrow. The world would have known him, had he ever seen Tomorrow. But in fact he passed on and faded from view, And all that he left here when living was through Was a mountain of things he intended to do -- Tomorrow. -- Author unknown ---> 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. 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: This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR Send a BLANK email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************