Your Life is Jesus And More... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please 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! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This super scorching hot new page is from our friend LouiseAu. Artists are really getting good at deception. These 3D floors are so real looking that it is hard to believe they are actually all on a flat surface. They give us a sense of vertigo in some cases. These aren't your sweet and innocent floors! These will awaken your sense of fun and adventure. Be sure to check them out here: ___ ,--[___]--, / \ |,.--'```'--.,| , |'-.,_____,.-'| || |'-.,_____,.-'| || | | _||_ | P A I N T | ///\\\ | | HHHHHH |'-.,_____,.-'| |||||| jgs `'-.,_____,.-'' |||||| Extreme 3D Floors http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/3dfloors2.html --- ...Wow! Scary and dizzy at the same time! Awesome! Thanks LouiseAu! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: _____ (((\\\\\ )_ \\\| / \\|\/ \\( ), & \) ( (( |` \\ ))) _ | \` __| ` | , \ ` , \ | \ ,\ , \ ' \/ \_ \/ \ `_,`-._ ` \ ejm / `-. _ \ ` / ,`. \ === / '== =`. | ==== / | === ` / /========= / | / , /______| / , ======== __-' | = === / ,======= ' - -- ( \ \ \ ` \ ` \ ` \_____ \ / ` _/ / '-- ' >HOMESICK BLUES by Chris Courtney Homesickness is an increasingly common malady, as more and more Americans move farther away from home. Whether it's a student going off to college, a soldier serving our country or a family separated by their vocation, all have one thing in common: homesickness. Homesickness is simply a feeling of disconnection. The trick to overcoming the homesick blues is to retain that connection to the home you left behind. There are several ways to stay connected, no matter how far from home. The Internet -- The Internet is a wonderful way to keep up with all that's going on back home. Email is a very inexpensive way to send messages, photos and small files. But the possibilities opened by cyberspace don't end here. Online chat is a great way to "talk" to someone from anywhere. Mega-Internet providers MSN and AOL both offer "Instant Messenger" services, free of charge. You can chat in real time until your fingers bleed, keeping up on all the hometown gossip without needing a second mortgage to pay the phone bill. You don't have to be an AOL or MSN subscriber to use these services. Just download the software from their websites, set up an account and tell your friends and family to do the same. Check out other chat groups, such as Yahoo! Groups, to see if there are any online chat communities for people from your hometown or state. If there isn't one, start one. Remember, misery loves company. It's always wonderful to find people in the same boat to relate to. Use the Internet to view websites from home. Many local television and college websites feature live aerial pictures of the city they're located in. Some local radio stations simulcast their programs online, so you can tune in anywhere. Most local media (newspapers and broadcast) have websites these days, where one can go to read up on the news and happenings from back home. The Phone -- Online communication is great, but sometimes you just need to hear a familiar voice. Follow E.T.'s advice and phone home -- often. Be thorough in shopping for the right long distance package. Phone cards can be a cost saving alternative, as can cellular programs. Figure out your phone usage and find the package that best suits your needs. Go Home -- Nothing on this earth can substitute for the warmth of being back home. Computers and telephones are no match for hugs and visits. When planning your budget, set some money aside each week for travel. This way, when time for a trip back home comes around, you won't have to max out your credit card. Start planning your next trip home before you leave the last one. Set a goal for when to return, and stay enthusiastic about it. This will give you something to look forward to when feeling blue about being so far away. The U.S. Mail -- If you have a homesick loved one living far away, this section is for you. There are few better balms for loneliness than a care package from home. Fill a box with homemade goodies, such as candies and cookies. Local gifts and trinkets can help. Audio and video letters are even better. The main thing is to be creative, have fun, and come up with something that screams "home" to your long distance loved one. A mail subscription to the local newspaper can be a great gift for those living far away. What better way to stay on top of news, weddings, and other important events from home. Most importantly, let your homesick blues sufferer know he or she is missed. Help them stay connected, and feel loved. Home is where the heart is. However, home is also where you hang your hat. Be careful not to let the homesick blues overwhelm you. Get connected where you are. Go out and get involved. Find a church to connect to. Join a fitness club. Find a neighbor to pal around with. Volunteer at a local charity. Connect with the community around you. Also maintain the connection with your hometown. Your life will be greatly enriched by the new connections you make, and the old connections you maintain. -- Chris and Jennie Courtney ___________________________________________ Chris and Jennie Courtney operate E-NCOURAGEMENT at http://www.e-ncouragement.com -- a web-based ministry focused on bringing peace, joy, comfort and love to people who need it. You can contact them by clicking here: mailto:e-ncouragement316@cfaith.com =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) , ----. - - ` ,__.,' \ .' *` / | | / **\ . / ****. | mm | ****| \ | ****| ` ._______ \ ****/ \ /`---' \___( /~~~~\ / \ / | \ | | \ , ~~ . |, ~~ . | |\ ( |||| ) ( |||| )(,,,)` ( |||||| )-( |||||| ) | ^ ( |||||| ) ( |||||| ) |'/ ( |||||| )-( |||||| )___,'- ( |||| ) ( |||| ) ` ~~ ' ` ~~ ' >THE WORLD IS MINE - Author Unknown Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman and wished I were as beautiful. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle. She had one leg and used a crutch. But as she passed, she passed a smile. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two legs; the world is mine. I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm. I talked with him, he seemed so glad. If I were late, it'd do no harm. And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you, you've been so kind. It's nice to talk with folks like you You see," he said, "I'm blind." Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two eyes; the world is mine. Later while walking down the street, I saw a child that I knew. He stood and watched the others play, but he did not know what to do. I stopped a moment and then I said, Why don't you join them dear?" He looked ahead without a word. I forgot, he couldn't hear. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two ears; the world is mine. With feet to take me where I'd go.. With eyes to see the sunset's glow. With ears to hear what I should know. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine. If this poem makes you feel thankful, just forward it to your friends. After all, it's just a simple reminder that we have so much to be thankful for! Give the gift of love.. It never comes back empty! I have been truly blessed with AWESOME FRIENDS. --- ...Awww, me too! A sweet classic reminder! Thanks louiseAu! -<>- Riitta Rasimus ( ) __..---..__ ,-=' / | \ `=-. :--..___________..--; \.,_____________,./ >A Gift For You One day I had lunch with some old friends. Jim, a short, balding golfer type, about 85-years old, came along with them; all in all, it was a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, my friends and I ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Jim who said, "A large piece of home-made apple pie, heated please. I wasn't sure my ears heard him right, and the others were aghast, when Jim continued, completely unabashed...."along with two large scoops of vanilla ice cream." We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time, but when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy eating mine. I couldn't take my eyes off of Jim as I watched him savoring each bite of his pie a-la-mode. The other guys just grinned in disbelief as they silently ate their lunches. The next time I went out to eat, I called Jim and invited him to join me. I lunched on a white meat tuna sandwich, while he ordered a chocolate parfait. Since I was chuckling, he wanted to know if he amused me. I answered, "Yes, you certainly do, but you also confuse me. How come you always order such rich desserts, while I feel like I must be sensible in my food choices?" He laughed and said "I'm tasting all that is possible for me to taste. I try to eat the food I need and do the things I should in order to stay healthy, but life's too short, my friend. I hate missing out on something good. This year I realized how old I was. He grinned. I've never been this old before, so, while I'm still here, I've decided it's time to try all those things that, for years, I've been ignoring." He continued, "I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many trout streams I haven't fished. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead. There are too many golf courses I haven't played. I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of sporting events and potato chips and cokes. I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face. I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace. I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want un-timed long distance calls to the one I love the most. I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind on my face. So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final piece of pie before my life expired." With that, I called the waitress over. "I've changed my mind," I said. "I want what he's having, only add some more whipped cream!" This is my gift to you - We need an annual Friends Day! If you get this twice, then you have more than one friend. Live well, love much, & laugh often - Be happy and enjoy doing whatever your heart desires. You only go around once on this crazy planet. SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS, *Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we like, respect, and enjoy spending time with. . , * , ` *~.|,~* ' ' ,~*~~* ` _ ,* / \`* ' // ,* ; \,O. // ,(:::)=// ( `~(###) %---'`"y \ / \ / __)(__ hjw '------` Remember that while money talks.... ICE CREAM SINGS! --- ...Oh Yeah! Thanks LouiseAu! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: reICareI reICareIC ICareICareICar ICareICareICare reICareICareICareI reICareICareICareIC CareICareICareICareICa reICareICareICareICareI ICarICareICareICareICareI ICareICareICareICareICareI ICarICareICareICareICareICare CareICareICareICareICareICare ICareICareICareICareICareICareI CareICareICareICareICareICareICa ICaICareICareICareICareICareICareI ICareICareICareICareICareICareICar eICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICar ICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICar ICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareIc eICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICa ICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareI reICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICare ICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICa reICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareIc ICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICareICare reICareICareICareIICareICareICareICareIca ICareICareICareICareICareICareICarICa reICareICareICareICareICarICare areICareICareICareICareICa ICareICareICareICare areICareICareICa eICareICareI -Grim CareICar reIC eI >Your Life is Jesus to Someone -Author Unknown "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." - John 13:35 YOUR LIFE is Jesus to someone, though tattered and torn it may be. Though often times weak and unstable, you're all of God someone will see. YOUR TONGUE is Jesus to someone. That idle, insensitive word reflects to at least one searching heart an idle, insensitive Lord. YOUR GOALS are Jesus to someone. What you put first, they believe, are the goals of God for the Christian. Your life is all they receive. YOUR FAITHFULNESS... that's Jesus to someone. Their judgment of how God is true, rests unquestionably in the faithfulness they see day by day in you. YOUR LOVE is Jesus to someone -- that someone who is seeking to know that Jesus will follow and guide and befriend wherever in life they might go. SO BEWARE lest others blaspheme God by what you say or do, for the only Jesus that someone may see is the Jesus they see in you. -<>- .n"­­~~|"-. / | | /\ |"-.| | | | | | | |-._| _ \/ | | / ||| `-.L__.>' ||\_ ,; ,; \ "=;'. _|| | | `.-" / | | | | >A CONSPIRACY OF KINDNESS Kevin is a boy who might be described as "slow." He didn't learn his ABCs as fast as other kids. He couldn't compete in schoolyard races. But Kevin had a way with people. His bright smile and big heart won him plenty of friends. My friend Randy, the pastor at Kevin's church, decided they needed a basketball team for boys. Kevin signed on and soon basketball became a center of his life. He practiced hard. While the other boys worked at dribbling the basketball and shooting lay-ups, skills Kevin would never master, he simply shot baskets. Or more correctly, he threw the ball AT the basket. He had a special spot near the free throw line. He threw and threw, and it occasionally went in. On the rare times that he succeeded, Kevin raised his arms and shouted, "Look at me, Coach! Look at me!" Randy looked at him. And smiled. The day before their first game, Coach Randy gave each player a bright red jersey. Kevin was number 12. He scrambled himself into the sleeves and wore that jersey almost every day. Everywhere. One Sunday morning the church worship service was interrupted by Kevin's excited voice. "Look, Coach!" He lifted his gray wool sweater to reveal the red jersey underneath with number 12 on the front. Nobody there minded the interruption; the congregation knew Kevin and loved him. I'd like to be able to tell you that the team did well. But the truth is.they never won a game that season -- except for the night it snowed and the opposing team never showed up. At the end of the season, the boys played in the church league's tournament. As the last-place team, they drew the unfortunate spot of playing against the best team -- boys who had never lost a game all year. Game day arrived. Both teams played their best, but the game went as expected. Near the end of the last quarter, Kevin's team stood nearly 30 points behind. It was then that one of the boys called timeout. "Coach Randy," he said, "this is our last game and Kevin has never made a basket. I think we should let him make a basket." The team agreed. Kevin was instructed to stand at his special place near the free throw line and wait. He was told that when he was given the ball, he should shoot. Kevin was ecstatic. He ran to the floor and waited. When the ball was passed to him he shot -- and missed. Number 17 from the other team snatched the rebound, dribbled down the court for an easy basket. But a moment later Kevin got the ball again. He shot -- and missed again. Number 17 repeated his performance scoring two more points. Kevin shot a third and fourth time with the same result. But slowly the other team seemed to figure out what was going on and the next time they snatched the rebound, a boy threw it to Kevin! He shot...and missed. Now every rebound came to him and he threw and threw toward the basket. Time was running down and Kevin still had not scored. BOTH teams circled the boy by this time and all of the players were shouting, "Kevin! Kevin!" The crowd took up the chant. Soon everyone in the gym was shouting Kevin's name. Coach Randy was sure that time must have run out; the game HAD to be over. He glanced at the official clock. It was stopped at 4.3 seconds. Even the timekeepers joined in the mania and stood by their table shouting with the crowd, "Kevin! Kevin!" Kevin shot and shot. Everyone was screaming. He attempted again and again and again and...miraculously, one of his shots took a crazy bounce on the rim. Everyone held their breath. . ,-; . , ________i_,',// _odHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHbo_ dP^' ;.| ||,; `^?b |H ))`'||/'; H| ?bo. .=;' |||.' ,odP `?oo.-',' ||'oodP' /' / / |/ | | _-' || || | ,' J| | \ | | / | |_\ L L .-' | \.)`-.;-;__./ "-._;_.-" The ball dropped in. Chaos reigned. Nobody remained seated. Everyone stood and cheered as if one boy had single-handedly won a world championship. Kevin's arms sprang up in the air and he shouted, "I won! I won!" He had scored. His team escorted him off the court, the clock ticked down and the game was over. That day an undefeated team retained their perfect record. But everybody won. Everybody. Because everybody had participated in a crazy conspiracy of kindness that was so compelling, so powerful, the earth itself might have stopped for a moment to rejoice with one young boy. How beautiful it is when we all conspire together in kindness. Everybody wins. -- Steve Goodier -<>- "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." Philippians 2:10 Mike Benson, Editor @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@,""""""@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@"- "@@@@@@@@@@ "@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@( ^^^ )@@@@@@@@@ ' @@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@( ( 0@@@@@@@@@, (@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@) ) _/@@@@@@@@@@@m "@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@(__/ (@@@@@@@@@@@@@' @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@" )@@@@@@@@@@' @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@' \@@@@@@@@' @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@' )@@@@@@' A @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@ ,@@@@@@@" /@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@, @_____" =, @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@ :',@@@@ `@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@' @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ M@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@' `@@@@@@@@@@@@@" ,@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@" / @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@" @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@| @@@@@@@@@@" / @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@| @@@@@@@@@" ," .@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@| @@@@@@@@' .@@ `@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@| @@@@@@@@m `@@@, @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@| :@@@@@@@@@m )@@. )@@@@@@@@ unknown >REMEMBER WHEN YOU were dating and romance seemed to be everywhere? Whatever happened to that? For most couples romance takes a nose dive shortly after marriage. The focus moves away from wining and dining to eating and sleeping. We are confident that we have "caught" him or her and proven to him or her that we care. Then we slack off. How is our spouse to take that feeling of being treasured from dating into marriage if we don't continue the behavior that made him or her feel that way? And even if you weren't a "Casanova" during dating, why not learn to be one now? Treasuring your spouse includes being romantic. Romance involves proving you think about your spouse when you are not together and showing it when you are together. It involves taking time out of busy schedules to make each other feel loved, cared about, important, and special. It means taking the ordinary (dinner or walk) and making it extraordinary (candlelit dinner or walk in the moonlight). Through romantic gestures you tell your spouse that he or she is the one and only one for you and worth the extra effort. Never forget the importance of dating your spouse. This may seem elementary, but you might be surprised (or maybe not) how many couples don't date anymore. Or, if they do, it is only once or twice a year for special occasions. If you want your relationship to thrive and your spouse to feel treasured, you must spend quality couple time together. - Debbie L. Cherry -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Who Is This Jesus? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesus.html More Abundant Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/abundantlife.html Adam In Paradise http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/adam.html Thank You Lord http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html Hand Painting Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hpaint2.html Last Day http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/lastday.html Thoughts For Today http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thoughts.html Walk With Jesus http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/walk.html 90/10 Principle http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/giving.html Scotch Tape Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tapeart.html Trash Shadow Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/shadowart.html Amazing Dream Facts http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dreamfacts.html Important Life Truths http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetruths.html Giant Panda Bear http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/pandabear.html Christ's Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesuslife.html Life Train http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetrain.html -<>- Presenting Jesus—Rightly Born-again believers represent God and Jesus. Even if we don’t particularly want the job, we have it. We are part of God’s family, citizens of heaven, fellow-workers with Him, and ambassadors for Christ. https://tinyurl.com/yynx4wod FREE Audio Class - Book Of Revelations http://tinyurl.com/yzslccp FREE Audio Class - New Life In Christ http://tinyurl.com/yk8q6rd “President Trump tweeted Wednesday that a new section of the border wall just erected in New Mexico, and he was telling the truth,” Eddie Scarry reports in the Washington Examiner. U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the wall referenced was a “project announced in April 2018 to build 20 miles of new steel wall that replaced small fencing that prevents vehicle crossing. The new barriers are from 18 to 30 feet high, depending on the terrain.” https://tinyurl.com/y4pjsw7e “After two years of the Trump presidency, America’s economic engine has been reignited. Since President Trump took office nearly five million jobs have been created, including more than 450,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector,” Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) writes in The Detroit News. “In just a couple years, the economy has made significant strides. However, the rush by some leaders on the left to abandon free enterprise principles and embrace the tenets of socialism threatens this very progress.” https://tinyurl.com/y2y26uny DACA RECIPIENT SLAMS DEMOCRATS, SAYS THEY THREW ‘DREAMERS’ UNDER THE BUS https://tinyurl.com/y388upnx Product Alert: Chicken Salad, Salsa, Fryers http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Magician Gael Brinet dazzles the audience at the Championship of Magic France 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L_qbfD-GA4&feature=youtu.be --- ...Awesome! Thanks LouiseAu! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== ,''@, |.~.| : - : \-/ .-|\_/)-. / | Y -- \ / /\o /\ \ \ \_|___|_/ / \_/ \_/ | _ | | | | ( | ) | | | Sher^ | | | |__|__| (__|__) >Doctor Tim Story Editor: by The Patient Joyce Schowalter USA Over 25 years ago a friend recommended a doctor to me. The doctor had a private practice and his office was nearby. Best of all, he favored "preventive and natural medicine", important to me as I seem to be allergic to half the substances known to mankind. Foods, chemicals, dyes, you name it, I'm allergic. I appreciated he was a small business owner, being one myself. I didn't have insurance, because one month of insurance cost more than I usually spent in three years at the doctor. (Even 25 years ago, policies for one person were extremely expensive.) So I went to see Doctor Tim. He was a great guy, very helpful, very respectful. Afterwards, the gal at the front desk printed out a bill for $80. As I was writing my check, Doctor Tim came up, took the bill, drew a line across it, and wrote in "$60.00". I was floored. "Look, he said, "If we bill an insurance company, it takes an incredible amount of our time, energy and money. Insurance companies don't pay the full amount of the bill, and it takes a long time for us to be paid. People who pay in the moment deserve to pay less, it's still better for us." "Wow, thanks!" I replied. Years later, Doc Tim joined a big medical business in my metro area, in charge of one of their offices. At that big business, still uninsured, I had to pay full price. Then one day the front desk clerk said, "If you're paying today, self-insured, there's 20 percent off your bill." Amazing. Next time I told Doc Tim, "Great news on the 20 percent off!" He said, "Let me tell you a story about that. "I went to meetings for two years, saying that I thought our self-insured customers deserved this. People finally agreed. But the computer guys said they had to change the system to accommodate it. Next meeting, same conversation. "Finally, after two years, I sent a bill out front with the instructions, 'Take 20 percent off, patient is self-pay." The front desk did just that. Soon my phone lit up with the billing department, 'Why did you do this?' "I told them I did it because they'd been talking about it for years, plenty of time to get it done, and I was going to continue. Within *one month*, the 20 percent off was in the computers, system-wide, for all our locations." Needless to say, my jaw dropped. One person, one conviction to do what was right, thousands of patients paying a more "fair" rate, probably still more money than insurance companies paid. Imagine how many people, how many families that would help over the years. It's probably been 10 years. I still don't see the doctor often. But when I do, there's 20 percent off my bill. On my behalf, and the thousands of people who don't know the story: Thank you, Doctor Tim. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From SermonFodder: _ ///-._ ////////-._ /////////////-. ////////////////`. //////////////// .'`. //////////////// . '.'`. '|`'//////////// . .'.::|` : `'/////// . '.':| | . . `'// ' _|- ::| |. .-._ . | . | .':: | |:|:| | ' ' '.::| | |:|:| :. . .'.':| | . |:|:| . | .._.::: : `':| | ' ////-:| |. . | '/////////-._ | . . : .//////////////-._ : : ///////////////////-._ |. |////////////////////////-._ | . . :`'//////////////////////////-._ | . _.-\\\\``'//////////////////////////-._ | /\\\\\\\\..``'//////////////////////////". : . . /. \\\\\\\\\. .``'///////////////////// .'`. : / _ \\\\\\\\\. ``'//////////////// . .'`. | . / (@) \\\\\\\\\. . . ``'/////////// . '.'::|. {`)._ '| _` .\\\\\\\-`:|#| . . ``'////// '. .'.:| `-{_/`| ||::. \\'`.:|:.|#| |#| . ``'/ ' .##:'::: `-| ||||| |`.'::|::|#| |#| |#| . . '| . .|##|'.:| pils | ||||| : .'::|:.'#| |#| |#| |#| | |##|'::| | ||||| .| .'.:|::.'' '#| |#| |#| . : ' |##|'.:| {`\:|||| : .'::|:_.:. . '#| |#| | .|##|'::: `-{_/'|_ |_.-'/}_/'-._ '#| :. |##:'.:| `'{._('}_)-' `-}_}(-._ . . | ' '` .'::| `-' `-.} /-._ . : .'.'_:-'\ `-}_}(-._ | . _.-')_(-' `-/_)`-.:.-{ \{-' `-{_'_)-'' ^ >FBI examines pastor's sermons on abortion & homosexuality Feb 2, 2005 /By Lee Warren/ MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (BP)--Nov. 23, 2004, started out like any other normal morning for Randy Steele, senior pastor at Southwest Christian Church in Mount Vernon, Ill., a town about 80 miles southeast of St. Louis. One of the longtime members of his church was on her deathbed and he planned to spend the day consoling her family. Then the phone rang. It was the FBI. Steele said they wanted to meet with him personally. After agreeing to a time later that same afternoon, he said his first thoughts turned to his congregation. "I was wondering what somebody in my church might have done," Steele said. "So I was in a lot of prayer asking God to give me the right words to say." When two FBI agents arrived at the church, Steele said they traded small talk for a few minutes before the suspense got to him and he asked about the nature of their visit. Their answer stunned him. "One guy opened a file," Steele said. "And he said, 'This is pertaining to a sermon that you preached on Memorial Day.'" On Memorial Day 2004, Steele was in the middle of preaching a sermon series he called "Life Issues" dealing with controversial cultural issues from a biblical perspective. One such sermon was about abortion and Steele chose Memorial Day to preach about it. "I shared the number of people who have died in wars versus the number who had died through 'legal' abortion since 1973," Steele said. "I stated that we are in a different type of war that is being fought under the 'presupposition of freedom.'" Steele said that he went on to name an abortion clinic in Granite City, Ill., a city just outside St. Louis, and pointed out that they perform as many as 45 abortions per week. Somebody in the church that day apparently misunderstood Steele's "different type of war" comment to mean that he was actually calling his congregation to a physical war against abortion clinics, so he or she placed an anonymous phone call to the FBI. The informant allegedly told the FBI that in addition to Steele calling for a war against abortion clinics, he also said he was willing to go to jail over such a cause. Steele said that he had spoken about his willingness to go to jail, but that he made those remarks in a different sermon that dealt with homosexuality from the same sermon series. "I had mentioned a pastor in Canada who had been arrested for speaking about homosexuality in his church," Steele said. The pastor said he went on to tell his congregation that "if speaking the truth means that we go to jail, then by golly, that's where I'm going to be and I'm going to save you a seat next to me." "That was the major gist of why [the FBI] felt like they could come here and look through my sermons," Steele said. Marshall Stone, FBI supervisory special agent and media coordinator for the Springfield (Ill.) division of the FBI, was unwilling to speak specifically about the FBI's visit to Southwest Christian Church, but when asked to speak in general terms about whether the FBI normally looks through pastors' sermons after receiving anonymous tips about them being a possible danger, he did offer a few comments. "I don't know that there's any case where we would say, 'This is typical,'" Stone said. "Each complaint, each investigation is followed up based upon facts and specific circumstances of that complaint, allegation or investigation." Since there aren't any typical cases, Stone was asked if FBI agents would make a determination on site regarding whether to examine a pastor's sermons. He responded in the affirmative. Steele said that after the two FBI agents examined his two sermons in question, they realized he was not a physical threat to abortion clinics and apparently dropped their investigation. When asked whether a case like this would be dropped on site, Stone said, "We get complaint calls or allegations all the time -- whether it's over e-mail, telephone or letters. We do a lot of looking into things on the surface to make a determination of whether there's something we need to be doing and make determinations all the time that there is nothing there that we need to be concerned about or have jurisdiction over. So, technically there's nothing to drop if it's looked into without ever opening a formal investigation." Steele said he was initially a little irritated that the FBI would ask to see his sermons, especially since he had to take time away from the grieving family in his congregation to answer questions, but he said he has no plans to stop preaching messages that are culturally relevant. "As a pastor I believe that as Christians we are called to speak the truth no matter what," Steele said. "And we have to continue to speak that truth in love to all people and to share the message of Christ because it's the only message that's going to change the lives of people." Roger Lipe, senior pastor at Woodlawn Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist Convention congregation, in nearby Woodlawn, Ill., agreed with Steele's position of speaking the truth in love to a culture that isn't always going to be tolerant of such a message. "Just look at what's happening in our society and what's happening in Canada -- the laws that have been made there -- and the pressure on Americans today to enforce hate crime laws," Lipe said. "Obviously it's going to mean that someday when you [as a pastor] get into your own pulpit, your own church, among your own people to preach against subjects like abortion and homosexuality and other biblical things that we've got to preach on, then there's probably going to be a price to pray." In spite of his admitted initial irritation about being questioned by the FBI, Steele said that after his meeting with the two agents, he printed off the two sermons, handed them to the agents and invited them back to his church hoping that as private citizens they might be interested in hearing the Word of God. //Story provided courtesy of The Pathway, newsjournal of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Lee Warren is a freelance writer in Omaha, Neb.// http://www.bpnews.net/20055 ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >God's Word - Thou truest Friend man ever knew, Thy constancy I have tried, When all else was false I found Thee true, My Counselor & Guide. The minds of earth no treasure give, That can this Volume buy. In teaching me the way to live, It taught me how to die." - Dr. Austin L. Sorenson (found written on his Bible) -<>- `::` / ` `;:` .;:; / ::; ` _ ';:;;' >'. || _ `> \||.'< `>|/ <` `||/` ^jgs^^^^^^^^^^^ >"A Pack of Seeds" (Written by Charles G. Ramsey) I bought myself a pack of seeds, To grace my garden fair, And stuck them in my pocket. For months they waited there. And when the time had come to see The flower's lovely face, I thought it strange that only weeds Were growing in their place. How foolish then, oh Christian man, God's Word, you have indeed. You carry it or hide it But do not plant the seed. No fruit there grows in garden fair, Unless the seed you sow. For you the Word of God must plant, Then God will make it grow. -<>- "There are three kinds of givers -- the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb. To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver are you?" - Unknown -<>- "--. ____===="____--------------_____//______ ________________________ //! || ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== || !\\ | _ _ ___ ___ ___ (____||___====_====_====_====_====___||____) |||_||_| |___| |___||___|_ .._____________________DB_____________________.||| | ___DB______________ //( )--( )--( ) +--------+ ( )--( )--( )\\ ----'( )---( )`---------- ========================================================================= -Ken Kobayashi- >All Aboard! (By Roy Irwin) [Edited] My wife and I were hiking with our nieces and nephew recently at a local park. We followed the marked trail until we came to a clearing in the forest. In the distance, we could hear the faint sound of a train. Looking around, we spotted a set of railroad tracks just a few hundred feet in front of us. We decided to run to the tracks and get a closer look at the approaching train. As we ran toward the railroad tracks, we could hear the sound of the train getting louder as it got closer to us. The closer we got to the tracks, the louder the sound of the train. It became a race to see which of us would get to the tracks first! As we made it to the tracks we realized that something was wrong. The sound of the train indicated that it was upon us. However as we looked down each side of the tracks we could see no train! Everyone had a puzzled look on his or her face as we each tried to piece together the puzzle that was before us. Suddenly we spotted the train! However it wasn't on the tracks we were standing beside. To our surprise there was ANOTHER set of tracks a few hundred feet away that we had not seen that our mystery train was riding on! We were following the wrong set of tracks! As the train continued on its journey, we had to laugh! We had been so convinced that we were standing by the right tracks. We saw the sights and heard the sounds yet ultimately the train never came down the railroad tracks we were following. The same is also true in life. I am reminded of those who say that all paths lead to heaven. Whether they are talking about religions, philosophies or works, what they are saying is that each of these 'tracks' will guide someone to heaven. It may sound good; it may look correct; but just as we discovered while hiking, the train only comes down one set of tracks. If the destination is heaven - the only 'tracks' that lead to it are Jesus Christ! 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). Jesus didn't speak of alternate paths, contingency plans, backup methods, or works of equal merit to get to heaven - only Himself. The shed blood of Jesus Christ by His death on the cross has made it possible for our sins to be forgiven, making it possible for us to go to heaven. He alone purchased our 'ticket' and laid the tracks that lead to heaven and Himself. All we have to do is follow it. "Dear Lord Jesus, you alone are the way to heaven. You offer to each of us the gift of eternal life in heaven. No one can give a gift except the one who purchased it. Help us to remember that while it is a free gift - it was purchased at a very high price - by your death on the cross for our sins. Thank you for making it possible for each of us to experience eternal life in heaven with You and God. Amen." (Copyright 1998 Argyle Giraffe Productions. This may not be resold or used for the enhancement of any product sold without the written permission of Argyle Giraffe Productions.) 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 Our Friend LouiseAu :) _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >On the Wings of a Prayer (By Helen Steiner Rice) Just close your eyes and open your heart, And feel your worries and cares depart. Just yield yourself to the Father above, And let Him hold you secure in His love. So when you are tired, discouraged and blue, There is always one door that is open to you. And that is the door to The House of Prayer, And you'll find God waiting to meet you there. And The House of Prayer is no further away, Than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray. For the heart is a temple when God is there, As we place ourselves in His loving care. And He hears every prayer and answers each one, When we Pray in His name - Thy will be done. The burdens that seemed too heavy to bear, Are lifted away on the wings of a prayer. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30 --- ...Beautiful! Thanks LouiseAu! >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 ************************************************************************