Story Time And More! ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all 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! ================ >-->From Heartwarmers: .---. .--. ___/ \ / `.-"" `-, ; ; / O O \ / `. \ /-' _ J-.__; _.' (" / `. -=: `: `, -=| | F\ i, ; -| | | | || \_J fsc mmm! `mmM Mmm' >MANAGING YOUR ELEPHANT by William Santoro Being a physician, I run to help me get through each day. Running lets the pains seep out and the joys of life sink in. I also enjoy acting. Some of my actor friends tell me they use performing the way I use running. But I am a runner who acts, not an actor who runs. Recently I landed my dream role. I was George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. To me running is reality and acting is fantasy. I get to be someone else while on stage. In reality, I wear running shoes and I have a pierced ear. I have not worn anything but running shoes for 20 years and I have worn an earring for about 25 years. Well, George Bailey doesn't wear running shoes nor does he have a pierced ear. When my daughter saw me and remarked, "I can't believe my Dad is not wearing running shoes." I reminded her that while on stage I'm not her Dad. On stage I live in this fantasy world and reality has no place in it, until the two worlds collide. I was juggling work and performing, reality and fantasy, and thinking I was doing well. One afternoon I saw a 19 year-old student in my office. She was young, pretty and full of angst about college. I treated her while thinking of my own 19 year-old daughter in college. Two days later, I received a call from the hospital -- the student was brought in by ambulance at 3am. She died at 9 that morning. I received the horrible news at 1pm, six hours before going on stage. (Her death was not related to her office visit. However, like every physician, I kept going over in my head the scene of her visit, trying to come up with scenarios, which may have changed the course of events.) Although I put my grief as far back into my mind as possible, it remained one thought behind the words I spoke on stage. I know I missed some lines, although I could not tell you which ones. I know my teammates caught me, if I knew who I would thank them. Honestly, the entire show was just a blur. I got through the performance and then fell apart alone in the dressing room. I wanted to run, but couldn't. When I run, I run for myself. I let the run do what I need it to do for me. If I run slowly or fast, if while I run I laugh or cry, or stop or walk, only I am affected. I needed something or someone, but didn't know what or who. Bob, who played my brother in the show, asked if anyone wanted to get a bite to eat after the performance. My first inclination was to say no, but I ultimately decided it was be a good idea. Seven of us went to eat. The conversation at the table was lighthearted. People talked about the show and about other shows. I felt like I was observing, like a person sitting in a theater watching a play. I often like to observe people, however, I was observing myself as much as I was observing the others. Somewhere, someone suggested we pass around a placemat and each draw an elephant on it. None of us were artists. Some of our elephants were skinny, some looked more like dogs. My elephant was especially painful. Watching this unfold I couldn't help but think of the elephant in the room I was trying to avoid. I wondered how many other elephants were in the room. Sitting there watching each person draw their own elephant I made the connection between life and the play, reality and fantasy. We all come with baggage, each with our own unique elephant. The play is about how one shy, introverted, unassuming man can affect so many other people. And there in that restaurant I saw how each of us, some introverted and shy others extroverted and funny, can help another person heal and manage his or her own elephant. And I realized that strangers are simply friends we have not yet met. -- William Santoro __________________________________________________ William says, "I am a physician specializing in two fields, Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine. I enjoy long distance running, photography and writing." ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) '-. /\ .-' '-. /__\ .-' _ _ . _ _ '-.: : .-' |_ | ||\||\||| |_||_||\|_ |\| .-': : '-. _||_|| || |||_| || ||/|_ | | .-' .:.==.:. '-. _ _ _ _ _ . .-' : ______ : '-. |_ |_ |_|| ||_ |_|| .-' :.-.----.-.: '-. _||_ | \ \/ |_ | \| .-' ': .--. :' '-. .-' : : '-. .-' :.--.: '-. :.----.: :.----.: :.----.: : : : : :.------.: :.--------.: :.--------.: :.--------.: (___) : __ : (o o) : | | : *\ /-------\ ### | | ### /O| | \ ## ## ### ## ## ## ## # * ||---'|| * # #### ######### ############ ##########\,,)\/\)(\)|\/############### #################################################################Jope >The Yard Light [edited] I love light! I mean, if we had no light, we couldn't see things. We couldn't see each other. We couldn't see where we are going and would step on really sharp toys that weren't put away! We would not know how to stay on the highway at night. We would struggle to get a tan. We would be colder. We wouldn't wear matching clothes. To walk around in the dark all the time? Awful. We would miss so much beauty. There is actually a form of depression some people suffer from when they are living long periods of life without sunlight. The list is infinite about how hard life would be without light. You get the picture. Light is pretty important. As we enter into this Advent season before Christmas 2013, I want to spend time looking at the message, power of, need, and reason for light. Specifically the Light of World that comes to us in Jesus Christ. I remember on the farm we had a single yard light that was right in the center of our homestead. It was probably a 75 watt light bulb at the top of a telephone pole that was turned on and off in the house. It was there for the purpose of helping you see where you were going from building to building at night. Walking from the steel shed or the barn or chicken coop on a dark Minnesota night back to the house could be nerve-racking for a seven- year-old who thought Scooby Doo haunted mysteries could be real. The yard light, though, was a lifesaver. If I needed to flee from any monsters lurking in the nearby woods, I could run freely without worrying about tripping over a bike, running into a clothes line, or falling in a trap set by an enemy trying to take over the world (starting at my farm! - Yes, I had an imagination...). As long as that yard light was on, no worries. But I'd lose confidence when I was closing up the barn door for the night, and my older brother - let's call him Tom - was watching out the window to turn off the yard light. He'd force me to walk in the night without a light. It changed how I walked, hoping I wouldn't bang my shin on something. The wind, the creaking of branches, gates swinging, and squirrels running were all way more evil than ever before. My breathing would speed up, my senses on alert, and I'd move towards the house in total fear but with one single goal: don't die before giving paybacks to the brother we're calling Tom. We need light. Not just physically, but spiritually. God the Father knew it. It was why He sent His Son to a darkening world. We are meant to live this life in the light not in the dark. Do you feel any of those emotions in your day-to-day life that I was feeling when my brother turned off the yard light? If anything at all, then that's why this is important for you. Wouldn't it be great if you discovered the light of Jesus in a new way so you don't ever have to fear the dark? The best part about the light of Jesus? There is no one who can ever turn it off with a switch. It is always on. Let's get ready to run in the light, my friends, because darkness cannot overcome the Light! --- ...Ya gotta have a light! Any Time is a good time! Thanks LouiseA! See this teaching... Straying From The Light http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/straying.html ========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ____ /xxxx\ |xxxxxx| |xxxxxx| _ \xxxxxx/ (~) \xxxx/ \--/ || || || ejm96 || || [] >Maintain Your Integrity A while back, there was a story about Reuben Gonzolas, who was in the final match of his first professional racquetball tournament. He was playing the perennial champion for his first shot at a victory on the pro circuit. At match point in the fifth and final game, Gonzolas made a super "kill shot" into the front corner to win the tournament. The referee called it good, and one of the linemen confirmed the shot was a winner. But after a moment's hesitation, Gonzolas turned and declared that his shot had skipped into the wall, hitting the floor first. As a result, the serve went to his opponent, who went on to win the match. Reuben Gonzolas walked off the court; everyone was stunned. The next issue of a leading racquetball magazine featured Gonzolas on its cover. The lead editorial searched and questioned for an explanation for the first ever occurrence on the professional racquetball circuit. Who could ever imagine it in any sport or endeavor? Here was a player with everything officially in his favor, with victory in his grasp, who disqualifies himself at match point and loses. When asked why he did it, Gonzolas replied, "It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity." --- ...Character Counts - and Truth Matters! -<>- , :. , ,__.`|\' , \,^|/|='._=-_. -.,\ \_) \/(^_)\/ (_/ / -:__ .-'~__)` ___-`~. ___ ~(_'-)-~` -^~\ ~-.' _ '. .' _ `.-._~/^~. _.=^<-.'| (@) | | (@) | ->.-^` ~-._>-'`. .'~'. .'`-<~.' .-~^'__^^--~`_...__`~--^^. _,^= `-^ __.;--~`( | )`~--;-~-._`: __...'~``.~ ^'-._\_/_.-'^~-.~-_...__ /. ~- `\-. ^.~ .`~` `.~-. ^.-/~.- ^,\ |^'- .` ~|_`-.._:_._,_:_,_..-'|- ~ . ',| |=|`, .~ '.|====================|^. ',`. |='| |/\__\__\__/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/|\|/\__/__/__/|/| | | | | | | | | | | | |(o __ o) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ((__))| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |`--' | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | >Seven Ways To Deal With Negative People Have you ever been faced with trying to stay positive when others around you are negative? Negative people can be a challenge to be around. They will bring you down and drain your energy. A negative person can throw your best laid plans to be positive right out the window. Whether your child or spouse has an occasional negative day or you deal with a family member, friend or co-worker that is chronically negative, there are things you can do to remain positive in the face of negativity. Let the Negativity Pass Whatever you do, do not argue with a negative person. Arguing only adds fuel to the fire. A negative person will feed off any negativity that will strengthen his mood or attitude. I have noticed when my children are in a crabby mood, it is best to avoid trying to convince them to analyze and adjust their attitude. As soon as I take the approach of being in opposition with them, they seize the opportunity to prove to me that life stinks. Their negativity intensifies and the situation gets worse before it gets better. Sometimes the best thing to do is remain silent and let the negativity pass. Negative People Need Love You know how difficult it can be to give love and positive attention to negative people. Unfortunately, that is often exactly what they need. Deep inside that mean and critical person is a person that is usually afraid he or she is unlovable. It is our challenge to rise above the negative attitude and love the injured person inside. How do you show love when someone is negative? You must listen to what she is trying to tell you. Acknowledge the feelings she has by saying something like, "You sound very angry right now." Even if you don't quite understand the person's feelings, know that your reality is different from someone else's. Ask how you might help the negative person. This shows legitimate interest in her happiness. Offer a hug even if you get rejected. Remember not to take a rejection of your love personally. A negative person often has difficulty receiving love from others. Focus on the Positive If you try really hard, there is always something positive to be found in any situation. Pretend you are on a treasure hunt and search for any gold or jewels you can emphasize. Even a negative person has positive qualities. When a person is drowning in negativity, it can be difficult for them to see the positive. So often my clients focus on the negative aspects of themselves. They forget about all the great things they are doing. I admit that sometimes a negative person doesn't want to see the positive. This might require her to shift her outlook. Negativity can become a habit and habits are hard to break. Be patient and gently remind your grumpy friend or family member to look for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Hopefully, in her down time, she will begin to reflect on what you have said. Ask Negative People to Elaborate You may hear a negative person say things like: "Women are fickle." "You can't trust doctors." "My husband makes me miserable." These kinds of statements are a type of cognitive distortion referred to as generalizations. To help a person sort through her distorted thinking, ask for more specifics. Questions like "Which women are fickle?" or "What specifically about your husband is making you miserable?" forces a person to evaluate what he or she is really trying to say. A negative person will give up because either it takes too much effort to explain himself, or he or she will get to the bottom of the issue. Detach and Avoid Trying to Change the Negative Person Learning to detach emotionally from a negative person can greatly benefit you and the other person. A negative person will fight you if you try to change them. If you want, you can try a little reverse psychology and agree with everything she says. I once read a great article about a mother who was exasperated with her son's negative mood. Everything she tried to soothe him and make him feel better backfired. She finally gave up and started agreeing with everything he said. When her son told her his friends were mean, she agreed with him. When he complained that his teacher didn't know anything, she couldn't agree more. After several minutes of this kind of dialogue with her son, his mood suddenly shifted. He declared that he was tired and he went to bed with a smile on his face. Stay Away from Negative People If you have negative people in your life that are critically affecting your mental and physical health, you need to evaluate whether or not you want these people in your life. Some people are so chronically negative that you have no other choice but to remove them from your life. It's possible to do that with friends. You can find another job if your boss or other co-workers are bringing you down. Other people, such as children and spouses, are difficult to remove from your life. In this instance, professional counseling may be the answer. To protect your well being, you need to enforce very strong boundaries with negative people. Keep Your Own Negative Thoughts in check If you do nothing else but focus on managing your own negative thoughts and behavior, you will come a long way toward remaining positive. A negative attitude is contagious, but a positive attitude is infectious as well. Hang out with positive people that encourage you to be your best self. Use positive affirmations to overcome negative self-talk. Express your gratitude for all the positive things in your life. Take the time every day to watch all the beautiful things going on around you. Read inspirational material and listen to joyful music. Take care of yourself spiritually. Do whatever you have to do to remain positive and happy despite the negativity you face. The world will be a better place because of you and your attitude. And you never know, you just might help a negative person make a change to a better way of living. © Copyright Lori Radun. All rights reserved. --- ...My two cents... Often when people are going through hard times they are more negative simply because the things they are experiencing is so negative. When I pray for these people, I realize that it is not easy to renew ones mind to the positive when the devil has you buried under heaps of garbage. I therefore pray that the person's negatives will not return to them to harm them in any way, shape or form. Negative belief is believing. If you confess you are always having bad luck or the bum deal or never ever have anything good happen to you or some other negative thing, that can actually become the norm for you in your life simply because you are confessing it. Believing equals receiving no matter if it is positive or negative believing. The devil tricks us into confessing these negatives and guess what? We just get more bad things going on in our life. That's why it is good to start your day with God's Word... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Pss.118: [24] This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Kind of takes all those 'yeah, but's' away doesn't it? Check out The Law Of Believing http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Believing/Believing.htm -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Spring's Coming http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/spring.html Christianity http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/christianity.html Believe In Your Dreams http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/dream.html Who Is This Jesus? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesus.html Akiane Child Prodigy http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Value What You Have! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuewyh.html Naval Fleet Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/navalart.html MacGyver - How To Do It 4! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/macgyver4.html Why We Love Dogs! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whydog.html Dogs As Best Friends! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestfriend.html Aww Animals 7! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animals7.html The Moses Bridge! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mosesbridge.html Kisses Sweeter Than Honey! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kisses.html Great Banyan Tree! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/banyan.html All Occasion Cars! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/allcar.html -<>- Good Talker For God And Country! Phil Roberston CPAC 2015 http://tinyurl.com/lgxplgj -<>- >From Our friend [my son] Victor :) Better than netflix - Popcorn Time https://popcorntime.io/ -<>- >From Our Friend GloriaB :) Father's Speech to the Groom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSfhgGGt_PU Gotta love this....also when its done click on Neil Diamond at the botom... Turn Volume up Starry Starry Night: Secrets Of Old Age To: https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgBF3sIPm4c --- ...Beautiful! Thanks GloriaB! -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) She sent us one we have here... http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mugshots.html --- ...HaHa! Love this! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) Rock On Kitty! - Singing cat & his girl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXy6JElmgHU&t=51 --- ...LOL! Too cute! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) Dogs and cats meeting for the first time - Cute and funny dog & cat compilation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z7EKD6N3HM&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs aging via a painting https://www.youtube.com/embed/HCddlkIlTbI -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) NYPL, Letters to Sala: A Young Woman's Life in Nazi Labor Camps http://web-static.nypl.org/exhibitions/sala/index.html Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records http://www.findagrave.com/ Save on household products, How to buy products, Household tips http://seniorark.com/senior_tips_household_items.htm --- ...Good Info! Thanks Melody! 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 ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) .-..-. (-o/\o-) /`""``""`\ \ /.__.\ / \ `--` / `) (' , /::::\ , |'.\::::/.'| _| ';::;' |_ (::) || (::) _. "| || |" _(:) '. || .' /::\ '._||_.' \::/ /::::\ /:::\ \::::/ _\:::/ /::::\_.._ _.._ _.._ _.._/::::\ \::::/::::\/::::\/::::\/::::\::::/ jgs `""`\::::/\::::/\::::/\::::/`""` `""` `""` `""` `""` >Quotes Hard things are put in our ways, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength. ~ Anonymous They can conquer who believe they can. He has not learned the first lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson "I can't do it" never yet accomplished anything : "I will try" has accomplished wonders. ~ George P. Burnham The greatest power is often simple patience. ~ E. Joseph Cossman Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself. ~ Samuel Butler Everything you'll want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you'll have to take action to get it. ~ Jack Canfield --- ...Wise sayings! Thanks Jazz! ========================================================= >-->A Classic From Our Friend GloriaB :) * * * * ) (\___/) ( * /( \ (. .) )\ * # ) c\ >' ( # ' )-_/ ' \\|, ____| |__ ,|// \ ) ( ` ~ ) ( / #\ / /| . ' .) \ /# | \ / ) , / \ / | \,/ ;;,,;,; \,/ _,#;,;;,;, /,i;;;,,;#,; (( %;;,;,;;,; )) ;#;,;%;;,, _// ;,;; ,#;, /_) #,; // // \|_ \|_ |#\ |#\ -" b'ger -" >Story Time - God's Gentle Reminder There once was a man named George Thomas, preacher in a small Texas town. One Sunday morning he came to the Church building carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, the Preacher began to speak. . . . "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What do you have there, son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you going to do with them?" I asked. "Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time." "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?" "Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them." The preacher was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?" "Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!" "How much?" the preacher asked again. The boy sized up the preacher as if he were crazy and said, "$10?" The preacher reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The preacher picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the preacher began to tell this story: One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting "Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!" "What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!" "And what will you do when you are done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!" "How much? He asked again. Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears AND your life." Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price. The preacher picked up the cage and walked from the pulpit. ---- I pray, for everyone who sends this on, whether to their entire address book or just a few, that God will bless them in a special way. And for those that just deleted it........ And I KNOW there will be....? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? Let us thank God everyday for the blessings He gives us, for we have much to be thankful for. --- ...I love it - Such a heartwarmer! Thank You GloriaB! ======================================================== .--..-""""-..--. ///`/////////\`\\\ ||/ |///""\\\| \|| ## ( 6. 6 ) ## /_\ \ _. / /_\ _`) (`_ /` '--' `\ / _,,_ \ / /` `\ \ /\_/ / 6 6\ \_/\ \ \/\ Y /\/ / \ \/ `'U` \/ / \( \ / )/ |\_/ \_/| / ____ \ \ ( || ) / (__)||(__) | || | |__||__| jgs |==||==| /~`//~`/ / // / `""` `"` >What Courage Really Is Story Editor: by The Counselor Joyce Schowalter Texas, USA I'm a child counselor for an organization providing therapeutic foster care for children who've experienced abuse or neglect by their families. One of my former clients now lives with her grandparents in another state. She was placed into foster care with her two older sisters because her mother's boyfriend sexually molested all three of them. At the time of this story, she was eight years old, about four feet tall, weighed 41 pounds, and looked like a little elf. When her abuser went on trial, the District Attorney tried him on charges against this child only, because she got the very worst of the abuse. She returned to our state to testify, spending two hours on the stand recounting in excruciating detail everything that he did to her over two years. She didn't back down when the defense lawyer tried rattle her during cross-examination. Instead, she announced that she knew he was trying to trick her, and he'd better knock it off! The investigating police officers, the doctor who examined her, the police examiner, her former foster mother, her grandparents and I also testified. The jury took 30 minutes to convict. My client's sister testified to his abuse of her during the penalty phase, to establish a pattern, and the jury gave him 30 years. The District Attorney found two prior felony convictions for aggravated assault which this abuser lied about, adding another five years to his sentence for aggravated perjury. After sentencing, this tiny girl amazed us all. When she entered foster care she was so scared of her abuser she could barely even speak his name. After the verdict she informed her former foster mother that she had something to say to the perpetrator. "You need to help me find a way to do that." The foster mother talked to the District Attorney, who talked to the judge. The judge said this was unprecedented -- she'd never had a victim in any sexual assault case want to make a victim's statement. But nothing legally prevented it, so she agreed. After the jury announced the abuser's sentence, this little girl stood up in the witness stand, looked straight at her abuser, and said, "I'm really sorry you have to go to jail, but you deserve it for what you did to me. I'm really happy to know that you're never going to be able to hurt me again. And that's all I have to say to you." Everybody in the room, with the exception of the defendant and his family and lawyer, was in tears by the end of her statement. We were all so proud of her! She made it possible for justice to be done that day. She faced her abuser bravely -- in a way that few adults have the courage to do. From the look of it, this little child is going to be just fine. Seeing her on the stand that day made it clear to me exactly what courage really is. =======HeroicStories======= >-->Story Time From Our Friend PatDeE :) __ @@;, ( ; ? : ); _| |_ | | || | | _| |_ | \ \ \/ || \/ ___ / / | __| |\ __||____||___||______/| | ||| | |_______ _________| | ||| ||| |____ | | ____| ||| Design by \ \______ ) | | / ______/ / || | | | | | /___| || Samule J. Neptune || | | |_ /| | |\ _| || || || | \__, / | | | \<__/ | || "Good morning" said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled.... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked. "No,". he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. " "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it.." Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered. "Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place." The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" "What business is that of yours?" "I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, President and CEO of the company." "Oh." The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer." The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." "Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat, and I said that it was against company policy." "I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right." "So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you." There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said. "Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus.. He led me to you." Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.... "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said. "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And.. And thank you for the coffee." God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor. If you believe, send it. If you don't believe, delete it. God closes doors no man can open ... and God opens doors no man can close.. If you need God to open some doors for you...send this on. --- ...A Sweet Classic! Thank you PatDeE! ============================================================= >-->From LaughAndLift: _|_ | _|_ //_/\ __| ||____ ////////////\ /////////////\\ |^^^^^^^^^^||+| | # # # |||| .... ....". ||||||||||||||||| unknown >Thoughts for Today "But the judgement of God is upon the church as never before. If the church of today does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authentic ring, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. I am meeting young people every day whose disappointment with the church has risen to outright disgust." - Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "The devil tries to destroy our faith through our sin. He whispers, 'See, you are a failure. God could never love you. You have sinned your way out of His love. You promised you would never sin again, and you did. You let God down, and He is angry with You. It is best if you just run away.' The desire of the devil is to see us become estranged and alienated from God." - James Bryan Smith The Lift _|_ | / \ //_\\ //(_)\\ |/^\| ,%%%% // \\ ,@@@@@@@, ,%%%%/%%% // \\ ,@@@\@@@@/@@, @@@%%%\%%//%%%// === \\ @@\@@@/@@@@@ @@@@%%%%\%%%%%// =-=-= \\@@@@\@@@@@@;%#####, @@@@%%%\%%/%%// === \\@@@@@@/@@@%%%######, @@@@@%%%%/%%//| |\\@\\//@@%%%%%%#/#### '@@@@@%%\\/%~ | | ~ @|| %\\//%%%#####; @@\\//@|| | __ __ | || %%||%%'###### '@|| || | | | | | || ||##\//#### || || | | -|- | | || ||'#||###' || || |_|__|__|_| || || || || ||_/` ======= `\__||_._|| || jgs__||_/` ======= `\_||___ >When the Church is Big Enough (By Ken Pierpont) [Edited] In the first year of our marriage Lois and I served a little country church and lived across the road in a tidy cape cod parsonage. It was their tradition to have a revival service every year. After the meetings one night Lois and I took the evangelist and his wife to a restaurant for dinner. They were telling us about their children. One of their sons was a pastor. The evangelists wife said, "Our son has a nice church of about a hundred people with a new parsonage and a nice building and some well-to-do people. He has a comfortable salary. He really doesn't have to worry about the church growing." Lois and I stopped forks in mid-air waiting for the man and his wife to tell us it was a joke. They were serious. It's been almost thirty years later [and] I still haven't fully recovered from the shock of an evangelist and his wife telling me that it's not important for a church to try to reach unbelievers in its community. I wonder how you can consider yourself an evangelist and not care about lost people all around you. How can you call yourself a follower of Jesus and not care about people who are going to Hell? Jesus was moved with compassion for people. "But when [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" (Matthew 9:36-40) Believers with the heart of Jesus should carry a continual burden for those in their communities, families, and circles of friends who are without hope and without God in the world. We should always be plotting something creative to connect with them and connect them with God. The Spirit of God is at work in the lives of people and we should always be trying to find them and do our part to invite them to Christ. I read of a man who organized a kickball game in his neighborhood once a week just to connect with his neighbors so he could influence them for God. It worked. Dozens showed up week after week and he was eventually able to get all of them in range of a gospel presentation. What have you done lately? How did you come to know the Lord? Who was the first person in your family to come to Christ? Who told them? Do you have a burden for people who don't know the Lord or are you more concerned for your own comfort and convenience? [Ken Pierpont is the Director of the Riverfront Character Inn and International Conference Center in Flint, Michgian. Ken sends the Stonebridge Newsletter, a free weekly electronic newsletter, to almost 5,000 subscribers every Monday morning. You can visit his site at http://www.kenpierpont.com] -<>- ,w. ,YWMMw ,M , _.---.._ __..---._.'MMMMMw,wMWmW, _.-"" """ YP"WMMMMMMMMMb, .-' __.' .' MMMMW^WMMMM; _, .'.-'"; `, /` .--"" :MMM[==MWMW^; ,mM^" ,-'.' / ; ; / , MMMMb_wMW" @\ ,MM:. .'.-' .' ; `\ ; `, MMMMMMMW `"=./`-, WMMm__,-'.' / _.\ F"""-+,, ;_,_.dMMMMMMMM[,_ / `=_} "^MP__.-' ,-' _.--"" `-, ; \ ; ;MMMMMMMMMMW^``; __| / .' ; ; ) )`{ \ `"^W^`, \ : / .' / ( .' / Ww._ `. `" / Y, `, `-,=,_{ ; MMMP`""-, `-._.-, fsc (--, ) `,_ / `) \/"") ^" `-, -;"\: `""" `""" `"' `---" >Lions (By Ray Naidoo) "Be vigilant, watch. Your adversary {the} devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." Daniel 6:22 (KJV) I feel shame to admit defeat in my life but it has been the story of my life. It is always up and down without any sign of calm ahead. My faith has been sometimes almost non-existent and I question where I am going and where is God. But the startling revelation in all this is that God loves me but the devil hates me. I am a child of God and in all the struggles I faced, I gave the devil a foothold into my life. He took no time to make himself at home creating chaos. But another startling revelation was that it wasn't all the devil's doing, much of it was me. I moved away from God when things were tough. Then this scripture just kept on playing in my heart. I never thought of these two scriptures together before and how much sense it makes. The devil is like a roaring lion seeking his prey. When we let go of our Protector, God, we become helpless, we become easy targets. The devil's hunger is never filled until all of God's people are devoured. God is our refuge and shelter. He protects and provides for our every need. Jesus said that all the power and authority has been given to Him in heaven and earth. The devil has no power over you, no authority over your life. God meets us at our point of weakness while the devil tries to break when we are already down and out. The devil is like a roaring lion but remember God can shut the mouth of the lion. So take time today and see where you are in your life. Maybe, like me, you need to return to where you are supposed to be... Remember: God does not move away from us, we move away from Him. Prayer: (Pray with me...) "Dear Lord, Thank you for your word today. Forgive us, Father, for not holding on to your love in our lives. Help us overcome our difficulties. Shut the mouths of the lions in our lives. Take full control in our lives today. In Jesus Christ's precious name...Amen." God bless you today. Ray 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 Our Friend LouiseA :) __ __ ,-' `' \ _---``-- / _ _ ; __ `. / / `' \; /`----- ) / .-/ ,( ), \-. ; | \( \ / )/; | - _5 `7 -; / ( ___-' `-____ | ( ___`-_ \ ____| \ / `,/ \ _(\__ / \ \ ; \ .' /' `i. / | | \ _-'( _\__-/ `- | | ` ,` `_ | BP >Everyone Needs Someone People need people and friends need friends And we all need love for a full life depends Not on vast riches or great acclaim, Not on success or on worldly fame, But just in knowing that someone cares And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers. For only the knowledge that we're understood Makes everyday living feel wonderfully good, And we rob ourselves of life's greatest need When we "lock up our hearts" and fail to heed The outstretched hand reaching to find A kindred spirit whose heart and mind Are lonely and longing to somehow share Our joys and sorrows and to make us aware That life's completeness and richness depends On the things we share with our loved ones and friends. ~Helen Steiner Rice~ --- ...I do love her poetry! 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