The Renewed Mind 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 ~ . . . . ,-,--. __| //``-, \ \_`\ )\a-a-? \ \ \_`(_=_/_-`__ \__, , \| | _ _,' ___7 ) | (_)(_`__(_,---' | ( _( ) | / /_| |________| __/__/__|__|_________) _________(__,_|)/ (__)|/____\(_______________ mic *~* 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 :) Google has informed me of a new way to recommend pages to people who use their search engine, so I am adding this to some of my pages and will be adding it to all my future new pages. Hopefully they won't decide to eliminate it so I have to remove it later! When you check out a page and you like it, Please scroll down to the area past the 'Join The Shangy Fun List' to the 'Like This Page?' area. Right above it is the +1 image. If you click this, Google counts your vote for the page. Right now, all my pages that have this +1 will have a 0 beside of it. No recommendations. That sucks! So, I am counting on you folks to help out and vote! Thank You MUCH - Most Appreciated - Huggums! :) ,-~~-.___. / | ' \ Here a +1 - there a +1 ( ) 0 \_/-, ,----' everywhere a +1 ==== // / \-'~; /~~~(O) / __/~| / | =( _____| (_________| W< AN UPDATE: I did my part and edited over 100 Shangrala pages adding the +1 Google recommendation to them. Now it is your turn to do your part and CLICK on them when you see them on page you like. I'm counting on you! -<>- >HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This Smokin' Hottie comes from Two of our friends - Jo Ann and PatDeE. It is sure to delight all our animal lovers! As always, give it time to load and Check it out here... ,___. |-----| ============ / | OO ~\ ( ) 0 ) \_/-, ,-//-\\ ==== ||| | || -_/| | ||_ (____)) W< Aww Animals 6 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animals6.html --- ...Thank You Jo Ann And PatDeE! A wonderful series I'm sure will continue to go and grow! ============================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: __,=,__ .~`` .` `.``~. | . . |____ `-;=============;""""` ( (. _).) \ | | Soon it will be Dad's Day! \ `-.___.' / '._ _.' /`''''\ / \ | |/\/\/\/|.-. |-|/\/\/\/|;' ) (__/_______| _) #########'._) jgs |==|=|__ ,,,(______)_),,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,, ,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;, >FATHER'S DAY ROOKIE by Joseph Walker Technically, Adam is a father this Father's Day. I know -- he hasn't changed a single diaper, or taken a turn staying up late with a fussy baby. He hasn't rocked his son to sleep, or bounced him on his knee, or tucked him sweetly in his cradle. And there isn't one spit up stain on any of his jackets or collars. But he's still a father this Father's Day. Technically. Adam's first child won't actually be born until September. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we already know he is a boy -- he and Andrea have named their son Alexander -- and that he has Adam's nose and, according to one observer anyway, Andrea's eyes (although I can't for the life of me figure out how anyone could tell that -- I mean, his eyes are still closed, for Pete's sake!). So Adam is still a rookie when it comes to being a father. He's doing a great job of taking care of Andrea through a sometimes-difficult pregnancy, so he's earning his stripes there. But he's yet to step up to the plate and take his first swings at hands-on fatherhood. So you can't blame him if he's a little nervous about it. These are, after all, life's ultimate Big Leagues. The margin for error is slight. You can go from Hall of Fame Father to bush league dad with one raging outburst of anger and frustration. Plus, the other team has great pitchers throwing hard, dirty stuff at you -- stuff like drugs, alcohol, gangs, cynicism and indifference. It's tough being a good dad under the best of circumstances. These days, with an extraordinary array of negative influences swirling all around us and blurring our values and priorities, it can be overwhelming. Especially for a rookie. Thankfully, Adam has a great image in his mind of what a father can and should be. He had a terrific dad, with whom he had a close and loving relationship. He has seen and experienced the positive influence of a good father in his life. But his dad passed away some time ago, so he won't be available to provide on-the-job training and encouragement. His mom is a great lady, and she'll fill in as much as she can. Andrea will certainly put in her two-cents worth from time to time -- you can count on that. And he has older friends and family members who will share their insights, experiences and -- occasionally -- warnings. But for the most part, he's going to be on his own, trying to figure out fatherhood as he goes along. Which is pretty much what we all do, now that I think about it. My dad was around for my first 25 years of fathering, and I did solicit his input from time to time. But for the most part I just winged it. And with Anita's help and God's, things turned out OK -- if you don't count the overwrought late-night lectures, the "Russia has just taken over America" experiment and the incident in the cul-de-sac. Don't ask. Fatherhood isn't a science, it's an art. Which means that there are precious few hard and fast rules, and almost no absolutes. There are no textbooks, no laboratories, no scientifically calculated models that can turn you into a good father. It's something you can only learn by doing -- which means that what you do will occasionally be... well... wrong. But guided by love and fortified by faith, you can overcome your mistakes. And so, thank God, can your children. Even if you're a rookie. -- Joseph Walker =================================================================== >-->From BOTH our Friends Larry And Linda :) ' . ' . . . : . . '. ______ .' ' _.-"` `"-._ ' .' '. `'--. / \ .--'` / \ ; ; - -- | | -- - | _. | ; /__`A ,_ ; .-' \ |= |;._.}{__ / '-. _.-""-|.' # '. ` `.-"{}<._ / 1938 \ \ x `" ----/ \_.-'|--X---- -=_ | | |- X. =_ - __ |_________|_.-'|_X-X## jgs `'-._|_|;:;_.-'` '::. `"- .:;. .:. ::. '::. >THE OLD PATHS I liked the old paths, when Moms were at home. Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married BEFORE having children! Crime did not pay; Hard work did; And people knew the difference. Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave. Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive; And children were polite. Women wore the jewelry; And Men wore the pants. Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen; And children looked decent. People loved the truth, And hated a lie. They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT! Hymns sounded Godly; Sermons sounded helpful; Rejoicing sounded normal; And crying sounded sincere. Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness. The flag was honored; America was beautiful; And God was welcome! We read the Bible in public; Prayed in school; And preached from house to house. To be called an American was worth dying for; To be called an American was worth living for; To be called a traitor was a shame! I still like the old paths the best! GOD BLESS YOU! 'The Old Paths' was written by a retired minister who lives in Tennessee. --- ...Aww, a great One! Thank You Larry And Linda! ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Tony In Australia :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >About relationships and other problems Eph 4:31-32 31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:" 32 "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you." Well, here’s a scripture and a half! For most of us, we live ‘in the world’ we are not ‘cloistered’ in some building like an air raid shelter that protects us from outside influence, most of us are very much a ‘part of’ that outside influence whether or not we influence we have on others is positive or negative depends on how we handle relationships, and the most important and influential relationship we can have, is our own relationship with God. Out in the ‘real world’ we can often find ourselves surrounded by people who constantly ‘sin’, and if we say anything as Christians, we are seen to be ‘self-righteous’ or even judgmental, and often we are, not all of us…but some of us. In Eph, Paul deals with ‘worldly’ relationships and he tells us that we cannot turn our backs on the world as it is, because if we do, then how (on earth) can we witness to the world? We often hear it preached ‘we are in the world, but not OF the world’ meaning we see what’s going on around us and we do our best to change things and we do NOT become a part of those things that are evil. We must! Maintain our purity for the sake of our OWN salvation….and set out to change the world, bit by bit, but we cannot let the world change us back to what we once were… How do we go about making changes? Well mostly by example...If we talk about the Truth, tell others about the truth, and then we cannot indulge in untruths ...untruths? Just kind word for lies... Satan! Is the Father of all lies, but if we tell a lie, we can’t just blame it on him, he didn’t tell the lie, he just showed you HOW to lie... You CHOOSE to be truthful, or you choose to lie..This world has yet to see the biggest lies ever! 2 Thess 2:9-11…….9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Anger...is sinful, but not all anger.. let me explain... If we get really really angry at someone, lets say you have parked you car (as I did) in the Church yard, and after service, you find your car got broken into and the mobile phone you left perched in its cradle on the dash board has been stolen ($600 worth) and the auto door-lock system has been broken ($300 dollars worth) you get angry right? Well I did anyway... and it wasn’t that I was just angry at the perpetrator (I was! Just as well I didn’t ‘think’ out loud!) I was also angry at myself! If the thief hadn’t been able to see the phone in the car, they may have not broken into it! So... By leaving that phone in full display, I myself had basically contributed to the crime by ‘tempting’ the person to steal from me! This is how Satan works! And he gets us angry enough to do or say things we KNOW as Christians, that we shouldn’t do or say! ...Be angry by all means! But not at the person! Be angry at the sin! And don’t allow yourself to become a part of it! If we can do this, then we can comfortably remain in our Holy walk with God, but, BUT! If we succumb to anger and malice, Satan has us in his pocket! Just because we are Christians, don’t think we have more rights than others walking the streets, we probably have less! Or it seems that way! Because we allow God, through His teachings, to put them on us, to maintain a pure and righteous walk with Him ALWAYS!... get angry at the sin! Not at the person... We need to feel sympathy for that person, we need to seek them out and witness to them and chances are that we won’t find then in churches! (some maybe….) James 1:20 is for us that have been sinned on…but! The wrath of man never brings about the righteousness of God Amen? Lying and anger gives ground to Satan in our lives... And another thing that helps Satan get a foothold, is HYPOCRISY…. If we are truly Christlike (Christians) then there can be no room for lies and anger, if we allow that to come into our lives, then we are also Hypocrites! More to come Br Tony --- ...Very thought provoking! Thank You Tony. __.------. (__ ___ ) .)e )\ / /_.------ _/_ _/ __.' / ' `-.__ / <.--' `\ / \ \c | / / ) GoT x \ | /\ |c / \.- \ \__/ ) /( ( \ <>'\ / _/ _\- `-. \/_|_ /<> / /--/,-\ _ \ <>.`. \/`--\_._) - / `-/\ `.\ / `. / ) `\ \ \ \___/----' | / `( ___________ \ ./\_ _ \ ______________ / | ) '| __________________ | / \ \ ___________a:f / | |____.) / \ a88a\___/88888a. \_ :)8888888888888888888a. /` `-----' `Y88888888888888888 Yes, this is not always easy to do. We are human and as humans we have been conditioned by this world to see with our eyes, hear with our ears, and feel with our fingers. In other words, we are not conditioned to our spiritual side as much as we are to our physical side. For example - It is easier for me to see the damage the car thief has done and the goods that he stole and associate it to that masked man standing there with the crowbar in one hand and my cell phone in the other then it is for me to see the invisble spiritual influance of the devil spirit that is standing beside him that actually caused him to do what he did. So it is a mind renewal for me to blame the devil and forgive the man. But this is exactly what our Lord Jesus did while even on the cross! He prayed for the Father to forgive them for they know not what they do. What a mind renewal! May we all get to that level of Christ-mindedness! Our Lord is awesome! Check Out This teaching: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Christianity And The Renewed Mind http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/christianity.html =================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Wesley :) -------|--------------------------------------------------|--------- ___|___ ___|___ ////////\ _ _ /\\\\\\\\ //////// \ ('< >') / \\\\\\\\ | (_) | | (^) (^) | | (_) | |______|.===="== =="====.|______| ----------------------------------------------------------------ldb-- >Best day of my life, ever , , , There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate! Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger. I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at nature's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice. Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know. Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me. Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine. And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise nature for these magnificent treasures. As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever! --- ...mind renewal and bringing it to the 'Orangy" side! Thanks Wesley! ===================================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >Sharing Our Hope (By Charles Stanley) Jesus Christ came into the world to be a substitute sacrifice for mankind. He had a powerful ministry, performed numerous miracles, and laid a strong foundation for the church. But His primary purpose was to die for our sins. Jesus' death satisfied the just demands of God, who declared that the soul who sins must die (Ezekiel 18:4). By taking our place, the Savior cleaned our hearts of sin and guilt, making us worthy to enter God's holy presence spiritually (while we are on earth) and physically (when we arrive in heaven). We have the assurance of a future with Him. And we also have hope for the present, because the Bible promises that God will protect us and provide for our needs. But the Father is not satisfied simply with our coming to faith; He desires that we be the human expression of Christ to the world (1 Peter 2:12). God gives us holy spirit, who begins the work of renewing our minds to make us like Jesus. When we follow God's Word and the spirit's guidance, our thought life transforms from selfish to righteous. And since our thoughts are what control our attitudes and actions, those change too. When we are thinking as God does, we appear to others as confident and courageous Christians. A relationship with the Lord means not only salvation and renewal, but also a future and a hope (Proverbs 24:14). Jesus is the only "sure thing," but people cannot know that unless they learn about Him through our words and actions. Share your hope! -<>- __ ______ ______ ______ __ ______ ______ ______ / |/ __ |/ __ |/ __ | / |/ __ |/ __ |/ __ | /_/ | | //| | | //| | | //| | /_/ | | //| | | //| | | //| | | | |// | | |// | | |// | | | | |// | | |// | | |// | | | | /__| | /__| | /__| | | | /__| | /__| | /__| | |_|\_____/ \_____/ \_____/ |_|\_____/ \_____/ \_____/ __ ______ ______ _ .,., __ ______ ______ ______ / |/ __ |/ __ |/ (((((()) |/ __ |/ __ |/ __ | /_/ | | //| | | //| | ((('. .`) | | //| | | //| | | //| | | | |// | | |// | | ((G \ |) |// | | |// | | |// | | | | /__| | /__| (((` ~ , | | /__| | |_|\_____/ \___ .((\.:v: .-----------, \_____/ __ ______ _____ __/( `"'.__ | \ |: ______ / |/ __ |/ __ .~~ `\ / ~.| . :| __ | /_/ | | //| | | // / `Y | `-._____. | | //| | | | |// | | |// | ___ | | : ( |// | | | | /__| | /_ | ` . | : | /__| | |_|\_____/ \___ | (_ : | .+ - a:f __/ __ ______ ___ `. ~~-. ` | ,' / |/ __ |/ __ _"-._('`)__/~~~~o`--___ _ _ /_/ | | //| | | / |"-. |\\\ `--=--` \ | | |// | | |// | `-.`"". .-' \ | | /__| | /__| | `-. `--' Wow - Fanny Crosby Hymn |_|\_____/ \_____ | `-. counts more than 6000 __ ______ _____ | "- songs to the Lord! :) / |/ __ |/ __ | | /_/ | | //| | | // | | | | |/ /| | |// | | | / | | / | | |_|\_____/ \_____/ "-. >Seeing Jesus Face to Face (Author Unknown) The hymnwriter Fanny Crosby gave us more than 6,000 (yes, that's 6,000!) gospel songs throughout her life. Although blinded by an illness at the age of 6 weeks, she never became bitter. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, "I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you." She replied quickly, "Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?" "Why?" asked the surprised clergyman. "Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Saviour!" One of Miss Crosby's hymns was so personal that for years she kept it to herself. Kenneth Osbeck, author of several books on hymnology, says its revelation to the public came about this way: "One day at the Bible conference in Northfield, Massachusetts, Miss Crosby was asked by D.L. Moody to give a personal testimony. At first she hesitated, then quietly rose and said, 'There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul's poem. Sometimes when I am troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.' She then recited while many wept: "Some day the silver cord will break, And I no more as now shall sing, But, O, the joy when I awake Within the palace of the King. And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story saved by grace. Some day my earthly house will fall, I cannot tell how soon 'twill be, But this I know, my All in All Has now a place in heaven for me. And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story saved by grace. Some day, when fades the golden sun Beneath the rosy-tinted West, My blessed Lord will say, "Well done!" And I shall enter into rest. And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story saved by grace. Some day - till then I'll watch and wait, My lamp all trimmed and burning bright, That when my Saviour opes the gate, My soul to Him may take its flight. And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story saved by grace." At the age of 95 Fanny Crosby passed into glory and shall see the face of Jesus. -<>- .--------------------------_-. .~~ /_________________________,'_ \\/\ ,------. | ,--.---.---.--. || ||_|| |.',.`|..| | |==|} | <|==| || |.--' ,. ||<'/ |`'| | |==|__(|__/|==| ||o|| ,''--'.'`'`-:--`-..| --, . .-. . , . . ,- || || ||_)) |. `'| ___ \: ,'_ | |-< |`. |_| _`, || || (_,-.`.|.____|',-.`.| _____ ______ _____ ||_|| ((_)),-------((_));'-'(( ))'--------'(( ))'-''\=\ SSt `-' `-' `-' `-' >Hesitating on the Tightrope (By Ron Hutchcraft) Wallenda. That's a name that is synonymous with tightrope artistry, high wire drama. The Great Wallendas! The patriarch of the Wallenda clan was Karl Wallenda, and at the age of 73 he was still doing tightrope work. He went to South America several years ago and strung a tight rope between two 20-story buildings. For him that was not an unusual feat, but tragically that day Karl Wallenda fell to his death. Some months later, some of his family were asked, "Why do you think after all these years he fell?" And someone said, "You know, two weeks before his fall, we heard him talk about falling for the first time ever. He had never mentioned falling before." He never had, and he probably never would have fallen if he had not become un-nerved by the fear of falling. Now, maybe you're doing quite a balancing act right now yourself, and you're hesitating because you're afraid you might not make it safely the rest of the way. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You about "Hesitating on the Tightrope." You know, the word tightrope may be for you today a good word. You say, "Ron, that pretty well describes were I'm at. I'm balancing things financially right now, barely. I guess I'm on a financial tightrope." Or maybe you've got such a volume of responsibilities you feel like you're a high wire artist. Maybe you're working at the very limit of your strength, your ability, your wisdom. Well, so was Abraham. And he had been given, as you remember, a son that he'd been promised for years. He was told that this great nation would come through this son, Isaac. And then God in a test of his faith that grew into a new level of relationship with the Lord, asked him to sacrifice his own son; to take him to the top of the mountain and give up what was most precious to him. Didn't seem to make much sense, and yet we find Abraham and Isaac marching right up the mountain as Abraham obeys God instinctively. And it says here that early the next morning after he talked with God, without hesitation, he got up and sat on his donkey and started up. Now in verse 4 it says, "On the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servant, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there.' Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son, Isaac. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to Abraham, 'Father?' 'Yes, my son' Abraham replied. 'The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.' And the two of them went on together." That "God will provide" - that's the name of God we know today as Jehovah Jireh. There was a moment of hesitation here on the road of obedience. Maybe there is on yours. But it was Jehovah Jireh - the Lord will provide - that settled it. OK, so you're looking at the circumstances right now - the checkbook balance; the reactions you're getting or might get. Your own roller coaster feelings, and you're saying, "Shall I keep going?" Well, Abraham said, "Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide. He always has." Jacob said later, "The God who has fed me every day of my life will support me." Look, God has never missed a day in your life, right? Sometimes all we have to help us go the rest of the way is the assurance that God will provide, and He will. Maybe you can't see the ram that God has ready. But God will provide. What you need to finish your faith walk will be there when you need it. You have His word on it. So keep walking, and don't even think about falling. [Copyright Ronald P. Hutchcraft. Distributed by Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc."A Word With You" by Ronald P. Hutchcraft is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Based on a work at www.Hutchcraft.com/A- Word-With-You.] -<>- __ HH HH BBB HH ,z. === .___. HH %%%% .o. ,zZZZ> BBB | | HH 838 \\\\ EEE AAAAA ,0X0' ,zZZZ" BBB |<<<| HH 838 %%%% EEE ## DDDDD ,0X0' ,zZZZ" BBB | E | HH 838 %GR% +++ ## AAAAA ,0X0' ,zZZZ" BBB | M | HH 838 %%%% EEE ## <> ,0X0' ,zZZZ" BBB | C | HH 838 %%%% EEE ## AAAAA ,0X0',zZZZ"HH$HHHHHHHDDHH$HH === |<<<| HH 838 //// EEE ## AAAAA.0X0;zZZZ" EE$EEEEEEEDDEE$EE BBB |___| HH 838 %%%% EEE ## AAAAA'"0' "Z" HH$HHHHHHHDDHH$HH Evan M Corcoran >The Laugh - Weird Questions Asked of Librarians "Do you have a list of all the books written in the English language?" "Where is the reference desk?" This was asked of a person sitting at a desk who had, hanging above her head, a sign saying "REFERENCE DESK"! "I was here about three weeks ago looking at a cookbook that cost $39.95. Do you know which one it is?" "Can you tell me why so many famous Civil War battles were fought on National Park sites?" "Do you have any books with photographs of dinosaurs?" "I need a color photograph of George Washington [Columbus, Moses, Socrates, etc.] for a school paper I'm writing" "I need a photocopy of Abraham Lincoln's birth certificate." "Do you have a list of all the books I've ever read?" "I need to find out Ibid's first name for my bibliography." "Why don't you have any books by Ibid? He's written a lot of important books!" 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 HeartsAndHumor: ___ [_ ] [do\ ] \L// /XX\\ {XXX{ } \\ XXX N \\=====[===[M] / / / [=[==] \ \ \ doPdoP Cheshirecat >You Made a Difference The phone rang. Stan Greenwood stared at it irritably. The hockey game was about to begin. It was the first time in twenty years his beloved Boston Bruins made it to the NHL Stanley Cup finals. Who would dare call him at a time like this? This could be the year the Bruins won the cup in almost forty years. Stan looked at the caller ID. The number was unfamiliar and long distance. He looked at the television. The game was going to start. It was probably a telemarketer, but on impulse, he picked the phone up. "Hello?" "Stan? Stan Greenwood?" The voice on the other end asked. "Yes?" "Stan who used to drive a school bus?" "Yes." Stan was confused. The voice was unfamiliar. "Yes, I did drive a school bus." "Stan, you might not remember me. It's been a long time since we last talked. My name is Mike Smith. I used to sit behind you on the bus and talk your ear off. That was probably thirty-five years ago." Stan scratched his head, hoping to pull a memory stored somewhere in his mind. "I think I remember you ..." "I was a Boston fan too, Stan. We were the only ones who cheered for the Bruins. Together, you and I rooted for them." "Oh gosh! I remember you now." Stan did remember Mike. He was the meek kid who hid from the rougher boys and never caused trouble on his bus. Stan recalled their conversations on the bus, especially during hockey season, which, in Canada, ran through most of the school year. Mike was the only kid who cheered for his team. The two of them talked endlessly about the Bruins, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Wayne Cashman and the other great Boston players from the winning days. "Yes! I do remember you." Stan continued. "You called me after all these years?" "Of course!" I smiled into the phone. "We were the only ones. We were the only two Bruin fans, Stan." "How did you find me?" "I looked you up on the internet." "Where are you at now? The number looks like long distance." "I'm in Idaho? "Idaho?" "It's a long story, Stan. I moved from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick, then to Ohio and New Jersey. I moved to Idaho in 2008." "Why?" "My stepdaughter daughter lives here. My wife wanted to be close to her and her grandchildren." "No! I meant, why did you call me?" "Stan, you are one of the few Bruin fans I know. My dad was a big fan of them, but he's gone now. I wanted to share my joy with someone who understands, and besides, Stan, when I was a kid, you made a difference in my life. I was always a bit of an outcast. You listened to me, Stan. You made a difference. It meant a lot to me." There was a pause as Stan took this in. He finally said, "I still can't believe you looked me up after all this time." I grinned. This was special. "Stan, it's great to talk to you again. The game is about to start. Let's hope they win." "I know. The game starts in ten minutes." "Stan, when the series is over, I'll call again. We can catch up on old times." "That would be great, Mike." Stan hung up the phone, sat in his chair and cheered for his Bruins. He watched them lose one to nothing, but he didn't care so much. A kid from the past told him he once made a difference. "I was just a bus driver." Stan thought. "Who would have thought a bus driver could do that?" Stan slept well that night. His bus driving years were well behind him. The years of carrying kids to school were gone, but not completely. One kid still thought about him and said, "You made a difference." --Michael T. Smith ==================================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: (.,------...__ _.'" `. .' .' `, `. `. ` . .' .'/''--...__`. \ . .--.`. ' "-. '. | '' .' _.' .()) .--":/ ''( \_\ ' (()( ''._' ( \ ' ' `. `--' ' `.: . `-.___.' ' `. . _ _ .' ) .____.-' .'`. (--.. .' \ /\ / / `. .' \( \ /|/ `. .' \__/ `. / | o | \ | | | jro >Why I Love Him by Lon Woodrum Say, do you love me Sonny? The question was from me, To my little son, a-swingin' Boy-like on my knee. "Of course, I love you, daddy," He said with honest eye, I pulled him closer to me -- 'Tell me, honey, 'why?' "Well, it's NOT because you're daddy!" (He seemed to think a bit) He fumbled with my necktie .... "No, that's not it!" He seemed to think a moment, Then sort've settled back .... "You love ME so much, daddy, I reckon I just like to love you back!". I think that answer sort've helped me know The reason why I love the Master so; His love is grand, and strong, and knows no slack, He loves me so much, I reckon I just like to love Him back! --- ...I John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us." -<>- .--.-. ( ( )__ (_, \ ) ,_) '- \\---' _\\ \\ . '.\:.' .':`(\ ' \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ _ \\/@) /(&\ (@(\&\ <*****> ` \/ \.=^=. .""". .=^=. \ \```\\(/a a\)//```\\ \ \ ( L ) }} {\ \ __ \ = / }} {{\ '--,/'-'\,---. }} {{ \ |`-._/\_.-'| \ }} {{ \| || |\ \}} {{ |___o()o___| > )} {{ |__((<>))__|` .'}} {{ \ o\/o /`` }} {{ ,'\ || / ', }} {{.' \ || /| '.}} |'.||.' | | : | | : | | : | | : | | : | | : | jgs |____:__| (_/ \_) >Twenty Six Angels Author Unknown A missionary on furlough told this story while visiting his home church. "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 Jesus Christ. 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 and he told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, "Some friends and I followed you into 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 out 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 five 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 told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story: "On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play 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 Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it. Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell. -<>- __ _,--="=--,_ __ / \." .-. "./ \ / ,/ _ : : _ \/` \ \ `| /o\ :_: /o\ |\__/ `-'| :="~` _ `~"=: | \` (_) `/ _ .-"-. \ | / .-"-. _ (_'-{ }-| /,.-'-.,\ |-{ }-'_) (_.=(_)_)_)=\_/`~-===-~`\_/=(_(_(_)=._) jgs >MOMENTS FOR LOVE By: Joseph J. Mazzella I had a three dog couch waiting on me when I got home this morning. As I came through the front door I saw that each cushion on my couch had a little, furry ball curled up on it, sleeping peacefully. I smiled when I saw this and petted each of them lovingly as I walked by. It only took a few seconds of my time, but it filled my heart with joy. As we go through our often busy days it is funny how the best parts of them seem to be those little moments we make for sharing love. They take so little of our time and yet the rewards they bring us are beyond belief. They strengthen our hearts, uplift our souls, and energize our bodies. They make our lives a joy to live and a delight to share. They bring us peace, happiness, goodness, and most of all oneness with God. Three of the most important words in the Bible are: "God is love." Every moment we spend living in love then is a moment spent living in oneness with God. Try to spend and share some moments for love in your own life today. Pet your dogs, cuddle your cats, and feed the birds. Hug your loved ones, look them in the eye, and say "I love you." Smile at the cashier in the store, give a compliment to a friend, and share a good laugh at work. Open a door for a stranger, help an elderly person with their bags, and do a few random acts of kindness when noone is looking. They only take a few seconds each day, but they bring you joy for a lifetime. It takes so little time to live in love. It takes so few moments to share that love with the world. It is these moments, however, that join your heart to God’s and fill your life with light. Don’t miss out on them. Make time for them and choose them everyday of your life. Moments of love lead to a lifetime of love and a lifetime of love leads to an eternity of love. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment I'm My Own Grandpa http://www.buffalosjokes.com/041632.htm Fire Rescue http://www.buffalosjokes.com/125002.htm Taco town http://www.buffalosjokes.com/011130.htm tap dancing http://www.buffalosjokes.com/011131.htm Teaspoon http://www.buffalosjokes.com/011132.htm Signs For Woman http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wsigns.html Montreal Gardens http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/montreal.html Humor In Religion 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hreligion2.html God's Water Paintings http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/water.html Sand Sculpture Art #2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/sandart2.html Jesus Clinic http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/clinic.html The Giver And The Gift http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/givergift.html Walking In Power! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.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 ====================================================================== -| -' | -' | __(). ==wkm=====|'\/ `.O__ \ `, _-^. `. `---, : ____________________________________ ///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\ >In an Instant Story Editor: By Brad Lymburner Joyce Schowalter Arizona, USA My parents were divorced when I was 2 years old. I stayed with my mom and didn't know what it meant to have a two parent home when I was little. Although my dad was a decent enough weekend dad, that was all he was. My mom worked her tail off raising me as a single mom, and made it so I never knew how broke we were or how tough she had it. My world changed drastically when I was 8. My mom met and fell in love with someone named Jim, and of course she and I were a package deal. When they married, we moved a couple hours away to Indianapolis. I left friends, family, school -- all I had known. Jim had been previously married and had two daughters, both of whom were grown with kids of their own. I didn't know what to expect or how we all would fit together -- what this man, already a grandfather, would do with a boy, 8 years old. What I did know, very early on, was that I became his son that very first day he fell in love with my mom. I don't mean that he tried to replace my father -- who was still a good dad -- in any way. But from day one, I was his son, both to him and everyone he knew. He never used the term stepson; it was just, "This is my son, Brad." He provided for us and made sacrifices. My mom became a stay-at-home mom when they married. Jim put me through private school, not because he was wealthy, but because it was his priority to give me the very best he could. Jim had such an impact on my life through his fatherly example and is significantly responsible for the man that I became. He taught me what it meant to work: I have earned income outside my home, in some form, since I was 9 years old. He taught me what it meant to sacrifice. As much as he tried to hide the fact, I saw him go without so I could continue through private school and on into college. I have my own children now and Jim couldn't love them more were they from his own blood. He is their Grandpa, and I can't wait to share tales about him with *their* children. I will never forget his broken wrist playing basketball, or his broken arm playing football, obtained only because he cared enough to be involved with me. His waking from anesthesia after having his arm set created its own set of family stories that I can't quote here. Most importantly, Jim taught me what it meant to love unconditionally. I could have been anything to him -- a nuisance, a tag-a-long, or a necessary burden. What I became to him, in an instant, was his son. =======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. 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