The Right Thing To Do ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ,-~~-.___. / | ' \ ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ .... ( ) 0 \_/-, ,----' ==== // / \-'~; /~~~(O) / __/~| / | =( _____| (_________| W< *~* HELP! We NEED 2009 Angels for the Web Site! >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2009 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is appreciated - even just 5 dollars! 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! GOD'S MOST ABUNDANT BLESSINGS TO YOU! ================ GOT A Cool Forward? Easy Yummy Recipe? Miracle Story? Sweet poem? Funny clean Joke? A Godly Inspiration? SHARE IT - We like it, We Love It, We Can't Get enough! Send it to me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net I'll Share It and Gladly Give YOU Credit For It! :) ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) I spent considerable time adding to the animated library yesterday. I wanted to get some of the cool graphics I found up for everyone to enjoy. Check them out here http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs.html -<>- >From Our Friend Jan :) Jan sent us a recipe I added to our recipes on-line. __,=,__ .~`` .` `.``~. | . . |____ `-;=============;""""` ( (. _).) \ | | \ `-.___.' / I can hardly wait! '._ _.' /`''''\ / \ | |/\/\/\/|.-. |-|/\/\/\/|;' ) (__/_______| _) #########'._) jgs |==|=|__ ,,,(______)_),,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,, ,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;, MAGGIE'S CHEESECAKE TARTS http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/easy.html She writes ... This is a friend's recipe, my name is Jan :) Let Jan know how you like her recipe! --- ...Sounds like a yummy one! Thank You Jan! -<>- >Links Just For The SMILE Of It :) Lean On Me http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/leanonme.html Rolling Memorial http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trucking.html Jesus Laughing Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html WWI Human Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/humanart.html Buy A Dog http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/buyadog.html Picture This! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/picturethis.html Truth About Work http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/work.html A Woman's Dream http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woman.html Real Pencil Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/pencil.html Awesome Photos http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/awesome.html Awesome School http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gschool.html ========================================================= >Hats Off, Miss Rupp Story Editor: by Crystal M. Anderson Joyce Schowalter Iowa, USA It was 1952 and I was a sophomore in high school. An algebra class was dealing me fits and it wasn't sinking into my dull brain. The language of algebraic terms threw me for a loop. My teacher was Miss Rupp and my fear of her was second to none other I had faced before. Miss Rupp of the stern face and forbidding nature left me quaking in my white buck shoes. I hoped that she would not call on me for any answer. I knew I would not know the answer and her eagle eyes told me that she knew I wouldn't know the answer. Luck ran out one day and she called my name, told me to come to the blackboard and work the problem she would give me. I stood in front of that blackboard, my nose just a few inches away from it, and stared at the problem. My hand with the chalk in it didn't move. Why bother? I didn't know how to work the blasted problem. Finally Miss Rupp took the chalk and did this and that and came up with the answer. "Miss Stogdill, you can return to your seat," she told me. "Yes, Miss Rupp," I said, with my head down, as I slunk back to my seat. It seemed forever before our class was over and once it was, I headed for the door, ready for the great escape. I almost made it, but then I heard Miss Rupp say, "Miss Stogdill, I would like to see you at my desk." Inside I was saying, "But I don't want to see you," but I turned and made my way to stand before her. "Miss Stogdill, you are having far too much trouble with Algebra. You definitely need some help. If you can come in after school, I will help you until you understand the concept of Algebra, she said." What a relief, help! I agreed to come in and I did so. She spent time with me each night I could come in until I understood what she was trying to teach me. I ended up my time in her class with a B average and I owe it all to a woman who was more than an average teacher. She was an extraordinary teacher, one who went the whole way with her students. I was not the only one who benefited from this woman's teaching. It was years before I fully understood how much Miss Rupp cared for us, her stern and forbidding nature covered up a big heart, filled with love for those she taught. Indeed when she walked in to watch a school sports game, she was cheered more often than not. She was respected and she had earned it. She is long gone from this world we live in, but whenever I think of her, I say to myself, "Hats off, Miss Rupp, you deserve it." =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Sandi :) ( '( ' "' //} ( ''" _||__ ____ ____ ____ (o)___)}___}}___}}___} 'U'0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 :dg: dynoguru Ya Gotta Drive This Train http://www.allright.com/Poems/TOLRailway/TOL.htm \ , |\.--._/| /\ ) )\\/ /( \ / \ /( J `( \ / ) | _\ / /|) \ eJ L | \ L \ L L / \ J `. J L | ) L \/ \ / \ J (\ / _....___ | \ \ \``` ,.._.-' '''--...-||\ -. \ \ .'.=.' ` `.\ [ Y / / \] J Y / Y Y L | | | \ | L | | | Y A J | I | /I\ / | \ I \ ( |]/| J \ /._ / -tI/ | L ) / /'-------'J `'-:. J .' ,' ,' , \ `'-.__ \ \ T ,' ,' )\ /| ';'---7 / \| ,'L Y...-' / _.' / \ / / J Y | J .'-' / ,--.( / L | J L -' .' / | /\ | J. L J .-;.-/ | \ .' / J L`-J L____,.-'` | _.-' | L J L J `` J | J L | L J | L J L \ L \ | L ) _.'\ ) _.'\ L \('` \ ('` \ ) _.'\`-....' `-....' ('` \ `-.___/ sk Budweiser commercial re: 9-11, aired only ONCE! http://tattoo-gypsy.blogspot.com/2009/01/budweiser-commercial-re-9-11-aired-only.html --- ...Awesome and moving! Thank You Sandi! ====================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffal: >The Cab Ride So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'. 'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice". I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now' We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing,' I said 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. -<>- + | /\\ | || -----| |/\ / \ ------/ ^^ \ O O | || | | || | ------------- unknown >Everyday I need you Lord... Every day I need you Lord But this day especially, I need some extra strength To face what ever is to be. This day more than any day I need to feel you near, To fortify my courage And to overcome my fear. By myself, I cannot meet The challenge of the hour, There are times when humans help, But we need a higher power To assist us bear what must be borne, And so dear Lord, I pray - Hold on to my trembling hand And be near me today. ~ Author Unknown ~ -<>- ___ __//_\\__ ___________ _-~ ~ ~ ~-_ ,-~~ ~~-, ,/ \, `-__ ,- ,- ,-__-' `-__ __-' | ~~~~~~~~~~~ | | ~~~~~~~~~~~ | | ,- _ _ ,- | | ,- _ _ ,- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -rmcn | | | | | | | | | | | | -Ross McNab- | | | | | | | | | | | | | `- `_ `_ `- | | `- `_ `_ `- | `-__ __-' `-__ __-' ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ >Brownies Last week, I walked into my office to find a sandwich bag on my desk containing three chewy, tasty, homemade chocolate brownies. Some thoughtful and anonymous person who knew my love for tasty homemade brownies had placed them there, along with a hand written short story. I immediately sat down and began eating the first chewy, tasty, homemade brownie as I read the following story: Two teenagers asked their father if they could go the theater to watch a movie that all their friends had seen. After reading some reviews about the movie on the Internet, he denied their request. "Aw dad, why not?" they complained. "It's rated PG-13, and we're both older than thirteen!" Dad replied: "Because that movie contains nudity and portrays immorality as being normal and acceptable behavior. "But dad, those are just very small parts of the movie! That's what our friends who've seen it have told us. The movie is two hours long and those scenes are just a few minutes of the total film! It's based on a true story, and good triumphs over evil, and there are other redeeming themes like courage and self-sacrifice. Even the movie review websites say that!" "My answer is 'no,' and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and watch one of the good videos we have in our home collection. But you will not go and watch that film. End of discussion." The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch. As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their Father preparing something in the kitchen. They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, "Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he's going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies. Maybe we can soften him with lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go to that movie after all." About that time I began eating the second brownie from the sandwich bag and wondered if there was some connection to the brownies I was eating and the brownies in the story. I kept reading... The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies, which he offered to his kids. They each took one. Then their father said, "Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love you both so much. "The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was softening. "That is why I've made these brownies with the very best ingredients. I've made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients are even organic. The best organic flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic sugar. Premium Vanilla and chocolate." The brownies looked mouthwatering, and the teens began to become a little impatient with their dad's long speech. "But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from our own back yard. But you needn't worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think." "Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we eat?" "Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won't even taste it." "Come on, dad; just tell us what that ingredient is." "Don't worry! It is organic, just like the other ingredients. " "Dad!" "Well, OK, if you insist. That secret ingredient is fresh organic...dog poop." I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and I spit it out into the wastebasket by my desk. I continued reading, now fearful of the paragraphs that still remained. Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror. "DAD! Why did you do that? You've tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop! We can't eat these brownies!" "Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients. It won't hurt you. It's been cooked right along with the other ingredients. You won't even taste it. It has the same consistency as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!" "No, Dad...NEVER! " "And that is the same reason I won't allow you to go watch that movie. You won't tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little immorality in your movies? We pray that God will not lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good conscience entertain ourselves with something that will imprint a sinful image in our minds that will lead us into temptation long after we first see it? I discarded what remained of the second brownie as well as the entire untouched third brownie. What had been irresistible a minute go had become detestable. And only because of the very slim chance that what I was eating was slightly polluted. (Surely it wasn't..but I couldn't convince myself.) What a good lesson about purity! Why do we tolerate any sin? On the day of the Passover, the Israelites were commanded to remove every bit of leaven from their homes. Sin is like leaven - a little bit leavens the whole lump (1Corinthians 5:6,7), faith and sin, don't mix. -<>- [] .-==-. |[][]| |[][]| OO |[][]| .||. __________________|____|______dd___________ jg after Bruce Greenwood I Thought I'd Call There is a story about a New York City policeman investigating a case. Even before he finished dialing, he somehow knew he’d made a mistake. The phone rang once, twice – then someone picked it up. “You’ve got the wrong number!” a husky male voice snapped before the line went dead. Mystified, the policeman dialed again. “I said you got the wrong number!” came the voice. Once more the phone clicked down. “How could he possibly know I had the wrong number?” the policeman asked himself. A cop is trained to be curious – and concerned. So he dialed a third time. “Hey, c’mon,” the voice said. “Is this you again?” “Yea, it’s me. I was wondering how you knew I had the wrong number before I even said anything.” “You figure it out!” The phone slammed down. He sat there for a while, the receiver hanging loosely in his fingers. He called the man back. “Did you figure it out yet?” the man asked. “The only thing I can think of is nobody ever calls you.” “You got it!” The phone went dead for the fourth time. Chuckling, the officer dialed the man back. “What do you want now?” asked the man. “I thought I’d call – just to say hello.” “Hello? Why?” “Well, if nobody ever calls you, I thought maybe I should.” Gary Nicolosi, The Wideness of God’s Mercy -<>- >Links Lock Bumping http://www.buffaloschips.com/gajhs.htm Locked Bucks http://www.buffaloschips.com/gahhjs.htm Look At My New Dog http://www.buffaloschips.com/gahsjjsk.htm Lotto http://www.buffaloschips.com/gjsjsk.htm Men Can't Multitask http://www.buffaloschips.com/gsashsjs.htm Men Invented Everything http://www.buffaloschips.com/gnjjhjk.htm Microsoft No More Keyboards http://www.buffaloschips.com/gbhjak.htm Monkey's helping Hands http://www.buffaloschips.com/gajskslla.htm Moose family http://www.buffaloschips.com/gmksla.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ================================================================ >-->From Heartwarmers: -| -' | -' | __ ==wkm=====|'\/ () /| `O /` : /\ \ \ ` ` ____________________________________ ///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\ >THE RIGHT THING TO DO by Joseph Walker Darius and Johntel have a lot in common. They are both talented high school seniors. They both love basketball. They are both captains of their respective high school basketball teams. But on one Saturday night in February, they were forever linked in the minds of all who were present for a mutual act of courage, sportsmanship and respect. The remarkable moment came during a game between Darius's small town Illinois team and Johntel's big city team in Wisconsin -- a game that almost wasn't played. Just hours before tip-off Johntel's mother lost her five-year battle with cervical cancer. Her death was sudden and devastating to all who knew her, and Johntel's coach wanted to cancel the game. But Johntel insisted that the game should be played, and so with heavy hearts his teammates prepared to honor their captain's wishes and to play -- and hopefully win -- without him. What they weren't prepared for was Johntel's appearance in the gym mid-way through the first half. As soon as he saw him, Johntel's coach called a time out, and players and fans surrounded the grieving young man to offer love and support. The coach asked him if he wanted to sit on the bench with the team. "No," Johntel said. "I want to play." Of course his team was thrilled to have him. But because Johntel wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in the game at that point would result in a technical foul and two free throws for the opposing team. Johntel's coach was OK with that. He could see that this was the teenager's way of coping with his loss -- the points didn't matter. The opposing team understood the situation and told the referees to let Johntel play and to forget the technical foul. The referees argued that a rule is a rule, and the free throws would have to be taken before the game could proceed. For possibly the first time in basketball history, officials had to force a team to accept and take the technical free throws. As team captain, Darius volunteered to take the shots. One would have expected he was looking for an opportunity to keep his team close in a hard-fought game against a big city school. Or one could even assume he wanted a chance to add a couple of points to his personal statistics. In either case, one would be wrong. Darius took the ball from the official, looked at the basket and calmly shot the ball. Now, basketball purists know that the free throw line is 15 feet from the basket. Darius's first shot only traveled about 4 feet. His second shot only traveled 2. Immediately Johntel and his teammates understood what Darius was doing. They stood and applauded the gesture of sportsmanship as Darius made his way back to his bench. So did all of the big city fans. "I did it for the guy who lost his mom," Darius told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the game. "It was the right thing to do." For those who are concerned about such things, Johntel's team rode the emotion of the night to a 15-point victory. But as the two teams met after the game for pizza and sodas, nobody on either side was too concerned with wins or losses or personal stats. "This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime," Darius's coach said. "They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they'll remember what happened in that gym that night." -- Joseph Walker ______________________________________________ Joe is a Heartwarmer Gem from Utah. =============================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: >THE POWER OF A KIND VOICE The author wishes to remain anonymous Edited by Shmuel Greenbaum Printed with Permission of http://www.PartnersInKindness.org When I was much younger and working my way through school, I was working in a deli shop in a place that was a popular lunch spot for business people in the neighborhood because of our quick service and specialty sandwiches. During the lunch hour, the line formed rather quickly, and I was the person at the front taking the orders while also preparing sandwiches. Our customers were used to the routine --- I would look up and ask them for their order when I was ready. One day, while I was working on a sandwich, the next person in line barked his order at me very loudly and before I was ready. My immediate thought was, "Who does this guy think he is?" and I couldn’t believe how rude he was. But when I looked up all ready to bark back at him, I saw a young guy in a suit, thoroughly distracted, fidgeting with some papers, looking stressed out, and he wasn’t even looking at me. The thought came to me that he must be having a very bad day, so I moved closer to the counter, looked straight at him and with the softest, warmest voice I could, asked him whether he wanted mustard or mayonnaise. I wasn’t sure how he would react, but he suddenly looked up at me as if he had just woke up, and then he answered me back softly and respectfully. I noticed that the shoulders of everyone in line relaxed a little bit at this and the next few customers were extra polite that day. This event took just a few seconds of one day, but the lesson I learned has stayed with me all my life. When someone speaks to us rudely, meanly or threateningly, our immediate reaction often is to respond in the same way. But I realized that we could also choose to respond differently. By trying to understand the feelings of this person, I was able to "get over" the way he talked to me and respond kindly to him. And perhaps that helped him to feel relieved, even if just for a short time, of whatever problems or stresses he had been under. So often we go through our daily habits, usually in a great rush, and we forget to make real eye-to-eye contact with the people we interact with each day. This day, I was thrilled by the simple fact that we could all change someone’s day and our day, too, by simply speaking with a kind voice. Kind Words is a free weekly e-mail distributed by Partners In Kindness. Although the content of this e-mail contains copyrighted material, Partners in Kindness allows users who register at our website to reprint them in print, on a website, or on an e-mail distribution list at no cost. If you have permission to reprint this e-mail, please ensure that you reprint the entire e-mail (including this notice). Kindness is like music, art, sports or any other discipline -- it can only be mastered with practice, training, and lots and lots of encouragement. That is what PartnersInKindness.org is trying to promote. For further information, please visit our Website http://www.PartnersInKindness.org e-mail: info@PartnersInKindness.org --- ...The Bible teaches us this one... Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." -<>- _..._ ___ .:::::::. `"-._.-''. , /:::::::::\ ': \ _._ \:-::::::::::::\ :. | /|.-' /:::\ \::::::::\:::::| ': | | / |:::| `:::::::|:::::\ ': | `\ | __ |\::/\ `-:::-|::::::| ': | .`\ .\_.' `.__/ | |::::::\ ':. | \ ';:: /.-._ , / |:::::::| :. / ,`\;:: \'./0) |_.-/ ;:::::::| ': | \.`;::. `` | | \::::::/ :' / _\::::' / / \::::| :' / ,=:;::/ | \:::| :' | (='` // / | \::\ `: / '--' | /\ | \:::. `:_|.-"""-. \__.-'/::\ | '::::.:::...:::. '. /:::| | '::/::::::::::::. '-.__.:::::| | |::::::::::::\::..../::::::| / |:::::::::::::|::::/:::::::// \:::::::::::::|'::/::::::::/ /\::::::::::::/ /:::::::/:| |::';:::::::::/ |::::::/::; |:::/`-:::::;;-._ |:::::/::/ |:::| `-::::\ `|::::/::/ jgs |:::| \:::\ \:::/::/ /:::/ \:::\ \:/\:/ (_::/ \:::;__ \\_\\___ (_:/ \::):):)\:::):):) `" `""""` `""""""` DONTCHA JUST LOVE CAMPING? I had just put the children to bed on our camping trip when a baby skunk moseyed into the washroom I was using. Knowing the mama would be close by, I froze. But when the baby skunk tumbled into the garbage and began to cry, I bolted for the door. Sure enough, mama came running, her tail held high. To avoid her, I vaulted over a rail into the bushes, smack onto a raccoon. The raccoon screeched, the skunk sprayed, and I was stuck in the middle. The doctor couldn't stop laughing as he tended my wounds...and told me I'd landed in poison oak. as seen in Da Mouse Tracks -<>- JUDGE GENTLY Pray don't find fault with the man who limps or stumbles along the road Unless you have worn the shoes he wears, or struggled beneath his load. There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt, though hidden away from view, Or the burden he bears...placed on your back, might cause you to stumble too. Don't sneer at the man who's down today, unless you have felt the blow That caused his fall or felt the shame that only the fallen know. You may be strong, but still the blows that were his...if dealt to you, In the selfsame way at the selfsame time might cause you to stagger too. Don't be too harsh with the man who sins or pelt him with word or stone Unless you are sure...yea doubly sure that you have no sins of your own... For you know...perhaps if the tempters voice should whisper... as softly to you As it did to him...when he went astray could cause you to falter too. as seen in Inspirational World To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com ==================================================== >-->From Laugh&Lift: ____ || | ||___| _)__<__ _ _ |____|__|:|___|:|_ | |_.---._|___| _ | o| | | |_o_| | || |/| |\| | |_||____|`\___/'|___| V _/-\_ fsc >Why Do You Work? (by Roy Irwin) I was intrigued by a story that I came across recently. It described how a colony of bees located in the cold climate of a Midwestern state had been moved to a tropical island. Initially the bees continued their routine of making honey in preparation for the winter. However, being on an island, the cold of winter never came, and the honey went untouched. The article went on to describe how the bees, with no specific reason to produce honey, became lazy and stopped making honey. Instead they spent their time stinging the island residents! Just like the bees in the above story, there has to be a purpose to our work. There are of course, a number of good reasons to work, whether it is working at home raising a family, working in the marketplace to earn money for yourself or your family, or working in a volunteer capacity to name just a few. However, as the drop in the stock market has recently reminded us, working for the sake of amassing wealth is in vain. Over the past several months, we have seen how fragile economies around the world are as the value of many stock markets has declined, currency is being devalued, inflation is taking over, the economies of several countries are on the verge of collapse... The financial gains that many people had achieved over the past several years were wiped out in just a [short time]...The trust that many people had placed in money as their security blanket for the future has been shattered... As everyone around the world tries to regroup and prepare for the future, the question that begs to be asked is: M ' ` | :|`-._ | :|`-._`-._ / ::\ `-._`-._ / ::\ `-(_) |_________| / / `-' / / / / / / / / ________________/ _&_______ /8P' `' Y888/ /P' ____________ Y8/ /' /\ / / / / . \ \ / / / / // \ \ / / / VK / // \ \___________/ / / /// \ \ __ / /8 `' \/ /_/ ./ /88b.____________________.8/ "Why do you work?" The Bible in Matthew 6:19 provides purpose and direction for us in this area: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (NIV) Instead of chasing after the temporary things like money, we are instructed to "...seek first his kingdom" (Matthew 6:33 NIV) - the lasting treasure of heaven! While our earthly things may fail us, we can have peace by holding fast to the truth that Jesus Christ will never fail us. Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." (John 14:1 NIV) Isn't it ironic that on every form of currency in the United States are the words: "In God We Trust" How about you? Can you say with certainty that you know the peace that only comes from putting your trust in Jesus Christ? Does your work and life have eternal purpose? Prayer: "Dear Lord, we live in a world filled with uncertainty and chaos. Help us to remain focused on you. Give us peace, Your Peace, the peace that "transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:6 NIV). Give our work and our lives purpose as we seek You and your Kingdom in everything we do. Amen." (Copyright 1998 Argyle Giraffe Productions. This may not be resold or used for the enhancement of any product sold without the written permission of Argyle Giraffe Productions.) 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 --- ...Why do I work? Simple! The Bible says... 2 Thessalonians 3:10b "...that if any would not work, neither should he eat." I don't know about you folks, but I like eating! So working is a given since I want to eat too! =========================================================== "Jesus gives us real eyes so we can realize where the real lies." - Michael McInerny >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales & Seervice You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. Please phone us at 419-238-5806 ************************************************************************ -->This is for all you who love food and DAARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. 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