Tea Anyone? ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) ______/``'``'-. (_ 6 \ .^ __ `'.__, | `'-. /_ \ / / :`^' /`/_` \/ / .' YeeHaaw!! "/ `'- |.-'`^. `. / .`-._ \ `'^^^ /`/' \ \ "" \ `. `\ `. `\/ \-'-.- / /`. `-. ( /' ) .^ \ \\ .'^. `. \ > > `` `. ) // / .` /`/ gnv "" I have some great news! We have a new Shangrala Angel! Yes! Praise God! Kay R Sluterbeck from here in Ohio stepped up to the plate to help the site! So sweet! Along with her name being added to our Angel List, I have it as a link to where her art work is often featured. Check it out here... Wassenberg Art Center http://www.vanwert.com/wassenberg/ Kay became our third Angel for the year. She along with Kenneth and William have stepped up to the plate to help keep Shangrala alive this year! May God Bless Them More than Abundantly for their sweet generosity! , })`-=--. }/ ._.-' _.-=-...-' / {{| , | {{\ | \ /_ }} \ ,'---'\___\ { )/\\ \\ >\ jgs // >\ >\`- `- `- `- >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel too? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2009 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR ABUNDANT GIFT! -<>- >Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press... We've got two Sizzlin' Hot new pages! This first one is from a forward from our friend Jo Ann. I love architecture and this one is absolutely unique, original, and pretty cool! Because of it's name, I was able to use a page from our past as a guideline for it - like a 'Bones 2'! See what you think... .-. .-. ( `-._________.-' ) >= _______ =< jgs ( ,-'` `'-, ) `-' `-' CASA BATLLO - HOUSE OF BONES http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hbones.html The next one, I couldn't resist. I do have a love and admiration for elephants. I love elephant jokes and stories. This was an especially unique and interesting story from our friend Viv. Check it out here... .---. .--. ___/ \ / `.-"" `-, ; ; / O O \ / `. \ /-' _ J-.__; _.' (" / `. -=: `: `, -=| | F\ i, ; -| | | | || \_J fsc mmm! `mmM Mmm' Elephant Hotel! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/elhotel.html --- ...Wonderful Ladies! Thank You So Much! You Keep Us In SMILES! -<>- [POLITCS] .------.____ .-' \ ___) .-' \\\ .-' ___ \\) .-' / (\ |) __ \ ( | | / \ \__'| | / \____).-' .' / | / . / | .' / \/ | / / \ | / / _|_ \ / /\ /\ \ / /__v__\ ' | | | .#| VK |#. .##| |#######| |#######| >TEA ANYONE? I watched with proud delight on the FOX News last night as around the great USA, tea parties were being held. In about 700 different locations there were thousands of men, woman, and children participating and protesting! All came out to tell Pres. Obama they want their freedom back! One sign was being held up by a little girl and it read - 'Obama keep your hands off my piggy bank!' It does my heart good to know that these people are standing up for their rights. They are not blinded by the 'Obama Light'. They are saying 'Enough is Enough'! All these taxes is not good for America - Not for us, Not for our children and Not for our children's children! We should not leave them with such a debt to pay! Cut the spending! It reminds me of a Story our friend Jo Ann just sent us... >Dirt 8a . `. _ ___________ s, _____ /_/ ____________________a:f__ .Jktbc._ _ ./ xft#kTJ: _. (_)/) -._ cf8#6C. , ( ( ,-' ) ` `"P:'. '-._\_\___.---' The boss ordered one of his men to dig a hole eight feet deep. After the job was completed the boss returned and explained An error had been made and the hole wouldn't be needed. "Fill the hole back up," he ordered. The worker did as he'd been told. But he ran into a problem. He couldn't get all the dirt packed back into the hole Without leaving a mound on top. He went to the office and explained his problem. The boss snorted, "Honestly! The kind of help you get these days! There's obviously only one thing to do. You'll have to dig that hole deeper!" Have you ever tried to un-ring a bell? Once rung, it's rung. You can't call the sound back into the Bell. That is true with a bell. That is true with words. Once rung or said, it can't be un-rung or un-said. There are many things in life that once it's done, It just can't be put back exactly like it was. When we dig up and spread dirt, we can't just put the dirt back In and make everything like it was before. Even when we try to repair the damage, we leave marks. Before we say an unkind word, humiliate someone, or spread Gossip, remember, it's like the boss that tried to fill in the Hole and make it like it was. You can't just dig it deeper. There is a sign that you will often see on property where Underground power, water or gas lines run. It says, "Call this number before digging". Maybe we should always check with the main office before Digging. You can never get dirt put back in place quite right once it's Been let loose. --- ...Thank You Bunches Jo Ann! The reason this reminds me of our economic problem is because it is the same. You can't solve a problem of too much spending by more spending. You can't just dig us deeper in debt to cover up the mistakes of the hole being dug in the first place! All you do is make for a bigger more serious problem! Printing more money just makes our current money worth less money and makes us more short so we are in the hole even more then we were before! Taxing us more just makes us more broke. Spending more by printing more money and/or raising our taxes isn't going to solve our current economic problems. HURRAY TO ALL THOSE WHO PROTESTED AT THE TEA PARTIES! clap clap Clap clap clap clap clap clap Clap clap clap clap clap , clap clap clap Clap clap clap . \ ` Clap \ ( (\ ) / ` ` / _\ , \(") ___ .- )=| (` ') ' _ /'| |-n___n ' (/\| a:f____________|_L___J__ < L _______________________ GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE TO STAND FOR GOD AND COUNTRY! To Do Nothing means Nothing Gets Done! GOD CAN MOVE When WE MOVE FIRST! The Next Tea Parties are going to be this Saturday! Thousands of Anti-Tax 'Tea Party' Protesters Turn Out in U.S. Cities http://tinyurl.com/crygdg Air America http://tinyurl.com/d76vxs FoxNation.com http://foxnation.com/ God's Heart Concerning Money and Possessions: To listen to this teaching free of charge, visit here: http://www.stfpodcast.com/File/jan2003_financial_stewardship.mp3 BibleStudy: Financial Stewardship http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/financialstewardship.html ============================================================= >How Could She Tell? Story Editor: by Crystal C. Clayton Bennett Oregon, USA Early in 1999, our family had to drive several hundred miles to Billings, Montana, to visit a hospitalized family member. Between travel, lodging and having given most of our available cash to help relatives out with expenses, we had very little money when we left to return home. It was dusk when we drove out of Billings. We didn't notice at first that our headlights were dimming, and that's probably why we missed the exit for the interstate leading home. After about 40 miles we began to see that nothing along the highway was familiar. In 35 more miles we saw an exit to a town that wasn't anywhere near where we were supposed to be. With eight miles to the next exit, we realized the headlights were dangerously dim. The car began to sputter, and I had to turn off the lights to keep it running. At the foot of the exit ramp there was a small post office. The car stopped running completely as we pulled into the parking area. I soon determined that the alternator wasn't working. It was 7 p.m. and we were in Rosebud, Montana, a tiny town with no services. To make things worse, heavy snow was falling. We needed to find our family a safe place to spend the night, then find an alternator to fix the car in the morning. We couldn't see any other buildings, and the rest of the town was nearly a mile away. Even if we walked there, we knew, there was probably no motel or parts store. Just then a lady stopped to check her mail before heading home. I asked if she had a few minutes to help charge up our battery and where we could find food, lodging, and car parts. She gave what we needed and more. She suggested we go to Forsyth, about seven miles away. We followed her with only our parking lights on so the car wouldn't die again. She led us to a motel, where she insisted on paying for the room. While we were settling into the room, she returned with a meal she had purchased for us. The next morning she came back! She took us to the parts store and insisted on buying an alternator for us. While I was fixing the car, she got us another meal -- and when we were leaving, she filled our tank and insisted that we take some money for the trip home. She did all those things for us when we had just asked for a jump-start and a few recommendations. How she could tell what else we needed, I don't know, or why she gave us so much. But I know how much it meant to us. Perhaps her greatest gift was to give us a memory of one person who would do so much for complete strangers. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Jo Ann :) *** * //* //* ** **/| ** ************//*********** ***********//************ ** |/** ** **/| *// //* Jesus Christ Our Anchor |/** **/| *** *// *** ***** //* ***** ******* |/** ******* ************* ******* * unkown >The Secret Of Life... The secret of life is to make the best of whatever comes along, Make every day fresh and new, Go in search of knowledge and experience. Let your questions and your answers reconcile. Do your best to remember that the best kind of learning curve is an educated smile. Share your magic with the people who share your memories. Let your feelings run deep. Be in touch with the people who live in your heart. Be a caring person who plays for keeps. To really know what success means, earn it. Don't rely on some elevator to get you there. The higher the floor you want to reach, the more important it is to take the stairs. The easiest lessons to remember are the ones you learn the hard way! Appreciate the little things that make each day unique and special. Have A Beautiful Day!!! -<>- >A sweet story .-"''-. _ .' `( \ @/ ') ,--,__,-" / / \ / / _/ __| , |/ / .~ `\ / \ , | / .~ `\ ` / _/ _/ .~ `\ ~~`__/ / ~ `--'/ / / / / /' /jgs This is a tear jerker! A Special Story Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his s sister in Mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her. The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the the Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee. The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst. Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for t heir new baby they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him se his sister. I want to sing to her, he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, _____ ,\_+_/, '(("""))' '(|o,o|)' '; = ;' _) (_ /' \_/ '\ /\(_ : _)/\ /||/)___( \ \ \|_)' \/ / | (_/ | | | | |_______| \ | / Sher^: | : ; | ; "Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed." The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. He is not leaving until he sings to his sister" she stated. Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began tossing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray." Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away." As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart." "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms". Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away..." The next, day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home. Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song. The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love. NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. Please send this to all the people that have touched your life in some way. Life is good. Have Wonderful Day! When you receive this e-mail just recite the following prayer. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. This is the power of prayer at work. Just send this to (4) people and see what happens on the fourth day. Do not break this, please. There is no cost, but lots of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another. May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you. --- ...Awesome story Jo Ann! Thank you! This is a classic and I decided to check it out. It is TRUE! Read about the update about it here: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/b/brotherssong.htm This story is a good one for all to keep in mind. It reminds me of my daughter. She was born a little early but her main problem was that she inhaled the afterbirth on birth. It was in her lungs and they had her in an incubator in hopes it would help clear her from her respiratory problems. I had a little one and a half year old at home, so I went home having to leave her at the hospital while she recovered. Unfortunately, she was not recovering. Day after day her breathing was very labored and raspy. I would visit her and breast feed her and have to leave bottles for her. I was planning on just having to leave her a couple days or so, but when they told me she had no improvement after not having her home for days, I got mad. I decided it was time to talk to her and get her out of there. I told her she needed to get better as we loved her and missed her and wanted her home! I told her that her little brother wanted her home too. She just had to get better and I'd take her home to be with us. The very next day I came to visit her again as usual, I was extremely blessed to learn that I could take her on home with us. To the surprise of the hospital staff and doctors, she had had a complete recovery. No more fluid was in her lungs. Sometimes all it takes is letting the little ones know they are wanted and loved! By their will and God's grace, miracles can happen! ===================================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: ___ //))))) )))@_@) ((( = ) ))) -(_ __ / `-'\\ /,\\\` /__| )y | < \ (\_/ `.\ \ {>>>` | /`-'\____| / c \\ / (C \_ _))\ `-'-._/ \ / /\ \ / ,' `. \ / / \ \ <\_\_ \ \ `---` (_`-\_ `---' hjw A man standing in line at a check out counter of a grocery store was very surprised when a very attractive woman behind him said, "Hello!" Her face was beaming. He gave her that "who are you look," and couldn't remember ever having seen her before. Then, noticing his look, she figured she had made a mistake and apologized. "Look," she said "I'm really sorry but when I first saw you, I thought you were the father of one of my children," and walked out of the store. The guy was dumbfounded and thought to himself, "What is the world coming to? Here is an attractive woman who can't keep track of who fathers her children!" Then he got a little panicky. "I don't remember her," he thought, but MAYBE..during one of the fraternity parties he had been to when he was in college, perhaps he did father her child! He ran from the store and caught her in the parking lot and asked, "Are you the girl I met at a party in college and then we had a little too much to drink and spent the night together but I never called you again after- ward?" "No", she said with a horrified look on her face. "I'm your son's Sunday School teacher." ==== >Tragedy /=/ __/=/ /::/| _/::/ / /_~/||/ [__]/|' / /// :F_P: (o)|/ y// /=/ /=/ HE WAS A young man and already preaching... Every Sunday he would leave the Kansas farm his father worked, cross a train track, and drive to a rural church to preach. One Sunday afternoon the train came half an hour early. He probably never knew what hit him. How can we make sense of that? How could a God who is good allow such a promising life to be swept away? Simple answers only mock those who ask them. We cannot fathom completely the purposes of God. But I can tell you the rest of the story. The broken-hearted father, who had been something of a "Sunday morning only" Christian, became an elder and a fine Bible-class teacher. The young man's six younger brothers became Gospel preachers. One went to Zambia as a missionary; another to Buenos Aires, Argentina; a third went to Zimbabwe. The Lord alone knows how many these brothers reached for his glory. The young man who was killed was the uncle I never met. My father was the next oldest brother after Earl. I am merely human and cannot explain the presence in this life of suffering and bereavement. But I believe that James was right when he wrote the following words: "Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4). The child of God cannot attain spiritual completeness without facing trials. The Africans have a saying: "After the rain, come the flowers." So how does your garden grow? (Stan Mitchell) KneEmail: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (Jas. 1:2). Bible reading for 11.01.07: John 1 - 3 "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." (Philippians 2:10). From Knee Mail Mike Benson, Editor To subscribe, send ANY message to: kneemail-subscribe@welovegod.org --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...This one, I have to add my two cents... Speaking of the tragic death of a godly man, the author wrote... 'We cannot fathom completely the purposes of God.' And later quoted this verse... "Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4). We face trials of many kinds for what purpose? 'so that we may be mature and complete, and not lacking anything' - OK, how does that translate into being dead? The man was killed. This is not a trial of his faith. He did not 'persevere' through this to ultimately become more 'mature and complete' as the bible says trials are for. This then, was obviously not a test of his faith and not of or from God. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Mark 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. 1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Death is our enemy. Death is not of or from God. My guess as to why this godly man was tragically killed is because it was an accident. If this is a true story, I am positive God warned him of the oncoming danger but I am equally positive he didn't heed the warning due to his habit. God would of told him to look and be careful but his experience and habit told him it wasn't necessary due to the train always being much later. Habit made him choose to not listen to that little inner voice warning him and got him killed. His choice was to not listen to God's warning. God will never make anyone do anything. He gives us freedom of choice even if our choice leads us to a horrible outcome. He does not intervene when he is not asked to. We have to therefore get real good at paying attention to that little voice that gives us knowledge and wisdom. Becuase it just might be God telling us something we need to know! TRUST IN THE LORD http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/trustinthelord.html BibleStudy: Meditating Upon The Word Of God http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/meditating.html BibleStudy: Be Ye Thankful http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/beyethankful.html ============================================================= >-->From InspiredBuffalo: _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >Pray Without Ceasing "One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes." "Help God! Help! Forgive me for my sins and save me. And you'd better do it real quick because my mother is about to kill me!" This was a prayer from Jamie, a friend's granddaughter. Jamie, a four-year old, had just applied her mother's fingernail polish to her fingernails plus many other places on her hands and in mother's bedroom. A not too happy mother had sent her to the bathroom to wait until the mess in the bedroom was cleaned up. When mother came into the bathroom, the prayer above was what she heard her daughter praying! It's good for all of us to pray whenever we are in trouble. Probably most of us do. I certainly do. As someone has said, "There will always be prayer in schools as long as there are exams!" However, when we are in trouble is not the only time we need to pray. Like me, you probably have a "friend" or two who only calls you when they want something. As soon as you hear their voice, you think to yourself, "I wonder what s/he wants now?" I don't like those kinds of "friends" and I can't help but wonder how God feels if the only time I come to him is when I am in trouble or want something? As Jesus said, we ought to pray at all times and for many reasons--especially to express thanks and gratitude for all the blessings God gives to us daily. Or as the King James translation puts it, "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." -<>- __/\"""""""""""""\__ |\__/""""""""""""""\_\ \|__ [][][][][][][] __| -shimrod \______________/ >PRACTICING PATIENCE "I grew up with six brothers," says comedian Bob Hope. "That's how I learned to dance, waiting to get into the bathroom." Patience may not come easily for you. But whether or not you share a bathroom with others, you can get plenty of practice. We're presented daily with amply opportunity to learn patience. After moving to the city. I grew impatient with the bumper-to-bumper traffic. I decided to keep a harmonica in the glove compartment, along with a beginner's book. When traffic was held up, I took out my harmonica and played. I figured I could either practice patience or practice the harmonica. The harmonica seemed like more fun. My patience still needs practice, but the harmonica is coming along. Benjamin Franklin learned that persistence and patience were crucial to the success of his scientific experiments. He once said, "Genius is nothing but a greater aptitude for patience." So he practiced patience. You can be a genius...just be patient! All it takes is practice. -- Steve Goodier -<>- ___ / _ \\ ,, /=(_)=\\// \ =(_) (O} \_____\\ .--. Jonathon R. Oglesbee /=(_)\\\ .'_\/_'. \____/// '. /\ .' aka JRO ()) "||" || /\ /\ ||//\) (/\\||/ ____________\||/________________________________ >A LOVING THOUGHT By: Joseph J. Mazzella George Macdonald wrote that "If instead of a gem or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give." I can remember one of the first loving thoughts that was cast into my own heart and the angel who placed it there. I was a young boy and my parents, brothers, and I were spending the afternoon at the home of a family friend. This friend was the hymn leader at our church as well as the music teacher at my grade school. I remember I used to sit and listen to her play songs on her guitar for hours at a time. On this day my dad was outside once again working his mechanic magic or her ailing, old car. My mom was setting up a picnic for everyone and my brothers were in the yard playing. I was inside talking with our friend and listening to her sweet music. I don’t remember exactly what we were talking about, but I do remember at one point her saying, "Joe, for someone so young you already understand a lot about life." That loving thought made a home in my heart that day. Before it I never cared much about understanding life, but just as a seed grows into a flower those kind words by that caring angel awakened a desire in me to understand as much as I could about life and living. It helped me start a journey that is still going on today. That gem of an idea that I could really understand what life was all about and that I could live my life as it was meant to be lived shined in my soul and kept me searching, learning, and growing. That loving thought led me through pain, sorrow, and back home to God again. It led me to writing, sharing, and who I am today. It led me to the knowledge that God is love, that life is joy, and that we are all here to love and help each other. I hope you cast the gift of a few loving thoughts yourself today then. Why let the angels have all the fun? -<>- ('( \ \ " Help !!! Alligator...." d@b | | @@@@' | ('( Y@P `--.. \ `--' .' `. `---....__/ | / . \ /^^^^\ / .'\ \ /^^\________/0 \ \ \ \ \ ( `~+++,,___,++~^^^^ -unknown- \ \ \__\ ...V^V^V^V^V^V^\......................... _`--` `--' Allen Mullen `---' >SCARS IN LIFE Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole that was behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. In the house, his mother was looking out the window. She saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed, and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms, just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began a very incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim, and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. On his arms, there were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh, in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked the boy if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. Then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go." You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly, and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been right there, holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you, and provide for you in every way. But, sometimes, we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril ~ and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That is when the tug-of-war begins. If you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He will not ever let you go. Please pass this on to those you love. God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life, and what they are going through. Never judge another persons scars, because you don't know how they got them. Links for Your Enjoyment Training Goldfish http://www.buffaloschips.com/7201.htm If I Die Before You Wake http://www.buffaloschips.com/070202.htm Trunk Monkey Chaperone http://www.buffaloschips.com/070203.htm Tuck In Shirt http://www.buffaloschips.com/070204.htm Turkey http://www.buffaloschips.com/7701.htm Turkish Gillette http://www.buffaloschips.com/7702.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ============================================================= >-->From Our Friend Viv :) / _, ,_ M\M"_,, `"MMMMMm._ `/MMMMMMP^^", MPTMMM`M `-. .'" MMMm "=, `.`"-. .' / S _"^M :Ww. \ `-. .-' .: ".wW\.; :WP^; `-. `-. .-' .-'/ \ :^WP: ; `--' ;\ `-. `. .-' .-' / /; `..' ; \`. `-. \ / .-' .' / ; .-";`"""--5..`-. `-.\ / .' .-' / | .' ; r`) `-. \\ ; / .-' .-' ;_/ ; _ ; `. \; |' .' .' ( _ _ : `-' :\ `./ `-' / .-r-.`Y `-' : / ; ; .-7" `.`7. | .' | : ' ; ; `--..__.'-""/ ;\ \ ,| | | ..--",-' : ; _ _.7`,_J- ; : ;, _,': /; ; _ .' `--.`-.`-'_.-| `. |/ : .'/ : ; | |`". _.-".+. :`"-. `--`"" ,_: `'7 /.-. ; | / | : 7",' ." | : \ : `-. / ;' / | | `--\ /4 ' / .' ; `. ; \ :`"\ .< ; : _.7 ' `. / /.' \ `.___.-"> ;_/ :---"\ `. ' `.-.. `"--' / fsc `.___..--"/ _mMMMm,.' `-.`-.._ ) `"--. .' `---'"mMMMMMMMMm,_ `-----' `"" `" "^`^MMMP^^mm, WHAT R U? Your Heart is your Love, Your love is your Family, Your family is your Future, Your future is your Destiny, Your destiny is your Ambition, Your ambition is your Aspiration, Your aspiration is your Motivation, Your motivation is your Belief, Your belief is your Peace, Your peace is your Target, Your target is Heaven. --- ...Good thinking! 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