Ziggy's Garage And More ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@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 ================== "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo /~, .-.-.~ ~/.-.-. '. .' ,___.-.-.'. .'~ ~/! ~/, '. .'\ ! ___/,! .-.-. ! \! / .-.-. '. .' ! ,|/ '. .' ! |~ ! ! ~| ! \|/ lc ~"^"~"^"~ *~* HELP! We NEED 2009 Angels for the web site! _ _ (\o/) {\o/} jgs /_\ /_\ >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2009 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is appreciated - even just 5 dollars! 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! GOD'S MOST ABUNDANT BLESSINGS TO YOU! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) >Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) ___________,_____ | | # |=====| | | (_) |=====| |> _ |_____|=====| | [_] | | | | |_____|=====| Which side do you like? | | |_____| | ] |_____| | Just WALK Right In! | |_____|=====| | | ___ |_____| |> |[___]| | | |[___]|=====| |_____|=====|_____| jgs [###########] Global warming? Yeah right! Been one of the coldest winters I can remember so far! So for those of you at home due to a school or work or event cancellation because of the horrible ice box outside, this one is for you ;) It comes from a forward from our friend PatH. I found it totally adorable and hope all you animal lovers out there will too. Check it out here... Top Ways To Stay Healthy http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/stayhealthy.html --- ...Sweet one! Thank You Pat! {{HUGGUMS}} -<>- >Reader Comments to Above... Our Friend Charyl wrote to remind us :) "You might not be experiencing global warming but we sure are down below the equator in a place called South Australia - our temperature yesterday was 45 degrees which I think is equivalent in your terms to about 114 degrees - that was day one - we have a predicted 6 - 7 days of heat like that coming up - maybe we can swap places for a while Regards - Sharyl ps I think the scientists have now changed the wording to climate change which seems to better describe what is going on in the world as a whole pps Could this be the beginning of the end --- _____ .o8PP"""PYbo_ o8P' ) `Yb. .8P ) ))( _ooL .8P ( )) ) ),dP'`8L dP )) ( ,o8P' Y8. 8b ) ) ,o8P' (( )8[ This Sign's for you Sharyl! Y8 ( ,o8P'( )) ) d8 8b_o8P'--`-'--' ,8' `P` Flames o8' `Yb._ _.o8P `"PYbooo8PP' (CJ) ...Ouch! That's pretty darn warm - um, gee - let me think about it. Roast or freeze - hmmm. *giggles* hard choices always leave me in a state of - no where! Yeah, I agree - I think the climate is changing - just going round to what it might of been years and years ago. So no - I don't think it is ending just maybe beginning again? Oh No!! LOL - Thanks Sharyl! >And From Our Friend Sandi :) |\ /| , _ .::::. | `' ' \,'| _ :::::: / `--.__ '-'/ :::::: 6_ 6 `--.__/ )====( <__) | \_ _/ \___, / !! _\--' _ .' !! ."(.'`-,-"/ \' \-. !!.'.'/`--;_;_\_/_.' `-. !/ / `-' / y (\ `. / / |`-, ( (| \\ \ \| `-' ) \\ `\ | !|,-. / \) /`.__/ !|\_; `-._.'`-' | />> !| | __ .' '} !\ / {_ \.' << !!\ / __ \( )_/``____!;' `-.__hjw____ `---`` `-._ _.-' - .. - Cold is a Relative Thing... 65o Floridians turn on the heat. people in Ohio plant gardens. 60o Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in Ohio sunbathe. 50o Italian & English cars won't start. People in Ohio drive with the windows down.. 40o Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats. People in Ohio throw on a flannel shirt. 35o New York landlords finally turn up the heat. People in Ohio have the last cookout before it gets cold. 20o People in Miami all die. Ohioans close the windows. Zero: Californians fly away to Mexico . People in Ohio get out their winter coats. -10 Hollywood disintegrates. The Girl Scouts in Ohio are selling cookies door to door. -20 Washington DC runs out of hot air. People in Ohio let the dogs sleep indoors. -30 Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Ohioans get upset because they can't start the Snow-mobile. -40 ALL atomic motion stops . People in Ohio start saying...'Cold enough fer ya?' -50 Hell freezes over. Ohio public schools will open 2 hours late --- ...Exactly! Well maybe just a little exagerated "giggles" Thanks Sandi! We had nearly 8 inches of snow to dig out of here in Ohio yesterday! That old nasty 'climate change' is hitting us hard this year. Mostly in the 30's F this time of year but we've been in the teens most of the time! Nasty old refrigerater is working overtime on us! -<>- >-->This Month Has been a Great Caring And Sharing Month! If You Haven't Already, Check Out These New Pages... Endangered Wolf http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wolf.html Road Train Trucks http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/roadtrain.html Feather Painting 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/feather2.html Angel Falls http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angelfalls.html High Tech Toys http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/techtoys.html Picture This http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/picturethis.html Taking A Catnap 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catnap2.html Trash Shadow Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/shadowart.html BibleStudy: Only You God Has! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html BibleStudy: Walking In Power http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.html Heroes Truck http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/herotruck.html *~* Special THANKS & HUGS To All Our Contributors! :) - PLEASE BE SURE TO PASS THESE ON - ================================================================= >Phone Home Story Editor: by Katy England Joyce Schowalter Bangor, Maine I work for a small weekly newspaper in Maine and on July 21, 2007 covered the midnight release of the last "Harry Potter" book. My coworker and I talked to children at a local bookstore about what they liked about the series, their predictions about the ending, and reading in general. My story was for the paper's next edition. We got great pictures of the army of Harry Potters, Hermiones, Rons, and Snapes. Kids and adults were dressed up for the occasion. There was lots of festive fun, games for the kids -- the bookstore was crammed with hundreds of people. A friend had asked me to pick up her pre-ordered copy of the book. So after my coworker left, I settled down for the long haul, since I wouldn't get the book until around 2 a.m. I wandered around the bookstore, browsed other titles, sat in a comfy chair when I could, and waited for my wristband color to be called. Young kids who'd been hollering and laughing started to glaze over and nod off. My color was finally called, and I dutifully got in line. After about 10 minutes, a little girl came up to me. She was 10 or 12 years old, with long brown hair pulled back in cute half pigtails. She was in remarkably good spirits, considering it was around 1:00 a.m. She asked if I was Katy. A bit surprised, I said yes. "Hannah" handed me my cell phone. I was dumbfounded. I hadn't even realized it was gone; it must've slipped from my pocket during my wanderings around the store. Apparently Hannah had called the number for my house and spoken to my very sleepy husband, who told her what I looked like. She then searched through the rather large store, still jam-packed with Harry Potter fans, to find me. She slipped into the crowd while I was still gaping and thanking her. Being bleary-eyed and tired, I stood in line a couple minutes, stunned, as what she'd done ran through my head. I came to my senses and left my place in line to find her again. She was with her mom, and I thanked them both profusely. Hannah was sweet and bashful. I offered to buy her any book, but she declined, which impressed me. The phone isn't actually mine; it belongs to the company I work for. I couldn't bear to think what would have happened if this little girl hadn't found it. I would have been in some trouble, to say the least. On top of the embarrassment, I would've had to pay for it. How easy it would've been for Hannah not to make that effort, there were hundreds of people there, she could've turned it in to the desk. What she did was so much more personal, it shocked and touched me simultaneously. I'm still so impressed that she took the time and made the effort to get it back to me. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Heartwarmers: ___---___ .-- --. ./ \. / o \ / .. o | | ;` '. | | : : | | `._ _.' | | ``--.-' .- |. .| _.'| | : : \ `--'--' / : : \ / : : `\ /' : : `--___ ___--' : : --- _.' `-._ ~~/ \____...-' `\ :_. `----./ / |`` . ._: :_:_:_: |__ ~~~ _.-`._:._:-' /``````---``` \ / | \jgs ____/ | \___ __.--'' | ```---..__ `\ _| _.' `\ _.-'' `-._ _.' `\ .-' `-._ _.' `\ .' `-._.' `' >ZIGGY'S GARAGE by Irene Budzynski Times were tough in our household. My husband was out of work and there was no sign of anything promising for him. Our son had been in a diving accident and was recuperating at home after two surgeries. In addition to going to nursing school full time, I was working three part time jobs just to put food on the table for our family of five. After a rather meager meal one night, I answered the ringing phone. With no introduction, a quiet, deep voice asked, "Do you need food? Come to my place and I can help you." Directions followed and he clicked off. No in depth conversation or queries as to our financial situation. It was up to us to decide whether or not we trusted a voice on the telephone to seek out this stranger. I was desperate. With barely any food in the cabinet and no prospect of a job for my husband, I knew I had to take a chance, swallow my pride, and accept the bizarre offer. Was there a catch? Were we the victims of a scam? It wasn't an easy task to get to our benefactor's home. Miles of wooded, winding roads led to more wooded, winding roads. Someone must have played a cruel joke on us. Just as I had made up my mind to turn around, gritting my teeth over the waste of precious gas used on this wild goose chase, a mailbox appeared in the headlights. The simple white, raised ranch home was easy to miss. Set on a knoll, a bank of trees hid the front of the house, but the blazing lights from the open garage beckoned me. There was no car in the garage. Instead, lined up in orderly rows were tables filled with canned food, bags of bread, packages of diapers, laundry detergent, everything needed to maintain a home. A craggy, nondescript gentleman greeted me with a minimum of verbiage. Not much different than our phone conversation! "Look around. If you see what you want, help yourself." He handed me paper bags and turned away to another bewildered new arrival, passing along the same message. This couldn't be real! I guiltily filled the paper sacks with what we absolutely needed and gratefully thanked the elderly man. "Be here next week. You'll run out by then," was his reply. My head was spinning. I had three bags of groceries given to me FREE by someone I had never met before, and he had told me to return for more. Who in his right mind did such a thing? Well, it seems that this Angel of Mercy, Ziggy, did. Widowed and retired, he wanted to do something worthwhile in his golden years to fill his time. He drove his pickup truck daily and begged for usable items and canned goods from local grocery stores. He delivered most of the booty to the shelters and food banks. What was left over, he stocked in his garage, sought out folks like us who had fallen on hard times, and gave it away. I never knew what our weekly menus would be until the boys and I had "shopped" in Ziggy's garage. We ate canned ham, stew, oatmeal, or corn 99 different ways, feasting like royalty. With our bellies full, we could focus on paying necessary bills with what little money we had. A major stress had been lifted that winter until my husband did find a job. Once in a while, I stop in front of that house where Ziggy used to live. The garage is gone, but I can still hear that little man saying, "Look around, help yourself." Yes, Ziggy, I did look around. I saw a gentle spirit who gave what he could to a young mother and her family that needed a boost. Then I helped myself to what I wanted -- a renewed belief in the kindness of strangers and gratitude for hope which had been dimmed. Ziggy fed our bodies and our souls and the world is a richer place because of him. -- Irene Budzynski ______________________________________________ A nurse in Connecticut, Irene's stories have been published in Heartwarmers, Heart Touchers, several Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and have been heard on Night Sounds radio. =================================================================== >-->From Cup oF Cheer: ,sdPBbs. ,d$$$$$$$$b. d$P'`Y'`Y'`?$b d' ` ' \ `b / | \ \ / / \ | \ _,--' | \ | /' _/ \ | \ _/' /' | \ `-.__ __/' ,-' / | | \ `--...__ /' / | / \ \ `-. `\ / /;;,,__-' / / \ \ `-. / |;;;;;;;\ \ >THE PAINFUL ROAD TO BEAUTY Our friends live in a rugged and majestic area really in the American West. They call it "Big Sky Country" out there. Their house has been there for a long, long time - long before many other people settled where they are. Sitting in their living room, you can't help but admire these beautiful old logs in the walls. But for years, no one ever saw those logs. Over the years, they have been covered by first one layer of material, then another, then another. Our friends actually had to strip away five layers of stuff: plaster, sheet rock, even manure - layers that were covering up the original beauty of this house. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Painful Road to Beauty." Our friends had to strip away layer after layer of this accumulated junk to get what now looks so beautiful. There's a Master Builder who's working on you and me, and He's using that same method to help us display the beauty we were made for. In fact, some of what you're going through right now may be Jesus stripping away another layer of ugly or useless stuff; not to hurt you, but to make you into something more beautiful than you ever dreamed you could be. In Malachi 3:2-3, our word for today from the Word of God, He describes the process of His makeover miracles with another analogy, refining precious metal that really isn't very precious until it's refined. The Bible says the Lord Almighty "will be like a refiner's fire...He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. He will purify...and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness." God's method of getting people ready to do important things for Him is to put them through the fire; not to burn them, but to remove the impurities that keep them from being useful to Him and valuable to others. He strips away old attitudes, old pride, old sinful baggage and ways of doing things, old layers of selfishness, self-reliance and self-centeredness. Not to cause you pain, but to make you more precious and more powerful than you've ever been before. That doesn't mean that having junk stripped away doesn't hurt. It usually does. God uses hard things in your life as tools to remove another ugly layer. Romans 5:2-4 provide this helpful perspective on the hard things we go through: "We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." I like that part. I want to have the glory of God reflecting from my life like the glory of the sun reflects through the moon. I don't especially like the next part, though. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts." Now why would we rejoice and be thankful for the hard things we're going through? Because we understand that they are the process by which the glory comes, by which the hope comes. I'm sure our friends in Big Sky Country must have gotten pretty tired of stripping away another layer after another layer. But I think I know what kept them going through the hard times. These words: "It's going to be worth it when it's done." And it is. I didn't see the process, but I sure saw the beauty that resulted. Any person you know who reflects the radiance and the beauty of a life filled with God, I can guarantee you they have gotten that way, not primarily through their good times but through their great pain and struggle of the stripping processes of God. He knows what you can be, and He loves you too much to leave you like you are. Today's hard times are the tool of God to replace what's ugly and useless with something you will love and He can use. You won't always love the process, but you are going to love what He's making! -- Ron Hutchcraft Received from: A Word With You To subscribe: http://www.hutchcraft.com/subscribe.html -<>- >IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD? _)_ .-'(/ '-. / ` \ / - - \ (` a a `) \ ^ / '. '---' .' .-`'---'`-. / \ / / ' ' \ \ _/ /| |\ \_ `/|\` |+++++++|`/|\` /\ /\ | `-._.-` | \ / \ / |_ | | _| jgs | _| |_ | (ooO Ooo) Genesis 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son who would be the seed of a whole nation. Sarah was now beyond childbearing years. So when some angels from God paid Abraham and Sarah a visit to inform them that Sarah was going to have a child, she happened to be listening outside the tent and erupted with laughter. The thought seemed preposterous to her. The angels reminded her that nothing is impossible with God. "Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son" (Gen. 18:14). Sarah gave birth to Isaac as foretold. Recently, I was considering putting on another marketplace-leader summit for ministry leaders who minister to those in the workplace. I had been involved in such an event a year earlier. My friend Gunnar Olson, who is the founder of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce of Sweden, had been involved with me in putting on the first event, so I inquired whether he would be willing to participate in the second event. He wrote me an e-mail letter informing me that an international gathering of Christian marketplace leaders would be taking place on the island of Cyprus in March and asked if I could postpone my event and instead participate in an event in Cyprus and invite other leaders. My initial response was laughter due to my current financial condition. In fact, I had to go to a map to see just where this place was. The following day I received a call from a man I had met only 30 days earlier. We had not discussed this event in March. "What are you doing tomorrow? I would like you to go to the airport with me to pick up a missionary whom I want you to meet. We'd like to propose an idea to you. Can you come?" "Sure," I said. The next day he picked me up and informed me that we were picking up a missionary who was flying in from Cyprus. "We are planning to take 25 businesspeople to Cyprus for an event that Gunnar Olson is involved in and would like you to come and teach your Esau-to-Joseph workshop the day before. We will cover your expenses. Would you be interested in doing this?" Again, I had to laugh as I saw the hand of God orchestrate in such a miraculous way and in such a timely manner to assure me of His involvement in the new directions in my life. Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27). Are there things that make you laugh when you think of the miracle that would be required for it to take place? Ask God for the miracle you need today. as seen in Today God Is First http://www.crosswalkmail.com/xbwkzbza_tklhulvx.html -<>- >IN THE FIRE ( . ) ) ( ) . ' . ' . ' . ( , ) (. ) ( ', ) .' ) ( . ) , ( , ) ( . ). , ( . ( ) ( , ') .' ( , ) (_,) . ), ) _) _,') (, ) '. ) ,. (' ) jgs^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. - Daniel 3:30 NIV The story of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace makes us realize four things: (1) Obeying God doesn't exempt you from trouble. Don't expect the world to always understand or appreciate you. Look at Christ: "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (John 1:4-5 NIV). (2) You're not alone, God is with you in your trouble. When King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace he said, "I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods" (Dan 3:25 NIV). Instead of destroying them, the fire burned the ropes that bound them and set them free. So be encouraged. It may feel like you're 'bound by circumstances', limited and locked in, but God is with you; He's going to vindicate you and bring you out of this victorious. (3) Your trouble will become your testimony. Others are watching. What they're trusting in doesn't work, and they're wondering if what you're trusting in does. Your faithfulness to God and His intervention on your behalf will touch their lives in ways your theology never will. Everybody in Babylon knew what the three Hebrew children believed, but they wanted to know, "Does it work when you're in the fire?" It does! (4) On the other side of your trouble, there's great blessing. "Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon." It's a Scriptural principle: when you are faithful in a hard place, God can trust you in a high place. SoulFood Bible Readings: Mal 3-4, Matt 3:1-10, Ps 116, Pr 31:30-31 as seen in word for today http://www.rhema.co.nz/index.php#email To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com ================================================================= >-->From InspiredBuffalo: _ _V.-o / |`-' (7_\\ jg >EYES ON THE SHORE A story is told about a bloodhound chasing a stag. A fox crossed the path, so the hound chased the fox. After a while a rabbit crossed the path, so the hound chased it. Later, a mouse crossed the path and the hound chased the mouse into a hole. The hound began his hunt on the trail of a magnificent stag and ended up watching a mouse hole! Not that there is anything wrong with spontaneity. Some of the most wonderful things have come into my life by beautiful accident. But there is also something to be said for knowing where we want to go. Florence Chadwick learned the importance of keeping a goal in mind on July 4, 1952. She waded into the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island and began swimming toward the California coast 26 miles away. The day was cold and her attendants drove off sharks throughout the journey. Florence had already swum the English Channel twice and, if she could finish today, she would be the first woman to have swum both. But after fifteen hours in the water, for the first and only time in her long-distance swimming career, she gave up and climbed into the escort boat. Others had urged her on, but in the fog they could not tell her how near she was to the coast. She later learned that she was less than half a mile from shore. When asked by a reporter why she gave up, Florence replied: "It was the fog. If I could have seen land, I could have finished. But when you can't see your goal, you lose all sense of progress and you begin to give up." On a warm, sunny day two months later Florence Chadwick swam the Catalina Channel, handily beating the men's record. Only when she kept her eyes on the shore did she eventually arrive there. Keeping that goal constantly in sight will get you where you want to go. -- Steve Goodier http://stevegoodier .blogspot. com/ -<>- >Forgiveness The key to forgiveness lies sometimes buried, Amongst ruins and fire in our hearts, We seem to hold on to the hurt that's been caused, With chains that will not tear apart. How easy it seems to never let go, Of the memories that smolder within, Preventing the growth and forgiveness inside, While our brewing continues in sin. Such a battle it seems, to forgive one's deeds, And rid our minds of the torturing pain, Too soon we discover that it's holding us back, Unable to live in God's name. Sometimes we'll try to get even with those, Whom we feel have cut deep in our hearts, When we should really leave the judgment to God, Thus allowing ourselves a new start. When the Lord forgives all the sins that we bare, And allows us to begin a new slate, Why should I not forgive those who've hurt me, Letting Jesus determine their fate. Let there be no mistake for I have hurt some, Especially those I hold dear in my heart, God has forgiven me for the pain I've caused, Now it's time that I did my part. ~Valentyne~ © -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment Italian Police Motorcycle Drill Team http://www.buffaloschips.com/gsaaj.htm 7 Wonders Of The World http://www.buffaloschips.com/gfsgfagh.htm ABC Banner http://www.buffaloschips.com/012101.htm Adidas DM http://www.buffaloschips.com/012102.htm Bad Weld http://www.buffaloschips.com/012103.htm Bambi http://www.buffaloschips.com/012104.htm PD Budget http://www.buffaloschips.com/gaaah.htm Great tequila Commercials http://www.buffaloschips.com/gaajs.htm It Looked Like A Parking Space http://www.buffaloschips.com/gssjak.htm Kind So Flunky http://www.buffaloschips.com/ghsjskla.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ============================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: >Warning Labels Warning! Keep your pants on when sitting in the Interactive Health massage chair featuring "Human Touch Technology." The full text of this important safety tip read: "Do not use massage chair without clothing." That warning is a winner of the Wacky Warning Label Contest. Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch, a group whose goal is to show that fear of frivolous lawsuits has led to a loss of corporate common sense, sponsors an annual contest for the wackiest warning labels. Second Place: "Do not use snow blower on the roof." Third Place: "Do not allow children to play in the dishwasher." Here are some Previous winners in the "Wacky Warning Label Contest" for your amusement and amazement: --A warning on an electric router made forr carpenters cautions, "This product not intended for use as a dental drill." --A warning label found on a baby strollerr cautions the user: "Remove child before folding." --A bottle of prescription sleeping pills says, "Warning: May cause drowsiness." --A sticker on a toilet at a public faciliity in Ann Arbor, Michigan actually warns: "Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking." --A CD player carries this unusual warningg: "Do not use the Ultradisc2000 as a projectile in a catapult." --An "Aim-n-Flame" fireplace lighter cautiions, "Do not use near fire, flame, or sparks." --A label on a hand-held massager advises consumers not to use "while sleeping or unconscious." --A container of underarm deodorant says, "Caution: Do not spray in eyes." --A cartridge for a laser printer warns, ""Do not eat toner." --A household iron warns users: "Never iroon clothes while they are being worn." From Funny Bonz. To subscribe send a note to funnybonz-subscribe@yahoogroups.com -<>- Rumination of the Day So it was only day one of the camping trip, and there went my toothpaste, slipping out of my pocket and tumbling over the edge of a cliff. I was crestfallen. -<>- >Perspective on Terri Schiavo By Keith Todd I have some friends who have some tremendous insight on the Terri Schiavo case in Florida. My longtime friend, Jack, served as a sheriff in his home county. About eleven years ago he had a heart attack and ended up in a state similar to Terri Shiavo. His wife, Ann, is a Nurse Practitioner and his son, David, is a Veterinarian. That medical background gives them both a medical and a personal perspective that many families just don't have. They cared for Jack at home with the assistance of family and friends for about ten years until he died about a year ago. Jack was an exceptional guy. Ann is an exceptional lady. I've known them both for years. Jack and I went fishing from time to time, He was nice enough to let me cut firewood on his farm because it was about half the travel distance to where I normally cut wood at Tolu. After Jack's heart attack I tried to make it by to visit a couple of times a year. It was tough seeing him like that. After remembering him as a vibrant outgoing human being, I struggled with why God would allow him to be left in a vegetative state. During those visits he pretty much stared at the ceiling or off into space. Even when he would look at me there was no indication he knew who I was or what I was talking to him about. David and Ann rotated their schedules so they could alternate caring for Jack in their home. A hospital bed took up much of their family room. She said she had no way to prove it, but Ann felt Jack enjoyed being at home and being at the center of the family. Ann said there were a couple of occasions where doctors told her it would be OK to remove his feeding tube and let him go, but she couldn't even consider that as an option. Over the years before his tragic heart attack, Jack and I shared a wonderful friend named Doc. Doc died at age 98, slightly over a year from his one hundredth birthday. Doc had been a great inspiration and great friend to us both, often talking about his life growing up on a nearby farm, sharing humorous stories and occasionally talking about his service in the Pacific during World War Two. Ann shared with me what happened when she told Jack that Doc had died. Ann approached Jack as he was sitting up in an oversize recliner were they placed him from time to time. She talked to Jack softly, explaining that she had something important to tell him. He made no sign of even acknowledging her presence. She said, "Jack, your friend Doc died. His funeral is tomorrow." She watched Jack's face carefully for some sign of acknowledgement. At first there was no reaction, but then, after a few moments, a big tear appeared in the corner of his eye, it slowly rolled out, and left a trail down his cheek. Ann said that was the first and only sign that Jack was a lot more aware of what was going on around him than any of us realized. I share this story because there are hundreds of families out there facing situations similar to Terri Shiavo and my friend Jack. Some of them, like Ann and David, have chose to lovingly care for an unresponsive family member at home because they don't know what else to do. Others have chosen to discontinue life support because they don't know what else to do. The bottom line is that may of the people who have been quite vocal with their opinions on the Terri Shiavo situation (on both sides) don't really know what they would do one way or the other. They can't, until they've been there. Copyright 2005. Written By Keith Todd. Keith is moderator of the Sermon Fodder list that provides a regular dose of Christian humor and a modern-day parable by email. To subscribe drop an email to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please leave this attached if you forward this to friends. ===================================================================== _ ( | | __,--./|.--,__ .` \ \ / / `. .` \ | / `. / / ^|^ \ \ / / | |o | \ \ /===/ | | | \===\ /___/ | |o | \___\ | | | | |o | | | | | |o | | | | | |o | jgs |_____/\_____| >-->THROUGH A WRINGER By: Joseph J. Mazzella When I was a little boy we used to have an old fashioned wringer washing machine. This was an early type of washing machine in which you had to hand feed the freshly washed clothes through a pair of moving rolling pins to squeeze the extra water out before drying. I often wondered how those clothes felt going through them. This curiosity was painfully ended one day when I was helping my Mom feed the clothes into them and got my own fingers caught instead. Needless to say, I was far more careful after that. Usually after we finished washing the clothes my Mom would hang them out on the clothes line to dry. I would hand her the wooden clothes pins as she hung them and help her fold the freshly dried clothes a few hours later. I can still remember how wonderful they smelled after warming in God's sunshine all afternoon. I would hold them up to my face and delight in their warmth, cleanness, and Heavenly scent. I know that sometimes it can feel as if life is putting us all though a wringer washer. The troubles and stresses of life always seem to want to squeeze and flatten every bit of peace and happiness out of us. Sometimes our whole day feels like my fingers did that time when I was a careless young boy. It is up to us, however, to not let ourselves stay flattened like an old, wet pair of pants. It is up to us to pick ourselves up and warm our hearts and souls again in the sunshine of God's love. It is up to us to choose the Heavenly scent of love and joy moment by moment to refresh our lives and to share with the world. I hope then that no matter how flattened you get by life at times you can still rise up to choose more joy and love. I hope that no matter how many times you are put through a wringer you can still come out stronger, better, and closer to God. ==================================================================== >-->Amazing '-. '-. _____ .-._ | '. : .. | : '-._+ | .-' / \ .'i--i / \ .-'_/____\___ .-' : fsc: I was watching TV. A commercial came on. The first line in the commercial was: "We live in an amazing age". I thought: "Every age was amazing... Adam was amazed!" Amazing... God, walking in the Garden, says: "I want you to name every living creature." After quite a long while on the job, Adam finally sticks his head in the water and says: "Whoa! Fish!" He quickly realizes there are all kinds of a whole bunch of different fish; So he says: "Okay, start with this one - Trout!" Then he goes: "Uh Oh... there's different kinds of Trout." "Okay... Rainbow Trout!" "Brown Trout!" "Grayling!" "Oh mannn! This could take a while!!!" A couple hundred years later he comes up for air and says... "Hey, Eve! Ya got anything to eat?!" Amazing! And so it goes... Rev. Cleveland B. Bishop, Sr. Pastor First Christian Church, Raton, New Mexico www.ratondisciples.com ============================================================ >-->"God, Are You There?" * __ .'o '. / .-.\ / ( ,-/ '-. / ) ( | | / \ ;' ,.,.\ ;..;; ,.-+= ) (-:'' /,.__.,\ Roohollah. "God, Are you there?" I caught myself saying. "Can you hear my call? ..and all of my praying?" These tragedies in life, Were not at all expected Please direct me, dear Father And keep me protected. Please help me each day And be near by my side Lead each turn in life; My footsteps; please guide. Let me learn to live more By what You would have me do Than think I do the planning And living as I want to. I know in my heart You have all in Your plan To brighten our lives I must simply understand. Please once again, Lord Bring peace to my soul Replace frowns with a smile Reminding me of my ultimate goal. I fight so desperately To find peace here each day Yet knowing true peace In Heaven does lay. So Lord, please be with me And show me the way To accept hardships and illnesses Allowing You to lead each day! © Kentucky_Lady4 February 15, 2002 ========================================================== >-->Quotes: "No man made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." ~~~ Edmund Burke "Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." ~~~ Martin Luther King, Jr. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales & SService 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 DDARE 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? 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