The Transforming Power Of God 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 or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* 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!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ *\o_ _c/* / * * \ <\ *\o/* /> ) c/* / > *\o <\ /> __o */\ /\* c__ * /> <\ * /\* __o_ _c__ */\ * / * * \ * <\ /> *\c/* ejm97 __)__ *~* Excellent News! The Thai Youth Soccer Team ALL Rescued!!! I'm jumping up and down for Joy with this world victory. Praise God! May God Bless and heal each of these boys and their coach as they recover from their horrific ordeal. And May God smile on all those who strove so hard and finally succeeded in rescuing this young soccer team in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. In Fox News, Edmund DeMarche and Travis Fedschun report that “the dramatic three-day rescue of a Thai youth soccer team that had been stuck in a flooded cave came to an end Tuesday,” according to Navy officials. “On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy SEALs and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand. Such a beautiful moment - all freed, great job!” President Trump tweeted. https://tinyurl.com/ybts42sd ---- >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This flaming hot new page is from our friend Linda. I don't know about you, but the Clickety-clack, clack of a train has always been one of my favorites. What could be more relaxing and enjoyable than a scenic train ride? Seems like a perfect dream vacation. Here are some of the world's best lines. Check out the video here too - a super water falls! __________________________________________________________________ //" .__"===>_|===============|__\\____. _________________________ ||_| | | Amtrak | | |_||@| __ |====|=|========915========|=|====|@||[]|===[|]=[|]=[|]=====[| `\___|_|___________________|_|___/'@||__|_____________________ // ( )--( ) +---------+ ( )--( ) \\==|==|( )===( ) ================================================================== -Peter G. Chase- Beautiful Train Rides http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trainrides.html --- ...What a lovely world we have! Thanks Linda! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: o o / \ / \ / \ / +--------------v-------------+ | __________________ @ | | / \ | | | ,--, | (\) | | | _ ___/ /\| | | | | ,;`( )__, ) ~ | (-) | | | // o// '--; | | | \ ' o \ | / :|||: | | -ooo-------------- :|||: | +----------------------------+ [] [] unknown >UNEXPECTED SPOTLIGHT Several years ago, I worked as a nurse manager for a satellite office of a local hospital. It was a job that I really enjoyed because there was a lot of diversity -- filling in for staff, meeting with physicians to help promote programs for their patients, ordering new equipment, and general day to day problem solving. I was a jack of all trades, as most nurses are. However, I was soon to have one extra job on my agenda that particular day, which was above and beyond any nurses's imagination. The day started out like any other. When I got to the office there was the usual routine of assuring that the doctors' schedules had been posted and that there was sufficient staff to work with each one. Our medical clinic shared space with the oncology outpatients from our hospital and there was sometimes a squeeze for exam rooms. On this particular day, I was faced with more than exam room issues. I noticed some unusual paraphernalia in the halls that resembled television cameras. As I was walking through this maze of equipment, I was stopped by the oncology nurse manager who said she had an urgent request. After settling the patient I was attending to, I went back to see what she wanted. She informed me that the hospital was filming a public service commercial to let everyone know about our outstanding oncology program. They decided that it would be easier if they shot the commercial at the clinic, rather than the hospital. I said, "Well, I guess we will do our best to work around this and still be able to promote patient safety." Besides, we did have an unusually light schedule that day. Then she told me that the nurse who was originally slated to be part of the production had backed out at the last minute. She asked me if I would be kind enough to STAR as the nurse in the commercial. I don't quite remember my initial reaction, but I must have been dumbfounded! I was in our church drama group, but filming a commercial for national television was beyond my acting ability. I was quickly assured by the director of this production that my lines would be very few, and that unlike my live drama performances, we could easily do retakes. Duty called! How could I say no? I suddenly realized what I had done. What did I look like today? Had I known I was being filmed I would have had my hair done or worn my best uniform. Oh well, I guess they would just get the real me. After my initial shock subsided, I was introduced to a lovely lady who was a cancer survivor -- the real star of the show. We were told our lines, and introduced to the lights, cameras, and action. It was quite an exciting experience and an honor once the ball got rolling. As the normal work hours started to wind down, a few more members of the staff were recruited for scenes that required hallway activity. It was a long day for just a 60-seond commercial, but during the down time I was able to engage in conversation with this patient and her family. They were a tremendously fun group. It wasn't long before the commercial started to appear on television. It was great fun when I ran into a friend, who said she had been getting ready for work when she heard a familiar voice coming from her television. She couldn't believe who she saw when she looked at the screen. Or when my sister told me that my niece from California phoned her and said she saw a nurse on a commercial that looked and sounded just like her aunt. No, I never received fame or fortune, but did have an experience I will never forget. You just never know what may suddenly happen to you during an otherwise ordinary day. -- Annettee Budzban ___________________________________________ Annettee is a mother and grandmother and lives in Wildwood, Illinois. She is a former registered nurse and has started a writing ministry called, Writings From The Heart. She sends short devotions to friends and others. Her first book, Life Changing Inspirations, was just published and can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1591291348/heart =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend KarenF :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Q & A Smiles from the Bible Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth? A. Ruthless. Q. What do they call pastors in Germany? A. German Shepherds. Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation. Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible? A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet. Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible? A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David 's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord. Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? A. Samson. He brought the house down. Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden? A. Your mother ate us out of house and home. Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible? A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once. Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy? A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing. Q. Who is the greatest baby-sitter mentioned in the Bible? A. David He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep. Q. Which Bible character had no parents? A. Joshua, son of Nun. Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark? A. Because Noah was standing on the deck. (Groan.) PS... Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee? Yup, it's in the Bible. It says . . 'He-brews' KEEP SMILING!!!! Friends are God's way of taking care of us. Faith, Hope & Love -- but the greatest of these is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:13 --- ...TeeHee! Thanks KarenF! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ~~O - /\, - -|~(*) - (*) ^^^___________ unknown >"Children Are..." Amazing, acknowledge them. Believable, trust them. Childlike, allow them. Divine, honor them. Energetic, nourish them. Fallible, embrace them. Gifts, treasure them. Here Now, be with them. Innocent, delight with them. Joyful, appreciate them. Kindhearted, learn from them. Lovable, cherish them. Magical, fly with them. Noble, esteem them. Open minded, respect them. Precious, value them. Questioners, encourage them. Resourceful, support them. Spontaneous, enjoy them. Talented, believe in them. Unique, affirm them. Vulnerable, protect them. Whole, recognize them. Xtraspecial, celebrate them. Yearning, notice them. Zany, laugh with them. --Author Unknown -<>- (An Excerpt) __ /\/'-, ,--''''' /" ____,'. ) \___ '"""""------'"""`-----' pb Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog." "Gentleman of the Jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that encounters the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens." "If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. When the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death." George Vest, Attorney in his remarks to the court in the case in the Trial of Old Drum, a Golden Retriever, circa 1950's. -BJ in Guthrie -<>- ,==o // // xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx // /_/ | x__[__]____ ______ //_.-._ | | |[___________] / + | //%.o-o-' '-'(_)= (_(_)(_) '-o---o-' n4biS >Caroline's Compassion By Frances Pace Putman When my daughter, Caroline, was very young, we started saying a prayer every time we heard a siren from an ambulance or fire truck. It's a quick prayer, just, "God, please be with the people the ambulance (or fire truck) is going to help." I always initiated the prayer, and sometimes, she would even whine, "I don't want to say it this time." I just reminded her that someone was in need, and that if we were in need, we would want people to pray for us. I thought it was a good way to help her learn about compassion and how, as Christians, we love and care for others, even it we don't know them personally. It's the same reason, I told her, that we pick up a few extra items at the grocery store and deliver them to our church's food pantry. And it's the reason we prepare care packages for missionaries and bag up clothes she has outgrown to take to a local ministry helping the poor. But when she started kindergarten this year, I realized she might not fully comprehend the compassion thing. When her class was collecting canned goods at Thanksgiving to benefit a local mission, we looked in our pantry to choose something to donate. She didn't want to give away the corn or sweet peas, because those were her favorites. "Let's take the black beans and . . . here, kidney beans . . . yuck!" she proclaimed. I realized that, to Caroline, this was more about cleaning out the pantry and getting rid of the foods she didn't like than it was about helping the needy. Rationalizing that she was only five years old, we took the cans of "yucky" beans and off we went to school. I was rather surprised to pass another mom in the hall that morning, carrying two huge bags laden with groceries. "Ashlen insisted that we bring all of this," she told me. "I tried to pick out a few cans, but she just kept reminding me that the people were hungry and that we needed to give them more." "That's so sweet," I told her, with what must have looked like a big, fake grin on my face. Actually, I was thrilled that her daughter was so kind, but I had to wonder why mine, apparently, was not. Through the holidays, I was determined more than ever, to teach my daughter about compassion. I told Caroline about all the monetary donations during the season, and we spent extra time focusing on the gifts we were going to give others, rather than what we might receive. We made extra deliveries to the food pantry, took flowers to the local nursing home and baked cookies and brownies for a few of our elderly neighbors. One day at the grocery store, we saw a huge box for donated toys for underprivileged children. I pointed the box out to Caroline and told her people were bringing toys to be given to children who might not otherwise get Christmas presents. "Maybe we could bring something for the box," I suggested. "Well, we could buy some toys, and if they are not something I like, we could bring them here," she told me, matter-of-factly. Oh, boy. I realized we still weren't quite there yet. In earnest, I turned to God. I asked Him to help me find ways to teach Caroline to be more compassionate, and I asked Him to open her heart to better understand the importance of loving and helping people. A couple of months later as I rushed through the house picking up toys and putting away laundry, I peeked in Caroline's room and noticed her sitting on her bed, head bowed and hands folded. "Dear God," she said, "please be with the people the fire truck is going to help." In all my busyness I had not even heard the siren. But she did. Whenever I hear a siren in the distrance, I (myself) say this little prayer: "Father God, Please send your blessings to the destination of that sound. Thank-you, Father God. In Jesus name. Amen". -<>- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _( )_ ( ) ( ) _( )_ ( ) ( ) _( )_ ( ` ' )| |_| | _ _ __ ( ` ' )| |_| | _ _ __ ( ` ' ) > < | _ |( ) ( ) /'_ `\ > < | _ |( ) ( ) /'_ `\ > < (_, ,_)| | | || (_) |( (_) |(_, ,_)| | | || (_) |( (_) |(_, ,_) (_) (_) (_)`\___/'`\__ | (_) (_) (_)`\___/'`\__ | (_) ( )_) | ( )_) | \___/' \___/' unknown >Friendship, A Blue Shawl and A Hug It was an unlikely friendship-Lee had dropped out of school in 10th grade after her father died. She married an abusive man at the tender age of sixteen to avoid being put in a foster home, since her mother had abandoned the family years earlier. When I met her in 1995, she hadn't attended church in years. I, on the other hand, had five years of university education and worked for a mission organization. However, Lee and I had a common bond. Besides the sisterhood of being women and mothers, we both understood suffering. (My husband was bipolar and I had lived on a roller coaster for years before he was diagnosed.) Lee had left her first abusive marriage, remarried and now had two children. My husband first met Lee's husband while doing recycling. Lee' s husband hauled scrap metal-wash machines, water heaters, stoves, and refrigerators-to earn part of his living, along with his disability pension. Times were hard for them. After we had known them for several years, in 1998 my husband felt we should give the family Christmas presents. "I'm sure they won't have much of a Christmas this year," he told me as we shopped for them and their daughter and son, eight and twelve. When we arrived with the gifts just before Christmas, we discovered that their two children had been taken away from them by child welfare a few days earlier. Child welfare maintained they weren't able to care for them properly. Their children were later found to have a form of autism, but not before they went from foster home to foster home. Our friends spent years trying to get their children back. The family seemed to go from one disastrous situation to another. I would call Lee, just to talk and encourage her. Sometimes I would hesitate to call because it meant spending an hour on the phone, mostly listening. She rarely asked how I was doing, but the amazing thing was that what-ever I did tell her, she remembered accurately the next time I talked with her. When Mother's Day came that year, my husband said, "Why don't you give Lee something for Mother's Day? I'm sure it will be a sad time for her." That began a tradition. Every Mother's Day, I would buy her a geranium, a chrysanthemum or a carnation plant, which she carefully kept growing year after year. Later, she began to give me something on Mother's Day as well. One time she gave me an apple seedling that she had grown from a seed. I had told her how apple seeds needed to go through freezing weather before they would sprout. My dad used to put apple seeds in the freezer before he would plant them. So she tried it and it worked! She thought an apple seedling would be a reminder of my father who had died in 1989. I also told her the story of how in 1976, my grand-father was getting ready to visit his adult children and their families and give them their yearly Christmas gifts-a box of chocolate covered cherries. That year, on his way to deliver the cherries, he had a massive stroke and died a couple days later. After hearing that story, Lee gave me a box of chocolate covered cherries each Christmas for the past five years. Our telephone conversations continued. Lee would end every conversation with, "Remember I love you," to which I responded, "I love you too, Lee." She would then say, "Give yourself a hug for me." Not having worked outside her home for years, Lee was fearful of getting a job. When she did get a part time job as food demonstrator at a local food store, she found that she loved doing it, and she blossomed in that position. She loved people and they loved her. Over the years, I invited her to ladies meetings and outreach events at church many times, but she never came. She didn't drive, and her husband was angry with "conventional religion" and God for the many things that had happened in their lives. Not able to share my faith openly, I shared many of the Christian stories I had written. She always enjoyed reading them. She also began working on a craft of her own-carving thimbles from pieces of wood, a form of folk art. Her creativity was rewarded in local competitions, and she gave me several as gifts. When my husband had a severe stroke in 2004, she began listening to me and hearing my pain. "You're a brave lady," she told me, to which I responded, "I'm only doing what I need to do." In 2005, Lee entered the hospital for bladder surgery. Hers was a worst case scenario, and her cancer-filled bladder was removed. Because of her life-threatening reaction to chemicals, doctors were unable to do either radiation or chemo. In May 2006, my son and daughter had a surprise 60th birthday party for me-I didn't suspect a thing. When I walked into our house, it was filled with 35 special friends from my Bible study, work, and my Christian writer's group. Lee, her husband and son were there as well. Her gift to me was a large, beautiful blue shawl. With it was a note that said: "This shawl was made for you by me. It has 172 rows, 144 stitches in each row, altogether that is 7,568 stitches. With every stitch, I thought of you. The happy times we shared. The devastating times. Our childhood memories, recipes, gardening tips. Our husbands and our kids. We laughed together, cried together, prayed together even a couple of times when I was in the hospital. You let me talk your ear off and forgave me for being selfish with your time. I have wrapped your shawl around me and hugged it, so every time you wear it, you will get a hug from me. Thank you for your friendship and your love. I treasure it every day." Four months later I learned that Lee was having surgery to correct complications from her bladder surgery a year earlier. In the past, her surgeries had led to life-threatening situations, so I was deeply concerned. I asked her on the phone if she could remember ever accepting the Lord as her Savior when she was a child, since I knew she had gone to church at one time. Yes she had, years back. Then when I called her at the hospital on nearly a daily basis, I prayed with her each time. A couple times she surprised me by saying, "Can I pray for you?" And she did. Remaining in the hospital for weeks, she rapidly lost weight and her condition deteriorated. The source of her problem eluded the doctors until emergency surgery revealed terminal cancer. My adult daughter and I spent time with her at the hospital. When she was unresponsive, I gently said, "Lee, remember I love you." She struggled to open her eyes and responded weakly, "I love you too." I talked with her, read Scripture to her several times and we prayed with her. My daughter gave her foot massages and brushed her long tangled hair. What did she still want to do before she died? My daughter helped her make a list. On the list, among other things, were to taste a scallop, listen to a certain Keith Urban song, and contact some relatives she hadn't seen in a long time. She was able to do those things. And after nine years in the welfare system, her seventeen-year old daughter finally came home as Lee was dying. Lee bravely fought a month longer than predicted, drawing her final breath on February 11th. She was 51 years old. How does one measure a life? Achievements? Awards? A monument? Lee left few of those things. Maybe a better measure is lives that have been touched. Lee touched many, including mine. I promised Lee just before she died that I would write a story about our friendship. So Lee, this story is for you. You were the brave lady. As I'm sitting here at my computer, your blue shawl is giving me a hug. By Janet Seever, ©2007 -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Face Of Christ http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/faceofchrist.html Think Positive http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/positive.html True Heroes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trueheroes.html Famous Inspiring Women http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womenquotes.html Journey Through Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/journey.html Akiane Child Prodigy http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Love Speaks http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lovespeaks.html Garage Door Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/garageart.html Real Old West http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oldwest.html Value What You Have http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuewyh.html Thank You God http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thankgod.htm Kinkade - Painter Of Light http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kinkade.html Sand Sculpture Art 6 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/sandart6.html Tree Trunk Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trunkart2.html -<>- >From TruthOrTradition: What does the Bible say about Gambling? https://tinyurl.com/y9kk96b8 God’s Divine council https://tinyurl.com/y779l6wy -<>- Reflections of South Breeze Home Page http://www.reflectionsofsouthbreeze.com/index.html#ENCG Hannity - Supreme Court Announcement and commentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIzyiyuX-dk The Ingraham Angle 7/9/18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARlJmJ06OFg Left Are In Total Meltdown After Trump Picks Kavanaugh For SCOTUS, Trey Gowdy SHUTS Them Down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38PHrgt7_rk “Judge Kavanaugh, 53, is widely seen as one of the top legal minds of his generation — so much so that now-Justice Elena Kagan recruited him to teach at Harvard Law, where students across the spectrum rave about him.” https://tinyurl.com/y824v25v The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board writes that by nominating Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump kept his promise to select a justice who will interpret the Constitution as written. “Judge Kavanaugh has an exemplary record that suggests he will help to restore the Supreme Court to its proper, more modest role in American politics and society,” the editors write. https://tinyurl.com/y7lqkb2s President Trump will continue building close ties with America’s friends as he visits the United Kingdom today. The President has worked extensively with British Prime Minister Theresa May, pushing for fair and reciprocal trade deals and joining forces with Britain and France to hold Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad accountable for chemical weapons attacks. Watch President Trump’s press conference from Brussels. https://tinyurl.com/yc73vv9m All the nations of the world — friend or foe — will find that America is strong, America is proud, and America is free. -President Donald J. Trump https://tinyurl.com/y73lsfsd In Fox News, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump writes that paid family leave is an investment in America’s families and deserves bipartisan support. “If executed responsibly, paid family leave is targeted government action with the right incentives — designed to increase the independence, health and dignity of our citizens,” she writes. https://tinyurl.com/ybrzot7v “NATO’s top civilian leader thanked President Donald Trump on Tuesday for pushing alliance members to boost their own defense spending, saying his blunt criticism is part of the reason why more allies are expected to hit spending targets this year,” Will Racke reports for The Daily Caller. “It is clearly having an impact. Last year on the president’s initiative we agreed to develop national plans to raise defense spending,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels. https://tinyurl.com/ydcjxrft Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James calls President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee “the right choice for America” in a piece for The Daily Signal. “Judge Brett Kavanaugh is known for many things — and fairness, impartiality, and faithfulness to the Constitution are chief among them.” https://tinyurl.com/yc5bsdyd SCOTUS Nomination Approval Survey https://tinyurl.com/y7mgbp4u "A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll shows that most voters oppose eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the homeland security agency some liberal Democrats have called for abolishing,” Steven Shepard reports for Politico. https://tinyurl.com/yd4ufqvs In USA Today, Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) condemns the left’s calls to abolish ICE as wrong and reckless. “In border communities, law enforcement agencies like ICE aren't the enemy: they're a lifeline. For us, border security is national security.” https://tinyurl.com/ya3dpjve -<>- >From Our Friend Wesley :) Zorbing http://www.zorb.com/ food play on Flickr http://tinyurl.com/yko9vw6 --- ...Pretty fun! Thanks Wesley! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) A breathtaking performance by rhythmic gymnast World Champion Daria Kondakova from Russia demonstrating amazing control, precision and flexibility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUh1Sm48ZdU Sophie Fatu may only be five but she is brimming with self-confidence and talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2FHNo153XI --- ...Awesome! Thanks LouiseAu! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Linda :) _|_ | _|_ //_/\ __| ||____ ////////////\ /////////////\\ |^^^^^^^^^^||+| | # # # |||| .... ....". ||||||||||||||||| unknown >My Name Is God Please read this to the end: My name is God. You hardly have time for me. I love you and will always bless you. I am always with you. I need you to spend 30 mins. of your time with Me today. Don't pray, just praise. Today I want this message to go across the world before midnight. Will you help? Ever Wonder... Why do we feel sleepy in prayer, but stay awake through a 3 hour movie? Why are we so bored when we look at the HOLY BOOK but find it easy to read other books? Why is it so easy to ignore a message about God, yet we forward the nasty ones? Why is it so easy to worship a celebrity, but very difficult to engage with God? Think about it, are you going to forward this or are you going to ignore it because you think you will get laughed at? Forward this to all your friends 80% of you won't. God said if you deny me in front of your friends, I will deny you on the day of judgment. When one door closes, God opens two. If God has opened doors for you, send this message to everyone including me. ... God has no BLACKBERRY, but he's my favorite contact. He is not on FACEBOOK, but he is my best friend. He is not on the INTERNET, yet I am always connected to him. He is not on gmail, but he's always online. Forward if God's been good to you! --- ...Very Nice and true! Thanks Linda! Reminds me of this one... Funny, Isn't It? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/funny.html ========================================================== @@@@@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@ @@@@@ `' { @{@)(` @@ '` '`@#@\ |**@%'~`*/ % ' ' \_**__<^ #\_*|||%//\**^>~#\=`-|/\~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >My Friend Nancy Story Editor: by Lori Coolahan Eri Izawa New Jersey, USA My friend Nancy, a peppy single mother of three, took one of her girls to school one April day in 2005. Driving home on the main highway in Middletown, New Jersey, she saw a terrible accident: a car was smashed like a pancake under a flat bed truck! No emergency people had arrived, but a small crowd had gathered. Nancy thought the driver must be dead, but decided to stop. She'd recently taken First Aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) training for her Girl Scout Troop. She asked the crowd if anyone had medical training. Everyone replied, "No". She told them about her training, and they encouraged her to try to help. Nancy found the driver completely bent over with the car smashed around him, but breathing. His head was bleeding and he was moving his hands in a panicky way towards his chest. When Nancy told him she was there to help, and reached in there to check his pulse. He kept thrashing around grabbing at his chest. His seat belt was choking him! Nancy yelled out that she needed scissors, a box cutter -- anything to get the seatbelt off. Someone handed her a box cutter and she managed to cut the seatbelt off. The trapped man dropped forward and stopped clutching his chest, breathing more easily. A police officer arrived, and he and Nancy stayed with the man until emergency medical personnel arrived. Nancy left, knowing she'd done all she could and now the professionals were in charge. The man in the car, Dave, survived with only minor injuries. He called Nancy to thank her. He and his wife wanted to thank Nancy in person. Both hugged her the minute they saw her. It turned out Dave lived in the same town as Nancy; they had children in the same school. Dave asked Nancy to describe the accident, as he didn't remember much. As she talked, he remembered Nancy yelling about the seatbelt, and feeling better after it was off. He then told Nancy's children that the lesson to learn from their mom's actions is to always try to do the right thing, to stop to try to help someone in need. Nancy's five-year-old hugged Nancy's side as Dave spoke to them, then looked at her mom and said "My mom, my hero". Dave later told Nancy that the accident was so bad and that his pulse was so weak that they actually threw the sheet over him thinking he was dead. He said he felt the sheet and started to move and that's how they knew he was not dead. These days, many of us -- medically trained or not -- would rather drive past, thinking "There are plenty of people there already," or, "What if I get sued for just trying to help?" My friend Nancy, however, decided to stop and see what she could do -- and probably saved a life. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "If you feel stuck, bring your whole self to Christ, not just the problem, but you. Ask God to change your heart. Commit yourself to pray to that end. It's God's heart to give good gifts to His children." - Sheila Walsh The Lift , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >The Transforming Power of God (Author Unknown) In May 1855, an eighteen-year-old boy went to the deacons of a church in Boston. He had been raised in a Unitarian church, in almost total ignorance of the gospel, but when he had moved to Boston to make his fortune, he began to attend a Bible-preaching church. Then, in April of 1855, his Sunday school teacher had come into the store where he was working and simply and persuasively shared the gospel and urged the young man to trust in the Lord Jesus. He had, and now he was applying to join the church. One fact quickly became obvious. This young man was almost totally ignorant of biblical truth. One of the deacons asked him, "Son, what has Christ done for us all--for you--which entitles Him to our love?" His response was, "I don't know. I think Christ has done a great deal for us, but I don't think of anything in particular as I know of." Hardly an impressive start. Years later his Sunday school teacher said of him: "I can truly say that I have seen few persons whose minds were spiritually darker than was his when he came into my Sunday school class. I think the committee of the church seldom met an applicant for membership who seemed more unlikely ever to become a Christian of clear and decided views of gospel truth, still less to fill any space of public or extended usefulness." Nothing happened very quickly to change their minds. The deacons decided to put him on a year-long instruction program to teach him basic Christian truths. Perhaps they wanted to work on some of his other rough spots as well. Not only was he ignorant of spiritual truths, he was only barely literate, and his spoken grammar was atrocious. The year-long probation did not help very much. At his second interview, there was only a minimal improvement in the quality of his answers, but since it was obvious that he was a sincere and committed (if ignorant) Christian, they accepted him as a church member. Over the next years, I am sure that many people looked at that young man and, convinced that God would never use a person like that, they wrote off Dwight L. Moody. But God did not. By God's infinite grace and persevering love, D. L. Moody was transformed into one of the most effective servants of God in church history, a man whose impact is still with us. ------ "When we tell ourselves 'I can never change', or 'That will never happen', we presume too much and believe too little. In Jesus Christ, God renders all of our final conclusions premature and all of our talk of determinism as simply bad faith. In Christ, God opens closed doors, brings resurrection, reveals possibilities, reclaims the lost, liberates the cursed and possessed, and changes the unchangeable." - Don Shelby 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 --- ...I didn't know who he was so - In case you don't know here's an interesting read about him and his Christian work... "Dwight L. Moody Facts. Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899), American evangelist, was an outstanding representative of popular 19th-century Protestant revivalism. Dwight L. Moody was born on Feb. 5, 1837, in Northfield, Mass. At the age of 17 he went to Boston and entered the retail boot and shoe trade." http://biography.yourdictionary.com/dwight-l-moody ========================================================== >-->From BobPerks: _ _(_)_ wWWWw _ @@@@ (_)@(_) vVVVv _ @@@@ (___) _(_)_ @@()@@ wWWWw (_)\ (___) _(_)_ @@()@@ Y (_)@(_) @@@@ (___) `|/ Y (_)@(_) @@@@ \|/ (_)\ / Y \| \|/ /(_) \| |/ | \ | \ |/ | / \ | / \|/ |/ \| \|/ jgs|// \\|/// \\\|//\\\|/// \|/// \\\|// \\|// \\\|// ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >"You don't make that decision, God does" "I wish you enough!" A message of Hope...stories from the road. Essays, parables and rare moments of clarity. By Bob Perks Copyright 2010 Bob Perks Hello, my friend! Well, that looks good on you! Your clothes? No, that smile! Keep smiling through today and bring it back to me on Monday. Until then I will see you in my prayers! Bob and Marianne PS. I note something incredibly powerful in the story I offer today. That means it was meant for someone or perhaps all of you. Perks Pearl of Wisdom "If you want to grow, plant yourself in love, take root in faith and turn your face toward the Light." Bob Perks >"You don't make that decision, God does." By Bob Perks I can feel it. I can sense the changes in the air already and it's only August 13th. Life is all about change. Life is all about preparing for change, too. Every year Marianne gathers seeds from some of the flowers growing in our yard. It is indeed a clear sign of change here. I was surprised to find that she has already begun. Many years ago I read a book by Dr. Robert H. Schuller. One line in it has stayed with me all these years. The simplicity of the thought and the depth and reality of it gave me the hope I needed at that time in my life. He said, "All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today." How incredible is that? When I hold a seed I can see far beyond today. I can see all the tomorrows, all the years ahead of me when my children's children and their children will romp and play in fields created by the very same God I worship today. Perhaps even from the same seed I now hold in my hand. There on the counter in my kitchen was a single seed already chosen by my wife to be planted next spring. I am saddened by the fact that I can feel the seasonal change of this year, yet I hold the very seed of next spring. Oh, yes and many springs to come. When she came home, I mentioned that I had discovered it earlier in the day. She picked it up, held it in her hand and examined it closely. "I don't think that this is a good one. It's all pitted and oddly shaped," she said. Without hesitation I said something that even surprised me. "You don't make that decision, God does." I stunned myself. I hurried to get a pen and tablet I keep near my chair in the living room so that I could write it down. In God's Garden, He decides what will grow and what will not. He plants the seeds of faith, hope, love, joy, and happiness in our lives. Who are we to say that this seed will grow and that will not? In God's Garden, He plants the seed in your mind that in the early stages appears as a foolish dream, a lofty hope of success and happiness. That seed is His plan for you. Like the mustard seed...Matthew 13:32 "Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." Only God decides which seeds will grow and which will wither or be eaten by the birds. Either way, each and every seed serves a purpose. Go and find a seed. Hold it in your hand. Close your eyes and create a vision of that seed growing. Play along with the vision and see the potential, the plan within. Fast forward seeing the flowers grow, die and grow again season after season through all the tomorrows it holds inside. You are a seed in God's plan for the world. You may appear to yourself and others as "pitted, dried up, and useless." But God is the Great Sower of seeds. He holds you in His hand today and sees all of your tomorrows. You may be "the largest of the garden plants" or the smallest of the flowers. "You don't make that decision, God does." But He relies on you to water, fertilize and care for what He has created. Right now God is holding you in His hand just like you held the seed. He closes his eyes and sees a vision of hope, success, happiness and as he fast forwards He can see the impact you will make on all the tomorrows you hold inside. The difference here is, God has given us the gift of choice. You are His seed and the gardener. How you grow depends on the choices you make, the care you give and your faith in His plan for you. God won't make those decisions, you will. "I wish you enough, Bob Perks "When having more leaves you empty, you discover true happiness lies in enough!" "I Wish You enough!" © 2001 Bob Perks I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye." Bob Perks Bob Perks, P.O. Box 1702, Shavertown, PA 18708-1702, USA ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown >JESUS I REALLY LOVE YOU Jesus, I really love you I hope you know I do If I didn't have You in my life, my Lord I don't know what I would do I try so hard to live for you Live my life the way I should To always put You first, dear Lord In my mind I know I should But then tomorrow always comes Though each day starts fresh and new Before that day is finished, Lord Once again I've sinned against You I don't do anything real bad Like kill or steal That's true But neither do I make you LORD Of everything I say and do I need and want only You to be On my mind both day and night Fill me Lord with your sweet love Then I'll surely do what's right Please help me now my precious Lord To live my life for only You Keep me true till that final moment When You take me home to forever be with You Phyllis Smith (Bunni) Copyright June 1995 All Rights Reserved --- ...In loving memory of our friend Bunni. >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! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >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 ************************************************************************