What's the Real Meaning of Life? ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* 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!! ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ _..._ (,-'-,) / `"""` \ | /_ _\ | .--.\( _ )/.--. / .' '-...-' '. \ | / _/|\_ \ | / | -' \|/ '- | \ / \__..-'-..__/ \ ( / \ ) '-'._/ \_.'-' / \ ( ) jgs \ / `'-._____.-'` *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================================================================ >-->From Heartwarmers: . '@(@@@@@@@)@. (@@) ` . ' . @@'((@@@@@@@@@@@)@@@@@)@@@@@@@)@ @@(@@@@@@@@@@))@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@)@@` . @.((@@@@@@@)(@@@@@@@@@@@@@@))@\@@@@@@@@@)@@@ . (@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@)@@@@@@@@@@@\\@@)@@@@@@@@) (@@@@@@@@)@@@@@@@@@@@@@(@@@@@@@@//@@@@@@@@@) ` .@(@@@@)##&&&&&(@@@@@@@@)::_=(@\\@@@@)@@ . .' @@`(@@)###&&&&&!!;;;;;;::-_=@@\\@)@`@. ` @@(@###&&&&!!;;;;;::-=_=@.@\\@@ ' ` @.#####&&&!!;;;::=-_= .@ \\ ####&&&!!;;::=_- ` ###&&!!;;:-_= ##&&!;::_= ##&&!;:= ##&&!:- #&!;:- #&!;= #&!- #&= jgs #&- \\#/' ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >BINDING THE WOUNDS by Jaye Lewis Tornadoes don't happen in the mountains. Ask anybody. The weather in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, where I live, promises to be the safest on earth. Our weather is tempered by the mountains we love, and though we are not as high as the Rockies, when tornadoes infrequently touch down, they are swiftly sent packing up the next slope, and into the sky. That's the way it's always been until now. It happened late at night, when the powerful tornadoes swept through Alabama, and five other states. My community, in southwest Virginia, was the only thing standing in their way. One. Two. Three. Four tornadoes, raced past the Tennessee/Virginia border and into the small town of Glade Spring. Then they hit Chilhowie, and barreled on. But the greatest destruction remained in Glade Spring, along with a tragic loss of life. It chills me to realize that we are talking about life and death. Their community, just like ours. Their homes, just like ours. Their families, just like ours. Their hopes and dreams, shattered, just as ours would be. Their grief was so palpable that it tore through my heart, as I realized it could have been me. It could have been my house flattened, as we slumbered in our beds. It could have been my family, and my husband gone. "No man is an island, entire of itself," wrote the great Churchman and poet, John Donne, "every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." So, for those of us who fared well, who woke up the following morning and wondered who is going to mow my grass? I hope we remember to thank God that is was not us. I hope we remember well, that a powerful, uncontrollable natural disaster just may come our way. Before the night was over, the rescue sirens were blaring, and every volunteer was on his way. That means half of three counties. Betty Blevins was pulled from the wreckage by young hands who wrapped her in their shirts and jackets to keep her from going into shock. While one stayed to comfort, the rest moved on to others and everyone, believe me, everyone showed up. The next day, people took vacations to help with the clean-up, and it didn't take long, with hundreds of volunteers, to uncover what was left. Nothing. Nothing except prayers, tears, and a hand to hold. Inexplicably, FEMA refused aid, because the cleanup was so fast. We couldn't possibly need help, because we had so many volunteers, and it was up to the churches to move in and rebuild. Wow. So the churches have stepped in, as they always do, along with local aid agencies of every scope. When donations were requested, empty cupboards and pockets dug deeper still to find enough to share and to heal. You see, it doesn't take much money to bind the wounds of a small town. It doesn't make much press. It merely takes a heart. So, if in the future it is your life that is wounded, I pray that you are near a town like Glade Spring, as I am blessed to be, where binding up wounds is not just what they do, but it is who they are. -- Jaye Lewis __________________________________________________ Jaye Lewis, a Heartwarmer Gem and Chicken Soup contributor, lives in a unique community called the Tri-Cities. It includes much of southwest Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. She says, "We were all affected by the tornadoes which claimed 20 lives. When a trucker was asked what he was doing during the storm, he said, 'What everyone else was doing, I closed my eyes and prayed to the Lord.' As did we all." You can visit Jaye's website at http://www.entertainingangels.org and her blog at ================================================================== >-->From Our Friend John-Paul :) .--.-. ( ( )__ ^^ (_, \ ) ,_) ^^ '-'--`--' | \ / ~, .-'-. /| -- / \ -- ~^~`^~^`^~ / |\ ~^~~^~``~~^~~^^~^~^-=======-~^~^~^~~^~~^~^~ ~^~ ~^~ ^~ /__|_\~^~ ~^~^~^~_~^~^_~-=========- -~^~^~^^~^_~ ~^~ ~^~^ ~ '======' `~^-~~^~-^~^_~^~~ -=====- ~^~^~-~^~^~^~~^~ jgs ~^~ ~^ ~^~ ~^~^ ~^~-~^~~^~-~^~~-~^~^~-~^~~^-~^~^~^-~^~^~^~ ~^~ ~^~ ~^~ ~^ ~^~ ~^~^ ~^~-~^~~^~-~^~~-~^~^~-~^~~^-~^~^~^-~^~^~^~ >"THE DECISION" AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING, BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING. IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS , AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE. WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK. "A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST." HE BEGAN. "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED." THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY. THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE. HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HE ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT. THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!' HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND. BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED. BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH. "THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY "WITHOUT THE SAVING GRACE OF JESUS. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. "HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR EACH OF US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY SON ---THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I NOW URGE EACH OF YOU TO SEARCH YOUR HEARTS, AND ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU. SO, PLEASE, TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU, TODAY, IN THIS SERVICE." .---. /` ___|`\ |_/ \| ( -/- ) \_ - _/ .-'|_|'-. / \ / O \ / _____!_____ \ /.-------------.\ \| ,;, |/ | ;;; | | ;;;;;;;;; | | `';;;'` | | ;;; | | ;;; | | ::: | | ';' | | | _| _ __ __ _|_ jgs_/ _ __ ___ __ _\_ _/ __ ___ _ ___ __ _ \_ WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM. THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A VERY BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL. WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE. "THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THEM, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN." "WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT THIS STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE --- I WAS THAT FATHER, AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND." "FOR GOD NEVER FAILS"!! With~The~Love~Of~GOD~In~My~Heart~~ John-Paul --- ...Wisdom from God is always true! Thank You John-Paul! ================================================================ >-->From DevineHalowings: . . : . _ '. _.:._ .' (_) '-. .' '. .-' _;_ ' - ./ \. - ' / | \ - - | | - - """" \ | \ """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" `|\ ` | \ / / jgs / /_ >What's the Real Meaning of Life? On October 10, 2004, David Seaman, a freshman at New York University, was trying to avoid writing a paper on "God and the cosmic order in Dante's universe" for his humanities class. On a whim he typed "What is the meaning of life?" into an online forum. He received a whopping 50,000 hits and 2,000 answers. The excerpts below are from his new book, "The Real Meaning of Life," a compilation of some of the best responses he received. _jgN########Ngg_ _N##N@@"" ""9NN##Np_ d###P N####p "^^" T#### d###P What's the Real Meaning of Life? _g###@F _gN##@P gN###F" d###F 0###F 0###F 0###F "NN@' ___ q###r "" Give more than you take. Do your best to leave every situation better than you found it. Seek beauty in all its forms. Chase dreams. Watch sunsets. Endeavor to use more than 10 percent of your brain. Don't stifle your deep-from-the-gut, cleansing laughter. Take a moment to ponder the enormity of the universe, then admit to yourself that you can't possibly be the center. Breathe deeply. Swim into the dark water. Let yourself cry when your body tells you to. Love more. Delight in silliness. Don't be bitter. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. --Katy Rhodes _jgN########Ngg_ _N##N@@"" ""9NN##Np_ d###P N####p "^^" T#### d###P What's the Real Meaning of Life? _g###@F _gN##@P gN###F" d###F 0###F 0###F 0###F "NN@' ___ q###r "" For me, the meaning of life is to leave the world a better place than you found it. Many of us will come and go, leaving ripples that fade over time into the noise of history. A select few, though, will play the role of chaos theory's butterfly. Through actions that perhaps even appear insignificant, they'll kick off waves of change that leave a lasting impression on the landscape of human culture. I hope that somehow I manage to start some waves that improve the human condition over the long term. --Hans Gerwitz _jgN########Ngg_ _N##N@@"" ""9NN##Np_ d###P N####p "^^" T#### d###P What's the Real Meaning of Life? _g###@F _gN##@P gN###F" d###F 0###F 0###F 0###F "NN@' ___ q###r "" Since none of us is an expert on the creation of the universe, because none of us created it, and none of us was alive for the past billions of years to witness it, then we can safely say that we are all just trying to make sense of it. We believe in philosophies, truths, dogmas, faiths, or sometimes the lack thereof that have been passed down to us through myriads of ways of telling. To scrape it down to a skeletal essence, then the truth I believe in is this: to love others as best we possibly can and, for the sake of Pete and heaven, to love something bigger, greater, and beyond ourselves, something we did not create or have the power to create, something intangible and made holy by our very belief in it. This is not the souped-up, sexed-out version of love that many of us resign to. Rather, it is the kind of love that causes us to forgive those who hurt us and to risk our lives. It is not magical, or impossible, for it is within us all to love others so fiercely that in the end we could give it all up. This scary notion cuts much deeper than any hurt we experience or inflict, because it buried under layers or silliness, sadness, pain, fear, and American dreams. This is all easy to say, hard to do, but worth every effort we can muster. --Barbra Bowman _jgN########Ngg_ _N##N@@"" ""9NN##Np_ d###P N####p "^^" T#### d###P What's the Real Meaning of Life? _g###@F _gN##@P gN###F" d###F 0###F 0###F 0###F "NN@' ___ q###r "" Finding a meaning to life is itself the meaning of life. This quest for spiritual truth is what makes us human and differentiates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Humans are the only animals to ask "why," the only animals to wonder where we came from, what we are, and where we're going. Finding a purpose or a passion, whether it be religious faith, love, or simply a hobby, is a uniquely human ability. Life is our only opportunity to embrace this privilege. Unfortunately, so many religions and belief systems encourage the opposite idea-that this mortal existence is merely a test or preparation for what lies beyond death. But life is no dress rehearsal. This is the time to explore, to indulge our curiosity and our hunger for truth. --Tracy Steel You are a blank page. When you are ready to die, you are a full-length novel. --Jihan Zubi _jgN########Ngg_ _N##N@@"" ""9NN##Np_ d###P N####p "^^" T#### d###P What's the Real Meaning of Life? _g###@F _gN##@P gN###F" d###F 0###F 0###F 0###F "NN@' ___ q###r "" People don't live forever, but everyone leaves their mark, which lasts eternally on those they have touched. Although the passing of our lives seems timeless, the light is slowly dimming, and one day the only thing left will be memories of what once was. That is why I choose to be the best person I can be for others, because I know that one day the only thing left of me will be the outcome of my life and how it has affected others. --George Montroukas _jgN########Ngg_ _N##N@@"" ""9NN##Np_ d###P N####p "^^" T#### d###P What's the Real Meaning of Life? _g###@F _gN##@P gN###F" d###F 0###F 0###F 0###F "NN@' ___ q###r "" When people argue against the existence of God, they often say, "I just can't believe in a God that allows so many terrible things to happen in the world." And looking around it's easy to see what they mean. Headlines inform us daily of mass murders, school bus crashes, suicide bombers. It's so easy to ask, "Why couldn't God have just stopped that suicide bomber?" "Why couldn't Hitler have had an aneurysm at seventeen, sparing millions of lives?" But I don't think we can live in a world without suffering. If no one suffered, then all people would have to be perfect all the time. Without the ability to cause suffering, we lose the ability to choose. Life is ultimately a choice, of how you will live, what you will do, what you will say, what you will believe. We could have been made to be all good, all the time. But we would have no choices, and to choose to be good is worth infinitely more than the most saintly goodness of a choiceless robot. Many people believe we are born with a soul. I believe that our soul is the product of an entire life; it's something you make. It's shaped by how often you are kind to others, by how you treat your children, by how hard you work for the things you care about. Life is a dazzling and confusing array of choices, and what you do makes you who you are. We may begin life with different personalities and different situations, but what matters is not what we start out with but what we end with, and how we confront everything in between. Every religion, at its core, gives us advice on the best way to live, but in the end it's a choice we make only for ourselves. We may choose to feed the starving or kill the innocent, but no matter what our earthly rewards or punishments may be, every action we take makes us who we are. And what, at last, could be more precious than the quality of our own character, and the integrity of our soul? --Julia Darcey _jgN########Ngg_ _N##N@@"" ""9NN##Np_ d###P N####p "^^" T#### d###P What's the Real Meaning of Life? _g###@F _gN##@P gN###F" d###F 0###F 0###F 0###F "NN@' ___ q###r "" I'm a twenty-year old, so my view on life is still somewhat...hazy. I need to live more. I don't know if I'm being original-if I'm not, at least I arrived at this on my own-but I think that the real meaning of life is "to look for the meaning of life." It's not a circular definition-I'm just saying that the generalization of something this profound is wrong. Six billion people in the world, all different from the inside out, might have something in common, but the meaning of life? It should be more like "what's the meaning of your life?" What are you? Why are you here? What are you looking for? I'm still looking for my purpose, and I believe that's the meaning of life: to look for it. --David Yim --- ...What's the Real Meaning of Life? God put it this way - from TruthOrTradition.com: . . : . _ '. _.:._ .' (_) '-. .' '. .-' _;_ ' - ./ \. - ' / | \ - - | | - - """" \ | \ """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" `|\ ` | \ / / jgs / /_ Ecclesiastes 12: 13 -- Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. We were designed by God to respect Him and to keep God’s commandments. This verse near the end of Ecclesiastes contains a great truth, but many do not understand it. The word 'fear' is a stumbling block to many Christians. We must realize that in the King James Version of the Bible, the word translated as 'fear' in this verse does not mean to be afraid of God. It means to reverence or venerate, or in simpler terms, to regard someone or something with awe and respect. Another word to watch out for in this verse is 'duty'. It is in italics, which means it was a word added by the translators. A current translation of this verse would be: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Have awe and respect for God, and keep His Word, for this is the whole of man (the reason he was made)." And Jesus said... Matt.22: [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ============================================================= >-->From CupO'Cheer: ___ /___\ |/. .\| ( > ) \ < / _)_(_ .' '. /.-.___.-.\ [_________] | | | , | | -|- | | | | | | | | | | .---------. __,-'---------'-,__ __jgs___|___________________|_________ >FISH Mike Benson, Editor A past issue of Action magazine caught my attention some time ago... It carried an article about a gentleman from the Philippines by the name of Leopoldo Ducany. One afternoon, Leopoldo's wife had brought him a fish which she had purchased at the local market. She asked him to clean it in order that she might prepare it for supper. The meal-to-be was wrapped in a year-old newspaper. As he tore away the paper, Leopoldo noticed an ad for World Bible School. The ad prompted a response, and before long, he was regularly receiving Bible correspondence materials. At the conclusion of the series of lessons, Leopoldo requested baptism and was added to the body of Christ (Acts 2:47; Galatians 3:27). He made this decision to follow the Lord despite the obvious anti-church sentiment held by Communist rebels in his region. THOUGHT: I have a thought. If we can (a) reach a man on the other side of the world with (b) a year-old newspaper wrapped around a dead snapper, then (c) don't you think we can reach our local communities with the saving message of Christ...? Mike Benson at http://www.forthright.net/fidelity/evangelism_a_fish_story.html KneEmail: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19; cf. Acts 1:8). Bible reading for 06.16.11: Acts 2.22-47; Nehemiah 4-6 as seen in KneEmail --- _, .-~~~-. ,_ .'/ (*~*~/~*) \'. / / ( /```\ ) \ \ / | (` ^)^ `) | \ ; \ ( \ = / ) / ; | \( .)'-'(. )/ | | ( /` \ / `\ ) | ; ; Y ; ; \ | , | / '. | /|\ | .' '-| \/ T \/ |-' \ |/ \| / | |===| | ; / \ ; \_/ \_/ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | jgs | | |*~*~*~*| `-.....-' ...God is true... Just goes to show you how true God is. Think about it. God's children were chosen by Him to be His BEFORE the foundation of the world. Therefore, do you think he'd let ANY of His chosen children go to their grave BEFORE He was able to reach them and they could BECOME His? I think not! God is true to His Word... Rom.8:29 For whom he[God] did foreknow, he[God] also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son [Jesus], that he[Jesus] might be the firstborn among many brethren. Definition of PREDESTINATE :destined, fated, or determined beforehand God isn't about to loose any of His precious children! What ever it takes, God shall make sure it gets done! Even if it's an old ad in an old newspaper catching the eye of His soon to be child. Check Out: Choose His Children http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/choosehischildren.html God's Royal And Holy Priests http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/royalpriests.html -<>- __ {\ <__> {\ \ _)( _ { ~\ \ _______ //|! _.-'| {* \ \ <:<:<:>:> //||! | | { ~ * \ \(((//^^\ //|||! | () {* ~ \((((/ e e //||||! () { * ~ * |))))c o ) //|||||! {* * ////'_/~` //||||||! {~ * (((( `.`\ //|||||||! _ `{.~ ~ )))`\ \))_.-||||||! |`-._ _. `{ ~ *(() `\_.-'`|||||||! | | |=' `{.__.* `-*. ||||||||||! () | | .* ~ *.||||||||||! () () .*. * ~ *.|||||||||! .* . . *.||||||||! .* ~ * *.|||||||! .* * ~ *.\|||||! jgs .* ~ . *. `\|||! .* * . ~ * ~ *. :~~: ..* ~ * ~ *. .::::::. ~~* ~~* ~~* ~~* ~~* ~~* .::::::::::. >GOD CARES FOR YOU When I am feeling lonely Discouraged, worried or afraid Things that keep me going Is writing a poem or a prayer prayed When I need to express my thoughts Needing someone who will understand I write about it, or talk to my God I find strength to live life as planned Living isn't always easy, We have problems every day We sometimes think we're all alone Until we can remember to pray Our Heavenly Father is caring He listens and meets our needs He is forever close beside us Through greener pastures He leads When you are feeling so blue Thinking the world has kicked you out Go to Jesus Christ for help He will relieve your every doubt Cast all your cares upon the one Who died for you in your place Nothing is impossible with Him You are forgiven by God's Grace -author unknown -<>- -=====- _..._ .~ `~. ,_ / } ,_\'--, \ _.'`~~/ \'--,_`{_,} -( '.`-.`\;--,___.'_ '._`/ |_ _{@} / ` |-';/ _ / \ / | _ {@}_ / '--;_ _ {@} _Y{@} _\ `\ {@}\Y/_{@} Y/ / |`-.___. / \Y/\|{@}Y/\|// ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >JOYFUL, PATIENT AND FAITHFUL. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12 (NIV)) Paul had a consistency in his message that we need to be reminded of as often as we call upon the name of Jesus. Paul did not simply preach a message that proclaiming Jesus as your Lord and Savior meant that you did not have to undergo spiritual growth. He knew that accepting Jesus into your life as your personal Lord and Savior would mean a desire to become more like Jesus. The character- stics that he spoke of in Romans 12:12 are also repeated quite eloquently in Galatians. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)) There is a consistency! Just as God never changes, the Word that He gives those whom He calls as apostles, prophets and teachers should never change. Test everything. Do not take something as the truth unless you have verified it against God?s Word. He will not change. Jesus will not change. He told us that He only does what He sees the Father do. He is consistent. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)) Jesus was joyful during His ministry. He came to give us this joy. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 (NIV)) Once again, consistency! Are you consistent in your faith? as seen at Daily Living Ministries -<>- <***> _ //^\\ _ / \/('_')\/ \ | \/`-'\/ | | / , \ | | ( -.!.- ) | | './_\.' | | | | | | | | | | /| |\ | |/' | | `\| ' / \ ' jgs / \ `"""""""` >HE REALLY LOVES US Jack Young (C) Weary and tired with no place to go Jesus is waiting to help you, you know He knows full well that we all have needs All we have to do is ask, and he intercedes If you place your trust in him and ask for his help You won't have to handle all cares by yourself He is there to call on when hope is gone He is always there, you are not alone What Jesus has to offer doesn't cost a dime It is there for you, no matter place or time He watches over us from his throne He promises he'll take care of his own That doesn't mean you will not have strife That is something we all must face in life That's why we should trust him in all that we do He is there to help us and will lead us thru Though others forsake us and turn away His love is forever, and forever will stay He wants us to trust him, that's what we should do He has promised a place where we start anew He's a wonderful savior there should be no doubt If we are Christians that is what life is about If we place our trust in him that's all we need do For the real truth is, he loves me and you -<>- == == "we are each of us angels <^\()/\()/^> with but one wing, \/ \/ \/ and can only fly by / \/ \ embracing each other" jgs `""``""` >THE WAY TO BE HAPPY Even in religious education one doesn't always get the answer they expect. In order to teach compassion, one teacher began her class with the question: "What would you do if you were walking along a road and saw a person who was terribly beaten and bruised and covered with blood?" In a moment of honesty, a little girl replied, "I'd probably throw up." There are many professions I should leave alone. I have neither the constitution nor the aptitude for them. And one of those occupations is nursing. Like the little girl, I might seriously embarrass myself. But I deeply admire those compassionate women and men who labor in the nursing profession. Some years ago, a six-year-old boy from Corvallis, Oregon (United States) suffered burns over 85% of his body. His condition was so severe that several doctors gave up and one hospital would not admit him because they thought he would die anyway. His life was saved, however, by eight courageous and committed people - his parents, three nurses and three doctors. The nurses emerged as the true heroines in this real-life drama. After other nurses had quit, these women took eight-hour shifts with the boy, seeing him through skin grafts, operations, crucial periods in which death almost gained victory, and dull, dragging days of rehabilita- tion. The boy grew to dislike them, as he innocently thought they caused his intense pain. His room was like a dungeon. It measured 12 feet by 12 feet. The door was tightly shut, shades were drawn, heat blazed from a gooseneck lamp shining as a substitute for blankets. The humidity was so high the walls dripped with moisture, and dank air smelled of burned flesh and chlorine-soaked dressings. The nurses stayed with him, dressed in caps, gowns, masks and gloves as if they were assisting an operation. Within an hour they would be soaked with perspiration. For 14 desperately long months these dedicated three gave their all to the ailing boy. Then, one day, he finally climbed from his bed and walked. It was a great day! The nurses were rewarded for their tireless effort. The lives of all three were so deepened and their sense of satisfaction so great after fighting off the temptation to quit for 14 months, that each said they'd put forth the effort again. What caused them to feel so satisfied? I think it was more than simply the fact that the boy lived. Together they attempted something nearly impossible, but also truly worthwhile. They poured their lives out for the sake of someone else. It is like something American educator Booker T. Washington once said: "Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others." What these nurses did was significant. They worked hard and they worked selflessly. And in doing so, they found contentment. Do you want to be happier? Don't pray for blessings; pray for important work to do. Don't pray for prestige; pray for a place to serve. Don't pray for more things to use; pray to become more useful. Don't pray for greater pleasure; pray for greater purpose. Don't pray for an easier path; pray for joy on the journey, wherever it leads. If you do, I believe your prayers will be answered. -- Steve Goodier as seen in Life Support --- ...Check Out: A KAIROS Moment http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/kairosmoment.html The 2nd Commandment http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/2ndcommand.html -<>- To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ============================================================= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .--,.-, /.-',\:.\ .===. ,;;,;;, /; \\:.\/ _) ;;;;;;;;; |' \\:( _,`'> ';;;;;' |; \\(_/ ._= ';' |; ;/ /`|\ /, _/ |-' `\ /; __//( \_,;;,;;, |; __/ / \ /);;;;;;) | _/|/ / \/`';;;;;' ,;;,;;, |/ / ( ';' ;;;;;;;;; ( .-, \ ';;;;;' ) /`\ ) \ ';' '._/|/| |.' jgs _// \| | / || |/ / | `\| ' >To Touch The Heart To touch the heart of someone dear though it might sometimes cause a tear to fall or rest upon the cheek, Should be something all should seek. For often hearts, not touched at all start hardening and shrinking small. And then the time it takes to grow A loving heart is very slow. For hearts expand as those who care extend their love and let us share a moment, space or special phrase that eases pain on dreary days. Or simply starts our lips to smile and brightens time for just a while. The ways and kinds and means of sharing it seems to me, Are based on caring. And though we're often worlds apart. You still can touch my very heart. You make me smile or shed a tear. And I'll remember year to year, Just how your touching helped me grow. I just thought I'd tell you so. -<>- _......._ :_ _: ,______ ''''''' ______, {_=_-=._'-. .-"""""-. .-'_.-=_=_} {-=_- `'.\ / \ /.'` =_-=} {-_= \\| (_((_(( |// =_-} {-_=- \( (* *) )/ =-_=} {_-=_=- ) ) ^ ( ( -=_=-_} {_=_-=- (_\ '-' /_) -=-_=_} {_-_=_ `) (` -_=_} {_-= .-`\ /`-. -=_} {_= / ^ \ =_} '-/ _.=. .=._ \-' \/_) ` (_\/ /\ /\ jgs / '. .' \ / '.' \ / \ / \ ';';';';';';';';';' | | | | | | |-|-| / / \ \ `"` `"` >A Season for All Things My wife had taught me about love. She had taught me about sacrifice, enduring, and about devotion. I know she was teaching me the most powerful lesson and most painful lesson of all, the lesson of grief and letting go. Cancer soon would take the last breath from her lungs yet her dignity would not be taken. She taught me that cancer cannot take her soul, her dignity, our love. I had prayed over and given her communion. I broke bread and never will that experience be mundane to me again. Never will partaking of the cup be a 'ritual' again. I paid her tithing soon before, again firming my belief in doing the right thing. We believed in being a couple, in doing things the right way unto the end. We were old-fashioned, this 48 year old wife of mine. We were not angry at God for her being terminally ill. We enjoyed life and living each wondrous day. We enjoyed every 24 carat day, every moment. So as the moments became fewer, we focused upon them and they became more intense. With her life fading she laid in our bed, looking at me with her eyes she whispered, "I see Jesus." With tear-filled eyes I responded, "Go to Him. Your sins have been forgiven." My loving wife, my best friend, my example of courage then smiled at me, her husband, her best friend and said, "Good-bye." She closed her eyes, exhaled and passed on to her reward. I held her for a time. Time had no meaning then. How can one describe the pain I felt, yet also knowing the freedom of pain she had? I was feeling sad for me, yet happy! for her . I can not ever describe the multitude of emotions that overcame me in that short time September 10th, 1993. BJ. Cassady -<>- _ xxxx _ /_;-.__ / _\ _.-;_\ `-._`'`_/'`.-' `\ /` | / /-.( \_._\ \ \`; > |/ / // |// jgs \(\ `` >Anthology Of Jesus Many people believed in Jesus right from the very start. Others only ridiculed Him and refused to open their hearts. He preached to many people all across the land. He made the lame walk again just by holding out His hand. Jesus walked on water and made the blind see once again. He was their Saviour, and a fisher of all men. One day God told Him that it was time for Him to part. God knew that by His Son's spilled blood, we could cleanse our sin filled hearts. They hung His body on the cross and laid thorns upon His head, Mary stood there watching as they pronounced her son, dead. God raised Jesus from the dead so he could be eternally by His side. By doing this, He is now known, by nations far and wide. © Peggy Ann Hardy -<>- _____ .'.---.'. // , \\ || `| || || | || || -'- || .-"`'-.,_ _,.-'`"-. / .'--,___`"""`___,--'. \ | /:////_'---'_\\\\:\ | \|:|// `_ _` \\|:|/ '-/| (6/ \6) |\-' \\ | | // `| (._.) |` | _ _ | jgs \ '---' / '--.___.--' >The Fire -Author: Unknown A couple, which we shall call John and Mary, had a nice home and two lovely children, a boy and a girl. John had a good job and had just been asked to go on a business trip to another city and would be gone for several days. It was decided that Mary needed an outing and would go along too. They hired a reliable woman to care for the children and made the trip, returning home a little earlier than they had planned. As they drove into their hometown feeling glad to be back, they noticed smoke, and they went off their usual route to see what it was. They found a home in flames. Mary said, "Oh well it isn't our fire, let's go home." But John drove closer and exclaimed, "That home belongs to Fred Jones who works at the plant. He wouldn't be off work yet, maybe there is something we could do." "It has nothing to do with us." Protested Mary. "You have your good clothes on lets not get any closer." But John drove up and stopped and they were both horror stricken to see the whole house in flames. A woman on the lawn was in hysterics screaming, "The children! Get the children!" John grabbed her by the shoulder saying, "Get a hold of yourself and tell us where the children are!" "In the basement," sobbed the woman, "down the hall and to the left." In spite of Mary's protests John grabbed the water hose and soaked his clothes, put his wet handkerchief on his head and bolted for the basement which was full of smoke and scorching hot. He found the door and grabbed two children, holding one under each arm like the football player he was. As he left he could hear some more whimpering. He delivered the two badly frightened and nearly suffocated children into waiting arms and filled his lungs with fresh air and started back asking how many more children were down there. They told him two more and Mary grabbed his arm and screamed, "John! Don't go back! It's suicide! That house will cave in any second!" But he shook her off and went back by feeling his way down the smoke filled hallway and into the room. It seemed an eternity before he found both children and started back. They were all three coughing and he stooped low to get what available air he could. As he stumbled up the endless steps the thought went through his mind that there was something strangely familiar about the little bodies clinging to him, and at last when they came out into the sunlight and fresh air, he found that he had just rescued his own children. The baby-sitter had left them at this home while she did some shopping. -<>- .---. /_____\ ( '.' ) \_-_/_ .-"`'V'//-. / , |// , \ / /|Ll //Ll|\ \ / / |__// | \_\ \ \/---|[]==| / / \/\__/ | \/\/ |/_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J |_ | _| jgs (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ >August 14, 1945 ~Bill Walker.~ I will remember this day I guess to my dying day. It was the day Japan told the world they had enough. The worst war in the history of this world had came to a end. Now I remember my mother telling about November 11,1918 She said the people stood in the streets and sounded any thing that would blow, fired guns. Beat on pots and pans...any thing that would make a racket was brought out. That was the war to end all wars. People were glad it was over. School was forgot about for the day. That was the city of Thayer,Missouri. We lived in Lexington,Missouri When the last big one came to a end. No school to turn out. It was August. I do not remember any one doing any thing in the way of making a racket. No fire works, no noise of any kind. I think people just went home and gave thinks to God it is at last over, each in their own way. I remember what we did. Dad got a watermelon and we went home and feasted on it. I don't recall any thing else. I guess we had supper later. As I recall the news came in about 2 PM. Now the history books say it was later. But ever store in town closed up by 3 PM. Wentworth Military School was about 2 blocks from where we lived. And the band was out playing that wonderful March...Stars and Strips Forever, over and over.. That was Lexington. Well, think it's time to get a watermelon..I try to have watermelon on August 14th... And Remember. To me, this date was the end of that war. The date in the history books says 2 Sept 1945, which I guess is the true date. That would be the date the papers was signed on the Battleship. USS Missouri. Which now stands guard duty near her sister ship USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. A war that started for us on Dec. 7. 1941 at Pearl, ended in Tokyo Harbor. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Gun Control Witness http://www.buffaloschips.com/gbvcvf.htm Gunslinger http://www.buffaloschips.com/gdsdfe.htm Half Time Show http://www.buffaloschips.com/gvbfdf.htm Hammer Guy http://www.buffaloschips.com/gcfdff.htm Happy Penguin http://www.buffaloschips.com/gdreree.htm The Sower: Wisdom For Life http://www.stfonline.org/sower/sowerflash_marapr09.html Christ's Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesuslife.html Jesus Clinic http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/clinic.html Tinian Island http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tinian.html Watermelon And Egg Art! ttp://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/watermelon.html God's Water Paintings! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/water.html Extreme US Spas http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/topspas.html IRONIC Isn't It? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/irony.html Koala's In A Heatwave 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/koalas2.html Romantic Castles http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/castles.html Whale Rescue 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whalerescue2.html Volkner Mobil RV http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rv.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com ============================================================ ____ |\ /| .' `". | Y | is for the million things she gave me, / | \ ___ | \__.-, (_, / \ \ /` 9 `\ / \___/ means only that she is growing old, ,_ )| 9 . |` _____ \'. '.\ ,_/ / | _\ \.--.'.___.' `'. | is for the tears she shed to save me, .-' _` a \.--, .' | `""` \ a K ; ,-'\ _.;_ |___| '.__,. (__.'`-._ ) | | is for her heart of purest gold; (_/\ '-. /_ ___ ;-._)-._/ _) |__ / `` \ |___ is for her egg book she reads to me. '-._______.-' ___ |_ |_ | |___) | | | | \ means morally right she'll always be, |__;__/ .-"'-'|--\ Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER", '.___,_|""| A word that means the world to me. jgs \__/ >Book Return Story Editor: The Lender Joyce Schowalter USA Moving west after attending university, I lived in a smallish town in the middle of Washington State. It was hot and dry in the summer, surrounding agricultural farms were supported by gravity-fed irrigation water from the Cascade Mountains. It was cold with crunchy snow underfoot in winter, with definite spring and fall. It was the mid 1970s. There was a college they're, since upgraded to Central Washington University. I ran with a creative crowd, mostly attending the college. We also socialized with a few younger college professors, including from the Ethnic Studies and Sociology Departments. Some of my friends took modern dance classes and gave performances. One friend owned a bicycle shop downtown. Once I purchased a bicycle there with a guarantee tag stating, "15 minutes or 15 centimeters, whichever comes first". Some of our friends had grown up locally, so we had ties to local farming families. Heck, in small towns, you're tied to almost everybody, almost every institution. That's the beauty of small town life. It fosters deep relationships because you see people often -- and also fosters diversity of relationships. Since people "just like you" are few, most people have diverse friendships. One gal I met was Diane. She was getting a degree in Elementary Education. We knew each other a little -- our social circles overlapped, but saw each other rarely. Diane once borrowed a book: "The Golden Egg Book" by Margaret Wise Brown and Leonard Weisgard. It was a talisman book from my childhood, with gorgeous, elaborate illustrations, and a poignant story about a lonely bunny who finds friendship. My parents had read that book so many times to myself and my siblings, the cover was tattered. The book was magical to me, cherished for its precious memories. One day there was a knock at my door. Diane said, "I'm moving to California, and I'm returning "The Golden Egg Book". I really like it, and I knew I could take it with me, because I knew you'd have forgotten who had it, all these months later. I kept feeling too busy packing to take the time to bring it over. But I didn't want to do that, because I knew how much it meant to you. So, here it is." I still tear up every time I tell this story. I'd spent hours listening to lectures about morality, why it's imperative to do the right thing. But that one small event changed my life. It demonstrated what living a moral life is, that it involves sacrifice at inconvenient times. When I'm faced with everyday moral choices, I know what I have to do. I have to make the kind of choice Diane did, so I can live with my own conscience, and so the other person feels the relief I did. Thanks to Diane, my own children were able to sink into that magical story, gaze at the mesmerizing illustrations, and turn the pages of the very same "Golden Egg Book". =======HeroicStories======= >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Chriistian 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 DARRE 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 ************************************************************************