Happy Blessed Spring, Free Will And More... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our ShangyFunList: Group Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: bcrsystems@earthlink.net Shangrala Family Fun: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ ================ *~* 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 Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! ================ __ __ ,-' `' \ _---``-- / _ _ ; __ `. / / `' \; /`----- ) / .-/ ,( ), \-. ; | \( \ / )/; | - _5 `7 -; / ( ___-' `-____ | ( ___`-_ \ ____| \ / `,/ \ _(\__ / \ \ ; \ .' /' `i. / | | \ _-'( _\__-/ `- | | ` ,` `_ | BP * Don't forget to follow us on social media for our latest updates and uproarious funny and inspiring pages! On Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y8dcm8x7 On X (Twitter): http://tinyurl.com/n5uf3dxv ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press ?? Our too hot to handle new page is from our friend Johanna. This is as much interesting as it is humorous. It'll give you plenty of smiles for your day. Be sure to check it out here: _ _|S| .-. | |C| |M|_|A|I| |A|a|.|E|<\ |T|r| |N| \\ |H|t|M|C| \\ "Bookshelf" by | |!| |E| \> David S. Issel """""""""""""""""" Science Can Be Fun! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/sciencehumor.html --- ...Great one! Thanks Johanna! This next smoking hot new page is from our friend Fran. This one makes you wonder 'What were they thinking?' and will give you plenty of laughs for your day. Check it out here: : \ _ / -= (_) =- ,________|_] | // // // | |//_//_//_/| ||""""""""|| ||________|| |.========.| jgs || || Only ONE Job 8! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/onejob8.html --- ...LMAO! I do so love this series! Thanks Fran! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Your morning thought for the day: 'Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.' -- Cherie Carter-Scott A very interesting quiz for you today. As a matter of fact, two short quizes that will take just a minute of your time. Tell us what you think when you finish these thought provoking questions. It puts things in perspective, doesn't it? _________ __ / ______ _____ / / / / __ __/ __ / / ---- /__ / / / ---- ______ / / / :F_P: >QUIZ TIME Take a moment or two and take these two short quizes. You won't need a pencil or paper. Just follow along in your mind... QUIZ #1 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. Name the last four Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. 4. Name five people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. 5. Name the last four people who have won Oscars for Best Actor and Actress. 6. Name three people who have held the office of Secretary of State. 7. Name the whistleblowers who were selected as Time's Persons of the Year. 8. Name the past four teams who have won the World Series. QUIZ #2 1. List the three teachers who made the biggest impact on your life. 2. Name a friend who has stood by you through thick or thin. 3. Name someone you can count on to help you in an emergency. 4. Name four friends or acquaintances who can make you smile or laugh. 5. If you ever owned a pet, which one was your favorite, and how did that pet make you feel? 6. Name one person who has made you feel most appreciated. 7. Do you have chlidren? If so, what is a quality they possess that makes you proud to be a parent. 8. Name the relatives who have made sacrifices for you. RESULTS? Obviously, Quiz #1 was much more difficult than Quiz #2. Why? Because after the applause fades for the rich and famous, their achievements are relegated to the almanacs and history books. However, you'll come to find out that even though some people may not have any money and may never get their name in the newspaper, they are the people who make the biggest difference in your life. No, the "important" people in this world haven't won any awards or accolades. Most of the time they lead very simple lives. Their work is unnoticed and taken for granted. But by helping and being of service to their neighbors, students, friends and loved ones, they have made us feel special. They inspire us to do the same. They may not be rich or famous, but they are more important to us than all the celebrities in the world. =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Our Guide to Living Life 'My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.'1 The Lord said to his disciples, "Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5). As we carry out the plans of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, two things will become increasingly apparent: 1. We will treasure up the Word of God in our hearts. As we study the Bible, we learn many important things about the Lord, including His nature, plan, and promises. Regular study develops our ability to think biblically and deepens our relationship with Him. One of the indications that we treasure His Word is a change in behavior. Our decisions will be guided by His principles, and our actions will reflect the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians5:22-23). 2. We will adorn ourselves with goodness and truth. These two virtues must be our constant companions. The Lord wants us to always speak the truth and to do so with love and compassion. Kindness helps protect relationships and prevent discord and division. The Christian life is a journey filled with abundance and challenges (John 10:10, Proverbs 4:12). At the same time, it must be characterized by the fruit that comes from following our Guide and Companion. Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, first I want to thank you for allowing me to open my eyes to a new day. Thank you that everyday is an opportunity to start over. Thank You, Beloved Father, that Your mercies are new every morning. Lord, sometimes life can become very heavy and tiring, but You promise to give rest to the weary and I believe it. Thank You for the guidance You have left us through Your Word. Our guide that we can turn to when we feel lost and disoriented. Let me treasure Your Word in my heart to face the challenges of life. I love You and thank You for the presence of Your Holy Spirit in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen. 1. Proverbs 3:1-4 (KJV). Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N. <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Adapting to His Plan 'Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.'1 Joseph was a faithful man of God who loved Mary and was, undoubtedly, excited to start their life together. But before Mary went to live with him, he discovered that she was pregnant. Infidelity came with serious consequences, and even if Joseph was feeling heartbroken, he loved Mary so much that he had thought to divorce her privately to avoid public disgrace for her. His plans were made, but as he slept the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him the larger plan in all this. When he woke up, he obeyed and took Mary home as his wife. He trusted God completely and believed His Word. Things would have turned out very differently if Joseph would have chosen to stubbornly follow through with his own plans! We make plans every day, but what happens when they change unexpectedly? Do we focus on the inconvenience and become discouraged? Or do we realize that God may have something different for us and adapt accordingly? Joseph's trust in God in allowing Him to take the lead of the situation is a beautiful example we can learn from. When we are faithful to God and seek him first, we can be sure that any changes to our plans are part of His bigger plan. It is important to keep our hearts open to His leading and adapt so that His will can be fulfilled. Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for the reminder that your ways are greater than mine. Help me follow your perfect path in every situation. When difficulties or confusion arise in my plans, open my mind and heart to your will knowing that you have something different and better for me. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 1. Matthew 1:19-21,24. Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B. When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. --- * _| __ (__ Question _) | * jgs ...Did you notice? Even though it was most important for Joseph not to put away Mary when he learned she was pregnant, God did not force His will upon Joseph and make him keep her. That is because God always gives us our free will to do as we please. _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` >See these teachings FREE WILL http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Adversary/FREE_WILL.htm Satan's ENDLESS Suggestions Be particular with your freedom of will. Never lose control of making freewill decisions. (Keep in mind: the devil knows you very well - he knows how best to persuade you against God.) https://tinyurl.com/3tvfvvxx God’s Blueprint For Living [Part One of Two] http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Study/God's_Blueprint_For_Living.htm God’s Blueprint For Living [Part Two - Read Part ONE FIRST] https://tinyurl.com/5fvv78pe =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ,.., .-//||\\-. / , , \ / ; ; \ /, /| |\ .\ \` \| |/ `/ \ \ / / 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. --- _ _ ( `-.__.-' ) `-. .-' \ / || || //\\ // \\ || || ||____|| ||====|| \\ // \\// jgs || || || || [] ...Reminds me When I was three years old, my two brothers and sister often went next door to play with the neighbor kids. One day there was a big white thing sitting next to their garage. They all went and looked inside of it, but I was too short to see in it. My sister teased me saying how great it was and how wonderful it was inside. No one would lift me up, so I jumped up on the edge to lift myself up to see inside. It was then that it fell on top of me - it flattened me like it did clothes being put through it! I got my leg broke from it. I still remember my oldest brother carrying me home and telling my other brother how upset mom was going to be at them. That was when doctors made house calls. I was laid up in traction in a bed between our kitchen and living room. The doctor when he came made funny 'Hmmm' sounds as he pressed his lips together in almost a kiss while checking me out. Mom always had to get me shoes based on my bigger foot. To this day, my one leg is shorter then the other and my right leg often gives me troubles - as it is doing now. -<>- .--. .--. / ' .\ |'. ( .-. \ \ . ` /\. /`. / ) ( `.' .' '--'` (\ \.' .' ) \`. \ _/ _..--' `. \ /`'<_/ : )"'``..`-3 : :. `"'. ) / |-.'' (_.-._ | / ( .'`--..J ' |-'( |_| | : >` '. .'' : | Y | < | : > ' \ `_ : '` \ / :- ' || : / ./: | \ .'J /_ ) : | '% | a:f /.-.`). : I | / ( \ ) : .^) `-' `..-' (`"' / ===' >The Hug of a Child By Victoria Harnish Benson As we drove across town, I prepared my two children for what they were about to see. A lady from our new church was dying of cancer, and I had volunteered to help her with the housework. "Annie has a tumor in her head, which has disfigured her face," I cautioned them. Annie invited me to bring my children with me one day, as I had told her so much about them. "Most children are frightened by my appearance," she said. "But I will understand if they don't want to meet me." I struggled for the words to describe Annie's appearance to my son and daughter. Then I remembered a movie I'd seen two years earlier with my son, when he was ten. I wanted him to understand that disabled people are like anyone else - their feelings can be hurt, too. "David, remember the movie Mask about the boy with the facial deformity?" "Yes, Mom. I think I know what to expect." His tone told me it was time to stop mothering him so much. "What does a tumor look like?" Diane asked me. Answering my nine-year-old daughter would be tricky. In order to prevent Diane's revulsion when she met Annie, I needed to prepare her just enough but not too much. I didn't want to frighten the child. "Her tumor looks like the skin on the inside of your mouth. It sticks out from under her tongue and makes it hard for her to talk. You'll see it as soon as you meet her, but there's nothing to be afraid of. Remember, don't stare. I know you'll want to look at it . . . that's all right . . . just don't stare." Diane nodded. I knew she was trying to picture a tumor in her mind. "Are you kids ready for this?" I asked as we pulled up to the curb. "Yes, Mom," David said, sighing as only a preteen can. Diane nodded and tried to reassure me. "Don't worry, Mommy. I'm not scared." We entered the living room, where Annie was sitting in her recliner, her lap covered with note cards for her friends. I stood across the room with my children, aware that anything could happen next. At the sight of my children, Annie's face brightened. "Oh, I'm so glad you came to visit," she said, dabbing a tissue at the drops of saliva that escaped from her twisted mouth. Then it happened. I watched David stride across the room to Annie's chair, wrap his arms around her shoulders and press his cheek to her misshapen face. Smiling, he looked into her eyes and said, "I'm happy to meet you." Just when I didn't think I could be more proud, Diane copied her big brother and gave Annie the precious, accepting hug of a child. My throat tightened with emotion as I saw Annie's eyes well up with grateful tears. I had nothing to worry about. --- -_------__________----------, ||9| | |||| ======================= |_ |||| _____________ [______]| | |||| / \ |-' \|| | | .-. | |__| | ( ) | 6|_, / `-' |_ _|_____________/ || | | | |] \_ [==] | | |_____|________| \ | | |_/ |-' '==============================' valkyrie ...Reminds me My mom was in a car accident and lost her right arm right below her elbow. Many people stared at her, but my children grew up seeing her and didn't think anything of it. She worked in the factory on the press, did custom sewing, embroidery and upholstery. She did such great sewing, that she was featured in our local newspaper. She had to do things a bit more hard since it was her dominate hand she lost, but she was the same as them and they knew it. They knew she was not to be afraid of or to gawk at. :) -<>- '-. '-. _____ .-._ | '. : .. | : '-._+ | .-' / \ .'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 -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) A Flower A Day!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/flowerday.html Fearless Women!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fearlesswomen.html Amazing Stairways!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/stairs.html Maxine Humor!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxinehumor.html Identity Theft 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/identitytheft3.html Woman's Dream!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woman.html Witty Comebacks!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/comebacks.html Forever Hollywood!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hollywood.html Pets In Camouflage!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/petshiding.html Akiane - Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Ronald Reagan Quotes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/reaganquotes.html Beautiful Rare Flowers!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rareflowers.html Church Mouse Wisdom!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/churchmouse.html Story Behind The Photo!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/photostories.html Vivacious Exotic Flowers!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/vivaciousflowers.html Creation VS Coincidence!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/creationvscoincidence.html Marilyn Monroe!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mmonroe.html Old Stars And Their Cars!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/starscars.html Paradox Of Our Time!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/paradoxofourtimes.html Bible Study: Our Valuable Anchor!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html Spring And St.Patrick's Day Index! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/springindex.html -<>- How to Become a Christian - How to Get Born Again / How to Get Saved / Romans 10:9 & 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzblR8YDQ0 The Simplicity and Grace of THE NEW BIRTH [Romans 10: 9 and 10] https://tinyurl.com/3cp5jyh5 Bible https://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kjv/ Bible Study Index http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Contents.htm Speaking in Tongues: What It Is Not (Part 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEJCpOEuw-g Part 2 of 4 Speaking In Tongues: What It Is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3N3hmaHLTE Part 3 of 4 Speaking in Tongues: What Is It For https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nptK7vYy0yA Part 4 of 4 Speaking In Tongues: How to Do It https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKqyiVuDMeE Financial Stewardship http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/financialstewardship.html The Way Bible Articles https://thewayinternational.com/english/ Spirit & Truth Index: https://stfi.org/ Bible Teaching Videos - John Schoenheit Spirit And Truth https://tinyurl.com/2gyn3f35 The Lion Weekly Digest is a newsletter delivering the week's top articles from The Lion straight to your inbox. Find all of the stories: https://readlion.com/ Latest From PragerU: https://www.prageru.com/ -<>- >In The Worldly News: President Donald J. Trump https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ TrumpRx doesn't sell medications. Instead, it connects patients directly with the best prices, increasing transparency and cutting out costly third-party markups. https://trumprx.gov/ White House Actions - 2026 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ Trump executive orders and actions, 2025-2026 https://tinyurl.com/musd7m3x DOGE Latest News https://doge.gov/ DOGE Latest Savings https://doge.gov/savings From The Daily Acorn: Positive News https://www.thedailyacorn.com/ Latest From Lifezette: https://www.lifezette.com/ Latest From Hannity: https://hannity.com/ Latest From American Action News: https://americanactionnews.com/ Latest From Reliable News: https://reliablenewsnow.com/ Latest From Newsmax: https://www.newsmax.com/ Latest From Expose: https://expose-news.com/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://greatergood.com/clicktogive/ggc/home ========================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: __ @@;, ( ; ? : ); _| |_ | | || | | _| |_ | \ \ \/ || \/ ___ / / | __| |\ __||____||___||______/| | ||| | |_______ _________| | ||| ||| |____ | | ____| ||| Design by \ \______ ) | | / ______/ / || | | | | | /___| || Samule J. Neptune || | | |_ /| | |\ _| || || || | \__, / | | | \<__/ | || >Jesus Be Our Guest A LITTLE GIRL OF FIVE WAS SAYING GRACE AT THE DINNER TABLE, SHE PRAYED LIKE SHE HAD HEARD OTHERS PRAY, ''COME LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST,'' TURNING SUDDENLY TO HER MOTHER, SHE SAID, ''BUT MOTHER, I DON'T WANT JESUS TO BE OUR GUEST!'' '' WHY NOT, DEAR? ASKED HER HORRIFIED MOTHER. TO WHICH THE LITTLE ONE REPLIED, ''WELL, A GUEST ONLY COMES TO VISIT SOMETIMES. I WANT JESUS HERE ALL THE TIME!'' -<>- "Half our life is spent trying to find some- thing to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save. - Will Rogers. -<>- ,-. O / `. <\/ `. |* `. / \ `. / / `>')3s, --------. ,' apc / 7 >The Wasted Day Charles Francis Adams was the United States ambassador to Great Britain during the Lincoln administration. He had the habit of keeping a daily diary. He also taught his son, Brooks, the value of journaling his activities in a diary. One memorable day, eight-year-old Brooks recorded, "Went fishing with my father, the most glorious day of my life." It must have been, for the next forty years Brooks repeatedly mentioned it in his diary. His father also wrote about the fishing trip. His own diary on that pivotal day for his son reads, "Went fishing with my son; a day wasted." Did he ever know that a single day spent with Brooks may have been the most well spent day of his life? He may have felt that, as a United States ambassador, his time was extremely valuable. But history seems to show that some individual time spent with his son may have turned out to be one of his most valuable investments. Which raises the question... is there an important way you can spend some time today? Source: Life Support System, By way of WITandWISDOM(tm) TO SUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail: subscribe-wit-wisdom@xc.org -<>- + (|) _____.___.|_|. | / \ |===| | / \ | o | |__/__v__\|, ,| | | | | | || || |/| . . . |','| ||| A A A | , | ||| M M M | | wtx --------------------- >You're Gonna Die The pastor started his sermon by saying, "Every member of this church is going to die." As the sermon progressed the minister noticed a gentleman gently smiling on the front row. From time to time the minster kept pushing his theme by repeating, "Every member of this church is going to die." Each time the minister repeated the theme, the guy smiled even more while everyone else in the congregation had a very somber look. The preacher repeated it several more times forcefully, "I SAID EACH MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH IS GOING TO DIE." Each time the phrase was repeated, the man smiled more. This really got the preacher wound up and he preached even harder. The man still smiled. As he neared the conclusion the preacher walked down off the platform to stand just in front of the smiling man and shouted, "I SAID EACH MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH IS GOING TO DIE." While everyone else was looking pretty grim from the prospects, the man was now almost laughing out loud. After the service the preacher jumped down off the platform and worked through the crowd to find the man. The preacher said, "I don't get it. Every time I said every member of this church is going to die, you were laughing. I want to know why you did that?" The man grinned confidently and replied, "I'm not a member of this church." As told by Rev. James Merritt -<>- Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it. -<>- .HI .MHMH X: :HMMH. .X!HMM. `HMHM! !MHMMX HMHHH. IMM! XHHHHM! XMMM!. IMHXHMM. :I. `HMHMMI. :HHXXHH' .AMH' `VMHHM! HHXIHH :MHH' `!HHHA. XHIIIX. .MX .:HD AHHV `HHHA. !HI!IXI AM: AMHH'. :HHM! `XXHA. . `HI!:IX :HH AHHMV .IXHH' `!XIX:. AMA:.H!::IX. !HX AHHHV :IIHX `XIXX: :HHHHHI. .HMMMXXH: !XIHHHIIHV' `X!:IXIMHHXHI. IHHH!HX.!IIXH!.IHV `H:.:!IHHXII: .XH!!HMI::X! :XHI :MI. .!!II!: :II.!H!.:I:.IHV: :AMMHHII!:. ::::: ::.I: .: :IHV. `:VMHII:. . .. .IHHMI ..::::..... HHXI:. :IXXHHMH. .:!IXHHHHHX!' AMMMMMMMMHHHHHHHXIIIII!!!:::. :!!IXHHHHH:..:!!XXXHHXI!:' >Sponges Here are 5 sponges laying on your kitchen counter top. Each member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned in your home, but you can't tell by looking... they all look the same... so what do you do? You squeeze each sponge to see what comes out. As you squeeze the first sponge, you see that cola comes out, and so you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner - that one was used to clean the bathroom. Next, in the third sponge, you find motor oil - hubby was cleaning the garage! In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out when it is squeezed - yep, the baby's nursery was done with that one! And finally, in the last one, is floor wax - that was the one you used on the hall floor! As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity - and they all look the same until they're squeezed. Christians are the same way. As life squeezes us, different things come out; anger from one, a need for revenge from another, tears from one, remorse from yet another - also greed, untruth, lust - and finally, from one saint, pours forth the love of Christ. Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in - stay in the Word daily, and be in continuous prayer, so that when life puts the squeeze on you (and it WILL), Jesus, and Jesus ALONE will shine forth from you! Have a blessed, squeaky clean day! Thanks to Dave Scovel for today's Illustration. ========================================================== >-->From God'sDailyWord: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >We Will Not Fear In these times of great uncertainty - with concern about things like war, terrorism, the economy, our health and the health of our children - let's always remember, our Heavenly Father is the Creator of the Universe. He formed the Heavens and the Earth out of nothing, and, as we place our trust in Him, He has given a basic promise: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). His desire is for us to draw nearer in our love and worship, and allow His Spirit to remove all fear. Psalm 46:1-3 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Although we are uncertain what tomorrow may bring, we ought to have confidence in the One who has promised to walk with us through all our tomorrows and guide us home. If we believe Jesus died for our sin, rose again in victory over death, and is seated at the right hand of the Father - if we surrender our life to who He is and what He has done - our eternal home has been firmly established; "Our citizenship is in Heaven" (Philippians 3:20). As a child of the Sovereign King, as one who believes in our eternal future, we no longer have reason to fear; "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship" (Romans 8:15). We no longer have a reason... but still we fear. The unknown is scary and makes us feel out of control. But as we pray for an end to violence, and as we strive to make this world safer, better educated, and more prosperous, and as we continually pray for healing, we must understand there is only one true solution to our fear. Our fear will only be removed as we love the Lord God with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength. When we understand that our life is not our own, we will love with a complete abandonment to His desire. We will pray and live each day with the surrender demonstrated by Christ; "Father... not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). As we live each day to bring Him glory and honor, fear WILL begin to fade: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18). Yes, these days, and all days, contain some uncertainty. If we continue to focus on what we can see, there will always be uncertainties. But our faith, hope, and joy are in His eternal glory, not in this world which will one day pass away. Let's refuse to let our fear of the unknown cripple our love or service for God; there is still much work He has for us to do. Let's pray that our love will increase, that our worship will intensify, and that we will boldly stand up and proclaim, "We will not fear!" Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** 2 Kings 23:31-25:30; Acts 22:17-23:10; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 18:13 <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Trust And Move On Moses received clear instruction as God spoke to him from the burning bush; "I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). Moses debated with God regarding his assignment and pushed God to the limit of His patience; "The Lord's anger burned against Moses" (Exodus 4:14). But once he began to follow, Moses maintained a close relationship with God and witnessed His mighty hand in many different ways. God worked through Moses to bring plagues against the Egyptians and to miraculously bring the Israelites out of Egypt. As Pharaoh released the Israelites and they began their journey into the desert, Moses witnessed more of God's power; "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light" (Exodus 13:21). However, as the Israelites approached the Red Sea, "Pharaoh and his officials changed their mind" (Exodus 14:5). Every chariot in Egypt was sent to bring the Israelites back. With no escape route in sight, and the Egyptian army closing in, the people cried out to God. Moses tried to calm the people, "The Lord will fight for you: you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14). But being still was not in God's plan. Exodus 14:15-16 "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.'" God had been in close communion with Moses. He had given His direction and demonstrated His awesome power. Now at this moment of crisis, God expected Moses to know what to do: "Why are you crying out to Me... move on!" We must diligently seek His will in stillness and prepare our life to follow where He leads; "be still and know that He is God" (Psalm 46:10). But we cannot allow our stillness to make us immobile: "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap" (Ecclesiastes 11:4). The conditions will never feel perfect, nor will we ever feel fully prepared; beware of a never-ending mission analysis which paralyzes us from action. In the end we must remember: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). There will always come a time when God expects us to demonstrate our faith in what He has provided. Let's prepare for that time by drawing near and learning to trust in HIS ability. Let's live with an active faith such that when we know His power, know His provision, and know His direction, we are able to trust and move on. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...It is interesting "The Lord's anger burned against Moses" (Exodus 4:14a). It is hard for me to imagine. Of all the people God had to choose from, He chose Moses. Think about it. God can see into the future. He knows who is the best to choose to do the job He needs done. Yet He got angry at Moses for Moses stubbornly not wanting this job. Wow! It reminds me of my teacher in the Word. He said, "When God says 'Jump!', you don't stand around and question Him 'How High?' - You JUMP!!!" As great as Moses was at doing God's Will, God still had to give him a push to get him going. ========================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: ___ /_\_\ |;-^-'| ; ._ d - j :. ,<%@. |-_-| / \ {_ _,l ___/\_ _/\_ \,< ___ <~L~>\. /___\_\'/_/_`-.( `___\ \ - |` /___ \ \|/|po /||_/-___L":--;" L _ \ \ |o|LY| |(n==\^\^''--`-,-_ [-><-]=3 || ^;| |`\ _')>\ /<__/\ |< !c)|o ; |;| "| _' \ \/ /po | |- | | ; ' |,-. |.V \/ |LY | |\__, _L |o : | / \ \||\ |o^ ^| | _|/| / _\__ : / 7 '<|`. | | | / |L/ < /\: | Y \ | \|' | | | |/ /_ | | | | \| A|. | | /| |/|PO| | || | | |V| | | || |<|LY| | || | |,| | |_ | / | | ^^ | | | | | |____| |" | | | | | | | | |#^' |4 \ | | | | | | |,| | |%_| | | |m | A \ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | / | / | | \ || | | | | | | / /| |__| || | | l | | |> / / | | \___/|_A_| | | | | / / | | | | || |m1a >BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN Because we are human we cannot understand the things that happen in life. We do not understand why young people die. We cannot understand why good people suffer. We cannot understand why hurricanes destroy neighborhoods, why tornadoes blow away homes, and floods wash away dreams. We cannot understand why diseases shorten lives. Because we are human we struggle to make sense of the twists and turns, the ups and downs, and the ins and outs of life. Because we are human we cannot see the future. We do not know what lies ahead. We do not always understand or learn from the past. We see only a part of the picture. We often only hear what we want to hear. We forget that God has plans for us. Because we are human we cannot see God's wisdom for taking us down a path filled with struggle, pain, and disappoint- ment. We cannot imagine the blessings that God has in store for us when we trust Him to lead us. Because we are human we try to explain why God does what He does when He does how He does it. We try, but we cannot explain it. Because we are human we complicate things that were intended to be simple. We complicate life, we complicate worship, and we complicate relationships. We complicate forgiveness, we complicate faith, and we complicate grace. Because we are human we cannot make ourselves holy. We cannot remove the sin in our life. We cannot get life right no matter how we try. We cannot do everything exactly right all the time. When we mess up we cannot make it right. Because we are human we cannot see God clearly. We are blinded by our sin. We are blinded by our lack of imagination. We are blinded by our determination to make God look like us. Because we are human we cannot fathom God's love. We cannot imagine why God would want to rescue us from our sin. We cannot understand how God could love us. We cannot grasp a God who would love us so much that He would sacrifice His Son for our sins. Because we are human God sent His Son to dwell among us. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Because we are human God gave His one and only begotten Son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16) Because we are human God is preparing a place for us. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4) Because we are human God understands our need for a Savior. Because we are human... we have Jesus Christ. - Tom Norvell (edited) Received from: First Impressions To subscribe: http://www.wfa.org/resources/index.html --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...Reminds me We don't understand because we think this is God's earth. But the bible teaches that the God od this world is Satan. He cause all the bad things and God helps fix them. See these teachings... Dealing with the Adversary http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Adversary/Adversary.htm -<>- .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >LISTENING TO YOUR HEART I sometimes wish I had a road map for living. If only someone would occasionally show me a way to go, a direction to take, it seems things could be easier. Have you ever thought like that? But it doesn't take me long to remember that others probably feel as confused as I do. Passengers on a regular flight from Detroit to Tri-City Airport (which is situated between the Michigan cities of Saginaw, Bay City and Midland), must have felt a little more than confused during a flight attendant's greeting. Obviously not familiar with the area, she welcomed everyone warmly and stated that the destination would be Midland. A few concerned passengers alerted her to the mistake, so she quickly corrected herself by saying they were headed to Tri-City and Bay City. Chuckles rippled along the aisle as she bravely tried again. This time she informed passengers that their destination was Saginaw. Now laughter broke out. At that point, an authoritative voice came over the intercom and rescued her. "I'm your pilot, folks," he said, "and don't worry -- I know where we're going." It's nice when someone knows the way. But does anyone know the way YOU should be going? The way you should go in your life? The truth is -- we really can't depend on others for the most important answers about living our lives. People can help, but nobody can truly decide what is best for us; nobody else can steer us along that individual path that we should take. But the good news is this: we will eventually find the way ourselves. And I believe we'll find it best by listening. Listening to our hearts; listening to an inner voice. I've learned that if I listen well, I will discover that the solution I need is usually there, hiding within. It may be irritatingly well hidden, but it is there nevertheless. Perhaps you feel a bit lost. Most of us do at times. And if so, don't worry. This may be a perfect time to listen. Listen to that quiet voice within. And while you listen, remember this -- your inner pilot (Christ) knows where you're going. -- Steve Goodier as seen in Life Support -<>- _____ (((\\\\\ )_ \\\| / \\|\/ \\( ), & \) ( (( |` \\ ))) _ | \` __| ` | , \ ` , \ | \ ,\ , \ ' \/ \_ \/ \ `_,`-._ ` \ ejm / `-. _ \ ` / ,`. \ === / '== =`. | ==== / | === ` / /========= / | / , /______| / , ======== __-' | = === / ,======= ' - -- ( \ \ \ ` \ ` \ ` \_____ \ / ` _/ / '-- ' >REVIVALS COME WITH TEARS Almost the sweetest words I know are these: "Jesus wept." Tell me this. Did you ever know a revival that did not begin with a baptism of tears? Tell me, did you ever have a revival by just appointing committees, organizing a choir, and putting money into the treasury? No! I will tell you when revivals come. They come when men begin to say to their ministers: Pastor, will you pray for my family? When mothers come to the evangelist and say: Pray for my boy. When wives are so deeply interested that they say: If my husband does not come, I shall die. When signs like these appear, then make ready. I remember an experience in the village church in New York, where I was a pastor in my early ministry. I had been preaching for a long time, but there was no yielding of hearts. I called my officers together and asked them to tell me what was wrong. They not answer me. There was an old farmer in the congregation whose name was Herman Kramer. He could not pray in public, nor could he sing or speak. On the next morning after I had talked to the officers, he hitched up his horse to the cutter. A snow-storm had come in the night, and the fences were covered. This man of seventy years of age got into his sleigh and drove four miles across the fields and fences until he came to a blacksmith shop. Hitching his horse on the outside, he went in to where the young blacksmith was hammering away on this anvil. The blacksmith looked up and said: "Mr. Kramer, what in the world brought you here?" All he could do was to catch hold of the blacksmith's bench with one hand to steady himself from falling. Reaching out his other hand, he said: "Your father and I were friends from boyhood. When he died I promised him that I would look after you and try to lead you to Christ. I have never spoken to you about your soul. Oh, Tom!" That was all he said, and he turned back home. It was not long before the blacksmith came to the meetings, driving through a blinding snowstorm. When he gave his testimony, he said: "I have never been moved by a sermon in my life, but when Herman Kramer stood there sobbing in my shop, I said to myself, it is about time Tom Funston was in earnest himself." Revivals come with tears. --J. Wilbur Chapman, in a sermon entitled "The Master Is Come" Source: http://www.newsforchristians.com/chapman/jwc_002.html (The Timothy Report, www.timothyreport.com) -<>- _________________________ || || || || || ||, , ,|| || || (||/|/(\||/ || || ||| _'_`||| || || || o o || || || (|| - `||) || || || = || || ScS || ||\___/|| || ||___||) , (||___|| /||---||-\_/-||---||\ / ||--_||_____||_--|| \ (_(||)-| S123-45 |-(||)_) |"""""""""""""""""""""""""""| >A EULOGY BEHIND BARS by Rabbi Major (retired) Fishel Jacobs Printed with Permission of http://www.PartnersInKindness.org When an inmate’s father passed away, I became the perfect choice to act as escorting officer to the cemetery: As an officer, I had the necessary rank, as chaplain I fit the role. Seated in my office, at exactly 12:00 noon, I received a phone call from the security officer: "Get ready to escort a prisoner to his father’s funeral. You’ve got three guards, and a driver. Come to my office for orders." It was a hot summer day. I expected the van’s air-conditioner to be on one of its off-days. I also expected cramped seating and bumper-to-bumper Tel Aviv afternoon traffic. Besides the discomfort and hassles traveling, I’d be expected to deliver a eulogy once there. In general, I avoid doing eulogies. I’m just not good at them. Doing one about someone I’ve never met is a nightmare. I waited at the front gate for our mourning prisoner to be brought down. He was an inmate I didn’t know personally. "Rabbi!" he said, as soon as he saw me. "Great! You’re escorting officer." I knew what he was going to ask. "I’d like us to stop by my home on the way to the cemetery," he continued. "That shouldn’t be a problem. Right?" I suspected he was more excited about the trip than upset about his father’s passing. "I’ll ask the security officer and see what he says," I said, knowing perfectly well what he’d say. And he did, as soon as I got him on the line. "Your route is from here to the cemetery and back!" "Repeat that, please," I requested, turning up the phone’s speaker. "I said, he’s got permission to attend his father’s burial. Period. Not to visit home and return with contraband." The guards handcuffed and attached a leg-clamp over the inmate’s left knee, bolting the lower part of his thigh to his upper calf. This type of lock, which restricts knee movement, is worn inconspicuously under the clothing during excursions. We walked out to the van. The driver and another guard got into the front seat. Two hopped into the back. I slid open the side door to the middle seat. The prisoner, of course, couldn’t step up into the vehicle. To get in, he put his backside onto the edge of the seat, using his unshackled leg to back-step up and shimmy in. closed the door. There was only a foot of space between us and the metal bars separating our compartment from the driver’s. Barely enough room, the inmate’s leg got wedged diagonally into an impossible angle. "I’m gonna break my leg!" he yelled. The only solution was putting it onto the seat, which we did—in the process, wedging me into the door. My left hip was jammed into the window handle. "Can’t you move?" I complained. "This handle is killing my side!" "Sorry," he lied, "I have problems of my own." The van began rolling. I had hoped for some quiet to compose the eulogy. That wouldn’t come, though shortly the inevitable did. "I’m so happy you’re the escorting officer," my seating partner whined. "Tell the driver to go past my house." "You already heard the security officer," I said. "It’s my father’s funeral," he said, adopting a forlorn expression. "Come on, I have to be there for my mother. Radio the warden." "We have orders," I said. "And, if you really care about your mother, stay out of prison," I said. "A lesson in morals! My family is grieving. What kind of rabbi..." Two miserable hours later, we arrived. None of his family had. We waited. The temperature was a hot and humid 97F. With nowhere in sight to buy a cold drink, I took a long swig of warm water from a hose. The moisture only ran through my skin, covering me with a thick layer of perspiration. By 5:30, we were still alone. Suddenly, a bus full of people showed up. Some cars. Three more buses. A lot of people came to show their respects, I thought. I noticed something disturbingly familiar about a couple dozen men—the clothes, gold chain necklaces, the walk. They debarked from the buses, greeted the guards, handshaking, backslapping. Our prisoner’s neighborhood buddies—ex-inmates—were enjoying a reunion with the guards! Frankly, my mood was lousy. If not for this ceremony, I’d be home, taking a refreshing shower. The perspiration dried on my back, but my hip still throbbed. But, my main problem was I still knew absolutely nothing about the one I’d be speaking about— something I’d take care of promptly. I ordered our three armed guards to watch the prisoner, then went fact-finding. I introduced myself to a young man standing nearby, asking if he could tell me a few things about the deceased: his name, something about his family. He said the departed’s name was Saul. The family? He motioned with his head in the direction of two dapper, well-decked fellows—ex-inmates. The genetic similarities to our prisoner were striking—these were his brothers. I asked what Saul had done for a living. He replied, "The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree..." To say I was running out of time and groping for material would be an understatement. I scouted for someone else, and noticed something odd. Here and there, throughout the cemetery grounds, were individuals and couples, who stood out: very well dressed, professional types. People who carried an educated demeanor. I approached one such couple and said, "Could you tell me something about Saul?" "Yes," the fellow replied humbly. His wife lowered her head, averted her glance. "I...suppose..." "Okay..." I nudged. "In the neighborhood...he...took...kids..." he motioned with his head to the other atypicals, lowered his voice and continued, "under... his...wing..." What the...? I wondered. "My father was constantly in trouble with the law. In and out of jail," the gentleman continued laboriously. It was clearly painful for him to admit all this. "My mother tried supporting us. Not an easy task, seven kids, two rooms..." You seem, it dawned on me, to have done okay. "I was in the streets, most of the time, from eleven years of age..." I continued my rounds. The outdoor loudspeaker barked, directing our band towards the enclosed courtyard where the remains are placed during the final farewell. We clumsily meandered over: weeping women, family, loud children, a crew of ex-inmates, in the center a hand- foot- cuffed inmate, surrounded by armed guards. We entered the courtyard, the sobs and shouting died down, the cluster settled into place. Somebody hushed, "Quiet, the rabbi is going to speak." I approached the podium, glanced at the deceased wrapped in a prayer shawl, according to tradition, then around at waiting faces. "We’re gathered here to honor the deceased. In the name of the Prison Service, I’d like to convey condolences to the family. He has given, He has taken. May your family know only good tidings from here on. Stay strong and united." "I didn’t personally know the deceased, Saul. But this afternoon I have met a number of people who did. Some of them have been affected deeply by him. They have shown a willingness to say a few words." I nodded to the first fellow I’d met. He approached the podium. Unused to speaking publicly, he waited for my nod of encourage- ment to begin. He related how Saul had called him aside as a fifteen year old. The gentleman explained how his own father had had problems with the law, until he passed away prematurely at forty. Saul, saw the teenager, devastated by his loss, wavering between good friends and friends who nothing good would come from. He described how Saul had leveled with him: "It’s your life. But, remember, you eat what you cook. Look at me. In and out of prison. Is that the life you want? To never know if you’re speaking with a friend or police informant? Where you’ll be spending the night? Or, a good family, stability?" Saul also supplied the answers: "Stay in school. Do your prayers every day. Stay away from bad friends." But Saul did more. He spoke with the boy constantly when he was free. He even kept on him by phone—from prison. Then spoke Shimon, a local cop, and boxing instructor who thought he was tough until Saul slapped some sense into him in front of his buddies saying, "You’re too smart to end up like me." There were others, a housewife, a bus driver. As I listened, I wondered if Saul’s inability to tear himself away from the routine of his life, or save his own sons, added to his resolve to help others. My knockout punch, though, was Deborah, a woman who immediately commanded respect. In her mid-fifties, she had a calculated determination, an aura of authority. Deborah was also very well known. She was the local high school principal. "I was sixteen," she began. "One day, on my way home from school, Saul saw me on the street. He asked me if I was Dan’s sister. I said yes. He asked me to meet him the following afternoon outside his home. I agreed. When I got there, he was waiting with a photo album. He showed it to me: shots of his family, bar- mitzvahs, birthday parties. He asked me if I saw anything unusual. I said no. He told me to look again. I still saw nothing. I was young, it looked like any album. We had one at home. "Finally, Saul looked me squarely in the eye and said, ‘I’m not in any of those photos.’ "Then, he asked me if my family does things like those activities together. I answered that of course we did. He asked me if everyone attends. I said, of course. He asked me how many siblings we had. I said, five. And, he pressed further: if one did not come to any of these functions, how would the family feel? I was starting to feel frightened, I didn’t know what he wanted. Then he made the most powerful statement of my life. "Saul said, ‘Deborah. You’re a smart girl. If you want your family to stay together, watch your younger brother, Dan. He’s into bad things.’ " "From that day on, I watched Dan with four eyes," Deborah continued. "I made sure he did his homework and didn’t wander around late at night. "Saul, correctly, had told me not to rely on my parents’ inter- vention. They had their hands full just paying the bills. I threw myself head first into my new responsibility. Thank God, Dan completed high school, got married, created a family, and supports himself respectfully. "That’s not all. That experience set me down a path. I attained my teachers’ certification. And, twenty years ago, became high school principal. "It was the satisfaction I got from doing that which made me decide to dedicate my life to other peoples’ younger brothers and sisters." I stood listening next to the podium while Deborah spoke. This was the best eulogy I’d ever heard. Not only because it was said naturally, but because it was real. Ultimately, I don’t know if and to what degree the audience was moved. You never know. I’m sure a few of the older people were. Perhaps, some of the younger ones were assessing themselves, if only for that brief moment. I wonder if Saul helped these people on the spur of the moment to soothe his conscience. Or, did he know he was setting them on the right path for life? Extracted with publisher’s permission from Israel Behind Bars— Memoirs of an American Karate Champ Turned Israeli Prison Chaplain, by Rabbi Major (retired) Fishel Jacobs. Available on Amazon.com. as seen at Partners in Kindness Available Free by E-mail every other day. To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: Stewardship is not a matter of funds, it is a matter of faith. ,,,,, \ e e\ C _\/ |\\, )\_) \_ / _/|/_ _// ,'\ ~ /'-,_/ \ / \_/ / / , | \_._,-" ( < _' | \ \ ', -',-~.-' _/ ) | |// | ' ' ) | | | | ._., - |.,_ // _\-' )___|__|_ '-._ b'ger /____\__\ >The Old Fisherman (Author Unknown) [Edited] Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. "Why, he's hardly taller than my eight-year-old," I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face - lopsided from swelling, red and raw. Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'til morning." He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success - no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face... I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments..." For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: "I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning." I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. "No thank you. I have plenty." And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was prefaced with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, "Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair." He paused a moment and then added, "Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind." I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious. When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning. "Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!" Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness' would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him. Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse, As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, "If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!" My friend changed my mind. "I ran short of pots," she explained, "and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden." She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. "Here's an especially beautiful one," God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. "He won't mind starting in this small body." All this happened long ago -and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand. ~~~~ The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b) 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 ========================================================== .-""-._ / ___/ \ _&_ _.--""|/ `\| // \\ .' ( ^/ ^ )'. / / \ \ / | _ | \ // / \ \\ | _\____/ | /_/_/_\_\_\ | .' \____/-._ | .-"-. | / `; /# \ | / / _|_.---\ | | |.-.; :--.-(_/.____/.-""\___/"-. / \ / ~~/ /\ \{"=.______.="} /--. ; /___/_~~/ ; .--\"=...__...="} / \-/ `\______|/ \-.______..-; | /`| | \ | |||| || | /_ | |_______/ | |||| || | \_/| |-------' |--'||'--._|| | | | | || |> |______| |____________|._ || _..-;| | [___] | `||() || |______ |\/|____________|jgs|| () (__) \__/ (__) () >-->GOD IS ALL THIS AND MORE God is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End! He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all! He is the Architect of the Universe and the Manager of all times. ~~~~ He always was, He always is, and He always will be . . ~~~~ Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone! ~~~~ His Son was bruised and brought healing! His Son was pierced and eased pain! His Son was persecuted and brought freedom! His Son was dead and brought life! ~~~~ Christ is risen and brings power! Christ reigns and brings Peace! ~~~~ The world can't understand him, The armies can't defeat Him, The schools can't explain Him, and the leaders can't ignore Him. ~~~~ Herod couldn't kill Him, The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and The people couldn't hold Him! Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him, ~~~~ The New Age can't replace Him, and nonbelievers can't explain Him away! ~~~~ God is Light, Love, Longevity, and Lord. He is Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God Almighty. He is Holy, Righteous, Mighty, Powerful, and Pure His ways are right, His Word is eternal, His will is unchanging, and Christ's mind is on me! ~~~~~ Christ is my Redeemer, He is my Savior, He is my Guide, and He is my Peace! He is my Joy, He is my Comfort, He is my Lord, He rules my life! ~~~~ I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life. ~~~~ I follow Him because He is the Wisdom of the wise, The Power of the powerful, The Ancient of Days, the Ruler of rulers, the Leader of leaders, the Overseer of the overcomers, and the Sovereign Lord of all that was, and is and is to come. ~~~~ And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size: God's goal is a relationship with me! He will NEVER leave me, NEVER forsake me, NEVER mislead me, NEVER forget me, NEVER overlook me, and NEVER cancel my appointment in His appointment book! ~~~~ When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way! When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me! When I am hurt, He heals me! When I am broken, He mends me! When I am blind, He leads me! When I am hungry, He feeds me! When I face trials, He is with me! When I face persecution, He shields me! When I face loss, He provides for me! When I face Death, He carries me Home! He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and every way. He is God! He is Faithful. I am His, and He is mine! So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this . . He said it and that settles it. God is in control, I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul. Everyday is a blessing for GOD IS!!!!! as seen in Inspiration Plus >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah, Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $35 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all web site list readers. Email me to secure dates. 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