The Man On The Bus And More ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *** * //* //* ** **/| ** ************//*********** ***********//************ ** |/** ** **/| *// //* |/** **/| *** *// *** ***** //* ***** ******* |/** ******* ************* ******* * unkown *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011 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 :) One thing I forgot to mention in my last update to you is that I fixed the problem the home page of Shangrala http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html had in only being able to be viewed correctly by those using 800X600 resolution. It was misaligned for every one else. Now it displays correctly in all resolutions. I am also pleased to announce that we have new link ads to help support Shangrala on these pages... __ _,-' \ o_ /\ _\ C| SMA /__\_,-' ,; *x* Extreme Camping! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/camp.html +&- _.-^-._ .--. .-' _ '-. |__| / |_| \| | / \ | /| _____ |\ | | |==|==| | | |---|---|---|---|---| |--|--| | | |---|---|---|---|---| |==|==| | | ^jgs^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Old Barns, Old People, Old Friends! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/barns.html Please bless them by checking out their family links and sharing these pages with all your friends and family! THANK YOU!! -<>- >Please pray for all those along the flooding Mississippi River. __.--'| ___.---' | ___.---' | _.--' %%% \\\ | | %%%%% _ .. | | | %%c '' // U. ' | J %! .U (\ __=__ | L __=____/// | \ | `-'`-'`-' `-'`-' `-'`-' L | /// |. \\-`-. `-'`-' | ||_) _//_.--||\ \\__.>-._ | _.'\\ // \\___.--' `--._ `._.'`._. `._.' J-._ \\_//_.----' `--.__ J `-<\Z/ `-.__ `._.' `-( -//`-. _>`._.' `'(/ | `-._ ___.--' | -' /._ `-._ __.--' _.' `-' `-._ `-. __.--' _.--' `-._ `-._.-' _.--' `._.' `-. | _.--' VK `._.'`._.' `. |)`.__.-' after `-' iotr Nowakowski Bless their hearts! What a mess. Watching the Animal Planet's 'River Monster' Series, made me think about the potential risks to people having to swim! They are already warning people to watch for snakes now and after they are able to go back into their homes. Check out these 'monsters' and you'll see what I mean... ,. ,-'.:\ _/'.:'_:'`._ .-._ _.-'' ```-`.,'.::.`-._ _.' ``-..:.:.`-. ,' ____ `-:.:,' _..-'| ,',. ),'' ```--...___ `-.__..'':.. | / (O ) \ `. ___....-----..``-...___ \::. | /_' `' / ) /,'::::::._:.-' ````-.-'- .-'| ,-`'. ,' ,' / ):::._,' __...--../::. | `. _,' `--'' _.'' `-.._| `''-..''_ _.'.:`. SSt ``. ..--....___.-' `:_.::/ \ .:`. `-.\ \:::| \_,' Giant Cat Fish http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/giantcfish.html Tiger Fish http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tigerfish.html -<>- >-->Specials From Vision To America: Best Documentary Ever Made on America http://tinyurl.com/3vxotlq -<>- >-->Cool NEWS From CCA: A few months ago we created a new way for you to stay in touch with the latest in conservative and Christian news and political commentary online. It's called "The Christian American" and it's a web-based "newspaper" that's updated every day for you. From news updates by political leaders, to links and opinions from leading conservative writers and grassroots activists - it's all prepared for you each morning. All you have to do is subscribe! Each morning, a notice will be sent to your inbox letting you know that the latest edition is ready. Just click here to see the latest edition, and then click the "Subscribe" link on the right hand side. http://paper.li/ccoalition/christianamerican Thats it! Then be sure to share it with others by forwarding them a link via email, or use the built in Twitter and Facebook links at the top of the page to let those in your network know about "The Christian American". Staying informed is a critical step towards being effective in our political system. So subscribe today and then spread the word! Thank you so much for all that you do! Sincerely, Roberta Combs, President & CEO Christian Coalition of America ================================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: ,%&& %&& % ,%&%& %&%& %& %& %&% &%&% % &% % &%% %&% &% %&%&, &%&% %&%& %& &%& % %%& %&%& %&%&% %&%%& &%&% %&% % %& &% %%& && %&% %&%& %&% %&%' '%&% %&% %&&%&%%'% % %& %& %&% &%% `\%%.' /`%&' | | /`-._ _\\/ |, |_ / `-._ ..--~`_ |; |_`\_ / ,\\.~` `-._ - ^ |;: |/^}__..-,@ .~` ~ `o ~ |;: |(____.-' '. ~ - ` ~ |;: | \ / `\ //. - ^ ~ |;: |\ /' /\_\_ ~. _ ~ - //- jgs\\/;: \'--' `---` `\\//-\\/// >THIS IS WHERE I BELONG by Michael T. Smith I sat on the ground, leaned against a tree trunk and watched my bobber float on the glassy surface of the water. The fishing was slow. I hadnt had a bite all morning. A blue jay landed on a branch in a tree a few feet away. He stared at me a moment and flew off. In the distance, a crow cawed. Other than that, there wasnt a sound. I closed my eyes and let the rising sun wash away the chill of the early morning. I sighed contentedly. An osprey, silhouetted by a turquoise sky, flew few a hundred feet above my head. Obviously a better fisherman than I, it clutched a fresh trout in its talons. It didnt bother me. I wasnt there for the fish. It was time alone in the outdoors I craved. Every so often, I rose, checked my bait and cast it back into the lake. In the beaver hut at my side, I heard the squeaking of baby beavers. A few minutes later, one of the adult beavers swam around the point, saw me and disappeared in a splash of water, as it slapped its tail. A moment later, the squeaking in the hut grew louder as mom or dad arrived. I sat and let my thoughts wander content to sit and think. By noon, without one bite from a trout, I rose from my spot by the shore, collected my stuff and headed for home. Along the path through the brush, I spotted a cluster of May flowers and picked a bouquet for my wife. We were both fans of their heavenly scent. It was a mile walk to the highway and my car. Half way there, I breasted a small hill. Four deer flashed their white tails, leaped through the shrub and disappeared into the thicket. My car sat in the clearing, fifty feet from the highway. A few feet behind it, a groundhog stuck his head from a hole and cautiously watched my approach. As I drew near, its courage left. It whistled a signal of danger and disappeared under the ground. Twenty-five years later, I exited my office building in midtown Manhattan and was greeted with a rush of heat, the blare of horns and sirens, and a sea of humanity. It had been many years since I last fished. My little lake in the woods of Nova Scotia was a distant memory. I followed the herd of commuters who, like the groundhog, disappeared under the ground. We shuffled beneath the concrete and into the stifling humidity of the subway station. People growled in protest, as others pushed past them to reach their train. Somewhere up ahead, a guitar was played by someone collecting donations. Trains screeched to a stop, unloaded and loaded passengers and in minutes, rumbled out of sight into the tunnels that hollowed the underbelly of the city. There was no sun to enjoy. There was no peace, no quiet and no nature. Ginny and I had enough of the rush and expense of New Jersey and New York. We moved to Idaho, with it mountains, rivers and a slower pace. One early July morning, we stood at the edge of crystal clear mountain stream and tossed our lines. The trees were alive with the yellow, red and black of the western tanager, a small mountain bird. Towering over all, were the snowcapped peaks of the Stanley Mountains. The sound of the rushing water and the singing birds took me back to the peace of my little lake in Nova Scotia, so many years behind me. In the back country, a persons body changes. Unlike the city, where I drowned in the noise and rush and eventually retreated inside myself; here with nature, my mind soaks and softens. The world becomes clear. My thoughts are free to roam. I begin to see, hear, smell and feel again. This is where I belong -- with nature. -- Michael T. Smith __________________________________________________ Michael lives in Caldwell, Idaho, with his beautiful wife, Ginny. Michael has put together two collections of essays. The first called "From My Heart to Yours" is currently being reviewed by a publisher. To sign up for Michael's stories go to: To read more of Michael's stories, go to ================================================================== >-->From Laugh And Lift: >"A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people that your heart is at home." The Lift ._ | | |L___, .' '. T unknown : * :_| '._.' L >Love in Action (Written by Jean P. Sours in The Upper Room Daily Devotional) [Edited] Every eye in the doctor's waiting room turned toward the weary-looking mother pushing a wheelchair into the room. A severely disabled boy lolled back in the chair. Another boy sitting near the door smiled tentatively at the boy in the wheelchair, whose face was transformed as he smiled back. The boy sitting near the door stood and approached the wheelchair. "Hi!" he said. "My name is Tim. What's yours?" The mother replied softly, "His name is Jerry. He can't talk." Tim said, "That's all right. I'll just talk to him, if it's okay." "I like your shoes, Jerry," Tim continued. He lifted his foot so Jerry could see. "They're almost like mine." Jerry smiled, and the two boys "talked" until Jerry was called back to see the doctor. Everyone in the waiting room was silent, awed by the love and acceptance Tim had exhibited in reaching out to Jerry. God constantly admonishes us to love, and we live in a world that is as hungry for love as it is for bread. Our love for God is reflected in the love we show for others. The measure of our love for God is [showcased] through the love we show others. "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God" 1 John 4:7a NASB -<>- .-. ,-( o )-. ( o )-( o ) .-\-'.|,`-/-. .-. ( o )--*--( o ) ,-( o )-. `-/-.'|`,-\-' ( o )-( o ) ( o )-( o ) .-\-'.|,`-/-. `-( o )-' _( o )--*--( o ) `-' \/_/ `-/-.'|`,-\-' __ | ( o )-( o ) \_\| .'`-( o )-' | .'\ `-' |/ |\ __ | \| \_\| | __ |/_/ __ | >Aroma of Christ (By Daily Disciples Ministries, Inc.) "But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NIV1984) There are two words in these verses that should [really] catch our attention, the words "fragrance" and "aroma." Isn't it interesting that Paul uses words that relate to our sense of smell to describe how we should be seen by others (or smelled by others)? Most of us notice when a person passes by wearing cologne or perfume, especially when it is a strong scent. There are certain fragrances that evoke memories in us. The smell of spices and evergreen are most common at Christmas. Floral smells hint of springtime. And even someone's scent (good or bad) stirs emotions within us if we relate that fragrance to a particular time or event in our lives. As Christians, Paul is saying that we, too, have a scent about us - "the aroma of Christ." The origin of the word "aroma" brings us back to Old Testament times when the sacrificial offerings of burning animal flesh were common. Our lives as Christians are offered as that living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). As we live for Christ (and are willing to die to ourselves), we become a sweet- smelling aroma to God. Not by our good works, BUT because of the offerings and sacrifices we are willing to make in our daily lives. But we live in a world of indulgence to self, not sacrifice. How can we be the fragrance of Christ in the world today? The first step is in being aware of who you are in Christ. As a believer, you represent Him wherever you go and whatever you do. What does that look like in real life? Maybe by forgiving someone who has hurt you. Maybe by giving up something you want just to bless someone else. The root of sacrifice and unselfishness goes back to love. It is the love of Christ in us and through us that leaves that sweet aroma on others! Take time today and think about the fragrance you are wearing. Put it in the perspective of being an offering and a sacrifice unto the Lord for the sake of others. What better role model for us than the apostle Paul? Of course, the ultimate sacrifice was given through God's only Son, Jesus Christ, and it is now up to us to make that sacrifice known to the world! Ask the Lord today to help you BE the aroma of Christ everywhere you go! May you leave a scent of love on everyone that you pass! -<>- vv vvv^^^^vvvvv vvvvvvvvv^^vvvvvv^^vvvvv vvvvvvvvvvv^^^^^^^^^^^^^vvvvv^^^vvvvv vvvvvvv^^^^^^^^^vvv^^^^^^^vvvvvvvvvvv^^^vvv vvvv^^^^^^vvvvv^^^^^^^vv^^^^^^^vvvv^^^vvvvvv vv^^^^^^^^vvv^^^^^vv^^^^vvvvvvvvvvvv^^^^^^vv^ vvv^^^^^vvvv^^^^^^vvvvv^^vvvvvvvvv^^^^^^vvvvv^ vvvvvvvvvv^^^v^^^vvvvvv^^vvvvvvvvvv^^^vvvvvvvvv ^vv^^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvv^^^^^^^^vvvvvvvvv^^^^^^vvvvvv ^vvvvvvvvv^^^^vvvvvv^^^^^^vvvvvvvv^^^vvvvvvvvvv^v ^^^^^^vvvv^^vvvvv^vvvv^^^v^^^^^^vvvvvv^^^^vvvvv vvvv^^vvv^^^vvvvvvvvvv^vvvvv^vvvvvv^^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvv^ vvv^vvvvv^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvv^v##vvv^vvvv^^vvvvv^v ^vvvvvv^^vvvvvvvv^vv^vvv^^^^^^_____##^^^vvvvvvvv^^^^ ^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvvvvvvv^^^^/\@@@@@@\#vvvv^^^ ^^vvvvvv^^^^^^vvvvv/__\@@@@@@\^vvvv^v ;^^vvvvvvvvvvv/____\@@@@@@\vvvvvvv ; \_ ^\|[ -:] ||--| | _/^^ ; \ |[ :] ||_/| |/ ; \\ ||___:]______/ ; \ ;=; / ; | ;=;| ; () ;=;| (() || ;=;| / / \;=;\ unknown >What'll it Be: A Shrub or a Tree? (By Rev. Kerry S. Doyal) Some life-options are harder than others. "Paper or plastic" - not too tough. "Do you Robin (my long suffering wife of almost 20 years), take this man . . . ?" What was she thinking? If you were asked which would you prefer in life, blessings or curses, how much thought would that require? How about picking between these images to represent your life: a scrubby shrub in the sands of the Sahara, or a verdant tree by a river, bent over with fruit. Would you need much time to roll that around? In Jeremiah 17:5-8, the LORD set forth two life styles that lead to very different ends: trusting in God or relying in one's self. Read it a time or two and look at the contrasts, promises, warnings and offers of grace. "This is what the Lord says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives." "But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit." (Jeremiah 17:5-8; NLT) Studying these stark options turns them into choices for us. As we hear how one is cursed and one blessed, God asks us: Do you want to be a useless, fruitless scrub bush or a fruitful, well-grounded tree? The cursed shrubs are guilty of something which we pride ourselves of in America. We work hard to foster and boost this in our children. We send people to counselors when they are weak in this area. Yet, a self-sufficient soul is sick and shall struggle. It is guilty of idolatry of self and abandonment of God. Few people purposefully turn their hearts from the LORD. But the reality is when we put our saddle on mere humans, we are choosing to dismount a ride of faith in God. No man, Jesus said, can serve two masters. God is rightfully a jealous God. Put your money on man and you can bet against yourself every time. Why do we often opt to be like hopeless lonely shrubs in the wilderness, tumbleweeds? Forget luscious fruit. Give up any hope of pictures of vital vegetation. Cursed, not blessed. What are we thinking? Set in sharp relief are the blessed that show trust in the LORD by making Him their hope and confidence. Like the Psalmist, they say, "my help comes from the Lord." They know if God doesn't pull through, they are sunk. The arm of flesh - their own or other's - will fail them. But God can be, must be, trusted in. These spiritual evergreens are compared to trees along a river. Talk about green! Droughts? No sweat. These deep-rooted sturdy souls sag with food. The hot winds of life simply prune, not wither, them. See if Proverbs 3:5-8 reminds you of Jeremiah 17:5-8: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear [respect] the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones." (NKJV) So, what'll it be, a beat down bush or a tree? Blessed or cursed? If you want to study this theme & imagery further, check out Psalms 1; 37:1-7; Mark 4:1-20, John 15:1-8. SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com =============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Johanna :) >5 Lessons: .-. | | |=| |=| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |=| jgs |=| |_| .=/I\=. ////V\\\\ |#######| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| 1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady. During my second month of college, our professor Gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read The last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the Cleaning woman several times. She was tall, Dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question Blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if The last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely, " said the professor.. "In your careers, You will meet many people. All are significant.. They Deserve your attention and care, even if all you do Is smile and say "hello.." I've never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her Name was Dorothy. --- ...I'd flunk that one - I've met hundreds of people and would recognize only a handful if I saw them on the street. Know many people by name but I would have a hard time matching that name to a face. 2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had Broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally Unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and Put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a Giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A Special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway The other night. The rain drenched not only my Clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying Husband's bedside just before he passed away... God Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving Others." Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole. 3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those Who serve. In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in Front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the Waitress was growing impatient.. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on The table and walked away The boy finished the ice Cream, paid the cashier and left.. When the waitress Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the Table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, Were two nickels and five pennies.. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had To have enough left to leave her a tip. 4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path. In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a Roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if Anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the King's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by And simply walked around it.. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did Anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of Vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. 5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts... Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. Live with no regrets, Treat people the way you want to be treated, Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, and Dance like you do when nobody's watching. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Christians aren't perfect; they're just forgiven! --- ...Sweet Classic! Thanks Johanna! ================================================================ >-->From Our Friend PatDeE :) _--_ ( A's) /___7 .~~\ /~~. /""_ V \ om /____/ / .mmmC="_ _/ -----===(((((}{).MMM "" | `"---" ..mMMM"" | \ ( )" \ /\ | / / \ \ /" / \ \ \__/" \__/ '94 the wolfe / / | | .^V^. .^V^. +-+ +-+ >Two Choices What would you do?....you make the choice. Don 't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice? At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I believe that when a mentally and physically disabled child like Shay comes into the world, an opportunity presents itself to realize true human nature, and it comes in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story: Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all teammates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball: the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions, so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way, Shay' Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team. With tears now rolling down his face, the father said softly, 'That day the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!'" AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. Messages that are crude, hostile, and even vulgar pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process? A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats its least fortunate amongst them. You now have two choices: 1. Delete 2. Forward May your day be a Shay Day. MAY GOD BLESS EVERYONE --- ...Aww, thanks PatDeE! ====================================================================== >-->From HeartsAndHumor: ___ .-' \\". /` ;--: | ( (_)== |_ ._ '.__.; \_/`--_---_( (`--(./-\.) `| _\ | | \ __ / /| '.__/ .'` \ |_ jgs '-__ / `- >How Blessed I Am In 1980, I began a year of life in the small city of Sydney, Nova Scotia on beautiful Cape Breton Island, home of the Cabot Trail. Sydney was a dirty steel town. The mill was fed by the multitude of coal mines surrounding the area. Coal, first discovered in the 1600's, was a means of support for centuries in the area. The majority of residents either worked in the steel mill or under the ground. I became fascinated by the mines, the miners and the life they led. One weekend, I took a drive to Glace Bay, a neighboring city, to visit the Miner's Museum. I toured the main floor, where they depicted the history of coal mining in the area. Pictures of men, faces black with coal dust, hung from the walls. Many would die from black lung disease long before old age took them home to glory. The museum was built over an exhausted mine. I mingled with tourists from around the world. We waited in front of an elevator, as a guide handed out helmets with lights and heavy miner's coats. The guide checked us over, smiled his approval, and opened the door to the elevator. We crowded in. The doors silently closed. We smiled nervously at each other. The mine was shallow. A few moments later, we stopped, the doors opened and the guide led us into the tunnel. "Watch your heads!" he warned. "The ceilings are low." We followed him down the tunnel. It was lighted with electric lights then, but while in production, the tunnel was as dark as the walls of coal above, beside and under us. We walked hunched over, so as not to hit our heads. Along the way we paused to look at the displays of mining equipment from centuries long gone. At one lighted alcove, sat a wicker cage. A canary once perched inside. Loved tenderly by the miners, it was well fed. It sat and waited to give its life as a warning of the deadly methane gas the coal produced. Undetectable to the miners, methane buildup would kill them or explode with a force strong enough to collapse the tunnels they worked. The canary's death, like a smoke detector, warned the men of danger. My interest wasn't satisfied. I needed to know more. Across the harbor from Sydney, in the town of Sydney Mines, another tour waited. Once again, I was the only local in the group of tourists. We dressed in miner's clothes, climbed into the coal cars that once lowered the miners under the ground. The guide asked us turn on our helmet lights. There would be no lighting on this tour. We'd get the full experience. A motor attached to a pulley roared to life. Our cars jerked and began the descent into the dark mouth of the tunnel. Suspended by what was then the longest single length of steel cable in the world, we rolled down the throat of the mine. We'd traveled more than a mile through the tunnel and were under the harbor before we stopped and climbed from our coal cars. Our helmet lights flashed across the walls of the mine like a swarm of dyslexic lighthouse beams. The tour guide pointed to fossils of plants in the ceiling and walls. It was a history lesson of earth's early beginnings. "Turn off your helmet lights!" the guide ordered. "I want you to experience the life of a miner." One-by-one we turned off our lights until there was just the single beam from the guide's helmet, and then it too went out. The darkness was total - so thick, you thought the very air itself had been sucked out of the mine. And the silence! The silence was complete except for the breathe of fear from my companions. Somewhere, water dripped, where the harbor seeped through seams in the rock and coal above us. "The miners experienced this everyday. This was their life. You can turn your lights on now." There was a sigh of relief. We climbed back into the coal cars and were pulled to the surface. The warm sun had new meaning to us. Back in my small rented room in the basement of my landlord's house, I closed the blinds and turned off the lights. I contemplated a miner's life: under the ground, black dust, no sunshine and much danger. It's not a life I'd wish on anyone. Many people hate their jobs. There have been a few I didn't like. I whined. Then I thought about the coal miners and realized how blessed I am. - Michael T. Smith Join Hearts and Humor Newsletter [http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1101828445578&p=oi] ================================================================= >-->From Heartwarmer: ,(()). ,;;;;. __ ________ _____ ___ ((_ _));'_`'_( _| __ __ __ _| _| _| __ __ () \ /)\ ) / (_|__ _|-_| _(_|(_|(_|__ _|-- ((\ O(() \ O / _____(_|(_|_____________(_|_ SSt >THE MIRACLE OF LOVE by Joseph Walker It was a miracle, I tell you. An absolute miracle. We were in the midst of an 11-hour car trip, and Alexander was done. He was only a few weeks old at the time, and he had pretty much been held and cuddled his whole life long. This being strapped into a car seat for hours at a time was for the birds, as far as he was concerned, and he let us know in no uncertain terms that he was NOT happy. ? At first his cries were kind of sweet and plaintive, and everybody in the car smiled knowingly, confident that he would soon calm down and go back to sleep. "Hes just been fed and burped, his diaper is clean and dry, he should be fine," said his mother, Andrea. Alexander is Andreas first child, and this was their first long trip together, so they were both very much in a mode of trying to figure each other out. But already she had a sense of her son, and she was confident that all would be well. But it wasnt. Thirty minutes later Alexander was still crying, and the rest of us were wondering what was going on. "Do you want me to pull over?" I asked, aware that Andrea would not take him out of his car seat to cuddle and comfort him as long as the car was moving. "No," she said. "Let me try something first." ?She leaned up as close to Alexanders face as she could get, and began to sing to him: 'You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are gray. Youll never know, dear, ?How much I love you. Please dont take my sunshine away.' Now, I need to tell you that I have heard Andrea sing hundreds of times. We sing a lot in our family -- its just something that we do (Id tell you about our version of "Happy Birthday to You" were it not... well... indescribable). But Andrea has taken her singing to another level. She has studied voice. She has worked hard on her singing in great choirs and as a high school, college and professional actress. She has sung countless solos in front of huge audiences. In other words, Andrea sings. But Ive never heard her sing quite like how she sang to her baby that night. It was a new and difference voice for Andrea. It was... I dont know... tender. Soft. Sweet. Gentle. Which is not to say Ive never heard Andrea sing tenderly, softly, sweetly and gently before, because I have. But never quite like this, and never to an audience of one. There was a quality about her singing that had nothing at all to do with her talent and experience -- something that touched me as I drove, even though it clearly wasnt intended for me. Ill just call it what it felt like. Love. Alexander began to calm almost immediately. By the time Andrea had sung through the song three times, he was sleeping. Comfortably. Peacefully. Miraculously. Alexander wasnt comforted by the beauty of his mothers voice, or by her musical skill and training. He was comforted because it WAS his mothers voice. He knew it. He loved it. And he knew the owner of that voice loved him. Thats what I heard coming from the back of the car that night. And thats what we celebrate every Mothers Day. Its the miracle of motherhood. The miracle of love. -- Joseph Walker > __________________________________________________ Joe is a Heartwarmer Gem from Utah. ============================================================= >-->From Archived InspiredBuffalo: .---------------------------. /,--..---..---..---..---..--. `. //___||___||___||___||___||___\_| [j__ ######################## [_| \============================| .==| |"""||"""||"""||"""| |"""|| /======"---""---""---""---"=| =|| |____ []* ____ | ==|| // \\ // \\ |===|| hjw "\__/"---------------"\__/"-+---+' >Benny: The Man on the Bus This is a parable about leadership. A teacher assigned her 12th graders an essay about a leader they admired. Most kids wrote about famous people, but one student turned in this: Benny: The Man on the Bus I've been taking a public bus to school for years. Most passengers go to work and never talk to anyone else. About a year ago, an elderly man got on the bus and said loudly to the driver, "Good morning!" Most people looked up annoyed, and the bus driver just grunted. The next day the man got on at the same stop and again said loudly, "Good morning!" to the driver. On the fifth day, the driver greeted the man first with a cheerful "Good morning!" and Benny replied loudly, "My name's Benny. What's yours?" The driver said his name was Ralph. That was the first time any of us had heard the driver's name. Soon all the passengers began talking to each other and saying hello to Ralph and Benny. After a month, Benny extended his cheerful greeting to the whole bus. Within a few days, his "Good morning!" was returned by a whole bunch of "Good mornings." The entire bus seemed friendlier. If a leader is someone who makes something happen, Benny was our leader in friendliness. A month ago, Benny didn't get on the bus. Some of us thought he had died. No one knew what to do. The bus got quiet again. So I started to act like Benny by saying "Good morning!" to everyone, and they cheered up again. I guess I'm now the leader.. This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. -<>- .-. ((`-' \\ \\ .="""=._)) ; '=. "'" '==" PjP after/jgs >Out Of The Corner Of My Eye [edited] I love to watch animals play. I get so much enjoyment from our three dogs playing tag, swimming in their little kid's pool, chasing butterflies, things like that. We have two large bird feeders, and mornings I sit on my porch and watch different species eat their morning breakfast. We also have cows in the big field across from us, and I laugh when I see a little calf follow its mother when she walks around. Everywhere we look, there is something to smile about when watching animals. Unless... We have a large porch on our house. There are large pine trees all around the back of our place. Tonight hubby and I were eating our supper on the porch on our picnic table. A daily ritual is to watch our rooster eyeball two different branches of pine trees, trying to decide which one he wants to use to fly up into the tree. He always flies before the sun goes down. I am told they have poor eyesight when it starts to gets dusk. So each day this time of the year, the rooster flies into the tree around 6:15. We were eating when we saw him do his prancing and dancing to decide which branch to get on. He flew up, let out his cock-a-doodle-doo to let the whole neighborhood know he's going to get ready for bed. Suddenly the rooster flew down to the ground. Something we've never seen him do before. He began this running around, acting nothing like he does any other time. We are in the drought area, and it had rained for 15 minutes so my husband said he was probably going to try and find some worms. I didn't think that was it, because the sky was darker and the rooster never waits that long to fly in the tree. I was watching him when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a movement. It came from the three-foot bathroom window which has a jealousy type window. Each year for fifteen years since we've lived here, two birds come in spring and build nests on both sides of the window. We've watched them as they set on their eggs, hatch the eggs and then tend to their babies until they get flying lessons telling them it's time to spread their wings and fly. This year was no different. One bird hatched her eggs already, and they have left the nest. But the second bird had four babies in the nest, and just yesterday I watched in the window as she fed them. They are just getting their little feathers now. When my eye caught movement, I thought it was the mother bird at first. I didn't say anything to my husband, since his back was to the window. I turned my head and saw something stick out from the window ledge. It didn't look right. I then told hubby that something was by the bird nest, and it was too large to be the mama bird. He turned and said, "It's just the knob to crank the window." He turned back to his plate, I looked at the window and again, something moved that was too large for a bird. I told him it was NOT the window handle, that something was moving. He turned again, then he saw movement. He got up from the table, walked to the end of the porch, closer to the window as I was getting up from the table. "You're not going to like this," he said. I got closer and said, "It's a mouse." "Not a mouse," he said. "Oh no, it's a stinking bat," I said. "It's not a bat either," he said. Right then it moved, and I saw it stick its head out. A baby bird was in its mouth. "SNAKE!" I screamed. "Oh my Gosh, there's a snake in our window," I yelled. My husband ran to get the ladder. My son came running when I called him, with a machete knife he keeps in the house for situations like this, he told me. My daughter-in-law wanted to help any way she could. And I stood frozen, watching that snake try and eat that little bird. It made me sick. My husband got a rake, a shovel, a flashlight, and told me to stand back. Standing back was not a problem. He reached up with the rake and tried to make the snake drop the bird. It did. But when it dropped it, a live baby fell out of the nest. My daughter-in-law scooped that little thing up and held it in her hand. I told her there were four babies yesterday in the nest. Today, there was only two when we saw the snake. The snake became vicious when the bird dropped from its mouth. It struck out at my husband. I was yelling, "Get off the ladder, let me call animal control," and he's yelling back," I'll get that sucker and kill it." "Go get your gun," I said. "WHAT?" he asked. "I'd blow a hole through the window if I tried to shoot at the snake," he said. "No, shoot it when you get it down off the window ledge," I said. My son informed me that he was going to chop it in half with his knife when it dropped from the window. The snake fought. It was coiled, it struck. It was gnarled up, it struck. My husband was trying to knock it down. I have a large pair of clippers I use to take down weeds and good size limbs. I grabbed those and said, "Here, cut that sucker in half." My husband looked at me like I was nuts and said, "The handles are too short." I knew that, but well you know, men like to show we women how tough they are, and I thought that would be wonderful if he could cut him in half. If it were me on that ladder, I'd want something with a ten foot handle. My clippers only have about an eighteen-inch handle. I ran inside the house and ran to the bathroom window to see the snake crawling up my window. I saw the rake touch him, and I saw him strike again at my husband. I ran back out on the porch and told him again to get his gun. His gun is a replica of an old Colt 44. It has to be loaded with powder and the little balls. He said by the time he got the gun loaded, the snake could get off and we'd not know where it went. "I'm calling animal control," I said. "No you're not," he said, "I'm going to get this stinking snake." There we were, I standing on the porch, watching, taking pictures with my digital camera. My neighbor, who is 80, was standing by me saying, "I hate snakes." My son had his knife ready, and my daughter-in-law was holding the only remaining little bird, and there hubby was on the ladder, with the rake trying to get the snake tangled up in it to get him down. He grabbed the snake, and it started to crawl through the rake "teeth" and I screamed, "Drop it." It struck fast, several times. I saw the tail. We all did. It didn't have any rattles. Suddenly hubby hooked it and it's head got caught, and he slung it down to the ground. Quicker than you could blink an eye, faster than a machete can be swung, that snake slithered through the little opening where our air conditioner hose comes out from under the house. "Oh, that's wonderful, " I said. "Now I'll be up all night, what if it gets in the duct work and comes into the house through a vent." "It won't come near the vent, it's too cold, they won't go where it's cold," hubby said. A few minutes ago, my friend down the road called. "How was your weekend," she said. I replied, "Why don't you ask me what have my last four hours been like." I then told her what happened. Our news has been warning us in this drought, snakes are looking for water, and there have been several incidences of them getting into homes. Just this past weekend, a man where I work was bitten by a copperhead. Within minutes, he became violently ill. Instead of getting someone to get him a park ranger, he picked up his cell phone and called his wife. "I just got bit by a snake at the park," he said. "Do you think I need to go to the hospital?" Precious seconds lost in that phone call. Instead of sending someone to the office, which was not that far, he walked, causing the venom to move in his blood stream quicker. He collapsed right near me on a picnic table. I saw the ambulance folks remove his shoes. By this time, the man was getting delirious and did not know his name. They got him in the ambulance quickly and sped away to the hospital. I am a nervous wreck tonight, knowing that snake went under my house. I went around and was closing vents when my husband asked what I was doing. I just looked at him, and he replied, "We'll bake in this heat if you close the vents off." "So we'll bake," I said. "I can't sleep with that thing under the house," I told him. I have no idea if I'll sit up all night or not. Maybe I'll play pogo until my eyes droop. I just know I feel very uncomfortable tonight. We think the rooster saw the snake in the tree, and that's why he came back down after he'd gone up for the evening. We think the snake crawled out on a long limb, got onto our roof and crawled over to the window near the bathroom. Perhaps he saw the baby birds in the nest. Tonight, I'm watching out of the corner of my eye for any movement in my house. _,..,,,_ '``````^~"-,_`"-,_ .-~c~-. `~:. ^-. `~~~-.c ; `:. `-, _.-~~^^~:. `. ; _,--~~~~-._ `:. ~. .~ `. .` ;' .:` `: `:. ` _.:-,. `. .' .: :' _.-~^~-. `. `..' .: `. ' : .' _:' .-' `. :. .: .'`. : ; jgs : `-' .:' `. `^~~^` .:. `. ; ; `-.__,-~ ~-. ,' ': '.__.` :' ~--..--' ':. .:' ':..___.:' Note: From our description, neighbors said the snake was probably a water moccasin... very poisonous... By Sharon Bryant 1946@bellsouth.net -<>- .-. \ / ( ( | - * - '-` -+- / \ \ o _|_ \ )) }^{ /___\ )) .-#-----. /|\ .---'-'---. .-#-----. ___ /_________\ //|\\ /___________\ /_________\ /___\ |[] _ []| //|\\ | A /^\ A | |[] _ []| _.O,_ ....|"#"|.| |*| |...///|\\\...| |"| |....| |*| |..(^).... ldb >ALIVE AND PRESENT Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of a childhood incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. It happened when he was nine years old. It was winter. Young Frank was walking across a snow-covered field with his uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow's flight, and then young Frank's tracks meandering all over the field. "Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again," his uncle said. "And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that." Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his life's philosophy. "I determined right then," he'd say with a twinkle in his eye, "not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had." He determined to be alive and present. To be fully aware and squeeze as much life out of each moment as possible. We will miss most things in life if we live in the past. Let us learn from the past, but not live there. We will miss most things in life if we live in the future. Let us plan for the future, but not live there. We will miss little if we live in the present. And we'll have more fun along the way! - By Steve Goodier -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Why Buy Expensive Toys http://www.buffaloschips.com/71610.htm Why Girls Shouldn't Fire Handguns http://www.buffaloschips.com/72101.htm Why I Didn't Make The Olymics http://www.buffaloschips.com/72102.htm Snowman http://buffalosjokes.com/funpagesg2.htm Blow Darts http://buffalosjokes.com/112453.htm Bored At Work http://buffalosjokes.com/112455.htm Born Wild http://buffalosjokes.com/112457.htm Fear: Feeling Kind Of Buggy http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/fearfeelingkindofbuggy.html Our Gifts And Calling http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/giftscallings.html Bibi's Rescue http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogrescue.html USS New York LPD-21 Tribute http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ussny.html Military WWII Posters http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/militarywwii.html Building Advertising Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/buildingads.html Typewriter Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/typeart.html Attitude Is Everything http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html Keukenhof Gardens http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kgardens.html Pandas After The Earthquake http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/pandae.html Ricochet The Surf Dog http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ricochet.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com ============================================================= >-->From CupO'Cheer: ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! >MOTHER'S DAY PRAYER God our Creator, we pray: for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility; for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting; for those who are tired, stressed or depressed; for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family; for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty; for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities; for those who have children they do not want; for those who raise children on their own; for those who have lost a child; for those who care for the children of others; for those whose children have left home; and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled. Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender, and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good, living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen. -<>- __---__ ______ / ___\_ o O O _( )__ /====(_____\___---_ o _( )_ | \ (_ AI-YA!!!! ) | |@ (_ Shot _) \ ___ / (__ Again!__) \ __----____--_\____(____\_____/ (______) ==|__----____--______| / / \____/)_ / ______) / | | | _| | ______\______________|______ / * * \ /_____________*____*___________\ / * * \ /________________________________\ / * \ /__________________________________\ | | |________________________| | | |________________________| unknown (after W< ) >THE HEART OF A VOLUNTEER By Rick Ezell The fictional movie Pearl Harbor is based on the historical events in and around that early December Sunday morning in paradise when Japanese warplanes screamed across the peaceful skies of Hawaii and jolted America into World War II. Following the Pearl Harbor attack, Colonel Jimmy Doolittle was asked to lead a daring air raid on Tokyo. In one scene in the movie, potential pilots were lined up in a single row facing the Colonel. He asked them to take a look at the person on each side, telling them that one of them would not return from this mission. Then he asked for those volunteering for this dangerous and potentially deadly mission to step forward. Without hesitation all the men stepped forward. Countless people step forward each day to volunteer at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, to feed the homeless, to deliver meals, to travel to places of disaster to offer a hand and hope. While many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work in, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue, others serve on an as-needed basis and in any way they can help. These selfless acts of volunteering, the practice of people working on behalf of others or a particular cause without payment for their time and services, has been a part of American life for years. Today, more than just a fad, volunteering is a way of life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 63.4 million people, or 26.8 percent of the population, volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2008 and September 2009. Volunteers have discovered a great way to meet others, to make social contacts, to keep busy, to have fun, and to keep from getting bored. People volunteer to promote good or improve the quality of life for others. It gives people, especially seniors, the opportunity to use talents and skills from years in the workplace. Often such acts benefit institutions that may not be able to hire someone like you. Volunteers have discovered the joy, the satisfaction, the thrill of giving their time and their talents. It does your heart good, not to mention your body. Helping others by meeting the physical and emotional needs of others has always had a boomerang effect. The good that you do for others comes back to you. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change lives, including your own. Volunteering is a great way to cope with life. Donating your time is a great way to feel like you have the power to change things for the better. Volunteering allows you to look at life from a different perspective. Sometimes it's easy to get consumed by worries. Volunteering lets you focus on other's needs to see that one's involvement in the world can be meaningful. Where does one start? Here are a few suggestions: Local institutions always need help, such as, libraries, museums, hospitals, park districts, tutoring programs. Serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless, volunteer at your local food bank, or distribute toys to kids. Your church may need your help. Most animal shelters depend on volunteers to keep the cats and dogs happy and well exercised. (And when you're walking rescued dogs, you get a workout too.) If you're interested in politics, it's a great way to find out how things work on the inside-whether it's the President of the United States or your town mayor. Join a conservation group and help out with river preservation. Take part in a local park cleanup day. Lots of us are close to people who have a medical problem (like cancer, HIV, or diabetes, for example). It can feel good to donate your time to an organization that raises money for research, delivers meals, or offers other help to people with an illness. The possibilities are endless. Back to the movie Pearl Harbor. In another scene, following Doolittle's request of the young pilots, the men were aboard the ship that transported them closer to their launch point. Doolittle said to a fellow officer while watching the young pilots, "There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer." Truly, there is not. Copyright 2011, Rick Ezell. as seen in One Minute Uplift -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION [edited] "But the Helper, the holy spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." - (John 14:26 NKJV) Jesus made many promises to His disciples on that fateful night prior to His crucifixion. Among them was the pledge that the Holy Spirit would play an important instructional role in their lives. The Spirit would teach them all things and bring Christ's teachings to their remembrance. I find this fascinating because we're prone to think of the disciples as natural-born theologians who perfectly understood everything Jesus said. No idea could be further from reality. The disciples needed help in a big way! In fact, when it came to Christ's most important teaching-His resurrection from the dead--they were clueless even after it happened. This is despite Him telling them about it in advance on several occasions. The disciples were devoted, yet dull, in their spiritual knowledge. Something changed all that, or rather someone. In keeping with Jesus' promise, they received holy spirit (John 20:22), and He [it] began to instruct and illuminate them on what the Savior had said (Ephesians 3:5). Light bulbs went on, and scriptural connections were made as the Spirit schooled them, making them into theologians of unparalleled understanding. One of those theologians, John, later wrote that the holy spirit operates the same way in our lives (1 John 2:20-21). He [it] instructs us in God's truth and enables us to fathom the deepest meaning of the Scriptures. We may never attend a theological seminary or Bible college, but this doesn't prevent us from being taught and trained by the greatest Teacher in existence. Who better to educate us in God's ways than God Himself [through his spirit]? It's a profound privilege to have the spirit as our Instructor; let's make sure we're attending class. Make sure to pray 'for a fresh refilling' [speak in tongues to grow spiritually] of the holy spirit each morning! There is NO BETTER way to start your day off knowing that your spirit is there to guide you in ALL you do [through Chist Jesus]! Have a great Day! Rizeup.us as seen in Daily Devotional --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...Be sure NOT to confuse God with your spirit from God... The Giver And The Gift http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/givergift.html -<>- /)) _ _________________ ((\ / / _ / ` | ha ,^| ,- _ \ \ / / / / /`_|ha ---%^^^^^^^^ |,-\ \ \ \ \ | |/ / / / | ha / " " | \ \ \ \| | | / / / / /| llizard aka ejm |\ \ \ \ \ | | | | `' (|/(|___________|)\| ' | | | | `\ \ / /, | \ | | | | / \ | | / \ / \ / \ / \ / ejm \ / ) / ) / / / / / / >TWO THUMBS-UP FOR SMART TECHNOLOGIES! By Sandra Clifton, D.Min. I double-checked the message I had just texted to a close friend on my new smart phone. I couldn't help but smile! I had just texted her a note of total encouragementclocking in, I'll have you know, at just under 15 seconds! This was smart technology in hand, and I was using my thumbs to put it to use with lightning speed! Proud as punch, I decided to press a button to re-read my note of "You are being used so greatly!" That was what I thought I had typed but, much to my horror, I found something else: "You are being sued so greatly!" Oh dear. I took some comfort when I remembered another friend who had recently shot off a loving text message to her hubby at work "You're simply THE BEST!"only to find out that her lightning- speed typing had sent him: "You're simply THE BEAST!" (with "THE BEAST" shouting in bold capital letters). As I sat and flexed my thumbs, I pondered the incredible communication tool in my hand, and also its limitations. Our smartphones can't tell if you or I are throwing a "brick or a bouquet." That means that it's up to you and me to find words thatno matter how rushed we areencourage and convey the feelings that we really intend. Well, you and I can either look at the smart, in-hand technologies as a threat to global peace (in the wrong hands) or a blessing from God that will allow us as believers to show His love....... as seen in Inspiration Plus -<>- \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp >FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS Have you ever noticed how hard it can be to find the right words? It was once said that Al Smith, former governor of New York, was making his first inspection of Sing Sing prison. The warden asked him if he might say a few words to the prisoners. The governor began, "My fellow citizens." But he suddenly felt confused about whether the inmates may have forfeited their citizenship. So he took a second stab at it: "My fellow convicts." There was a roar of laughter and now he became flustered. He gallantly tried a third time: "Well, anyhow, I'm glad to see so many of you here." There is no record of what he said after that. I have frequently struggled to find the right words. And there are times I am certain the right words do not even exist. Like when I'm trying to say something hopeful or comforting in a particularly frightening situation. More than once I have been called to a hospital emergency room or to be with a family surrounding the bed of a dying relative. And more than once I've been at a loss for words. What is the right thing to say at a time like that? What can I say that doesn't sound hollow or trite or like I'm just not in touch with the feelings of others who are hurting? A lot of us really don't know what to say at these times. And too often the professionals who work daily with people on the ragged edge of hope have become so desensitized they have lost any ability to comfort. A wise obstetrician at a university teaching hospital once made a comment about comforting those who suffer. Someone asked the doctor what advice he offered his students, future doctors and nurses, when caring for mothers who gave birth to stillborn infants. The doctor paused for a moment in thought. Then he said this: "I tell them that they need two eyes. One eye is not enough; they need two eyes. With one eye they have to check the I.V. And with the other eye they have to weep. That's what I tell them," he said. "I tell them that they need two eyes." That may be some of the wisest advice I've ever heard. We may not always need to figure out what to say; we really only need two eyes. In Emily Dickinson's words, "Saying nothing . . . sometimes says the most." And this from a poet whose life was all about finding exactly the right words. I agree with the doctor - empathy goes a long way. And somehow finding the ability to feel, even for a few moments, what another is feeling may speak more loudly than the best words I can choose. It speaks to the fact that I care; I understand. It says that I am willing to share their pain so they do not feel so alone. It says I want to be fully present with them and to walk alongside of them, difficult as it may be. My presence is something they can draw real strength and hope from. Come to think of it, maybe Dickinson did find the right words: saying nothing . . . sometimes says the most. And saying nothing at all may be just the right thing to say. -- Steve Goodier as seen in Life Support To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. =============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Linda :) __,--'''''--,_ _,--'''''--,__ _-' `\ /' `-_ ,' `\/' `, / `\ \ / `\ `\ \ ( /'\ `\ ) ( /' `\ `, ) ( /' `. | ) \ /' `-,__,-' / \ /' ___ / `. /' ,' `\ .' \ /' / ,--( `\ / /' /' ,' \ `< ( /' / ,--( `\ ) ( /' /' ,' \ `\ ,' `---,' /' ,--( `\ `\-' ( /' ,' \ `\ ) `---,' ( `\ `\_,-' ( \ `\ ) `---,' `\ `\_,-' Normand ( `\ ) Veilleux `---' `\_,-' >"The Secret" One day, one friend asked another, 'How is it that you are always so happy? You have so much energy, And you never seem to get down..' With her eyes smiling, she said, 'I know the Secret!' 'What secret is that?' To which she replied, 'I'll tell you all about it, But you have to promise to Share the Secret with others.' 'The Secret is this: I have learned there is little I can do In my life that will make me truly happy I must depend on God to make me happy and to meet my needs. When a need arises in my life, I have to trust God to supply According to HIS riches. I have learned most of the time I don't need half of what I think I do. He has never let me down. Since I learned that 'Secret', I am happy.' The questioner's first thought was, 'That ' s too simple!' But upon reflecting over her own life She recalled how she thought a bigger house Would make her happy, but it didn't! She thought a better paying job Would make her happy, but it hadn't. When did she realize her greatest happiness? Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren, Playing games, eating pizza or reading a story, A simple gift from God. Now you know it too! We can't depend on people to make us happy. Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that. Trust HIM! And now I pass the Secret on to you! So once you get it, what will you do? YOU have to tell someone the Secret, too! That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU! But it's not really a secret... We just have to believe it and do it.. Really trust God! I just did and hope you will too. _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ LETS PRAY Oh God, I pray you open doors for the person who sent me this as well as those I am sending it to. Only you can open doors no man can close and for that we honor you today. Thank you for the open doors of life, health, strength, prosperity, wealth, and love. Also, thank you for closing the doors of death, sickness, weakness, despair, poverty, and bitterness. We love you today God and give you all the glory and all the praise. I seal this prayer, in Jesus Christ's name Amen!!! If you need God to open a door, pray this prayer for the person who sent it to you and for those you are sending it to. Believe in your heart and you shall receive what God has for you through Jesus Christ. I need a door to open... God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close. Even if you do not need God to open some doors for you pass it on anyway. "To have God on our side doesn't mean sailing on a boat with no storms, it means having a boat that no storm can sink!" We the people are the rightful masters of both the Congress and the Courts - not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution. ~ Abraham Lincoln "IN GOD WE TRUST" --- ...Amen! Thank You Linda! ==================================================================== .-"''-. _ .' `( \ @/ ') ,--,__,-" / / \ / / _/ __| , |/ / .~ `\ / \ , | / .~ `\ ` / _/ _/ .~ `\ ~~`__/ / ~ `--'/ / / / / /' /jgs >You're Normal, Sweetie Story Editor: by Eric Storm Joyce Schowalter California, USA In 1998 our first child suffered through months of colic. Every night from 6 p.m. until 4 a.m. we took turns sitting up with our daughter as she cried and wailed. Though neither of us got any real sleep, I at least was able to escape to work. My wife stayed home. Just as it looked like things were improving slightly I was faced with a four-day business trip. My understanding boss tried to get me excused, but her boss made it clear I must go or face being fired. Two days into the trip things went VERY wrong at home. My wife, Deb, took Amelia in for a pediatric visit. Our doctor had no children and little experience with colic. During the exam, my still exhausted wife was trying to explain our ordeal and commented, "I'm starting to understand why some parents snap." The doctor excused herself. Deb picked our baby up from the exam table, and Amelia let loose with a big bowel movement. Left alone, Deb tried to clean the baby, herself, and the room as best she could. A few minutes later the Doctor returned. Standing in the doorway, she informed my wife that she had called Child Protective Services (CPS) and they were sending someone over to take her to their offices to interview. My wife was floored but the doctor wouldn't discuss the issue. When she asked if she could go to the bathroom to finish cleaning up, the doctor said, "The police will be called if you leave this exam room." That was too much for Deb. She bundled up Amelia and pushed past the Doctor. She said, "I know where the CPS office is. I'm not waiting two hours for transport, I'm going there myself," and left. As she walked into the CPS office she must have looked a complete fright: upset, crying, covered in baby poop with a wailing baby in her arms. She was hurried into an interview room and a nurse sat down with her. Deb recounted her story. At the end, the Nurse asked, "So you've got a colicky baby, your husband's out of town, and your doctor doesn't understand?" "Yes," my wife answered. "You're normal, sweetie," was the nurse's reply. The understanding Nurse had also faced similar challenges with one of her kids. She told my wife how hard it had been for her, and how horrible it had felt at the time. My wife felt a great weight lift. Here was someone who validated her feelings and understood her. A year later, my best friend had her first child and went through the same struggles with colic. We sat down and told these new parents our story: that we'd felt the same feelings of anger, pain and fear, and that we understood their problems. Hearing they were normal helped them to persevere, too. We were privileged to pass on the gift the nurse had given my wife. =======HeroicStories======= >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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 andd 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 ************************************************************************