The Glad Game And More! ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ -=- (\ _ /) (`\(")/') (`/\') \\/^\// / \ hjw / \ `-._.-' *~* WE NEED MORE 2009 CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2009 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is 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 ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy" News :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' I just wanted to remind you to be checking out these audio files. They are MP3 files that you can load into your MP3 player and study God's Word while you are doing most anything else. Pretty Cool! I'm talking about these here from our most trusted teachers... >>> Awesome News From Our Friends At TruthOrTradition <<< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Creation Vs Evolution Controversy Seminar: Now online for Free! Hello and God bless you! We have just made our Creation Vs Evolution Controversy Seminar available online for free. Disc 1: Introduction, The two-model system Disc 2: Mathematical "evidence," Evolution is a cruel process Disc 3: The geologic column, Fossils Disc 4: Darwin rejected God, Creation of the universe Disc 5: Creation of the universe continued Just visit http;//www.TruthOrTradition.com/audio and scroll down a little bit. The decision was made to make this a free online seminar because of the thousands of people around the globe in China, Russian, Iran, Vietnam and many other countries that we are in contact with that cannot afford to purchase it. If you like what we are doing and you would like to help us continue to spread the Gospel all over the globe, please consider sowing into our ministry at http://www.stfonline.org/donate/index.html It is your support that allows us to continue doing this. Thank you, The Home Office Staff Spirit & Truth Fellowship International STFonline.org ================================================================= You might think In fact, An Really, this it's difficult, the size odd whole idea or that there's you pick idea is a bit magic involved, for your I had silly, but actually it lines is was to even turns out to be not very write a if incredibly easy crucial; sentence it to make all the they can such that gets lines the exact be short the length people same length, as or long. of each one to think anybody can see It turns of the lines you have a after trying to out that is just a bit rare talent. do it one time. the long different from And all without ones are the length of using a hyphen! easiest. the one that came before it, as you see here; however, I can't David H. Zobel really say a lot, can I? >-->From Heartwarmers: >LOL by Clara Wersterfer Babies should be taught the alphabet as early as possible, even while still in the uterus. It's the most important thing they will learn in order to cope with today's life style. Forget the history, English grammar, spelling, math, penmanship or algebra. Just make sure they learn the alphabet and how to use a cell phone and a computer. This will leave them more time for music, sports, driving lessons, video games, dancing and memorizing the abbreviations needed for text messaging. EVERY thing is brief form. The other day my driver's license came due for renewal. I got in my SUV, checked my GPS for directions to the DMV to renew my D/L or ID. My MD's office was in route, so I took the ramp to ISH 35. I wanted to stop by about my tests. Talked to the RN who got the PA to tell me the results of my EKG, MRI, and CBC. The PA said I had to take some meds so gave me an RX. Back in the SUV, I heard the signal on my phone for a message. It was from my son: "Hi Ma, gl on tsts @md. b lte 2 nite mb 7 r 8. Cul hagd. (Hi Mother, good luck on test at the doctor's. I will be late tonight, might be 7 or 8 o'clock. See you later. Have a good day.) I replied, "Dn't b 2 lte. ant tess cmng 4 din. lu (Don't be too late. Aunt Tess is coming for dinner. Love you) I popped in a CD and drove to the DMV. A mile down the road there was a car accident. Everything seemed under control as the SHP, FD and EMS were on the job. Had to make one more stop before going home. Needed money from the ATM at FCU where we banked. I don't know where all this stuff got started using abbreviations instead of words. Maybe FDR started it with WPA or FBI. Could have been the PTA. Who knows? It surely seems to be here to stay and happily growing. I'm just glad to have enjoyed working puzzles and breaking codes all my life or I would not have a place in this world. It's easy to understand why the kids do not need all that extra learning baggage to carry around in their heads. Who cares about history or English grammar? They don't intend to write anything they can abbreviate and type. Spelling? That's a bad word. Too many letters. English literature or history may be of interest if someone makes a movie of it, but grammar? She's the mother of your father. Heck, they already speak another language understood only by them. If you can't beat them, join them, I say. TTYL. HAG8D TA4N. (Talk to you later. Have a great day. That's all for now) CBW LOL -- Clara Wersterfer ______________________________________________ Clara lives in Texas with many fur babies. ============================================================== |L ,' ` /.o `, `, |-`, -', ' `,'_) '\ ,' `-`, _`o,- (_)/ '_ ' o `-, / ,-L `-' _`-`_ , `'. ;. (,' `| `.-. \ ,``_' (_) o `' ,` '_ ,|\ o _ \ /..-(_)' |','..-`(_)-` | | -bf- --' `-- >-->A CORRECTION - From Our Friend HannaP :) >Holiday Tree Hooey October 14, 2009 Q: Are the Obamas doing away with the White House "Christmas" tree and banning ornaments with religious themes? A: The traditional Christmas Tree will remain, and an e-mail claim about ornaments is unsubstantiated. FULL QUESTION Is there any truth to the following e-mail I received today? Please advise White House will not do Christmas Thought you might be interested in this information from the White House. This isn't a rumor; this is a fact. We have a friend at church who is a very talented artist. For several years she, among many others, has painted ornaments to be hung on the various White House Christmas trees. The WH usually sends out an invitation to send an ornament and informs the artists of the theme for the year. She got her letter from the WH recently. It said that they would not be called Christmas trees this year. They will be called Holiday trees. And, to please not send any ornaments painted with a religious theme. Click to expand/collapse the full text She was very upset at this development and sent back a reply telling them that she only painted the ornaments for Christmas trees and would not be sending any for display that left Christ out of Christmas. Just thought you should know what the new residents in the WH plan for the future of America . If you missed his statement that "we do not consider ourselves a Christian Nation" this should confirm that he plans to take us away from our religious foundation as quickly as possible. FULL ANSWER This e-mailed accusation has all the hallmarks of a hoax. The author isn't identified, making it impossible to trace the source or assess his or her credibility. At best it is double hearsay, passing on something supposedly said by a second unnamed source, who is identified as little more than "a friend at church." The church isn't named, nor is the community or even the state in which it exists, if it does. It refers to a "letter from the WH [White House]" but doesn't say who signed it, or when it was sent. This is just the sort of unsupported gossip that any sensible person should disregard and delete rather than spreading. And yet it is spreading like wildfire. We have had scores of inquiries about it, and it's now the most-asked-about item in our daily Ask FactCheck inbox. Still a "Christmas" Tree We can quickly dismiss the false claim about a "Holiday tree." No less an authority than the National Christmas Tree Association states that this year?s tree was chosen in August and is a Fraser fir grown by Eric and Gloria Sundback of Shepherdstown, W.Va. The news was duly reported by the Associated Press, which noted that other trees grown by the Sundbacks also had been displayed at the White House during the terms of presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. The Christmas tree association states that "the Sundbacks will present the official White House Christmas Tree to First Lady Michelle Obama for the 2009 Christmas season." That?s confirmed by Semonti Stephens, deputy press secretary to Mrs. Obama. "The Christmas tree will be called the Christmas tree," she told us in an e-mail exchange. This will be the tree displayed inside the White House and is not to be confused with the National Christmas Tree, which is the one the president traditionally lights up each year on the Ellipse, across the street from the White House. That one isn?t being renamed a "Holiday Tree" either, according to the National Park Service, which has jurisdiction. The park service is already putting together the National Christmas Tree Music Program to be kicked off at the lighting ceremony. A History of Secular Ornaments Stephens, Mrs. Obama?s spokeswoman, also denies that any letter has been sent telling artists not to send ornaments with a religious theme. "There was no such letter," she said. 2005 White House photo by Shealah Craighead Under Obama?s predecessor, White House holiday decorations had a different theme each year, and every one was secular, not religious. Depending on the year, the tree has been decorated with figures of birds, historic homes, musical instruments and even Little Red Riding Hood and Wilbur the pig. Furthermore, the Bush White House didn?t invite the same artists to create ornaments each year, as the e-mail message suggests. In 2008 the theme was "A Red, White and Blue Christmas," for example. That year, the tree was hung with 369 ornaments hand-decorated by artists who had been selected by their members of Congress. According to a fact sheet issued at the time, "Each ornament was specially designed to characterize the unique, patriotic spirit of the artist’s state, district, or territory." In 2007, the theme was "Holiday in the National Parks," and the tree was decorated with 347 hand-made ornaments "whose designs represent America?s national parks, memorials, seashores, historic sites and monuments." In 2006 the theme was "Deck the Halls and Welcome All," and the tree "sparkle[d] with crystals and ornaments of iridescent glass," says a White House fact sheet, with no mention of hand-crafting artists. The 2005 theme was "All Things Bright and Beautiful," and the tree was "decorated with fresh white lilies, crystal garland and white lights." The 2004 theme was "Welcome to a Season of Merriment and Melody," and the tree was hung with "a symphony of musical instruments hand-painted by members of the Society of Decorative Painters." In 2003 the theme was "A Season of Stories," featuring readings of children?s tales. The tree was decorated with ornaments first used by the president?s mother, Barbara Bush, on the 1989 official White House Christmas tree and on loan from the Bush Presidential Library: "Look closely and you will find Rumpelstiltskin, Little Red Riding Hood, and ?Some Pig?, Wilbur from Charlotte?s Web." The 2002 theme "All Creatures Great and Small." That year, according to the official program: "Artisans from each of the U.S. states and territories and the District of Colombia were asked to participate in the decoration of the official tree. In appreciation of all creatures great and small, the participants were asked to create ornaments representing birds found in each artist’s locale." The 2001 theme was "Home for the Holidays." Tree ornaments included "replicas of historic homes and places of worship from all 50 states and the District of Columbia" created by more than 180 artists, the White House said. There's been no public announcement about this year yet, and Stephens wouldn't comment publicly on that. But the tradition of secular ornaments goes back a long way. The earliest record of a Chrismas tree in the White House is 1889, when President Benjamin Harrison "decorated a live tree with tinsel and popcorn," according to the White House Historical Association. It's also worth noting that the White House Christmas Ornament sold each year since 1981 by the historical association (a private charity) has traditionally had a historical, rather than a religious, theme. This year's ornament is a depiction of the home of President Grover Cleveland, for example. The one possibly religious-themed ornament was the first one, a replica of an 1840 weathervane from the Unitarian Universalist church in Newburyport, Mass. It was the figure of an angel. That Other Tree The tradition of secular ornaments also has held at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, where the Capitol Christmas Tree has gone up each year since 1964. Each year a different state is selected to supply the tree, and school children from that state are invited to create ornaments. But the criteria are set by the Architect of the Capitol, not the White House. In 2007 Vermont was asked to supply 600 to 700 ornaments and relayed word to schools that "ornaments with a religious theme are not acceptable." Last year it was Montana's turn, and word went out to "artists of all ages" that ornaments cannot reflect a religious or political theme. Instead, share your interpretation of our theme ?Sharing Montanas Treasures. This year Arizona got the honor, and as in past years told schools that ornaments cannot reflect a religious or political theme." But this time an Arizona-based group called the "Alliance Defense Fund" complained. The ADF, which crusades against what it calls attempts to "censor Christmas," sent a letter threatening to sue the government on behalf of a mother whose son wished to submit an ornament saying "Happy Birthday Jesus" and another depicting a manger scene with the infant Christ. A regional official of the U.S. Forestry Service quickly wrote back to say that the ban would be removed. The official said somebody in the office of the Architect of the U.S. Capitol had "inadvertently provided us outdated guidance," and that "we regret the concerns this has raised." He added, "We look forward to any and all ornaments that residents of Arizona contribute." The client's son was allowed to submit his religiously themed ornaments, but hadn't been told whether or not either had been selected, ADF officials told us. The 2009 tree's official theme remains secular, however. It is "Arizona's Gift From The Grand Canyon State." -Brooks Jackson Sources National Christmas Tree Association. White House Christmas Tree: 2009; 2009 Grand Champions Selected- 14 Aug 2009. The Associated Press. White House Christmas tree will be from W.Va.; It's a record fourth win for tree farmers Eric and Gloria Sundback. 26 Aug 2009. ASK FACTCHECK Q: Are the Obamas doing away with the White House "Christmas" tree and banning ornaments with religious themes? A: The traditional Christmas Tree will remain, and an e-mail claim about ornaments is unsubstantiated. --- ...Yes, Thank You HannaP for checking this one out for us. __..._ ,-` `', ,' \ / | ,' , \ ,' ,/-'` \ _ ./ ,.'`/ \ .-` `^\_,.'` / `\__ 7 / / _,._,.,_,.-'.` `\ \A __/ ,-```-`` `, `, ` ,`) ^-` / ` ,/ -ART BY- ( , ,_ ,-,_,<` -ZEUS- \__ T--` `''` ``` _,\ \_/|\_ ,.-` | | _/ | |T\_ _,'Y / +--,_ <``` \_\/_/ `\\_/ / `\ / ,-- ` _,--,_`----` _,,_ \ / ` | <_._._ > ` \ ` \` | | , ` | | V| \ | | |` \ \ / / / \x \_ | /-` / \ `-,| ,/--` /` \x_ \_ /--'` , / \x_ `` ,,/` ` `-,_,-' ,'` _| |`\ ( `-``/``/`_/ `-`-,.-.-` As usual about the time I get too busy to check something out, it is the time I get hit by it. Same thing happens to me with saving my work on the computer. The minute I don't is often the time the devil sneaks in to take away my efforts with a computer crash! This one I didn't check first as in the years 2007 and 2008 the ornament artists were advised not to use religious themes for the WH Christmas tree. I just felt this was a credible e-mail since it was that way in previous years. But I checked with snopes.com and found HannaP is correct. I am glad she is! Read about it here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/ornaments.asp ================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Dan :) __ @@;, ( ; ? : ); _| |_ | | || | | _| |_ | \ \ \/ || \/ ___ / / | __| |\ __||____||___||______/| | ||| | |_______ _________| | ||| ||| |____ | | ____| ||| Design by \ \______ ) | | / ______/ / || | | | | | /___| || Samule J. Neptune || | | |_ /| | |\ _| || || || | \__, / | | | \<__/ | || >Heads Up Vets! - Free Lunch at APPLEBEES 11 Nov 2009 APPLEBEE"S Share this with all of your veteran friends. CLICK ON LINK http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx --- ...Awesome! Thanks Dan! ============================================================== \____ ___, __\o___|__ __)____)__ /// =. -)- ))) _/ \_c/ \=_/ \__ /= \/ )_/=\ \ ^|\ __((_\_/\ )\ \___ __ /_/-\o____) _\_\,__o/-\_\ \/ ))__|_ (x_\_:M \/ ,/:_/_s) \ *\ \ / /o / \ *\ \ / /o / \,/ `) (' \,/ / ( | | ) \ ,- <___( )___> -\ -,--(o \| |-.--,-- | |/ o)--,. - b'ger [_,_(o \__ _/ o)_,_/ \_,___] [___,_/ >-->From InspiredBuffalo: >I ALWAYS WANTED TO An old prospector wandered into a small town where he was accosted by a loud, obnoxious and quite drunken cowboy. The cowboy pointed his six-shooters in the old miner's direction and asked, "Old man, do you know how to dance?" "Nope," the prospector replied. "Maybe you'd better learn," said the cowpuncher. Hot lead kicked up dust around the old man's feet and he began to dance. Soon, however, the guns were empty. Now the old prospector reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun. "Son," he said, "you ever kissed a mule?" Looking first at the shotgun, then at the spot where the mule's tail is attached to its body, the young cowboy got the message. "Nope," he answered, "I never kissed a mule. But I always wanted to!" Desire is another word for wanting to do something. And in real life, desire is not something that can be given by anyone else. If there is something you want to do, it is probably not because somebody is holding a gun to your head. You just want to do it. Your desire comes from the inside. If you decide you want to improve, if you want a meaningful relationship or more fulfilling work, if you want a rich spiritual life or a healthier body, then the desire must come from your own heart. Nobody can make you want those things. They can support you and even inspire you, but only you can make it happen. There may be a hundred reasons we think we can't be the people we want to be. But there is really only one. We don't want it badly enough. It was George Washington Carver, an African American who probably did have a hundred reasons not to change his circumstances, who a century ago said, "Most people search high and wide for the keys to success. If they only knew, the key to their dreams lies within." And that key is labeled "desire." -- Steve Goodier http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/ --- ...This teaching comes to mind... Never Give Up! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html -<>- ,sdPBbs. ,d$$$$$$$$b. d$P'`Y'`Y'`?$b d' ` ' \ `b / | \ \ / / \ | \ _,--' | \ | /' _/ \ | \ _/' /' | \ `-.__ __/' ,-' / | | \ `--...__ /' / | / \ \ `-. `\ / /;;,,__-' / / \ \ `-. / |;;;;;;;\ \ _|_ | /^\ /^\ /___\ /^\ \/^\ | # |__________ /^\/ \| | | # |__________\ . |_|/ | _ | # # # # | X | H | | /\ o / \ _,---._ `X' _________________ / \ /_______\ )_ _s_k_l_e_p_ _( /\ / | # # # | /_________________\ _,---._ / \ /| | | | [+] [+] [+] | /_______\ /____\//| | | o | # # # | |[+] |/ /|\ | |pb || | | (} / \ /H\ / \ >"Echo - This rule of Nature" A man and his son were walking in the forest. Suddenly the boy trips and feeling a sharp pain he screams, "Ahhhhh." Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, "Ahhhhh!" Filled with curiosity, he screams: "Who are you?", but the only answer he receives is:"Who are you?" This makes him angry, so he screams: "You are a coward!", and the voice answers:"You are a coward!" He looks at his father, asking, Dad, what is going on?" "Son," the man replies, "pay attention!" Then he screams, "I admire you!" The voice answers: "I admire you!" The father shouts, "You are wonderful!", and the voice answers:"You are wonderful!" The boy is surprised, but still can't understand what is going on. Then the father explains, "People call this 'ECHO', but truly it is 'LIFE!' Life always gives you back what you give out! Life is a mirror of your actions. If you want more love, give more love! If you want more kindness, give more kindness! If you want understanding and respect, give understanding and respect! If you want people to be patient and respectful to you, give patience and respect! This rule of nature applies to every aspect of life! --- ...Reminds Me Of These Teachings: Giving = Receiving http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/givingreceiving.html The Law Of Believing #1 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/lawofbelieving1.html The Law Of Believing #2 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/lawofbelieving2.html The Law Of Believing #3 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/lawofbelieving3.html -<>- _ _ .-. | | | |M|_|A|N| |A|a|.|.|<\ |T|r| | | \\ |H|t|M|Z| \\ "Bookshelf" by | |!| | | \> David S. Issel """""""""""""""""" >God's Alphabet... http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/holyalpha.html -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment 446 http://www.buffaloschips.com/okko.htm 747-8 Intercontinental http://www.buffaloschips.com/iiiu.htm Ability To Fly For Bud Light http://www.buffaloschips.com/hoi.htm Airline Pilot http://www.buffaloschips.com/hiuyuu9.htm Alarm Clock http://www.buffaloschips.com/jhui.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ============================================================ >-->From CupO'Cheer: T \`. T | T .--------------.___________) \ | T ! | |//////////////|___________[ ] ! T | ! `--------------' ) ( | ! mn '-' ! >DON'T DO-IT-YOURSELF! Did you know there is an entire television network devoted to nothing but do-it-yourself projects? Do-it-yourself landscaping, plumbing, building, car repair, wallpapering, or decorating. You name it, you can now learn how to do-it- yourself! It's a handy man or woman's dream! We like to do-it-ourselves because we like being in control. If there's a problem, we want to fix it, not wait around for someone else to get to it. The words of Jeremiah seem to echo this sentiment... "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." Jeremiah 2:13 The prophet speaks of two sins we are each guilty of committing. First, we've turned away from God. We are broken. We have forsaken the One who can truly quench our thirst. Second, we try to do-it-ourselves. We try to fix the broken- ness, to quench our thirst on our own. We stay busy, read self-help books, and go to conferences. We numb our pain with prescriptions, therapists' couches, alcohol, and empty relationships. We try to meet our own need, dig our own cisterns, but they are broken and cannot hold the water we so desperately need. When it comes to your pain, your emptiness, your broken- ness- don't do-it-yourself. Allow God to quench your thirst. He wants to. Remember Jesus' promise in the book of Matthew. "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." as seen in Bill Purvis Ministries --- ...Check this teaching... Trust in The Lord http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/trustinthelord.html -<>- --------------------------------------------------------- 1 U P H I G H S C O R E ______3_4_0-0._________5_0_0_0_0_______.--.___________ [%%%%%%%%%%[CJ]%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%[CJ]%%%%%%%%%%%] /"\ A /"\ === /_\ A === \_/ __ /_\ \_/ |%| __ __ __ [%%] __ __ __ |%| /"\ __ [##][##][##][%%][@@][@@][@@] __ /"\ === [##][##][##][__][__][__][@@][@@][@@] === \_/ __ [##][##][__][__][__][__][__][@@][@@] __ \_/ |%| [##][##][##][__][__][__][__][__][@@][@@][@@] |%| |%| [##][##][##][__][__][__][__][__][@@][@@][@@] |%| /"\ [##][##][##][__][__][__][__][__][@@][@@][@@] /"\ === [%%] [%%] [%%] [%%] [%%] === \_/ [%%] \_/ |%| [%%] |%| |%| __ [%%] |%| /"\ [%%] __ [%%] /"\ === [%%][%%][%%] === \_/ [%%] \_/ |%| O |%| |%| |%| /"\ /"\ === === \_/ \_/ |%| |%| /"\ ______ /"\ === (______) === \_/ \_/ |%| {=}{=} |%| --------------------------------------------------------- >THE GLAD GAME On days when Chellie came home from school complain- ing about something - a bully on the playground, a harsh teacher, a skinned knee, or difficult homework - Chellie's mom would hug her, kiss away her tears, and then suggest, "OK, enough complaining. Let's play 'The Glad Game.'" The Glad Game helps you focus on what's right in your world today, instead of what's wrong. Chellie's mom was a very wise woman, teaching her that no matter what your troubles, there are still plenty of things to be grateful for: a sunny day, good food to eat, a loving family, a house to live in, a family pet to love, a handful of friends to enjoy, and much, much more. Chellie would follow her mother's suggestion: "I'm glad I have you as my mom." "I'm glad the weekend is almost here." "I'm glad I have some nice clothes to wear to school." "I'm glad I don't have to share my room with my sister anymore." "I'm glad I get to watch TV when I finish my homework." "I'm glad we have pie for dessert." Playing "The Glad Game" is a terrific way to change your attitude in a hurry. We all slip into self-pity once in a while - after all, we're only human. The important thing is to cut the pity-party short and shift into gratitude. An attitude of gratitude will get you much farther in life than complaining and self-pity. Try it and see. from the book The Wealthy Spirit, by Chellie Campbell --- ...Check These Teachings Out... Overcome Negative Belief http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/overcomenegative.html The Renewed Mind http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/renewedmind.html Walking In Power http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.html To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ================================================================== ,-=-. [[_ @~] ((a a)) ` = ' _.-) (-._ /( ("+") )\ / \ \./ / \ (=<( \/8\/ )>=) \ \- 8| -/ / \/_> 8|<_\/ ;-.__;,-; | | | | | | | | '-.___,;' ) ) / ' |( ) ( \_ /_|^--' gpyy \_! >Extra Ordinary Story Editor: by David McLaughlan Joyce Schowalter Ayrshire, Scotland It was just another nothing much kind of day, in January 2009. I'd done a little shopping and was walking home with nothing much on my to-do list. I overtook a wee old lady. To be honest, she hardly registered on my radar. Just another ordinary old lady. Then she carefully sat one of her shopping bags down, straightened up and took a deep breath. The bag held a big box of soap powder. I could've carried it all day without noticing, but she hadn't made it fifty yards from the shop before stopping. I walked past... then turned back and asked if she needed a hand. She explained that normally she had a shopping cart and the box wouldn't have been a problem. But as she hadn't much money, the soap was too good a bargain to miss. While she explained I picked up the bag and we started walking. I asked her where she was going then lied and said it was exactly on my way. A few steps along I realised I had to walk really slowly so not to tire her out - which gave us plenty of time to chat. But what would we talk about? She said she was 92 in a month. Then said she was retired from The Salvation Army. She'd joined as a teenager, met her husband, her only love, at the Army College. Then they'd set out on a life of service together. She talked about the work in poor, inner-city areas. How her husband had died suddenly thirty years ago while they were both out doing the good work. She had so looked forward to growing old with him, and didn't understand why it happened, but was absolutely sure it was part of the bigger plan. Wow! As I listened, my admiration grew. I walked her to her door, despite her protests that it must be out of my way. There Mrs Thompson and I introduced ourselves and shook hands. I said it was a real pleasure to meet her. She said when I stopped she saw I had a good face. Walking away, so much ran through my mind. I was touched she'd said I had a good face. I know only too well how badly my heart would fare if held up to public inspection, so if my face looked good that's a step in the right direction. It was an honour to have helped her. Then I remembered how, only minutes before, I had thought of her as just another ordinary old lady. How wrong I had been! The more I get to know people, the more I hear their stories, the more I come to realise there is no such thing as an ordinary person. Mrs Thompson, thank you for helping me! EDITOR'S NOTE: The author's web site is: http://tinyurl.com/y8fwjrq =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Laugh&Lift: .-~*~--,. .-. .-~-. ./OOOOOOOOO\.'OOO`9~~-. .`OOOOOO.OOM.OLSONOOOOO@@OOOOOO\ /OOOO@@@OO@@@OO@@@OOO@@@@@@@@OOOO`. |OO@@@WWWW@@@@OOWWW@WWWW@@@@@@@OOOO). .-'OO@@@@WW@@@W@WWWWWWWWOOWW@@@@@OOOOOO} /OOO@@O@@@@W@@@@@OOWWWWWOOWOO@@@OOO@@@OO| lOOO@@@OO@@@WWWWWWW\OWWWO\WWWOOOOOO@@@O.' \OOO@@@OOO@@@@@@OOW\ \WWWW@@@@@@@O'. `,OO@@@OOOOOOOOOOWW\ \WWWW@@@@@@OOO) \,O@@@@@OOOOOOWWWWW\ \WW@@@@@OOOO.' `~c~8~@@@@WWW@@W\ \WOO|\UO-~' (OWWWWWW@/\W\ ___\WO) `~-~'' \ \WW=*' __\ \ \ \ \ __\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \\ \ \ >Into The Storm (By Steve Troxel, God's Daily Word Ministries, http://www.gdwm.org) Immediately after feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish, "Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side" (Matthew 14:22). The disciples had begun to cross the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose which caused them to "strain against the oars" (Mark 6:48). It was the middle of the night, and after already rowing about three and a half miles they found themselves fighting against the wind and waves. Why had this happened? The disciples had done exactly what Jesus told them to do and now they were facing a major struggle. They had clearly heard and obeyed but they were still confronting a very difficult situation. The story continued as Jesus walked on the water, called Peter out of the boat to join Him, and then miraculously calmed the storm. But couldn't the struggles have been avoided by telling the disciples to simply wait until morning to travel? This wasn't the first time the disciples faced a storm with Jesus. During a prior boat ride, Jesus had been asleep when the storm arose: "The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We're going to drown!'" (Matthew 8:25). When Jesus calmed the wind and waves of this first storm, the disciples asked each other "What kind of man is this?" (Matthew 8:27). During the first crisis, the disciples saw Jesus as an amazing man. But now, in the middle of the night, when Jesus again calmed the storm, the disciples began to understand. Matthew 14:33 "Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God.'" As was the case with the disciples, Jesus often sends us into a storm for the purpose of revealing Himself and drawing us closer to His side. While in the middle of a storm, we can see God's love and witness His ability to protect, strengthen, and guide. "These {storms} have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:7). Our Father loves us very much. He loves us enough to give us His Son as a sacrifice for our sin; enough to give us His Spirit as our guide; enough to never leave us, and enough to finish the good work He began in our lives. Let's receive His love and learn to rejoice in ALL things. Let's learn to look with new eyes and see His hand working around us each and every day. Let's praise Him and look for new revelations of His love, even as we are sent into the storm. 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 --- ...Check Out These Teachings... 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