Why Are We So Blessed?... :) 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 ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our newest flaming hot pages are from our friends Linda and PatDeE. These are sure to give you some warm smiles for your day. Check them out here... .-._ J L-"""-,,__.-"-.-=a. ,:--"---=. ) P'- ` ,`88P' `.| .' L .- `.a8 `8: -=a)\__: L -- .:` `"a ,`b.`J .___..=-. ,-, | - .`. >, .a( ( Y:`:"` `ba--. ,:' | \_ .:. (8' -'' `) _J d`,:d( `Y ` `ada._ J )8\._ 8 .:. "=. )8: /`. `b`'`":. ` ":._.-|L :"P=``- `a `:. ``,aP:J L `: ` `` . ` `<8 J) ( `a. `- ,8"aP| .':. `. ` _ :( L , `a...::-8aP"dJ:. :. ` . ` _ ,' `P J.a=. ``, `"88:::.(``"::.` `8. . `-. / >-. \::.aa.`.'-. `":(.`, ,L:.` . `8. \ ` `:. Y( ( \ \(` `":.',.', ,`--. .:|:.`. `=._Y=\ ` ):a) .b \: `:. '..` ,,_.::::da`J `"-:.-.-' `. . -.a8 |`) . ` _.---':: )`..``':'"="'.a\ `-. : L \):--' `-'--.:.`.'.` :P' ) a:f `-. a) /.:=.J ```""""-"' `-' `' The Best Pillows http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/pillows.html The Best Pillows 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/pillows2.html --- ...Ahhh, so adorable and heartwarming! Thanks my Friends! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.---------------. .'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__,` . ____ ___ \ |\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ _:\ |:. \ \___ \ \\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\__\'\_`.__| `. \ \___ \ \\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __\/ __: \ \\'\__\'\__\'\__\ \__\'\_;-----------------` hh \\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ : | \|______________________;________________| >WHERE'S THE GOOD STUFF? by Joseph Walker I don't know how it is at your house, but when our kids were growing up there were always two questions that invariably occupied an inordinate amount of time and attention this time every year: what were the children going to be for Halloween, and where did Mom hide the trick-or-treat candy? Through the years, I developed a stock answer to the "what should I be?" question. I would look thoughtfully at the asker, whichever of our five children it might be, then say: "Just be a good person." For some reason, they all stopped asking me. I don't know why. But the second question was trickier, because I know how my wife, Anita, does things. She would buy a bunch of Halloween candy as soon as our grocer put it on the shelves -- you know, right after the Fourth of July. (She did this ever since we got burned one year. We waited until the day before Halloween to buy candy, and there wasn't any good stuff, as in "chocolate candy bars" left. So she started buying it early and hiding it, since the average shelf-life of un-hidden chocolate in our house was about 37 seconds.) For some reason, however, I seemed to be the only one in the family who could never find Anita's Halloween stash. I remember one year catching then 7-year-old Jonathan wandering around the house munching on a trick-or-treat-sized Snickers bar. "Hey, Jon," I asked, "where'd you get that?" "Shhh!" he hissed, spewing a little stream of chocolate- caramel-nut spray. "It's a secret!" "I know!" I whispered. "So share the secret with me!" "Mommy said don't tell." "She meant that you shouldn't tell the other kids," I assured him. "It's OK to tell Daddy." "Mommy said 'specially don't tell Daddy!" "That's right, Dad," said 9-year-old Elizabeth, who had a mini-Milky Way in her hand. "We're not supposed to tell you where the candy is." "But you guys know," I whined. "That's because Mama trusts us," Elizabeth said. "If we tell, she won't trust us anymore." "Besides," Andrea added, "somebody has to not know where it is, or else there wouldn't be any point in hiding it." This is as close as you get to logic with a 16-year-old on a 3 Musketeers high. Just then 18-year-old Joe Jr. walked in with a little bag of Whoppers. "Mom's getting better," he said, swallowing malted milk and chocolate. "It took me four minutes to find the stash this year." "That's because I helped hide it," said 20-year-old AmyJo, maturely munching a Milk Dud. "No more Ms. Nice Guy!" "But what about Mr. Nice Guy?" I asked my children. "What about me?" "What is it you always say to us, Dad?" AmyJo asked. "'I could do it for you, but I love you too much to deprive you of the joy and satisfaction of doing it for yourself.'" She looked at me triumphantly as her brothers and sisters convulsed in laughter around her. She had been waiting for at least 16 years to turn that line around on me, and she was enjoying this. And if you promise not to tell I'll let you in on a little secret: I was enjoying it too. For the first time in my life as a father I realized that some of my teaching was actually sinking in to their chocolate-loving little heads. And it occurred to me that if they were using my own teaching here against me, maybe they were occasionally using it out there against the Big Bad World, too. The thought gave me comfort -- then and now -- my cholatelessness notwithstanding. Which reminds me -- I've got to get down to the store before all the good stuff is gone. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ Check out Joe's website here: http://www.josephbwalker.com =========================================================== >-->From My Son Victor :) >Why Are We So Blessed? Something to Think About... ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering. If you can read this message you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all. If the World Were 100 People updated 2010: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6eTr4ldDYg --- ...Thank You Victor! He posed a question to me that I am still pondering. He asked, 'Considering all our advantages today verses those of our forefathers back in the pioneer days when their life was so difficult and they didn't live near as long as we do today nor did they have any where near the comforts that we enjoy today, why does God bless us so much more than them? Why are we so blessed?' Well, that's a good question, don't you think? It is quite obvious that our quality of life is far greater than our ancestors. So why is God blessing us more? Were they more ungodly than we are now? .---. |_X_| ___ [_____] / _ \ // \\ | / \ | | " | || " || __\___/__ __\\_//__ /\_______/\ / | U | \/ _ : _ \ ( (|___|) )/ \ : / \ \ \_ / \ _/ \ /=====\ / / /| |\ './___:___\.' ; | | ; | | | | | | | | | | | \_____/ | |--|--| '._______.' |LI|LI| jgs \/ \/ \_/ \_/ No. It doesn't seem that way. The pilgrims were very pious as each Preamble for our states reflects this. Check here to see each one: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoiswe.html I cannot readily answer that question. I believe we have much to be thankful for and our prayers each and every day to God should definitely reflect this! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: "=. "=. \ \ \ _,-=\/=._ _.-,_ / \ /=-._ "-. |=-./~\___/~\ / `-._\ | \o/ \o/ / / \_ `~~~;/ | | `~,._,-' / / | | =-._ / _,-=/ \=-._ /|`-._/ // \\ )\ /| |)_.'/ //| |\_." _.-\ (| \ / _.`= \ || ":_ _.;"_.-;" _.-=.: _-."/ / `-."\_." =-_.;\ `-_./ / _.-=. / \\ | =-_.;\ ." \\ \ \\/ \\ /\_ .'\\ \\ // `=_ _.-" \\ \\ // `~-.=`"`' || || LGB || _.-_/| || |\_.-_ _.-_/| /_.-._/ |\_.-_ \_.-._\ /_.-._/ \_.-._\ >THE ANT AND THE CONTACT LENS Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was very scared, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff. In Spite of her fear, she put on the gear, took hold of the rope, and started up the face of that rock. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens. Here she is, on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn't there. Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry. She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to find it. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff. She looked out across the range after range of mountains, thinking of that verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and you know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me!" Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that was startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it on its back. Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, "Lord, I don't know why you want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully Heavy. But if this is what you want me to do, I'll carry it for You." I think it would probably do some of us good to occasionally say, "God, I Don't know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will." God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning each and Every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him. I can do all things Through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13) -<>- :. ,.. .' :~.':_., .' ::.::'.' : ::' .: `.: .: .:/ `::--.:'.::' |. _:===-' / / ,---.---. __,',' (~`. \ ) )','.,---.. `v`\ | ,' .-'.:,'_____ `. )|/.-~.--~~--. ~~~-. \ _/-'_.-~ ""---.._`.| _.-~~_.-~ ""' _..--~~_.(~~ __...---~~~_..--~~ ,'___...---~~~ seal >A LATE BLOOMING ROSE By, Clara Wersterfer Virgil had no relatives left except his sister-in-law. He had outlived them all. His wife had died several years ago leaving him all alone. Recently a fall had left him needing physical therapy three times a week. About this time, the 80 year old sister-in-law decided she couldn't handle driving him around and talked him into an assisted living apartment. After all, the man was now 92 years old, even if he did look more like 70. His tall, slim stature and the color he used faithfully on his hair took years off. After looking around at "homes," Virgil decided on one. Virgil's furniture was taken to his new home. His bags were packed and he moved in just in time for the evening meal. The attendant walked around introducing him to the other residents. At the end of the first table Rosie was sitting with her friends. The minute Virgil laid eyes on Rosie; he knew she was the one. Pulling up a chair beside her, he crowded in and had dinner. Later, he and Rosie sat on the porch and talked a while before he escorted her to her apartment. Virgil was happy as a bird as he made his way to his place, a few doors down. That was probably the only night he slept in his apartment. Next morning he was rapping softly on Rosie's door. They were inseparable for the next month. Virgil had been a singer in a barbershop quartet and you could hear him at any given time during the day singing one of his songs to Rosie: My Wild Irish Rose, Sweet Rosie O'Grady, The Yellow Rose of Texas-the list was endless of songs about Rose, Rosie, or Rosalie. He usually dressed in a suit with a necktie and carried a rose for Rosie. One morning Virgil called the doctor. Rosie was ill. She was placed in the hospital with pneumonia. Rosie was 87 years old and it looked pretty bad. Virgil did not leave her side. He ordered food from the cafeteria and sat beside her holding her hand. Someone from the home brought him clean clothes, but Virgil would not leave Rosie, sleeping in the chair each night. When her family came, he told them after Rosie was better, they were to be married. He said Rosie had agreed. One month later Rosie and Virgil said their I do's with her family in attendance. A reception followed at the home. For the next three months, Virgil and Rosie went everywhere together. They had lunch in the park, strolled leisurely by the river stopping to feed the ducks, attended Church, and the movies. Virgil went with Rosie to the hairdressers, waiting patiently so he could tell her how beautiful she looked. They were never more than an arm's length away from each other, holding hands and stealing kisses even in the grocery store. Virgil still sang to her several times a day. This taste of paradise was not to last. One morning Rosie was waiting for Virgil to come out of the bathroom when she heard him fall. Hurrying in she found him on the floor. Using the intercom she soon had help and an ambulance on the way. Alas, it was too late to save him. A massive heart attack the doctor said. The sweet tenor voice would sing no more. Four months later Rosie is still grieving for Virgil, but she thanks God daily for bringing Virgil into her life. If you ask her she will tell you she thought her life was over until she met Virgil. The ray of sunshine he brought her will continue to warm her until the day she sees him again, and hears his songs. Her love story gave hope to a lot of the ladies in the home. Maybe one day another Prince Charming will move into the assisted living home and make one of them as happy as Virgil made Rosie. -<>- >My Aunt My Aunt is a remarkable woman. She is on the far side of 80. I won't say how far. Still, she has more energy and enthusiasm for life than I ever could have. Every time we talk on the phone I am filled with delight at the gentle humor and cheerfulness in her voice. Her care and compassion for everyone around her are an inspiration. She is always doing good. She makes sure her friends get to the doctor and to Church. She helps in her community in countless ways. And she does it all with a joyful smile on her face. Her faith and love for God are amazing too. She has lost brothers, sisters, and her husband to death. She has watched her friends, children, and grandchildren deal with health problems. She has faced health difficulties in her own life as well. Through it all, however, her belief in God's love and care have never wavered. When I called her on her last birthday she told me again how awesome God was and how good God had been to her and her family. Whenever I need a shining example to show me how to live my own life all I have to do is remember how my Aunt lives her's. She takes everything that comes her way with faith, humor, and joy. She learns from the problems and tough times she faces and uses them to grow even more loving. She rejoices in all the good times she receives and cherishes each moment with her friends, family, and community. She also uses her goodness, kindness, and giving heart to make the world around her a better place. Most of all she brings her love, joy, light, and oneness with God into the lives of so many others including my own. My Aunt will probably blush when she reads this, but every word is true. She would remind me, though, that we can all live this way too if we wish. Our lives, after all, are just the choices we make each day. May we all choose as beautifully as she does. ~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~ -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Patriot Fire/Rescue/Transport! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/patriot.html Amazing Gibraltar Airport! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/airroad.html Awww Animals 1 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animals.html Freedom Isn't Free! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/freedom.html Hero! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hero.html Angels Are Watching! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angelswatching.html Humorous Ads! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/humorad.html Emergency Numbers: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/help.html Think Positive http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/positive.html Maxine On Fall! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonfall.html Thank You Lord! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html Are Angels Real? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html Animal Friends! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalfriends.html Rescued Squirrel! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/rsquirrel.html Maria The Goose! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/goose.html Akiane Child Prodigy! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Value What You Have! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuewyh.html You Are The Only You God Has! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html Fall And Halloween INDEX! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/halloweenindex.html -<>- >Please Visit This Link to Get New Traffic For Shangrala :) Fun Pages http://www.funpageexchange.com/go.php?uid=3559 -<>- >Follow Me on StumbleUpon: http://tinyurl.com/j9wvdd6 -<>- >From AFA: Sign the pledge - I Stand For The National Anthem! http://www.afa.net/ -<>- >In The News: Is Trump wrong to be worried? Thousands Of Possible Voter Fraud Cases Were Just Reported in Indiana -Indiana is already embroiled in a massive voter fraud investigation covering literally half the state. http://em.mrc.org/Y0K8v0jLq00d6000YBR09S1 From Manhattan Digest: http://tinyurl.com/jojt8pv Join AFA for day of prayer and fasting http://tinyurl.com/hyjb8gj MRC http://tinyurl.com/hct4vn7 WATCH: Terminally Ill Former Miss Wisconsin Shuts Down Trump Haters With Incredible Story http://conservativetribune.com/miss-wisconsin-trump-haters/ FRAUD: Ex-Employee Trashes Trump On National TV… But She Didn’t Know He Had THIS Letter http://conservativetribune.com/ex-employee-trashes-trump/ Email Shows Podesta [Clinton Top Aide] Was Upset the San Bernardino Shooter Was Muslim http://em.mrc.org/ToLRp0q010006Bk00Y8dKS0 The Democrats are the hate mongers paying for bus loads of violent protestors to disrupt free speech at conservative rallies - also explains the hate at the Tea Party rallies! Video: Clinton Camp Admits Paying Protesters to Incite Violence at Trump Rallies http://em.mrc.org/dK0Yq1qLpd0S600B8u000R0 Trump Releases Devastating Hillary Video… 10,000 Shares an Hour http://conservativetribune.com/trump-devastating-hillary-video/ -<>- >From Our Friend Cloie :) Hillary Clinton Song (OFFICIAL!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkq9FNrp3wE&feature=youtu.be --- ...LOL! Funny And Sad at the same time! Thanks Cloie! Here's one I found that goes with this... Hillary Clinton lying for 13 minutes straight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dY77j6uBHI -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Cirque du Soleil Artists Shenea Booth and Nicolas Besnard perform their unique and original acrobatic dance for the Swiss television show 'Benissimo.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGq4k8RMe9o&feature=player_embedded One of the top magicians in Australia, James Galea made his US television debut with some unbelievable magic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX7v6pK0lrU&feature=player_embedded Alex Firbo is only 10, but has already had to face challenges in his young age many never have to. Alex is almost completely blind, but with that blindness also came an incredible voice, and he was finally given a proper chance to display that voice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz6lumLn4F0&feature=player_embedded Julia Chupira wows the judges and audience of X-Factor Ukraine by her performance of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aETPa18uuvU --- ...Wow! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) Andre Rieu - Il Silenzio (Maastricht 2008) WORTH ANOTHER LISTEN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4l3Rgq-L1M Happy Inside - IKEA cats advert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7vXP3tHzhA [An Et-Ahem] Trick with Harrison Ford https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxrYalHT_fw --- ...LOL! Good ones! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend PatDeE :) He sent us one we have here... There's gotta be something in this list you didn't know: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/triviafacts.html --- ...Love it! Thanks PatDeE! 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 ========================================================== ___ (___) /` `\ / /"\ \ \_/o o\_/ ( _ ) `\ /` /\\V//\ / /_ _\ \ \ \___/ / \/===\/ || || || || ||___|| |_____| jgs ||| / Y \ `"`"` >Extra Ordinary Story Editor: by David McLaughlan Joyce Schowalter Ayrshire, Scotland It was just another nothing much kind of day, in January 2009. I'd done a little shopping and was walking home with nothing much on my to-do list. I overtook a wee old lady. To be honest, she hardly registered on my radar. Just another ordinary old lady. Then she carefully sat one of her shopping bags down, straightened up and took a deep breath. The bag held a big box of soap powder. I could've carried it all day without noticing, but she hadn't made it fifty yards from the shop before stopping. I walked past... then turned back and asked if she needed a hand. She explained that normally she had a shopping cart and the box wouldn't have been a problem. But as she hadn't much money, the soap was too good a bargain to miss. While she explained I picked up the bag and we started walking. I asked her where she was going then lied and said it was exactly on my way. A few steps along I realized I had to walk really slowly so not to tire her out - which gave us plenty of time to chat. But what would we talk about? She said she was 92 in a month. Then said she was retired from The Salvation Army. She'd joined as a teenager, met her husband, her only love, at the Army College. Then they'd set out on a life of service together. She talked about the work in poor, inner-city areas. How her husband had died suddenly thirty years ago while they were both out doing the good work. She had so looked forward to growing old with him, and didn't understand why it happened, but was absolutely sure it was part of the bigger plan. Wow! As I listened, my admiration grew. I walked her to her door, despite her protests that it must be out of my way. There Mrs Thompson and I introduced ourselves and shook hands. I said it was a real pleasure to meet her. She said when I stopped she saw I had a good face. Walking away, so much ran through my mind. I was touched she'd said I had a good face. I know only too well how badly my heart would fare if held up to public inspection, so if my face looked good that's a step in the right direction. It was an honor to have helped her. Then I remembered how, only minutes before, I had thought of her as just another ordinary old lady. How wrong I had been! The more I get to know people, the more I hear their stories, the more I come to realize there is no such thing as an ordinary person. Mrs Thompson, thank you for helping me! =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' "I present a God who matters, and who makes claims on the human race. He is a God of love, grace, and mercy, but also a God of judgment. When we break His moral laws we suffer; when we keep them we have inward peace and joy. I am calling for a revival that will cause men and women to return to their offices and shops to live out the teaching of Christ in their daily relationships. I preach a Gospel not of despair but of hope for the individual, hope for society, and hope for the world." - Billy Graham .------. .------. .' //`. .' `. / \ / \ | / : | ......::::: : / | :::::'''''' | \ / \ / `._// _.' `._ _.' AsH `"----"' `"----"' >Clay Balls (Author Unknown) I remember reading a story once about a man who was exploring some caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled up some clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw. He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found hundreds of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left, then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of hundreds of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home thousands, but he just threw it away. You know sometimes, it's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it; we see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person by God. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. The Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I don't think he means just our physical bodies. I think he means our inner selves, which are sometimes hidden from others by the *earthen vessel*. But if you take the time to get to know that person, and if you ask the Father to show you that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth. -<>- "You and I, God's ambassadors, are called to sound the warning, to call sinners to repentance, to point the way to peace with God and the hope that is in Christ." - Billy Graham _ /_\ .'-'. .' '. '_________' ( ) |.---------.| |: Blinker :| |: Fluid :| |'---------'| (___________)LGB >Four Words (By Roy Irwin) [Edited] "It isn't that they can't see the solution. It is that they can't see the problem." - Gilbert K. Chesterton I read the Mechanic's note while the Service Manger was trying to explain it to me. It was only four simple words, but reading them made my whole body numb. The note read as follows: "Could Not Duplicate Problem." How could that be? The engine in my car had suddenly stopped just a few hours before, nearly stranding my wife and I at a busy intersection. We were able to restart the engine after about an hour and cautiously drove the car to the repair shop. Now they were saying the engine was OK. The Service Manager explained that since they could not duplicate the problem, they could not identify the cause to fix it. To them, everything appeared normal. So I nervously drove my car home... 14 miles later, the engine again stopped. Once again, we managed to restart the engine and drive it back to the repair facility. This time the Mechanic let the engine run for a while. Finally it happened! The engine stopped - duplicating my original problem. Once the Mechanic saw the problem, he was instantly able to identify the cause and the one solution to fix it! As I waited for my car I kept thinking about what the Service Manager had said - once they identified the problem, they could identify the solution. How true that is in our lives as well... The biggest, most serious problem that we all have is sin. Sin is what stands between each of us and a personal relationship with God. Since we know what the problem is, we can also know the solution! What is the one and only 'solution' to our sin problem? Jesus Christ! Our problem with sin is so serious that we could not solve it on our own. So God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sin debt and provide the means for each of us to spend eternity in heaven with Him. Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV) Notice that Jesus didn't say that there were a number of different ways to heaven - only One. --- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' ...Romans 10: [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. God made it easy. Simply say out loud 'Jesus Christ is my Lord' while believing in your heart of hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead and you will be saved. You'll be born again with God's seed of Christ in you! 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 ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: _|_ | / \ //_\\ //(_)\\ |/^\| ,%%%% // \\ ,@@@@@@@, ,%%%%/%%% // \\ ,@@@\@@@@/@@, @@@%%%\%%//%%%// === \\ @@\@@@/@@@@@ @@@@%%%%\%%%%%// =-=-= \\@@@@\@@@@@@;%#####, @@@@%%%\%%/%%// === \\@@@@@@/@@@%%%######, @@@@@%%%%/%%//| |\\@\\//@@%%%%%%#/#### '@@@@@%%\\/%~ | | ~ @|| %\\//%%%#####; @@\\//@|| | __ __ | || %%||%%'###### '@|| || | | | | | || ||##\//#### || || | | -|- | | || ||'#||###' || || |_|__|__|_| || || || || ||_/` ======= `\__||_._|| || jgs__||_/` ======= `\_||___ >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY I teach first and second grade Sunday school. One Sunday last month our memory verse was "I have called you by name, you are mine" from Isaiah. I wanted to remind the students that we hear this verse during baptisms in our church, so I told the students, "I have called you by name, you are mine… Where have we heard this before?" Without a moment's hesitation Wade Parks replied, "My mom!" - Grace Witwer Housholder This story from Janet Funk of Arkansas is so wild I e-mailed her to get more details. Read on, for the whole story in Janet's own words: "I was doing laundry and Emerson, 3, took the pan of mashed potatoes and threw them across the entire kitchen and dining room, a spoon at a time, before hanging on the chandelier. What I did not mention (in the first e-mail) is that when I went to bathe him we slid across the flooded bathroom. He had flooded it while washing his hands before dinner. I was a blonde until Emerson became a walking demo team of his own. I am now almost completely gray. He is one of the most loving little boys but wreaks havoc and mayhem wherever he goes and if I hear, 'Sorry, Mommy' before I see him I know I am going to be unhappy. Friends will call and say, 'What's Emerson up to today?' It makes them feel better when their children do something. Emerson is the baby of the family with sisters 24 and 29 who always laugh when he pulls his stunts which just encourages him to do something better the next time. || || || || || || _ /\ || /\ _ / X \.--./ X \ /_/ \/` `\/ \_\ /|(`-/\_/)(\_/\-`)|\ ( |` (_(.oOOo.)_) `| ) ` | `//\( )/\\` | ` ( // ()\/() \\ ) ` ( \ / ) ` \ / Eeek! ` ` NDT. "Last night when I heard him crying and yelling, 'Help, Mommy,' I ran to the kitchen, slid through 8 feet of mashed potatoes to find him hanging from the chandelier over the dining room table which was coming out of the ceiling. After his rescue I asked him what happened. Why was he hanging onto the chandelier? He looked at me with a sweet smile and said, 'Spiders have eight legs.'" Cheyenne, 3, Zelma's neighbor, was at Zelma's house. Cheyenne was pretending to chat on the phone. When Zelma asked her to whom she was talking, Cheyenne said, "Oh, Zelma, that was just Happy Meal. He wanted to know if I want chicken nuggets!" - Zelma Feltner of Kendallville, Indiana Zelma was babysitting for Cheyenne and her sister. All at once, Cheyenne said, "Oh, Zelma, I have something for you in the burp bag." (She meant her sister's diaper bag.) Cheyenne went to the diaper bag and pulled out two little toys. "I brought these toys for you to play with," Cheyenne said. "But only for today. OK." Breann, 6, was spending the night with Zelma while Zelma was babysitting Cheyenne, 3. While watching Breann and Zelma do a word puzzle, Cheyenne asked if she could help. Breann replied, "No, Honey. This is only for adults!" . /| ____...,---.___..__,) | ,_.-._ ,._,.--'''''' ' ; / '-' ) / ,'_._. `_ ,' : `-. -. _ ' ; )`-. `. /; ) ) ,' / '. `. -. ( \ | =' .' ; `. '-._+ .\= \.-'-'-.| ; / :' `. \\ `- `.+' ; .-. `. ,-+,' = _ (_ ; .' ; (_ /: =,( O\ O ).J `. =`. ;' =\ \ 7P ' `-. '-: .' = \ \ (: :) ) `--| ; = `.`. `=="./ ; : `-`.__.' ) : | ; '.'.= -. . + ,'`) := \ , / `. ) =| `. ,+-.-'-+. ;. ; \: /| | ; `._ =) : ( `-' | (/ kOs ; ; ( |; (: ) | : `- / )| ; ) |) (_/ `-' `-' Zelma was babysitting a 3-year-old and two 4-year-olds on a day when Breann was spending the night. They were all having dinner. The 4-year-old said to Breann, "Don't you call her Grandma. She is the babysitter." Breann said, "She is my grandma!" The 4-year -old said, "No, no, no. She is the babysitter!" Breann looked at Zelma and said, "Tell her all the things you buy me." Zelma listed a few things that she had bought for Breann. Breann then said, "See. That proves she is my grandma. She would not buy other kids all that stuff!" Several Sundays ago, Donna and her husband asked to speak to their granddaughter Julia's Sunday School class; they were studying Jesus' lineage so the teacher asked the Mollers to talk about their family history and to bring some photos. They started with photos of Donna's husband's grandmother, Inez, and told the children about her work on the family dairy farm. They talked about family members down to Julia, 4, and concluded with Julia telling the children that her middle name is Inez. Donna explained that she was named after her great-great grandmother. At lunch that afternoon Julia's mother asked her about her Sunday School lesson. Julia told her that Grammy and Granddad talked and showed pictures. With great big eyes she asked, "Mommy! Do you know I'm named after Great-Grandma Moates?" - Donna Moller (Grammy) of Katy, Texas Jakob wanted to give his grandmother his own recipe for the family cookbook. This is Jakob's recipe for cheesy macaroni and cheese: "Just follow the directions on the box and add extra cheese!" - Grandmother Gale Spence of Angola, Indiana (\ _\_(`\_ `/` _ `/,-'=/` _,'|`._ /' `/` ,-' |||._ `-._ i_i _,-' ,-' || `__ `-._ "=(. .)=" _,-' _,-' --||- (..=`/._ `-/#\ ( i_i ,\ _,-' | )|_|-==` \_)`-/ /v "=(. .)=" ,' ,|/ \ |__||\ //|\\ / / #/ ,/ \ ( ,' ,' ((_.--._)) || )(/|\)' /# ; ,/ #,/v ,' ,' |`- -' ||/ (/\\ / #; ,/# ,/ ,' ' / | \ */"-._ |/ _____,-''"/_)/__ / ,',---|((_.--._(__/ _.--""_____)-//_______"-. (,-.)| `- -( _,"_.--"" |||(( __ "-.: ___,/ ;| \ */ _\'_," (\__/) |||\\\ |__`,()() . \ (,_.) (_| (__/,'_,' /_/)=\.\. = |||||| | `( ` ``\|\)\ ( ;.__| _,-'_,' =//. ==> _7)< |||||| |`` , ` * "") ___\ _,--'_,-' //_(7__/) ////\ |||||| |``` \___.--' \_"""_,--' <*)_//'"" )/_/-"""":|||||,""""(("-._/ | """" ) ( _(-' _.---"\___,----. |||||| | ,' "`._ ,(( | ) ( \_/' ,' _"" "_ `.||||| |,"\\'--._) "._ \ \_/<. .>""( ( . .) )|||| |\\ \/,"\\ /`--._) <. .>|_/\| \/ ) \,-( \(||||| | \\)"\\ \) ||_/( ( | |\/ /, \ \ )\\(:|||||,()""""-.:| | \ `-\ | |__\/, :`/-`._____,-""_,' ctr:| |"""\___,""""""""""""""\(_,( (__,-"||---""""""; \---""""---------""""""""````/////))----""""/ ~~~\ ~///////~ ~/~~~~~ \ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ /~~~~/ ~~/ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here's another story from Gale. Little Josh wanted her to read Bible stories to her. He said, "My Grandma told God to tell Noah to build a boat so they don't drown." When Jakob's family got a new television, Jacob, 7, told his grandmother, "Guess what, Grandma? Even though we got a new TV I get to watch my same old programs. I'm not going to miss them!" One Sunday after church, as people were headed to the parking lot, Gavin, 5, was walking to the car with his dad, James. Amanda's son Austin, 2, ran excitedly after Gavin. When Gavin realized little Austin was running into the parking lot, he turned and shouted, "No Austin! No!" He then shepherded the toddler back toward his mother, yelling in a very grown-up fashion, "AMANDA! Is this YOUR child?" Everyone laughed appreciatively at Gavin's "parenting skills." - Joyce Riffle of West Virginia Just after Tamara finished singing, "Oh dear, what can the matter be … Johnny's so long at the fair," Lauren, 11, didn't miss a beat. Lauren said, "He's seeing another woman!" "She keeps us laughing," writes Tamara Ashway of Willow Street, Pennsylvania _...----.._ ,:':::::. `>. ,' |:::::;' |:::. / `'::' :::::\ / _____ `::;\ : /:::::\ ` : | ,. /::SSt::\ | |;:::. `::::::;' | :::::: `::;' ,. ; \:::' ,::::/ \ \:::/ `. ,:. :;' `-.::::::.. _.'' ```----''' Kate, 4, recently scored her first soccer goal ever. It appears she wasn't coached in the meaning of teamwork. Kate immediately started crying after the goal and said, "Everyone keeps trying to take the ball from me! It's my turn!" - Jennifer Decker of Angola, Indiana Lynn got home from the office one night and Abbey Jayne, 11, had already done the dishes and cleaned the living room and her bedroom. She told her father and Lynn that she was tired and was going to lie down. She only came out of her room for supper and to use the restroom. The rest of the time she was in her room reading or watching TV. The next morning she handed her dad an envelope that said, "I'm sorry, Dad" on the front. Inside the envelope was a note from one of her teachers. TWICE she had to go back to her locker during class because she had forgotten something. Knowing that the house rules are "If you get in trouble at school, you get in trouble at home," she told Mike, "I figured I'd save you the lecture about being prepared and responsible and just ground myself." - Lynn E. Walkup of Garrett, Indiana Ella, 3, sat down to make her cousin a birthday card and asked her mother Erin how to spell "thank you." Erin reminded her she was making a birthday card not a thank you card. Ella replied, "No! I'm saying thank you for inviting me to your party!" - Erin Doucette of Huntertown, Indiana (Note: Read Erin's blog at fwfamily.com.) __/) .-(__(=: |\ | \) ejm97 \ || \|| \| | Melissa, mother Lilly Belle, called her parents to tell them this story. The preschool teachers were asking the children about their addresses, phone numbers and last names. When Lilly was asked what her last name was she said, "My name is Lilly Flower!" Her full name is Lilly Belle Slorf. -Ed and Brenda Snyder (grandparents of Lilly Belle) of Jimmerson Lake, Angola, Indiana Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >-->Directions Make a Right onto "Believeth Blvd." Keep straight and go through the Green Light, which is Jesus Christ. From there, you must turn onto the "Bridge of Faith," which is over troubled water. When you get off the bridge, make a Right turn and Keep Straight. You are on the "King's Highway" - Heaven-bound. Keep going for two miles: One for the Father and One for the Son, Then exit off onto "Grace Blvd." From there, make a Right turn on "Gospel Lane." Keep Straight and then make another Right on "Prayer Road." As you go on your way, Yield Not to the traffic on "Temptation Ave." Also, avoid SIN STREET because it is a DEAD END. Pass up "Envy Drive," and "Hate Avenue." Also, avoid "Hypocrisy Street," "Gossiping Lane," and Backbiting Blvd." However, you have to go down "Long-suffering Lane," "Persecution Blvd.," and "Trials and Tribulations Ave." But that's all right, because VICTORY Street is straight ahead! AMEN!!!!! Send these directions to your friends so they will not get lost. -Author Unknown >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************