The Hand Of Jesus... :) 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 ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) We have a new recipe from our friend Nora. My brother always loved these and could never get enough of them! Find this yummy recipe under the MEALS & BREAD Section here: .-'''''-. |'-----'| /`-.....-`\ | <_} | | .-\-. | _,._ | /# ` \ | __.-` `"""-. | \ / | ..--' `"-. `)_,._ \ '-'-' / (` )--.-"``` `"-.`'-----'` '-----------' ( ) jgs `-------------` Crock Pot PORK AND BEANS By Norma http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/easy.html --- ...A wonderful addition! Thank You Norma! This too hot to handle new page is from our friends LouiseA and Geniann. It is sure to give you some chuckles. Check it out here... .- m\ (( ` /|\ /| __.'/ /'_ ,.^"--'_-'| /(// )))) |\ ) !/ ) (((( `E)|/ ( / \ ` ) / ' \ ` ( / ' \ `) / ' (\ / ______.' \ /_.-' /_/ \_\ /, '-.__ (_`__ ejm |`_ Got A Nanosecond 6? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nano6.html --- ...HaHa! Love this! Thanks Ladies! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: __..._ _...__ _..-" `Y` "-._ \ Once upon | / \\ a time..| // \\\ | /// \\\ _..---.|.---.._ /// jgs \\`_..---.Y.---.._`// '` `' >"STORIFYING" by Kristine Lowder Say the word "family" and what comes to mind? Most people think of folks they're related to by blood or adoption -- mom and dad, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and so on. I realized that all of my most cherished memories involve family. Ditto the biggest challenges, most hair-raising adventures, greatest triumphs, deepest heartaches and happiest moments. Family is where life happens. Where we share our lives, our hearts, and our stories. No one was better at "storifying" -- telling or spinning stories -- than my uncle, Norman Naas. In fact, there are no words for my Uncle Norm. He used them all. In spades. Uncle Norm smoked like a chimney, loved a roaring fireplace, good food, fine wine, and traveling. He loved feeding and entertaining friends, Romans and fellow countrymen by the bus load. The more, the merrier. Even in retirement Norm was a party waiting to happen. The thing I remember best about Norm was how much he loved books. Outside of dad, Norm was the best-read person and most voracious reader I've ever met. His rambling, bougainvillea and camellia- draped house groaned with books. They were everywhere, sprouting like weeds in a garden. You couldn't sit down without first removing a book from your planned perch. Books populated the kitchen, family room, living room, bathroom, bedrooms, coffee and kitchen tables and every available space. Even the garage housed shelf after shelf of books. When we visited Uncle Norm, I looked forward to afternoons when I'd climb into my uncle's ample lap with a book. "Well dear, what do we have today?" he'd ask, adjusting his glasses and oohing and ahing over my selection. "Ah, this is a good one!" he'd smile, even if it was the same "one" we'd read nineteen times in the last two days. Not surprisingly, Uncle Norm could quote entire scenes out of Shakespeare. He'd tell us about writers and literature for hours. Not lectures. These were more like command performances. Norm gobbled up books like a starving man, barely taking time to chew. After dinner Norm would regale us with his "storifying" expertise. Remember that Mel Gibson movie from 1993, Man Without a Face? Gibson plays Justin McLeod, a former teacher turned recluse after his face has been horribly disfigured in an auto accident. Known as "Hamburger Head" to the locals, McLeod is the subject of many rumors and wild stories. Chuck Norstadt (Nick Stahl) is a young boy determined to get into the same military school as his father. Desperate for a tutor, Chuck encounters the reclusive McLeod, and together they begin to help each other deal with a world that has shunned them both. There's a scene where teacher and student are reading Shakespeare (I think it's The Merchant of Venice). Except that they're not really reading it. At least, not in the usual sense. They're interpreting the text, acting it out with costumes and props. Teacher and student aren't reading the story. They ARE the story. That's what listening to Uncle Norm tell or read a story was like. Uncle Norm and I corresponded regularly when I was in high school and college. We did this the old fashioned way -- with paper and pen and postage. This was before email. A running dispute developed over an arcane theological point. I was as right as Norm was, as shy as a cyclone in making my own case on paper. I recall how disappointed I was when my uncle stopped writing. No, that's not it. Not exactly. His letters petered out slowly, over time. Like twin guttering candles. So did mine. It wasn't until my junior year in college that I noticed that I never heard from Uncle Norm anymore. I never asked why. An "oops" moment. I didn't detect any rancor between us -- we just got busy elsewhere and moved on. Another oops. Norm died a few years later. In one of my last missives to my uncle, I told Norm how much I liked to listen to him talk when I was a child. His rich, sonorous bass was as smooth as glass. That was nearly forty years ago. I sometimes wonder what else Norm might have said -- what else I might have said -- if just one of us hadn't allowed the other to drift. It's easy to take people for granted, isn't it? Especially family. How many things we would, could, should say and share and laugh about or argue over or lean back in our chairs and storify -- and never quite seem to get around to it? That uncle, that aunt, those parents, siblings, children or spouse seem as regular as the seasons. We mistake familiarity for permanence, which is a clever but deceptive chimera. That's why I choose to thank God for uncles. For books and letters and storyifying. And family. If we let Him, God somehow smoothes out the frayed edges of our oops-blotted lives, rewrites the smudges and slips in something new and fresh and beautiful. He can give us a fresh start. A blank page. A second chance. A new story. Like the one I'm writing now. Uncle Norm would've loved that. -- Kristine Lowder __________________________________________________ A multi-published author, Kristine Lowder resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Chris, their four sons and one yellow Labrador Retriever. =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) (\ \'\ \'\ __________ / '| ()_________) \ '/ \ ~~~~~~~~ \ \ \ ~~~~~~ \ ==). \__________\ (__) ()__________) unknown >Letters to a pastor **Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours sincerely, Arnold. Age 8, Nashville. **Dear Pastor, Please say in your sermon that Peter Peterson has been a good boy all week. I am Peter Peterson. Sincerely, Pete. Age 9, Phoenix **Dear Pastor, My father should be a minister. Every day he gives us a sermon about something. Robert, Page 11, Anderson **Dear Pastor, I'm sorry I can't leave more money in the plate, but my father didn't give me a raise in my allowance. Could you have a sermon about a raise in my allowance? Love, Patty. Age 10, New Haven **Dear Pastor, My mother is very religious. She goes to play bingo at church every week even if she has a cold. Yours truly, Annette. Age 9, Albany **Dear Pastor, I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won't be there. Stephen. Age 8, Chicago **Dear Pastor, I think a lot more people would come to your church if you moved it to Disneyland. Loreen. Age 9. Tacoma **Dear Pastor, I liked your sermon where you said that good health is more important than money but I still want a raise in my allowance. Sincerely, Eleanor. Age 12, Sarasota **Dear Pastor, I hope to go to heaven some day but later than sooner. Love, Ellen, age 9. Athens **Dear Pastor, Please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need God's help or a new pitcher. Thank you. Alexander. Age 10, Raleigh **Dear Pastor, My father says I should learn the Ten Commandments. But I don't think I want to because we have enough rules already in my house. Joshua. Age 10, South Pasadena **Dear Pastor, Who does God pray to? Is there a God for God? Sincerely, Christopher. Age 9, Titusville **Dear Pastor, Are there any devils on earth? I think there may be one in my class. Carla. Age 10, Salina **Dear Pastor, I liked your sermon on Sunday. Especially when it was finished. Ralph, Age 11, Akron **Dear Pastor, How does God know the good people from the bad people? Do you tell Him or does He read about it in the newspapers? Sincerely, Marie. Age 9, Lewiston --- ...HaHa! Cute! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- _ (_) | ()---|---() | | __ | __ |\ /^\ /| jgs '..-' '-..' `-._ _.-` ` >I'd Rather Have Jesus (Author Unknown) The Apostle Paul wrote, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." -Phil.3:8 On a recent TV program, I saw George Beverly Shea, now 98, being interviewed by Bill Gaither. Since close to the beginning of the Billy Graham Crusades back in '47 (made "famous" in '49), Mr. Shea has been the BGC team soloist. Over the years I've attended several Graham Crusades in both Australia & the US. When in Chicago, a few other college students and I cheated a little. We joined the choir and we had great seats and could observe the evangelist close up. We were reasonably good singers back then anyhow. In every one of these crusades it was always inspiring to hear Bev Shea with his rich baritone voice sing his signature song which was, "I'd Rather Have Jesus." I didn't realize it until I heard Shea on the TV interview that he wrote the music of this well-known gospel song - the words of which are a devotion in & of themselves: "I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I'd rather be His than have riches untold; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand. Than to be a king of a vast domain Or be held in sin's dread sway, I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause; I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause; I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I'd rather be true to His holy name. He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb; He's all that my hungering spirit needs, I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead." --- ...Beautiful! Thanks LouiseA! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' We don't much talk about the importance of Jesus Christ among ourselves. We just seem to think it goes unsaid. Pretty much like the importance of the sun and water on every day life, we Christians just take it for granted. But not everybody knows or understands. Some think Jesus is a myth. While others just think of him as a person way back in history around the time of the Romans. Christians know how important Jesus is. We know he means the difference between life and death. John 11: [25] Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: If we want to live eternally, Jesus is our ticket to the afterlife. He'll raise us up from the dead and give us life. John 14: [6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Our only access to Heaven and God Almighty, The Father, is through the Lord Jesus Christ given to us freely once we are saved by doing this... Romans 10: [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Saying out loud 'Jesus is my Lord' while believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead. is how you have Jesus and are saved from death giving you life eternal with Jesus Christ and God Almighty! This is why we say... "I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I'd rather be His than have riches untold; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand. Than to be a king of a vast domain Or be held in sin's dread sway, I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause; I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause; I'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I'd rather be true to His holy name. He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb; He's all that my hungering spirit needs, I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead." AMEN!!!!!! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The Story of Soul (Author Unknown) There once was a man named Soul who was walking in a garden. He was whistling a real sweet tune for he was saved and had the Joy of the Lord, but he was a baby Christian. As Soul was walking, a beautiful and seductive woman came out from behind a tree. Soul was very startled. He said, "Hello, I'm Soul, what is your name?" She replied, "I am Temptation, I have what you want." "What do I want?" replied Soul. "You want to do all things which are of the flesh," said Temptation. Soul replied, "O.K., lead me." So he and Temptation went off and fulfilled the desires of the flesh. When Soul returned to the garden, he met a man named Condemnation. Condemnation said, "Hey, I see you have met my friend, Temptation." Soul said, "Yes, who are you?" "I am Condemnation, I come after Temptation. We work hand-in-hand." Then Condemnation jumped on Soul's back and began to beat him. He hit him in the face and kicked him when he was down. This went on for several days. On about the third day, a man named Mercy came running and said, "I command you, Condemnation, to stop beating Soul." Condemnation snickered, "Make me." So Mercy unsheathed his sword and cut Condemnation in two. As Soul watched in astonished pain, he was overtaken by the power of Mercy. Mercy walked up to Soul and said, "I have dealt with Condemnation before. He should not show up around you anymore." Soul replied, "How can I ever thank you?" "Well," replied Mercy, "I was sent here by God and He told me to introduce you to a dear friend of mine. His name is Redemption." Redemption walked up and said, "Hello Soul, I see that you are not doing well." Soul replied, "Not until Mercy came along. It is a pleasure to meet you Redemption." "Well", said Redemption," I am glad to meet you. Are you ready to accept me?" "What do you mean?" asked Soul. Redemption said, "Well, when you accepted Jesus and decided to walk with Him, then you chose to accept the things of Him and His love. I am a part of Jesus' love. I help you feel forgiven. You will never have to deal with Condemnation again. Temptation may come around, but I have someone I would like for you to meet who can help you with that. His name is Grace." Grace walked up to Soul and said, "Hello Soul, I have been waiting for you. As a matter of fact all three of us have been waiting to meet you. I will help you take the way out of Temptation that the devil gives you as it comes up. The last person we want you to meet is Faith." "Hi Soul, I am Faith, and I will help you stay strong and keep your beliefs strong," said Faith. Soul began to cry. When he began to cry, Redemption said, "This is what we were here for. Jesus redeemed you, saved you by Grace through Faith and gives you his Mercy. Jesus loves you Soul." Soul said, "I love you, Jesus." -<>- .---. ___ /_____\ /\.-`( '.' ) / / \_-_/_ \ `-.-"`'V'//-. `.__, |// , \ |Ll //Ll|\ \ |__// | \_\ /---|[]==| / / \__/ | \/\/ /_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J jgs |_ | _| (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ >ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the up-coming election, and for the revival of Christianity in this great country. If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Thank You. Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join us. -Joe A Sondrup -<>- We heard of a man and woman who gave a sizeable contribution to the church to honor the memory of their son who lost his life in the war. When the announcement was made of the generous donation, a woman whispered to her husband, "Let's give the same amount for our boy!" Her husband said, "What are you talking about? Our son wasn't killed." "That's just the point," she said. "Let's give it as an expression of our gratitude to God for sparing his life!" -<>- _ _.-'`-._ _ ;.'________'.; _________n.[____________].n_________ |""_""_""_""||==||==||==||""_""_""_""] |"""""""""""||..||..||..||"""""""""""| |LI LI LI LI||LI||LI||LI||LI LI LI LI| |.. .. .. ..||..||..||..||.. .. .. ..| |LI LI LI LI||LI||LI||LI||LI LI LI LI| ,,;;,;;;,;;;,;;;,;;;,;;;,;;;,;;,;;;,;;;,;;,, ;;jgs;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; >One vote may make the difference. ONE VOTE made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and gave him control of England. (1645) ONE VOTE caused Charles I to be executed. (1649) ONE VOTE kept Aaron Burr – later charged with treason – from becoming President. (1800) ONE VOTE elected Marcus Morton governor of Massachusetts. (1839) ONE VOTE made Texas part of the United States. (1845) ONE VOTE saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. (1868) ONE VOTE changed France from a monarchy to a republic. (1875) ONE VOTE admitted California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho into the Union. (1850, 1850, 1889, 1890) ONE VOTE elected Rutherford B. Hayes to the Presidency, and the man in the Electoral College who cast that vote was an Indiana Representative also elected by ONE VOTE. (1876) ONE VOTE made Adolf Hitler head of the Nazi Party. (1923) ONE VOTE maintained the Selective Service System only 12 weeks before Pearl Harbor. (1941) ONE VOTE per precinct would have elected Richard Nixon, rather than John Kennedy, President. (1960) I’m only one but I am one. I can’t do everything but I can do something and what I can do I ought to do and that by the grace of God I will do. SOURCE: Brett Blair, Sermon Illustrations. -<>- (\ _\_(`\_ `/` _ `/,-'=/` _,'|`._ /' `/` ,-' |||._ `-._ i_i _,-' ,-' || `__ `-._ "=(. .)=" _,-' _,-' --||- (..=`/._ `-/#\ ( i_i ,\ _,-' | )|_|-==` \_)`-/ /v "=(. .)=" ,' ,|/ \ |__||\ //|\\ / / #/ ,/ \ ( ,' ,' ((_.--._)) || )(/|\)' /# ; ,/ #,/v ,' ,' |`- -' ||/ (/\\ / #; ,/# ,/ ,' ' / | \ */"-._ |/ _____,-''"/_)/__ / ,',---|((_.--._(__/ _.--""_____)-//_______"-. (,-.)| `- -( _,"_.--"" |||(( __ "-.: ___,/ ;| \ */ _\'_," (\__/) |||\\\ |__`,()() . \ (,_.) (_| (__/,'_,' /_/)=\.\. = |||||| | `( ` ``\|\)\ ( ;.__| _,-'_,' =//. ==> _7)< |||||| |`` , ` * "") ___\ _,--'_,-' //_(7__/) ////\ |||||| |``` \___.--' \_"""_,--' <*)_//'"" )/_/-"""":|||||,""""(("-._/ | """" ) ( _(-' _.---"\___,----. |||||| | ,' "`._ ,(( | ) ( \_/' ,' _"" "_ `.||||| |,"\\'--._) "._ \ \_/<. .>""( ( . .) )|||| |\\ \/,"\\ /`--._) <. .>|_/\| \/ ) \,-( \(||||| | \\)"\\ \) ||_/( ( | |\/ /, \ \ )\\(:|||||,()""""-.:| | \ `-\ | |__\/, :`/-`._____,-""_,' ctr:| |"""\___,""""""""""""""\(_,( (__,-"||---""""""; \---""""---------""""""""````/////))----""""/ ~~~\ ~///////~ ~/~~~~~ \ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ /~~~~/ ~~/ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >God's "Security" Team "When the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all."1 Bruce Ferris wrote, "My wife and I recently saw a television show on The History Channel titled, 'The Man Who Predicted 911.' Long before September 11th, Rick Rescorla, the 62-year-old head of security at the Morgan Stanley Bank, developed an evacuation plan for the bank. The bank's offices were situated high up in the South Tower at the World Trade Center. Rescorla was convinced that Osama Bin Laden would use jet planes to try and destroy the World Trade Center. The plan and its preparation were hugely unpopular with the Morgan Stanley staff, many of whom thought Rescorla was mad. "On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 hit World Trade Center Tower 1 at 8:46 am. Rick Rescorla ignored building officials' advice to stay put and began the orderly evacuation of Morgan Stanley's 2,800 employees on 20 floors of World Trade Center Tower 2, and 1,000 employees in WTC 5. Rescorla reminded everyone to 'be proud to be an American … everyone will be talking about you tomorrow,' and sang God Bless America and other songs over his bullhorn to help evacuees stay calm as they left the building. Rescorla had most of Morgan Stanley's 2800 employees as well as people working on other floors of WTC 2 safely out of the buildings by the time United Airlines Flight 175 hit WTC 2 at 9:07 a.m. "After having reached safety, Rescorla returned to the building to rescue others still inside. He was last seen heading up the stairs of the tenth floor of the collapsing WTC 2. His remains were not recovered. As a result of Rescorla's actions, only six of Morgan Stanley's 2800 WTC employees were killed on September 11th, 2001, including Rick and three of his deputies who followed him back into the building. "The remainder of this very moving broadcast focused on Morgan Stanley Bank employees who, now in tears, were praising and acknowledging Rick Rescorla for having saved their lives from total destruction that day. Many felt so guilty and apologetic [because] they had thought Rick foolish to keep preaching and standing for what he believed would happen if they were not ready. Those interviewed said they would never forget Rick Rescorla. He was their hero."2 The first coming of Jesus Christ is an indisputable fact of history. Be assured, his second coming will be just as certain. His first coming was to give his life to die on the cruel Roman cross to pay the just penalty for your sins and mine so we could receive God's forgiveness and his gift of eternal life. His second coming will be as King of kings and Lord of lords and to bring judgment on all who have failed or refused to accept God's warning and gift of forgiveness and salvation. While ancient Noah built the ark he was mocked and ridiculed. None but his immediate family believed God's warning about the impending flood. And as Jesus has warned, it will be the same when he returns to judge the world and destroy all who have rejected his gift of salvation. If you have never received God's offer of salvation, I urge you to do that today so you are ready for God's day of judgment. On the other hand, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, will you be as a "Rick Rescorla" to help notify all in your circle of influence about the coming of God's judgment and the impending doom of all who refuse to accept God's free gift of salvation. For an extremely simple way to do this go to: http://www.actsweb.org/articles/article.php?i=2&d=1&c=1&p=1 Think of all the people whose lives Rick Rescorla saved. You and I can do the same; that is, help save lives for all eternity. There is no greater privilege and responsibility in the entire world. Will you make this commitment today by genuinely praying the following prayer: "Dear God, I am available. Please use me to be as a 'Rick Rescorla' and help save lives for all eternity. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus Christ's name, amen." 1. Luke 17:26-27 (TLB). -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Full bible Study Menu http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/BibleStudy.html The 23rd Psalm!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/psalm23.html Lean On Me!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/leanonme.html Miracle Baby!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smellofrain.html The Black Dot!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blackdot.html 90/20 Principle!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/giving.html Love Thoughts!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/love.html Dreamy Ladies!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dreamy.html What Is Love 1!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wlove1.html Butterfly's Story!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/butterflystory.html When God Paints!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpaints.html Blind Woman Sees!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blindsees.html Jesus Laughing Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html Playing With Words!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wordplay.html Church Mouse Wisdom!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/churchmouse.html Our Valuable ANCHOR!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) Top 14 anti cancer super fruits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBv998KUOnQ --- ...Good One! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) She exhibits surprising poise and flexibility, and when she nearly handsprings in place, spinning an umbrella-like object on her foot all the while, the crowd goes wild! But then it gets even more amazing than that .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E_BUAzqvcHg Zhang Fan, a member of Beijing's China Acrobatic Troupe, shows off his incredible skills on the slackwire for the French TV show 'The World's Greatest Cabaret.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vxTznDRixpw --- ...Wowsers! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- >From Our Friend Bunny :) Are YOU My Mother?! - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h0Mj1IKW6Q --- ...Teehee! So cute! Thanks Bunni! -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) Gluten-Free Crusty Parker House Rolls http://tinyurl.com/jj7p2g5 --- ...Yum! Thanks Melody! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== _*_ ....iiooiioo __/_|_\__ [(o)_R_(o)] fe >To Protect and To Serve Story Editor: by Liz Brown Hanelt Susan L. Miller California, USA I live in California, and do a lot of driving on the San Francisco Bay Area freeways. Often I see different local police cars, or those of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) zooming past. Sometimes they're parked by the side of the road where they may have pulled over a motorist; sometimes they're assisting at an accident scene. When I see this, I try to remind myself that the police are meant to be there to help people, to enforce the laws, and to try to keep the public safe. Perhaps because I'm white, middle class, and drive a decent-looking car, I rarely have been subjected to a traffic stop. Yet I often do feel fear in the pit of my stomach when I see the flashing lights of a police car in my rear view mirror. In August of 2011 I was heading home from a visit to my mom, who lives in Sacramento. Driving south down Highway 880 I noticed flashing lights in my rear view mirror. A CHP car was coming up fast on the right, lights and sirens going. I slowed down just in case, as did all the cars around me, to around 50 mph. The CHP officer drove up to just ahead of the pack of cars I was in. Then he did the most extraordinary thing. From the right lane of the freeway he began to zigzag back and forth across all four lanes, at around 60 mph to start with, lights flashing. He repeated this maneuver around 10 times, slowing down slightly with each crossing of the four or five lanes of freeway. This effectively slowed the entire pack of cars, until we were all moving at 20 mph or less. He maintained about a 50-yard lead on the pack, and everyone around me carefully kept that distance. Every car in the pack following him stopped when he pulled up in the number two lane, got out of the car, grabbed a big piece of shredded retread from a semi-truck's tire, and threw it safely onto the edge of the freeway. He got back in his car, door still open, and drove over to the next piece of retread, in the #3 lane, which was small enough that he bent over, picked it up while still seated, and threw it into the driver's side of his car. He repeated doing this, moving from piece to piece, until the hazard was completely cleared. We continued to follow him, very slowly. This entire incident took ten minutes. In today's world, it's hard to keep faith that we're here to take care of each other, and so easy to let cynicism take root. To the CHP officer: Thank you for plunging in to do what had to be done to keep our highways and drivers safer. Thank you for my moment of renewed faith in humanity. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Fran :) _|_ | .-'''''-. .-' '-. .-' :::::_::::: '-. ___/ ==:...:::-:::...:== \___ /_____________________________\ ':'-._________________________.-'_ ':::\ @-,`-[-][-^-][-]-`,-@ / _| |_ '::| .-------------------. ||_ @ _| ::|=|* ___ _ ___ *|=|'.| | ':| |' ))_) )) ))_) '| |::.^| _:|=|' ((`\ (( (( '|=|::::::. _| || |' _ '| |:::::::. |_ |=|'1634 _( )_ 1789'|=|':::::. | || |' ( (_ ~ _) ) '| | ':::' |^||=|* ) (_) ( *|=| '::' | '-------------------' .::::' |_____________________.::::::' .'___________________.::::::'' |_______________.::::'':::''' .'_____________.::::::''::::'' .:::'''' LGB .'::::' .:::::''':. .:::::' In January 2009, my cousin Jean and her husband Tommy came down to Virginia to see the headstones that had been put up to honor and mark the graves of her parents who had passed away within just a few months of each other. Tommy had also lost his mother during that time as well. So within a matter of a few months, both her parents and his Mom were gone. It was a tough time period, but their love for one another and faith in God pulled them through. In our family, my paternal grandmother, affectionately known as Bigmoma was a praying woman. She was a widow at an age that was earlier than most women, so I knew what drove her to her knees and why she prayed all the time. I understand that now. So in a time when the man was truly the head of the household and the woman was more of the support person, Bigmoma was clearly at the helm of her family and prayer was passed down to all of us because of her example and deep faith in God. So the three of us decided that we would go to Blackstone and have a little ceremony to dedicate the headstones and have prayer. When we arrived at the cemetery, there was no one there on that weekday but us. It was quiet and serene. As we pulled into the parking lot, we all could feel the tears welling up as we quietly held them back. Even though we were going to visit the gravesite, it's a reminder that our loved ones are no longer with us and only a short while ago they had been. We walked to her father's grave and admired the headstone, held hands and Jean said the prayer. We all felt connected and though there is the loss, there is also the comfort of knowing that his spirit was at rest and in a perfect place. When we went to her mother's grave, we admired the headstone and she asked me to pray. Again we held hands in circle and I closed my eyes and the words came forth and went up. We thanked God for their lives and for their time with us and again released her, knowing that she is in that perfect place too. As I finished praying, I noticed an unfamiliar car, slowing down as it passed the cemetery. It made a left turn into a makeshift pathway at the lower portion of the cemetery where the funeral cars normally use to gain access. At first I thought it might be one of the ladies who lived on the road since our home church is in walking distance from my mom's house. But I couldn't make out who it was. She eased her car ever so slowly toward a grave closest to the road. It was marked by a double headstone. Maybe she lost her husband, I thought. Slowly the door opened and for a few seconds it appeared as though she might not be able to get out of the car. I didn't know whether it was from grief or from her mobility, but from a distance, I continued to watch quietly. She seemed unaware that we were there, even though our car was parked in the church parking lot and we were several rows over from where she was. She took her time positioning herself to get out of the car. She had parked right at the headstone. She stood up, the car door still ajar and took just three steps. She quickly went down on one knee and grabbed the headstone as if it were to break her fall. But she did not fall. She bowed her head and laid it upon the headstone as if she were embracing whomever it was she had lost. She clung to that piece of marble as though her very life depended on it. Her quiet sob was muffled. It is a picture I will always remember. I was so moved by her deep love and her sorrow I felt compelled to walk towards her. I didn't want to intrude on this private moment, but it just felt to me that her heart was crying out and I wondered if I, a stranger, could provide any consolation to her. Perhaps just a loving embrace might provide a bit of comfort to her. "I'm sorry" I said. "I don't mean to disturb you. I thought you were one of the ladies that lived on this road." "No, I'm Bertha Goode," she told me. "I've come to see my sister Doris today. I miss her so very much. We were so close." I read the headstone which said August 2007. Mrs. Goode told me that she had just celebrated her 79th birthday and she was the only sister left. Not only was she the last sister left, but she was now alone -- without a husband, missing her sister, and possibly wondering how much time she had left. "I'd love to give you a hug today, if that would be all right", I said. She reached her arms up to me, as she knelt at the headstone and I reached down to her. I thought about how much she loved her sister and tried to send that love back to herin my hug. I thought about her feeling alone and sent some love for that too. I thought about her turning 79 and sent some love for that as well. I asked God to please send whatever it was she needed that day, through my hug to her. I thought of how it might feel to lose a sister and sent some love for that too. What was Mrs. Goode feeling that day that made her drive down to the cemetery on a week day and almost collapse as she cradled the headstone of her sister? Whatever it was, I knew that God had us in the cemetery on that afternoon. And even though we went for one purpose, to dedicate the headstones of our family members, God orchestrated that someone would also be there for Mrs. Goode. I will keep that memory with me forever. In loss, God is the only person we can tell our true feelings to. He understands. And the comfort we need when we have lost a loved one, sometimes only God can fill that. But sometimes when you feel you are all alone, God will send his love to you through another. As I walked away from the cemetery, I realized that I had been a small part of a miracle. He had me in the right place at the right time. He gave me a little nudge to go over and see about her. And through my arms and my heart, God was able to give her the love and hug through a human being that she went to the headstone, made of marble to receive. Everyday there is a miracle! --Sharmaine Hobbs --- ...Lovely! Thanks Fran! -<>- %%%% %%%%-( _%%%%%_/ \ ' / _%%%%%%%% - (_) - _%%%%%%%/ \% / , \ %%%%%%%%%\\ \_ %%%%%% \ \\ ) /\_/ /(___. \ '----' ( / ) ---....____/ (_____ __ _ ___ ___ __ _ _ _____ _ _ ___ / )---...___ =-= = -_= -=_= _-=_-_ -=- =-_ ,' ( ```--.._= -_= -_= _-=- -_= _=- ,-' ) ``--._=-_ =-=_-= _-= _ '-._ '-..___( ``-._=_-=_- =_-= ``---....__) `-._-=_-_=- )|)| `-._=-_ gnv '-'-.\_ `-. >"Begin Little By Little" Some people feel overwhelmed by the concept of consistently doing acts of kindness. "It seems so difficult to keep thinking about others. I have a lot to do for myself and I can’t always think of others." The solution is to begin little by little. You might not have the time and resources to do all that you would really like to do. Be kind with the time and resources you do have. Every small kind act leads to other and greater kind acts. Every act of kindness makes you a kinder person. Maimonedes tells us how to develop a generous personality. Do many small acts of generosity. Instead of giving a single hundred dollar bill to only one person, change the hundred dollar bill into one hundred singles. Then give them away one by one. These one hundred kind acts are building your character trait of generosity. Just as a building goes up brick by brick, so too you are building yourself act by act. Each of us find certain things easier to do than others. What small act of kindness is easiest for you? Keep doing these acts as regularly as possible. "One good deed leads to another," say the Sages The founder of a major charitable organization with numerous branches began with a few items from his home. He had several vaporizers that he lent out to his neighbors. This grew and grew until the lending of medical equipment free of charge evolved into a national institution of note. Even if a small act of kindness doesn’t lead to major acts of kindness, a small kind act in itself has immense eternal value. Being overwhelmed by thinking too big may prevent you from beginning your journey. Think in terms of one step at a time and you can never tell how far you will eventually go. By Zelig Pliskin --- ...Love it! Thanks Fran! Reminds me of how I take my days - "One Step At A Time Sweet Jesus, One Step At A Time!' Instead of 'One Day At A Time' as the song goes... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzU5jdbKOUk I just replace 'day' with 'step' and then I get my work done, one step at a time. ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) Pat has taught her four children to always say their prayers. One day they started praying from the oldest to the youngest. When it got to the youngest, Wendy, 5, her prayer went this way: "God bless Mommy and God bless my brother and sisters and the food, dogs, car, radio, sweets and pudding and God bless yourself because without you we are all sunk!" -- Pat O'Neill of South Africa John, 2, watched his mother Sarah put on her sheer pantyhose, with reinforced toes, on Easter morning. When she had them on he exclaimed, "What happened to your toes?" -- Sarah Housholder (mother of John) of Avilla, Indiana Emma, 2, went to her first funeral. She understood that her great-great grandma was "sleeping." Emma was getting fussy during the service so her mother took her to a side room. A man stood at the front of the room and began to sing a hymn. Emma jumped out of her mother's lap and yelled, "SHHHHHH! Gwamma's sweeping!" -- Heather Barth (mother of Emma) of Fort Wayne, Indiana Mackenzie, 6, has three cats. The mother cat had five kittens. One of the older cats, called Max, left for three days. On the day Max came back Mackenzie told her mother, "Mama, Max is home. That is a miracle. Now we are a family again!" -- Myrle Brown of Georgia ((( ,, ( *)======/\==== )( / \ __________/ ) / \ \___EJM96 / / "" \ \____ _/ / (**) \ / \__/ (----------) /____|__//_ ( it's ) | ( a ) | ( girl!) | (____) _|__ \\ Julie's sister had to go to the emergency room one day and she asked her mom to pick up her kids from school. Her kids are ages 3 and 1. Madelyne, 3, said, "I know what's at the hospital but I don't want any more brothers so is she at the sister hospital this time?" She was remembering that the last time Mommy came home from the hospital was when she gave birth to Madelyne's brother Colin. Here is another Madelyne story. Madelyne has an imaginary friend named Minnie. One day Madelyne stopped in the drive way, turned around and ran back into the house. She stood in the doorway and yelled as loud as she could, "Come on Minnie it is time to go!" Later in the car she was as quiet as could be and then loudly screamed and laughed startling her mother almost to death. Her mother asked her was was the matter. Madelyne said, "Oh, nothing, Minnie is just dancing funny!" What an imagination! -- Julie Hutton of Wyoming, Michigan Helen had to take her husband to the hospital. When she phoned her son to tell him to meet them, his youngest daughter awoke to find her father gone. She asked her mother where he was. She said he was at the hospital to be with PawPaw. Kaylea began to cry and asked, "Is my PawPaw going to heaven... Who will swing me now?" All is well now, but Helen thought it was cute, Kaylea thinking of who would swing her amidst the turmoil of the day. When her PawPaw came home later in the day, she ran and jumped into his arms! -- Helen Jean Felfe of Spicewood, Texas _____ . '@(@@@@@@@)@. (@@) ` . ' (_____(_[h, . @@'((@@@@@@@@@@@)@@@@@)@@@@@@@)@ oo oo o @@(@@@@@@@@@@))@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@)@@` . @.((@@@@@@@)(@@@@@@@@@@@@@@))@\@@@@@@@@@)@@@ . (@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@)@@@@@@@@@@@\\@@)@@@@@@@@) (@@@@@@@@)@@@@@@@@@@@@@(@@@@@@@@//@@@@@@@@@) ` __o .@(@@@@)##&&&&&(@@@@@@@@)::_=(@\\@@@@)@@ . .' /\ @@`(@@)###&&&&&!!;;;;;;::-_=@@\\@)@`@. _/| ` @@(@###&&&&!!;;;;;::-=_=@.@\\@@ ' ' / ,, ` @.#####&&&!!;;;::=-_= .@ \\ ` &@__, ####&&&!!;;::=_- _--_ ` " " ###&&!!;;:-_= `o--o' ,, ( __E_ ) ##&&!;::_= ~\/~----~ ( /\%%< j ##&&!;:= \|--m/ /|--w\ /==\%< <%\) ##&&!:- /\/----~ \||=|=< <%%\ ) #&!;:- ~''~ ( /|I=\=< <[]| m #&!;= tornado by jgs (( ) <==| )) #&!- ) ) #&= marred by debris ( ) #&- from llizard |=||=|===| \\#/' and Veronica ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Portions of Tennessee were recently hit with serious tornadoes. Casey, 8, was watching the news with his mother, Traci, and his father, James, and he asked God for protection. The county they live in had been under a tornado warning but it was downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning. Upon hearing the news, Casey had a huge smile on his face and said, "I asked God to keep us safe and he 'downloaded' the tornado to a thunderstorm!" He meant downgraded! -- Traci Walker of Lebanon, Tennessee (Note from Traci: "While we were indeed very blessed and missed the devastation, surrounding counties were hit really hard with loss of lives and property. These folks need our prayers and financial help that can be sent through the American Red Cross.") A friend of Christal's said in her son's kindergarten class she heard one little boy say the Pledge of Allegiance this way: "I lead pigeons to the flag of the United States of America..." -- Christal Bricker of Colorado Springs, Colorado Nina gave her son Miggy, 5, a note which read, "Miggy, I Love You... Mama." He asked her why she gave him the note and she said it was because she wanted him to know how much she loves him. He decided that he liked the note so much he would keep it in his pocket all the time. The next day he changed pants and forgot about the note. Knowing that he had forgotten the note, Nina asked him where it was. Miggy replied, "I'm sorry, Mama. Don't worry. I already know how much you love me. It's in my heart." Then he put his hands on top of his left chest and, to Nina's surprise, said suddenly, "Oh, it dropped to my feet! Mama, your loveletter is in my feet!" -- Nina of Singapore Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp >-->I Touched the Hand of Jesus I touched the hand of Jesus Things are not the same I looked into His loving eyes Heard Him call my name. I felt the peace of Jesus In sweetness, I did dwell Serenity, all around me Draped just like a veil. I saw the light of Jesus It burned upon His face When storms raged all about me He sheltered me with grace. I touched the hand of Jesus And things are not the same I looked into His loving eyes And heard Him call my name. - Marilyn Ferguson ©2003 >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************