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>-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :)
This too hot to handle new page is from our friends LouiseAu
and Fran. During these trying times, we all need a bit of
humor to ease our stress and this page is just the ticket to
give you plenty of smiles and some laughs for your day. Be
sure to check it out here...
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{_.-``-' {_/
Smudge The Cat 2
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smudgethecat2.html
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...LOL! Plenty of giggles here! Thanks Ladies!
===========================================================
>-->From ChristianLifeDaily:
https://christianlifedaily.com/
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>After Nearly Dying From COVID-19,
Ohio Pastor Says He Will Never Be the Same
Kyle Coriell, a pastor in Ohio, didn’t expect to contract the
coronavirus.
And he’s just starting to understand how close he came to death.
“I’ve just never experienced anything like this and for that long
a period of time.”
“I’ve had the flu, I’ve had the cold, and I’ve had food poisoning,”
Coriell stated. “I’ve had strep throat, which is very painful as
an adult, but nothing like this [COVID-19].”
Coriell, the pastor of Kingdom Hearts Church in Chillicothe, Ohio,
believes he caught the virus at a movie night with friends and
family in early April.
Eight members of his extended family had tested positive after
the movie night, but Coriell endured the worst of the virus.
“It was just terrible, the worst two weeks of my life by far,”
the pastor remembered.
At first, Coriell wanted to recover at home, believing he could
heal on his own. But his mother, a respiratory therapist, knew
firsthand the dangers of COVID-19 and encouraged him to go to
the hospital.
“I’m the type of person who just does not like to go to the
hospital,” Coriell admitted. “I have to have a bone sticking
out, they can’t stop the bleeding, that’s the only way I’ll go
to the hospital and just always have been like that.”
“I was doing everything I could not to go, and [my mom] again
told me I needed to go.”
The pastor finally heeded his mother’s advice and went to the
local hospital. When he heard what the doctors had to say, he
realized that the situation was much more serious than he’d
originally thought.
“[The doctor’s prognosis] just devastated me,” Coriell said.
His oxygen saturation levels were dangerously low and doctors
weren’t sure they could do anything to help. His body was too
weak to properly fight the virus.
“I was [in the hospital] because this thing had me down on the
ground,” the pastor admitted. “It was choking me, it was choking
the life out of me, and I was there, someone that does not like
hospitals.”
“I was there as a last resort, hoping and believing that they
could give me something to help me overcome this because my body
wasn’t beating this, my body was losing this battle, and that’s
what got me kind of scared.”
At this point, Coriell knew that medicine wouldn’t save him—but
God still could!
Terrified for his life, the pastor prayed fervently, asking God
for the strength to fight COVID-19 and recover. His wife,
Lynette, joined in the prayers even as she waged her own war with
the virus.
“He was going downhill fast, and I knew that, if God didn’t
touch him, I knew that he was going to his other home,” Lynette
recalled tearfully.
“I was scared at the point that I was like, what if he doesn’t
make it, what am I going to do.”
“I said, oh no, no, I had to grab onto hope, and that is when
I said, I can’t fight this for you, but I can fight with you,”
she told her husband. “You’ve got to fight.”
Kyle and Lynette’s prayers were answered almost immediately when
Kyle’s oxygen levels miraculously rose. Amazed by the change,
the doctors released him to recover at home.
“Right then and there, I knew that God was listening to my prayers,
he was aware of what was going on in my life and everything was
going to be okay,” the pastor said. “I just knew from that point
forward.”
It took a few weeks for Kyle to fully recover from the effects of
the virus, but his faith will never be the same again.
He’s now back to work in his church and determined to share his
story for the glory of God!
“I’m back to work, back to preaching, doing the things I love to
do, and all because of God,” Coriell stated. “It was all because
of Him, all because [of] my brothers and sister in Christ who
prayed for me and lifted me up…I thank them all for that.”
Lynette echoed her husband’s sentiments, saying, “I hope that
someday I can always stay as strong as the people that [were]
there for us and my family.”
She and Kyle urge others battling with COVID-19 to, “Never, ever,
ever give up, never lose hope, always have faith.”
Please keep praying for all those affected by COVID-19, and do
your part to stop the spread!
===========================================================
>-->From Daily Encounter:
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>Lord, Have Mercy
"As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a
large crowd followed Him. Two blind men were sitting by
the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going
by, they shouted, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on
us!'"1
Down the hot, dusty Jericho Road, leaving with His
disciples and a host of followers thronging around Him,
Jesus was trying to move on from Jericho. Farther down
the road two blind men (probably beggars) were sitting
by the wayside. Wondering what all the commotion was
about, they inquired about what was happening.
"I think it's the man they call Jesus--that unorthodox
religious fellow," they heard someone say. "They say He
goes against many of our religious traditions and the
leaders hate Him because of it. But He also heals
people of all sorts of ills. It will be great to hear
Him. He's coming this way."
The blind beggars knew all about Jesus but they'd never
"seen/heard" Him this close before. "Now's our chance,"
they said to each other. Somehow they knew that this
might be their only chance to ever come anywhere near
this man they call Jesus. He would be passing right by
them.
As the crowd neared them and they sensed that Jesus was
somewhere near, they yelled at the top of their voice,
"Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
The crowd rebuked them and tried to shut them up, but
with dignity thrown to the wind, they shouted all the
louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
And Jesus stood still! Amazing words. Amazing action.
The Son of God stood still.
Imagine it! The winds and the waves couldn't stop
Jesus. The crowds couldn't block Him. The Roman
soldiers had no power over Him without His permission.
King Herod failed to have Him killed when He was just a
baby. And the religious leaders couldn't silence Him.
But the cry of two blind, lonely beggars caused the Son
of God to stop dead in His tracks. And listen!
And Jesus called to them, saying, "What do you want me
to do for you?"
"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."
And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their
eyes. Immediately they received their sight and
followed Him.
"Lord, have mercy on me," is one cry that God always
hears and for which Jesus always stands still and
listens, and basically says to you and me through his
Word, "What do you want me to do for you?"
Suggested prayer: "Dear Lord, thank You that two blind
beggars had the power to stop You and You had the power
to heal them. Help me to see my deepest need and
confess this to You. Have mercy on me and forgive all
my sins, and grant to me the healing of my wounded soul
and the gift of eternal life. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer just as You heard and answered the
cry of the two blind me. Gratefully in Your name,
amen."
NOTE: For further help read “How to Be Sure You’re a
Real Christian" at: How to Be Sure:
http://tinyurl.com/8glq9
1. Matthew 20:29-30 (NIV).
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>Fishing in the Bathtub
Jesus said: "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under
a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all
who are in the house."1
Many years ago when growing up in Australia, I still
remember the following ditty shared by a visiting
American evangelist:
He who whispers down a well
About the things he has to sell,
Doesn't get as many dollars
As he who climbs a tree and hollers!
Have you ever noticed that the vast majority of
non-church people aren't knocking down our doors in a
rush to hear us preach the gospel? At least I've never
seen it anywhere I've lived.
It's like an old preacher friend of mine used to say,
"You don't catch fish in the bathtub. You go where the
fish are."
With the ongoing acts of evil in our world and the
growing rejection of Christianity, God and the Bible,
plus the accelerated acceptance of anti-Christian
religions--if ever there was a time when we Christians
need to hear God's wake-up call and let our voices be
heard and let our light shine, it's today.
But whether it's in secular business or God's business,
he who whispers down a well is not going to get a
hearing. And he who fishes in the bathtub isn't going
to catch any fish! Or he who hides his light under a
basket isn't going to have it seen!
As Christians we need to do everything in our power to
abate the forces of evil by demonstrating and
communicating the love of God and the gospel message of
Jesus Christ in some way to every life we touch and to
all people everywhere.
However, to win some we need to be winsome--that is,
before people will listen to our message, they need to
see Jesus in us and in so doing, want Jesus for
themselves.
Remember the kid's song we used to sing in Sunday
school: "See this little light of mine, I'm going to
let it shine, See this little light of mine, I'm going
to let shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it
shine." Not under a basket. Not down a well. But in
everything we do, wherever we go, and by every
legitimate means available to us.
Remember too, that all the darkness (evil) in the world
cannot put out the light of even the smallest candle!
May God help each of us to be candles for Jesus and let
our light shine 'til he comes!
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to stop, stand
still, and listen--with my heart--and hear your wake-up
call and do everything I can to let my light shine and
thereby demonstrate Your message of love and salvation
to every life I touch. Help me too, to do what I can to
support, not only my church, but missionaries and those
who are taking Your message of love and salvation to
the ends of the earth. Thank You for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus Christ's name,
amen."
1. Matthew 5:15 (NKJV).
When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016
ACTS International.
===========================================================
>-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo:
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>"One"
As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their
way into the inferno
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes
We become one people.
We are
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people
We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America.
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>REACH FOR THE LIGHT
by Jaye Lewis
She could grow anything from seed.
She could take tiny seeds with her fingertips, place them into
the soil, and coax them to grow. She would carefully water the
soil and whisper, "You're going to love the sunshine. You're going
to feel the rain. And you are really going to adore the rainbow!"
I watched this mysterious woman and marveled at the love she
gave to each tiny seed. It was as though the love that she had
longed for, and never experienced, poured out of her heart, and
into the seed and soil. As if in a strange intimacy, she pulled
grace and beauty from the depths, and the little plants would
burst forth, reaching for light and air.
There was some sort of hushed beauty within her. A secret
longing that no one had ever seen nor touched.
It was as if she were too shy or too scared to awaken,
perhaps knowing that once set free, she would become out of
control. I caught a glimpse of that passion when her anger
became unleashed, and it could be dangerous to be the one within
her grasp. Yet, she was always gentle with growing things.
She was a mystery to me -- this repressed, passionate,
secret woman, who gave up on life early within my childhood.
She seldom bought a living plant. She combed garden
catalogs looking for seeds. She mixed her own soil and she
started those seeds in any container available. To my mother,
anything that had a bottom and an open top was a container.
She started seeding in empty egg cartons, milk cartons, and
even eggshells. She especially loved to start tomatoes in the
eggshells of geese. She'd make a tiny drainage hole with a
needle, start the seed in her homemade soil, and when it came time
to transplant into the garden, she would gently crush the shell,
right before she placed the plant into it's permanent home.
"Eggshells sweeten the soil," she would say.
Where she found the African Violet seeds, I'll never know. I
watched her mix just the right amount of soil ingredients, placing
the invisible seed at just the right depth. Then she watered with
care and watched it grow.
It seemed to me that, overnight, the tiny plants would appear,
strong and affirming, to lighten up her life. I loved to watch my
mother's face, as those first tiny seedlings raised their heads to
smile at her.
I suppose that my mother felt safest with her plants. Plants
never told her she was worthless. Plants asked for little, and
they gave back so much. Plants never came home drunk, like my
father did. And they were never disobedient, as I was.
My mother would often tell me her secrets for making things
grow. I can still hear her voice as she shared her magical recipe
for compost or discussed the benefits of one manure over another.
I never told her just how beautiful she was at those moments,
with her face alight with understanding and knowledge.
My mother was a botanist, without a degree. She was a
horticulturist, without a following. She cared for growing things
with great tenderness, and in spite of the sorrow in her life, I
still remember my mother's smile, as some new thing sprang forth
before her eyes.
I remember her warm, throaty laugh, when she discovered that
first robin's nest in spring. I'd stand, spellbound with her, as
she counted the eggs that tried so inadequately to imitate the
blue in my mother's eyes.
She told me stories filled with longing and pathos. I would
laugh and cry with her as she spun the threads of her lost dreams,
never daring to hope for a future. She was brilliant, and she
never knew it.
She was a beauty overcome by regret and broken promises. She
dreamed impossible dreams that were never uttered, and even less
fulfilled.
Every once in awhile, that beautiful, passionate woman would
peek out through my mother's volatile journey through life --
usually when she was coaxing plants to come out of the dark and
encouraging them to reach for the light.
-- Jaye Lewis
Jaye Lewis is an award winning inspirational author. She is also
contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul, Guideposts’ books,
and other popular anthologies.
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JayeLewis
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>The Wren Still Sings
by Pamela R. Blaine
It was one of those rainy and dreary spring days. Although it
wasn't extremely cold, it seemed that the wind caused a chill to
come over me. It was the kind of weather that after a few days
of it, my mood began to match the gloomy climate.
I had finished my chores and was hurrying as fast as I could to
get back into the warm house and out of the continuous drizzle
when I heard something. I ran on inside the back door to get out
of the rain but I turned and peeked back out the screen door. I
wanted to see if I could discover the origin of the lovely sound
that I was hearing. As I listened, I heard the sound again.
I looked over toward the lilac bush and there sat a little wren
that had made her nest in the tomato juice can that Mom had hung in
the bushes years ago. The wind was causing her house to sway and
he rain was coming down harder than ever.
Yet, she seemed to look upward as she held on tightly with her
tiny bird feet to a small branch and continued her sweet musical
solo. Although her world was shaken, the wren still sang.
Perhaps we could take a lesson from the birds and learn to make
our nests, feed our young, and sing to God. The birds don't ask
for better nests or even better material for nests. They don't
complain about their lot in life, but they take what God has given
them and then they do their best to create something beautiful
with it.
I have always enjoyed watching birds. I delight in the brilliant
red of the cardinal, the beauty of the bluebird, and the unique
touch of red on the red winged blackbird.
The birds each have a special song of their own to sing. Some
have a very brief series of chirps while others have a whole chorus
to perform. The Whippoorwill seems to sing her name while the
quail simply calls his "bob white".
I have a tiny hummingbird's nest that is a work of art. It is
so small and beautifully made that I wonder at the perfection of
this wee bird's creation. It is completely round and about the
size of silver dollar. The outside is foundational with the
rougher pieces of sticks and materials at the bottom of the nest.
Gradually, the materials become softer until the finishing touch
on the very top of the inside of the nest is covered with a soft
layer of hair and fur.
The birds around us are all different yet they don't seem
unhappy with their plumages nor do they try to look like other
birds. The sparrow doesn't rush right out to get his feathers
dyed red to look like the cardinal nor does the robin try to peck
away on a tree like the woodpecker.
The birds seem to be very content as they sing, fly, and work at
their job of being a bird. It doesn't seem to me that birds have
much trouble with being happy. It must be because they trust
their heavenly Father. They don't worry about life. they just
live it. The birds neither sow nor reap yet God feeds and takes
care of them and we are told that we are of so much greater value
than the birds.
The wind, rain, and the storms of life happen to people as well
as to birds, but let's try to look up when our world is shaken
too, and remember that the wren still sings!
"Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your
body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body
more than clothes. Consider the ravens; They do not sow or reap,
they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much
more valuable you are than birds!" (Luke 12:24)
By Pamela R. Blaine, © April 2004
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>HE GREAT WEDDING OF '46
by John A. Bruman
I'm pretty sure it was early summer in 1946.
Tommy was the son of the pastor of our family church. He and
I were both 5 years old, and we often played together over at the
parsonage while our mothers looked after materials for Vacation
Bible School or other church business.
In a rare moment of just talking, Tommy began telling me about
his latest adventure as a preacher's son a few days earlier. He
tried to describe how he had been a "ring bear" in a wedding his
father performed.
"What's a ring bear?" was my natural question. At that age,
I had heard about bears in general, as well as polar bears and
grizzly bears. This was a new one.
"Don't you know anything? It's a bear that gives the groom a
ring so he can marry a girl!" he explained with all the patronizing
impatience his young age could muster.
"What's a groom?" I asked. This must have convinced him I was
without doubt a hopeless imbecile.
"Here, I'll show you." Tommy suddenly shifted into his
familiar take charge directorial mode and proceeded to stage his
latest production...
"First you have to stand here in front of me with a girl."
He called for his little sister to come join us and made her
stand next to me. She was decked out for the occasion in what I
later learned were training panties, bare feet, a bib, and a half-
empty glass baby bottle in one corner of her mouth, supported by
her left hand.
"Suzy, you stand here next to John... and stand still!"
He hastily draped a dish towel from his mother's clothesline
over her head as a make-shift veil, and ran inside quickly for a
Bible. Not knowing what was about to transpire, Suzy and I
dutifully held our positions until Tommy returned with a Bible.
"My dog Snappy can be the ring bear," he instructed. While
retrieving a Bible from the house, he had also collected a ring of
some sort (probably from his mother's dresser), tied a piece of
ribbon around it and hung it around Snappy's neck.
Thankfully, the ribbon was just enough of a nuisance that
Snappy didn't try to eat the ring. Although annoyed by the
presence of the ribbon, Snappy obediently sat down next to Suzy,
and awaited Tommy's next command.
"Now I have to read a bunch of stuff out of the Bible,"
Tommy explained. He mumbled several disjointed but familiar words
about love, God, and faith, then reached down and gathered the
ring from around Snappy's neck. He then handed the ring to me,
and said, "Now you put the ring on Suzy."
I tried. The ring was many sizes too big, so I decided to
drape the ribbon loop around her neck, as I had seen Tommy do with
the dog. Suzy momentarily removed the bottle from her mouth long
enough for me to get the loop over her head. Tommy then reopened
his Bible, intoning in his best 5 year-old make believe baritone
voice, "Holy, holy, holy, faith, God and stuff."
With the formality and sense of ritual that would easily
suffice for dubbing a knight, Tommy raised his right hand over
our heads, and proclaimed, "I now make you married! Now you
gotta' kiss Suzy" he decreed.
"I don't wanna," I said.
"That's just too bad, you are married, and that's what you
gotta' do!"
"I don' wanna' eeder!" Suzy complained.
Out of total frustration with this suddenly recalcitrant
couple, Tommy put one hand on his hip, shook his finger at Suzy
and I and scolded, "Now see here, it says in the Bible you two
gotta' kiss or it's a sin, and that's all there is to it!"
Tommy and I were about even in intellectual development at
that age, but his father was our Pastor. Tommy's father and
mother were held in such esteem by my parents, I viewed Tommy and
Suzy in a kind of mystic awe. Because they were the offspring of
our Pastor, they undoubtedly had a direct communication channel to
the Almighty himself. Certainly more direct than any of us mere
mortals!
Therefore, this sudden scolding from Tommy had all the force
and power of a threat of fire and brimstone damnation to anyone
who dared disobey. After all, he had read out of the Bible hadn't
he? Certainly these were the solemn pronouncements of God himself!
Tommy's rather vociferous outburst resounded all the way into
the house, stirring the curiosity of the two mothers inside. They
both came around the corner of the house just in time to see Suzy
dutifully look up at me and pucker her milk coated lips, while I
steadied her with a hand on her shoulder, and obediently kissed her
full on the mouth.
To this day, the smell and taste of warm, stale milk has held
a certain sense of fear and foreboding. Many years later, I
couldn't escape its vague recollection whenever I kissed one of my
own children's milk-tinged lips.
Then and there, the deed was done. Suzy and I were married!
Officiated by Tommy, accompanied by Snappy the dog as our ring
bear, and witnessed by two surprised, mothers-in-law with tears
(of barely controllable mirth) glistening their eyes.
Tommy's mother made a valiant attempt at scolding Tommy for
using her ring and dish towel, and mumbled something about
weddings being very sacred and not suitable for childish make
believe. Meanwhile, my mother beat a hasty retreat into the
house lest an uncontrollable outburst of laughter ruin her
friend's lecture.
Tommy, Suzy and I now are all enjoying senior citizen
discounts at restaurants and hotels. Snappy the ring bear is
long gone. I can imagine his eventual funeral was more than ably
officiated by "Reverend" Tommy.
I've been told Tommy is retired someplace in the Napa Valley
region, from a career in TV news reporting.
I often wonder if my "first wife" ever remembers me, and the
great wedding of '46.
-- John A. Bruman
-<>-
.---------------.
/ oLo \
O/_____/________/____\O
/__________+__________\
/ (#############) \
|[**](#############)[**]|
\_______________________/
|_""__|_,-----,_|__""_|
| | '-----' | | APC'97
'-' '-'
>Highway 109
A drunk man in an Oldsmobile
They said had run the light
That caused the six car pileup
On 109 that night.
When broken bodies lay about
And blood was everywhere,
The sirens screamed out ulogies,
For death was in the air.
A mother, trapped inside her car,
Was heard above the noise;
Her plaintive plea near split the air:
"Oh, God, please spare my boys!"
She fought to loose her pinned hands;
She struggled to get free,
But mangled metal held her fast
In grim captivity.
Her frightened eyes then focused
On where the back seat once had been,
But all she saw was broken glass and
Two children's seats crushed in.
Her twins were nowhere to be seen;
She did not hear them cry,
And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,
"Oh, God, don't let them die!"
Then firemen came and cut her loose,
But when they searched the back,
They found therein no little boys,
But the seat belts were intact.
They thought the woman had gone mad
And was traveling alone,
But when they turned to question her,
They discovered she was gone.
Policemen saw her running wild
And screaming above the noise
In beseeching supplication,
"Please help me find my boys!
They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
Their jeans are blue to match."
One cop spoke up, "They're in my car,
And they don't have a scratch.
They said their daddy put them there
And gave them each a cone,
Then told them both to wait for Mom
To come and take them home.
I've searched the area high and low,
But I can't find their dad.
He must have fled the scene,
I guess, and that is very bad."
The mother hugged the twins and said,
While wiping at a tear,
"He could not flee the scene, you see,
For he's been dead a year."
The cop just looked confused and asked,
"Now, how can that be true?"
The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came
And left a kiss for you."
He told us not to worry
And that you would be all right,
And then he put us in this car with
The pretty, flashing light.
We wanted him to stay with us,
Because we miss him so,
But Mommy, he just hugged us tight
And said he had to go.
He said someday we'd understand
And told us not to fuss,
And he said to tell you, Mommy,
He's watching over us."
The mother knew without a doubt
That what they spoke was true,
For she recalled their dad's last words,
"I will watch over you."
The firemen's notes could not explain
The twisted, mangled car,
And how the three of them escaped
Without a single scar.
But on the cop's report was scribed,
In print so very fine,
An angel walked the beat tonight
On Highway 109.
--- _
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...Reminds me of ones who didn't make it...
In loving memory of the three boys killed in a recent car crash
- May God bless their family and friends.
https://tinyurl.com/y7m2ae63
Please always be extra careful. Pray God watches over you and your
loved ones day in and day out to keep you and them safe - No
accident, harm or injury in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
-<>-
>Links for Your Enjoyment:
Bird Inspirations!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/birdinspirations.html
Growing Old!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/growingold.html
All About Hugs!
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/hugs.html
Sociable Weaver Birds!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/sociableweavers.html
World's Fastest Cars
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/fastcars.html
9/11 Hero Rick Rescorla!
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/911hero.html
Police Dogs 3!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/policedogs3.html
Attitude Is Everything 5!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude5.html
Eagle Hunters!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eaglehunters.html
American Heroes Abroad!
http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/americanheroes.html
Structural Engineering!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/masterbuilders.html
Al Capone's Car!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/alcaponescar.html
World's Fastest Plane!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fastestplane.html
Woman Cops Around The World!
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womancops.html
-<>-
The Betrayal of Innocent Blood
https://tinyurl.com/y9k98ql3
Taking things to EXTREMES
http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Taking_Things_To_EXTREMES.htm
It’s a Two-Way Street
http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/It's_a_Two-Way_Street.htm
-<>-
>In The News:
HEADS UP! Team Trump Online
Join senior adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle on Thursday, June 11, at
8 p.m. EDT for Team Trump Online featuring special guests Rudy
Giuliani and Sheriff Bunny Welsh.
Click here to RSVP and reserve your spot!
https://tinyurl.com/ya527zac
Defund Police, Watch Crime Return
https://tinyurl.com/y7jkm9pq
“Vulnerable New Yorkers want more police presence, not less; they
view officers as their only protection against predation. What will
the activists seeking to defund the NYPD tell these law-abiding
residents—that they are now on their own?” Manhattan Institute
fellow Heather Mac Donald writes in the New York Post.
https://tinyurl.com/yb4c2xkf
“The owner of a manufacturing company based in Minneapolis has
decided to move his factory after law enforcement was unable to
protect the plant from burning during riots.” He said that the
city’s local leaders didn’t “care about my business. They didn’t
protect our people. We were all on our own.” Read more in The
Daily Caller.
https://tinyurl.com/ya72g33n
“Debate is no longer allowed in America’s liberal newsrooms, and
the left has the scalps to prove it. James Bennet is out as New
York Times editorial-page editor.” Why? Because his paper published
an opinion column by a U.S. senator arguing for deploying the
military if violent riots got out of control, the New York Post
editorial board writes.
https://tinyurl.com/ybhe3cfo
WA: Seattle Police Want to Return to Shuttered Precinct Amid
Protests
https://tinyurl.com/ya42oknd
Retired WA cop: Abandoning East Precinct in Seattle 'unconscionable'
https://mynorthwest.com/1934871/east-precinct-seattle-cops/
Historic First: Under Trump, Half Of National Security Council
Leaders Are Women - Trump has long relied on the leadership and
counsel of women, the White House says.
https://tinyurl.com/y7m6qjqm
Free Veteran Mentorship with Fortune 500 Companies, Ask Employment
Questions to USAA, Amazon, Walgreens, Walmart, VA
https://tinyurl.com/y8nwg6vc
WHO's confusing doubletalk on COVID-19 raises doubts about
competence
https://tinyurl.com/yd5hwqv4
Kayleigh McEnany blasts reporters with facts about defunding the
police | TheDC Shorts
https://tinyurl.com/yd876b6d
Top Biden Surrogate Wants Him to Stay ‘in the Basement’
https://tinyurl.com/y7rlon3n
Kentucky governor wants 100 percent health coverage for African
American residents
https://tinyurl.com/ydfz4752
Disney Plus Releases Shockingly Inappropriate New Pixar Short Film
for Kids
https://tinyurl.com/y98ygdju
Chinese propaganda outlet has paid U.S. newspapers $19 million for
advertising, printing
https://tinyurl.com/yae5mlss
Revealed: Planned Parenthood’s Sick Tactic to Sell Abortions to
Teenage Girls
https://tinyurl.com/y76rsryx
Patton Oswalt Just Made an Insane Comparison to Antifa Rioters and
WWII Veterans
https://tinyurl.com/y9nvuhsm
Westwing News: The Corporate Media Is Now Controlled by the
Radical Left
https://www.whitehouse.gov/westwingreads/
WhiteHouseNews: JUST IN: More good news on the U.S. comeback
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/
Latest From AFA:
http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw
Students For Life
https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6
Latest From OperationRescue:
http://www.operationrescue.org/
Latest Product Alert: Ford Recalls 2.15 Million Vehicles in U.S.
http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text
Latest Health Alert:
http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text
Click to Give Free
https://tinyurl.com/y2abb8d2
-<>-
>From Our Friend Fran :)
The Concert for Valor: STEVEN SPIELBERG / Cmdr. BILL KRISSOFF
https://www.youtube.com/embed/7tyT4glkvBs
---
...Sweet! Thanks Fran!
-<>-
>From Our Friend LouiseAu :)
Marko Carvo and his birds perform their magic with amazing
technical perfection, class and showmanship. Magnifique!
https://youtu.be/Oezdfqlup4E
An entertaining music video of the hit song "Shut Up and Dance"
by Walk The Moon set to various movie dance scenes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVJu9AMJJr4
A great look back at the 1950?s and 1960's that should bring back
fond memories for anyone that grew up in that era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDc0ID6PJeg
---
...Fun ones! 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
==========================================================
>-->From HeartTouchers.com
_
.""""">.(8)_
`(/_|_\)" \
/ | \ "
dd
>The Firefly Effect
By Ken Pierpont
My sweetest childhood memories are of simple things like the tire
swing in the big oak out front, playing catch with my Dad, and
swimming in the creek. Another of those simple things was chasing
fireflies on the lawn as night fell on a summer evening. The bugs
only had a small light but they were especially brilliant because
of the dark backdrop of the night sky.
Some lights guide us to safety like lights on a runway or
lighthouses. Lights can stir up feelings of warm security like the
soft light falling out of your window at home reminding you that
someone you love is waiting for you. Lights can even have healing
power, like the beam of light used in laser surgical operations.
When a ray of light is focused it can warm and heal or start a
destroying fire. There is an indescribable value to the light of
a wood fire whether outdoors or burning on your own hearth. Who
doesn't love peering into the light of a campfire on a cool evening
outdoors?
The culture in which we are raising our families is morally and
spiritually very dark. We live in a time when the new lows of human
depravity are being graphically displayed in media. This is true
all over the world and in almost every community on earth. Not
even isolated rural communities are exempt.
The ways of God are ignored and the laws of God are violated by
millions. Morally and spiritually, we live in a dark hour. We
wrestle against the "rulers of the darkness of this age."
Spiritual light is as rare as it is beautiful. Jesus told his
followers to let their light so shine that men will see their good
works and glorify their Father in heaven. Paul said that those who
do all things without complaining are blameless and harmless,
children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world,
holding fast the word of life.
There is a principle, though, that warms the heart and gives hope
to those who feel overwhelmed by the dark hour in which we live.
One way to state the principle is like this: "The darker the night
the brighter the light shines." Even the smallest light is
noticeable if it is dark enough outside. That is what I like to
call that "The Firefly Effect." It makes me hopeful.
The spring of my seventeenth year I heard that there was a preacher
at Immanuel Baptist Church in Arcanum, Ohio. I got my Dad's powder
blue VW Superbeetle and drove to the service. I was hungry for
truth and I wasn't turned away empty. I don't remember the name of
the guest preacher. I do remember a number of the things he said.
One thing he said was, "The flower of youth never appears more
beautiful than when it bends toward the Sun of Righteousness."
I have remembered that all my life. I wish I remembered the name
of the preacher who said it. I just did a quick search on the
wonderful internet and discovered that the quote was originally the
work of Matthew Henry, an English divine who lived from 1662 to
1714. So people have noticed outstanding young people throughout
time.
I was interested to discover that I had remembered it exactly
word-for-word even though that was nearly thirty years ago. I
still remember it and it is a timeless truth. I have rarely spoken
to a group of young people without reminding them of the truth.
When I was at Moody Bible Institute studying in the Graduate School,
I heard a story that touched my heart. Mayor Daley once made this
comment to Joe Stowell, the president of Moody, "In August, when the
Moody students return to Chicago, its like the lights come on in the
city." That night, back in my room alone, I looked out over the
great city all alight and considered the beauty of the analogy.
Once in conversation with Flint's Mayor James Rutherford he made a
similar comment to me about the ministry of the Character Inn. He
said, "We see your organization like the crown jewel of the
downtown." Imagine that, the Firefly Effect at work in Chicago and
even in downtown Flint, Michigan. Wherever on earth even the
smallest light of faith exists, the deepest darkness cannot
overcome it. Darkness only serve the amplify the beauty of the
light.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the
praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light
Ken Pierpont
ken@kenpierpont.com
-<>-
_|_
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#%@@ /~~~~.~~~~\ @@%#
@%%#%%, /~~~~/ \~~~~\ ,%%#%%@
%%@@%%@%/~~~~/ : \~~~~\%@%%@@%%
`@%%%@#@/____/ (X) \____\@%%%@#@`
@@\@%%@`|.`.| ___ |.`.|`@%%@/@@
`#%/@ |:x:|| .||:x:| @\%#`
|| |:x:|| ||:x:| ||
-_|| _-|:x:||~ .||:x:|-_ ||_-
!-!-!-!-!-|___||___||___|-!-!-!-!-!lc
>Words Of Hope - Three Timely Reminders
A world-wide pandemic of disease. An ugly incident of evil. A flood
of iniquity in our land. What are we to make of it all? How are we
going to survive the disease, the ugliness, the prejudice, the
injustice, the anarchy, and the apostasy. What are we to make of
it?
1. You are not alone.
You are not the only faithful one left. God has his people–his
faithful remnant everywhere. He is working in and through them.
I’m not the last faithful pastor. Our church isn’t the last
faithful church. America isn’t God’s only hope. The Kingdom of
God always has and always will survive the onslaught of apostacy
in every age. As God told Elijah when he was discouraged and he
thought he was the lone remaining faithful prophet: “…I have
reserved seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
2. This thing is not over.
There may be temporary setbacks. There may be local defeats. There
may be dark times and ugly losses, but Jesus wins and he wins
big-time. He will not be defeated. His Kingdom is an eternal
Kingdom. He is good and he will do good and all that is wrong will
one day be made right. Trust him and never doubt it.
One day; “…the kindgom of this world will become the kingdom of
our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever…”
(Rev. 11:15)
3. It is serious.
This is more important than life-and-death… It concerns of
eternity. This is a matter of heaven and hell. Don’t get
distracted. So much is so much at stake. Satan does want to
crush people who are precious to God and to us and drag them into
hell. We really are locked on mortal combat with evil–even
immortal combat with evil. This is a call to prayer, fasting,
repentance. This is a call to faithfulness. Witness. Give the
gospel. Have gospel conversations. Talk to your children and your
grand-children. Be an example. Walk with God. Confess any known
sin. Search your heart. Love one another. Be a light. Now more
then ever our world need believers who are “…blameless, innocent,
children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and
twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world…”
(Phil 2:14ff)
Don’t be discouraged by what you see around you. The Bible makes
sense of all of it. Nothing is happening that the Scriptural
story does not explain. People do evil because they are fallen
and disfigured by sin. People have an inclination for good because
they are made in the image of God. No one has escaped the curse of
sin and it’s foul effects. Without redemption through Christ all
are lost forever. The world is in turmoil because there is a
conflict between good and evil that God is using for his glory and
he is moving it to a certain victory in his time. He turns things
that are evil to his own purposes for our good and his glory.
Nations rise and fall. God’s kingdom is eternal. Sometimes even
believers do things that are inexcusably wrong. Get a Bible. Know
it well. Grow in Christ. Walk in the Spirit. Don’t give in to doubt
or despair.
Bittersweet Farm
June 5, 2020
Ken Pierpont
ken@kenpierpont.com
Write Ken and let him know your thoughts on his story!
Ken Pierpont is the Director of the Riverfront Character Inn and
International Conference Center in Flint, Michgian. He and his
wife Lois have four sons and four daughters. Ken sends the
Stonebridge Newsletter, a free weekly electronic newsletter, to
almost 5,000 subscribers every Monday morning. You can visit his
site http://www.kenpierpont.com
==========================================================
>-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :)
Two good stories - (and both true)
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(O_ ____)
(O____)
by tod@m-net.arbornet.org
>STORY NUMBER ONE
Many Years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't
famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the
windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to
murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer
for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at
legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well.. Not only was
the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For
instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-
in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so
large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little
consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved
dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and
a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.
And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried
to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better
man than he was.
Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he
couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good
example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie
wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.
He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about
Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his
son some resemblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to
testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.
So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on
a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son
the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could
ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a
religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.
The poem read:
"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to
tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place
no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still."
-<>-
__---__ ______
/ ___\_ o O O _( )__
/====(_____\___---_ o _( )_
| \ (_ AI-YA!!!! )
| |@ (_ Shot _)
\ ___ / (__ Again!__)
\ __----____--_\____(____\_____/ (______)
==|__----____--______|
/ / \____/)_
/ ______)
/ | |
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/_____________*____*___________\
/ * * \
/________________________________\
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>STORY NUMBER TWO
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant
Commander Butch O'Hare.
He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington
in the South Pacific.
One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was
airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone
had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.
He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back
to his ship.
His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly,
he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned
his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way
toward the American-fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all
but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back
in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the
approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must
somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the
formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as
he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.
Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as
many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.
Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying
to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as
possible, rendering them unfit to fly.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another
direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back
to the carrier.
Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his
return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the
tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his
fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took
place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the
Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the
Medal of Honor.
A Year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.
His hometown would not allow the memory of this WWII hero to fade,
and today, O'Hare airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the
courage of this great man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give
some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and
his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?
Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.
(Pretty cool, eh!)
---
...Very Cool! Love It! Thanks LouiseAu!
Here is more info about this:
Fact Check: Al Capone’s connection to O’Hare Airport’s namesake
https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20110131/NEWS/801258184
==========================================================
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>-->From Lasting Light Poetry:
In times of aimless wandering
When nothing's clear or right
I bow my head and look above
For courage and insight
The darkness can be heavy
And lonely in the night
But a ray of hope remains
From His faithful, lasting light
Please shine along the pathway
When I'm weary of the fight
Your love's a constant beacon
Oh so vigilant and bright
By Karen Shaw Matteson- 2001
-<>-
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/ / \ | \
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/' _/ \ | \
_/' /' | \ `-.__
__/' ,-' / | | \ `--...__
/' / | / \ \ `-. `\
/ /;;,,__-' / / \ \ `-.
/ |;;;;;;;\ \
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|
/^\
/^\ /___\ /^\
\/^\ | # |__________ /^\/
\| | | # |__________\ . |_|/
| _ | # # # # | X
| H | |
>Here I'll Stand
I have climbed the highest mountain,
After braving a winter's storm.
At the top, there was a lighthouse;
A place that's safe and warm.
I wondered if I'd make it.
The way was often rough.
But, I found I had the courage.
My faith was just enough.
The wandering and waiting
Gave me time enough to think,
Even though my troubled soul
Was sometimes at the brink.
If you haven't made this journey,
Feeling no hope was in sight,
Well, let me tell you now, my friend,
At the end there is a light.
You won't be as you were before.
But, you'll find some comfort here.
In the place above the storms and gales,
You'll overcome your fears.
So, rest a while and linger.
Take time to claim your soul
And know that all is truly well.
God's love is in control.
© 2002 Karen Shaw Matteson
http://lastinglight.com/
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