What You Give Is What You Get ... :) 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. If every one would chip in $25 or more, we'd be good for the whole year! So Please - I need your help today! "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 Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all 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! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press This super flaming hot new page is from our friend Linda. If you are like me, you always stand in awe whenever you see one and think God is especially giving you a message of love and hope that all will be OK. Be sure to check this gorgeous one out here... ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" Beautiful Rainbows http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rainbows.html --- ...Absolutely lovely! Thanks Linda! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: ooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooo oooooooo oooo oooooooo ooooooo oooo ooooooo oooooo oooo oooooo oooooo oooo oooooo ooooo oooo ooooo oooooo oooooo oooooo oooooo oooooooo oooooo ooooo oooooooooooo ooooo oooooo oooo oooo oooo oooooo oooooooooo oooo oooooooooo oooooooo oooo oooooooo oooooooo oooo oooooooo oooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooo Bob Allison >PEACEMAKERS To tell you the truth, I don't know a lot about Nazmia. In fact, I'm not even sure if Nazmia is a "she" or a "he." Our e-mail conversations haven't really had anything to do with gender. Mostly, they've had to do with being a parent in a world in which that task is becoming more and more complicated. Somehow, in the midst of those conversations, I've had the impression that Nazmia is a woman, so that's how I'll refer to her here (and if you're reading this and that isn't the case, my friend, please consider it a compliment!). Nazmia lives in the Middle East. In many ways, our lives are vastly different. But through the first two or three years of our intermittent correspondence, I was more impressed with our similarities than our differences. Being a parent is tough these days, regardless of ideology, geography or definitions of the word "football." Lately, however, I've been thinking more about those differences. It started about a year ago. On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I wrote an anguished column as I watched horrifying events unfold on the television set next to my desk. The words were impulsive and honest, coming directly from my gut and my heart without pausing to linger long in my mind. But they were also uninformed and naive. Which Nazmia, to her credit, pointed out. "I understand your rage," she wrote. "This was a horrible thing, beyond reason or comprehension. I mourn with you the tragic loss of life. "But do you understand how it makes us feel when you and your countrymen express such outrage for one act of senseless violence, while we must live with it day after day? Few of us here have not been touched by it. Almost all of us have lost a friend or a family member. It is part of our daily life and routine. "And so, as we look at this horror you are now experiencing, we can't help but wonder why you seem so surprised that such a thing would happen," she continued. "In much of the rest of the world, terrorism is a fact of life. You have been fortunate to not wake up each day wondering if this day would be the last for you or one of your children. The fear and uncertainty you are now feeling is what many of us in the rest of the world have been feeling for years." She was right, of course. Although American society is relatively violent -- particularly with regards to violent crime -- we haven't know the unpredictable trauma of terrorism in our streets. Today we are more attuned to it -- and more frightened by it -- even when it takes place many miles away. At least, we should be. I've only heard from Nazmia a couple of times since then. But I've been following with horror a series of terrorist attacks and counter-attacks in her part of the world. I fear for her safety, and for the safety of her family. I mourn the loss of innocent life. I hurt for families torn asunder by explosions of hatred and mistrust. And I wonder why it has to be so. We live in a world filled with remarkable possibilities, including technological tools that can break through centuries-old barriers of fear by providing limitless opportunities for understanding through information and communication. This should be an age of enlightenment and an era of peace, but it can't be as long as we allow ourselves to be blinded by anger, intolerance and vengeance. We have to be peacemakers and use technology to reach out to people across the street and around the world in love and acceptance and friendship. Even if we don't know a lot about them. -- Joseph Walker ___________________________________________ Joseph Walker, from Utah, is a Heartwarmer Gem, and a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. If his column doesn't appear in your local newspaper, have your editor contact Joe at the email address above. Your neighbors will thank you. You can also get his book here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573453005/heart/ref=nosim =========================================================== $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$'`$$$$$$$$$$$$$'`$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$ '$/ `/ `$' .$$$$ $$$$$$$$. i i /! .$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$.--'--' $$$$$$ $$^^$$$$$' J$$$$$$ $$$ ~"" `. .$$$$$$$ $$$$$e, ; .$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$.' $$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$. $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $by&TL$ ------------------------- I LOVE YOU ------------------------- >-->Always Say I Love You She painted everything she saw Birds, flowers, the sky Some days she sat at her window And painted everything that passed her by But lately she'd been feeling woozy Her muscles ached a lot And her parents got kind of worried So they took her to the doc The doctor took a couple of tests To see if everything was okay Then the nurse came out with a look of sadness And this is what she had to say; "I'm sorry but you've got leukemia," "You've got about 3 months more." Then Brittany got up and ran out of the room And slammed the office door She ran down the street screaming And cried her eyes out dry And stayed up all night Wondering what it's like to die Her parents held her tightly And said, "We love you," "We'll make your last few months the greatest," "We'll do anything for you." So Brittany and her parents moved to Florida To live by the sea Because Brittany loved the ocean And when she dies, that's where she wanted to be She spent her days painting And horseback riding in by the bay But one day she met this guy And his name was Jay They collected seashells together And talked about all kinds of things And then one day while walking He handed her a ring It said, "I love you," Which brought tears to Brittany's eyes And when he put it on her finger She began to cry "I've got leukemia, and about a month more." He said," No matter what, I love you," "And no matter what, you are the one I adore." So they spent everyday together And swam in the Atlantic all day But Brittany was getting weaker And it was hard for her stay awake So one day Brittany painted her picture And gave it to Jay She said, "I want you to remember me," "Even when I leave this place." But one day while they were walking And searching for seashells in the sand Brittany collapsed and started to lose her breath And said to Jay, "Please hold my hand." "I love you more than anyone," "You are my only true love," "But now my time is up," "And I'll watch over you from above," Then Brittany's body was lifeless As she lay in Jay's arms And he sat there all day And kept her safe from harm I hope this teaches you a lesson. To tell someone you love them whenever you can. Because maybe they'll be gone tomorrow. And you won't be there to hold their hand. Because love is everything to everybody. Without it, the world would be dead. So always tell someone you love them. A parent, a lover, a friend. Send this to everyone you know, It makes a big difference even though you don't think so... Everyone deserves an "I love you." Because there may be No one for that person to say it back to. If you don't, the same shall happen to you. You might not have the same disease, But you will be dying of early age. - Author Unknown =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: __,,,__ ,-""-,-" "-,-""-, /,-' , .-'-.7.-'-. , '-,\ \( / _ _ \ )/ '-, { (0) (0) } ,-' / > .---. < \ |/ .-' \___/ '-. \| {, / ,_ _, \ ,} \ {, \ / ,} / ',\. '---' ./,' _.-""""""-._ _.-""""""-._ .' `._.` '. _/_ _ \ .'` `\ | | \ / | | | ; | / |_| | \ ;'---' _ ___ _ _ ___ ; '. ; | | / \| || || _| _ ; `-\ | |_ | | || |/ /| _| .' `, `\ |___|\___/ \__/ |___| | \ \ _ _ \ | jgs `\ | | | /` _/ ,-""-. .'`\ | | | /`-,-'` .-""-, / `\.' `\ \___/ /` './` \ ; .--. \ '\ /' / .--. ; | ( \ |, '\ /' | / ) | \ ; } ;\ /; ` { ; / `;\ \ _.-' \ / `-._ / /;` \ \__.' _.-' Y `-._ '.__// '.___,.-' `-.,___.' >"Right Now" Somebody is very proud of you. Somebody is thinking of you. Somebody misses you. Somebody wants you to be happy. Somebody is celebrating your successes. Somebody admires your strength. Somebody is thinking of you and smiling. Somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on. Somebody wants to protect you. Somebody wants to be forgiven. Somebody wants to laugh with you. Somebody wants to share their dreams with you. Somebody treasures your spirit. Somebody praises God for your friendship and love. Somebody can't wait to see you. Somebody loves you for who you are. Somebody loves the way you make them feel. Somebody misses your guidance and/or advice. Somebody has faith in you. Somebody trusts you. Somebody hears a song that reminds them of you. ~ Author Unknown -<>- _.----------------------------._ _.-' '- . '-._ .' _| . . - . ._ '. _.' ' .' '. _| | / _| _| '' '' |_ ' . '. | . -- . '' '' . -- . | .' .' '. -|| || .' '. '. | ' '' '' || .-. ||_ '' '' | '. '' '' || | | || '' '' | | -|| ||- '____|!|____' -|| ||- | | || || |____-+-____| || || '. .' -|| ||_ || |!| || || || _| |_.-|| || || | | || _|| ||-._| _.-' |_|| || || | | || || ||_| '-._ _| |_ |:;;.,::;,.';|--|:;;.| |,.';|--|:;;.,::;,.';| |_ :;;.,::;,.'; :;;.| |,.'; :;;.,::;,.'; _| -' |_ | | |_. _ _| __|_|__ |_ _ |________________________/_______\___________________|______ ,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:.,:. -LGB-------------------------------------------------------- >WHAT YOU GIVE IS WHAT YOU GET By: Joseph J. Mazzella "What you give is what you get." I am sure that everyone of us have heard those words uttered again and again in our lives. They remain age old words of wisdom that go back thousands of years. They go along with "reaping what we sow" and "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you." What amazes me most about these wonderful words, though, is the truth that lies in them. I see this truth everyday in my own life. This truth shines through the actions of my youngest son whose smiles, hugs, and laughter light up the world around him in spite of his handicap. This truth glows from the life of my daughter whose kindness, friendship, and loving spirit brightens the lives of those around her. This truth flows out of the behavior of my oldest boy who is a friend to the world and never met anyone he didn't like. This truth radiates from everything I watch my wife do as she makes the world a better place for her family, friends, co-workers, and the many pets she rescues. This truth lights up my own life as I see again and again every good, kind, and loving thing I do come back to bless me with even greater joy. Don't be afraid to give then. Give your time, your energy, your talents, your love, and your joy. Share all the fantastic blessings God gives to you with those around you. Become as Leo Buscaglia said "the most beautiful, sensitive, wondrous, magical, unique, fantastic person in the world", so that you can share that person with everyone everywhere. If you can do this then what you will get back will be so glorious and wonderful that you will never want to stop giving. It is true that what you give is what you get. But if what you give is love, joy, peace, happiness, goodness, delight, and oneness with God then what you get will be a thousand times greater. --- ...See this wonderful teaching... Giving Equals Receiving http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/GIVING_EQUALS_RECEIVING.htm -<>- ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >The friend who stands by When troubles come your soul to try You love the friend who just stands by. Perhaps there's nothing he or she can do The thing is strictly up to you. For there are troubles all your own And paths the soul must tread alone. Times when love can't smooth the road Nor friendship lift the heavy load. But just to feel you have a friend Who will stand by until the end. Whose sympathy through all endures Whose warm handclasp is always yours. It helps somehow to pull you through Although there's nothing he or she can do. And so with fervent heart we cry..... God Bless the friend who just stands by. --Author Unknown -<>- ___ .~- ` `' "' ` -~. ____ :~+.-` .-"-. .-"~._ `-.+~: ! / -` ` `'--~:.l :' . '. / /-". : . \` .` /.-"\ : `- ^ :` ^ "` `. \:'._ \ `!` : :-===-. .-===-.\ .!/'. '.; / . : : : `.l .mPm.\ .mPm. |/ l . : :': | \ ' d: ' / : : '-: " :-;: ` . . ._..._. :::` _ / :: ;::;. ! . . :;:. .::::;: ' . : : : `:::'. .'::::;::. \ '/. . . `::l '-. .-' '|:::::::. ; : |: :: ::__`.-. _.-.::::::_ ; .~"` \ \ :`"/ `-..- ` \"`// "~. / \ \ . ___ /\ ___ .// \ : \ \.-` _.~l)=~ `' -.:" ` '/ . ":`-. \ : . -:: _lm. .` zi. | \ /`-' :::- ::.: : !:` ": : . ' "-._:: ^: . ; `-" \::_.~' : : : ' ' : ' : >Let A Miracle Happen By Aletha Jane Lindstrom "There's a new student waiting in your room," my principal announced, hurrying past me on the stairs. "Name's Mary. I need to talk to you about her. Stop in the office later." I nodded and glanced down at the packs of pink, red and white paper, and the jars of paste and boxes of scissors I held in my arms. "Fine," I said. "I've just come from the supply room. We're making valentine envelopes this morning. It'll be a good way for her to get acquainted." This was my third year of teaching fourth-graders, but I was already aware how much they loved Valentine's Day (now just a week away), and making these bright containers to tape to the fronts of their desks was a favorite activity. Mary would surely be caught up in the excitement and be chatting cheerfully with new friends before the project was finished. Humming to myself, I continued up the stairs. I didn't see her at first. She was sitting in the back of the room with her hands folded in her lap. Her head was down and long, light- brown hair fell forward, caressing the softly shadowed cheeks. "Welcome, Mary," I said. "I'm so glad you'll be in our room. And this morning you can make an envelope to hold your valentines for our party on Valentine's Day." No response. Had she heard me? "Mary," I said again, slowly and distinctly. She raised her head and looked into my eyes. The smile on my face froze. A chill went through me and I stood motionless. The eyes in that sweet, little-girl face were strangely empty - as if the owner of a house had drawn the blinds and gone away. Once before I had seen such eyes: They had belonged to an inmate of a mental institution, one I'd visited as a college student. "She's found life unendurable," the resident psychiatrist had explained, "so she's retreated from the world." She had, he went on, killed her husband in a fit of insane jealousy. But this child - she could have been my own small, lovable niece except for those blank, desolate eyes. Dear God, I thought, what horror has entered the life of this innocent little girl? I longed to take her in my arms and hug the hurt away. Instead, I pulled books from the shelf behind her and placed them in her lap. "Here are texts you'll be using, Mary. Would you like to look at them?" Mechanically, she opened each book, closed it and resumed her former position. The bell rang then, and the children burst in on a wave of cold, snowy air. When they saw the valentine materials on my desk, they bubbled with excitement. There was little time to worry about Mary that first hour. I took attendance, settled Mary into her new desk and introduced her. The children seemed subdued and confused when she failed to acknowledge the introduction or even raise her head. Quickly, in order to divert them, I distributed materials for the envelopes and suggested ways to construct and decorate them. I placed materials on Mary's desk, too, and asked Kristie, her nearest neighbor, to offer help. With the children happily engrossed, I escaped to the office. "Sit down," my principal said, "and I'll fill you in." The child, she said, had been very close to her mother, living alone with her in a Detroit suburb. One night, several weeks ago, someone had broken into their home and shot and killed the mother in Mary's presence. Mary escaped, screaming, to a neighbor's. Then the child went into shock. She hadn't cried or mentioned her mother since. The principal sighed and then went on. "Authorities sent her here to live with her only relative - a married sister. The sister enrolled Mary this morning. I'm afraid we'll get little help from her. She's divorced, with three small children to support. Mary is just one more responsibility." "But what can I do?" I stammered. "I've never known a child like this before." I felt so inadequate. "Give her love," she suggested, "lots and lots of love. She's lost so much. There's prayer, too - and faith, faith that will make her a normal little girl again if you just don't lose hope." I returned to my room to discover that the children were already shunning this "different" child. Not that Mary noticed. Even kindly little Kristie looked affronted. "She won't even try," she told me. I sent a note to the principal to remove Mary from the room for a short time. I needed to enlist the children's help before recess, before they could taunt her about being "different." "Mary's been hurt badly," I explained gently, "and she's so quiet because she's afraid she'll be hurt again. You see, her mother just died, and there's no one else who loves her. You must be very patient and understanding. It may be a long time before she's ready to laugh and join in your games, but you can do a lot to help her." Bless all children. How loving they can be once they understand. On Valentine's Day, Mary's envelope overflowed. She looked at each card without comment and replaced it in her container. She didn't take them home, but at least she looked at them. She arrived at school insufficiently dressed for the bitterly cold weather. Her raw, chapped hands - without mittens - cracked and bled. Although she seemed oblivious to sore hands and the cold, I sewed buttons on her thin coat, and the children brought caps, scarves, sweaters and mittens. Kristie, like a little mother, helped Mary bundle up before she went outdoors, and she insisted on walking to and from school with her. In spite of our efforts, we seemed to be getting no closer to Mary as the cold, dreary March days dragged by. Even my faith was wearing thin. My heart ached so desperately, wanting this child to come alive, to be aware of the beauty the wonder, the fun - and, yes - even the pain of living. Dear God, I prayed, please let one small miracle happen. She needs it so desperately. Then on a late March day, one of the boys excitedly reported a robin in the schoolyard. We flocked to the window to see it. "Spring's here!" the children cried. "Let's make a flower border for the room!" Why not? I thought. Anything to lift our spirits. This time the papers we selected were beautiful pastel colors - with brown strips to weave into baskets. I showed the children how to weave the baskets and how to fashion all the flowers we welcome in early spring. Remembering the valentine incident, I expected nothing from Mary; nevertheless, I placed the beautifully colored papers on her desk and encouraged her to try. Then I left the children to do their own creating, and I spent the next half-hour sorting scraps of paper at the back of the room. Suddenly, Kristie came hurrying to me, her face aglow. "Come see Mary's basket," she exclaimed. "It's so pretty! You'll never believe it!" I caught my breath at its beauty. The gently curled petals of hyacinths, the daffodils' fluted cups, skillfully fashioned crocuses and violets - work one would expect from a child much older. "Mary," I said. "This is beautiful. How did you ever manage?" She looked at me with the shining eyes of any normal little girl. "My mother loved flowers," she said simply. "She had all of these growing in our garden." Thank you, God, I said silently. You've given us the miracle. I knelt and put my arms around the child. Then the tears came, slowly at first, but soon she was sobbing her heart out against my shoulder. The other children had tears in their eyes, too, but theirs - like mine - were tears of joy. We fastened her basket in the very center of the border at the front of the room. It remained there until school ended in June. On the last day, Mary held it carefully as she carried it out the door. Then she came running back, pulled a crocus from her basket and handed it to me. "This is for you," she said, and she gave me a hug and a kiss. Mary moved away that summer. I lost track of her, but I'll never forget her. And I know God is caring for her. I've kept the crocus in my desk ever since - just to remind me of Mary and of the enduring power of love and faith. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Beautiful Mathematics! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mathbeauty.html Believe In Your Dreams! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/dream.html The Blue Ribbon! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html A Flower A Day! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/flowerday.html Journey Through Life! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/journey.html Life's Choices! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifeschoices.html No Words Needed 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nowords3.html True Heroes! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trueheroes.html Kinkade - Painter Of Light! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kinkade.html Extreme BBQ'S! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/extremebbqs.html World's Unusual Tunnels! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/tunnels.html Beautiful Spilling Flowers! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/spillingflowers.html Beautiful Russian Churches! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/russianchurches.html Extraordinary Photos! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/extraordinary.html God's Most Beautiful! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mostbeautiful.html World's Top Geniuses! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/geniuses.html Incredible Architecture! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/architecture.html Recycling Ideas! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/recycling.html Moses Bridge! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mosesbridge.html Thoughts Into Action! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/action12.html Romantic Getaways! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/romantic.html World's Most Unique Beaches! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/uniquebeaches.html World's Unique Boneyards! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/boneyards.html SUMMER INDEX! https://tinyurl.com/y4xyz2w8 -<>- The Promises Of God Menu http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/Promises.htm , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...Here's My Teacher in the Word: Dr Wierwille "The Living Room Of God's Love" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmF1NahhxeQ Dr Victor Paul Wierwille Teaching "We Are Ambassadors" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3akWR4GDq7o I went to this - The Rock of Ages 1972 - Wonderful gathering! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuIjVWnhyKw Rock of Ages 1972 Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUGvIq9lB0w Elvis Presley - You'll Never Walk Alone (Gospel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4IGlTLXHDg -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu! :) Magician Adam Wilber turns a signed one 1 dollar bill into a hundred and leaves Penn & Teller baffled. https://youtu.be/ErRsMTmdQb4 Eric Chien is impressing the judges and audience of Asia's Got Talent 2019 with his performance of incredible sleight-of-hand magic. https://youtu.be/p3uMK5t2I7k Magician Shin Lim returns to America's Got Talent 2019 with his best performance so far and leaves the judges and audience speechless. https://youtu.be/czeYRh_pOtY --- ...Wowsers! Most captivating! Thanks LouiseAu! An interesting look into the various methods Walmart uses to get shoppers to spend more money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXuFqBr7QeI --- ...That is why they do so well! 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 ========================================================== ,;;;;;, ,;;;;;;;;, ;;;'____ ; ;;;(\\\\\; `/'((||||| ___< C))|||| ,' \__(((||), | \ _)))))))\,_ /| |/"\`\`""""' |) ; \ \ ) \_____/_| | |\ \' _.,-' | | ' \ \.,-' _./ | ( _,-\ _.-'' | ; "'|___\__.-' ; ) |----| _.--,;' ; ,' , | ( __.,-' | ,' ,' `""'' `. | ; ) `, ( ) | ( ,' | | ( | | | | | | | |___________| | | | | Normand Veilleux based on work by Tua Xiong >The Color Blind Hug Story Editor: by Susan Golian Joyce Schowalter California, USA When I was 24 I suffered my fourth miscarriage. My Air Force husband was assigned to another base for six weeks, so I was all alone in a small town in the western USA. I had learned two days earlier by ultrasound that this was an unsuccessful pregnancy, and my doctor wanted me to "let nature take its course." I was to walk a great deal and that would lead to a natural end of things. After a long, depressing walk I climbed into bed and pulled the covers up over my head to sleep and grieve. Many hours later the doorbell awakened me and I discovered I had hemorrhaged while sleeping. I opened the door to find one of my girlfriends, thank goodness, who immediately drove me to the hospital. I was admitted to the maternity floor (no shortage of irony there) and a nurse came in to start an I.V. for me. I had a tremendous fear of needles and, having lost a huge amount of blood, my veins collapsed. I finally lost my composure and sobbed uncontrollably during the I.V. ordeal and the brief wait for someone to cart me down to surgery. The orderly arrived, an enormous, sweet-faced black man. For the record, I am so white I practically glow in the dark. I continued to weep as he pushed me down the hall and into the elevator car. We started down to the surgery floor and suddenly he pushed the stop button and the elevator car jerked to a halt. He came around the side of the gurney and bent down over me. He gently scooped the top half of me up into his arms and cradled me against his chest, rocked me like a baby and murmured encouragement and blessings. After a couple minutes I settled into those post-hysterical cry hiccups. Then he kissed the top of my head saying, "God bless and keep you," and tenderly laid me back down, smoothed my hair and punched the "Go" button. The elevator lurched back into action and he wheeled me into the surgery prep area. Amazingly, my husband appeared at my side just before they wheeled me into the operating room. My girlfriend had called someone with enough juice to make an Air Force pilot throw him into a fast jet and whisk him back to my side. I was, of course, glad to see my husband. But I will never forget the tender comfort given me in the elevator. That man risked so much to soothe me. What if I had complained to the hospital that he had touched me while we were alone? He risked his job and possibly his career. His behavior was in stark contrast to the way almost everyone else had treated me during each of my miscarriages; as "just a body" instead of as a feeling person. I don't know this man's name, but I have no doubt that others are being comforted by him to this day. =======HeroicStories======= Waves are my home .:~~--__ __--~~:. Wind is my life ,:;'~'-,__~~--..,---..--~~__,-`~`::. ,:;' ''-,_ (. .)_,-`` `::. ,;' \ `\)/ `:. ' `--' ` __._ _.._ _._ -~~ ~~--..__.._-~~~--..--~~ ~~--.__.---...-'~ ~~---...-.__seal__. >-->Challenge of Life by Robert H. Gilbert, Jr Many years ago, as a young boy in school, I had a mentor who was in my fourth grade class. He might have been just ten years old, but he knew what he wanted to do with his life. All through school, he made A's in every subject. I remember one time, in the ninth grade, he kept telling the teachers that, by the time he was thirty, he was going to be a millionaire. So, it seemed, the only thing I could do was take every subject with the same teachers, at the same time, with my mentor. If he could be a millionaire by the age thirty, why couldn't I? In the eleventh grade, my mentor chose the college he was going to attend. He did not participate in sports; all he did was study The Wall Street Journal. Day in and day out, he read financial newspapers. He said that his major in college would be accounting I found out the name of the college and got my parents to agree to pay for my studies, at the same college. Having no idea what my major was going to be, just going to the same college was good enough for me. After graduation from high school, we took the summer off before going away to college. When we got our degrees, four years later, he took off in a different direction than me. After two years of searching, I found him working for the I.R.S., in Denver, Colorado Now, I knew how he was going to become a millionaire. I checked with the main office for a job. After about three weeks, I got a job as an assistant to his office. He was very surprised to see me. We had lunch, on numerous occasions, and he talked about his future. He had six years left, according to his time schedule, for becoming a millionaire. I must admit that I never thought he would do it, but he did. In five years, at the age of twenty-nine, he had accomplished something most people just dream of ... becoming a millionaire. He decided to quit work and explore the world and promised to send me post cards. Me? I guess, I'll just be a poor man and work the rest of my life, to try and save at least a hundred dollars. Some achieve more in life than others and then want more. Some, however, never get their feet off the ground floor, and yet are still very happy. He sent me a post card from Switzerland, where he climbed the highest mountain ... just to say he had been there. He, even, went on a space shuttle to explore outer space. He said he was so close to the stars he felt as if he could reach out and touch them. He landed on the moon and, to prove it, he left a footprint or two. I knew he was there, as I had seen him on television. He sent me a card from Bermuda, saying he was going to the deepest part of the ocean ... to see the creatures of the sea. He led an expedition that was going from the North Pole to the South Pole. Maybe he wanted to have his name in The Guinness Book of World Records for walking all those miles. I found out later that, upon his return from his expedition, he had bought a mansion on a hill that cost him well over twenty million dollars. He was letting folks know how rich he was One day, he came by the office and all the people cheered for him. He looked about forty years older than when he had left on his adventures. He was almost bald. When I came out of my office, he ran up to me, shook my hand, and asked if I was free for lunch. "Sure," I said. "But, I insist on paying for it." He smiled, then nodded. I had an idea that he was almost broke. Surely he must be, after going on all those trips and buying the new house. When we got to the restaurant and sat at a table in the back, he began telling me his story. "My adventures were not all that pleasant. I've been a dancer, singer, an actor, even had my name in lights. I've been a drunkard, even stole for food. On the way back home, I kept thinking, surely, there was one more thing to do that no one else has done before. Landing in New York, I realized what it was. I took another plane to the Middle East (Jerusalem, to be exact). I went down to a boat rental and got a boat for the day. I rowed out to the middle of the sea, the Sea of Galilee. I stood up, stepped out onto the water and went under. I was sure I went almost to the bottom. I was out of breath and about to pass out. Then, I felt something pulling my body up toward the surface 'til my head was out of the water. I gasped for air. Lifted back into the boat, I looked down at my clothes. They were dry and the hairs on my head were not wet. What was going on? I looked around to see who had pulled me out of the water. I wanted to thank them for saving my life. But, no one was anywhere around. I couldn't believe that I had swam back up from being down so deep, even though I'm a very good swimmer. I looked around again, but saw no one. Then, I finally looked at the sky. I saw an arm reaching down, then a face and a smile appeared. I stood up, raised my arms skyward, and said, `Lord, why could I not walk on these waters as you did? I have done so many things, just because I knew I could do them. I believed in myself and I believe in you So, why could I not do this?' Then, I heard a soft-spoken voice say, `Yes, I know you believe in me. I have watched you do many things in your life. If you know I believe, then why did I sink into the water?' I asked. The Lord answered, `Yes, you do believe in me. But, you believe in your mind, not in your heart.' Then, the arms and face slowly disappeared. - Robert H. Gilbert, Jr. ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: "The current popular notion that judging others is in itself a sin leads to such inappropriate maxims as 'I'm okay and you're okay.' It encourages a conspiracy of moral indifference which says, 'If you never tell me that anything I'm doing is wrong, I'll never tell you that anything you're doing is wrong.'" - Elisabeth Elliot Gren , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Commitment - A Dying Trait (By list subscriber Stephen Kollock) [Edited] I have a friend who builds houses for a living - a process that fascinates me. Not just building houses but constructing anything on a grand scale; from ships to bridges to the house or apartment you live in. When we had our house built, I was able to see the process first hand. The first thing they do is level the land on which the house is to be built. Once that is accomplished, a foundation is dug. Then comes the floor to support the walls, which support the second floor, walls, which support the roof. All of it was lots of work, taking months to finally get to the finished product. The reason it took so long was because it had to be done right. If one stage was done wrong, the whole thing could fall down. It takes time to build something - at least to build it right. It takes planning. It takes skill. Most of all, it takes dedication. Building anything the right way it takes someone dedicated to doing the job right. On the other hand, it doesn't take much to tear something down. It doesn't take a whole lot of skill - picture me with a sledgehammer in the middle of your living room. In a matter of minutes a bulldozer can bring down a house that took month's to build and has stood for years. Seems strange that something that was built with such care can be destroyed so easily. But it's always easier to tear down than to build up, isn't it. It's easier to throw out than to bring back in. It's easier to stop than to keep going. I think in our lives today we are missing an ingredient that it would serve us well to revisit: commitment. Remember commitment? It's the idea of saying you are going to do something and then actually doing it. It's saying I will marry you no matter what and then when "no matter what" happens, staying married. Or saying I want to have children and even when they become the little monsters you swore your kid's would never be, you keep being their parents. Commitment is saying you love and appreciate your parents and all their sacrifices for you, to the point where you will bring them to your home instead of "shipping them off" to the nursing home in the winter of their life. The problem with commitment is really simple though; commitment requires something most us do not want to consider: sacrifice. Commitment may mean sacrificing your time or your money or some of your own dreams because you said you would. It means walking through the fire that will inevitably burn you because you knew going in that hurt could be part of the deal. But more than that, it means staying the course until the end, no matter what the cost. Commitment means sacrifice. I am afraid in our society we have made it too easy to turn from our commitments. We find it so easy to just stop if something gets too hard, to walk away and start over later or with a different person or maybe in a different place. We are a people of excuses. And the excuses are mostly to relieve any guilt or apprehension we have about one thing: not living up to our commitments. Here are some examples of those who display the kind of commitment I'm talking about and wish I had more of. The single mother working two jobs for the simple reason that she made a commitment to her kids. The father who goes to fight for his country because when he signed up he knew that was part of the job. The pastor who stands up for God even when he knows it will cost him his way of life. I admit it, I've taken my share of shortcuts, letting people down along the way. But the problem is so many people take most of their commitments with a grain of salt. We have looked and found all kind of exit clauses and loopholes to get us out of any commitment we make. Now it's as easy to get a divorce as it is to get married. If you don't want the child you are carrying, you can always go to a clinic and skip the commitment that comes with parenthood. We often say we believe in something until it's really put to the test. Sadly, many Christians have fallen into this "limited commitment" category. We are often committed as long as it doesn't interfere too strongly with what we like to do. We all like to pick and choose. "I agree with the part about adultery but the part about honoring God with everything seems a little outdated." With commitments like these and sacrifice being a thing of the past, is it any wonder our houses are falling in? -<>- The greatest use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it. ' . ' . . . : . . '. ______ .' ' _.-"` `"-._ ' .' '. `'--. / \ .--'` / \ ; ; - -- | | -- - | _. | ; /__`A ,_ ; .-' \ |= |;._.}{__ / '-. _.-""-|.' # '. ` `.-"{}<._ / 1938 \ \ x `" ----/ \_.-'|--X---- -=_ | | |- X. =_ - __ |_________|_.-'|_X-X## jgs `'-._|_|;:;_.-'` '::. `"- .:;. .:. ::. '::. >Fields Ready for the Harvest (Author Unknown) [Edited] We had a visiting brother speaking in our assembly today. One of the passages that he touched on was John 4:35, "...Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." This speaker commented that we hear a lot about a perishing earth these days, and very little about a perishing world. How true! People everywhere are talking about the danger that the earth is in from the threats of climate change, pollution, global warming, etc. But how little we, as Christians, hear about the danger that the world full of souls is in from the threat of perishing in their sins. Could it be that we are more interested in the fate of the earth than we are in the destiny of the world? It was this matter of a lost and dying world that was the Lord's concern in John 4. He spoke of the world as being full of vast fields of people awaiting the gospel message, but who would reap this great harvest? The speaker noted how the entire city of Nineveh was saved from judgment and brought to repentance through the words of one very reluctant witness, Jonah. And, if God can do this with a reluctant witness, what could he do with me, as a willing witness fully devoted to him? We are constantly investing in our homes, our cars, our pensions, etc; but how much are we investing in eternity? I suppose most people's first question is: How does one invest in eternity? The speaker noted 3 ways that we can invest in eternity: Invest in unbelievers. The harvest is certainly ready. Invest in your local church. The church is Christ's body. Invest in your marriage and in your family. The family is God's design for society. He values it and we should value it as well and invest time into both our families and marriages. Where are you investing your life today? 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 ========================================================== \ \ ` / / ' \ ` \ ` ' / / ` ' \ . * * * * * . / ` \ ` * * * * * * * * * / \ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ' \ ` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ / \ ` * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ' / ` @ @ @ @ * '@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ \ * * * * * * * * * * * * * ' ` @ @ @ @ @ Come @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ / * * * ** sit under the * * * * * * * * \ ` @ @ @ @ @ rainbow & amile @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ' * * * * * with me. * * * * * * * * / ` @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ . * * * * * * * * * * * * *. \ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ >-->I'll Paint You A Rainbow I'll paint you a rainbow to hang on the wall, To brighten your heart when grey shadows fall, On a canvas of joy outlasting the years. With a soft brush of sweetness to dry all your tears, I'll paint you a rainbow with colors of smiles That glow with sincerity over the miles. On a palette of words I will tenderly blend Tones into treasures of sunlight and wind. I'll paint you a rainbow that reaches so wide, Your sighs and your sorrows will vanish inside, And deep in the center of each different hue, Is a memory fashioned especially for you. So, lift up your eyes, for suspended above, Is a rainbow designed by the fingers of love. - Grace E. Easley >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $20 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all self-subscribed readers and $5 more will give you the same message also put up for all web site readers. Email me to secure dates. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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 **********************************************************************