The Privilege of Confessing Christ And More... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our ShangyFunList: Group Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com :) The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. If every one would chip in $25 or more, we'd be good for the whole year! So Please - I need your help today! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) . . . . ,-,--. __| //``-, \ \_`\ )\a-a-? \ \ \_`(_=_/_-`__ \__, , \| | _ _,' ___7 ) | (_)(_`__(_,---' | ( _( ) | / /_| |________| __/__/__|__|_________) _________(__,_|)/ (__)|/____\(_______________ mic I am very pleased to announced we have a returning sponsor and a new sponsor for the website www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com. With our summer approaching and Covid-19 restrictions around the country, our returning sponsor may be just the ticket to keep boredom from driving you car tinkerers crazy. It's also a good source for those of you who, like my son, like to save money on car repairs. He likes to find out what his car's problem is at the shop and then locate a quality part for it himself online. This always saves him money over what the shop would charge him, and he's assured he gets what he is paying for which is a new, not used, quality replacement part! This company is great! 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You can always be assured that I only go with the best for you! Why? Because I care About you! :) -<>- >HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This sizzling hot new page is from our friends PatDeE and LouiseAu. Considered one of the best emails, it is however, one that is hard to view, but really makes you think. You'll love it's positive and inspirational messages along with the adorable nature videos. Take a few minutes to check this one out here... _____ / \/_ //\__(\_\ |\ ^ ^ | .//_O \O_ \ \_ (_) / \ \_/ / __/\ /\__ / \ \ / / \ / \/\/\/ \ / | . | \ / | . | \ JRO You Are Blessed http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blessed.html --- ...Very thought provoking and sweet! Thanks my friends! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: /())) //( oo (/|| _ \__ /||||/ '._-' / \ |\ / \ \ \_____ | \ \.___ /==, | ='.___/=. | ) '.______ | (______( | || snd |_|| _/ | |_\ '---'--' >HAUNTING ME by Joseph Walker To the frightened boy I saw in the news photograph: Please forgive me for writing to you this way. I know it's sort of cold and impersonal. There isn't much of a chance that you will ever see this. But it's the only way I know to try to reach you, and to tell you that... well, I don't even know what to tell you. I saw your photograph on the Internet this evening. You were sitting there in Baghdad with your parents -- at least, I assume them to be your parents. With all my heart, I hope they are your parents. They look concerned and angry. I can understand that. I would be concerned and angry too if the city in which I live was being systematically destroyed. But it is the look in your young eyes that is haunting me tonight. You can't be more than 11 -- the same age as my son, Jon, who is sleeping safely upstairs in his bed as I write this. But those eyes have seen things during the past few weeks that no child's eyes ought to see. And I can see that it is wearing on you. The redness of your eyes, and the unmistakable look of fear as you peer directly into the camera has forced me to try to reach out to you -- somehow, some way. I wish I could explain why all of this is happening to you and to your family. Then again, maybe it's just as well that we don't even go there. No matter what I say, it can't explain the near-constant pounding of the bombardment you have already endured, or the pain of loved ones lost, or the terror of not knowing from one moment to the next what the future will hold for you, your family and your country. I guess the only thing we can say is we both live in countries where those who are in charge make certain decisions, and those decisions sometimes have a way of making life miserable for innocent people who had absolutely nothing to do with making them. So the leaders of your country have made decisions and the leaders of my country have made decisions, and the result of all those decisions is a bunch of bombs dropping on your city and changing your life forever. There are those around the world who think that those changes will ultimately be for your good. That's probably sort of difficult to imagine at this point, and I'm pretty sure that thought doesn't give you much comfort. Promises of a better "someday" don't mean much when "today" is filled with the sights, sounds and smells of war. Especially when those promises are coming from the same people who are bombing the life out of you. My guess is you've been told that we're pretty awful over on this side of the world. From the look in your eyes I'm thinking that would be hard to dispute. And to a certain extent, it's true. There are people here who are capable of horrifying things. There are people like that in your country, too, unfortunately. You probably already know that. But just as there are wonderful people who you know and love all around you, there are also people here who are capable of great goodness -- caring, compassionate people who will do everything in their power to help you and your family get back on your feet once all of this is over. Of course, I don't expect you to believe that. Not right now, anyway. But maybe you can tuck away in the back of your mind the hope that even if all of this fighting ends badly for the people who have been running your country, it may not turn out to be such a bad thing for you. Freedom -- real freedom -- is often painfully won. But it can be an incredible thing for those who are prepared to use it properly. I pray that it may be so for you and for your family. That's the only way any of this makes sense. And that's the only way the look in your eyes stops haunting me. -- Joseph Walker ___________________________________________ Joseph is a Heartwarmer Gem and nationally syndicated columnist. You can contact him by clicking here: mailto:valuespeak@earthlink.net --- ...My two cents... _ / | //|| // ); _ __ ,'',// ,-' ' `-. ((// ( ) )// ( / -')))o ,' / ( ( /() / / o ) / (/\ (,_( O(O / ' / > |/ `\. o/ (_ ._/ '. || \ _\ __,'() ,-|| `-( / /( | () () / ( `-',-.'`v/ )/_ |/O `-._( `." `-'\\ // `---.-'\ )\.O _ .' ) / `-. / |\/-.___,-./ | O| ' ( \ / |\\ / ( ;\ Y ,-'(\\) | ) ,-./ ( | ( \` | ,-' ./ -^_/-. `. _\ | ,' `-< ' ,' )\_ .\| |. | (),-. _,--. | | ' ; \ ,-` ))\ \ | \ _,' ; ( ,'/ ) |/,--\ ___))`-'` gpyy `-'-'~~~``---"" '"'"'` Maybe you will think I am jaded. Maybe I am. As I have become more involved with politics, I have a changed view of the world. I used to view it more like Mr. Walker. I would think of all the poor people and the desolated and those ravaged by war and communism and be haunted by them and that I could little but pray for them. It saddened me greatly so I chose not to dwell on what evils I could not change in this world ruled by the devil. But then I began to see the world with a different perspective. I was thrust into politics due to wanting to keep our freedoms intact for my children and for many generations to come. I saw the cruelty of MS13 gangs and others here that originated not from our youth but from the youth of migrants from other countries. The ones we had reached out to help were just biting us back for our generosity and kindness. I saw the evil done in other countries all because they do not value life but value money more. I know from experts that people who are abused as youth, tend to become the abusers in adulthood. This makes me think of the MS13 teens who like to use knives to inflict as much pain as possible to those who oppose them. President Trump referred to them as animals. Which is pretty much the way they act - with little or no regard for others. Which is the way of the wild animal - kill or be killed. Self-preservation over morality. I don't blame them for this. It is what the world taught them. Do unto others before they do unto you. A harsh reality but one I am sure these people learned. Unfortunately, as the bible tells us: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Prov.22: [6] Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. They learned by evil being done to them to be evil and they most likely will not depart from doing evil things to others. So, why do I want children so used and abused to be around our innocent children in our neighborhoods and classrooms? They are super street smart compared to our youth. Hardened by the very society that they were raised in. Right now, we have children coming by the thousands from many very poor countries across our southern border. The families must pay the Cartels to be able to cross Mexico and be at the border. Every single person coming to our Southern border must pay them. They are evil abusers. Bragging of raping the females who must be given protection so they don't get pregnant by them on their long journey. The children are used and some are simply rented out, so adults have a free pass in to this country. Check out this article: How the Biden Administration is Helping Cartels Traffic Young Migrants: Because detention facilities are so overrun, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents have no choice but to help the children relocate to the interior of the United States with alleged family members or sponsors while their asylum claims are being processed. "The only problem is that the people we're sending these kids to aren't sponsors at all; they're members of drug cartels," said a law enforcement source at the border. "We're literally releasing these kids to the custody of the drug cartels." The source explained that the recent border surge is almost totally the result of drug cartel human smuggling operations that transport unaccompanied children from Central America to the United States for between $6,000 and $15,000 per person. https://tinyurl.com/3ffzxw9z This has been going on for a long time. The abuse of the people. My brother years ago told me of his friends in Texas who came from Mexico offering him children so that he could get free food, lodging and healthcare here in the US. They said they could get him two of them if he wanted them to. Unheard of here, but their life is different from ours. They have been abused all their life. They are hard and cold compared to us and our little ones. Their morals are much different from our own. So why, when our leaders know of all these things, would they want to open our country up to all manner of disease (poor people aren't vaccinated), more Covid-19 infections, violence, human trafficking, illegal drug running, and possible terrorism? It's beyond me. I can only speculate that, like them, they are only concerned about the money. Which is really a sad state for our country to be in. Again, I am left mostly praying and believing God shall fix this - the sooner the better - Through Christ Jesus our victorious Lord and Savior. I believe He'll make good come out of all this mess. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Prov. 3 [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. I believe God's Got This! :) Rom.8 [28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Where's the Missing Link? "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.... Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."1 "Evolutionists strongly deny the idea that men came from the apes. They insist both came from a hypothetical ape-like ancestor, or a missing link. In their story, man and apes diverged from the imaginary ancestor some seven million years ago. However, there is no evidence that this supposed 'missing link' ancestor ever existed. If it were true, surely some would be fossilized. But none have ever been found. "Since there is no fossil evidence, let's look at it from the standpoint of genetics. How many genetic mutations it would require for the ape-like ancestor to transition into a human? The only way we know to acquire new genes is to alter existing genes through random mutation. The best alteration science has observed has produced only novel recombinations. Most mutations deteriorate the genetic information and thus harm the offspring. Many mutations are fatal. Evolution would require trillions of innovative mutations to produce man from lower forms. None have been observed."2 I am neither a scientist nor the son of a scientist, but I know enough to know that people by and large believe exactly what they want to believe--what they choose to believe--what is most convenient for them. As the old saying goes, "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up." As Joshua said to the ancient Israelites, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."3 Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You are the Great Creator and that the world and all that is in it was created by You and is in Your hands. Thank You, too, because I have chosen to believe in and trust my life to You, my destiny for eternity is also safely in Your hands. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus Christ's name, amen." 1. Genesis 1:1;26-27 (NIV). 2. Adapted from Dr. John D. Morris, "If Apes Evolved into Humans, Why Do We Still Have Apes?" Institute for Creation Research, November 2006. Source http://kentcrockett.com/biblestudies/missinglink.htm 3. Joshua 24:15 (NIV). <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Judgment Day Is Coming “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."1 In a sermon Matt Woodley shared how, “On the first day teaching his class of 250 college freshmen, R. C. Sproul carefully explained the assignment of three term papers. Each paper was due on the last day of September, October, and November. Sproul clearly stated there would be no extensions (except for medical reasons). At the end of September, 225 students dutifully turned in their papers, while 25 remorseful students quaked in fear. ‘We're so sorry,’ they said. ‘We didn't make the proper adjustments from high school to college, but we promise to do better next time.’ He bowed to their pleas for mercy, gave them an extension, but warned them not to be late next month. “At the end of October rolled around, 200 students turned in their papers, while 50 students showed up empty-handed. ‘Oh, please,’ they begged, ‘it was homecoming weekend, and we ran out of time.’ Sproul relented once more but warned them, ‘This is it. No excuses next time. You will get an F.’ “The end of November came and only 100 students turned in their papers. The rest told Sproul, ‘We'll get it in soon.’ ‘Sorry,’ Sproul replied. ‘It's too late now. You get an F.’ “The students howled in protest, ‘That's not fair!’ "‘Okay,’ Sproul replied, ‘you want justice, do you? Here's what's just: you'll get an F for all three papers that were late. That was the rule, right?’ "‘The students had quickly taken my mercy for granted,’ Sproul later reflected. ‘They assumed it. When justice suddenly fell, they were unprepared for it. It came as a shock, and they were outraged.’"2 God has clearly put every Christian on notice that every one of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of how we have lived our life here on earth.1 And for those who have never received Jesus as their Savior they will stand before God at the Great White Judgment Throne of God and be judged for their sins and will have to pay the just penalty thereof because they never accepted Jesus as their Savior and asked for and accepted God’s forgiveness. As God’s Word says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."3 Whatever you do, don’t ignore God’s warning and don’t take God’s mercy for granted. “Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation.’"4 If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior and asked God for forgiveness for all your sins, I urge you, friend, to do that today. Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank You for Your Word that tells me what I need to do to have my sins forgiven; and thank You for giving Jesus, Your Son, to pay the penalty for all my sins through His death on the cross. I also thank You for giving me a clear warning that ‘As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.’5 letting me know that it is imperative that I make things right with You today as it is too late after I die. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen." 1. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV). 2. Matt Woodley, in the sermon "The Grieving Heart of God," http://www.preachingtoday.com/48566 3. See Revelation 20:12-15. 4. 2. Corinthians 6:2 (NASV). 5. Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV). When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ______ |o | ! __ |:`_|---'-. |__|______.-.'_'.-----.| (o)(o)------''._.' (O) LGB >The Harvest There was once a spider that lived in a cornfield. He was a big spider and he had spun a beautiful web between the corn stalks. He got fat eating all the bugs that would get caught in his web. He liked his home and planned to stay there for the rest of his life. One day the spider caught a little bug in his web, and just as the spider was about to eat him, the bug said, "If you let me go I will tell you something important that will save your life." The spider paused for a moment and listened because he was amused. "You better get out of this cornfield," the little bug said, "The harvest is coming!" The spider smiled and said, "What is this harvest you are talking about? I think you are just telling me a story." But the little bug said, "Oh no, it is true. The owner of this field is coming to harvest it soon. All the stalks will be knocked down and the corn will be gathered up. You will be killed by the giant machines if you stay here." The spider said, "I don't believe in harvests and giant machines that knock down corn stalks. How can you prove this?" The little bug continued, "Just look at the corn. See how it is planted in rows? It proves this field was created by an intelligent designer." The spider laughed and mockingly said, "This field has evolved and has nothing to do with a Creator. Corn always grows that way." The bug went on to explain, "Oh no. This field belongs to the owner who planted it, and the harvest is coming soon." /^\ ___ /^\ //^\(o o)/^\\ /'<^~``~''~^>`\ Ts97 The spider grinned and said to the little bug, "I don't believe you," and then the spider ate the little bug for lunch. A few days later, the spider was laughing about the story the little bug had told him. He thought to himself, "A harvest! What a silly idea. I have lived here all of my life and nothing has ever disturbed me. I have been here since these stalks were just a foot off the ground, and I'll be here for the rest of my life, because nothing is ever going to change in this field. Life is good, and I have it made." The next day was a beautiful sunny day in the cornfield. The sky above was clear and there was no wind at all. That afternoon as the spider was about to take a nap, he noticed some thick dusty clouds moving toward him. He could hear the roar of a great engine and he said to himself, "I wonder what that could be?" “So be prepared, because you don't know what day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24: 42 (Author unknown) -<>- ,--. ,--. ( O ) ( O ) `--' \ `--' \ _ >-. / /| `-.__.' Krogg >30 IDEAS TO REDUCE STRESS - Author Unknown ATTITUDE: 1. Laugh more. 2. No perfectionism. 3. Control your anger. 4. Slow down. 5. Don't procrastinate. 6. Stop feeling guilty. 7. Let go of grudges. 8. Follow your dreams. 9. Pick your battles. 10. Work isn't worth. LEISURE: 11. Exercise. 12. Do less. 13. Turn off the TV. 14. Be with friends. 15. Make chores fun. 16. Go outside. 17. Eat better. 18. Take real vacations. 19. De-junk your home. 20. Get a pet. WORK: 21. Clear your desk. 22. Make a list. 23. Take breaks. 24. Avoid interruptions. 25. Go home on time. 26. Work less. 27. Ask questions. 28. Make your job fun. 29. Delegate. 30. Get more involved. -<>- ________________ ___/-\___ ___/-\___ ___/-\___ / / || |---------| |---------| |---------| / / || | | | | | | | | | | / / __|| | | | | | | | | | | | | / / \\ I || | | | | | | | | | | | | (-------------------|| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | || == || |_______| |_______| |_______| || ACME TRASH CO | ============================================= || ____ | ____ | ( | o / ____ \ / ____ \ |) || / / . . \ \ / / . . \ \ | [ |_____| | . . | |____________________________| | . . | |__] | . . | | . . | \_____/ -cfbd- \_____/ >The Law of The Garbage Truck One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so - "Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't." -<>- |\ |\ |\ |\ || .---. || .---. || .---. || .---. ||/_____\ ||/_____\ ||/_____\ ||/_____\ ||( '.' ) ||( '.' ) ||( '.' ) ||( '.' ) || \_-_/_ || \_-_/_ || \_-_/_ || \_-_/_ :-"`'V'//-. :-"`'V'//-. :-"`'V'//-. :-"`'V'//-. / , |// , `\ / , |// , `\ / , |// , `\ / , |// , `\ / /|Ll //Ll|| | / /|Ll //Ll|| | / /|Ll //Ll|| | / /|Ll //Ll|| | /_/||__// || | /_/||__// || | /_/||__// || | /_/||__// || | \ \/---|[]==|| | \ \/---|[]==|| | \ \/---|[]==|| | \ \/---|[]==|| | \/\__/ | \| | \/\__/ | \| | \/\__/ | \| | \/\__/ | \| | /\|_ | Ll_\ | /|/_ | Ll_\ | /|/_ | Ll_\ | /|/_ | Ll_\ | `--|`^"""^`||_| `--|`^"""^`||_| `--|`^"""^`||_| `--|`^"""^`||_| | | ||/ | | ||/ | | ||/ | | ||/ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J L___l___J L___l___J L___l___J |_ | _| |_ | _| |_ | _| |_ | _| jgs (___|___) (___|___) (___|___) (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ >God's 26 Guards Here's a message that will bring you chills. Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said, “I'll pray for them later”? Or has anyone ever called you and said, “I need you to pray for me, I have this need”? Read the following story that was sent to me and it may change the way you think about prayer and how you pray. You will be blessed by this.... A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan. “While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord. I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident. Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, “Some friends and I followed you in to the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight we planned to kill you and take your money and drugs, but just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.” At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, “No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards, my friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.” At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened. The missionary confirmed the date to the congregation and the man who interrupted told him this story: “On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was playing golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?” The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26. This story is an incredible example of how the the Lord moves in behalf of those who love Him. If you ever hear or feel such prodding, go along with it. Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell. I encourage you to forward this to as many people as you know. If we all take it to heart, we can turn this world toward God Once again. As the above true story clearly illustrates, With God all things are possible. More importantly, how God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful. After you read this, please pass it on and give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles he works in your own daily life... and then pass it on. Who says God does not move on the earth today? -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Famous US Veterans 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/famousveterans2.html Zoo Animals! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/zoo.html Oregon Coast Aquarium! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oregon.html Funny Animal Facts! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/zoo2.html The Wild Ones! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wildones.html Elephant Hotel! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/elhotel.html Believe In Your Dreams! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/dream.html Longleat's Monkey Shines! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/monkeyshines.html Bird Sculpture Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/birdart.html Proud Of Our Troops 5! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops5.html Playing With Words! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wordplay.html World Of Wonder! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/worldofwonder.html Attitude is Everything 3! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude3.html Inspirational Life Rules! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/liferules.html Our Valuable Anchor! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html -<>- Why is Understanding the Bible Important? https://tinyurl.com/27tw7y9m Our Nation Has Fallen: Biden Proudly Displays 'Transgender' Flag in Front of the White House / How the Victim of Nazi Torture Found Freedom in Christ and Forgiveness / A Downward Spiral – These American Cities Have Legalized Polyamorous Relationships And More: https://www.christianlifedaily.com/ -<>- >In The News: VA News: Vaccine Sign Up, Veteran Solar Jobs, Indy 500 Trip https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/bulletins/2cacdaa 246 Fully Vaccinated Michigan Residents Catch COVID. 3 Dead / Jobless Claims Far Worse Than Expected as they Jump to 744,000 / A Denver Church Burst into Flames, Explosion Could be Seen from the Sky / Health Care Gets a New Racial Quota System at Boston Hospital / CO Closes Vaccine Site After Adverse Reactions / MS-13 Gang Member Nabbed Hopping the Border / New Homeland Security Head Wants to Return to Trump Policies on Border https://reliablenewsnow.com/ Latest From Deep State Journal: https://deepstatejournal.com/ Latest From 2020 Conservative: http://2020conservative.com/ Latest From Independent Minute: https://independentminute.com/ Latest From TPN News: https://threepercenternation.com/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: Recall Alert: Supplements, Bath Products, Bowls http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: CDC Warns Highly Contagious COVID Variant Dominates U.S. http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://tinyurl.com/y2abb8d2 -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Beavers are fascinating creatures. They move 3 tons of material to build their home. https://youtu.be/VuMRDZbrdXc Sit back and relax as you enjoy three minutes of Black Bears catching salmon filmed by wildlife photographer Richard Sidey. He filmed these awesome creatures in Southeast Alaska and watching them fish brought a smile to my face. Special thanks to Richard and other wildlife photographers who go above and beyond to travel to far off places to film wildlife and share it with the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO4Ujdm14ZQ It's not just cats and dogs that can be funny and adorable. Creatures from all around the world are just as cute and hilarious! https://youtu.be/UF8qKZQ59HU Göbekli Tepe is the most astonishing archaeological discovery in modern times and the oldest advanced civilization on Earth discovered to date. https://youtu.be/3JdAJpo6Lxk --- ...Awesome videos! Thanks LouiseAu! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== ..::''''::.. .:::. .;'' ``;. .... ::::: :: :: :: :: ,;' .;: () ..: `:::' :: :: :: :: ::. ..:,:;.,:;. . :: .::::. `:' :: .:' :: :: `:. :: '''::, :: :: :: `:: :: ;: .:: : :: : : :: ,:'; ::; :: :: :: :: :: ::,::''. . :: `:. .:' :: `:,,,,;;' ,;; ,;;, ;;, ,;;, ,;;, `:,,,,:' :;: `;..``::::''..;' ``::,,,,::'' >Unexpected Joy Story Editor: by Donald L. Rosenkjar Clayton Bennett California, USA It was Christmastime at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, the world's only liberal arts university for the deaf. The campus was nearly deserted, so I was almost alone. It was my first Christmas away from my family -- with no Christmas tree, no burning fireplace, no fabulous dinner, no laughter, no gifts to open. I just could not afford to fly home, and felt awfully sorry for myself. On one gloomy, rainy afternoon, feeling dejected, I dragged myself to a nearby post office to send a package home. I normally wear a hearing aid from early in the morning until bedtime in the evening. That day, I just did not want to hear anything, so I left my hearing aid in my dormitory room and rendered myself stone deaf. The weather was plain miserable. Inside the post office, each window had a line of at least a dozen people. I was standing in one of the lines, with all the other faceless customers, when the door swung open. In came in a boy, perhaps 12 years old, soaked wet. He was selling copies of the Washington Post for ten cents each. There was nothing else for me to look at, so I watched him. He went up to each person and offered a newspaper for sale. Person after person, line after line -- no one would buy. Most people pretended not to notice him. Finally, he came up to me. I told him that I didn't need the paper because my college reading room was always supplied with newspapers. He left me and went on to other people. No one bought any of his newspapers, and I started to feel some sort of pain about him. I searched my pocket and found a quarter. I motioned for him to come over and gave him my quarter. He got fifteen cents change for me, and I told him to keep it. He handed me the paper, and I told him that I didn't need it. He looked at me, puzzled, then started shouting words I could neither hear nor understand. Suddenly, all the unknown people in the post office turned in my direction, and they all smiled. It was an unexpected and astonishing moment. Whatever he said must have been wonderful. He had no way to know what effect his shouted thanks would have on me; no way to know my situation that Christmas. Whoever he was, he had a choice -- and he chose to thank me in a way which altered my holiday completely. I'll never forget his incredible thank you, for it changed an otherwise lonely Christmas into one of my finest. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "It does not matter what form the trouble takes, or how it is delivered, or how long it stays. God alone is our accessible, protected place of refuge and retreat. We can hide there and know that nothing can get through to us unless it goes through Him first." - Rocky Henriques __ _ .-.' `; `-._ __ _ (_, .-:' `; `-._ ,'o"( (_, ) (__,-' ,'o"( )> ( (__,-' ) `-'._.--._( ) ||| |||`-'._.--._.-' ||| ||| Artist: Bob Allison >Intended for Good (By Steve Troxel, God's Daily Word Ministries, http://www.gdwm.org) Joseph's life was filled with one difficult situation after another. By the time he was a teenager, his brothers had developed an intense hatred toward him which led to an attempt to take his life. But rather than kill him, they sold young Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37). And then, as a slave, Joseph was falsely accused of rape and thrown into jail (Genesis 39). It's never really explained how Joseph learned to trust God - but he did! He could have become very discouraged when he became a slave, but somehow Joseph adjusted to his circumstances and thrived; "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered" (Genesis 39:2). When tempted with s%xual sin by Potiphar's wife, he kept himself pure because he did not want to "sin against God" (Genesis 39:9). But false accusations still sent him into prison. Even after spending several years in jail, Joseph continued to place his complete trust in God. When asked to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph risked his freedom and rightly gave all the glory and praise to God rather than take credit for himself; "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires" (Genesis 41:16). Joseph was rewarded with much more than his freedom; he was placed in charge of the entire land of Egypt during a great famine. He was also reunited with his family and able to keep them from certain starvation. Several years later, after their father died, Joseph's brothers came and fearfully asked for his forgiveness. Joseph could have taken great revenge, but he continued to demonstrate his understanding of how God cares for His children. Genesis 50:19-20 "Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.'" When Joseph was sold into slavery, he had no idea of God's awesome plan. He would spend many years in jail before receiving even a hint of God's purpose. But God is ALWAYS at work in the lives of those who love Him. Joseph's life must encourage us to draw near to God during times of hardship - to continue trusting and honoring Him in all we do...no matter what our circumstances! We all go through "dungeon" seasons when life seems to take unplanned and seemingly "unfair" turns. We all, at times, feel abandoned and alone: "Has God forgotten me? Does He no longer care?" We may not understand why things happen the way they do, but if we will continue to love Him with all our heart and consistently trust Him in and through all our trials, we can be certain (and one day we will truly see) that God is in control and every situation is truly intended for good. -<>- Evil triumphs when good men do nothing. __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >The Privilege of Confessing Christ (By Dwight L. Moody, taken from Moody's Anecdotes page 73-74) [Minor Editing] "A young man enlisted [in the armed services], and was sent to his regiment. The first night he was in the barracks with about fifteen other young men, who passed the time playing cards and gambling. Before retiring, he fell on his knees and prayed, and they began to curse him and jeer at him and throw boots at him. So it went on the next night and the next, and finally the young man went and told the chaplain what had taken place, and asked what he should do. 'Well,' said the chaplain, 'you are not at home now, and the other men have just as much right to the barracks as you have. It makes them mad to hear you pray, and the Lord will hear you just as well if you say your prayers in bed and don't provoke them.' For weeks after the chaplain did not see the young man again, but one day he met him, and asked - 'By the way, did you take my advice?' 'I did, for two or three nights,' [the soldier answered.] 'How did it work?' 'Well,' said the young man, 'I felt like a whipped hound and the third night I got out of bed, knelt down and prayed.' 'Well,' asked the chaplain, 'How did that work?' The young soldier answered: 'We have a prayer meeting there now every night, three have been converted, and we are praying for the rest.' Oh, friends, I am so tired of weak Christianity. Let us be out and out for Christ; let us give no uncertain sound. If the world wants to call us fools, let them do it. It is only a little while; the crowning day is coming. Thank God for the privilege we have of confessing Christ." Need we say more? Let's ask the Lord to touch our lives with power today - that we will be bold and unashamed in sharing and showing the gospel of Christ to all we meet! 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 ========================================================== _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >-->A Prayer For Friends I asked the Lord to bless you As I prayed for you today. To guide you and protect you As you go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true, and When we give Him our cares You know He will see us through. So when the road you're traveling on Seems difficult at best, Just remember I'm here praying, and God will do the rest. Pass this on to those whom you want God to bless. I just did :) (¯`v´¯) `*.¸.*´ ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. Huggums!... :) Shangy! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $25 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all web site list readers. Email me to secure dates. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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 **********************************************************************