Pressing Towards The Mark 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! ================ __ __ ,-' `' \ _---``-- / _ _ ; __ `. / / `' \; /`----- ) / .-/ ,( ), \-. ; | \( \ / )/; | - _5 `7 -; / ( ___-' `-____ | ( ___`-_ \ ____| \ / `,/ \ _(\__ / \ \ ; \ .' /' `i. / | | \ _-'( _\__-/ `- | | ` ,` `_ | BP * Don't forget to follow us on social media for our latest updates and uproarious funny and inspiring pages! On Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y8dcm8x7 On X (Twitter): http://tinyurl.com/n5uf3dxv ================ >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our too hot to handle new page is from my daughter Tammy and our friend Linda. With AI all over the place, it is refreshing to see REAL photographs of our fur babies taken from around the world. Visit here for your aww quota for the day: (\ \) o__^\/ , \ ' \ < _ _ ' ' . `| \____\ - - ' . . () | ) _ _ `.' `.' .//---_/-_/ _ _ Kennel Club Dog Contest 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kennelclubdog2.html Our sizzling hot new page is from our friend LouiseAu. Never temp the devil by giving him a reason to cause trouble - By asking, 'What could possibly go wrong?' Why? 9 times out of 10, that is what you will get! This will give you some laughs for your day. Visit it here: a. ---._ _`8P . ` \`| ___.8 / ( / __(P --. \ \( ( _. \\\ ___ |/_ ` \ `_,/ \--( ">'__.(-' `-/ `- \_( _____..stuMBLE (__.----. (_ ] `\__(\|/ | `" | [________________a:f____________________ Life's Little Oops 16! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops16.html --- ...HaHaHa! I love this series! Thanks LouiseAu! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarming: .======. | INRI | .========' '========. | _ xxxx _ | | /_;-.__ / _\ _.-;_\ | | `-._`'`_/'`.-' | '========.`\ /`========' | | / | |/-.( | |\_._\ | | \ \`;| | > |/| | / // | | |// | | \(\ | | `` | \\jgs _ _\\| \// |//_ _ \// _ ^ `^`^ ^`` `^ ^` ``^^` `^^` `^ `^ >"The Passion" by Mel Gibson - A Review by Keith Fournier: I really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to have been invited to a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion," but I had also read all the cautious articles and spin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe much of my own faith journey to the influence. I have a life long, deeply held aversion to anything that might even indirectly encourage any form of anti-Semitic thought, language or actions. I arrived at the private viewing for "The Passion", held in Washington DC and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was typically Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming to look beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words.. The film was very briefly introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened. From the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very human and tender portrayal of the earthly ministry of Jesus, through the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the final scene in the empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an encounter, unlike anything I have ever experienced. In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and an artistic triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep reflection, sorrow and emotional reaction within me than anything since my wedding, my ordination or the birth of my children. Frankly, I will never be the same. When the film concluded, this "invitation only" gathering of "movers and shakers" in Washington, DC were shaking indeed, but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the place. The crowd that had been glad- handing before the film was now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were woefully inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art that is a rarity in life, the kind that makes heaven touch earth. One scene in the film has now been forever etched in my mind. A brutalized, wounded Jesus was soon to fall again under the weight of the cross. His mother had made her way along the Via Della Rosa. As she ran to him, she flashed back to a memory of Jesus as a child, falling in the dirt road outside of their home. Just as she reached to protect him from the fall, she was now reaching to touch his wounded adult face. Jesus looked at her with intensely probing and passionately loving eyes (and at all of us through the screen) and said "Behold I make all things new." These are words taken from the last Book of the New Testament, the Book of Revelation. Suddenly, the purpose of the pain was so clear and the wounds, that earlier in the film had been so difficult to see in His face, His back, indeed all over His body, became intensely beautiful. They had been borne voluntarily for love. At the end of the film, after we had all had a chance to recover, a question and answer period ensued. The unanimous praise for the film, from a rather diverse crowd, was as astounding as the compliments were effusive. The questions included the one question that seems to follow this film, even though it has not yet even been released. "Why is this film considered by some to be "anti-Semitic?" Frankly, having now experienced (you do not "view" this film) "The Passion", it is a question that is impossible to answer. A law professor whom I admire sat in front of me. He raised his hand and responded "After watching this film, I do not understand how anyone can insinuate that it even remotely presents that the Jews killed Jesus. It doesn't." He continued "It made me realize that my sins killed Jesus". I agree. There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to be found anywhere in this powerful film. If there were, I would be among the first to decry it. It faithfully tells the Gospel story in a dramatically beautiful, sensitive and profoundly engaging way. Those who are alleging otherwise have either not seen the film or have another agenda behind their protestations. This is not a "Christian" film, in the sense that it will appeal only to those who identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. It is a deeply human, beautiful story that will touch all men and women. It is a profound work of art. Yes, its producer is a Catholic Christian and thankfully has remained faithful to the Gospel text; if that is no longer acceptable behavior than we are all in trouble. History demands that we remain faithful to the story and Christians have a right to tell it. After all, we believe that it is the greatest story ever told and that its message is for all men and women. The greatest right is the right to hear the truth. We would all be well advised to remember that the Gospel narratives to which "The Passion" is so faithful were written by Jewish men who followed a Jewish Rabbi whose life and teaching have forever changed the history of the world. The problem is not the message but those who have distorted it and used it for hate rather than love. The solution is not to censor the message, but rather to promote the kind of gift of love that is Mel Gibson's filmmaking masterpiece, "The Passion." It should be seen by as many people as possible. I intend to do everything I can to make sure that is the case. I am passionate about "The Passion." You will be as well. Don't miss it! Keith A Fournier is a constitutional lawyer and a graduate of the John Paul II Institute of the Lateran University, Franciscan University and the University of Pittsburgh. He holds degrees in Philosophy, theology and law. He has been a champion of religious liberty and appeared as co- counsel in major cases at the United States Supreme Court. He is the author of seven books and, along with his law practice, serves as the president of both the "Your Catholic Voice Foundation" and "Common Good". --- .-~*~--,. .-. .-~-. ./OOOOOOOOO\.'OOO`9~~-. .`OOOOOO.OOM.OLSONOOOOO@@OOOOOO\ /OOOO@@@OO@@@OO@@@OOO@@@@@@@@OOOO`. |OO@@@WWWW@@@@OOWWW@WWWW@@@@@@@OOOO). .-'OO@@@@WW@@@W@WWWWWWWWOOWW@@@@@OOOOOO} /OOO@@O@@@@W@@@@@OOWWWWWOOWOO@@@OOO@@@OO| lOOO@@@OO@@@WWWWWWW\OWWWO\WWWOOOOOO@@@O.' \OOO@@@OOO@@@@@@OOW\ \WWWW@@@@@@@O'. `,OO@@@OOOOOOOOOOWW\ \WWWW@@@@@@OOO) \,O@@@@@OOOOOOWWWWW\ \WW@@@@@OOOO.' `~c~8~@@@@WWW@@W\ \WOO|\UO-~' (OWWWWWW@/\W\ ___\WO) `~-~'' \ \WW=*' __\ \ \ \ \ __\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \\ \ \ ...Did you know? 'Actor playing Jesus in The Passion of the Christ was struck by lightning and suffered multiple illnesses during filming. It seems Jim Caviezel's faith was tested as he'd endured injury, illness and lightning whilst filming The Passion of the Christ. https://tinyurl.com/4bxf6kxt I found it extremely telling that the devil (not God) was trying to get him to quit! He was attacked in more ways too! Be sure to read the full article above. When he accidentally got hit with a whip while carrying the cross and described his feelings, I thought this was why I couldn't watch the movie or even wear a cross. Like the early Church, I preferred an anchor as my choice for my Christian faith. To me it would be like watching a dear, close, family member suffer extreme abuse and pain. I couldn't bear to watch it. _ (_) | ()---|---() | | __ | __ |\ /^\ /| jgs '..-' '-..' `-._ _.-` ` "The Anchor - To the modern observer, the anchor is a maritime tool— heavy, utilitarian, functional. But to early Christians, especially those persecuted for their faith, the anchor became a secret and powerful symbol of hope, stability, and salvation." Hebrews 6: [19a] Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Pressing Toward the Goal The Apostle Paul wrote, 'Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."1 According to Peter Wagner, "Goal setting is a risk. One of the most comfortable things in the world is to have no goals, because then there can be no failure. It is equally comfortable to define your goals in terms of what you happen to be doing at any given time. If you shoot first, then draw the target around the bullet hole, you will never miss the bullseye. If someone looks later, he might even call you a good marksman." Some people have developed this technique very well. Their goals are set more by their own inclinations than by carefully formulated biblical priorities. Having a clearly defined goal is the first step towards the success of anything. However, according to motivational specialists only three percent of people have a major goal for their life. Without this we are like a rudderless ship. Instead of our setting the direction of our life, we let the winds and tides of the times take us where they will. As someone has said facetiously, "Blessed be he who aims at nothing for he shall surely hit it!" As with the Apostle Paul, God has a specific goal for each one of us. It is our responsibility to discover what that goal is and work towards achieving it. And as Paul said, "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things." Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for the specific purpose and goal you have for my life. Please help me to discover what that is and give me the desire, courage, and direction to help me work towards fulfilling that goal. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, amen. 1. Philippians 3:13-15 (KJV). Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B. --- _ _( } -= _ << \ `.\__/`/\\ -= '--'\\ ` -= // jgs \) ...It is important I think of Pres. Trump. What won our support for him so strongly after his first term was the fact that he was determined to keep his promises to us. So much so that he had his staff put them up on his wall in the oval office so he could see them and check them off as he fulfilled each promise made to us. He is a man of integrity. Being a capitalist, he learned from his dad that a man's word is very important. If he backs down, lies or doesn't keep his word, he is not worth a plug nickle. He is worthless to all who want to deal with him. Once you set goals, it is important to continue forward to complete them even if they are hard to do. Making promises to yourself or others is like setting little goals. Unless things change drastically, it is important to keep working toward them. _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` Like apostle Paul said, "Pressing towards the mark (finish line)..." <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Shine His Light In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.1 Recently, I came across a quote that says, 'Remember, you may be the only Bible some people ever read.'¯ When I saw it, I started pondering on it, realizing just how true it is because some people may never know who God really is. As followers of Christ, we are meant to share the gospel with as many people as possible, not necessarily straight away teaching what the Bible says, but also by being an example of Christ in the way we live and act. Being an example of Christ can look like encouraging someone when life gets tough, being kind, and loving others just as God loves us. We should let our good deeds shine out for all to see, but with the right motives and with the hope that they will get to learn who God is through us. We should never try to pressure someone into Christianity because that will just push them further away. Instead, we can live a godly life and let people come to us. Once someone gets to know you better, they feel more comfortable with you and may ask about your faith - and when they do ask, always be ready to explain it in a gentle and respectful way (1 Peter 3:15-16). Do not try to hide His light... let it shine for all to see! Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for showing me what your Light looks like. Please help me to share that light with everyone I meet. When people ask about my faith, please give me the right words to say and lead them to you. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen. 1: Matthew5:16 (NLT) Today's Encounter was written by: Gianna B. When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. --- ...Yes That is why keeping your word is so important. _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` Num.23: [19] God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? It is important as children of God to shine forth with Godly character! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: >Today's Quote 'Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. -<>- ____ .---. ,-----. _____ .' `,.': :'' : :.' `. | : : ' ' ' ' : : \ | ' ' ' ' \ | v \ | | v \ | | | v \ | |_ | () | \/ | (= | \ | | | | | \ | | | | | \ | | | | | \ | ===== | | | | ) \ --- /| ===== | | | / `---' \ --- /| ===== | ===== | / `---' \ ---- A ----- / / `----'.`-----' / / / '-._ / dp '. / `----' >"Raising My Sights" My six-year-old granddaughter, Caitlynd, and I stopped at a Tim Horton's donut shop for a blueberry muffin. As we were going out the door, a young teenage boy was coming in. This young man had no hair on the sides of his head and tuft of blue spiked hair on top of it. One of his nostrils was pierced, and attached to the hoop that ran through the hole, was a chain that draped across his face and attached to a ring he was wearing in his ear. He held a skateboard under one arm and a basketball under the other. Caitlynd, who was walking ahead of me, stopped in her tracks when she saw the teen. I thought he'd scared the dickens out of her and she'd frozen on the spot. I was wrong. My GrandAngel backed up against the door and opened it as wide as it would go. Now I was face to face with the young man. I stepped aside and let him pass. His gracious response was a kind, "Thank you very much". On our way to the car, I commended Caitlynd for her manners in holding open the door for the young man. She didn't seem to be troubled by his appearance but I wanted to make sure. If a grandmotherly talk about freedom of self expression and allowing people their differences was in order, I wanted to be ready. As it turned out, the person who needed the talk was me. The only thing Caitlynd noticed about the teen, was the fact that his arms were full. "He woulda' had a hard time to open the door." I saw the partially shaved head, the tuft of spiked hair, the piercings and the chain. She saw a person carrying something under each arm and heading toward a door. In the future, I hope to get down on her level and raise my sights. © Terri McPherson tmcphers@... Windsor, Ontario, Canada -<>- >Let the Last be First I glance at the ears, the mouth and the nose as my unrightful judgement against you grows I hear your spoken glances, your hatred and your lies But my thoughts make me no different behind my guilty eyes I hear your laughter, and see your smile and your grin And sadly, the last thing I look for is your beauty within. - Susan Sullivan --- ...Like I told my grandsons When I see people like this, my thought is to treat them nicely - they have issues they are going through. -<>- __)), //_ _) ( "\" \_-/ ,---/ '---. / - - \ / \_. _|__,/ \ / )\ )\_ \ / _/ ( ' ) / / / | (_____) | / /,' / \/ /, _/(_ ( ._, )-' `--,/ |____|__| | ) | | / | | / \ | / `| | _) | | | | | / \ | | | \ | | \ | \_ gnv /__( '-._`, >CHANGING THE WORLD (UNKNOWN MONK 1100AD) When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world. -<>- There are times when a man should be content with what he has but never with what he is. - William George Jordan -<>- |><|~|><| /(((9)))\ //) -_- (\\ (((( ._. )))) ))))---(((( ((((`---')))) (___|xXxXx|___) \ | | / / ^ ^ ^ \ / \ (_._._._._._) \ | / ( | ) | | | hjw |-|-| /`-^-'\ (__,^.__) >"The Dress" "Do you like my dress?" she asked of a passing stranger. "My mommy made it just for me." She said with a tear in her eye. "Well, I think it's very pretty, so tell me little one, why are you crying?" With a quiver in her voice the little girl answered. "After Mommy made me this dress, she had to go away." "Well, now," said the lady, "with a little girl like you waiting for her, I'm sure she'll be right back." "No ma'am, you don't understand," said the child through her tears, "my Daddy said that she's up in heaven now with Grandfather." Finally the woman realized what the child meant, and why she was crying. Kneeling down she gently cradled the child in her arms and together they cried for the mommy that was gone. Then suddenly the little girl did something that the woman thought was a bit strange. She stopped crying, stepped back from the woman and began to sing. She sang so softly that it was almost a whisper. It was the sweetest sound the woman had ever heard, almost like the song of a very small bird. After the child stopped singing she explained to the lady, "My mommy used to sing that song to me before she went away, and she made me promise to sing it whenever I started crying and it would make me stop." "See," she exclaimed, "it did, and now my eyes are dry!" As the woman turned to go, the little girl grabbed her sleeve, "Lady, can you stay just a minute? I want to show you something." "Of course," she answered, "what do you want me to see?" Pointing to a spot on her dress, she said, "Right here is where my Mommy kissed my dress, and here," pointing to another spot," and here is another kiss, and here, and here," "Mommy said that she put all those kisses on my dress so that I would have her kisses for every boo-boo that made me cry." Then the lady realized that she wasn't just looking at a dress, no, she was looking at a Mother who knew that she was going away and would not be there to kiss away the hurts that she knew her daughter would get. So she took all the love she had for her beautiful little girl and put them into this dress, that her child now so proudly wore. She no longer saw a little girl in a simple dress, she saw a child wrapped in her Mother's love. --Author Unknown -<>- . \ _ / .-='-. _db_ .--==-, -= (_) =- (_ ( _IIII_ _( ) `. / \ ( |" " |-.( ` ,_ ` ) ' '-._HHHHHH `)---' `'--' =.= |. |--` =.= | | =.= _H___,=====;___| =.= n_/____/____/``\__\ /__|:: :|. .|:::|::| =.= _%&|__&%_"_|_"_|_ H|__|__ jgs`";;;;`";;;;'";;'"';;;;``;;-. . ' `";;' `;;; `;' `; .`' `\ . ' . `' . `';. ' . . |^-`^~_^^~``-^^_~^^-`^~ >The Life Saving Station On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little life-saving station grew. Some of the members of the life-saving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building. Now, the life-saving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely, because they used it as a sort of club. Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired life-boat crews to do this work. The life-saving motif still prevailed in this club's decoration, and there was a symbolic life-boat in the room where the club initiations were held. About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boat loads of cold, wet and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick and some of them had black skin and some had yellow skin. The beautiful new club was in chaos. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside. At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's life-saving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted upon life-saving as their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a life-saving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own life-saving station down the coast. They did. As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another life-saving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that sea coast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown. -<>- 'I do not think much of a man who does not know more today than he did yesterday.' - Abraham Lincoln -<>- _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >TEACH ME TO FORGIVE One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job. His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration. Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there, and with tears in his eyes, he prayed. "Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do --- teach me To Forgive.' As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. _ xxxx _ /_;-.__ / _\ _.-;_\ `-._`'`_/'`.-' `\ /` | / /-.( \_._\ \ \`; > |/ / // |// jgs \(\ `` Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them. He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak. 'Have you ever told a lie', he asked? The man answered, "yes Lord." 'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?' The man answered, 'yes Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more. 'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours,' Jesus asked? And the man answered, 'yes Lord'. 'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?' The man, crying now, answered, 'yes Lord.' As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer, "yes Lord." Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before. Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you'. -<>- _..._ .~ `~. / } \ _.'`~~/ {_,} -( ,'-,___.' .-. / |_ /| __| |__ / ` |_/ [__ __] / \ / | | / '--;_ | | _\ `\ | | / |`-.___. / | | ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >To My Child, Good morning, this is GOD. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (Something For God To Do) box. It will be addressed in My Time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it nor remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem. If it is a situation you think you are capable of handling, please consult me in prayer to be sure that it is the proper resolution. Because I do not sleep, nor do I slumber, there is no need for you to lose any sleep. Please rest my child. If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away. My prayer line is open 24 hours of your day. I love you and will always be with you wherever you may go. As with all good things, please pass my message on. Love, Your Father, GOD Almighty. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Three Old Men!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/oldmen.html Thoughts Into Action 8! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/action8.html Love Stories!- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/lovestories.html Magnificent President Tree!- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/presidenttree.html Sweet Animals With Flowers!- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/animalswithflowers.html A Butterfly's Story!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/butterflystory.html Growing Old!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/growingold.html The Black Dot!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blackdot.html Hill Of Crosses!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hillofcrosses.html Thank You God!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thankgod.html One Word Essay!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/essay.html Thank You Lord!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html The Blue Ribbon!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Inspiring Seniors!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/inspiringseniors.html Butchart Gardens!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bgardens.html God's Instructions!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/instructions.html Friends And Health!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendhealth.html Playing With Words!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wordplay.html God's Most Beautiful!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mostbeautiful.html VALENTINE Index! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valentineindex.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 Bible https://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kjv/ Bible Study Index http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Contents.htm 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/ 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: Fish, Glucose monitors, Refrigerators, Chocolate bars and Power strips recalled... http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: Certain Lots of Live it Up Super Greens supplement powders in both bags and sticks, including the Original and Wild Berry flavors... http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://greatergood.com/clicktogive/ggc/home ========================================================== .--.-,-.-.-,-.--. | \ / | | \ / | | .===,=,===. | _/\_; .-'`^`'-. ;_/\_ ( /` /_________\ `\ ) | | |===========| | | | | | | | | | | | , | | | | | ;_{_________; | | | |/===`>========\| | | ;-._<`________.-; | | | | U | | | / | |___________| | \ | | |jgs | '-------------------------' >-->From Liberty Conservative: >Martin Luther King Jr.'s Forgotten Truth * Equality Under the Law - Not Government Control Equality Under the Law, Individual Rights, and the Limits of Government As Americans observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, political leaders across the spectrum invoke his words. But too often, King's legacy is selectively edited—reshaped to justify policies he never endorsed and government powers he repeatedly warned against. A liberty-centered reading of Martin Luther King Jr. tells a different story-one rooted in individual rights, equality before the law, and deep skepticism of concentrated power. * Equality Under the Law - Not Equal Outcomes At the heart of King's moral vision was a simple but radical demand: equal justice under the law. When King declared his dream of a nation where people are judged "by the content of their character, not the color of their skin," he was making a profoundly conservative-and constitutional—argument. He rejected collective guilt and racial sorting. His goal was not government-managed outcomes, but the removal of unjust barriers that denied individuals their natural rights. King appealed repeatedly to America's founding documents, calling the Declaration of Independence a "promissory note" guaranteeing God- given rights to every citizen. That language matters. King did not argue for rights granted by bureaucrats, but for rights that pre- exist government. * Individual Rights Over Collective Control King's strategy emphasized personal responsibility, moral agency, and voluntary action. His movement relied on churches, families, community leaders, and peaceful civic pressure—not centralized federal control— to drive change. That model stands in sharp contrast to modern calls for expansive administrative power, speech regulation, or identity-based legal standards. King believed injustice could be confronted without surrendering liberty. He trusted free people—armed with conscience and courage—to correct wrongs without empowering the state to micromanage society. * Limited Government as a Moral Safeguard Though often portrayed as a champion of big government, King repeatedly warned about the dangers of unchecked authority. He understood that power, once expanded, rarely remains limited to benevolent uses. King's demand was not for endless federal management of social life, but for government to do its constitutional duty: protect equal rights, enforce neutral laws, and then step back. From a liberty perspective, that restraint is essential. Governments powerful enough to engineer "justice" can just as easily suppress dissent, punish unpopular beliefs, or divide citizens into political categories. * A Legacy Worth Defending—Not Rewriting Honoring King honestly means resisting the urge to conscript his legacy into modern political agendas. His vision does not require censorship, bureaucratic expansion, or perpetual government intervention. It requires courage, moral clarity, and fidelity to the principle that all individuals are equal before the law. In a time of growing centralization and ideological conformity, King's message is more relevant than ever—not as a justification for state power, but as a reminder that liberty and justice rise or fall together. For those committed to freedom, King's legacy is not a contradiction. It is a confirmation: true progress flows from individual rights, limited government, and equal justice for all. From: https://tinyurl.com/ycx39pjm --- .-------------. | ,;, | | ;;; | | ;;;;;;;;; | | `';;;'` | | ;;; | | ;;; | | ::: | | ';' | | | _| _ __ __ _|_ jgs_/ _ __ ___ __ _\_ _/ __ ___ _ ___ __ _ \_ ...May we all remember King as a strong man of God! He believed all men are created equal - believing God does not judge people by their race or gender but by their inner heart. He wanted all people to be able to live a free life unto their God the Creator through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. :) This is interesting on Martin Luther King, Jr. - "We need to realize that his story is not our own, and his understanding of the Christian faith was probably different from ours. He was a man of both deep flaws and profound insights. He was not the only civil rights hero or even the best one. But he was deeply engaged with the Christian message of justice and reconciliation, and there is much we have yet to learn from his life as it was—not as we might wish or imagine it to be." https://tinyurl.com/2vnwkkm3 ========================================================== >-->From God'sDailyWord: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Never Forget (edited) It had been forty years since Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. During their years of wandering in the desert, God demonstrated His faithfulness as well as His holiness. Now, as the people were finally ready to cross the Jordan river into the promised land of Canaan, Moses gave one last encouragement. Deuteronomy 6:10-12 "When the Lord your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers - a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant - then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." We have all lived in the land of slavery - a land where we were controlled by sin. We were born as slaves, but Jesus came to set us free: "Though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free" (Romans 6:17-18). While we were still lost in our sinful condition, Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice (payment) for our sin, but He also broke the chains which kept us slaves to sin. Though we still struggle, we need not be mastered if we have placed our faith in Jesus and daily submit to the leading of His Spirit. His sacrifice provides a way to be "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17). This IS the victorious life! Yes we have been set free! But we did nothing to earn this freedom. We did not dig a well of righteousness or plant a field of forgiveness. Our "promised land" of freedom is a gift, given by a loving Father to those who believe. As we continue our Christian walk, with its many peaks and valleys, twists and turns, we often forget. We become discouraged over trivial matters which are quickly fading away and forget the gift of eternal life we have been given. We wander in the dry desert of ungrateful hearts and ask, "Where is God?" We forget the joy we once had of abiding in His presence and forget His promise to always be near; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Through God's precious gift, we have an eternity to worship our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. This alone should give us reason to praise His Name with every breath and live a life holy and pleasing to Him. Whether we are currently in a time of crushing trials or unparalleled peace, we must continually remember from where we were rescued. His gift is a blessing we can hardly comprehend! And as we draw near and give Him all of our heart, His grace continues to bless us even more. Let's worship with a thankful heart, glorify His Name in ALL we do, and be careful to never forget. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Genesis 18:20-19:38; Matthew 6:25-7:14; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 2:6-15 <:))))>< , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Precious In His Sight God's gift of salvation forms the main story of the entire Bible. In the beginning, "God created man in His own image (spirit)" (Genesis 1:27). Then, when sin entered the world and man became separated from God (lost God's spirit), "He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (have God's spirit again)" (John 3:16). This is the greatest love story in all history; "While we were still {lost} sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He died for you and me, and also for all those other lost sinners scattered around us. Jesus Christ, "who being in very nature God (having God's spirit)" (Philippians 2:6), was born in a dirty stable; "He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant" (Philippians 2:7). He lived His life with the single purpose of dying so that ALL who believe could be eternally restored to the Father; "the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men" (Romans 5:18). God loves us VERY much! And He doesn't just love those who love Him in return or faithfully serve Him - He loves ALL. We are precious! Yes, God hates sin and will one day judge all who fail to believe; but His love - His offer of Salvation - extends to all... even to our noisy neighbor and difficult co-worker, our obnoxious family members, and those who hold differing views on a variety of social and political issues. He loves all! God's love is so much a part of who He is, and of who we ought to be, that Jesus commands us by His example: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). We are to love as Jesus loved; and as if this was too difficult a concept for our finite minds, we are commanded to love in terms we can all understand. Galatians 5:14 "The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor (close loved ones) as yourself.'" God wants us to love others primarily because He loves them and desires His love to be expressed through us! He encouraged this love by creating us with a natural capacity for love. When we are hungry we feed ourselves; when we are hurt we care for ourselves; and when we are down, we pray to be lifted up. These are natural expressions of self-love - the same love God desires we show to ALL. Let's evaluate our thoughts, words, and actions in terms of their effect on others. Are we encouraging or adding burdens? Are we building up or tearing down? Are we bringing others closer to Jesus or pushing them further away? Are we as loving to others as we are to ourselves? Let's be His hands, feet, and voice of love in the world around us. Let's begin to see others as through His eyes; and remember, we are ALL precious in His sight. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries **** Reading Plan **** Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:18-29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:18-22 --- _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` ...See this great teaching: For The Joy That Was Set Before Him http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/joy.html ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend GinaS :) \_/ \\ --(_)-- < "_) / \ .--.-.--. / / V /#/ ______________/(/ )\ _,--,/ .-/#/\ "\"-._.oo ' / \)/_\\ "-.___. ./____________________\ \__ | ( ) |__| |__| | ,-,\_|_|__|_____________|__,-, | |________________________| | L L________________________J J '._.'._.'._.'T T________________________P P_.'._.'._.' \ \______________________/ / 'sjw'._.'._.'._\ \____________________/ /'._.'._.'._.' ","-.______________.-"," "-._""--------""_.-" ""--------"" >Starting your day with Christ The most terrifying detail about Noah's Ark isn't the size of the flood. It is the design of the boat. If you look closely at the blueprints God gave Noah in Genesis 6, He was extremely specific. He gave the exact length, width, and height. He specified the type of wood and the pitch to seal it. In my little years, I have never thought of this! But God left out one crucial component. There was no steering wheel, no sail, and worse still, there was no engine. Think about how scary that is. Noah was building a massive vessel to survive a global storm, but he had zero control over it, or over where it went. He couldn't steer it away from rocks. He couldn't turn it into the waves. He couldn't aim for dry land. He was completely at the mercy of the water. The Ark was not designed for navigation; just for floating. Noah's job was to to be the Passenger, not the Captain. God was the Captain. This is a picture of your life right now. You are trying to put a steering wheel on a situation that God wants you to simply float through Credit: New beginnings worship center --- ...Thanks GinaS! This is Good. The way I feel Pres. Trump is leading us now - with Christ Jesus at the helm. Got to keep him in our prayers so he doesn't try to steer, but allows our Lord to navigate. ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: I'VE LEARNED... that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved. _,._ __.' _) <_,)'.-"a\ /' ( \ _.-----..,-' (`"--^ // | (| `; , | \ ;.----/ ,/ ) // / | |\ \ jgs \ \\`\ | |/ / \ \\ \ | |\/ >The Lost Lamb (By musician Peder Eide, http://www.pedereide.com) "Daddy, are we gonna check with lost and found at the hotel when we get there?" asked my 10 year old daughter, Allison as we drove down the interstate on our way to a three day family getaway at a Wisconsin Water Park. "Can we check right when we get there dad?" Allison continued remind me that we needed to go find Baby, the toy stuffed baby lamb that she had lost a year ago in the room we stayed in at this same Resort. Since we go once a year she thought we should go check again in person with the staff of the hotel as soon as we got checked in. Mind you, this was not just any soft little toy bedtime companion. This was Baby. Allison had this little, well-worn lamb since she was born. You could see it was loved by the wear and tear and worn out exterior. Baby was loved, adored, prayed for and so very missed. Even mom and dad were very determined to find Baby. After we settled into our rooms, made some sort of schedule for the three days, Allison and I were off to find baby. We first started at the front desk, which directed us to another front desk on the complete, other side of the resort. Being this was a completely enclosed resort of water parks, rooms, condos, and it was 10 below outside, Allison and I walked through all sorts of walkways, turns and skywalks, walkways, turns, and finally we arrived at another front desk. When we finally arrived, there was a line of other people needing help with their stay. (I assumed no one else was looking for a lost stuffed animal but you never know.) The line seemed to be moving slow and I could tell my daughter was a bit anxious so I asked if she wanted to come back later. She very clearly stated she was willing to wait because she did not miss this chance in getting her little lamb back. 20 plus minutes later we talk to the person behind the counter who kindly informed us he is not the person to talk to regarding any lost and found items. We were then sent to another part of the water park and I again asked Allison if she wanted to keep searching since she would be missing some of her swim time. "Keep going, I want to find Baby." Okay. Almost an hour later we finally find the right person who listened to our story. We tell about how we left this precious stuffed animal here last year and we are back trying to find some answers and to find this little lamb named Baby. The hotel employee listened and with gentleness but authority tells my Allison that they only keep lost items for 6 months and after that they are disposed of. My stomach just sank. I could just feel the wind in my little princess disappear. She secretly reached and grabbed my hand and with amazing maturity says to the staff person "no problem, thank you for your time." I was a bit caught off guard by Allison's calmness and was somewhat impressed. As we walked away and went around the corner to head back to reunite with the family for swimming, I looked down and said "I'm sorry they didn't have Baby, Allison." Before the words even left my lips, knowing no one else was around; Allison wrapped her arms around me, buried her face in my shirt and cried. I mean the kind of cry that hurts to hear, hurts to feel, hurts to let out. I just held her. She was broken. It probably sounds like a lot of drama for a stuffed animal but it meant more to her than that. It meant a whole lot of history, memories, family tradition and the specialness because of where it came from and from who; all this was now gone. We walked the long corridors and hallways back to the wave pool and the whole time my hurting hearted little princess just held my hand. No words. Just walking with her fingers intertwined with mine. It was not how I expected it to turn out. Definitely not what Allison expected either. It is hard to think what its like for God. The Bible says that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. The result of Jesus being born, living, teaching, dying, rising from the dead so that those who believe could say "I once was lost but now am found." Do you think it hurts God when there are so many who deny Him, mock Him, ignore Him? The atonement is complete, love is abounding and yet there are ones who hear the message of Jesus and say "who cares?" What does God do? He keeps pursuing them. He keeps revealing His glory to them. He keeps loving them. He will not stop no matter how long it takes because when you love something as much as God loves them, you keep on seeking the lost. How about you? Have you asked the Lord for a heart for the lost? I have some pastor friends who have planted churches with a great passion for those who want nothing to do with the church, faith, or Jesus. Yet, they keep on going, keep on preaching, keep on loving and are willing to do whatever it takes. Do you know anyone who might be considered lost? What is your heart towards them? Do you feel like giving up and would rather go be with "the rest of the family and swim." Or are you willing to keep loving them, serving them, pursuing them with kindness. Search your heart my friends... plain and simple. Don't wait too long... -Peder 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 ========================================================== \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp >It's Up to You One song can spark a moment, One flower can wake the dream. One tree can start a forest, One bird can herald spring. One smile begins a friendship, One handclasp lifts a soul. One star can guide a ship at sea, One word can frame the goal. One vote can change a nation, One sunbeam lights a room, One candle wipes out darkness One laugh will conquer gloom. One step must start each journey, One word must start each prayer. One hope will raise our spirits, One touch can show you care. One voice can speak with wisdom, One heart can know what's true, One life can make the difference, ___________ ____ ______/ \__// \__/____\ _/ \_/ : //____\\ /| : : .. / \ | | :: :: \ / | | :| || \ \______/ | | || || |\ / | \| || || | / | \ | || || | / /_\ \ | ___ || ___ || | / / \ \_-_/ \_-_/ | ____ |/__/ \ _\_--_/ \ / /____ / / \ / \______\_________/ unknwon You see, IT'S UP TO YOU! >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. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO Foundational Teaching Seminar NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe **********************************************************************