Today I Smiled & More ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@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 =========================== >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) _ ______ / `'. ,-"` '. / /'-.'. ___ .' \ \/ '.\.' ' | .| .'`\ | /`"'--., / \ , _.--'` \/_ | ,----.| _ `_--;` ``` `\-. | | \ | -- C -- _/ \ \ | \ 0 0 / . | | \| ) | '. _.' |.__/ ; \ `'---` / / __ '. .' | (__) /'-._____,-` \ /---'.-""-.\ '. / ||,- \\ ;---`;-._||-= |\ , ."""-. \ ) `|'.___.' \ ___ \'. / '-. \ /`-`-; / \ ,/ `) \ \| \ `` | | \|| / /'.| )_ / || | | \/ .' \ \ .-'/ ` |` |.-' .-~ ~-~-._ |.'` \ ` '-. \___/,__/ ~` _ `~~-., `-.,_\_)`-.,_\) `~-,___ ~___~,,..-~~/ jgs \___/`\____/'._.' >I've been making new friends on MyYearBook.com site. It is like MySpace but has some additional fun stuff to do. We have some of our group friends there too so it is all the more enjoyable! You can visit me on there here: http://www.myyearbook.com/shangy If you are there, please let me know, it is difficult for me to know who is who on that site -<>- >If You Haven't Already, PLEASE Take A Moment to... Sign My New Guestbook! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html *~* Lots Of Thanks And Hugs! God Bless You Abundantly! --- ...I ESPECIALLY THANK YOU WHO Graciously Signed it! {{{HUGS}}} -<>- >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press... ____ (O_/ __ \_O) / (o)__(o) \ (__.--\/--.__) I'm in the 'Pink' ====(__/\__)==== ' ' _||_ `---' This one I just loved as soon as I read it. It comes to us from our friend Viv. It is oh so true and deserved special care. I spent much time finding just the right graphics for it. See what you think here... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' The Bible http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thebible.html --- ...This is a great one! Thank You Much Viv! -<>- >If You Haven't Already, Be sure to visit our other new pages: Matchstick Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/matchstick.html _._ .' '. / \ ___ _.. _.--. | / |.' `'. ;-._ .' `\ .' `\ \| / \ .' `\/ ; / _ \.=..=./ _.' / | `\.---._| '. .-'-.}`.<>.`{-'-. / .--; . ( .' '. \ .---.{ <>()<> }.--..-' / _ \_ './ _. `-./ _},'<>`.{_ `\ ( = \ )`""'\;--. .' .-'/ )=..=;`\`- \ {= (| ) /`. ( / /| \ ) ( =_/ )__..-\ .'-..___.' : '.___..-' \ }/ / ;.____.-;/\ | ` | '--' | .' | \ \ /'. _.' \ ' / |\.\ ; /`--.-' ) .'`-. / \ \ |`| /__.-' \_.'jgs \ \ |-| Flower Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/flowerart.html *~* PLEASE DO SHARE THESE WITH YOUR LOVED ONES - THANK YOU! =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Becky :) >Girl Friends _ _ _ _ //|\ //|\ //|\ //|\ c_"/ c_"/ c_"/ c_"/ __/\__ /\__ /\ /\ / \ /\ \ /\/\ /\/\ /____\ /____\ /____\ /____\ S-v /l ll l\ ll I used to believe in the concept of one best friend, And then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends. One friend is needed when you're going through things with your partner. Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom. Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities. ., _ / ` ((|))))) ((/ a a ))) >) ((((._e(( ,--/ (-. / \ <\/>/| / /) Lo )| Another when you want to shop, / / ) / | | / ( / | / ;/ share, heal, hurt, joke, or ||( | / )|/| \ |/'/\ \_____\ just be. \ | \ \ |\ \ | | ) ) ) )/ / / / / / | / / | / / || / || '-,_ |_\ ( '"'-` gpyy \(\_\ One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,' Another, 'Let's fight together,' Another, 'Let's walk away together.' One friend will meet your spiritual need, Another your shoe fetish, Another your love for movies, Another will be with you in your season of confusion, Another will be your clarifier, Another the wind beneath your wings. But whatever their assignment in your life, On whatever the occasion, On whatever the day, Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ... Those are your best friends. --- ...Yeppers! Sweet! Thanks Becky! =========================================================== >Enrolling the Guides Story Editor: by A Guide Joyce Schowalter Virginia, USA We all knew "Ray" from our hobby -- theatre. He was a high school kid who worked hard on his acting, was great with younger kids, and sometimes walked or biked miles to and from rehearsals. At some level we knew he wasn't a great student, that he was marked as a troublemaker by the school administration, and that his family wasn't particularly supportive of him in school or his hobby. But he was a good kid you could trust onstage and we liked him. "Cindy" knew more. She knew that Ray wasn't graduating from high school his senior year. He didn't have enough credits, and Cindy knew he planned to find a job and get a GED certificate, sometime. She knew he was smarter than his academic record suggested and she knew many families in the theatre community cared about him. So Cindy contacted the adults who cared about Ray and explained the underlying situation. She didn't want Ray to fall through the cracks; she wanted us to help her get him back on track. After generating agreement from seven families, she really started to work. One family took him in to live with them -- they fed, housed, and parented him. Several families agreed to provide money to help out. Ray got clothing. He got a bank account -- accompanied by someone to teach him about managing money and living on a budget. Another family took responsibility for cultural broadening. Cindy rode herd, guided, cajoled, and generally kept Ray's guides on track. Cindy convinced the school system to give this "troublemaker" one more chance, another year to complete high school. She then got Ray transferred to another school, away from those who'd already branded him a failure. Cindy's families were involved with Ray's schooling. Parent-teacher conferences and oversight of homework were taken care of by proxy parents. Ray wondered why we were doing this for him. Each family was asked "Why?" than once. But that year Ray had his first birthday party, went on his first Easter egg hunt, and learned to drive. He struggled, he really struggled. And I think he learned that we'd told the truth when we said we did it because he was a good kid and we liked him. Ray graduated from high school that year. All of his families were there, his biological family and all of the surrogate families. All were equally proud of him. Ray enrolled in community college and now plans on completing a four-year degree. There are still rough spots. Authority figures bring out the worst in our boy and he's likely to quit working on something if he decides it's too hard. But this young man, who was about to leave school without a high school diploma, now believes in himself enough to believe he can finish college. He still has multiple resources for assistance. All because Cindy cared enough, and refused to let a good kid fall through the cracks without trying to help. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Tony in Australia :) / / / / __.__ / .-' `-. / _ / .' `. .' '._ / / / _.--._ \ ( )' .-'-. ; / \ | / '(._)--' (-'|'-) | | / | | / / / / O | | \_ _/ | / / . ' '=;-|-' | `--' / ______ . q|p | .' /' '\ .___. ( ) /| ._ `. | ,"""", | |"""| |""",.-"'"._ / | | `-. '. | | | | | | ,., '. | | `. \ '____' | | 3-| | | '. | | | / \ ' __ | | | | | | | | | ' ;| | | | 2-| | | | | | | / .@< ; ;| | | |~~~| | | | | >@ | | '(u) | || | | | 1-| | | | | (u)' / ~~~| |~~~~~~~~~| ||~~| |~| |~~| |~~~~| |~~~~~~~~ `--' '---'' '-' '-' '-' '-' )=;;') >';;=( ########################PjP#################################### >The rain….. After such a long dry spell here in Adelaide, the start of the new financial year as been WET!WET!WET!.....June showed us signs of oncoming wet weather and it came! Even though it has bucketed down, the drought is still not yet broken! Yes! We can see our gardens being replenished, lawns returning, bushes flowering and we ourselves feel a ‘refreshing’ But there is a lesson here… About God The rain is mentioned quite frequently in the scriptures and we can read in Ps 65 that God is being praised for ‘sending us’ rain! Well rain IS a gift of God! God is the Creator and life giver! Ecclesiates 1:7 tells us that God sends the rain! And Ps 65 delights in Gods life giving rain that is still falling as I type! | ' | I / ' \ 8 ' \ / .' , .---. .' , / '.. ` , -- , --== : < : ====----- . . -' .' .' `---' , , ' \ / . / / I ,' \ / .' , ' I / ' .' | ' .' , / / / .' .' .' . , .' / _ . / . (") _ .' '' a___.' \ $"$ ,k , , `---' || ,$..\// / / _ ||//`. (' .' .' , __________ ____ ( '^.`%/ ( x\_ ________________________a:f__ / \\ | " |/ `.) ' /J || // (/ .' ' , .a `' `' ' . , / 88 a8 8a 8. ' `8a.8P `88a.88 ,' .' .a8888:a888a `8888' a888888b88P `Y88d88P888a a88b 888 " You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth. (Psalm. 65:9 & 10) Even in times such as these today where our young people are facing enemies in foreign countries, the Bible says in Matthew 5:44 & 45 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust". Whilst we bask in the rain, lets give a thought and a prayer to those who are in uniform trying to find shade, a long way from loved ones who miss them dearly…. -Tony --- ...So true Tony! Praise God you are getting the rain you so need there in Australia! Many of us here are asking for God to stop the rain as flooding is so much a problemn with our homes and farmland. We thank God for a hppy middle ground - just enough - moderation is the key to so many things! ==================================================================== >-->From MrMom: The Pencil Maker ________________________________________________ /\______________________________________________/`-. <()>____________________________________________< ## \/______________________________________________\,-' unknown The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be. 1 ... You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand. 2 ... You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil. 3 ... You will be able to correct mistakes you will make. 4 ... The most important part of you will always be what's inside. 5 ... On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write. The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. Now replacing the place of the pencil with you, always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. 1 ... You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess. 2 ... You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person. 3 ... You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow through them. 4 ... The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside. 5 ... On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything. By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily. To subscribe send an email to mrmom-subscribe@topica.com ================================================================= >-->From Our Friend Jo Ann :) The finale is great - moves fast... only lasts a minute or so. Turn on your sound too. __ __/ \__ / \__/ \ \__/..\__/ / \__/ \ \__/ \__/ \__/ || || || .'/.'\.'. ..'.'..'..'.'. Imran State Dlowers http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1221321706636&source=jl999 --- ...Aww, this was very beautiful! Thank You Jo Ann! ================================================================ >-->From InspiredBuffalo: | | _ | _/=\_ | _/=====\_ | '-\-' / \ ' , ' /(o)| __)-(____ /|^^^| / <\/> __/_|\/^| / /| : | /__|^^^| / / | : |/___|^^^| /_/ }===={)___|^^^|\ .-. ((' |) (| )__|^^^|_\ ______/o ) \\ | | )_|^^^|/ \----- ( / _____ '\ | | | \|^^^| \ / \ // ||||| ___\| | |____|^^^|__________\ / \\\\///__||||| /___)| | |___///|\\\_____=____\_/(___\\)/___|()|| /___( |__|_|__////|\\\\ __ ___-______| | \____||||| /__=__)(___)__)^^^^^^^^^( ;__________| |______||||| /_____(___________________)___________" "____=__||||| ________________________________________________||||| ||||| _________ |OOShy >The Parable of the Net Marriage is like a fishing net. Each day fishermen use their nets to catch fish and sell them at the market. One fisherman takes his fish from the net every day, but let's debris from the ocean accumulate. Eventually so much debris is caught in the net that he can hardly cast it out of the boat, and when he does, it's almost impossible to retrieve. Finally, in a fit of anger, he cuts the net loose and goes home without it. He's unable to catch and sell fish again until he buys another net. Another fisherman removes debris every time he retrieves the net with the fish he caught. Each time he casts his net, it's clean and ready to catch more fish. As a result, he catches and sells enough fish to support himself and his family. In this parable, the fish are emotional needs met in marriage and the debris are Love Busters, habits that cause unhappiness. Bad marriages are like the first fisherman's net. Selfish demands, disrespectful judgments, angry outbursts, independent behavior and dishonesty accumulate over time. The burden of the unhappiness they cause ruins a couple's willingness and ability to meet each other's emotional needs. Eventually the marriage supplies no benefits to either spouse and ends in divorce or emotional separation. Good marriages are like the second fisherman's net. Love Busters are eliminated as soon as they appear, making it easy for each spouse to meet the other's emotional needs. -<>- >DAYS OF LIGHT By: Joseph J. Mazzella I love this time of year. The long days are always so full of light. It starts in the morning when the sun rises quietly over the far hill and knocks gently on my window to wake me up. It continues as I walk my dogs outside and watch the pink and purple clouds slowly turn to gold. The light continues all day long too, kissing the growing plants and brightening up the hearts of playing children and happy adults alike. Even the biggest clouds can’t keep the sun back for long. It bursts through with huge, glowing sunbeams wide enough for Heaven’s angels to slide down them. When it finally does set at the end of the day it leaves with a beauty that no Earthly painter could ever match. Even then, though, the light continues. Soon the moon and stars begin to shine in the warm summer night then hundreds of fireflies join in blinking on and off in their light show of love. It is a glorious sight to see. As beautiful as this Summer light is, however, it still can’t compare to the soul light that I see everyday. This light burns just as brightly in the Winter too. I see it shining from my youngest son’s smile and hear it in my oldest son’s laugh. It glows warmly in my daughter’s eyes and it leaps out from the words of an inspiring book. It travels from soul to soul on the laughter, prayers, gentle words, and caring hearts of friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers. It sails on the winds of good deeds, encouragement, and loving kindness. It sings in our music, shines in our thoughts, and brightens every part of our lives. It connects us with Heaven. May all of your days be full of light then. May the sun shine down on you and may your own soul shine within you. May God’s light and love live through you even when the world around you seems dark. May you always "let your light shine before others." Remember, we are all Children of God, Children of Love, and Children of Light. Let’s always shine bright. -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment Turkey http://www.buffaloschips.com/7701.htm Turkish Gillette http://www.buffaloschips.com/7702.htm Uncle Jay http://www.buffaloschips.com/7703.htm Bird http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22609.htm Chaplin http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22610.htm Basket Girl http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22607.htm Beer http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22608.htm Going To Work On Monday http://www.buffalosjokes.com/20004.htm va-deo_1_-_eco_92 http://www.buffaloschips.com/7704.htm Vangdewind http://www.buffaloschips.com/7705.htm Vehicle Barrier http://www.buffaloschips.com/7706.htm Polo http://buffalosjokes.com/82319.htm Ribday http://buffalosjokes.com/82320.htm Runaway http://buffalosjokes.com/82321.htm Diet http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22613.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =============================================================== >-->From CupOfCheer: .::\)`:`, .:;\/~`\``;) ,.~-----, ;;==`_ ~:;( ,,~{*}\~~--,.`. ;:== 6 6;;) ,(((((({*});~~. .\ ;;C } )' (('`)))~({*}) . \ .\ :;` `--'; >6 6`({*}))) . \~~ | `____/ ( { ))())) . .`, ____._| |_____. `--' (((())) . | / \ \__ _| | \ `-- )))))) . .| | ) \/\/\_{@} | ,-| ((((((( . | | \_ \ \ | / | / | / ))))))) .| | |\ : \ |/ | Y | (/*@@*( ' ` ) . | \ \ \_\/_/ | | / */ \ \'/ /. | \ \ |o | | \. \ |'@'| .| \ \ | ; ,'--,.,.,., \ ~*@*~. . | \ \_________._--`((,:{@}.:))_\ |~@~| . | \ ' | ((,{@}:{@}.))-----' ;/\ (, \._____________`-__((;,{@},:))_________/|{ | . ; | | | `';{@},) /`-----'\ |. | | .__/\__ | `{@};,; / / | \ \ \/ .| | / :; \ | `(@))\ / \. . | | /! | \| ';; ))_/`-'/`_`., \. | ADVENTURES IN MATRIMONY Andrea V. Jewell "The first two years of our marriage we built a really good friendship," David said. "We enjoyed each other. Without getting advice we fell into some good habits. It was easier for us to get our marriage off to a good start because life didn't go at such a fast pace. We didn't have faxes, e-mails, cell phones, all those conveniences that are supposed to free us up." Not to mention that American culture was more marriage-friendly in those days, and divorce wasn't an option. Though they started off well, David and Claudia Arp had no idea their marriage would one day be an example to people around the world. After they married, they alternated working so each could finish an education. Then David went into the military followed by a job with IBM while Claudia did substitute teaching and had their first two sons. Sprechen Sie Deutsch? A few years after David and Claudia became Christians in 1966, they joined Campus Crusade for Christ, working in Knoxville, Tenn. And in 1973 an opportunity arose to go to Germany with Crusade. "David was excited, and I was horrified," Claudia says. "I didn't want to go. We didn't agree. We prayed together. We prayed separately. Finally, I realized that David's sense that God was leading us there was stronger than my fear of moving to Germany." Unfortunately¯and fortunately¯they went to Germany unprepared. They accepted their three-year assignment on six-weeks' notice, being assured they didn't need to know the language. But they did need the language, and they needed time to learn about the culture and people. They arrived in Germany without a place to live, English-speaking friends or a phone. Living in a VW camper for three months provided plenty of "together" time, which led David and Claudia to realize the good marriage they started out with wasn't doing so well. By this time they had three children and rarely spent time together. "We were so busy in Knoxville that if God hadn't picked us up and moved us to Germany, I'm not sure what would have happened to our relationship. We were definitely not making our marriage a priority," David says. "I think in His wisdom God knew He could get our attention better in a foreign country where we had time to listen to His voice and to each other." As they were learning the language and the culture, David and Claudia readjusted to one another. "A lot of marriages are this way: There's nothing big that's wrong, but there are little barnacles building up on their marriage ship that need to be chipped away," Claudia says. "We were at that point. What we needed was time. In Germany we had time to scrape off those barnacles and focus on us." Into their second year in Germany¯it was their 12th year of marriage¯friends noticed a change in David and Claudia's relationship, asking, "What's different?" That's when the Arps realized God was significantly shaping their relationship and giving them opportunities to help other couples with their marriages. "We noticed that if things weren't right in a marriage, people sure weren't going to share their faith with someone else," Claudia says. With this understanding, the Arps drew out a stick-figure plan of how a marriage could impact a community. This drawing later became the blueprint for their Marriage Alive ministry. As the Arps neared the end of their three-year European commitment with Crusade, they wanted to continue working with couples but weren't sure how. Over a weekend they listed ways God had used them to help others. Their list pointed them in the direction of their desires. They remained on staff with Crusade but first spent a year in the States researching marriage and family. The Arps returned to Europe at the end of the year, settled in Vienna and put together the Marriage Alive seminar, which they lead in the United States and Europe. Thoughts that tick Two important ideas David and Claudia incorporate into their seminars come from their attitudes about marriage: dating and appreciating differences. "We're both adventuresome," David says. "We like trying new things, going new places. We traveled with our family whenever we had the opportunity¯camping, ski weekends and hiking through the Alps. We've always looked at our life as an adventure. Even when bad things happen, we just consider it part of David and Claudia's most excellent adventure." "We make dating an attitude," Claudia says. "When we're in a situation that's distressing, we'll just put a dating spin on it." "Except while you were in the hospital," David jokes. "I tried to put a positive spin and said, 'Let's have a hospital date. Let's have a surgery date,' and you said, 'That's carrying it a little bit too far, David.' " The Arps say dates allow couples the time to enjoy each other and affirm what's good about their relationship. Without dates, intimacy and shared time easily disappears in the busyness of life. Dates can be as simple as walking around your neighborhood or sitting in a park for an hour. For example, each fall David and Claudia have a flu-shot date¯a mundane event transformed into valued time together. "In Vienna we learned to have our date nights," Claudia says. "Our kids were old enough that we could leave them home and walk up the street for a cup of coffee or something. We started taking time for our own relationship, and we realized that if we were going to be in this for the long haul, we had to keep our marriage alive and growing." And differences? Well, how could they have adventure without differences? "In our seminars we emphasize finding unity in your diversity," Claudia says. "We help couples look at their combined strengths as the strength of their team. If one is weak in an area and the spouse is strong in the same area, then that's the strength of their team. Even the ways we relax are different. David wants to take naps, and I think that's so boring. If I want to relax, I walk a couple miles." "That's one of the basic differences in our personalities," David says. "Claudia wants to do something or go somewhere. I'm more laid-back. You're not going to change someone's personality so you accept it. Modify where you can, but accept each other and go forward. If you concentrate on the strengths that you both have, the more likely you're going to be a lighthouse to others." In 1982 the Arps moved back to the States and began Marriage Alive here. In 1990 they found a new niche with people in the second half of marriage, teaching couples how to reconnect after children have left home. They still hold conferences in Europe, and they are developing marriage curricula in Russian and German. "We have benefited so much from what God called us to do," Claudia says, "but the day we stop working on our marriage, we are disqualified to do what we're doing." Arps' Adages * Kiss for at least 10 seconds¯each day. * Put a positive spin on hard situations. * Date weekly. * Say five positive statements to offset one negative. >From Kimberly B. Quiggle over at Cup O'Cheer To SUBSCRIBE: send an email with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cupocheer@sc.rr.com ================================================================ . \ : / ' _ ' -= ( (_) ) =- . . / : \ .-. ' |.| /)|`|(\ (.(|'|)`) ~~~~`\`'./'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ jgs |.| ~~ |`| ~~ ,|'|. (_) ~~ "'" \"\ ~~ ^~^ >110 Degrees and No Shade Story Editor: by Shawna M.Thayer Joyce Schowalter Arizona, USA I moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2000 for graduate study at Arizona State University. It's seemed to me that "big city" people were less friendly and helpful than the Wisconsin folk I grew up with. People's crankiness got worse as temperatures rose, too, so summers in Arizona weren't particularly pleasant. Until a friendly stranger proved me wrong a few days ago. Last Wednesday, the first day of September 2004, I was driving home from work with my baby boy sleeping in the back seat. My rear right tire blew out at 70 miles per hour. Luckily I pulled off the road safely, but it was 110 degrees. The car's AC was running, but with no shade, it was warming quickly. It would take roadside assistance over an hour to arrive. I thought about children getting too hot in a car, and if a car whizzing by would hit us. Now, I can change a tire under less stressful situations. In fact, my father wouldn't let me get my driver's license until I could change a tire completely on my own. But with a 6-month-old infant and cars cruising by so fast and close, I didn't know what to do. I was frazzled and frustrated. Just then, a bright yellow motorcycle pulled behind me. The driver pulled off his helmet and came to my door. In his early 20's with blond hair and big blue eyes, he smiled, "Do you need help changing your tire? I can help if you have the equipment." Though I was wary about such situations, something in his face assured me he was a genuine and kind person. A mechanical engineering student at ASU, Justin said he didn't get many opportunities to use his skills, so was happy to help. "Justin" wouldn't let me touch a thing. When I asked what I could do, he said to pop the car's hood so the radiator wouldn't overheat (the AC was on for the baby). I was so frazzled I had trouble with the latch, so he found it. I would've felt worse if Justin hadn't been so kind. "Why don't you just wait inside the car and keep your baby happy?" With the spare on, Justin made sure I knew where the nearest tire place was, even offering to follow me there. When I tried to give him money in gratitude, he absolutely refused. "I'm happy I could help. Keep your money." I tried again, saying I would've paid more in towing charges, but he wouldn't budge. I thanked him over and again. He waited behind me until I merged onto the freeway, and waved as I exited at the first ramp. This young man was a lifesaver to me on Wednesday. I'm so grateful he came to my aid. I'd been sure that the only really nice people resided in the Midwest, but now I know good people are everywhere! I know I'll help someone else in the future the way Justin selflessly helped me. =======HeroicStories======= >-->from SermondFodder: \\\\\_____________________\"-._ jgs /////~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/.-' >Looking for Arrows When we shoot an arrow, we look to the fall of it; When we send a ship to sea, we look for the return of it; When we sow seed, we look for a harvest; and so when we sow our prayers into God's bosom, shall we not look for an answer?? - Richard Sibbes --- ... These teachings go with this ... DOING ALL THE WORD [All of the Time] There is a record in the Gospel of Luke that shows how easy it is for believers to live below par, with less abundance than what God is willing and able to give us. As mature believers, we must learn not to limit God in our lives and therefore fully manifest the more than abundant life. http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/doingallword.html God Moves When You Move "Even so faith [pistis - believing] if it hath not works [action], is dead, being alone." - James 2: 17 What people don't realize today is that they are God's hands, legs and mouth. Until you believe and act upon God's Word, God will not move. As said many times in the world, you will believe it when you see it. But with God, you will see it when you believe it. http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/godmoves.html -<>- >Charles Darwin Knew Science and Freedom Almost 150 years ago, Charles Darwin knew something that the scientific establishment seems to have forgotten, something that is being endangered today in the state of Ohio. In Ohio, high school science students are at risk of being told that they are not allowed to discuss questions and problems that scientists themselves openly debate. While most people understand that science is supposed to consider all of the evidence, these students, and their teachers, may be prevented from even looking at the evidence-evidence already freely available in top science publications. In late 2002, the Ohio Board of Education adopted science education standards that said students should know "how scientists investigate and critically analyze aspects of evolutionary theory." The standards did not say that schools should teach intelligent design. They mandate something much milder. According to the standards, students should know that "scientists may disagree about explanations . and interpretations of data"-including the biological evidence used to support evolutionary theory. If that sounds like basic intellectual freedom, that's because it is. The Ohio Department of Education has responded by implementing this policy through the development of an innovative curriculum that allows students to evaluate both the strengths and the weaknesses of Darwinian evolution. And that has the American scientific establishment up in arms. Some groups are pressuring the Ohio Board to reverse its decision. The president of the National Academy of Sciences has denounced the "Critical Analysis" lesson, even though it does nothing more than report criticisms of evolutionary theory that are readily available in scientific literature. Hard as it may be to believe, prominent scientists want to censor what high school students can read and discuss. It's a story that is upside-down, and it's outrageous. Organizations like the National Academy of Sciences and others that are supposed to advance science are doing their best to suppress scientific information and stop discussion. Debates about whether natural selection can generate fundamentally new forms of life, or whether the fossil record supports Darwin's picture of the history of life, would be off-limits. It's a bizarre case of scientists against "critical analysis." And the irony of all of this is that this was not Charles Darwin's approach. He stated his belief in the Origin of Species: "A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of each question." Darwin knew that objective science demands free and open inquiry, and while I disagree with Darwin on many things, on this he was absolutely right. And I say what's good enough for scientists themselves, as they debate how we got here, is good enough for high school students. Contact us here at BreakPoint (1-877-322-5527) to learn more about this issue and about an intelligent design conference we're co-hosting this June. The Ohio decision is the leading edge of a wedge breaking open the Darwinist stranglehold on science education in this country. The students in Ohio, and every other state, deserve intellectual freedom, and they deserve it now. Copyright (c) 2004 Prison Fellowship THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a daily commentary on news and trends from a Christian perspective. Heard on more than 1000 radio outlets nationwide, BreakPoint transcripts are also available on the Internet. BreakPoint is a production of The Wilberforce Forum, a division of Prison Fellowship: 1856 Old Reston Avenue, Reston, VA 20190. ===================================================================== >-->Today .0. / \ ; \_/ ; | | | | | | _______; ;_______ `======='\ /`=======` \ / _ | | _ _( \____|=|____/ )_ ( .---. .---. ) `-' / \ '-' / HUG \ ; ; | .---.|__, jgs : / :--' .--\ \ | `" `"".-' < =""` `"== `""""""` =""` `"""===="""` =""` `""==="""` Today I smiled, and all at once Things didn't look so bad. Today I shared with someone else, A bit of hope I had. Today I sang a little song, And felt my heart grow light, And walked a happy little mile, With not a cloud in sight. Today I worked with what I had And longed for nothing more, And what had seemed like only weeds, Were flowers at my door. Today I loved a little more And complained a little less, And in the giving of myself, I forgot my weariness. ~unknown~ =================================================================== >-->Quotes: "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have." - Thomas Jefferson The greatest glory of a free born people is to transmit that freedom to their children. -- William Havard >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :)Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales && Service You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. 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