Where Is God & More ... :) Shangy! >-->Hello And a Great Big GOD BLESS YOU! With all the Natural disastors of late, (( "####@@!!$$ )) `#####@@!$$` )) (( '####@!!$: (( ,####@!!$: )) .###@!!$: `##@@!$: `#@!!$ !@# `#@!$: @#$ #$ `#@!$: !@! '@!$: '`\ "!$: /`' '\ '!: /' "\ : /" -."-/\\\-."//.-"/:`\."-.JrS"."-=_\\ " -."-.\\"-."//.-".`-."_\\-.".-\".-// it is good to regroup and refresh with the Word of God and remind ourselves of... >From CES: Where is God When Tragedy Strikes? “Why did God allow this to happen?” This is often the question that runs through the minds of family and friends when tragedy occurs. To some, it sounds too hideous to say something like, “God killed your son,” when a child is killed in a car accident. So they euphemistically say that God “allowed” the child to die such a death. But can a logical mind make any distinction between the two? Ours do not, and we doubt if yours does either. If God could have stopped it, but instead allowed it, He necessarily shares the responsibility for the tragedy. Why not let God speak for Himself from the pages of His “God-breathed” Word? By way of a number of godly men whom He inspired, He is the One Author of His cohesive, written revelation to mankind about who He is, what kind of God He is, and exactly how He relates to people, who were His idea in the first place. The Bible says that Satan is the one who now holds the power of death, that is, he is the ultimate cause of death. This is either directly, via evil spirit intervention, such as a spirit of murder causing one person to murder another, or indirectly, via one of the countless diseases he has introduced into the world, or by destructive weather, or by a myriad of “accidents.” Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil. Suppose you are sitting in a restaurant visiting with two friends, Bill and Joe. Bill sees a guy with a lead pipe in his hand sneaking up behind you. He turns to Joe and asks, “How’s your family?” When you wake up, don’t you think you will blame Bill almost as much as you blame the guy who hit you with the pipe? Who can truly love a God who causes suffering, or one who could stop it, but just decides to “allow” it to happen? In the beginning, God decided to give both angels and man genuine free will. God is love (1 John 4:16), and true love requires giving the other party freedom not to reciprocate love. Thus, God “allowed” or “permitted” the possibility of evil in order to make possible an unforced response of genuine goodness and love. If something contrary to His will happens, it is because God cannot at that moment stop it without going against His own nature. How could that be? We believe there are three very good reasons: First, because although He is the most powerful One in the spiritual war currently raging between good and evil, His righteous nature requires Him to act justly even toward His formidable foe, the Devil. Second, He cannot usurp anyone’s personal freedom of will. Third, His justice requires Him to allow people to experience the consequences of their disobedience. [For further study read “Is God in Control?”] To say that God cannot always stop evil flies in the face of many Christians’ fatalistic concept of “the sovereignty of God,” [1] a phrase, by the way, not found in Scripture. To most Christians, this means that God is ruling over everything that happens, and is thus responsible for it all. Most Christians have also been taught that God is “omnipotent,” which according to Webster’s actually means “all powerful.” [2] Obviously God does not have all power, because Satan also has plenty. We believe that most Christians use the term “omnipotent” to mean that God has the most power and therefore can do whatever He wants. Although we certainly believe that God is the most powerful, His Word shows that He cannot always do whatever He wants whenever He wants to. Clearly, He has limited Himself in His Word as to what He will and will not do. Despite how much we may love to sing the verses of “Joy To The World” at Christmas time, a quick glance at any newspaper or TV news program blatantly shows that Jesus is not ruling on the earth, because the place is an absolute mess. Paradise is definitely lost. More definitively, there are a number of Scripture verses that make it plain that the world is not yet subject to the rule of the Lord. [3] For example: 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 (24) Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (25) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy to be destroyed is death. It is obvious from the above verses that there is some “dominion,” some “authority,” and some “power” that is not yet subject to the Lord. Furthermore, it is obvious that death is an enemy of God, not a tool He uses, and that it is not yet destroyed. Here are more pertinent verses: >Visit Here for the FULL Teaching... http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=534 -->From InspiredBuffalo: Within His Knowing I traveled down a pleasant road, Its pathway smooth and straight. Flowers bloomed on either side, A gentle breeze was blowing. Each step I took along that path, I walked within His Knowing. I had not traveled very far Before the pathway changed. My way grew hard and stony and A chilly wind was blowing. Each step I took along that path, I walked within His Knowing. I traveled farther down that path, The way grew steep and winding. Small stones have turned to boulders. A much colder wind is blowing. Each faltering step along this path, I still walk within His Knowing. The road ahead I do not know, That path I cannot see. That road might make another bend. The wind may roar with angry blowing. I will walk with steadfast confidence, I will walk within His Knowing. by V. Diann Messer -- from 'Themestream' Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com ============================================================== >-->From 3 Minuete Message: "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" John 15:6-7 The second part of the question from yesterday dealt with the punishment for "failing to produce fruit." The questioner asked if we would "lose our salvation?" Today's verses deal with the reasons a person may be cut off from the vine. Jesus says the reason for being cast into the fire is this "If anyone does not abide in Me," The branch that is unproductive, that has chosen to not be a part of the vine, is the one that is cast into the fire. Let's examine that from the standpoint of choices. Obviously, the grape branch does not have choices. We do. We can choose to follow Jesus. We can choose to commit sin. We can choose to be nice. We can choose to be evil. That is what makes us unique in the "animal world."ť No other creature of God's creation has this ability. It was granted to us when God said to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, "Let us make man in OUR image." God could choose. He gave man that ability as well. Then, God went so far as to make the opportunity for Adam and Eve to exercise that ability. Of all the fruits of the field, that is ALL the fruit of the field, Adam and Eve could eat, except for the one tree in the center of the garden, that is ONE tree out of the multitude. The choices were pretty simple. As you recall, Adam and Eve made the wrong choice. Did God send a bolt of lightning to destroy them? Hardly, Adam lived to be several hundred years old. Did he die as God promised? Yes, he immediately died spiritually, long before his physical death. Did he live separated from the vine? Let's just say his branch was much weaker after that event. Still, his branch eventually produced the Messiah. I would call that productive fruit bearing! Now as to our choices, most of us have chosen to be children of God. We heard Him calling in our wilderness and we answered that call. We were subsequently adopted and made joint heirs with Jesus, God's only begotten (natural born) Son. That was a choice. When the adoption was consummated, did we lose the freedom to choose? I could only wish! Indeed, like Adam in the Garden, the choices simply became more clear-cut. I could choose to do what I knew was right, or I could choose to do wrong. All too often I choose the second option. Does that mean I am cut off from the vine? Let's take a look at a Biblical example. King David is known as a "man after God's own heart." Was he perfect? He chose to commit sins that you and I would never do. Did God cut him off? Again, the Messiah came from David's lineage. David bore much fruit for God. You and I may choose to sin, and still be known as people of God, because our great desire is to live for Him. On the other hand, Balaam was known as a prophet of the Living God. He chose to prophesy against the children of Israel for profit. He chose to separate himself from the vine. The result was that his ministry was revoked and he became useless to the Father. The difference is the major choices we make. We can choose to sin, but still long after God and produce fruit. Or, we can choose to leave God's way, produce totally rotten fruit or no fruit at all, and suffer the consequences of separation from the vine. That is our choice. We choose to live for God or live against Him, even after our salvation experience. As for Me, I'm with Him ALL the WAY. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen. ====================================================================== >She Saved Me Story Editor: by Pris Haffenden Joyce Schowalter California, USA When I was a youngster I developed a severe weight problem. It started just before I first entered school and made me very unpopular in school -- taunts and tortures were delivered to me every day. This went on from the first grade until eighth grade, continuing even after I lost all of the weight in 7th grade. Although I was a good student I hated going to school, and hated even more the bus trips home. I lived in agony. In 1967, my family moved to Simi Valley, California. I had a chance to start over, and I vowed that I would communicate with no one, I wouldn't give anyone a chance to hurt me as I'd been hurt for so many years. This made for a lonely existence, but I welcomed being invisible -- at least nobody would taunt and torture me. One day, after I'd been at this new school about three months, a girl approached me as I was putting my books in my locker. She invited me to join her circle of friends. I declined -- this was a ruse used many times by many people in my past, and always I had found that they wanted to be anything but my friends. It was a way to lure me into their proximity so they could taunt me. I swore I'd never set myself up for that again. This went on about five days... this person coming up, and my declining. Finally, this person, Rose Anne Terry (back then Rose Anne Miller), grabbed me by the arm and said, "You are going to have friends whether you like it or not." She took me over to her other friends, about five girls. They asked about my interests, and invited me to go with them for some social activities. They welcomed me into their group with open arms. I couldn't believe it. Here, finally, was a group of people who wanted to know me, really wanted to know me, and had no interest in taking advantage of me. I was elated! I had friends! Up to this point I had no friends and basically lived as a recluse, a misfit. I had no idea how to socially interact with anyone. I was so socially awkward, so inept when it came to interpersonal relations that no one had wanted to know me. Through the friendship with Rose and her circle of friends, I learned how to be a teenager. I learned about the music, the way to dress, and how to relate to others my own age. I was heading for a life as a recluse, a "mama's girl", a socially backward person. These people, and especially Rosie, saved me and made me the person I am today. Rosie and I have remained close friends up to this day: 39 years. She saved me from a life of pain and loneliness. I love you, best buddy. Thank you. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Firend Tony In Australia :) >Is there any other way??? I read an article whilst in a waiting room at a hospital yesterday. I love to find the Readers Digest on those little magazine racks and read the “laughs’ section. When one is sitting in a Doctors or Specialists waiting room, ‘one’ often needs something to smile about. Well, not often have I found anything ‘religious’ in the good old ‘Readers Digest’ but this particular issue carried a very interesting article, well, to me anyway. I did notice that the book, for the most part was ‘well worn’, but not the particular pages I was interested in. The article was titled, “ is Jesus the ONLY way to Salvation”. So obviously, it stopped me dead in my tracks. I have heard that question so many times before, and I read on, thinking I might hear a ‘different’ version of what I myself believed. In this article, a certain part caught me eye. It was discussing the use of ‘parables’ and how Jesus taught using ‘parables’ and it went on to discuss that ‘most’ religions served the ‘same’ God, but in different ways. My‘spiritual ears’ were pricked up at this point. I guess, we have all heard that’s statement wouldn’t you say? I have heard ‘God” described as the ‘centre of a wheel’ and the Churches are the ‘spokes’ which either ‘come off’ the centre or all meet at the same place. Well, I can remember as a kid having a ‘bike’. My poor old bike had many a missing ‘spoke’…. But it got me where I am today, and my journey may still have a long way to go. I do, ‘shudder’ when I hear it said that we ‘serve the same God in different ways’ though. I believe that whatever ‘way’ we choose is fine….as long as it’s Gods way and not just our own. So now, it gets to the part where it’s all down to ‘interpretation’. So, indulge me a little and let me use a ‘parable’ to explain myself and I am not going to use a ‘Christian’ parable, in fact, I will use a Buddhist teaching, which may please some, but I am sure not all… A group of men were gathered together…men who had been ‘blind’ from birth. Now it is said that when we lose one of our ‘senses’ the other four gain strength and sensitivity, so with that in mind, the blind men are put into a rather large room…..with an elephant. Attendants led each one of the men to a different part of the elephant, one felt the animals head, one felt it’s legs and feet another felt its tail and yet another. It’s ears and then finally, one man examined the trunk. The men were given time to themselves to deliberate what it was they had ‘felt’, then they were invited to ‘discuss’ what they had examined and to explain the question put to them, “ what is an elephant?” Well, needless to say that when a group of people are put together with limited information on a certain subject, an argument will ensue! And ensue it did! One man said he had examined a tree trunk, another said he had held some sort of ‘brush’ another said what he had felt was a ‘ploughshare’. The conclusion was this. Each one had examined but one part of a subject matter and not the whole thing, how then? Could they describe an elephant? Well, don’t you think that this is something like what ‘we’ do? GOD is Truth simple as that. What we as ‘laymen’ and women, can really only discuss what ‘little’ God has revealed to ‘us’ as individuals. Is that so? Does that make any of us ‘experts’ on God? Can we say to others, can we ‘argue’ with others that we have the same God? And that He just ‘revealed’ certain different ‘parts’ of Himself in different ways? To ‘different’ people? Truth is friends, Brothers and Sisters…if we all believe that then we would all be wrong! We would still be in ‘spiritual darkness’! Let me say this again please… GOD IS! TRUTH… Man seeks the truth yes! But often it can be said he has never ‘found’ it. Yes the Bible says SEEK and Ye shall find… but religion , any ‘religion’…..can reveal God the way He would have Himself revealed and that is ‘personally’! to the individual. The most important thing that God wants of us, the most crucial part necessary in being a Christian, is to strive for a ‘personal’ relationship with Our Father! Religion does not teach that! Religion says ‘ follow this law and that law’ and you ‘may’ be saved! If we stick with religion we will make the same mistake as the Jews of old did, we will ‘crucify’ GOD again! We will ‘miss the point’ yet again…… God is NOT to be argued and we are NOT to ‘defend’ Him! He can do that quite well by Himself. By “ Himself” He created everything! History shows us clearly that ‘religions’ create their own ‘gods’. If this wasn’t so, if man didn’t try to ‘seek out’ the truth in his own way, then there wouldn’t be so many ‘religions’. If man could accept the Bibles teachings without having to pull out individual scriptures and build a whole religion about ‘it’ or the one or two that are ‘convenient’, then we would all stand a better chance of being ‘united’ under ONE God and not three or four as some have. The Bible is very explicit in it’s teachings about the ONE true God, The first line of Genesis tells us that GOD ( not gods) created the Heavens and the earth and it seems that from then on, ‘man’ took over and confusion reigned! Even the first words of the NEW Testament remind us that there is bit ONE God! In the beginning there was GOD…. That’s taught to children in Sunday School and ‘they’don’t seem to have a problem with that! Perhaps that’s why Jesus says, “ Suffer( allow) the little children to come unto Me” Those men who examined the elephant quite possibly ‘thought’ that they spoke the truth as they saw the truth, but were they right? Answer is NO. They only believed what THEY saw to be the truth. Had they been allowed the time to examine the whole elephant, they would have been brought closer to the truth, but being ‘born blind’ they may never truly get the ‘picture’ of what an elephant truly is like. God ‘ reveals Himself to us as individuals and as we study Him in His word, He helps us to build a relationship that is unequalled. No other ‘god’ can do what He can for us. No other ‘man’ can give us what God gives us.. The Pope can’t save us, Benny Hinne, can’t save us, Billy Graham nor David Bernard can’t save us! Only the truth! And nothing but the Truth can save us and GOD! Is the Truth. Not even baptism! Can save us…! I shudder to hear that! But it’s true! God saves us ‘through’ baptism in His name! By obedience! And by His teachings…. We are saved by HIS Grace! The parable of the elephant carries ‘some’ truth…. But unless all the ‘bits’ are put together, we won’t get an elephant! We may get something that is ‘close’ or closely resembles and elephant, but we wont get an elephant. Unless we study and let the scriptures ‘confirm’ themselves, we won’t get the whole picture. Br Tony ----- ...Thank You Tony! There IS only ONE true God - the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Praise God for God! :) ===================================================================== >-->The Anchor Holds Are you in the midst of a storm in your life right now? Hang on! I've been there, believe me. The only thing that remains constant, the only true Faithful One, is Jesus Christ. He never fails! God bless you as always. "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20" I have journeyed Through the long, dark night Out on the open sea By faith alone Sight unknown And yet His eyes were watching me Chorus The anchor holds Though the ship is battered The anchor holds Though the sails are torn I have fallen on my knees As I faced the raging seas The anchor holds In spite of the storm I've had visions I've had dreams I've even held them in my hand But I never knew They would slip right through Like they were only grains of sand Chorus I have been young But I'm older now And there has been beauty That these eyes have seen But it was in the night Through the storms of my life Oh, that's where God proved His love for me Chorus I have fallen on my knees As I faced the raging seas The anchor holds In spite of the storm ~~ Ray Boltz ============================================================== >He Trusted Me Story Editor: by Arthur W. Griffith Jack Lewis Washington, USA At age 22, I was far from home. I had been totally deaf since contracting spinal meningitis at age seven. Although we were working in Illinois, my brother and I had decided to buy an old car, quit our jobs and go out West "where the sky is a little bluer, and the friendships a little truer". We had family members there. World War II had just started, and soon gas rationing might make the trip impossible. In order to make the trip, I needed a driver's license. It would be my first. I applied for a driver's test, but as the appointment date came around, our car was laid up for repairs. What should I do? Summoning my courage, I walked into a car sales showroom. I wasn't really expecting any help, but a friendly, middle-aged salesman approached me. Back in 1942, many people felt that a deaf person should not even be allowed to drive. Still, I showed him a note explaining my dilemma. The man read my note and looked at me kindly. Then he wrote: "I will take you. You can use my car." I could hardly believe it, and wrote, "Why are you doing this for me when you don't even know me?" He wrote back, "My son is in the Army. I hope other people would help him, so now I'll help you." The next day when my appointment was nearly due, I met him and he took me to his car. It was a nice Packard stick shift. After driving a few blocks, he stopped and wrote that I should drive it to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get the feel of it first. Because I was nervous, my driving was slow and gear shifting was not all that easy, but he didn't seem to mind. He waited while I took the written test. I was gratified to pass with near-perfect marks. Then the officer took me out to the car. The owner was not allowed to ride with us. I was directed to drive around the block and park the car. I eased it out from the curb and guided it safely around, and parked it in the still empty space. Hooray! I had passed. My new friend seemed to feel as pleased as I did. I felt like hugging him. I knew I had a debt to repay by helping others. After 20 successful years working in machine shops, I spent the rest of my career as a pastor to the deaf, including five years in Washington, DC. I have worn out many cars, but will never forget the man who placed his trust in me only minutes after we met, and helped me get my first driver's license. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From SermondFodder: _______________ |,----------. |\ || |=| | || || | | || . _o| | | __ |`-----------' |/ /~/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / / ~~ Ojoshiro >The Moral Universe of Film & Television Ask most Christians what they think is wrong with movies and television shows and they'll probably cite examples of violence, sexual content, and profanity. But the problem with a lot of what we watch isn't only what's there, it's also what is not there: namely, the notion that someone is in charge of the universe. Christians call this idea "providence." John Calvin defined providence as a "governing activity" rooted in the idea that God is the "Creator and Preserver [of the universe] . . . [and] that he sustains, nourishes, and cares for everything he has made. . . ." Belief in providence went beyond matters of religion. Historically, belief in a governing activity enabled the various plot strands in drama and comedy to come together in a satisfying ending -- an ending that left the audience thinking that the world had order and wasn't spinning out of control. As Thomas Hibbs of Boston College points out, we see providence at work in the movies of Frank Capra, for example. Whether the movies had a religious reference, like It's A Wonderful Life, or didn't, like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, the message is the same: some force is at work rewarding good and punishing evil. But as Hibbs chronicles in his book, SHOWS ABOUT NOTHING, that has changed in the past three decades. Since the early 1970s, much of what we watch is characterized by what Hibbs calls a "demonic anti- providence." These are films like The Exorcist, Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal. You can find something similar in shows like Seinfeld, which advertises itself as a show about nothing. This goes beyond making television and the movies religion-free zones, or depicting religious believers in negative ways. The world depicted in movies and television is often one where ". . . ultimate justice is elusive," and "where we are tempted to see the underlying force as malevolent and punitive." As a result, says Hibbs, this worldview sees "violence and ineradicable guilt as the underlying truth about the human condition. . . ." In place of the hero, we have what Hibbs calls the "demonic anti- hero" who -- unlike the hero who knows what is right and seeks to do it -- is bound by no moral code and, in fact, invites the audience to celebrate his liberation from morality. The demonic anti-hero, and the worldview that produced him, are the product of cultural attitudes towards belief in God. It's true that most Americans profess to believe in God, but this God is a far cry from the God of Scripture. More than a century of naturalism has eroded our belief that God is providential -- that is, in charge of all events. Likewise, there is little sense that he rewards good and punishes evil. And what we see onscreen not only reflects these beliefs, it reinforces them. Over the past three decades, the entertainment industry has become the dominant cultural force in our culture. Films and television have little effective competition when it comes to shaping our -- and our children's -- moral imaginations. This is why we can't stop at knowing just whether a film contains nudity or violence. Even films without either one can teach a worldview at odds with historic Christianity. To understand the impact of media on our lives, we have to look at the worldview being depicted. And that starts with asking if, according to the show, anyone is really in charge. ============================= BreakPoint may be copied and re- transmitted by electronic mail, and individual copies of a particular BreakPoint e-mail transcript may be printed, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. BreakPoint may NOT be reproduced on the World Wide Web or in broadcast media, print media, or other media without express written permission. Please contact Prison Fellowship Ministries at 1-800-457-6125 to submit a request. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of BreakPoint must set forth the following credit line, in full, at the conclusion of the portion of BreakPoint that is used: Copyright (c) 2001 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries. If you want to subscribe to BreakPoint, send a message from the e-mail box that receives the transcripts to: mailto:breakpoint-request@lists.netcentral.net Put "subscribe" in the SUBJECT of the message. ================================================================= >-->Speaking of TV - '-. '-. _____ .-._ | '. : .. | : '-._+ | .-' / \ .'i--i / \ .-'_/____\___ .-' : fsc: >From AFA: Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people as possible by forwarding it to your entire email list of family and friends. >The Discovery Channel documentary slams Christianity The documentary claims that the tombs of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene and a supposed son of Jesus —Judah— have been found, thus making the Bible and two thousand years of history a lie. According to the Discovery Channel's documentary "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" airing Sunday, March 4, the bones of Jesus-- buried with His family -- have been found. In addition, the documentary says that Mary Magdalene and Jesus might have had a son named Judah. Here is what The Discovery Channel says about the program and the Christian faith: "All leading epigraphers agree about the inscriptions. All archaeologists confirm the nature of the find. It comes down to a matter of statistics. A statistical study commissioned by the broadcasters (Discovery Channel/Vision Canada/C4 UK) concludes that the probability factor is 600 to 1 in favor of this tomb being the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth and his family." Having watched how Hollywood portrays Christians and Christian values for the past 30 years, it is clear that Hollywood considers Christianity its greatest enemy. Because of our silence, Christianity is the only religion they feel free to attack! Read 'Lost Tomb of Jesus' tries to turn 'fiction into believability,' minister warns http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/02/lost_tomb_of_jesus_tries_to_tu.php Click Here It is time for Christians to send a message to The Discovery Channel and Hollywood that enough is enough! Don't stay silent while The Discovery Channel and Hollywood continually attack our faith and our values. The documentary was produced by James Cameron, whose claim to fame is directing the movie "The Titanic." Saying that Cameron is qualified to make a documentary on Jesus is like saying Hugh Hefner is qualified to make a documentary on abstinence before marriage! For a critical review of this film by Probe Ministries President Kerby Anderson... http://www.afa.net/kerby.asp Review Take Action Send your email to The Discovery Channel. Forward this to your friends and family. Urge them to get involved and send a message to The Discovery Channel and Hollywood. To Email The Discovery Channel Now! https://secure.afa.net/afa/activism/TakeAction.asp?id=236 Click Me Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman American Family Association http://www.afa.net/ ',',-.\ / \ ,' (_) //,',' `-' : /`-'\ /,-. //',' _ | : _ : : `-' _//,' (_) | |\/ \/| : (//') _ ; || || `._.,-. `-' _ (_) / || || ,','/;. (_) ,' || || `-' // \ _.' ||SSt|| // `-..-'' SSt This is one of the best things I have seen. Hope you enjoy as well... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M4_IlbaZHA ===================================================================== >-->From PetWarmers: __ /\/'-, ,--''''' /" ____,'. ) \___ '"""""------'"""`-----' pb PAW PRINTS ON MY HEART by James Colasanit, Jr. There are times I still cry. Those animals whose lives touch ours are a part of the cycle of love that remains with us forever. We don't get over losing the dogs who have been part of our life -- we just get used to living without them. The bond that develops between a man and his dog somehow transcends life itself, carrying over to the other side. It has been over a year since my quintuple bypass -- an experience no one should have to endure. Yet, because of it, I am still around to tell this tale. In a culture in which accounts of near-death experiences are as common as life itself, I had, what I call, a new-life experience. I did not die. My heart was turned off and then turned back on again after everything was fixed. The day before the surgery I had been in denial. I didn't smoke. I didn't eat much red meat. I wasn't overweight. I didn't have high cholesterol. And even more puzzling, heart disease wasn't common in my family. But all the "didn'ts" in the world really didn't matter. So what does a quintuple bypass have to do with dogs, you ask? The morning of my surgery, while very memorable in one respect, is quite hazy in another. Amnesiatic-type drugs had been given to me so I would forget the trauma that I was about to endure. What I do remember in my dream like state, was a long, long walk down the ghastly hospital-green corridor. The hospital hall was longer than forever. As I walked I was joined on my right by my newest dog, Shep, a Great Dane-hound mix. His long tail swished against the wall as it wagged back and forth. On my left side walked Zak, my nineteen-year-old Basset hound dog-mix who had passed on some months before. His tail, though not as long as Shep's, wagged high into the air. Zak was a three-time loser, but not to me. Three times he had been rescued from the pound and three times he had been brought back. Finally, one of the pound workers called and said that I was his last chance. So I adopted him, and he remained a part of the family for nineteen years. As the two dogs and I approached the nurse's station, Zak turned to me and telepathically asked, "Why did you wait so long to put me to sleep?" His euthanasia had been a very traumatic event. He was so old that his veins kept collapsing every time the veternarian tried to put him to sleep. The vet started yelling, "You waited too long, man, you waited too long!" Here I am, putting my best friend for nineteen years to sleep, tears streaming down my face, and the vet is yelling at me. I had been guilty of the cardinal sin all pet owners face -- hanging on too long and refusing to let go. Because of the dog's deteriorating condition, the vet was going to have to stick Zak in the heart in order to euthanize him. The vet did not want me to remain with Zak and I would not be with him when he passed over. To Zak's question I replied, "You were a part of my life for nineteen years, and I didn't have the heart to let go. That's why I'm in the hospital, getting my heart fixed." Zak jumped up and licking my face said to me, "Be happy for me. I am at peace here. You go back with Shep. You've got a lot of dogs to take care of before they pass on." With that, Shep grabbed hold of my hand in his mouth and pulled me back down the hall. Shep stood up and started licking my face vigorously. The next thing I knew a nurse had my hand in hers taking my pulse, and with the other hand, she was swabbing my face with a wet cloth in the recovery room. The memories of the nineteen years with Zak flooded over me, and the peace Zak left me with was his paw prints on my heart. -- James Colasanti, Jr. ____________________________________________ James is a lead clerk with Barnes & Noble Booksellers. He currently shares his home with his housemate, Sam, and 27 dogs, and a cat named, Pumpkin. He is currently working on his memoir One Good Dog Deserves Another -- having lived with as many as 36 dogs at one time. His previous story, Quincy, can be found in the Petwarmers archives. =================================================================== >-->Ever Find? Have you ever found a friend who makes your heart glow? Someone who is wonderful, who you're honored to know, Someone to laugh with, and sometimes to cry, Someone who loves you when you don't know why. Someone who just seems to understand you, Someone who you love no matter what they do, Someone who you think of day and night, Someone who shows up when the time is just right. Someone who shares all your ups and downs, Someone you smile with, replacing your frowns, Someone who appears whenever there is a need, Surely you must know, God planted that seed. These seeds God has planted here on earth Cannot be measured by earthly worth. They were planted deeply in your friend's heart, By God's love placed here from the start. Value those friendships, honor their decisions, Never try to make their dreams your revisions, Respect their feelings, never make demands, Hold their love tightly in your hands. Never be angry if you don't talk to them each day, For a heart can be loving even from far away. Trust in friendship, send a piece of your heart, This is how friendship was intended from the start. Hold their memory in your heart and mind, Continue to love them all the time, See them for what they really are - True friends are Angels sent by God from afar! --Author unknown ---> Visit my CyberHome - ALWAYS OPEN HOUSE :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ Shangrala ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales & Serrvice You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. Please phone us at 419-238-5806 ************************************************************************ -->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: Subscribe ************************************************************************ >TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Remove ************************************************************************ -->Want to ADVERTISE in The Shangy FUN List Publication? >To ADVERTISE: Advertise ************************************************************************ -->Missed Any of These Teachings? 'BABES IN CHRIST','IN The Beginning', 'Crossing The Line','NEVER Give Up', 'FEAR - Feeling Kind Of Buggy', 'HAUNTINGS', 'Christianity And The Renewed Mind', or 'Curse Of The Law' --BE SURE TO Tell me which one you want or yyou'll get them all :) >For a Lesson: Teaching ************************************************************************ --Want TIPS to help TEACH A CHILD TO BE SAFEE and STOP ABDUCTIONS? Child Help ************************************************************************ --PHYSICIAN FORMULAS = THE BEST PLACE TO GETT IT: Wanta know more? >Visit their Web Site: PhysicianFormulas ************************************************************************ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS They keep our service "priceless" -->LET'S Have FUN and Do Some SHOPPING!! We've got patches, Phones, Almonds, and Chains, Furniture, Chocolates, Cheese, and Games. Clothing, flowers, dishes, and shoes, Desserts, Cherished Teddies, and Auto Tools. We've got NCAA, NFL, MLB, and NBA, Disney, Name a star, Movies, and KinKade. Jewelry, furs, leather, and lighting, Music, instruments, and magazines at best pricing. >Take a gander at Shangrala's Yellow Page :) http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/yellow.html Get It Here ***********************************************************************