The River, She's A Nurse, 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 ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ ) ( | ) ( / .- _ ,---. _ ( / / (~-| . . |-~) V / \._ 0 _,/ / / `-^-'`-._ / ' `-. ( : )E : ,---' ( . )E ( gpyy '._____,---' ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2010 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2010 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! ================ >-->2 Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This first one is red hot! It comes from a forward from our friend Viv. This artist leaves me stunned. Such fine work that I just had to do up a page to share with you all. Check it out for your self here... __ __ __\_\___ ___/_/__ /_______ \___ ___/\_______\ \_\ \/__/\_____/\__\/ /_/ \/_____\/ __ \o | o/_____ ________________/\_\ \ | /_______\_______________\/ \_/ / b'ger | /\ _ | / /\_________/ |__| / / / / /_/ /_/ \ \ \ \ \ \ \_\ \_\ /_/ /_/ |_| Paper Sculpture Art http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/paper.html --- ...An awesome one! Thank You Viv! -<>- When I saw this one from our friend Sandi, I immediately checked it out and saved it knowing I'd make it into a page for all to enjoy soon. Well, Father got on me about it last night and I set to work on it. I had it all done when what caught my attention but a forward that just came in from our friend Del. It said that "Tea Party Member stuns crowd in GA" - yeah, well I've heard that thing before - that something was going to stun me but it was just OK. This one however - stunned me! I knew it had to go with the page too so I added it right away! Hopefully the whole page will bless you as much as it did me. Be sure to listen to the videos! \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz Proud Of Our Troops 4! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/troops4.html --- ...What a tremendous one! Thank you Sandi And Del! ================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: () `.. .. `... `.. `.... `.. `.. ()-'`-. `.. `..`. `.. `.. `.. `.. `.. `.. `| |\\ `.. `.. `.. `..`.. `..`.. `. `.. ' |__| \) `.. `.. `.. `..`.. `..`.. `.. `.. . //\\__ `.. `.. `. `..`.. `..`.. `. `.. `.. (( `--( `.. `..`.. `. .. `.. `.. `. `. `.... . )\ `.. .. `.. `.. `.... `.. `.. ,--._ ` ,-'`- ;-. `.. `.. `. `.. `.. ,: , `. `. `.. `. .. `.. `.. /. ` ,-' . \ `. `.. `. `.. `.. `.. ( ; `. ) `... `. `.. `.. `.. `.. | ' , `. | `. `.. `...... `.. `.. `.. ( / . ( ) `. `. `.. `.. `.. `.. \ ) `/ `.... `.. `.. `..`........`........ `. / ' ,' `-:_ _,-' `--' -shimrod >LOVE HIM TO PIECES by Ilona McEachern If asked to recall something funny that happened in my childhood, my memories would often include my father. When very young, I remember playing "horsey." I would sit on dad's back with a skipping rope that he would hold in his teeth as the reins. I would shout, "Giddy-up!" and he would crawl around on the floor, neighing and pretending to try to buck me off. If boredom set in, dad would sit patiently in his armchair while I attempted to beautify him by creating new hairdos to make him look as silly as possible. While enjoying a family day of swimming at Nym Lake, dad would tirelessly throw me again and again over his head and into the water at the beach. One cold wintry day in Ontario, my parents decided to visit some friends who lived at a logging camp. It was about a 45-minute drive down a snow covered gravel road. My two older sisters and brother sat in the back of our old gray Studebaker, while I squeezed into the front between my parents. Whenever we ascended a steep hill, dad told me to put my hands on the dash to help "push" the car up the hill. "Come on! Push, Ilona! Push harder!" But while trying to humor me, dad became slightly distracted and slid into a snow bank. My brother Tim, and my dad, would take the shovels out of the trunk and dig us out. All would be quiet until the next hill, and he would be coaxing me to push again. And once again we'd slid into another snow bank! That was just too much for my mother, and she had a few choice words for my father about keeping his eyes on the road. Dad turned his head towards me, smiled, and winked before going to get the shovel out a second time. Mother was the artist in our family -- painting beautiful landscapes using oils, acrylics and watercolors. Dad always said that he did not have any talent at all when it came to drawing, but he was always willing to draw two pictures for me. One was of an outhouse with a little sliver of a moon above the open door, and a stick figure running towards it. The other was the side view of a face with a large hook-nose, and a long tongue sticking out, trying to touch the tip of the nose, with "stuff" dripping out of it! When his grandson, Jack Jr., was around 5 or so, he would tie grandpa up with yards of rope while he snored in his chair, pretending to sleep. Jacky would then wake him up and grandpa would struggle, grunting and groaning, to get out of the knots that were tied around him. The game would then start all over again. My sons, Alex and Eric, carried on that tradition years later, as well as Logan, Jack Jr's son. Mummu (Finnish for grandmother) would often arm the boys with a comb and brush so they could give grandpa new hairdos. All the grandsons loved going into the sauna in their basement with grandpa as well, where they would have "serious" conversations, and see who could outlast each other in the steam bath. Dad has also been a father figure to all three of his grandsons. Jack Jr. would spend most of each summer with my parents at Nym Lake, crying when he had to go back home to Winnipeg. Alex and Eric's father died a few years after we had divorced, so dad has done his best to give them pep talks every chance he gets, and to spend extra time with them when they come to visit. (They still give him 'hairdos', by the way!) My dad's own father abandoned his wife and children when they were very young, so he grew up without a father figure. In spite of that disadvantage, he has risen to the occasion again and again and embraced fatherhood in every way possible. If children had something to say to grandpa, he would give them his animated, undivided attention, and listen -- as if what they had to say was the most important thing in the whole world. But if you ever crossed him, look out! I never once had a spanking from my dad. It was never necessary. When angered, he would lower his head and stare menacingly out from behind lowered eyebrows. That was all it took! If our neighbors' children got a little too rough when playing with us, they would say, "We'd better watch out, or Mr. Kosola will 'look' at us!" I have never once heard my father raise his voice or yell at anyone. If anything, he talks quieter and slower when angered, but his voice also deepens and he makes sure that he has your full attention. He's as gentle and softhearted as they come, and rules with his heart, not his hands. We never wanted to disappoint him, but also knew that as long as we tried our hardest that was all he would ever ask. We were safe in knowing that dad's love was unconditional, and always would be. My parents were always firm when it came to rules and curfews, but we would much rather have their praise than to have dad 'look' at us! I think dad has the longest "crow's feet" next to his eyes that I've ever seen, and they're well earned! He has a way of making people laugh, and children simply adore him. I've always respected his integrity, honesty and openness. I cannot imagine a childhood (or adulthood) without a father like mine -- and I love him to pieces. Happy Father's Day, Dad! -- Ilona McEachern __________________________________________________ >DAD HELPS -- IN HIS OWN WAY My father was completely lost in the kitchen and never ate unless someone prepared a meal for him. When Mother was ill, however, he volunteered to go to the supermarket for her. She sent him off with a carefully numbered list of seven items. Dad returned shortly, very proud of himself, and proceeded to unpack the grocery bags. He had one bag of sugar, two dozen eggs, three hams, four boxes of detergent, five boxes of crackers, six eggplants, and seven green peppers. -- Joan Flood ====================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Johanna :) ============;===========;() # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # jgs # # # # # # # >TRUE AMERICAN It is time to change from REDNECK humor to TRUE AMERICAN Humor! Only it isn't seen as HUMOR, but the correct way to Live YOUR LIFE! ~ If you feel the same, pass this on to your True American friends. Y'all know who they are... ~ You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.' ~ You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places. ~ You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You still say 'Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.' ~ You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You bow your head when someone prays. ~ You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem. ~ o /\ /::\ /::::\ ,a_a /\::::/\ {/ ''\_ /\ \::/\ \ {\ ,_oo) /\ \ \/\ \ \ {/ (_^____/ \ \ \ \ \ \ .=. {/ \___)))*) \ \ \ \ \/ (.=.`\ {/ /=; ~/ \ \ \ \/ \ `\{/( \/\ / \ \ \/ \ `. `\ ) ) \ \/ jgs \ // /_/_ \/ '==''---)))) You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have. ~ You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never burned an American flag. ~ You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening. ~ You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same. ~ If you got this email from me, it is because I believe that you, like me, have just enough TRUE AMERICAN in you to have the same beliefs as those talked about in this email. ~ God Bless the U S A ! Amen AND YOU ARE A TRUE AMERICAN, IF YOU THINK THE NATIONAL ANTHEM SHOULD ONLY BE SUNG IN ENGLISH! --- ...Yes, it is not good to hide our light under a bush. It is time for us to shine forth like God wants us to. Thanks Johanna! =============================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- . _..::__: ,-"-"._ |7 , _,.__ _.___ _ _<_>`!(._`.`-. / _._ `_ ,_/ ' '-._.---.-.__ >.{ " " `-==,',._\{ \ / {) / _ ">_,-' ` mt-2_ \_.:--. `._ )`^-. "' , [_/( __,/-' '"' \ " _L oD_,--' ) /. (| | ,' _)_.\\._<> 6 _,' / ' `. / [_/_'` `"( <'} ) \\ .-. ) / `-'"..' `:.# _) ' ` \ ( `( / `:\ > \ ,-^. /' ' `._, "" | \`' \| ?_) {\ `=.---. `._._ ,' "` |' ,- '. | `-._ | / `:`<_|h--._ ( > . | , `=.__.`-'\ `. / | |{| ,-.,\ . | ,' \ / `' ," \ | / |_' | __ / | | '-' `-' \. |/ " / \. ' ,/ ______._.--._ _..---.---------._ ,-----"-..?----_/ ) __,-'" " ( -.._( `-----' `- -----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- >TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN John 14:12-13 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Acts 17:6 "... These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." From the time I entered kindergarten until the day I graduated from college, my internal goal was to earn the highest grade in the class. In my mind, a mediocre performance was unacceptable. I didn't always succeed, but when I graduated from college I was given an award as the best all-around female student in my graduating class. At the Last Supper, just before His death, Jesus told His disciples that they--and anyone who believed in Him--would do the same works that He did, and even greater works. He also promised them that He would do whatever they asked in His name. When those disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, their enemies publicly declared that they "turned the world upside down." What would they say of Jesus’ disciples today? That we are "nice" people? That we politely stay out of government and entertainment and the media and positions of leadership, so people will like and accept us? That we are religious, legalistic, condemning and judgmental? That we can't even work together because of minor differences in our version of Christianity? Or even worse, that we are just like everyone else? Several weeks ago I became acutely aware that I am not living up to the standard Jesus set for His disciples. It started at a small meeting of ministers and missionaries. I went forward at the end of the service for prayer. One of the ladies there laid hands on me and said, "You will begin living at a higher level of faith, beyond anything you've ever experienced before." Since then, I have become spiritually hungry for "more of Him, less of me"--to experience all the spiritual gifts and anointing that Jesus has for me in this life, so that I can do all that He has called me to do. What the Lord has been showing me has completely transformed my understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ. If we want to turn the world upside down for Christ, we will have to do the works of Christ, just as His disciples did. But where do we start? How is that even possible? Your fellow servant in Christ, Cathleen as seen in Bread --- ...Start each day asking God to give you wisdom, knowledge, truth and understanding to do His Will in the name of Jesus Christ and I am sure this question will be answered for you. Check Out... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Christianity And The Renewed Mind http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/christianity.html -<>- ---\=,__,>,_`-. | : | `"""V#######,,_ `- ""##################' --z--;" /_/ `. `. | | `/"""".`|`|| } }|.""""""""|""""" --'//`/' ` \ '. | : : |: || | | : : | : ,_\---_\._ : `.\ |/ : / : | | || : : : //--'> ___ ``-,_ \ \ `"^ : ` || || | : : '=-`',' / `-, __`-. | : : : : : | | || : --- //7;<\ / ,--._ ` | ., : : | ||| || ' : -/;\'/` -='/|( \ \ %#' : `| ||| | : : : // '\ // | ` | | : : `' : : || # | ||| : ` . : | : | ||#|#| | ': : : : ` '#" : : : | ||,|, || : / : |: || ""' : \\|\ X XX///` :| : | : : | | : : / >\\> <\/\< THE RIVER Author Unknown Walking through the forest, a seasoned hiker came upon a broad, slowly moving river. He stopped to gaze over the waters, appreciating the beauty, when suddenly he heard a faint cry coming from upstream. Looking in the direction of the noise, he saw an obviously drowning man floundering in the river and drifting slowly toward him. The hiker was stunned momentarily, but he sprang into action when he saw the man disappear beneath the waters. Throwing off all of his cumbersome gear, he dove into the river and swam like a madman toward the spot where the man went under. Upon reaching the spot he plunged below the surface and frantically hauled up the helpless man. He then laboriously towed the victim to shore. Heaving the lifeless body up on the riverbank, the hiker attempted to revive the man, who eventually spit up water and began to breathe. Relieved, the hiker paused to catch his breath. But no sooner had he done so than he heard another voice out on the water. Another drowning person! Once again he swam out and pulled the person to shore, a little more slowly this time. As the hiker-turned- lifeguard revived the second victim, he heard yet another cry for help. All day long the hiker worked, rescuing one person after another as they came drifting down the river. There seemed to be no end of drowning victims, and the hiker didn't think he could keep it up. Just when he was about to collapse from exhaustion, he spotted another man walking rapidly beside the river, headed upstream. "Hey mister!" he cried out. "Please help me! These poor people are drowning!" Amazingly, the man kept walking upstream. The astonished hiker called out again. Without even acknowledging the cry, the man kept going. Indignant and angry, the hiker leapt to his feet, ran toward the uncompassionate man, stood directly in his path, and in a loud voice demanded, "Sir! How can you possibly walk past all these drowning people? Have you no conscience? Must I force you to help me save these people?" The stranger stopped, looked at him for the first time and said with a calm, focused voice, "Sir, please get out of my way. I am headed upstream to stop the guy who is pushing all these people in." Each of us has a role to play in rescuing those who are drowning in sin. Some of us pull people from the water and resuscitate them with counseling, food and shelter, a rehabilitation program, a support group, or financial aid. Affirm those doing these important ministries. Others of us find our place of ministry upstream, opposing the one pushing people into the river. We do this by introducing those people to Jesus Christ. Knowing Christ sets a person free from sin and releases them from Satan's power over them. By itself, pulling people from the water isn't enough. We need to help people deal with the problem of sin at its source. as seen in Food For Thought --- ...Check Out This Teaching... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' OUR GIFTS AND CALLINGS! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/giftscallings.html -<>- ^^ @@@@@@@@@ ^^ ^^ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ^^ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ pjb >THINGS YOU DIDN'T DO Remember the day I borrowed your brand new car and dented it? I thought you'd kill me, but you didn't. And remember the time I dragged you to the beach, and you said it would rain, and it did? I thought you'd say, "I told you so." But you didn't. Do you remember the time I flirted with all the guys to make you jealous, and you were? I thought you'd leave, but you didn't. Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie all over your car rug? I thought you'd hit me, but you didn't. And remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal and you showed up in jeans? I thought you'd drop me, but you didn't. Yes, there were lots of things you didn't do. But you put up with me, and loved me, and protected me. There were lots of things I wanted to make up to you when you returned from Vietnam. But you didn't! as seen in Inspiration Plus -<>- ___ .~- ` `' "' ` -~. ____ :~+.-` .-"-. .-"~._ `-.+~: ! / -` ` `'--~:.l :' . '. / /-". : . \` .` /.-"\ : `- ^ :` ^ "` `. \:'._ \ `!` : :-===-. .-===-.\ .!/'. '.; / . : : : `.l .mPm.\ .mPm. |/ l . : :': | \ ' d: ' / : : '-: " :-;: ` . . ._..._. :::` _ / :: ;::;. ! . . :;:. .::::;: ' . : : : `:::'. .'::::;::. \ '/. . . `::l '-. .-' '|:::::::. ; : |: :: ::__`.-. _.-.::::::_ ; .~"` \ \ :`"/ `-..- ` \"`// "~. / \ \ . ___ /\ ___ .// \ : \ \.-` _.~l)=~ `' -.:" ` '/ . ":`-. \ : . -:: _lm. .` zi. | \ /`-' :::- ::.: : !:` ": : . ' "-._:: ^: . ; `-" \::_.~' : : : ' ' : ' : >MY DAUGHTER'S DADDY I turned fifty years old the beginning of the month. I tried to let the event come and go quietly, but those who call themselves friends couldn't let that happen. I'm not sure how the tradition began but fifty seems to be one of those milestone moments when we find special ways to tell someone how very old they are. Well, it seems I have lots of "friends" who are quite creative with how they communicate - thanks for the "Golden Years" vitamins and the slip on things that help with those embarrassing leaks. My wife did her part with keeping the "Old" theme going, but she also did something very special. She organized a memory book which contained cards and letters from lots of friends and family. These same people who took many opportunities to remind me that my productive years are probably gone, also took the time to write cards and letters filled with encouragement and love. I have good friends and a great family! A note which caused these old eyes to blur and fill with tears came from my 24 year old daughter, Melissa. I met Melissa when she was four years old. Her mother and I had both come out of very difficult marriages and were living in the same housing complex. I had two children and Sherry had Melissa. Sherry and I dated, fell in love and decided to bring our families together in marriage. Blending families is extremely difficult - but that's a message for another time. I just needed to give you some background so you will understand the note. Dear Daddy, Where do I begin? Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. For finding mom and I and making us yours, thank you. You have blessed mom and I, you have changed our lives, you have given us a better version of a man than we could have ever hoped or asked for. Thank you for taking me as your daughter and loving me as nothing less, for saving me the pain of not having a daddy in my life, for saving me the heartache of not having a man to help raise me. You are my one and only Daddy, and you are the world's best. I don't remember life before you, I really don't have any memory, and for that I'm grateful. You've always been there. The knowledge of your love for me runs deep, and it did right away. Because of that my respect for you runs deep, and it grew rapidly. Your words mean more than you know. Your advice is always listened to, and intently. Your hug, your embrace taught me what a God-fearing man and protector should feel like, so when I found Josh (her husband) I knew. Your sacrificial, unending love taught me what Jesus' love really looks like and what a husband's love should look like, so I knew how to receive love from both. Your adventurous spirit brings life and brought curiosity to me, something I will always be thankful for. You are the reason I found my love of the African children. You encouraged me to explore the world abroad, and I learned so much from those experiences. Thank you for your trust and belief in me, it has helped give me confidence. Thank you for now trusting, believing in, and loving Josh the way you have always loved me. For walking me down the aisle and giving me away. For blessing our marriage, cause it is truly blessed. You helped instill in me the need to wait to find the type of man that I have found. I could not have asked for a better daddy to sweep into my life and make me who I am. I love you so very much. Let me say it again, I love you so very much! You are an incredible father. Happy 50th. Melissa. Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." I'm afraid I've failed many times with the "do not exasperate" command, and I often failed (especially in the early years) with keeping Christ the center of home, but I dearly love my family. I have made many mistakes, but for the last fourteen years I have tried to teach, by word and by example, what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) and to serve Him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). So though I can't be sure how many productive years these "old" bones have left, I know I will continue down the path which has now been set. For a note like this reminds me that our life priorities must always be on the eternal things of God; "For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). Leading others to an understanding of the Kingdom of God is eternal, everything else will fade away. I've accomplished many things in the first fifty years of this life, but few will ever bring rhe eternal reward I receive from being my daughter's daddy. Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. =================================================================== _____ __________ \_+_/ | .//`\\. | _______ ((o,o)) | | | '.=.' | | EKCFL | _)_(_ | | flpeb | /' \ / '\ | | ,.,., | / (_ | _) \ | |_______| / / )_o_( \ \ |() \ \/ \/ / | \/_) (_\/ _|__|~|_______ | | |______________ | | , ||, ' Sher^ |_______| || , \ | / || , "She's A Nurse" >Assistance on Icy Ground Story Editor: by The Bystander Joyce Schowalter England, United Kingdom One freezing November day I drove to the market along an icy road. As I came around the corner, a motorcyclist was on the freezing ground, his bike partly under a car. I joined the crowd of people surrounding him hoping to help. He was bleeding, his left ankle and leg clearly broken, and perhaps worse, he was struggling to breathe. The man whose car had hit the motorcyclist was hysterical, yelling, "My God, I didn't see him, I didn't even see him!" Then a car pulled up, and a heavy lady with a stick hopped out. She told her husband, "Get my first-aid kit and blankets." She put bystanders to work: "Direct traffic around us." "Put out those cigarettes!" "Go to the intersection and flag the ambulance." People were grateful to be useful. She knelt on the icy ground and assessed the motorcyclist. He was in the middle of an asthma attack, so she helped him use his inhaler, calmed him and gave him a sense of safety. I could see his breathing improve. She smiled, "I'm a nurse, I'm going to help you. Just be calm. The ambulance will be here soon. Everything will be OK." She quickly splinted his ankle and leg. She turned to the driver of the car, and said, "He's OK, now go sit, it's all right." The warmth of her words calmed the hysterical man. When the ambulance arrived half an hour later, she handed over his care and offered to call the motorcyclist's wife to meet him at the hospital. I overheard, "Your husband is OK, no, he's fine, really, but he's been in a little accident...." As police spoke to the car's driver, with the ambulance on the way, we all began to leave. Then I saw the nurse's husband helping her to her feet, and supporting her as she struggled to walk back to her car. As he walked around to his door, I asked her husband if she was OK. "She has a spinal injury and is in constant pain, and kneeling on the cold ground is about the worst thing for her," he said. "She'll be in bed for a week now." I asked why she stopped. He looked at me and said, "She's a nurse. She couldn't possibly drive by anyone who needed her, no matter what. She doesn't care about her own pain... well, she's a nurse, that's all." She called him to the car. They waved goodbye. About a month later, I saw the motorcyclist in a local coffee shop and asked how he was doing. "Great!" he said, "You know that nurse saved my leg? The blood flow to my foot stopped; she fixed it when she splinted my leg. If we'd waited for the ambulance it would have been too late. She didn't give my wife her name, do you know her?" All her husband said, I replied, was: "She's a nurse". =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Laugh&Lift: //_____ __ @ )====// .\___ \#\_\__(_/_\\_/ / / \\ Jiri Matejicek >The Ant and the Grasshopper (Author Unknown) A mother of a 9 year old boy, Mark, received a phone call in the middle of the afternoon. It was the teacher from her son's school. "Mrs. Smith, something unusual happened today in your son's third grade class. Your son did something that surprised me so much that I thought you should know about it immediately." Mother seldom want to hear from their child's teacher in the middle of the day. The mother was uneasy and nervous by such a beginning to a phone call. "What now?" the mother wondered. The teacher continued, "I have been teaching for many years and nothing like this has happened until now. This morning I was teaching a lesson on creative writing. And as I always do, I tell the story of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant works hard all summer and stores up plenty of food. But the grasshopper plays all summer and does no work. Then winter comes. The grasshopper begins to starve because he has no food. So he hops to the ants house and begins to beg. 'Please Mr. Ant, you have much food please let me eat, too.' Now boys and girls your job is to write the ending to the story. Your son, Mark, raised his hand. "Teacher, may I draw a picture?" "Well, yes, Mark, if you like, you may draw a picture. But first you must write the ending to the story." The papers came in. As in all the years past, most of the students said that the ant shared his food through the winter and both the ant and the grasshopper lived. As always, a few children said, 'The ant said, "No, Mr. Grasshopper. You should have worked in the summer and not played. Now, I have just enough food for myself." So the ant lived and the grasshopper died. But your son ended the story in a way different from any other child, ever. He wrote, "So the ant gave all of his food to the grasshopper; the grasshopper lived through the winter. But the ant died." And the picture? At the bottom of the page, Mark had drawn three crosses. "He gave everything to us so that we might live; but Jesus died." 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 InspiredBuffalo: English evangelist George Whitefield (1714-1770) learned that it was more important to please God than to please men. At one point in his ministry, Whitefield received a vicious letter accusing him of wrongdoing. His reply was brief and courteous: "I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, GeorgeWhitefield." By Steve Shepherd --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...Reminds me of this one... Babes In Christ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/babesinchrist.html -<>- >FEW GOOD FOLLOWERS A young woman was filling out an application for college when she came across the question: Are you a leader? She thought she had better be brutally honest, so she answered, "No." She was convinced when she sent the application in that she'd never hear from them because of that answer. But she received a letter back from the school that read: "We have reviewed numerous applications and, to date, there will be some 1,452 new leaders attending school next year. We have decided to accept your application because we felt it was imperative that they have at least one follower." One man bought a sign and put it on his office door. The sign read: "I'm the boss." The next day he came to work he noticed that someone had put a post-it on his sign that said, "Your wife called. She wants her sign back." We can't all be the boss. And what good are leaders without followers? In actuality, we need to be both. Sometimes we lead, sometimes we follow. We lead by example, but we still follow role models. We lead by sharing our expertise, but we remain open to the wisdom of others. There are numerous courses and lessons on leadership. Yet the best leaders are also excellent followers. They know how to listen, they respect and follow great ideas from those around them, and they are humble enough to seek help when it's needed. You may be the boss, but do you know how to follow? This world could use a few good followers. --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...One thing for certain, Christians must all be followers of Christ for He is our head - unless you want one leg going forward while one leg goes backward - our body would be all messed up if we did not follow Christ. -<>- >Billy Graham and Oprah Last year I watched Billy Graham being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on television. Oprah told him that in her childhood home, she used to watch him preach on a little black and white TV while sitting on a linoleum floor. She went on to the tell viewers that in his lifetime Billy has preached to twenty-million people around the world, not to mention the countless numbers who have heard him whenever his crusades are broadcast. When she asked if he got nervous before facing a crowd, Billy replied humbly, "No, I don't get nervous before crowds, but I did today before I was going to meet with you." Oprah's show is broadcast to twenty-million people every day. She is comfortable with famous stars and celebrities but seemed in awe of Dr. Billy Graham. When the interview ended, she told the audience, "You don't often see this on my show, but we're going to pray." Then she asked Billy to close in prayer. The camera panned the studio audience as they bowed their heads and closed their eyes just like in one of his crusades. Oprah sang the first line from the song that is his hallmark "Just as I am, without a plea," misreading the line and singing off key, but her voice was full of emotion and almost cracked. When Billy stood up after the show, instead of hugging her guest, Oprah's usual custom, she went over and just nestled against him. Billy wrapped his arm around her and pulled her under his shoulder. She stood in his fatherly embrace with a look of sheer contentment. I once read the book "Nestle, Don't Wrestle" by Corrie Ten Boom. The power of nestling was evident on the TV screen that day. Billy Graham was not the least bit condemning, distant, nor hesitant to embrace a public personality who may not fit the evangelistic mold. His grace and courage are sometimes stunning. In an interview with Hugh Downs, on the 20/20 program, the subject turned to homosexuality. Hugh looked directly at Billy and said, "If you had a homosexual child, would you love him?" Billy didn't miss a beat. He replied with sincerity and gentleness, "Why, I would love that one even more." The title of Billy's autobiography, "Just As I Am," says it all. His life goes before him speaking as eloquently as that charming southern?drawl for which he is known. If, when I am eighty years old, my autobiography were to be titled "Just As I Am," I wonder how I would live now? Do I have the courage to be me? I'll never be a Billy Graham, the elegant man who draws people to the Lord through a simple one-point message, but I hope to be a person who is real and compassionate and who might draw people to nestle within God's embrace. Do you make it a point to speak to a visitor or person who shows up alone at church, buy a hamburger for a homeless man, call your mother on Sunday afternoons, pick daisies with a little girl, or take a fatherless boy to a baseball game? Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you look when you're looking for what's beautiful in someone else? Billy complimented Oprah when asked what he was most thankful for; he said, "Salvation given to us in Jesus Christ" then added, "and the way you have made people all over this country aware of the power of being grateful." When asked his secret of love, being married fifty-four years to the same person, he said, "Ruth and I are happily incompatible." How unexpected. We would all live more comfortably with everybody around us if we would find the strength in being grateful and happily incompatible. Let's take the things that set us apart, that make us different, that cause us to disagree, and make them an occasion to compliment each other and be thankful for each other. Let us be big enough to be smaller than our neighbor, spouse, friends, and strangers. --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...Billy Graham is our evangelist in our times... Ephesians 4: [11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Why? [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: For how long? [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: For What purpse? [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: [16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Wow! Pretty cool huh? -<>- >Worry .::. ::::. '::::. ':: .::' {} _, ___/__\_// (_\_ _/ -' `)(` jgs ~""~ Is there a magic cutoff period when offspring become accountable for their own actions? Is there a wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators in the lives of their children and shrug, "It's their life," and feel nothing? When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches in my son's head. I asked, "When do you stop worrying?" The nurse said, "When they get out of the accident stage." My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing. When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class, and was headed for a career making license plates. As if to read my mind, a teacher said, "Don't worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them." My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing. When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open. A friend said, "They're trying to find themselves Don't worry, in a few years, you can stop worrying. They'll be adults." My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing. By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle. There was nothing I could do about it. My mother ju st smiled faintly and said nothing. I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments. My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my mother's warm smile and her occasional, "You look pale. Are you all right? Call me the minute you get home. Are you depressed about something?" Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties and the fears o f the unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of life? One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me, "Where were you? I've been calling for 3 days, and no one answered I was worried." I smiled a warm smile. The torch has been passed. -<>- _ _(_)_ wWWWw _ @@@@ (_)@(_) vVVVv _ @@@@ (___) _(_)_ @@()@@ wWWWw (_)\ (___) _(_)_ @@()@@ Y (_)@(_) @@@@ (___) `|/ Y (_)@(_) @@@@ \|/ (_)\ / Y \| \|/ /(_) \| |/ | \ | \ |/ | / \ | / \|/ |/ \| \|/ jgs|// \\|/// \\\|//\\\|/// \|/// \\\|// \\|// \\\|// ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >"Especially the Blue" I ran into a stranger as he passed by. "Oh, excuse me please" was my reply. He said, "Please excuse me too; I wasn't even watching for you." We were very polite, this stranger and I. We went on our way and we said good-bye. But at home a different story is told, How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later that day, cooking the evening meal, My daughter stood beside me very still. When I turned, I nearly knocked her down. "Move out of the way," I said with a frown. She walked away, her little heart broken. I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken. While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice came to me and said, "While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use, But the children you love, you seem to abuse. Look on the kitchen floor, You'll find some flowers there by the door. Those are the flowers she brought for you. She picked them herself, pink, yellow and blue. She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise, And you never saw the tears in her eyes." By this time, I felt very small And now my tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt by her bed; "Wake up, little girl, wake up," I said. "Are these the flowers you picked for me?" She smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree. I picked 'em because they're pretty like you. I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue." I said, "Daughter, I'm sorry for the way I acted today; I shouldn't have yelled at you that way." She said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway." I said, "Daughter, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue." Are you aware that: If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family - an unwise investment indeed. --Author Unknown -<>- >Links For Your Enjoyment Lucky 2 http://www.buffaloschips.com/gsdhdjd.htm Lucky 3 http://www.buffaloschips.com/ghsjs.htm Lucky 4 http://www.buffaloschips.com/gshslkssjs.htm Magic 1320 http://www.buffaloschips.com/gdhdjd.htm Magic Food http://www.buffaloschips.com/gdhdjssaa.htm Hidden http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/hidden.html The Bible http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thebible.html Picture This http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/picturethis.html Chainsaw Wood Carving http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woodcarving.html Amazing Bus Stops http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bus.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffaloschips.com ================================================================== , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' "The Bible is not a book for the faint of heart - it is a book full of all the greed and glory and violence and tenderness and sex and betrayal that befits mankind. It is not the collection of pretty little anecdotes mouthed by pious little church mice - it does not so much nibble at our shoe leather as it cuts to the heart and splits the marrow from the bone. It does not give us answers fitted to our small minded questions, but truth that goes beyond what we even know to ask." - Rich Mullins >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Pass this on as it should be of interrest to all who served. The study was carried out in Austrialia on their Vietnam Veterans. ABC Nat. Radio Health Report Autralian Vietnam Vets: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/HealthReportVV.mp3 VV ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food andd DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************