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Your Wicca Daily Devotions

2011-11-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

When you follow a Magick path, your success in that path depends on your ability to focus charged energies, and send them out into the universe to get whatever you desire.

If you ignore your connection to Magick energy, it will weaken ?as will your power. They are especially important for beginner wiccans.

揇aily devotions?are things you do on a daily basis to strengthen the ability to control your inner Magick energy. A devotional routine helps to raise the energy daily, at various times.

Think of daily devotionals as short rituals of energy. They strengthen your connection, and also bring positive energies into your life.

Above all else you want to pick a routine that is right for you ?and follow it every single day!

You can do all of your chosen devotionals at one time, or you can spread them out through the day. Find something that works within your schedule, and follow it.

Your devotionals can be anything that brings positive emotion into your heart. It can be something as simple as making diary entries into your Book of Shadows every night before bed. In your Book of Shadows, keep track of where negative patterns are in your life, and work to build on the positive ones in your mind ?and in the Book of Shadows.

Another devotional 搈ini?ritual you can follow is to spend at least a few minutes breathing, meditating, and visualizing positive things to create positive energy in your life. You can even use the meditation exercise that I gave you previously in this book.

Here are a list of some devotionals that you can do every day. There is not a need to do all of them, but pick ones that you feel most comfortable with:

Morning wake-up devotional
Connecting to the Lord and Lady
Connecting to the Divine, Infinite Energy
Greeting Devotionals to the Spirits or Elements around you
Connecting to Nature and the Earth Mother
Journaling
Food Blessing Devotional
Breathing
Meditation
Visualization Exercises
Playing with Energy

Remember, none of the devotionals you do should tire you out. And you should never be in a situation where you 揹read?doing them. You should look forward to them ?so make sure you select ones that work best for you.

Most of the devotionals above are self-explanatory, and you can 揷reate?these devotionals any way that you wish. There are no 揾ard and fast rules?when doing your daily devotionals. (I demonstrate some of them in the Witchcraft Academy In-A-Box)

For now, I will walk you through the simple but powerful 揚laying with Energy?daily devotional.

Sit in a comfortable position, and begin the basics of the meditation exercise from earlier in this book. Once you have dropped into the stage of slowing your breathing, open your eyes.

Take your hands, palms facing, and briskly rub them together. While you are doing this, start calling the energy from around you into your body. Hold your hands out in front of you, palms facing each other, about twelve to eighteen inches from your face. This works best of you have a solid, dark background in the direction you are facing.

Focus first on your hands, and sending the energy in your body out the palms. When you feel the flow is good and strong, shift your focus to just past your hands, at a point on the background beyond them. Can you see the ethereal, nebulous energy between the palms?
It may take some time for you to see it, but keep working at it, you will. Once you can see the energy there, concentrate on making it brighter and darker, increasing the flows and lessening the flows. Keep playing with the energy on a regular basis, until you get comfortable with how to manipulate it to do what you want it to do.

Once you have reached that point, start playing further with the energy. Form it into a ball, move your hands closer and further apart, seeing the ball change in size and intensity.
As you get the hang of each one (over days, not minutes!), try different shapes and sizes. Play with the energy and get comfortable with its existence. This is the same energy you use in order to cast magick. Seeing it in solid form, even if there is still an ethereal quality to it, helps to strengthen your belief, and raise your levels of energy even higher.

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Your First Magick Divination

2011-11-18T07:57:00.000-08:00

I am going to show you a simple way of Divination called Scrying. The first thing you need to do is get some sort of reflective object... like a mirror or a crystal ball, etc. This will actually allow you to catch a glimpse of things to come if you follow your current path.

Now, turn out the lights, and get some of your favorite incense going. The only light that should be in the room is a dim light, such as a candle set behind you. Cover the table you are going to use with a black cloth or piece of fabric. Now place the object you chose to use for Scrying on top of the table.

Start by warming up and getting into your meditative space, setting the tone for what you will be doing. When you are ready, open your eyes and look into the surface of your scrying instrument. Your focus should shift past the surface to a point somewhere approximately five or six inches beyond the surface. This may or may not work for you, but it is the best way to shift your focus for scrying. Have you ever looked at those pictures that are completely comprised of colored dots and/or splotches and had to 搇ook past?the surface to see the three-dimensional image in the picture? It is the same principle used here for scrying.

Try to keep your mind blank, open to whatever may be shown to you, unless you are scrying for the answer to a specific question. Your eyes will want to blink. That is all right, let them blink and regain your shift in focus. When you are first beginning, try to keep your scrying time to no more than ten or twenty minutes. If you are not successful, put it away and try again another time.

Images may come to you in any number of forms. Some may be full images, even moving pictures as though you are watching a movie. That is not common, however, especially when you are first beginning. At first you may only get a 揷loud?or 搈ist? This may eventually part to allow images to come through, or it may just move in one direction or another in answer to yes or no questions.

If you do see images, they may be simple symbols left open for interpretation. These symbols usually mean something to you, and are not necessarily the symbols you may find written in a book. For instance, a dog may generally symbolize loyalty or protection, but if you were traumatized at some point in your life by a dog attack, it could mean something entirely different to you.

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Youth Ministry Goals

2011-11-18T02:56:00.000-08:00

1. Do whatever it takes to get teens to heaven. Paul wrote that he became all things to all people so that some might be saved (II Corinthians 9:19-23). How well does this relate to your ministry? What could you be doing that might reach more teens in your schools and community?

Ministry has its own set of pressures. We have to worry about what the leaders, parents, and members will think about a program or event. By doing whatever it takes to get teens to heaven, you will endure your share of criticism about your approaches, but keep the goal in focus. Keep everyone involved aware that you are not using a certain technique just to be different, but to bring teens to Jesus.

2. Help teens develop a personal relationship with God. While second-hand faith is better than no faith, there抯 no doubt that first-hand faith wins the prize. Help teens develop a faith that says, 揑 believe in God, not because my parents say so, or because my youth minister or preacher says so, but because I have experienced and know God in my life.?

3. Involve teens in daily Bible study and prayer. Instead of simply asking your group to read the Bible and pray daily, provide the opportunity and tools to make it possible. Develop a daily Bible reading schedule for your teens. Supply information on Bibles designed for youth so they can get a grip on the Word in a way relevant to them.

Form prayer groups of three that meet at school, or that call each other daily for prayer requests. Challenge your group to pray before getting out of bed and before going to sleep. Have teens set their watch alarms for a certain time each day to signal prayer time. Create as many tools as needed to get them into the Bible and prayer on a daily basis.

4. Build a Christ-like attitude and spirit into the youth group. 揧our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,?Philippians 2:5. This means more than just asking, 揥hat would Jesus do??It calls for a clear-cut lifestyle of surrender. What is the attitude of Jesus?

?Attitude of a Servant (v. 7)

?Attitude of Humility (v. 8)

?Attitude of Obedience (v. 8)

If every teen becomes a servant, how many things will get done? If every teen becomes humble, how much arguing will take place? If every teen becomes obedient to God, how much better could the youth conventions be? Of course, developing a Christ-like attitude in your group begins by displaying a Christ-like attitude in your life.

5. Develop quality leadership among the group. Jesus called His followers with, 揊ollow me.?By the end of His ministry He had trained them to lead. Paul even said, 揑mitate me as I imitate Christ?(I Corinthians 11:1). Give your teens the responsibility and let them lead. Dust them off when they fall down and encourage them to keep going.

Here are a few ways you can let teens lead: Devotionals, teaching class, heading up a service project, forming prayer groups, etc.

6. Parental support and participation. Believe it or not, There are some in your congregation who see youth ministry as a divider of parents and their children. Prevent this by creating a high level of parental involvement.

Have your parents teach for a quarter, host devotionals in their homes, chaperone trips, etc. Check out Group Publishing抯 130 Ways to Involve Parents in Your Ministry for more great ideas.

7. Develop evangelistic teens. Redirect the vision of your group by training them to see each classmate, each neighbor, each family member, each clerk, each waiter, just fill in the blank, each ____________ as an opportunity to share the Lord.

Jesus left the message in our mouths and lives. Help your group become evangelistic by creating an atmosphere that makes guests want to return. Go out to the school campus and meet kids on their turf. Be available, open and loving.

8. Establish positive relationships with other youth groups in the area. If we are not careful ministry can become a competition where the leader with the most teens wins. Because of that, we may be afraid to do things with other groups for fear that our teens might spot something 揷ooler?than what we provide. Don抰 forget #4 and build a Christ-like attitude by doing things with other groups like retreats or prayer nights. One of the easiest ways to establish positive relationships is by participating together in community events such as the March for Jesus, or collecting food and toys for needy families during the holidays.

9. Include teens as part of the congregation. Have you ever felt the perception that there is the church, and then there is the youth group? Integrate the group into the congregation by getting the teens involved in praying, scripture reading, or whatever format your church follows. Most churches let teens participate on youth days. But encourage your leadership to include teens on a regular basis, not just special days.

10. Equip teens to go into all the world and teach the Gospel. While every teen has the responsibility to evangelize around them, a few feel the call to literally go into all the world. Prepare them for that future by encouraging and praying for him or her. Help sponsor teens on a yearly mission trip to gain experience. Provide contacts through special mission organizations to get teens involved. Who knows how many will come to know the Lord as a result of your ministry.

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Your Core Belief

2011-11-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

We sometimes accept a core believe as the truth without questioning it. As core beliefs accumulate over the years they eventually make up a system that functions in much the same way as a computer's operating system. Running in the background at such a discreet level, we are usually not even aware it is there.

Our core belief has been developed since we were a child. This is due to the result of a great many factors, including but not limited to, the way we were influenced by our parents, siblings and other significant people in our lives. By the time we reach adulthood we have some pretty fixed opinions of ourselves and the world around us. And once installed, these beliefs are rarely updated unless the whole system crashes!

If our core beliefs are for the most part positive and empowering it is reflected in our attitudes, behavior and performance. Of course the reverse is also true. If we run predominantly negative beliefs our attitudes and behaviors are severely compromised, crippling our potential for success and happiness.

The question is that can we change our core belief? If there is a repeating problem in some area of your life, it is usually a good indication that you are entertaining a false or limiting belief. Before a belief system can be changed or improved, however, it is important to first understand a little about how a belief system works.

Belief systems are nothing more than repetitive thoughts that have come to be so automatic; you don't even notice them anymore. The subconscious mind tends to use a fixed, automatic pattern put in place at a very early age. Once in place, our belief system will unconsciously attract the people and circumstances that validate it. As negative beliefs accumulate over the years and become part of the system, it gets easier to collect 'evidence' that appears to support those beliefs and harder to see any evidence to the contrary!

Before trying to change an unwanted belief it is helpful to acknowledge the positive intention behind it when it was first installed. After all, most negative beliefs were originally installed to protect us and were relevant to what was going on at the time.

The problem arises when we hold onto these beliefs even though they may not hold true for the same situations today. If you are serious about updating your belief system, avoid getting sidetracked by the temptation to blame someone else for inserting false beliefs into your system. It's not important where the beliefs come from, what is important is that we get rid of or transform these beliefs into something useful today.

You should therefore build a belief system that will send out the right vibrations which will attract the people and circumstances necessary to create the experiences we desire.

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Worship When You抮e Down

2011-11-17T13:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we feel as if we have no energy to worship God. We are bombarded with work, families, sickness, stress, bills, etc卐very single day. When do we have time to read the Bible let alone worship God?

Some people have no will power, some have no desire to worship God, and others want to卋ut don抰 feel like they can. They are thinking to themselves, 揥hat抯 the use? Nothing is going to change.?They are sad about an event that has taken place or they simply have no room in their hearts to forgive someone.

Guess what? Even when you don抰 think you have it in you to give your heart to God in worship, this is when you need to do it the most. When you are weak, He is strong. God gives you the strength when you need it the most.

When you don抰 feel good in physical health or in spiritual health and you praise Him and worship Him厃ou will find yourself in His glorious presence. And then you don抰 want to to stop praising and worshiping Him卛t is like a drug. Then卆fterwards, you don抰 feel the same as you did before you went into worship. Your whole outlook on life changes in that moment.

Now, you may have to do this several times a day卋ut you can worship Him in the car, in the shower, wherever. And worshiping God does not necessarily mean singing to Him. You can pray, read His Word, meditate on His Word, etc?

As the Nike commercial says, 揓ust do it!?

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American Morality ?A Study in the Lesser of Two Evils

2011-11-17T05:12:00.000-08:00

Evangelist Vance Havner told the story of a boy who brought home a watermelon he had stolen from his neighbor抯 farm and proudly showed it to his parents. They knew he had stolen the watermelon but after looking it over for a moment all his parents had to say to their son was?揇on抰 get any more of them because you don抰 know what they have been sprayed with.?
The parents knowing the unseen poison on the watermelon might make their son sick or even worse could kill him gave him what seems like a concerned warning. They ignored the command of God, 搕hou shalt not steal?and the concomitant effects of stealing that result from ignoring that commandment. Could the boy get sick from stealing? I can hear a line from a beautiful traditional hymn 揟here is a Balm in Gilead, to heal the sin sick soul.?I can also hear the warning of God from Romans 6:23厰the wages of sin is death?The parents were concerned for the boys health but not for his future or the health of his soul.

In a recent episode of the popular TV show 揕aw and Order?an enraged father beat and killed a homosexual man who along with his homosexual partner had adopted his son. The mother a drug addict never told the father he had a son and after being removed from her custody the boy was placed in the home of the homosexual couple. Anyone who knows their bible is aware that killing a homosexual person is just as sinful as being a homosexual person.

In the end the man was tried and found guilty of murder and it would seem that alls well that ends well. Before the entire matter was disposed of the prosecutors gave a final argument that was based on the idea that it was the love of the homosexual couple that saved the boy from a terrible life without a home. Here is the choice; here is the lesser of two evils. One might ask first. is a home a destination for an entire life. Has the American dream become an end in itself or is there still something more?

The homosexual union was bestowed a sort of reverent dignity because of the couples willingness to do what others would not. The constant daily example of a perverted and sinful lifestyle is ignored for the fulfillment of the American dream. Today抯 morality labors hard not just to ignore Gods commandments but to deny them and actively fight against them. Can good come from a sinful union? Jesus said it could not. 揂 good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.?Matthew 7:18. The lifestyle of the homosexual couple would do far more harm to a boy if he was taught to accept it than years of shuffling around in foster homes. The lesser of two evils won this bout. Not forgetting that 揕aw and Order?is after all only fiction it is the message that we are addressing here and not the program itself.

That men can become proficient in choosing between the lesser of two evils was known to the apostle James who said厰Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts.?James 2:4. How many parents today have boasted that even though there may not be much in their children抯 behavior that is redeemable at least they don抰 do drugs? This is the lesser of two evils magnified or perhaps even glorified. Where will it end? Is beating people up OK as long as we don抰 kill them? Is robbery OK as long as we are not armed? Is stealing watermelons OK as long as we know they have not been sprayed with a toxic substance?

This is just one example of a dangerous trend in America that leaves our children with only the choice of the lesser of two evils. This is no choice at all.

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A Poor Man, With Rich Mans Dreams

2011-11-16T22:50:00.000-08:00

A Poor Man, With Rich Mans Dreams

Matthew 19:17-19:23

A Poor Man, With Rich Mans Dreams Have you ever heard the phrase, a poor man with rich mans dreams? Many people in this life are completely exhausted by the race to wealth and prosperity. Looking for today and not for tomorrow. The poor man has only today, struggling to make ends meet, putting food on the table for his family and hoping that the next phone call he gets, isn抰 from his boss, telling him that he no longer has a job. I抳e seen many this past week, loose every thing that they抳e had, home, furniture, everything. The only thing these people have now is the cloth on their backs. There are approximately 195 verses in scripture concerning the poor . The Bible states that God, creates the Rich and the poor. But there is no difference between them when it comes to judgments. A poor man dreams of a better day, without debt, without worry, without strife. He dreams sweet dreams of a day when he can rest from his labor and dreams of family, babies and his wife. The rich man has troubled sleep, worried about finances, and national debt, about rising oil prices and interest rates. His days are filled with worry over thoughts of others trying to take what he has. In the story of Matthew 19:17-23 we are shown a good example of failure to abide by the great commandment in the law. Which to me is the greatest commandment of all.
Mat 22:36-38 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. Now lets look at failure to abide by this commandment. Mat 19:17-23 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Pro 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding Psa 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. There is no need for a poor man, who puts his trust in God to worry. The poor man is confident in the Lord to provide him his daily needs.
Psa 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
The poor man is free from worry, over someone robbing his home, for his possessions are few and his wealth is in his dreams and in his heart, where no man can take.
1Sa 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD扴, and he hath set the world upon them.
The poor mans dreams are set on Gods promise, 揟he meek shall inherit the Earth.?When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Pro 3:19-27 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. The cries of the poor man. Job 30:25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
Your stature in this life has no effect on God and His love for you.
Psa 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
搚et the Lord thinketh upon me:?isn抰 this a true comfort to those who are poor, a dream of the Lord God almighty, sitting on a throne, creator of all, master of the universe, commander of the greatest army, and still in all of Gods thoughts, and in all of Gods majesty, He still has the time to think upon the poor man and his dreams. Wonderful isn抰 it? Have we become a people, like the rich young ruler, people that have great possessions and still have nothing but troubled sleep, are we a people that despise the poor, because they remind us of ourselves earlier in life, or do we despise the poor because they are not as we are? Have we forgotten that, our possessions belong to the Lord anyway, that those things that we posses are just loaned to us to help others, the Bible states that, We work to give to others. A poor man dreams of, Pearly Gates and streets of Gold, He dreams of rivers of living water and quires of Angels singing, He dreams of a tree of life and skies of blue, He dreams of eternal sunshine and walks on clouds of white. He dreams of an eternal city where He will never grow old, where his labor is thru, no sickness, no tears and no final farewells to those he loves. This is what is meant by A Poor Man, with Rich Mans Dreams.

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Almost Persuaded.

2011-11-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

Almost Persuaded.
"Acts 26: 24-28 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Here is a letter I received the other day. 揑 believe this is one of saddest stories in the Bible. The king was almost Home. He was almost persuaded to make a heart commitment to Jesus and live with Him eternally in Heaven. Many of us have loved ones and friends who are almost persuaded to be a Christian. We need to search our heart and see if our actions and words to our family and friends are turning them away from Jesus. If we want our loved ones to make that final commitment to Jesus, then we need to pray for them and extend the Love of Jesus to them on a daily basis. Sometimes we get so busy with our schedules during the day that we don抰 make the time to fellowship with our loved ones and friends. How would we feel if Jesus didn抰 make time for us on a daily basis? Let抯 live so that others will never say to us, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" Joanne Lowe. September 3, 2005 King Agrippa, believed the prophets but he couldn't bring himself to believe that the words of the prophets had come true in his lifetime. Thats the way it is today. Many are almost persuaded to believe in Jesus but because of one thing or another they have decided to wait. Politics, religion, peer pressure are all getting in the way of many that otherwise would be persuaded to join in on the Family of God. I've heard from many around the world that are confused by their friends, and religious people that know nothing of the intent of God in the lives of mankind. This world is not what it used to be and never will return back to that place and time that many of us remember. Too much has changed, too much has happened, to ignore the signs of the times. We preach love and compassion but there comes a time that love and compassion will not work. Fear and dread of the destruction of this earth will have to be used. Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Can this happen? It already is happening, there are many that preach the Bible that denigh the Jesus Christ actually exist, some preach God only, some preach Jesus only and others preach what their congregations want to hear to appease man. Not accounting for the salvation of their listeners. We cannot persuade anyone by preaching one above the other, for as with Jude, he states, 攄enying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.?Here we see again the separation of the two even thou they are one. We must persuade those that are lost by using the entire Scripture. Telling the truth and getting by man made doctrine. We have, The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost, as was stated by Jesus. How can we denigh this? The plan of salvation come to us in three steps, The Father sacrificing His Son, The Son Sacrificing His Mortal Life and The Holy Ghost leading us into all truths. Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.[1Co_9:19-22.] Mat 19:21-22; Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Almost persuaded, riches became this mans god, his idol, his life, and rather to give heed to the will of God by distributing all that he had to the poor he chose to keep his type of religion and go about his ways. Observing religious practices from his youth up was by no means salvation. Many get into habits that become second nature to them and become more of a spectacle than worship. If a man is not born again of the spirit he has not attained salvation. If he has no circumcision of the heart there is no change. Religious practices are not what Jesus wanted from this man and neither from us. He wants mankind to worship God in Spirit & Truth. Baptism without repentance is useless. What was this young ruler actually missing? The Love of God over all, he was violating the first two commandments, Mat 22:37-40; Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Isa 1:11-15; To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Again; We must persuade those that are lost by using the entire Scripture. Bring no more vain oblations, for what kind of sacrifice can you bring before God? There is none that can satisfy Him except the Blood of the Lamb. Persuasion of the lost by the word of God, not choosing what you want and letting the rest go, but using all, showing a pattern of useless situations that God will no longer accept, false religious practices, false religion, false doctrine, false prayers, willing to be heard above the crowd but not meaning any of the words coming from your mouth. We must persuade by example, by acts, by faith, by demonstration of Power of the Holy Ghost. Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Are you almost persuaded or are you still indoubt, God says come to Him and reason with Him, ask Him any question on salvation, tell Him the reason that you refuse to serve Him and He will answer all your questions. God is willing to go another step with you if you are willing to listen. All the answers to all the questions are in the Bible. There is nothing covered that will not be shown, nothing hidden that will not be reveled and nothing said that will not be shouted out from the house top. Its all there. Are you listening to your friends, do you believe that everything is one big party, do you believe that you can escape the judgment, or have you listened to Satan telling you that, there is no God, no Heaven, no Hell, no Judgment? Who are you listening too? Seek out your own salvation, seek out the God that has created and can destroy. Don't die and wake up in Hell saying,擨 was Almost persuaded.?

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4 Levels of Spiritual Warfare Against Demonic Spirits

2011-11-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

In the realm of having to do battle with demonic spirits from time to time - I believe there are 4 basic levels in which a Christian may have to face. Having the specific knowledge on what each one of these levels are all about can really help with planning and carrying out the appropriate battle strategy in which to defeat them should demons ever move in for an attack on either you or any of your close loved ones.

Every time that Jesus told His apostles to go out and walk with His anointing to save the lost and heal the sick - He always had the command in there to also cast out demonic spirit where and when needed.

So if Jesus was constantly casting out demons, always telling the apostles to cast out demons - then it should only be logical that the church should continue to cast out demons.

It has been estimated by many Bible scholars that approximately 25% of the miracles Jesus had performed were Him casting demons out of people. Satan and his demons are not confined to the Bottomless Pit at this time. This event will not happen until Jesus returns back to us in His second coming. Until that event happens, Satan and his demons are still free to roam in the "air" seeking who they are going to try and devour next.

As Christians, we always have to remember that the devil and his demons are already defeated animals. Jesus has already defeated Satan at the cross when He was crucified.

What is now left is that all Christians have to realize that the victory is already ours. We thus have to learn how to engage and defeat the devil and his demons when they do try to move into a person or a situation - and sometimes this means a real live deliverance - because demons can and do attach themselves to people when they do move in for an attack. And once they do, the only way to be able to drive them out is by the power of God!

Here are the 4 different ways and avenues that demons can move in for an attack on someone - whether the person be a Christian or a nonbeliever. There are rules to the war games that are going on behind the scenes between God and the devil for all of our souls. To be forewarned is to be properly armed.

1. The first level is when demons move in for an attack with no real legal right to be able to do so. This is exactly what happened to Jesus when He was out in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. Satan had no legal right to be coming after Him, but he did anyway and Jesus drove him away by quoting the Word back to him.

2. The second level is when demons do have a legal right to be coming after you. And one of the ways that you give demons the legal right to be able to attack you is by crossing over and entering into some of the heavier sins and transgressions expressly forbidden by our Lord from His Word.

3. The third level is when demons attack as a result of what someone has may have done to you. Sometimes victims of crimes such as rape and assault, or receiving severe abuse from a parent or spouse can cause demons to try and move in to attach to the victim - trying to feed off the negative emotions of hate, anger, unforgiveness and wanting to get revenge on the attacker or abuser.

4. The fourth level is when demons will try and attach to someone as a result of a generational curse line coming from a severe sinning, dysfunctional parent or parents. For instance, an alcoholic father can end up producing children who end up becoming alcoholic themselves. Demons will attempt to jump and transfer from the father onto some of the children trying to get them to commit the same type of sin their parent had been committing.

As Christians, we have to have knowledge of our enemies and how they will try and attack us. Many Christians are getting defeated or taken home too early from this life as a result of not having some basic 101 knowledge in spiritual warfare.

Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministies. You can learn more from his Bible teaching website with over 150 free bible articles.

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America Asks More Questions about the Second Coming of Christ

2011-11-16T04:34:00.000-08:00

Question
Isn抰 the book of Revelation just so many symbols and thus should not he placed on the level of other clearer messages of the Bible?

Answer
The book of Revelation is replete with symbolism; but so is much of the rest of the Bible. We should give no less credence to it than to any other part of the Bible. Symbolisms were used to guide an entire nation of ancient Egyptians and to protect and give hope to generations of Israelites. All of this was done in the very first book of the Bible, so if we are going to lessen the veracity or the practicality of biblical symbols we would have to start at the beginning of the Bible. If we start there, we will find countless other symbols not to trust and in the end we will have chopped up a great deal of Gods word. We don抰 have the right to remove even one letter from Gods word physically, but we are not to remove it by spiritualizing it or nominalizing it either.

When Egypt was about to undergo one of the worst droughts in its history, Pharaoh had a dream filled with symbolism that deferred the worst from happening. When Joseph interpreted Pharaohs dream he secured a future for his own generation of Israelites. Genesis 41:1f

It might do well to note that the very first recorded prophetic message in the Bible was a dream also filled with symbolism. Genesis 37:5f Joseph抯 dream of the sun and the moon and the stars would outline the history of his people forever. Why then should it be hard to see Revelation and its symbols as the outline for only one small seven year long period.

The very first prophetic utterance in the Bible is referred to as the Prote-Evangelium, and it uses symbolism. Genesis 3:15 There is where the first promise that Christ would overcome all evil is found.
Highways around the world are covered with universal traffic symbols. Language and lore is embellished with symbols. Theater, television, business, culture, and our own daily conversation are saturated with the use of symbolism. How is it that we have thought God couldn抰 use symbols to covey part of his message to us, and that it could he trusted. And how is it that those who are so quick to point out that this is the most educated generation in the history of the world, cannot seem to find a way for implicit and explicit teachings in the Bible to co-exist and compliment each other. To persist in this silly fear of the symbol comes under the heading of hypocrisy rather than confusion, if we would he honest enough to admit it.

Question
Aren抰 many of the pictures and symbols of Revelation much like those of the Old Testament and are they just borrowed from the Old Testament?

Answer
I find it hard not to answer this question with a simple yes, but so what, but for the sake of the more serious student of the Bible I will try to address the question in a more persuasive manner. Many New Testament references are made from the Old Testament. Jesus, the apostles and many others referred to the Old Testament scriptures and its symbols.

Have we forgotten that the Bible is to the Christian after all only one book, not two? If God were not so faithful in his revelation to us we might find huge differences between the symbolism of the old and new testament. That would no doubt give rise to another group of people who would argue against the validity of the Bible because of the enormous disparity in the images presented in the Old Testament as compared to those of the New Testament.

Doubters will never be satisfied with anything. Believers are glad that God has given us one comprehensible picture of his intentions in sixty six books, spread out over thousands of years.

This alone is a miracle. When John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ on the Isle of Patmos, we can imagine how relieved he must have felt when he saw it didn抰 diverge very much from the messages given to Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and others. If it had been that radically different, he may have been inclined to dismiss it as not having come from God in the first place. We can thank God that John knew the voice of his Savior as Jesus promised he would, John 10:27 and he could see its consistency with the rest of the messages given to his predecessors.

I am also thankful that when I saw a vision of the sun darkened and the moon glowing the color of blood, that when I finally saw that description in the Bible it wasn抰 something unfamiliar or strange. It takes no genius to comprehend that though the symbolism of the New Testament is similar to that of the old, it is only to supplement, advance or further elucidate the message not just to borrow from it. Borrowing from the Bible or any other source to enhance a vision that purportedly came from God would make the messenger not a visionary or prophet but a common liar. The last time I looked, God was still calling only those who are searching for, living for and willing to die for the truth, to become his messengers.

Rev Bresciani is the author of two popular Christian books, one on the second coming of Christ. He has hundreds of articles published both online and in print. Visit the website at www.americanprophet.org

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Between Saint and Sinner. pt.2.

2011-11-15T23:19:00.000-08:00

Between Saint and Sinner. pt.2.

2 Peter 1:10-1:11

Between Saint and Sinner. pt.2. Can we as ministers attest to the validity of our calling and election as Ministers? Yes. Can you as the Servants and Children of God attest and testify of your calling and election? Yes. In fact the Scripture has a commandment that you must make your Calling and Election sure.2Pe 1:10-11. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Those that are barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ are those that lack, wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding of their place in the Family of God. They have the lack of faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. The doctrine that we preach and must accept is not ours to change nor alter but it is Gods Doctrine.
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.Jesus could no more change the doctrine of Christianity than we could for it was not even His doctrine . Many today are attempting to fight with God over doctrine. Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 1Co 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. (Darby)1Co 9:1-27 -
The apostle was exposed to the accusations of false teachers, who asserted that he carried on his evangelisation and his labours from interested motives, and that he took the property of Christians, availing himself of their devotedness. He speaks therefore of his ministry. He declares openly that he is an apostle, an eye-witness of the glory of Christ, having seen the Lord. Moreover, if he was not an apostle to others, doubtless he was to the Corinthians, for he had been the means of their conversion. Now the will of the Lord was that they who preached the gospel should live of the gospel. He had a right to take with him a sister as his wife, even as Peter did, and the brethren of the Lord. Nevertheless he had not used this right. Obliged by the call of the Lord to preach the gospel, woe unto him if he failed to do it! His glory was to do it gratuitously, so as to take away all occasion from those who sought it. For, being free from all, he had made himself the servant of all, that he might win as many as he could. Observe that this was in his service; it was not accommodating himself to the world, in order to escape the offense of the cross. He put this plainly forward (1Co_2:2); but in preaching it, he adapted himself to the religious capacity and to the modes of thought belonging to the one and to the other, in order to gain access for the truth into their minds; and he did the same in his manner of conduct among them. It was the power of charity which denied itself in all things, in order to be the servant of all, and not the selfishness which indulged itself under the pretence of gaining others. He did so in every respect for the sake of the gospel, desiring, as he said, to be a partaker with it, for he personifies it as doing the work of God抯 love in the world. There are many false teachers, who asserted that their evangelisation and his labors are directed from God and by direction of the Holy Ghost, but do lie because they bring forth a doctrine that was neither approved nor written by God. They take advantage of the good will and trust of those Christians, that are less knowledgeable in the words of God. As so it is with many that say they are Christians and are not. Because they lack the things that Jesus said a follower of His would attain and demonstrait in their life. Mat 7:16-18. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [Mat_7:20, Mat_12:33; 2Pe_2:10-18; Jud_1:10-19, Luk_6:43-45; Jam_3:12] What is a fruit? These are the things that Jesus spoke of; faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. You can sum up you salvation with a test of these fruits, weather they abide in you or not. Others can also see if you are a true follower of Christ by seeing weather these things abide in you. These fruits are not hidden and they are not to be used as a tool to judge others, but rather to show the true intent of the person claiming Christianity. We all will grow together, Saint and Sinner untill the Great Judge separates in the end. There are examples of Saint and Sinner within the same Church in Scripture here is just one. Jud 1:12-13. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. So what do we do? Jud 1:22-23. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? Judge yourselves weather you bear the sign of the Master. Here is the best way to find out weather you truely are saved; 2Jo 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Here is the last scriptures that I wanted to share with you;
2Jo 1:10-11; If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Be followers of Christ and not of the world. ars.

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Between Saint and Sinner. pt 1.

2011-11-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

Between Saint and Sinner. pt 1.

Daniel 12:4-12:4

Between Saint and Sinner. pt 1. Preaching the Gospel is sometimes the most controversial position on Earth. Preaching or Ministering the Gospel is two different things, 1. The Truth of Life and 2. Information. Lets look at the Information side first. Information has become wide spread in this world but how much of it is the truth? Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. [Ref; Dan_8:26; Rev_10:4, Rev_22:10 Dan_12:9, Dan_8:17, Dan_10:1, Dan_11:40 Dan_11:33; Isa_11:9, Isa_29:18, Isa_29:19, Isa_30:26, Isa_32:3; Zec_14:6-10; Mat_24:14; Rom_10:18; Rev_14:6, Rev_14:7] John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. How many here are saved today? Are you sure? Have you kept the commandments of Christ? Have you loved your enemies, have you prayed for them, do you know some one that really gets on your nerves and still prayed for them. Are you doing what you are supposed to do and acting like a Christian each and every day or are you just going thru the motions? In scripture, when God demands His prophets to seal up a Book, He means that all words have been said on that subject and no more needs to be written.This is the Amen of each prophecy.
We increase our knowledge each and every day in scripture. Each time the scripture is preached or taught another idea and revelation comes out and we know a little more. But as the Bible states, man has gone after knowledge of a different sort and has left others behind. Many are going after knowledge that they think will make it easier to enter into the kingdom of Heaven and others have come up with knowledge that they believe dictates that there is no God, so no reason to worry about what they do. Some people have gotten so much knowledge that they cannot see the truth. Its like not being able to see the forest for the trees getting in the way. Knowledge is nothing without understanding. Understanding is what leads us to Christ and the Kingdom. Knowledge without understanding is like a blind man with a road map. Jesus stressed three things in His teachings, Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. One without the other two is next to useless. Lets put it this way, We all have the knowledge of Jesus, even those that dont believe, many of those are in Church today. We all have a some amount of wisdom in Gods word. If you get out on the street and ask everyone that passed, 揥ho was Noah??everyone would be able to tell you. But if you ask many in the Church today what was the reason for Jesus to come to the Earth, you would get many different answers, all would probably be correct but without the true meaning of the plan of salvation. How do you know that you are Saved? Look at what Jesus said; 揌e that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:?Lets break this down. There are three different types of people in Church today. 1.揌e that hath my commandments, These are the people that has the wisdom of the Commandments of Jesus. They can amost quote every word that Jesus uttered, but without keeping a single one.The do as I say and not as I do Hypocrites. These people have no reverent fear of God, but believe that their works shall be suficient to be saved. 2.揌e that hath my commandments, and keepeth them? These are the people that have the Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge of the Word and keeps it, the Saved. These people have the reverent fear of God, they add works to faith. 3.These are the unbelievers and the hypocrites. 1Co 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha ( 揳ccursed?)., the meaning of the phrase 搇et him be Anathema Maranatha.? is, 揙ur Lord is coming, and he will judge those who have set him at naught.?If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ - If any be an enemy to his person, offices, doctrines, or commands. Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Heres the proof of what I just said; Mat 13:27-30; So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. How many today believe that God knows everything? If you answered yes, then you must realize that God knows who belongs to Him and who are still in need of salvation. Salvation is not a game that people play it is of the most urgency to the soul of man. Our ideas, our thoughts, our plans, our interpretation, nor our doctrine of life, has no bearing on Gods word. Many say that it matters what you believe, I say it doesn抰 matter what you believe, what matters is what Gods word Says. Commandments from God are not written for to be, cut up, surgically removed, changed, altered or debated, they are commandments. Follow them and become saved, ignore them and be lost forever. Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name抯 sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. [endureth; As 揹rawing back unto perdition?hold fast] Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (JFB)揵ut he that endureth to the end shall be saved??a great saying, repeated, in connection with similar warnings, in the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem (Mat_24:13); and often reiterated by the apostle as a warning against 揹rawing back unto perdition?(Heb_3:6, Heb_3:13; Heb_6:4-6; Heb_10:23, Heb_10:26-29, Heb_10:38, Heb_10:39, etc.). As 揹rawing back unto perdition?is merely the palpable evidence of the want of 搑oot?from the first in the Christian profession (Luk_8:13), so 揺nduring to the end?is just the proper evidence of its reality and solidity. end pt. 1. ars

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Are You Worthy Enough For Salvation?

2011-11-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

In the following Scripture, Paul said he did not frustrate the grace of God.

Gal 2:21
21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV)

"Righteousness," in the above verse, translates a Greek legal term and means "cleared of all guilt." Furthermore, the words "righteousness, righteous, just, justify, justified and/or justification," when used in your English Bible, are translations of the same Greek root above and still means, "cleared of all guilt."

揊rustrate?means 搕o make void.?That is, Paul did not 搈ake void?the grace of God. For him, Jesus?blood took care of the guilt and penalty for all his sins or it did not. If it did, then they were taken away by the grace of God.

For Paul, to add any other thing would frustrate the grace of God. Likewise, for him, to take away any thing from the blood of Jesus would also frustrate the grace of God.

In other words, Paul was completely satisfied that the grace of God, utilizing the blood of Jesus, had completely dealt with the guilt and unworthiness he may have had because of his sins. Paul spent his Christian life combating the peddlers of unworthiness.

He saw that our worthiness is based on the worth of Jesus' blood. His teaching on this great subject inspired the lines to the old song, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." For Paul, salvation was based on the merits of Jesus blood plus nothing and minus nothing.

If God抯 grace, however, did not take care of Paul抯 guilt and unworthiness, then any hope he had of clearing his guilt and unworthiness must be based upon his own works of righteousness. In other words, he must keep Moses?law to obtain enough righteousness to be saved and blessed.

If this was true, howover, Paul plainly reasoned that Christ died for nothing. His death was useless. There was absolutely no point to it or in it.

揤ain,?in the preceding verse, is an unusual word. It is a form of the Greek word for 揼ift.?The form of the word used here, however, does not mean gift. It means 搖selessly.?It means 搘ithout a cause.?
In other words, if Jesus?blood alone did not take away all Paul抯 guilt and unworthiness, Jesus died 揻or no cause at all.?His death was 搖seless.?There was 搉o point?to it. It 揳vailed nothing.?It 揳ccomplished nothing.?
Thank God, though, Jesus?blood did accomplish something. It did avail something. There was a point to it. It took care of the guilt and unworthiness produced by our sins.

We can still be healed and prospered. Jesus?blood paid it all. We are now as worthy as his blood. We are washed in it.

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Ancient Greek Deities

2011-11-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

Although they seem to be things of the past, reminders of ancient Greek deities are all around us. When you read the following names, more than a few will look familiar.

Ancient Greek Deities

The Greek Pantheon was a polytheistic system of thought and religion that assumed its Greek deities existed independently and individually. Their roll was to rule diverse aspects of the mortals every day life. Myth and culture is gathered in the Pantheon from where the deities leave toward their corresponding realm.

Due to the Hellenic polytheist beliefs in ancient times, deities formed relationships with each other on a more human scale. Compared to one-deity approaches in many modern religions, Greek deities had a surprising number of human limitations and weaknesses. Contrary to other religions, none of the ancient Greek deities was omniscient or omnipotent, although their power was beyond the mortals' limit.

All Greek deities had the same origin as minor deities ruled by the Titans. They later overthrew the Titans in an epic battle. Some of the most renowned are:

Aether - God of the upper air

Aphrodite - Goddess of love and beauty

Apollo - God of the light, music, prophecy, poetry, and healing

Ares - God of war, primarily violent war and bloodshed

Artemis - Goddess of the moon and the hunt

Athena - Goddess of war, wisdom, strategy

Chaos - Non-gendered deity of the nothingness

Chronos - God of eternal time

Demeter - Goddess of agriculture

Erebus - God of darkness

Eros - God of love

Gaia - Titan Goddess of the Earth

Hades - God of the underworld, the death and the earth wealth, his realm receives his name.

Hemera - Goddess of daylight

Hephaestus - God of fire and the forge

Hera - Goddess of marriage and the family, sister and wife of Zeus

Hermes - God of commerce, travel, and thieves. Messenger of the gods

Hestia - Goddess of the hearth and domestic life that gave her place in the Mount Olympus to Dionysus

Nyx - Goddess of night

Pontus - Titan God of the sea

Poseidon - God of the sea

Tartarus - Titan God of the depths of the underworld

Uranus - Titan God of the heavens

Zeus - King of the Gods and God of thunder and lightning

As you can see, the long list of Greek deities is rather amazing when compared to one-deity religions such as Christianity and Islam. Regardless of the religious connotations, the names of these figures are often found in modern civilization although Roman translations are often used. For instance, Ares has been translated in Roman to Mars, the God of War and name of the 4th planet from our sun.

Greek deities represent a unique view of religion held by ancient Greeks. If the opportunity presents itself, you should read the Greek classics to gain an understanding of the rather emotional actions of the deities.

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Amassing Christian Wealth Supernaturally Today

2011-11-15T03:58:00.000-08:00

In Deuteronomy 8:18, God told the people through Moses, that He had given them the power to obtain wealth so that He could establish the Abrahamic covenant with them just as He had with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

揈stablish,?here, would be more understandable had our translators used the word 揷ontinue?in place of 揺stablish.?
You see, the Abrahamic covenant was already established over four hundred years earlier with Father Abraham. Then it was reconfirmed with his son Isaac. Then it was reconfirmed with his grandson Jacob. Each reconfirmation just continued the unbroken force of it. It did not, however, establish it.

My point here is this. Those people with whom He reconfirmed or continued the Abrahamic covenant in Deuteronomy 8 (over four hundred years after He initially made it with Father Abraham) are simply the seed of Abraham who fell heir to the provisions of the covenant. One of these provisions is the supernatural power to supernaturally obtain wealth.

You are just as much a seed of Abraham as Isaac or Jacob. Yes, these three were partakers of the promise of wealth in the Abrahamic covenant by birth. We Gentile Christians are partakers of the wealth promise by grafting. Paul taught us about the grafting.

Rom 11:17
17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (KJV)

Rom 11:24
24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? (KJV)

We Gentile Christians are the wild branches grafted into the olive tree so that we can equally partake with the physical seed of Abraham in the covenant promise of wealth.

As such, by grafting, we Gentile Christians are entitled to the same covenant provision of wealth as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the group in Deuteronomy 8.

Notice also that the wealth provision in the covenant isn抰 bound by time. Whether four hundred years or four thousand years later makes no difference. The Abrahamic wealth provision is timeless since this covenant is a forever covenant.

A complete understanding of our covenant rights to Abrahamic wealth enables us to see that God gave this wonderful wealth provision in His forever covenant to us Gentile Christians also. God also establishes the Abrahamic covenant with us by giving us the same power to get wealth supernaturally.

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Ancient Manifesting Secrets

2011-11-14T23:04:00.000-08:00

There are many ancient secrets that are no longer hidden and lost as it use to be. Still few people have access to the empowering knowledge of such powerful techniques. Although this knowledge is not as concealed as it once was it is now draped in the understanding of quantum physics and the universal laws. Still few people get it; few people take the time to realize the deep power that comes from the knowledge of these techniques and the application of them.

The breath as simple as it may be as the power to catapult your manifesting intentions to outstanding levels. Those who understand the science of breathing know that it allows you to accelerate your manifesting abilities. Just take a deep swooping breath while holding a clear image in your mind. If you kept doing it you may find that your ability concentrate grows stronger. The breath is power, it is what gasoline is to a car.

Retraining the mind with ambient sound also increases one抯 ability to manifest in a more powerful way. As you can see the law of attraction is one simple law in a field of many levels of understanding. You can program your mind to do what you want before you even consider worries about manifesting by balancing it out with sound frequencies. You can find many ancient and indigenous tribes who practice heavy drumming in order to induce a deep state which allows for creative manifesting.

How deeply are you willing to go along the knowledge of manifesting? Are you satisfied with a surface understanding about the law of attraction and manifesting or do you desire to become a master of it all? You can manifest more quickly despite what anyone tells you or despite your past failures.

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Baby Baptism: Is It Really Necessary?

2011-11-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

Baby baptism is probably one of the most widely misunderstood rituals in the Christian (and many other) faiths. Almost all Christian churches practice Baptism in some form or another. Baptism comes from a Greek word baptizo which loosely translated means to dip, a washing or immersion. However baptism for babies is not a practice that was performed by the churches in the first century.

According to various chapters in the New Testament as you come into faith with Christ then the next few steps would be confession and then baptism. The process of baptism symbolizes the dying, burial and rising of Christ. Through baptism the symbolism of these acts are reenacted.

Baptism is done for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), it washes away our sins (Acts 22:16). We are baptized so that will God will resurrect us from death (Colossians 2:12, Romans 6:3-6).

So when should someone be baptized?

In order to answer this question properly we will need to refer to the scriptures. The Bible clearly tells us that children are considered to be pure in the eyes of the Lord. The scriptures teach us that in order to enter God's kingdom we need to become more like children and open our hearts (Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15).

The baby baptism advocates interpret passages such as Psalm 51:5 as saying that we are born sinners. However with proper interpretation would say that we are just born into a sinful world. A close look at a couple of passages tells us that children do not have sin as a result being born and that sin is a result of lust and therefore turns into sin. See Ezekiel 18: 20; James 1:14-15. As children grow older they are filled with secular knowledge and through this process their hearts become hardened. This is when the blood of Christ is needed.

Being able to recite the word of God is very different to comprehending it properly. Whilst young children might mean well when they ask if they are ready to be baptized they do not know any better. The choice to become a Christian is one of the gravest and most serious decisions you can make; is your child really ready for that kind of commitment?

So who are the real candidates for baptism?

Anybody who is prepared to hear the word of God confess their sins, and ready to live a life committed to Christ can be baptized. Another place to learn who can be baptized is searching through the book of Acts. It is known as 搕he book of conversions.? The reason why is it shows how several people were told how to be saved and become a member of the church.

Children should be introduced to the word of God at the earliest possible stage in their lives. Parents will need to take care to strike a balance between guiding their child and supporting the child's spiritual development. Any commitment they make to Christ is their own and should be something which they would have independently chosen for themselves.

It's common for parents to push their children to agree with their religious beliefs. However well-intentioned it is sad because in the end this undermines the child's spiritual development. To baptize someone who is not ready is to do them a grave disservice.

By waiting until they are ready to really understand the commitment they are agreeing to; the ritual becomes more meaningful for everyone involved, thus also approved of by God.

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99 Name of Allah Almighty - Part 1

2011-11-14T05:41:00.000-08:00

Allah Almighty have 99 Beautiful Names, 'Allah' is a special name of God containing them all. Allah, He who has the Godhood which is the Power to Create the Entities.

Prophet Mohammad Peace Be Upon Him said "To Allah 'God' belongs 99 names, 100 minus 1, anyone who Memorizes them will Enter His Paradise. He "Allah" is Odd and He Like Odd numbers Because He is One And the Only One. and He loves Odd numbers such as 99. "Allah! There is No God But He! To Him Belong The Most Beautiful Names" - (Holy Qur'an 20:8)

It is not possible to perfectly translate the 99 Names of Allah from their original Arabic Language into English. However, those are fairly close explanations along with their Arabic Pronunciation in English Letters.

"He is Allah (God), the Creator, the Originator, The Fashioner, To Him belong The Most Beautiful Names, Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, All declare His Praises and Glory! And He is the Exalted in Might, The Wise" - (Quran 59:24)

Please note that "'" equal "Hamza" and "^" equal "Ein" letters in Arabic Language.
"The most beautiful names belong to Allah (God): so call on Him by them" - (Quran 7:180)

1. Name of Allah Al-Rahmaan
The Compassionate, The Beneficent, The Most Merciful, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter.

2. Name of Allah Al-Raheem
The Merciful, The most Compassionate. The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers.

3. Name of Allah Al-Malik
The King, The Sovereign Lord, The Monarch. The One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection.

4. Name of Allah Al-Quddoos
The Holy, The Pure. The One who is Pure from any imperfection and Clear from children and adversaries.

5. Name of Allah Al-Salaam
The Source of Peace, The Peace, The Tranquility. The One who is free from every imperfection.

6. Name of Allah Al-Mu'min
The Guardian of Faith, The Faithful, The Trusted. The One who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him. And He witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that no one is God but Him.

7. Name of Allah Al-Muhaimin
The Protector, The Vigilant, The Controller. The One who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures.

8. Name of Allah Al-^Azeez
The Mighty, The Almighty, The Strong, The Powerful. The Defeater who is Never defeated.

9. Name of Allah Al-Jabbaar
The Compeller, The One that nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He willed.

10. Name of Allah Al-Mutakabbir
The Majestic, The Haughty, The Imperious. The One who is Clear from the attributes of His Creatures and from resembling them.

11. Name of Allah Al-Khaliq
The Creator, The Maker. The One who brings everything from non-existence to existence.

12. Name of Allah Al-Bari'
The Evolver, The Artificer. The Creator who has the Power to turn the entities.

13. Name of Allah Al-Musawwir
The Fashioner, The Organizer, the Designer. The One who forms His Creatures in different pictures.

14. Name of Allah Al-Ghaffaar
The Great Forgiver, The Forgiver. The One who forgives the sins of His slaves over and over again.

15. Name of Allah Al-Qahhaar
The Subduer, The Dominant, The Almighty. The One who has the perfect Power and is not unable over anything.

16. Name of Allah Al-Wahhaab
The Bestower, The Donor. The One who is Generous in giving plenty without any return.

17. Name of Allah Al-Razzaaq
The Provider, The Sustainer.

18. Name of Allah Al-Fattaah
The Opener, The Reliever. The One who opens for His slaves the closed worldly and religious matters.

19. Name of Allah Al-^Aleem
The Most Knowledgeable, The all Knowing, The Omniscient. The One who nothing is absent from His knowledge.

20. Name of Allah Al-Qabid
The Constricter, The Retainer, The Withholder, The Contractor, The Restrainer, The Recipient. The One who constricts the sustenance.

21. Name of Allah Al-Basit
The Expander, The Englarger. The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdomand expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.

22. Name of Allah Al-Khafid
The Abaser, The Humbler. The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction.

23. Name of Allah Al-Rafi^
The Exalter, The Raiser, The Elevator. The One who raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.

24. Name of Allah Al-Mu^iz
The Honorer, The Exalter. He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him, And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.

25. Name of Allah Al-Muzil
The Dis-Honorer, The Humiliator, The Abaser, The Degrader, The Subduer. He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him, And He degrades whoever He willed.

26. Name of Allah Al-Samee^
The All-Hearing, The Hearer. The One who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument or organ.

27. Name of Allah Al-Baseer
The All-Seeing, The Seer, The discerning. The One who Sees all things that are seen by His Eternal Seeing without a pupil or any other instrument.

28. Name of Allah Al-Hakam
The Judge, The Arbitrator. He is the Ruler and His judgment is His Word.

29. Name of Allah Al-^Adl
The Just, The Justice, The Equitable. The One who is entitled to do what He does.

30. Name of Allah Al-Lateef
The Subtle One, The Gracious, The Most Gentle. The One who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them.

31. Name of Allah Al-Khabeer
The Aware, The Sagacious. The One who knows the real truth of things.

32. Name of Allah Al-Haleem
The Forebearing, The Clement, The Gentle, The most patient. The One who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then He might forgive them.

33. Name of Allah Al-^Azeem
The Great One, The Mighty. The One deserving the attributes of Exaltment, Glory, Extolment, and Purity from all imperfection.

34. Name of Allah Al-Ghafoor
The All-Forgiving, The Pardoner, The Forgiving. The One who forgives a lot.

35. Name of Allah Al-Shakoor
The Grateful, The Appreciative, The Thankful. The One who gives a lot of reward for a little obedience.

36. Name of Allah Al-^Ali
The Most High, The Sublime, The Exalted. The One who is clear from the attributes of His creatures.

37. Name of Allah Al-Kabeer
The Most Great, The Big. The One who is greater than everything in status.

38. Name of Allah Al-Hafeez
The Preserver, The Protector, The Guardian. The One who protects whatever and whoever He willed to protect.

39. Name of Allah Al-Muqeet
The Maintainer, The Guardian, The Feeder, The Sustainer, The Nourisher. The One who has the Power.

40. Name of Allah Al-Haseeb
The Reckoner, The Noble. The One who gives the satisfaction.

41. Name of Allah Al-Jaleel
The Sublime One, The Beneficent, The Majestic, The Honorable, The Exalted. The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.

42. Name of Allah Al-Kareem
The Most Generous, The Bountiful, The Gracious. The One who is clear from abjectness.

43. Name of Allah Al-Raqeeb
The Watcher, The Watchful, The Guardian. The One that nothing is absent from Him. Hence it's meaning is related to the attribute of Knowledge.

44. Name of Allah Al-Mujeeb
The Responsive, The Hearkener. The One who answers the one in need if He asks Him and rescues the yearner if He calls upon Him. The Responder. The One Who Answers.

45. Name of Allah Al-Wasi^
The Vast, The All-Embracing, The Englober. The Enricher, The Omnipresent, The Knowledgeable.

46. Name of Allah Al-Hakeem
The Most Wise, The Judicious, The Judge of Judges. The One who is correct in His doings.

47. Name of Allah Al-Wadood
The Affectionate, The Loving. The One who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and praise them.

48. Name of Allah Al-Majid
The Most Glorious One, The One who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion, Generosity and Kindness.

49. Name of Allah Al-Ba^ith
The Reserrector, The Raiser from death. The One who resurrects for reward and/or punishment.

50. Name of Allah Al-Shaheed
The Witness, The One who nothing is absent from Him.

To Be Continued on Part 2 ..

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Be Courageous!

2011-11-14T00:47:00.000-08:00

Courage is defined as greatness of heart, spirit to meet danger, and boldness.

God commanded Joshua three times to be strong and have good courage and assured him of His constant presence if His commandments were obeyed. (Josh. 1:8-9) He promised that: 搕he eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.?(Deut. 33:27)

Knowing the Lord and obeying His commandments are the two main ingredients for the God kind of courage. El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient and Mighty One is on your side! He is Jehovah Nissi; the Lord, your Victory Banner. (Ex. 17:15) Isn抰 that interesting? The victory banner is hoisted AFTER the battle! That means that the battle is already won! Christ抯 defeat of Satan on the cross has made you more than a conqueror. (Rom. 8:37) Tell Him about the battles you抮e facing and nestle underneath the everlasting arms while he destroys your enemy.

You are equipped with the full armor of God. Moses and Joshua were assured of God抯 presence and guidance due to their obedience to the Law. Through Christ抯 sacrifice you have the assurance of having already overcome because 揼reater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.?(I John 4:4) You are not fighting a physical enemy but you抮e up against evil spiritual forces. Although this sounds ominous, all you will need to do is STAND! Yes, stand, protected by the whole armor of God.

David抯 only physical armor in his battle against Goliath was a slingshot! To the heavily armored giant he shouted: 揟hou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies.?David was the ONLY person who knew without a doubt that God would deliver Goliath into his hands! There had been a number of battles to overthrow the Philistines ?to no avail. His brother ridiculed him, the giant jeered at him, and both armies stood by in total disbelief and amusement. Was David daunted by that? Did disbelief, shame and doubt enter his head? After all he wasn抰 even old enough to be in the army! NO! He declared out loud to everyone that they 搒hall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord抯!?Then he ran up to the man whom everyone feared, with only five smooth stones in his hand but fully armed with the anointing of the Lord of Hosts. There was no iota of doubt in him as he knew his God; His faithfulness, His previous exploits and, most of all, His intimate fellowship with him. (1 Samuel 17)

How about you? Are you being influenced by voices of doubt and unbelief? Or do you take courage in the strength and full protection of the Lord of Hosts? Don抰 forget to put on His armor. It抯 not heavy but it will help you to stand and be courageous.

You must first of all know the Truth of the Word of God. Only the Word can effect the salvation of your soul. Once assured of salvation, you know you have been made righteous by His blood. This is your main armor: the breastplate that protects your heart and most vulnerable parts. Now you抮e equipped to share the gospel wherever you go and use your ever-increasing faith as a shield to ward off doubts and fears. Being born again by the Spirit of God protects your mind, keeping it focused on His Word and Divine Will. Lastly, pray constantly using the Word of God, not human wisdom, to come against the forces that attack you. They shall flee at the onslaught of this Sword of the Spirit! (Eph.: 6:10-18)

揃e strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.?(Josh. 1:9)

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Bang, Bang,Your Dead.

2011-11-13T18:41:00.000-08:00

Bang, Bang,Your Dead.

Zechariah 14:1-14:12

Bang, Bang,Your Dead.
Preaching the Gospel is an exciting adventure into the past, present and future. Many believe that humanity will continue at its present rate and eventually come together in peace and love. I抦 sorry to say that this is just another lie from the father of all lies, Satan. Man is destined to die, no matter what, age, race, color, weather they be rich or poor. Death will not be denighed. As a child, I believe that many of you played games with your friends, some played, Cops and Robbers, and others Cowboys and Indians. The game was always the same, when we came upon our opponent we said, Bang, Bang,Your Dead. Lets look at the reality of the truth. This part of verse comes from Zec 14:12; 揟heir flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.?This scripture is stating that the flesh of mankind, that refuse God, shall be obliterated as they stand, bang, bang, your dead for real. Gog & Magog, Armageddon, and the Last war with Satan, which follows the 1000 year reign of Christ, all have the same thing in common. Death and destruction of man-kinds way of life. We as ministers have just scratched the surface of the truth in scripture. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? Remember how that God decided to destroy all because of the unrighteousness. How the people had forgotten about God and His laws and statutes. How they turned to false gods and idols, homo-sexuality and all manner of debochery? Gen 19:28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Well my friends, look around you today?揟heir flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,?No where to run ,no where to hide, no time to repent, no time to ask forgiveness nor say good by to this life. Consumed by fire as you stand upon your feet and at the next moment surrounded by everlasting fire, heat and smoke. Each day that we live brings us closer to death, for some the joy of death and others the shame of it. I am just an old country preacher, some call a Hell Fire and Brimstone Man. But as this world races closer to the end of times, we must warn them that are outside the will of God. Jude gives me the inspiration that I need to continue to preach. Jude 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. As I have said before, I will say again, It doesn抰 matter what you believe, what matters is what Gods word says. Many are going after, Scientology, Budism, Musleumism and many other isms. Science is the bigest false god that runs rampant in this world today. Christians are being attacked by scientist that are trying to prove the existance of some other way of evolution. Man has corrupted himself with, false doctrine, unrighteous laws and attrocities hand over fist. Christianity has been and will be blamed for all of mans woes. Jude 1:22-23, And of some have compassion, making a difference: There is still a place for compassion. Compassion among those that are willing to hear with their ears and for those that are willing see with their eyes. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; {The fire of Hell} hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. The garment, the false religion and attitude of man. Every man has religion, every man believes in something, Buda, Allah, False Prophets, Money, Power, Prestige, Government and even themselves. They all believe that what they are doing is right. But their path is leading to a death of all deaths. All of this is religion.
Psa 110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. When God says enough, then death will be reliesed, as it was in Egypt, but Death will strike quickly and with a vengeance, according to the will of God.
Isa 66:15- 16 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. Man will not listen to God, man has refused to listen to His ambasitors, prophets and even His own Son.
Isa 2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. This earth is going to rock and real, like a drunkard. [Extremely important references; Eze_38:18-22, Eze_39:17-20] Rev 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
Rev 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. Can you emagin, people , jumping from cliffs, shooting themselves, drinking poison and not being able to die? A Day of sadness and day of torment a Day of Vengeance.
Zec 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem;{Who are these nations that have fought against Jerusalem? All Nations.} Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. As a Nuclear blast only worse. Eze 39:13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 39:14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
Eze 39:15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man抯 bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. Its time to stop playing around with space, its time to stop playing with scientology, its time to stop playing around with evolution, its time to stop condemning the Ten Commandments as being subversive to our Children. Coming soon will be, Bang, Bang, Your Dead, for real.

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Atheists Agnostics and Evolutionists ?The Worst Gamblers in the World

2011-11-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

I have seen the odds of having the right amino acids and other components coming together from the primordial ooze and creating life mathematically computed. It produces a number followed by so many zeros that if I used the smallest font on my computer it would take the rest of this article to write them in, plus another several hundred pages to record them all.

Mathematics being a far more exact science than some others there is little room for speculation, pontifical statements or what is commonly called prior philosophic postulation. Such is what is commonly used by evolutionists, archaeologist, paleontologists and others when making statements about the beginning of life. In the plainest language, scientists who use prior postulation are making statements that require faith to believe ?just like a preacher who proclaims the gospel.

I never did well in math. It seemed I could comprehend the value of literature and philosophy better. But I am not so foolish as to disregard the findings of the math crowd. Indeed, I rather respect them and their no-nonsense findings.

Calculating odds for or against something is given great credence today. It can free an innocent man or condemn a guilty one. The odds of some ones DNA being the same as someone else is sufficient grounds to free or convict them in a trial. Why then, do we ignore the odds when it comes to matters like the beginning of all life or what happens at the end of life?

Being ignorant doesn抰 always mean you are dumb. It can mean that while you may be superbly intelligent you are ignoring certain obvious facts or figures. Often ignoring these facts is due to a prior philosophic postulate. So what抯 that? It is a pre-disposition or a mindset to believe something else that you抳e been taught, something you have read or just a pet belief that you have attached to yourself without any examination and scrutiny. Here is an example.

Long before the advent of the computer mathematicians were able to calculate odds. At the close of World War One a famous eschatologist, Mr. Clarence Larkin had some mathematicians make some calculations for him. They calculated that the events that took place in the last twenty four hours in the life of Christ which fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about him took place against the odds of fifty three million to one in favor. Put simply, no one but Jesus Christ could have fulfilled these prophecies as he did. So why are there still people bent on trying to prove that those events weren抰 accurate or historical at all? Would those same people go to Las Vegas and shoot craps, spin the roulette wheel or play poker with such odds against them? Not likely.

The odds were against me in my historical geology class when I told my college professor that I would give him the answers he wanted on the quizzes and tests even though I didn抰 believe a word he was saying. He was a gentleman and passed me because he respected my position. I respected him for doing so but it saddened me to see a brilliant man hampered by his own prior philosophic postulates. Not to mention his complete ignorance of the second law thermodynamics or entropy. So what抯 that?

Nothing in the physical universe goes from a less complicated molecular or atomic state to a more complex state if left to it self, this is commonly referred to as entropy. This means things don抰 go from squirming amoeba in a pool of mud to hundreds of thousands of species of living things. Entropy says it just doesn抰 happen.

Other scientists not so willing to suspend the law of entropy have said it another way. Believing that the right amino acids just found each other randomly and produced all life as we know it is like a very special airplane. We will call it the News Plane. It flies overhead at 20,000 feet and throws out a load of news type. When the type hits the ground it just happens to form the complete latest edition of today抯 New York Times. What are the odds for that, I don抰 know, but don抰 take those odds to Vegas either.

Being no mathematician my own calculations are very simple but I wouldn抰 gamble against the odds I抳e discovered. Most atheists, agnostics and evolutionists think that when you抮e dead, you抮e just that, dead, a sort of big black nothing. Since Jesus was emphatic about a real heaven and hell that means this group thinks there is a chance he could be wrong. That gives them a fifty-fifty chance to come out OK.

The Christian believes it is appointed once for man to die and then there is a judgment. Hebrews 9:27. Those judged will be sent to either heaven or hell. They choose to believe, and are saved by their faith, Ephesians 2:8, 9 If they are wrong they still at least get the same big black void of the atheists but no hellfire. If they are right they spend eternity with God and millions of others where there is no mare war, suffering or tears. Whether right or wrong they cannot lose. Do the math.

I am not trying to say that people should believe in Christ and his finished work on the cross because of some mathematical calculation, its still a matter of the heart. What I am saying is that even with a fifty-fifty chance the atheists, agnostics and evolutionists are the poorest gamblers in the world. The odds are not the only thing that is frightful but consider the stakes. You can only wage that bet with your own eternal soul, money is not accepted, no, not even Visa and MasterCard!

Rev Bresciani is the author of two highly regarded Christian books. One published by Xulon Press is thought to be the clearest treatment on the second coming of Christ is this decade. It is titled An American Prophet and His Message. Rev Bresciani has hundreds of articles published both online and in print. Please visit the website at http://www.americanprophet.org

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Another Mans Servant

2011-11-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

Another Mans Servant
Romans 14:4 (NIV, NIRV, TNIV, KJV)
Another Mans Servant. Sometimes we find ourselves alone in our indesision and self pity. There are those who wonder why God is using someone else in a great way while we sit along the wayside and wonder why we are not used by the Master. Man in his opinion of himself is always wanting to be the center of attention. Wanting to be noticed, wanting to be important. I think at one time or another, we have all felt the same way until we realized that our mission for God is not about self but of the concern of others. Many times a minister will receive a message from the Holy Spirit and when he delievers it, the roof comes down on many. lets look at the scripture for answers. Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man抯 servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. Where have all the Preachers gone, you know the ones that spoke of Heaven being Sweet and Hell being Hot? Speaking of Angles and Golden streets and Fire and Brimstone, Shouts of Joy from the redeemed and screams of pain from the lost. Preaching the coming of Jesus and the wrath to come? The ones that knew that know matter what was preached, God was able to hold them up against ridicule. The ones who knew to his own master he standeth or falleth. I have noticed in the years that I have Preached and Taught, that when I and others, deliever a message that no one has heard of before, there is quite a stir amoung some. The reason for this, is that, many are afraid of change, change from what they thought was right. Fear of the unknown, fear of knowing the truth that they may be held acdcountiable.What is the Truth? Truth is that there is a vengiful God, there is a day of recompense, there is a day of wrath, there is a day of sorrow, comming upon this earth and those that refuse to listen to the word of God. Zec 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. Fire, Brimstone and the smell of burning flesh, all appart of the word of God.
Isa 42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. What is Holy? Belonging to, derived from, or associated with a divine power; sacred.
Regarded with or worthy of worship or veneration; revered.
Living according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; saintly.
Solemnly undertaken; sacrosanct.
Regarded as deserving special respect or reverence: The pursuit of peace. Divine, Sacred, God-like, Heavenly, Devotional, Devout, Pietistic, Prayerful, Saintly, Blessed, Hallowed, Sacred. Lets look at these next few verses and lets ask our selves, 揑s this Holy? 搃s this from our God that we serve??拻is this what we have been taught??Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isa 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Isa 28:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Your answer should be Yes! God is Holy, God is merciful ,God is Love, but God is also Power and Justice. Compromise,Compromise, say one thing and mean another. Dictate what is Holy and what is not, never willing to stand for a Rightious God. Never willing to see the truth of Scripture. Goverments calling for unification of all religions, no matter what the cost. Religious also calling upon the world to compromise the Word of Truth, just to bring about a non-lasting peace. Calling evil good and good evil. judging our brothers for standing fast in their faith in God. Calling them, contriversial, reactionary, non-compliant. False religions, false teachers, false preachers, compromisers. Romans 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 1Ti 1:6-7 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Jesus was speaking of those who rejected the truth, those who would compromise the word for fading glory. 擧e that is not with me is against me.?Those that speak of compromise, those that speak of change, those that speak as thou the word of God is inadequate in todays society to the salvation of the soul. These are those that are against Jesus and will pay a dear price for their inconsistencies in the Gospel. Mark 9:38-40 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
For he that is not against us is on our part. 搘e saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.?Many fail to see the significants of this statement. For there were more than the deciples and even Jesus that were also preaching of The Kingdom of Heaven. Who were they,where did they come from? God sent them. He sent them with the same message that His Son was delivering.
Jesus spoke in plane language. It became the center of hatred toward Him. A man of righteousness and Truth.

Matthew 10:35 For I am come to set a man at 搗ariance?[The state or fact of differing or of being in conflict.SYNONYMS:
discord, strife, contention, dissension, conflict, clash, variance.
These nouns refer to a state of disagreement and disharmony. Discord is a lack of harmony often marked by bickering and antipathy. Strife usually implies a struggle, often destructive, between rivals or factions. Contention suggests a dispute in the form of heated debate or quarreling. Dissension implies difference of opinion that disrupts unity within a group. Conflict suggests antagonism of ideas or interests that often results in hostility or divisiveness: Clash involves irreconcilable ideas or interests. Variance usually suggests discrepancy or incompatibility.
against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. So if Jesus came to set at variance the family, why, then, when a man of God preaches or teaches the truth, and division comes in the family, do we judge that man for his words? Why do we judge and hate our brother because he tells the truth? Could it be possiable that what many have been taught is wrong or is only a portion of the truth? Could it be because we are holding on to tradition instead of holding onto the truth? Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Can a man of God actually do this as Christ commanded? Yes, if he listens to the Spirit and not to the flesh. Jesus made enemies of not only the Saducies and Pharieses but of the entire world. His message was of Righteousness and Truth, not of Compromise and indecision. John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Many are refused entrance into the Church because of their appearance or financial status. Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Are we to listen to those who are not willing to 擱ock the Boat?or are we to preach and teach the messages that are delivered unto us by the Spirit? Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at 搉ought擺Nonexistence; nothingness, Nonexistent.
Insignificant] thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Who art thou that judgest another man抯 servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. ars

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Bar Mitzvah Invitations. Mazel Tov!

2011-11-13T01:19:00.000-08:00

Bat Mitzvahs and Bar Mitzvahs are a very important time in a teenager抯 life. It is a time when Jewish teenagers transition from childhood innocence to adult responsibility. They are huge celebrations for all the family and friends of the young boy or girl, and call for all the necessities that make for a wonderful celebration. There are many great ideas for bar mitzvah invitations, party favors, and thank you notes that are available for any style of party whether bat mitzvah or bar mitzvah celebration.

Invitations. Every party must start with an invitation. The invitation sets the mood of the party and gets guests excited about the event. Invitations may include elements such as the torah or Star of David as a simple yet elegant design. Other elements that may be added to the invitations include a Bayz Samekh Daled caption, images of Israel and other meaningful Judaic symbols. Invitations should include all the information guests will need to properly prepare for the celebration, including names, dates, times, and anything else.

Every party should have favors to thank guests for their company at the celebration. For bar mitzvahs, there will usually be lots of children as well as family. It can be easy to satisfy all these types of guests. Since the bar mitzvah is marking the child抯 passage into Jewish adulthood favors should reflect the maturation with educational or practical favors. Some great favor ideas are Star of David bookmarks, stationary, or bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah napkins. Yarmulkes are always a traditional element for bar mitzvah celebrations.

Thank you notes are also an essential part to a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah. Many guests will give gifts to mark the child抯 passage into adulthood. Common gifts include educational tools, savings money for college, and a tallet, which is a prayer cloak. Sending thank you notes for gifts received is a mark of respect and is a great time also for the bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah to get some practice writing letters and thank you notes.

The passage into Jewish adulthood by the bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah is marked with many traditional Jewish services where the boy or girl may read from the torah or lecture on a Jewish topic. From that point forward the child is now an adult and responsible for all their actions. Though the bar mitzvah celebration may seem to overpower the actual purpose, it is a special way to commemorate the event and welcome the child to the adult Jewish community.

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Barack Obama the antichrist

2011-11-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

1. MABUS: Nostradamus named the Anti-Christ as Mabus. Now try this on for size: OBAMA+BUSH=OBAMABUSH. Now look at the middle few letters of the word. MABUS

2. 2012: Nostradamus said that the world would end in 2012. If Obama wins the elections, he will be president till at least 2012.

3. Religion: Obama抯 father was Muslim. His middle name is Hussein.

4. Iraq: Obama wants to pull out troops from Iraq.

5. He is Pro-Abortion.

6. He wants to bring about peace in the middle-east. It is stated that the Anti-Christ will bring about peace in the middle-east.

7. He will be a world leader. Barack Obama will be the leader of the most powerful country in the world if he is elected.

8. Obama advocates that people use contraception, this directly violates the bible.

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An Introduction to the New Age ?Becoming a Psychic

2011-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

People who accept the realm of the paranormal and unnatural are certain that people in the beginning are born with psychic powers but only few becomes a psychic. There are two types of psychics that we believe in; the 搉atural born?and those with little powers within them. The 搉atural born?psychics are said to be the gifted as they have great amount of psychic powers since birth. On the other hand, those who are born with lesser amount of psychic powers requires heavy practice and understanding in order to grow. In other cases, lots of psychics whose abilities are suddenly awaken by strong emotions or near-death experience, which results into having great amount of mental powers in an instant.

Psychics are people with great mental abilities beyond the use of the five senses; clairvoyance / telepathy, cold reading, psychic reading, dream interpretation, palm reading, astrological reading and tarot card reading are just some of the abilities of a psychic. Here are some aspects that may help a person to develop his/her psychic skills or abilities.

UNDERSTANDING. Spiritual development requires time, patience and understanding. In order to develop your psychic ability, you must first understand its importance and purpose, having a psychic powers also hold responsibilities; becoming a psychic means that you allow your mind and body to grow spiritually, set your goal into helping others, giving the precise information as possible and know that having a psychic ability is never to be abused.

PATIENCE. Whether if you're a natural born with psychic powers or not, you will only be able to develop your psychic ability in time, so don't rush, the spirits will guide you through your journey. It is best to find a psychic group in your community or online to guide you, books and journals of other psychics are a great help too.

FOCUS. Focusing first on one ability is good, choose which ability you would like to develop. It is important that you believe in yourself while doing a reading. Psychics have different types of reading and uses the most appropriate one for a client.

CHOOSE YOUR TOOL. Always have the proper tool(s) before conducting a reading.

* A Tarot Card is a divination tool that is used to gain insight and resolve issues regarding heath, relationships, career, and spirituality.

* Numerology, from the word itself, uses numbers that correspond to each letter of the alphabet. With a mathematical formula, psychics use numerology to give past or future information on a person's life path.

* Astrology and Horoscope, uses symbols and through the use of celestial bodies such as the moon, sun, and planets that represents events that occur on a person's life.

* A Crystal Ball is used to aid in clairvoyance, a Greek word that means 揷lear seeing? is a psychic ability that is beyond the five senses ?the transferring of information using only the mind.

* There are other ways of reading without the use of a tool, these are clairvoyance, a Greek word meaning 揷lear seeing? palm reading, cold reading, dream interpretation, and more.

PRACTICE. Becoming a skillful psychic requires a lot of practice, nobody becomes a professional in any field in just a few days! When practicing your psychic ability keep in mind that what you're doing something good for someone, discard your doubts, no matter what your mind sees during a psychic reading take full trust in your ability.

Lastly, if you've just begun to learn on how to develop your psychic powers, try some psychic ability test first to know the scope and limit of your psychic powers. Psychic tests are available in online and in a psychics' community.

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Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation by Ronald Reagan

2011-11-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

In 1983, President Reagan wrote an essay for the 揌uman Life Review?entitled, 揂bortion and the Conscience of the Nation.?This brief writing of his pro-life philosophy was published in book form a year later. It was expanded to approximately to 95 pages with lengthy afterwords by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and British essayist Malcolm Muggeridge. Reagan抯 brief composition is probably one of the better well-argued pro-life essays ever written. It is also significant as it was the first ever by a sitting President. It was President Reagan抯 attempt to awaken a nation to the implications of abortion. In this short book, President Reagan gives an account on how important the issue of abortion is to the 揷onscience of a nation.?
President Reagan's essay is only 26 pages of the book, but it is well structured. He believed that diminishing the life of the unborn diminishes the value of all human life. He tackled the pro-abortion "quality of life" argument and compared it to the Dred Scott slavery issue. Reagan likened the pro-abortion argument to slavery and drew parallels between the Roe vs. Wade decision and the Dred Scot decision that divided America over a century earlier. According to Reagan, the quality of life argument is an argument for quality control of the population.

Reagan surmises that legalized abortion is a very slippery slope. He says that unborn babies are being killed because they are simply not wanted or come at an inconvenient time. He also states that many are killed because they will be unable to lead a 搉ormal?life as the result of birth defects. Such babies are considered to be of less value and thus denied human rights. He claims this denial of human rights is accomplished by activist judges who frame the interpretation of the US Constitution through the lens of their own pro-abortion beliefs.

Reagan believes that the arbitrary evaluation of unborn lives must stop. He states that this philosophy will lead to further the crimes of infanticide and illustrates this by citing the Indiana case of "Baby Doe." Baby Doe was allowed to starve to death because the child had Down's syndrome. The essence of Reagan抯 argument is that no nation can survive and prosper when a group of individuals look at a child and declare whether that child has value as a human being. Reagan goes on to say,

"Abraham Lincoln recognized that we could not survive as a free land when some men could decide that others were not fit to be free and should therefore be slaves. Likewise, we cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion or infanticide. My Administration is dedicated to the preservation of America as a free land, and there is no cause more important for preserving that freedom than affirming the transcendent right to life of all human beings, the right without which no other rights have any meaning."

The pro-life movement will not be disappointed with Reagan's essay, and will conclude that it contains very powerful and logical anti-abortion arguments.

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Are We Approaching A New Era Soon?

2011-11-12T04:46:00.000-08:00

Unless one is living on another planet, one would have most likely sensed that our world is changing rapidly.

If you have been following my articles, you will know that I, at times, receive messages of a spiritual nature. Much of my dreams and visions had foretold personal and some global level occurrences.

The following is part of a messaged dream that I had in September 2005:

"In the dream, a huge leopard appeared and moved towards me. He was a very awe-inspiring beast with an almost human aura about him that exuded a raw powerful presence. He appeared to have a slightly coloured glow and his bright eyes shined through blue pupils. He started talking to me. He said " Meditating and trying to get enlightened is not enough. We must upgrade our bodies. There are 2 periods in this planet抯 history that require us to upgrade our bodies?now and the Year 1750. " At that moment, I was thinking to myself?揂m I not doing enough?? He seemed to convey the following message to me.. 揧es, you are not doing enough and THIS IS THE HINT? He did not say it in a putting-you-down manner but rather in a calm, saintly way. "

Dreams are often symbolic representation of certain issues and occurrences. The leopard (in the dream) is representative of a spiritual aspect.

Much of what was being conveyed in the dream pertains to my own personal self-growth. But there is also an universal message being conveyed here...

I believe that the Year 1750 mentioned in the dream may not be of the past, but may be referring to a future timeline. It may be referring to the year 1750 of a NEW future era. When this new era will begin is however unknown to me. But this dream does appears to coincide with certain prophecies.

If you have been following ancient prophecies, you will know that many ancient cultures foretold of a new golden era. The Mayan stated that the end of our era is in the year 2012. Tibetans have a prophecies called the Kalachakra prophecy which also states that we are approaching a new era.

Dear Reader, I will like to ask of you to momentarily suspend any skepticism...to embrace my article with an open mind.

Could there be a validity to the dream message? Could it be that we are really about to enter a new era that will transform us mentally, emotionally and physically as well? What does your instinct tell you?

For your necessary discernment.

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Americas Falling Morality.

2011-11-11T22:19:00.000-08:00

Americas Falling Morality.

2 Corinthians 11:13-11:15

Americas Falling Morality. Morals in America have been on the down-cline in the past 20 years. Today we read of sex scandles from Catholic Priest, one right after another. Presbyterian Churches are considering, embracing gays as Ministers, Episcopalian Church accepts gays as Priest, and will vote on making Bishops out of them, Music has gone down hill with, cursing, vulgariety and even the movies of today are not worth watching. Even some of the news programs have gone the way of more entertainment for adults than actually reporting the news. Childrens books are coming out embraceing the idea that homo-sexuality is good. Television shows being brodcast that show girls trying to find out who the father of their baby is and laughting about it. 揙 generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.?So what are we surounded by today? Adulteries, Fornications, Murders, Theves, Covetousness, Wickedness, Deceit, Boasters, Pride, Blasphemers, Unthankful, Unholy, Lasciviousness, an Evil eye, & Foolishness. Phi 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. [A cutting off; a false circumcision.People using as few words as possible to give the necessary information, or compressed in order to be brief.] [Ref; Phi 3:2 -
of dogs: Pro_26:11; Isa_56:10,Isa_56:11; Mat_7:6, Mat_7:15, Mat_24:10; Gal_5:15; 2Ti_4:14, 2Ti_4:15; 2Pe_2:22; Rev_22:15
evil: Phi_3:19; Psa_119:115; Mat_7:22, Mat_7:23; 2Co_11:13; Gal_5:13; 1Ti_1:19; 2Ti_3:1-6; 2Ti_4:3, 2Ti_4:4; Tit_1:16; 2Pe_2:18-20; Jud_1:4, Jud_1:10-13; Rev_21:8
the: Phi_3:3; Rom_2:28; Gal_2:3, Gal_2:4, Gal_5:1-3, Gal_5:6; Rev_2:9, Rev_3:9] 2Co 11:13-15; For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his{Satans} ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. These are the false apostles of Christ.
[Ref;2Co 11:13 -
false: 2Co_11:15, 2Co_2:17, 2Co_4:2; Mat_25:24; Act_15:1, Act_15:24, Act_20:30; Rom_16:18; Gal_1:7, Gal_2:4, Gal_4:17; Gal_6:12; Eph_4:14; Phi_1:15, Phi_1:16; Col_2:4, Col_2:8; 1Ti_1:4-7, 1Ti_4:1-3, 1Ti_6:3-5; 2Ti_2:17-19, 2Ti_3:5-9, 2Ti_4:3, 2Ti_4:4; 2Pe_2:1-3; 1Jo_2:18, 1Jo_4:1; 2Jo_1:7-11; Jud_1:4; Rev_2:2, Rev_2:9, Rev_2:20, Rev_19:20
deceitful: Phi_3:2; Tit_1:10, Tit_1:11] The down fall of ethics and morals must be blamed on our selves, allowing our Government to take away Jesus out of our schools and churches such as these, Some Catholics, Some Presbyterians & Some Episcopalians, for denighing the authority of Gods word, making good evil and evil good. Trying to councel a young man on lifestyles I recieved this letter from Him, ?This is my response to Rev.Anthony R.Smith
Sorry you lost me after the first paragraph of your copy and past of the bible.. YAWN!!! Blah, blah, blah going to hell yeah right!! You can pray for me light a candle what ever. The religious right wingers might even have things their way right now, but I see things changing for the better. More and more people are wising up to all this, and are seeing that Homosexuality is neither a sin nor a life style, its just who we are, not what we have CHOSEN TO BE!You might set the bible down and do some reading from PFLAG.?You might be wondering what my answer was to him, this was it, 揥eather you believe or not is not the issue, the point is sense you have heard the truth you are now held accountable for it.?These children are learning these things from many so called ministers of God and from television shows. I was unable to turn him around because of these false apostles, enemies of the cross of Christ. Many ministers try to push God on people, this is wrong. After we deliever the message of truth, then it becomes a matter between them and God. Eze 3:11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.[Forbear,To cease; to let alone; to be silent.]
No wonder we are involved in unwinable wars, children on drugs, gangs becoming normal in our life. Our nations boarders unsafe, anti-christian churches flourishing in our neighborhoods, earthquakes, fires, tsunamis, hurricanes, volcanoes becoming active all over the world, hunger, drought, disease and fear of a pandemic{Epidemic over a wide geographic area and affecting a large proportion of the population.} Phi 3:18-19; (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Those that are changing the word of God into a lie will answer for their deeds. Not only what they have done to themselves but for what they have, are and will do to others that follow after their unrightiousness. The blood is upon their hands. Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Mat 13:15 For this people抯 heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Men today are after what they don抰 earn, they crave other peoples possessions, they seek noterity and fame. They seek to justify themselves by the amount of money and popularity they have, not worrying about the effect that they are having on others and not caring. 2Ti 4:3-4; 揊or the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.?

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Are You Slow to Manifest the Things You Want?

2011-11-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you have set out all your goals on paper. You have a clear intent to make things work this time around but despite your best efforts you still have not attracted the money or the quality of life that you want.

If you are thinking of giving up on believing in the law of attraction I am here to say don抰 give up. The law of attraction really works. Your results can be outstanding if you realize that it is one just one key component in a series of other steps in order to manifest what you want.

Many teachers will have you believe that the law of attraction is all that you ever really need to understand, yet this is not quite so. And, for those who have a partial understanding about the actual application of the law of attraction their outcome can be dismal and frustrating.

You may see some small results but then work very hard at another goal and see no results at all. Why is that you ask?

Perhaps you do not know the right formula and if you do know the individual steps perhaps you do not know how or why those steps are necessary to the perfect formula.

There are also techniques to properly visualize. With visualization there are several detailed and advanced technique that many people do not yet understand. These simple steps can yield outstanding results when used correctly.

Then there is the matter of staying in alignment with your goal. Few people understand how crucial it is to remain in alignment with their manifesting goals. Those who are aware of the need to stay in alignment can抰 seem to do so easily.

Manifesting should be joyful not frustrating nor should it be a hit or miss. Like everything in life there are techniques and every technique is based on the perfect formula for success.

How quickly you manifest what you want has everything to do with applying the correct formula and being consistent with it. Consistency is another necessary part of the equation when trying to manifest anything. Many people don抰 know how to keep themselves motivated enough to maintain consistent focus. Usually not being able to remain focus comes out of not knowing the true manifesting steps.

As you apply the right visualization techniques with the right amount of focus and consistency you can truly see outstanding results. What previously seemed like a struggle or a hit or miss then becomes great manifesting skills and success.

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99 Name of Allah Almighty - Part 2

2011-11-11T10:16:00.000-08:00

51. Name of Allah Al-Haqq
The Truth, The True, The Just. The One who truly exists.

52. Name of Allah Al-Wakeel
The Trustee, The One who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon.

53. Name of Allah Al-Qawee
The Most Strong, The Powerful. The One with the Complete Power.

54. Name of Allah Al-Mateen
The Firm, The One with Extreme Power which is un-interrupted and He never get tired.

55. Name of Allah Al-Waliyy
The Supporter, The Protecting Friend. The One who defend whoever on his side.

56. Name of Allah Al-Hameed
The Praiseworthy, The Commendable. The Praised One who deserves to be Praised.

57. Name of Allah Al-Muhsi
The Counter, The One who the count of every thing are known to him.

58. Name of Allah Al-Mubdi'
The Originator, The Beginner, The Starter, The Founder. The One who started the Being That is He created.

59. Name of Allah Al-Mu^eed
The Reproducer, The One who brings back the creatures to life after death.

60. Name of Allah Al-Muhyee
The Restorer, The Bestower, The Life Giver. The One who took out a living human from semen that does not have a soul. He gives life by giving the souls back to the worn out bodies on the resurrection day, and He makes the hearts alive by the light of knowledge.

61. Name of Allah Al-Mumeet
The Bringer of Death, The Death Giver. The One who renders the living dead.

62. Name of Allah Al-Hayy
The Alive, The Ever Living. The One attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is not that of a combination of soul, flesh or blood.

63. Name of Allah Al-Qayoom
The Self-Subsistent, The Eternal. The One who remains and does not end.

64. Name of Allah Al-Wajid
The Perceiver, The Opulent, The Finder. The Rich who is never poor. Al-Wajd is Richness.

65. Name of Allah Al-Wahid
The Absolute One, The Unique. The One without a partner.

66. Name of Allah Al-Majid
The Noble, The Illustrious. The One who is Majid.

67. Name of Allah Al-Ahad
The Only One, the Unique.

68. Name of Allah Al-Samad
The Independent, The Master who is everything rely on him. and everything revert to him.

69. Name of Allah Al-Qadeer
The Able, The Capable. The One attributed with Power.

70. Name of Allah Al-Muqtadir
The Powerful, The Dominant. The One with the Perfect Power that nothing is withheld from him.

71. Name of Allah Al-Muqaddim
The Expediter, The Promoter, The Presenter, The Advancer. The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.

72. Name of Allah Al-Mu'akhkhir
The Delayer, The Retarder, The Fulfiller, The Keeper Behind, The Deferrer. The One who delays what He wills.

73. Name of Allah Al-'Awwal
The First, The One whose Existence is without a beginning.

74. Name of Allah Al-'Akhir
The Last, The One whose Existence is without an end.

75. Name of Allah Az-Zahir
The Apparent, The Exterior, The Manifest, The One that nothing is above Him and His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.

76. Name of Allah Al-Batin
The Hidden, The Interior, The Latent. The one that nothing is underneath Him and His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.

77. Name of Allah Al-Wali
The Governor, The Ruler, The Master. The One who owns things and manages them.

78. Name of Allah Al-Muta^ali
The Most Exalted, The High Exalted, The One Above Reproach. The One who is clear from the attributes of the creation.

79. Name of Allah Al-Barr
The Source of All Goodness, The Righteous, The Benefactor, The Pious. The One who is kind to His creatures, who covered them with His sustenance and specified whoever He willed among them by His support, protection, and special mercy.

80. Name of Allah At-Tawaab
The Acceptor of Repentance, The Relenting, The Forgiver. The One who grants repentance to whoever He willed among His creatures and accepts His repentance.

81. Name of Allah Al-Muntaqim
The Avenger, The One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. the One who destroys them.

82. Name of Allah Al-^Afuww
The Forgiver, The Effacer, The Pardoner. The One with wide forgiveness.

83. Name of Allah Al-Ra'uf
The Compassionate, The One with extreme Mercy, The Ever Indulgent. The Mercy of Allah is His will to endow upon whoever He willed among His creatures.

84. Name of Allah Al-Muqsit
The Just, The Equitable. The One who is Just in His Judgment.

85. Name of Allah Al-Jaami^
The Collector, The Comprehensive, The Gatherer. The One who gathers all His creatures on a day that there is no doubt about, that is the Day of Judgment.

86. Name of Allah Al-Ghaneiyy
The Rich, The All Sufficing, The Self-Sufficient. The One who does not need the creation.

87. Name of Allah Al-Mughnee
The Enricher, The Sufficer, The Bestower. The One who satisfies the necessities of His creatures.

88. Name of Allah Al-Mani^
The Preventer, The Withholder. The Supporter who protects and gives victory to His pious believers.

89. Name of Allah Al-Daarr
The Distresser, The Afflictor, The Bringer of Adversity. The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed.

90. Name of Allah Al-Nafi^
The Benefactor, The Propitious. The One who gives benefits to whoever He wills.

91. Name of Allah Al-Noor
The Light. The One who guides.

92. Name of Allah Al-Hadi
The Guide, The One whom with His Guidance His believers were guided, and with His Guidance the living beings have been guided to what is beneficial or them and protected from what is harmful to them.

93. Name of Allah Al-Badee^
The Wonderful, The Beautiful Maker, The Inventor, The Incomparable. The One who created the creation and formed it without any preceding example.

94. Name of Allah Al-Baqi
The Enduring, The Everlasting, The Eternal. The One that the state of non-existence is impossible for him.

95. Name of Allah Al-Warith
The Inheritor, The Heir. The One whose Existence remains.

96. Name of Allah Al-Rasheed
The Rightly Guided, The Conscious, The Guide to the right path. The One who guides.

97. Name of Allah Al-Saboor
The Most Patient, The Enduring. The One who does not quickly punish the sinners.

98. Name of Allah Malik Al-Mulk
The Ruler of His Kingdom, The King of the Universe. The One who controls the Dominion and gives dominion to whoever He willed.

99. Name of Allah Zul-Jalaal wal-Ikraam
The Lord of Majesty and Generosity. The One who deserves to be Exalted and not denied.

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American Churches ?Inspiring or Entertaining

2011-11-11T01:57:00.000-08:00

I almost stopped first at a larger church only a block from away from the little church I visited. The large brick church had a parking lot fairly full of cars and several people were going in as I drove by. I can抰 say what made me keep driving but only a block away was a little white church with two people sitting on the front steps. As I slowed down to look at the church the two people waved to me and smiled. They beckoned for me to come in. I did.

When I entered that church there were only four people already there and no more came in throughout the entire service. I made the fifth person but then I noticed beyond a doubt that there was a sixth presence there also, it was the Lord. One way I knew he was there was because of Christ抯 own promise匜or where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20. The other way seems much more subjective but to me was no less reliable. I could feel the presence of the Lord there; in fact it was so powerful I was nearly overwhelmed.

The power and sweetness of the Spirit I found in that little church was for me one of my greatest experiences and it became a litmus test for me later in life. I have been to few churches since then where the Spirit of God has moved so mightily.

I抳e attended churches where thousands of voices rang out in song and flag dancers whirled around the room. Soloists with clarion voices and perfect pitch sang special music and the preaching was polished to the nines. But often I went away un-inspired and very sure that God was not as pleased with all the fanfare as the people who attended were.

The late Vance Havner was a grand old-time evangelist who preached around the country until his late seventies. He pulled no punches and spoke as a prophet to those who had ears to hear. He said that today抯 church offered people an experience but only delivered a performance. In my experiences in the church I have tested Havner抯 statement and rarely have I found it to be faulty.

Entertainment is a multi-billion dollar business in America today. It is like a fix or an aphrodisiac to almost all Americans. Witness the tens of thousands of contestants who show up city by city to audition for things like American Idol. Everyone must either be sucking the spectaculars into their senses or helping to produce them in some way. In the secular world this could all be understood by just considering the source but when it leaks or in some cases pours into the church, it should raise some serious questions.

The idea of Christian Rap music, dancers and performers in church services, touring gospel choirs, and a myriad of other Hollywood style fluff is proof that there is more of the world in the church than there is church in the world. Some contemporary theology might find a way to justify all this but the bible does not. If the church needs to borrow a vehicle to present the gospel to the world then the power of the gospel is not supplemented but it is supplanted. Adding the flash of the worldly to the gospel weakens it and is probably displeasing to God after all協or that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15

Jesus said that if we lifted him up and simply proclaimed his gospel it would bring out the sheep. If we have to make it entertaining and gild it in gold and adorn it with buttons and bows then it is most likely not the gospel of Christ in its purest form. Jesus said he was the Rock and the whole world was sinking sand so why then would we present him with a media that will be blown away just like the sinking sands in a flood?

When we borrow from the world to present his gospel we insult its power to stand by itself and do exactly what Jesus said it would do. It is still the old time gospel that saves men and nothing more. Yes, it can be adorned with every kind of flashy presentation available today but it is most likely to be buried by it instead. The Holy Spirit convicts men of sin and leads them to the door of grace he does not entertain their senses and lead them to the back door of the church with praises for the presentation. And if the presence of God in a church is any test at all, then it may be that in many cases he doesn抰 even show up in such places.

It is best said by the use of an old analogy I heard about an old man who tried to worship in the big church but was constantly turned away. He was abjectly poor and that was seen in his shabby appearance. All who entered the church were well dressed and their culturally based congregation looked sharp each person reflecting the same level of success as their peers in that neighborhood. The services were filled with praises sang from the projected songs from the computer displayed song sheet replete with moving images of ocean waves and mighty waterfalls against golden sunsets. Theatre productions, dancers, professionally trained and well rehearsed musicians played in symphonic perfection the contemporary songs of the day. But for the old gentlemen there was no entrance. He simply looked bad and was so shabby he was repeatedly turned away at the doors.

One Sunday morning after being turned away yet once more he went behind the church and sat under a tree and wept. As he was sobbing Jesus Christ appeared to him and with a gentle voice said厰 why are you crying so sadly my son.? He said, 揃ecause I have been trying to get into that church for a long time just to worship you my Lord but they will never let me in.?Jesus replied, 揇on抰 be too sad my son, I have been trying to get in that church also, and they have not let me in either.?

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4 Gifts You Can Give To Christian Fathers On Father's Day

2011-11-10T22:20:00.000-08:00

Father's Day for Christian fathers is a special time. Not only are they celebrating the fact that they are blessed to be fathers, but also are giving thanks for having their Father, the Lord. Getting a gift for Father抯 Day for Christian fathers is as simple as going to your local religious store, located in many malls and churches. Some great gifts you can share on Father抯 Day for Christian fathers are:

The poem 揊ootprints?by Mary Stevenson (or Anonymous) ?This is a very well-known religious poem that has been placed on items of every shape and size. From throw rugs to framed art, to plaques and picture frames, to bookends and pillows, 揊ootprints?is a story that can be appreciated by Christian fathers everywhere. Make the item really special by making it yourself.
- The poem 揊ootprints?can be found in many books and online. Create a border collage of pictures around the text and add a nice frame.
- Make a plaster footprint and write the poem around it.
- If you do cross-stitching, rubber stamping or calligraphy, why not make 揊ootprints?into your own unique piece of artwork.

Bibles of every kind ?This is a gift that will keep on giving, as Christian dads can find comfort within the pages of this uplifting book. For Father抯 Day, you can find a bible with a leather cover, or personalize it with a special message created just for dad.

Crucifix Statues and Jewelry ?These pieces of artwork will be appreciated everyday, around the house or at the office. Jewelry can be found in platinum, gold or silver, while statues can be found in bronze, gold, silver, glass and porcelain.

Religious T-Shirts ?For everyday wear, these gifts are great for those fathers who like to announce to the world their love of God. With cross designs, religious figure designs and bible quotes, religious t-shirts are great on Father抯 Day for Christian fathers.

The kinds of Father抯 Day gifts you can give to Christian men are limited only by your imagination. If the gift comes from the heart, it will be cherished and appreciated for years.

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Ancient Manifesting Teachings vs. Modern Manifesting Teachings

2011-11-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

Some modern teachers pollute the manifesting process with so many needless steps when all that matters is simply aligning yourself in the most simple let powerful way. It抯 a one, two, three process and nature takes care of you. However if you don抰 know the value of the process you may over looking it.

Nature has a way of taking care of itself. The trees don抰 struggle to grow, the birds don抰 struggle to get a meal, and neither should you struggle to manifest what you want. Reality is a dream in which you are always creating your desires in every moment. This you do effortlessly whether you like it or you don抰.

Modern Teachings Will Tell You That You Need to Change Your Thinking.

While this is true to an extend its almost impossible to change your thinking from negative to positive. While you struggle to change your thinking in hopes of manifesting the things you want, you are actually working against the creative process.

The ancient manifesting teachings knew the science of the human mind and the nature of reality. They understood that the human mind and reality was difficult to conquer. You are never asked to work against yourself, doing so only causes frustration. These manifesting teachings gave you a formula and once that formula is applied results are seen. Simple! Nature takes care of you.

Manifesting is as simple as growing a tree when you know the precise tools without the unnecessary clutter of dos and don抰s.

Ancient manifesting teachings increase your magnetism to what you want to create.

Become a powerful money magnet without overworking yourself.

Increase your manifesting vision beyond your wildest imagination.

Attract what you want faster.

Attract faster than visualization and affirmations alone.

It抯 all left to you how much you are willing to learn and immerse yourself in the core teachings without over cluttering yourself with feelings of being imperfect or doing things wrong. The moment you begin to admonish yourself for doing it wrong you have already done yourself a disservice and closed yourself off from the manifesting power.

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Are Calamities, Catastrophes and Disasters Really Judgments from God

2011-11-10T06:06:00.000-08:00

Thirty five years of Bible reading has convinced me that God is not nit-picky. He doesn抰 judge every little infraction we make as we go minute by minute through the day. In fact to believe that he does borders on the insane and comes well within the borders of frivolous nonsense. What is not frivolous is that God will judge an individual, a collective group, a nation or the entire world for behavior that has 損assed beyond the mark.?He is marvelously patient but in common vernacular, He ain抰 no fool.

You抳e got to ask the question, if man judges, punishes, and corrects his offspring why wouldn抰 God? Are we greater than Him? Using the Bible lets take this question to task and that will help us to do a much needed reality check in this area.

In the book of Deuteronomy 28 1-14 there are over a dozen pronouncements of blessings to anyone who chooses to heed God抯 commandments and adhere to them faithfully as the live each day. Conversely, there are over fifty verses of curses and calamities for those who decide they are going to ignore His commands and live any way they like, Deuteronomy 28:15f. Things like madness, hemorrhoids and terrors are included in the heap just to name a few.

Any theologian worth his salt knows that the ongoing judgment for sin in this world is a sure thing and it is the very reason there is a thorn on the rose. The only question remaining is which of the disasters and other calamities that befall us are his direct judgments. This is much harder to answer.

I am an evacuee from hurricane Katrina and Rita, was that a judgment from God. I have pondered this question a lot. When I consider the areas hit by the many hurricanes in this country in the last few years I noticed one thing they all had in common. They are all play lands and resort areas in one way or another. The Florida resorts and beaches, the Gulf coast casinos and hotels, the New Orleans French Quarter and the Mexican resort play land of Cancun. Could this have anything to do with it, perhaps?

I don抰 think I抦 wise enough to know for sure if all that destruction is God抯 judgment but I am inclined to think it is. When the tsunami struck the coasts of Indonesia and other Asian countries I pondered the same question. I have become more inclined to see that disaster as Gods judgment only because I discovered a little known fact about that area only a few days after the Tsunami struck. That part of the world has the largest black market children for sale activity in the world. How large, twelve billion dollars a year large. Couple that fact with this verse of scripture fond in Matthew 18:6 and, you be the judge. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

God is not Santa Claus or a doting old grandfather in the sky who sloppily bestows endless benefits and gifts to us while ignoring our injustice and excesses. It may be a bit presumptuous to call every calamity that arises, a judgment of God but it is far more presumptuous to think he will stand idly by while we sin and party ourselves into a stupor.

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Bishop Ussher's Dates: No Proof Of A Young Earth

2011-11-09T22:10:00.000-08:00

For hundreds of years Christians have appealed to the dates formulated by the 17th century bishop, James Ussher. Using biblical genealogies from Genesis 5 and 11, and other supporting Biblical passages, he pieced together a timeline for Biblical events. Many Bibles have this timeline in the margins, indicating the estimated year that the events on that page occurred.

Many people still swear by these dates, especially the one indicated for Genesis Chapter One, 4,004 B.C. Many young-earth creationists claim that the creation week started in this year. Is it a reliable assumption that 4,004 B.C. is the beginning point for the earth? How did Ussher arrive at the 4,004 date?

Ussher and Old-Earth Belief

Ussher took a known point in Biblical history, namely, the fall of Jerusalem in 588 B.C. Counting back from there, with the Bible抯 genealogies and the known number of years that these people lived, he simply added up the dates to get back to the 4,004 B.C. date for Adam抯 birthday.

If you are an old-earth believer, there is no need to lose any sleep over Ussher and his dates, because his dates have no impact upon the events of the creation week. This is because his dates, if you choose to believe them, confirm the year of Adam抯 creation. Adam抯 creation was the last event of God抯 creation, the crowning achievement of God抯 creation, at the end of Day Six. Ussher抯 methods of calculation does not go beyond Adam抯 creation, because the genealogies he used stop with Adam, so they do not accurately account for the first five days of creation, nor to they account for most of Day Six.

Ussher claims that 23 October 4004 BC is the date of the creation of the world. While Ussher does add the six 24-hour days for the creation to his calculations, we have ample evidence today to show that the days of creation were long periods of time. All we can say for certain, if you believe Ussher, is that Adam was created on 28 October 4004 BC, which is Ussher抯 sixth day of creation.

Therefore, it is possible to fully believe in Ussher抯 dates, and also believe that the days of creation were billions of years long. The only thing to ignore is the six literal days he adds, which we know were not 24-hour days.

Many old-earth creationists, including the most prominent one today, Dr. Hugh Ross, have criticized Ussher抯 dates, in an attempt to discredit them and give support to their own old-earth theories. They incorrectly claim that Ussher抯 dates are inconsistent with the evidence from geology. However, all that is inconsistent is Ussher抯 addition of the 24-hour days of creation. They are mistaken in the belief that Ussher抯 dates threaten old-earth belief. Again, since Ussher抯 dates are based on genealogies, they only go back to the creation of Adam, and have no impact upon the preceding events of God抯 creation, which were billions of years long.

Conclusion

Ussher has almost reached the point of sainthood among fundamental Baptist believers. His dates have long been used as proof of a young earth. However, they have nothing to do with the length of God抯 creation days, since his method only goes back to the beginning of Adam抯 life. Young-earth creationists have no basis for arguing the age of the earth based on Ussher抯 dates. Old-earth creationists can even believe in the dates if they wish. If Ussher had been an old-earth creationist, his dates would have been the same, except for the six added 24-hour days of creation. The bottom line匲ssher has no impact upon the age of the earth debate, and does not support a young earth.

This article comes from the Answers In Creation website (http://www.answersincreation.org). The source article is located at http://www.answersincreation.org/ussher.htm.

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A Little More Than Fate

2011-11-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

Is there an ideal kind of life that you dream about? Perhaps your ideal life consists of more money, more friends, or more time to do the things you love. Maybe the ideal life is one filled with less work and more vacations. Having the ideal life can be as simple as starting to exercise more, losing weight and becoming healthy again. Whatever kind of life you dream about having, I guarentee that it will take a little more than fate to get you there.

Many, many people believe that fate will take them where they are supposed to go. While I do believe that everything happens for a reason, I also believe that you have an important role in making your own life amazing. I believe that creating the ideal life is not so much about fate as it is about making better choices every day.

There are many ways to assist fate in making your life great. A first important step is to take time to evaluate your life and get a clear picture of where you are really at. Be careful to not idealize your current sitation. Commit to being honest with yourself in this process. Look for areas of your life that are going well and look for areas that could use improvement or extra care. If you've left your life in the hands of fate, there is a good chance that you'll have some work to do in the weeks and months ahead.

Once you have evaluated your life clearly, take time to consider the kind of life you really want. If fate could give you any kind of life you wanted, what would it look like? Write down everything you think of even if it seems too hard to attain.

Your ideal life will not happen without intentional action. Take the description of your dream life and begin breaking it down into goals that you can work toward. If you desire to have a better job, take steps to finding a new job by looking at job postings or by inquiring at businesses in your area. The more proactive you are, the more you can cooperate with fate and change your life.

A better life is possible for every single person in the world. No matter how bad things are or how good things are for you right now, things can always get better. Work with fate instead of against it by taking action and moving toward the things you dream about. No matter what the result, your life will be richer and more full because of your proactivity.

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7 Decorative Ideas For Stained Glass

2011-11-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

Several years back, stained glass was strictly used in churches. Many people can recollect sitting in a church marveling at the detail of the glass and wondering just how it happened. But, today, stained glass can be used in many different ways. In fact, you can add it to your dcor to give your house or business an appeal like none other. How can you add stained glass to your house? Here are some ideas.

Idea 1: Windows! It makes excellent sense to add stained glass to your windows. When the light beams in, the room is filled with a wide range of colors and looks. And, you can use it in virtually any design that you would like. Add it to your front window for a unique and lavish decorative feature in your residence.

Idea 2: Doors. Many doors have that glass part of them that is hard to see through. This glass is there for security so that people can not see into the residence. But, replacing it with stained glass will give you that same beauty but will provide a lavish display on the front entrance to you residence.

Idea 3: Mirrors. For those that have large sized mirrors within their home, including those that are placed on an entire wall, stained glass can be incorporated on top of it to give a breath taking effect.

Idea 4: Vases and Bowls. An interesting way to add a little color and light into your residence is to use a vase that features stained glass. It provides hundreds of color alternatives, styles galore and even more interesting things to talk about within your house. Decorative bowls for candy are also proper here.

Idea 5: Your Coffee Table. When you have guests visit your house, do you allow them to see a dull and boring coffee table? Add a stained glass top to it and youll surely have something to talk about.

Idea 6: Lamps and Lighting. One of the beauties of stained glass is the light that it allows through. The light is modified by the colors that you have selected and can add a gorgeous tone to it. For a subtle or a dramatic look, ask for stained glass lights.

Idea 7: Cabinet doors. An excellent way to add a dcor factor to a kitchen or to your television cabinet is for the doors to them to be made of stained glass. This will give you a lavish look that is completely original. Use the colors that fit your needs and tastes, add more of those colors throughout the kitchen and get a lavish look well worth the investment.

Adding stained glass to your house is the proper way to spice things up. You choose the color scheme, the look and the design and you reap the rewards of beauty that is unlike anything else. And, when the sun shines on your stained glass, it will be nothing short of impressive.

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Basketball and Jesus

2011-11-09T06:26:00.000-08:00

Our church has an organized basketball program managed and coached by Doug White (not to be confused by our pastor who also has the same name). Recently, I asked Doug why he was so passionate about the sport of basketball, and what does basketball have to do with Christianity. I thought his philosophy may be helpful to others who desire to build a church sports program. He expounded that organized basketball can be a great Christian training ground. Doug believed it starts with the right goal in mind: building up believers for their Christian walk. Coach White adheres to the following eight principles:

1. The program leader and coaches must remember the program goal in every activity they undertake. The core to a successful basketball program is conditioning and fundamentals. Those are two things most kids will like the least because they抮e infected by television sports; where the focus is on the individual player to look as good as possible. By focusing on conditioning and fundamentals, coaches can begin to wean their kids off of the glory-seeking mentality inherent in today抯 professional sports and develop a TEAM.

2. Every practice must begin and end with a prayer and those prayers should be led by players as soon as possible. The last 15 minutes of every practice should be a Bible study lesson where the players MUST bring a lesson or verse and be prepared to give its meaning and an application to basketball or their daily lives. Every player is required to have their Bible in hand and a lesson written down inside.

3. The Bible study lesson will be one of the most emotionally challenging tasks the players will face. Not only do they have to read and understand, but they also have to speak in front of their peers. To demonstrate how simple the task really is, Coach White will lead the first 2 or 3 by turning to a chapter in Proverbs. Proverbs is an easy book to use because it抯 built around life lessons. The challenges faced on the court boil down to challenges in life: anger management, cooperation, physical effort, pain, disappointment, and joy. The requirement to have a lesson on a piece of paper can be answered simply by writing a Proverb on a piece of paper with the point the player is trying to make. Those without a Bible or lesson earn a martyr (what the secular world calls a 搒uicide? for each infraction. The penalized player will run while we prepare the lesson.

4. Coaches need to remind their players that all the heavy conditioning will be lifelong examples the players can use when basketball becomes just a fond memory. Working hard and hammering their bodies into fit vessels will make their brains more alert and able to accomplish seemingly impossible physical tasks for years into the future. And if some of the players actually choose to become missionaries, their physical training will form a great basis to endure the hardships in third world countries.

5. To successfully reach the primary goal of improving our Christian walk, basketball games become framed in the context of physical contests and opportunities to demonstrate a Christ-like attitude. Christian players do NOT challenge or complain about a referee抯 call. The Christian player appreciates the referee抯 difficult position of managing chaos and understands the thankless job they抳e undertaken. Complaining about a call, rolling their eyes, or hot-dogging earns them an immediate spot on the bench where they can see the cost to their teammates of their absence.

6. The other team is not 搕he enemy?but are brothers that challenge us. If the other team is secular, then we become a team of witnesses of how Jesus would behave and how He makes us different. The goal as a Christian team is put out an effort level Jesus would be pleased with, and an attitude that makes fans and players both wonder how it can be in today抯 world. As Christians playing basketball, we should be victorious whether we抮e winning or losing the game.

7. When the game is over, win or lose, the players must understand that God is in control. God is a 揹etails kind of guy?who has numbered the cattle on a thousand hills, so he knows exactly what went on during the game. And He watches what happens AFTER the game. Win or lose, the Christian team is the envy of every fan and every coach because of how they behave AND how they play. As the coach for a Christian team, you model that same attitude. No team is ever 揵lown out?by your team, no matter how poor their skills. Every team gets the same level of respect you want for your team -- even if that means you put a lid on your best players, denying them the opportunity to score at will. We still play hard and give our best effort, but we can always stop short of running up the score.

8. The real measure of success for the coach isn抰 the won-loss record, but the activities his players become involved in once basketball is over. A successful coach will have successful PEOPLE graduating from his program, and they, in turn, can positively affect the people they come in contact with as they go through life.

Coach White's basketball link can be found at www.ebiblechurch.net.

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Be Lifted Up!

2011-11-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

揕ift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. ?(Ps. 24:7-8) David, the author of this psalm, praising God with all his might as he enters the temple in Jerusalem, was so jubilant that he commanded the huge iron gates and doors of the sanctuary of God to be in an attitude of praise as well!

Many Scriptures, especially the psalms, remind us repeatedly to praise the Lord. When the Lord repeats His Word, it is to make you sit up and take notice. First of all, He deserves and commands praise! Then the powerful by-product is that while you are caught up in awe and adoration, you let go of your feelings and circumstances. As you look into His wonderful face, you enter a totally different realm. Your issues and pains suddenly seem far away, the devil flees as he hates praise, and joy takes a hold of you! God is literally shouting at you throughout the numerous psalms and praise verses, leading you to the secret to your success. Yes, it is the answer to your health, prosperity and happiness!

揊or ye shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.?(Isa. 55:12) What an exuberant description of praise! It reminds me of 揟he hills are alive with the sound of music,?the theme song of the movie The Sound of Music. Do you remember it? Maria, the main character portrayed by Julie Andrews, was singing and dancing across the meadows, praising God for something new He was going to do in her life. It was as if the whole world was in an attitude of praise!

Praising is the vehicle to lift you up, out of where you抮e at, right into His everlasting, loving arms! If you do not know how to start praising Him, don抰 worry. You don抰 need a how-to manual, learn a unique position, or be in a certain place. Put on a praise tape/CD and start singing. If you don抰 have one, then just start by thanking Him for being who He is and for all the things He has already done in your life. Don抰 ask Him to get you out of today抯 problems. He already knows them! Just thank Him for the outcome as He knows what is best for you.

Praise is your direct communication line with Him. It is not cluttered with debris of broken dreams and hurting circumstances. It is a pure, holy delight in your Maker, who is your Provider, your Healer and your Strength. He is the 揑 AM?of every possible situation you may be in. So, give Him the praise He is due and be lifted up into a realm of joy, hope, love and ever-increasing faith! Through praise you are telling Him that He is in control. The Lord of your life inhabits your praises! (Ps. 22:3) So, before you step into His spiritual temple to ask your petitions, 揺nter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise!?(Ps. 100: 4) Your greatest reward comes when He reciprocates! 揟he Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.?(Zeph. 3:17)

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Are You a Victim or a Conqueror?

2011-11-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

揥e are more than conquerors through him that loved us.?(Rom. 8:37 That抯 a powerful declaration! Let me ask you again: are you the victim of circumstances beyond your control? Do you blame others ?maybe even God ?for your fate? Or can you laugh despite all the turmoil inside?

The Lord reminded me of a young girl from Ethiopia whom I saw interviewed on Oprah a few months ago. Maybe you did, too. She was filmed by a Canadian television correspondent during the Ethiopian famine a number of years ago as she lay dying. She, a child of about 3 years, was a mere bag of bones, slumped limply in her mother's arms. The doctor in the refugee camp told the reporter that she would be dead by nightfall. But... she miraculously survived against all odds, was sponsored to study abroad, and got to tell her amazing story to millions thanks to the press and Oprah. She was then studying to become a nurse as she wanted to help her people and be a witness for God.

Yes, she publicly gave God the glory for her miraculous healing and everything that followed. She was glowing, happy, seemingly well adjusted and self assured. That story made me sit up and exclaim: Wow, could I be as serene and full of praise to God if I had been in her shoes? Er... I should say barefoot, as she had been, with a constantly gnawing, empty stomach with misery and death all around her for agonizing years. She had the 搑ight?to blame her circumstances, her government, the rest of the world who stood idly by, and God for her plight. She could also have accepted her lot and lived in desperation with no hope, believing that it was god抯 (yes, god with a small 揼? will, according to some beliefs.

This gal (and I wish I remembered her name ?but God knows her intimately!) knew that she had a heavenly Father who would take care of her! Whether or not she had heard of Jesus at that tender age, she had a hunger inside of her that was even more intense than the physical starvation that tried to take her life! The Lord rewarded that yearning, the groaning of the Spirit, her reaching out to Him until she truly found Him. He took her, fed her, preserved her, elevated her, and will be using her tremendously to further His Kingdom so that many more like her will become conquerors.

Romans 8: 35-36 asks the question: 揥ho shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.? Then the Apostle Paul answers in the next two verses: 揘ay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us, for I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.?
My prayer is that you, too, regardless of your past or what you抮e going through right now, will be a conqueror through the awesome power of His Love. After all, you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you!?(Phil. 4: 13)

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As an Associate/Youth Pastor I have been treated as a second class citizen?

2011-11-08T14:47:00.000-08:00

Posted: 04 Apr 2008 08:55 pm Post subject: Are Associate or Youth Pastors second class in their calling

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Isn't God good? There are times when we can get upset with those around us and only turn to One who is True and loving. I have had the pleasure of serving as a Youth Pastor and as a Senior Pastor. I have noticed slights and social Faux Pas on the part of others. What I have gleaned is there is a sense from some Senior Pastors that their calling is somehow better than those of a Youth or Associate Pastor.

We first must realize that God, who is good, is The One who calls us into a new life in His Son The Lord Jesus Christ. Our church in East Longmeadow Massachusetts ( http://www.fbcel.org ) has a maxim that we unofficially put into every effort. "All to maturity, some for service."

We are all called to be mature believers in Christ. Some, by Gods' (yes I meant to put a comma on the right side of the "s" showing plural possessive) grace are called to be ministers.

As a called-out minister we are a gift to the local church.1 God gave us to the local churches that we serve in. The times that I have been asked, "How do you know you are called?" I have answered, "You will be miserable if you don't preach or minister. If you are called by God and you don't pursue his calling you will be miserable until you submit to God and pursue His will for your work in His vineyard."

Speaking of work, one day, while attending a Pastor's fellowship (I was a Youth Pastor at the time), a Senior Pastor from another church asked my Senior Pastor for help with setting up for lunch. The other Pastor yelled across the room, "Hey Bro. ____. Why don't you grab your man and help me with these chairs." My Pastor didn't think anything about what the man had said. I wanted to shout, Hey Pastor ____. I'm God's man, not this man or any man on earth. I work for One. This man happens to sign my paycheck and I'm accountable to him... maybe I was just being a bit too sensitive at the time.

Until I went to a Pastors fellowship in a different state, where nobody knew me. As I was a bit early and alone, I approached a group of men who were cutting up and laughing. As I approached them, I introduced myself as Pastor Stevens from Springfield, MA. They all went around and introduced themselves as Senior Pastors and welcomed me. When they asked me which church I Pastored, I answered that maybe they misunderstood me, I clarified that I was a Associate Pastor.

There was an audible quieting of their jesting with me. They each in turn stopped and avoided talking with me, even though I interjected on a few points that they made. I was being treated as a second class citizen. Eventually they all avoided eye contact with me for the rest of my visit.

How about you? As a Senior Pastor have you ever looked down your nose at someone who was something other than a Senior Pastor? Or as an Associate, you have been treated as a second class citizen? Or are you that Senior Pastor that remembers what it was like to be treated that way when you were an Associate.

Sincerely

Pastor John Stevens

http://www.churchbigdog.com

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Basis of Zodiacs signs and Horoscopes ? How truthful it was?

2011-11-08T05:59:00.000-08:00

Zodiac signs and horoscopes are quite distinctive in a way that the presence of this traditional prediction still exist nowadays.

Many of us never really believe on zodiac signs and horoscopes, simply because most of people thinks that the reports comes up are baseless and inconsiderable. But the basis and evidence of astrology including zodiac horoscopes are already presents during the humane civilizations of mankind.

Astronomers and astrologers are comes up to the believes that the destiny and life of a person can be seen through the movements of stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies that are present in the galaxy. The astrological aspects and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moments of a person's birth and life events that are being charted is a peculiar stages which can be the basis of the human destiny's. Zodiac signs and horoscopes are already develop at the late 2000 BC by the Egyptians and Mesopotamians and marked the seasons by the constellations we now call Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, Aries and etc. which also represents the twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. Many believes that celestial phenomena reflect human activity on the principle of 揳s above, so below? so that the twelve signs at the same time are held to represent the twelve basic personality or characteristics of expressions.

A very strong link exists between the time of year you were born and your personality type. Everyone born under a particular zodiac signs will have at their core, basic personality characteristic that they share with other people born on the same sun-sign. The twelve signs of the zodiac form a kind of "clock" that relates directly to the sun's journey through the heavens, a orbit or cycle that takes one year to complete.

The zodiac also is broken down into smaller cycles, and each cycle has an effect on personality. The primary astrological indicators in the zodiac are, starting with the most common, Sun signs, moon signs, the ascendant and mid-heaven. The moon cycle takes just 28 days to complete, so while the sun is making it's trek through one sign, the moon will have passed through all twelve. There is another basic cycle to consider, it is related to the sign rising over the horizon as the earth rotates on it's axis. It is these particular cycles that provide the basic astrology sun-sign profile.

The following are the twelve constellations with their Latin names which gave their names to the zodiac signs, which are still used by many people and astronomers today. Aries (The Ram) is First, then Taurus (The bull), next is Gemini (The Twins), then Cancer (The Crab), next is Leo (The Lion), Virgo (The Virgin), Libra (The Scales), Scorpius (The Scorpion), Sagittarius (The Archer), Capricornus (The Sea-goat), Aquarius (The Water-bearer) and last is Pisces (The Fishes). This are the common zodiac signs and horoscopes that still used today by many of us and recognize the symbols and their meanings which is popular until now!

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Am I Just a Freak of Nature?

2011-11-07T23:10:00.000-08:00

My parents were not much into going to church but my paternal grandparents dragged my four brothers and I into church whenever possible. I went to Sunday School and sat through countless sermons ?all the while wishing I were out playing baseball or doing something fun. I had better things to do on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings then attending church services. Thinking back, I am glad I did attend. Some of it did sink in. A seed was planted.

I learned all the Bible stories, you know, Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah抯 flood, Moses parting the Red Sea, Jesus and the cross, and so on, not knowing sure what to believe. Because at the same time my school science classes were telling me something very different about who I was and how I got here. The schools pretty much had me convinced I evolved from a fish, which evolved from something even lower in a warm slimy sludge. They had me convinced I was a product of random chance events and no creator was involved or needed. I did not see much of a future beyond the grave. I did not feel good about this, but who was I to argue with scientific facts!

In my early 20抯 (a long time ago), I began to question everything I was taught. I was torn between what I was taught in church and what I was taught in school. I decided someone had lied to me and I did not like it. I still did not fully understand the whole Christianity thing and why Jesus had to die on a cross. Nevertheless, I needed to know the truth about my existence. Was I the product of a series of random accidents, or did a Supreme Being place me on this earth for a reason? I wanted to know and had to know. I had a void inside that I could not explain. I had to know why I was here and what the future held for me. This set me on a quest for the truth.

The first thing I did was to go to a local bookstore and search for the 搕ruth?in the occult section. Surely I can find all the answers to life on these shelves I thought. Believe it or not I did, or at least the answers started there. Right there, in the middle of all the astrologers, soothsayers, and modern day prophets, was a book titled 揟he Late Great Planet Earth?by Hal Lindsey. I bought the book, read it, and it completely changed the way I looked at life. I knew I had an exciting future ?an exciting eternal future, if any of this were true.

After reading that book, I sat down and read Genesis. An unexplainable chill came over me as I realized that I was reading actual history and not ancient myths. It actually frightened me a bit, knowing without a shadow of a doubt the events really happened. I bought another one of Hal抯 books titled 揟he Liberation of Planet Earth? that went into great detail of who Jesus was and is, and why God had to become a man and die on a cross. Another chill came over me as when I knew it was a historical fact that Jesus actually rose from the dead. I finally understood God抯 plan ?from creation to eternity. The lights in my head suddenly came on. It all made sense.

I then set out on a journey to study everything I could find on atheistic evolution (the type of evolution taught in public schools in the USA), and creation. All the living things around me took on new meaning. I looked at them differently. I could look at a bird or ant and I could see incredible design and purpose. I studied, in great detail, the cardiovascular and vision systems of humans. I studied the workings of the simplest life form, the cell. I concluded the chances of atheistic evolution being the process of which life evolved on earth was absolute zero, not mention the origin of life springing up from non-life in some slimy sludge also being absolute zero.

No, I am not a freak of nature, but one who has an exciting destiny in eternity, and placed here for a reason by a loving Creator. Since that day in the bookstore, I have been on an incredible and exciting journey and I have never looked back.

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Basis of Zodiac signs and Horoscopes, How truthful it was?

2011-11-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

Zodiac signs and horoscopes are quite distinctive in a way that the presence of this traditional prediction still exist nowadays.

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America ?You抳e had it Made Too Long

2011-11-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

There is little doubt that America is riding the wave. She is at the peak of her power and at the top of her game. Trying to get her attention would be a lot like trying to stop a train with a handkerchief. Every similarity to previous world powers notwithstanding our collective national behavior is so close to ancient Rome that all that is missing is the togas. The land of the mighty Caesars made a noise heard round the world for a season then died alone in a protracted whimpering that went largely unnoticed as the world entered the modern era. What can we learn from this? Leaving this question unanswered might normally imply that the answer is understood, however, it is apparent that for Americans nothing at all is understood.

The dangers are ignored, the warnings go unheeded, and the party goes on. Contrasts of our lifestyle and that of other nations make us all the more pompous and less willing to question our own indulgence. We have been all to willing to conclude that there must be something wrong with those guys over there. The prophet, bard and poet must now curb their urgency and put out a more entertaining message in keeping with the tone of the party spirit. We are only one step away from jailing, hurting or killing the messengers who provide us with a call to conscience. Or have we already taken our first few baby steps in that direction.

Like a mangy little dog scampering behind us and nipping at our heals comes the ACLU standing up for the rights of Gays and Lesbians while beating down manger scenes at Christmas and Ten Commandment plaques in public buildings. It makes me wonder if even common heroism has fallen victim to perversion. Are these acts heroic, are they really protecting our freedoms?

In Pennsylvania a law was recently rammed through the legislature that makes it illegal for a minister of the gospel to quote passages of the Bible from the pulpit that cite homosexual behavior as a sin. That law has been challenged by people with a bit of common sense still left to them in that state.

In Iraq and Afghanistan we are kept from entering and searching mosques that are known centers for Islamic jihad groups or where weapons are stockpiled and cached. They are considered cultural centers and thus are placed off limits. Contrast this to the latest effort to keep military chaplains from praying in the name of Jesus Christ with those who they are sheparding. Chaplains are guarding the spiritual welfare of our own soldier citizens, is that any less important than the cultural traditions of foreigners?

On a recent ride through a rural district of Arkansas I noticed that there was a church building about every one and a half miles on the road I was on. There were Pentecostal, Full Gospel, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Nazarene, Catholic and some unheard of varieties of churches stretched out in profusion for well over two hundred miles. As I drove I was thinking of an old adage spoken by one of our most well known missionary pioneers who said厰why should anyone hear the gospel twice when there are so many people in the world who have not even heard it once?I wondered if this profusion of churches laid out to us like a grand spiritual buffet is just taken for granted. No, I抦 sure that it is.

After retuning home I saw a picture on the internet that I couldn抰 help but contrast to the highway of churches I had just encountered. On a news site online was a picture of three Indonesian policemen standing behind three seated women they were guarding. The policemen were in full dress complete with strapped gun holsters, uniforms with arrays of badges and medals and a stern look of duty etched across each sullen face. In front of them were seated three average looking Indonesian women garbed in light blue prison jumpers. Three middle aged elementary school teachers who had just been sentenced to three years each for teaching their young students about Jesus Christ in their predominantly Muslim school sat stunned as sentence was pronounced. Save that Mosque but waste the lives of three harmless but dedicated educators, now that抯 good thinking.

So over here it may not seem so bad厃et. Hollywood would have to make stumbling wimpy idiots of most gospel ministers; it goes with the territory and may seem even a bit tolerable after all. If you抮e going to pump out a secular world view full of profanity and degenerate living you don抰 want gospel preaching ministers to be taken too seriously. It would be too hard to sell a product if the naysayer抯 were allowed a soap box from which to stand and proclaim that the product was trash within the very medium the product was sold through.

Should a dedicated Christian happen to slip through the cracks with the gospel on their lips and a life to back it up, they too would be relegated to the class of the disdained. It seems acceptable to make fun of the born againers and bible thumpers in media and in society in general. No one cares if you strip half naked, paint your face and act like a frenzied baboon on a psychedelic drug at a football game卼hose are fans are they not? But those who get even nominally excited about God are always labeled協anatics. It is unlikely that Americans notice such double standards, since we are so bent on disregarding any standards at all.

We have gone from a state of utter dependence on God as we did during our pioneer days and then on to seeking the presence of God in our formative years as a nation. But now we are entering that place where we don抰 even like to retain the knowledge of God at all in our thinking or living. What will be the result of all this and what can we expect next? I will let the Bible answer that.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Romans 1:28

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A House For The Devout On The Web - Build A Website For Your Religious Institution

2011-11-07T05:49:00.000-08:00

When you are apart of a religious institution, you have a responsibility to reach a wide range of people. Not only the congregants who attend services or meetings but also those who are interested in attending as well as those curious about the workings and tenets of your religion. When you build your own website, you have the ability to cater to all of these needs in detail and with ease. Here are just a few ideas on what a religious institution might like to have on their website.

A mission statement for your institution. What does your institution stand for? Is your institution different from others in your sect? Are there specials standards or beliefs that your institution adheres to? This is the page to lay out what it is that your group or religion stands for, your goals, and where you are in attaining those goals.

The history of your institution. Whether your institution is brand new or it started 150 years ago, a brief history of how your group got to where it is now may interest those who are considering joining you. As values, leaders, and goals changed, so may have your institution.

The history of your religion. Some may come to your site in hopes of learning more about your religion in general. Describe the origins and build up to the changes that led your particular group to practice the way that they choose. Offer profiles of important leaders and prophets. Outline basic tenets, guidelines, or commandments that are important to the foundation of your religion. Offer links to more information or contact information should readers have questions and would like to speak to a religious leader from your group.

Schedules and directions. Whether visitors need to find your building for a wedding or other ceremony, potential members want to know where you are located, or members would like to find out when a special event will happen or times for evening services, this is the page for it on your website. You will be able to easily update and make changes through your web host if necessary and even include contact information for group leaders should anyone have questions about the content and focus of a group.

A page for each group in your institution. In addition to the schedule on your web site, you may offer links on the schedule to a page dedicated to that particular group. This group page may have meeting times and event locations as well as leader contact information, upcoming special events, themed studies, and announcements. Member birthdays or special announcements, mission of the group, and group members and contact information may also be included.

Updates. The whole of your religious institution, if not large now, is growing. It may be difficult to keep up with everyone's news. Whether it's a marriage, a birth, or a death, a page dedicated to the special events in the lives of the congregants or members will help keep your religious institution as connected as any family.

Forums. Interactive forums are easy to build through your web host. Members can easily contact one another and discuss topics relevant to the institution at large or for individual groups. This is a great place to put a call to action or describe open volunteer positions or upcoming opportunities to serve the community.

Service notes and highlights. In order to assist your members in better learning the materials offered at meetings, it may be of interest to provide study guides or notes for future meetings as well as the scripture or holy writing references so that they may read ahead.

Contact information. Whether there are corrections, suggestions, or questions, certainly your religious institution will want to be accessible to the community. Posting contact information on your site will allow members and visitors alike to have equal access to those in leadership positions and create a larger community.

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Are we just physical beings?

2011-11-07T01:56:00.000-08:00

Here's something that I have discovered:

In the presence of a qigong or taiji master, a layperson may feel unusual, often discomforting sensations within their body. Some may feel giddy or develop stomachaches. Yet others may feel heat brewing within them. I know several qi-gong masters, so I am familiar with these sensations. How can somebody without even touching you, cause so much physical sensation in the other? Could it be that somehow these qi-gong experts have around them a formidable but invisible energy field?

So, are we just a body? Metaphysical and esoteric teachings tend to think otherwise. So do I. We are definitely more than a physical body.

The construct of a Being (Human) consisted of more than the mere physical body. Although not complete, the anatomy consists of Subtle Bodies & Chakras.

Subtle Bodies

The subtle bodies are energy vehicles that overlay the physical one. The energy bodies are associated with the various vibrational dimensions. Like the dimensions, the bodies interpenetrate one another and stack up higher and higher in vibration. It seems for every corresponding vibrational range (dimension and sub-dimension) there is an associated body.

From my understanding, the subtle bodies or cognitive vehicles interpret the intention/information/impulse from it's Source. The source is pure awareness, and by down-stepping into various vehicles, its reflections becomes our personality.The sequence of down-stepping, as I understand it, goes something like this:
Pure awareness>>> sensing/feeling (thought without definition)>>> mental thought (images, language) and/or emotions (happiness, anger, fear, etc).

Most human beings are aware primarily of their mental thoughts and emotions, which form their personality. However, as you can see, the real identity of a Being is more than that. A person who is sensitive to the 'sensing/feeling (thought without definition) stage of cognition can be described as being intuitive.

Chakras

According to Tantric philosophy and Yoga, chakras are energy vortexes or channel wheels in the energy bodies. They are energy centers that process life force energies. Contrary to popular belief, they are not restricted to the teachings of the Buddhist and Hindu Yogis. The shamans of South America knew about them as well. The Taoist tradition also has a system of power points along the Central Channel of the body that nearly corresponds to the location of the chakras.

Each chakra governs a specific area of articulation and expression. Chakras can be under active, overly active or in balance. When in balance and working properly, they allow the person to have healthy self-expression. Chakra also nourishes the surrounding physical organs by supplying energy. So a properly functioning chakra, denotes physical and psychological well-being in the associated areas.

The human energy system is not made solely of chakras and subtle bodies only. Prana or chi which is the universal life force permeates the energy fields. It has been said that meridian and/or nadis carry these chi or prana throughout the energy field.

My conclusion is that we are certainly more vast than what we think we are.

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An Online Bible Resource and Daily Devotional for the Christian Community

2011-11-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

We offer this online bible resource for the edification of the whole person in Christ. We are to know God and not just know about God. This is a profound and counterintuitive quest that requires the miraculous power of God at work in us to achieve the end in mind.

This website is an online bible dialogue of spiritual things, for those who want to experience God intimately and intelligently, based on the message from Scripture that is - above all things - God抯 personal objective communication to us from outside of time and space.

It is our particular interest to invite those who are seeking a deeper experience from God, who is the personification of Truth itself, to take a spiritual journey with us through a thought provoking dialogue about the concepts in Scripture that are hard to both teach and to grasp.

We rely on this key thought from the New Covenant promise: That God Himself is our Teacher by virtue of His inner presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Wow...there抯 a few concepts from the Bible that we can start chewing on right away!

Perhaps we can grow together into a faith-based community of believers who cannot get enough of the Truth and who desire to be transformed by God抯 love! We抣l see. But first we need to begin by reading and thinking together. What has God spoken and how can we know it? How can we take these objective truths and experience God Himself in accordance with the terms He has laid out for us?

We join together in our progressive quest of lifelong learning, as an online bible community of faith, searching out the mind of Christ in developing the inner life.
We are the Body of Christ... meeting online... Spirit led... Bible based... spiritually alive in Christ... raised from the dead... forever!

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A Step to Spiritual Greatness

2011-11-06T16:53:00.000-08:00

What is worse than someone who always wins?

Someone who knows they do and gloats over it.

There is no pleasure in watching these types. What we might otherwise admire is destroyed by the even greater contempt we have developed for them. So what if they are good? If they behave as if they rule the world, then it is not admirable.

There was a famous heavy weight boxer who modestly called himself "The Greatest". Before his peak he was certainly mighty at his trade, and had some admirable qualities. "The Greatest" he was not. Past his peak, with body and mind going to seed, his title was an ironic joke. There was nothing left to admire.

What is admirable and praiseworthy is someone who, though excelling, is humble with it. They don't strut around with self-importance badged on their chest. They only did their best. In these people we can admire the achievement, and also the person. We praise them on two accounts.

Albert Einstein, considered one of the greatest brains of recent centuries, wrote:

'My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit, who reveals Himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind'

Humility is an essential part of a believer's character. We may get praise for something, but it does not do to bask in the glory and let it go to our head. Why should we spoil a good work?

The Pharisees did some good works, but by proudly publishing their achievements "they had their reward". They got the praise of men they wanted. They even thought they would get a guaranteed eternal reward because they were that good! No doubt they were a little surprised at Christ's comments.

Pride spoils achievement. It blinds us to our faults and makes us devalue the part that God has played. So let us not spoil our hope of salvation.

Some of the greatest men in the Bible were only great because of their humility.

Moses was the meekest of all the men of the earth - God's words not ours. He had that poor speaking voice which made him feel he wasn't up to the task. In fact, he was so humble and unassuming that he repeatedly had leadership challenges from those who felt they could do it better.

Although he had good reason not to do so, Moses humbly took on the faults of others, and appealed to God on their behalf and his. What leader today would accept other people's faults? What leader today became a leader because of their humility? What voters today would vote for someone displaying humility?

What God admires is humility. We can all achieve this. Being humble is within the grasp of every one of us, whether we are incredibly gifted or good looking or whether we devalue our own abilities or lack confidence.

One way to be humble is to remember past failings. The apostle Paul did this, bitterly regretting his persecution of the church. Paul may have been the greatest of the apostles, but he called himself the least.

Some of the greatest men of faith were those who remembered their faults throughout their lives. In fact it was the memory of these faults that produced a humility which made them spiritually great.

Sometimes God brought about difficulty and suffering in believer's lives to help them be humble. Paul's thorn in the flesh is the clearest example. I wonder if some of the problems in our own lives are to bring us kicking and screaming to humility?

The good news is that we can use our faults to create our own humility. Let us not beat ourselves over the heads because of them, because we are all forgiven sinners. Rather we should have a healthy appreciation of our limitations, and behave as though we appreciate them.

One behaviour pattern that doesn't help is that of comparing ourselves with others. "Oh, we're are not as bad as so-and-so." So-and-so may well be chosen because we can easily match them. God's advice is that it is not wise to compare like this. If we compare ourselves with Christ, that will soon wipe the smirk off our face.

Humility with excellence is wonderful to behold. Strength and power in the hands of the kind and gentle is awesome. Knowledge and understanding only used for good is truly great knowledge and true understanding. Only God achieves this. The real gentle giant. Praise Him alone and not oneself.

Christ showed the way. "Don't call me good. No one is good but God".

Compared to God, we are bits of dust and ash. We are like ants. Less than a worm. So why should we boast?

The first step to spiritual highness is through our humble lowness. This step is one which we must all take.

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Basic Understanding of Astrology & Horoscopes!

2011-11-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

Astrology existed since time began. Through the study of the planets and signs of the zodiac your future can be forecasted and an understanding of your real self can be known. This is commonly known as horoscopes

At your exact time of birth all the planets, the moon and sun are in a certain pattern, this can be thought of as a birth chart or natal chart and can be used to discover your personality and pathway. Some see this chart as an interpretation of the life that is to be lived before you and the challenges that you will have to overcome. As your main reason for your existence is to learn and gain experience the birth chart can help explain what these experiences will be. It can also explain lessons to be learned and issues that will need to be faced in certain areas of a person's life. But what ever these may be it is important to remember that all of the lessons and trials you will experience are there to aid you in your growth and further you in life's experience.

You will also be able to see strengths that you have to aid you, these strengths are normally in areas you have already mastered and like the new strengths you acquire in this life will be there to help you forever.

Through the use of the information contained in your horoscope you can also obtain information on why you behave the way you do and why you are drawn to certain types of work and people.

By understanding your self better you can make greater use of the things you are good at performing and have a more in depth idea of the things you don't. This can be of great benefit in showing us the right path rather than us taking years to find it ourselves.

A horoscope can never show how you are going to "play" this hand. While you usually have freedom of choice or free will, the horoscope does reflect natural inclinations that you have to live with, lessons you have to learn, issues to be faced, and problems to be solved.

The horoscope can also be useful when you require a better understanding about others around you. You can discover just what makes them act the way they do and whet would really make them happy. It can also be interesting to find out why they act the way they do. While astrology can provide incredible keys to understanding, but it doesn't provide clear and simplistic answers to any problems with which you may be dealing.

What ever your use of the horoscope and astrology, the information will give you an insight into a world that you may have little knowledge of and provide a valuable source of information. In continuing you can take various paths depending on the information you seek and the time you wish to spend on it.

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Bible Road Map - Or the Road Less Traveled

2011-11-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

In the last few years we have witnessed a woman who drowned her children just to keep her rich boyfriend. An ice skating competitor who had the legs of her top rival broken so she could win. We have seen a mother hire a hit man to eliminate her daughter抯 competition in baton twirling championships. Another man destroyed his pregnant wife to be able to play the field, and live the life of a playboy.

Perhaps the most unbelievable of all was a woman who killed a pregnant woman then cut her open and stole her unborn baby. I take exception with those who take exception with me for saying, that we have a nation of potential criminals and crackpots in our own children.

We have created this dangerous potential by giving our children anything and everything they want or call for. When they enter the real world, the work a day world where they must fend for themselves suddenly the silver platter is withdrawn and the reality is too much to handle for some. We have forgotten the days of our austerity when as pioneers, plainsmen, and immigrants we were thankful to have our most basic needs met. We have elevated our wants and desires to the level of the sacred.

We imitate and borrow from the language of the greedy with our preoccupation with the prosperity gospel of today抯 preachers. You will be just as likely to find today抯 churches teaching us how to invest our money as how to get saved. Being born again is mocked and set aside in favor of instruction in the stock market, retirement funds and get rich schemes. Add to this, that modern psychology, sociology and other behavioral and environmental scientists have repeatedly warned us that poverty leads to crime and social upheaval of every kind. You can only imagine what America would look like if virtually every extra and almost all essentials were at a premium, if they could be found at all. It does not paint a very good picture.

The ancient city of Sodom was rebuked by the prophet Ezekiel. Everyone knows the sins of ancient Sodom but in Ezekiel抯 rebuke, the root cause for Sodom抯 sin is revealed. In Ezekiel抯 rebuke there is a warning for us to recognize the same cause festering in our land today. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Eze.16:49

Ezekiel抯 rebuke comes to my mind every time I hear some one refuse to give a few dollars to a children抯 organization because they think the child won抰 get all the money. But no one seems to even notice, much less demand a tax refund when a four hundred million dollar Jupiter probes go haywire and becomes useless. Movies are made that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to produce, whose messages and images would he better left in a garbage can. Tax money is spent on everything from the study of the flow of ketchup to the nocturnal habits of lesbians. Concupiscence and waste are rampant in every level of society and government, while personal responsibility and prudent stewardship has become an ethical relic of sorts. Where does it end?

I have no doubt that the chastisements of America will be the sudden and complete removal of nearly all essential goods and personal wealth. Something on the order of the dust bowl and the stock market crash combined, but multiplied many times over will soon befall this country. How this will come about is not certain but that is not my concern at this moment. I would prefer to see millions of Americans coming to their senses and turning back to God in humility and thereby avoiding this great portent, but I am sure that this is not what they are going to do.

A few years ago I was singing and playing guitar in some folk music venues. I produced three albums of Irish, folk, bluegrass and gospel songs before I published a compilation of my original songs. Among them is one I named An American Lament, I tried to present it as a Christian song but in the most subdued fashion. I wanted a message without the mush. I think I was able to accomplish that and that is why I present it here to appendage this section.

Many tall mountains, many long valleys
Many the white plains, that stretch out so far
All deep flowing rivers, rise cresting to meet me
Two shimmering oceans, with soft sandy shore

Darkly thick are the woodlands, the tall trees are bending
From beyond the soft west wind, drives the waves to the shore
Free flies the eagle, free rolling in blue skies
On high still the master, of all he surveys

Her people have proud eyes, all resting so carefree
They've left their strong towers, passing on to and fro
All beauty before them, great mountains and rivers
Yet groping like blind men, who can't find the door

Bard, prophet and poet, sing haply their bright songs
But the heart that is searching, can see somethings wrong
To pierce through the dark cloud, the heart always wonders
But to grow into greatness, the hearts made to cry

But this land is not my land, this home its not my home
For I've never yet been there, not now or before

Rev Bresciani is the author of two popular Christian books, one on the second coming of Christ. He has hundreds of articles published both online and in print.
Visit the website at www.americanprophet.org

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Blessed to Be a Blessing

2011-11-06T05:47:00.000-08:00

To be blessed means to be consecrated, set apart, and highly favored. When God blesses you, He does not leave anything out. It is more than personal happiness, wealth or well-being. He sees His flock as holy, chosen by Him to be a peculiar people, high above all nations in praise, in name and in honor! (Deut. 26: 18-19) In other words, His blessings are designed to make you stand out from those who do not know Him! What makes you peculiar is that you are chosen to be a royal, holy priest for Him. In this role you are to be a blessing, not only to those around you but first and foremost to Him, who has called you out of darkness into His glorious light! (1 Pet. 3:9).

Blessings, therefore, depend upon your obedience to God and being a blessing to Him and others. First, you must obey His voice and keep His commandments. (Ex. 16:5-6) In order to hear His voice and be able to distinguish it from all other voices you must know Him and acknowledge Him as lord over your life. His law will then be written on the tablets of your heart, and you will be in a position where blessings shall actually overtake you. Yes! They will not only follow you but run out ahead of you, waiting for you to receive them! What kind of blessings? You will be blessed whether you live in the city or on the land; your family and livestock will be fruitful; you will always have more than enough food and supplies whether at home or far away. Your enemies will be defeated, and everything you set your hand to will be blessed. Yes, everyone will sense that you are His and that they should have respect for you. Furthermore, you will have many possessions; you will lend and not borrow, and you will not be oppressed but rise above every situation that comes your way. (Deut. 28:1-13)

King David was the perfect example of giving and receiving blessings. I love Psalm 63, where he tells God how his soul thirsts for Him and seeks Him first thing in the morning. David describes the world without God as a dry and thirsty land where no water is. He longs to see God抯 glory and power! He describes God抯 blessings as lovingkindness, that are better than life itself! He tells God that: 揃ecause thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.?(ps. 63:7) It抯 such a beautiful depiction of how we are to adore Him, as David did, blessing Him with our lips, giving Him our heartfelt thanks ?even before we receive anything from Him!

In Proverbs 8 17-21 it is as if the Lord answers David: 揑 love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches add righteousness. My fruit is better than gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment; that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.?
Be on the look-out for your share of blessings. They are ready to overtake you! Expect them, thank Him for them, and position yourself mentally, emotionally and physically to receive them.

揝eek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mat. 6:33)

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A Faith Building Device

2011-11-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

Thirteen times, in the book of Hebrews, the author uses an edifying, faith building Greek device. This device usually begins with the expression 搇et us.?I call it simply a 搇et us exhortation.?

In other words, when an author used this grammatical device, he/she simply exhorted someone to join in with him/her in an action. He/she could exhort one to join in and help start an action that had not yet begun.

Or he/she could exhort someone to join in an action that had begun already: namely an action that was in progress and in which the author or speaker was already engaged.

In Hebrews, both kinds were used by our author. See his 揕et Us Exhortation # 5?below.

Heb 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (KJV)

In this passage, 揕et us?signifies that the author is already engaged in the action of boldly coming to the throne of Grace. He is presently coming to this throne to get some things.

First, he goes there to obtain mercy. Second, he goes there to find grace to help. Third, he goes there to get the above two things in a timely fashion, when the need arises.

By using the 揕et Us Exhortation Device,?our author exhorts his readers to join in with him in an action already in progress and in which the author himself is already engaged.

He is already coming boldly into the very throne room of God himself. He is coming into that awesome room to get some things.

He does it boldly. He is not a wimp. He knows who he is. He knows what the promises are. He knows what is his.

He goes in boldly to get them. He exhorts all his readers to join in with him in this ongoing action. We should also join in with him in this ongoing action.

The blessings he sought in the throne room were promised him in the Abrahamic covenant. This Abrahamic promise included healing, prosperity and family well being in addition to salvation.

The blessings he had are also ours by grafting. Gentile Christians are included in this same Abrahamic covenant right along with the Jews. Consequently, healing, prosperity, family well being as well as salvation belong to us also.

For these reasons we can come into the throne room just as boldly as the author of Hebrews. No wonder this author used this faith building, Greek device to exhort us ( we Gentile Christians are included by grafting) to enter into this same throne room right along with him. We have the same right to enter and get what we need when we need it.

Go ahead. Go into the throne room now. If your need is healing, prosperity, family well being in addition to your salvation, go ahead and enter the throne to obtain timely. It is your God given right.

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Being Hypocritical About A Truth Does Not Invalidate The Truth.

2011-11-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

Do a Christian's actions change the truth?

Let's say I was standing in front of you smoking a cigarette and said, "Smoking is bad for you! You ought not to smoke."

Will you say to me, "You are a hypocrite and therefore what you are saying must be false. Therefore, smoking must be good for you." That is absurd.

However, rational people will actually say, "Christians are hypocrites and therefore what they are saying must be false. Therefore, there is no God."

That is an error in logic called a non sequitur. It is an inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence; a statement that does not follow logically from what preceded it.

Are Christians hypocrites? If a Christian says to you, "You should be like me; a perfect person who does no wrong." Then yes, that Christian is a hypocrite. However, I have yet to hear any Christian, that is, a follower of Christ, make such a statement.

What Christians are most often heard saying is this, "You ought not to sin." And this means different things depending on to whom it's directed.

What an atheist thinks he hears is this: "You are a bad person unlike me who is a good person." If this was what was truly said then hypocrite is a worthy label.

This statement "You ought not to sin", however, is usually, or at least should be, directed only to Christians. When a Christian says, "You ought not to sin", he means: You ought to obey God's laws because He loves you, He knows what's best for you, and because of what He did for you your desire should be to obey Him.

Why would I say that the moral imperative that one "ought not to sin" be directed only towards Christians? Because there is no reason to tell an atheist he ought to act according to God's laws. What would be the point? Biblically speaking an atheist's actions, whether moral or immoral, will have the same result: eternal separation from God. So telling an atheist he ought to be good does nothing for his eternal soul.

So while it is understandable to say, "You ought not to sin" to a Christian, to an atheist it would be better to explain to them how Jesus died for our sins and that without Him we are all sinners separated from God.

Are Christians hypocrites? One of the greatest apostles of the Bible writes this,

Rom 7:18,19 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."

For followers of Jesus Christ, who understand that man is a fallen and sinful creature, battling the flesh is a moment-by-moment struggle. "We're not perfect, just forgiven" some say.

However, regardless of the actions of those claiming association with God, God and His truth do not change. Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I change not."

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4 Steps to Christian Inspiration

2011-11-05T06:30:00.001-07:00

Many times we study how to do things faster and better but we skip the essential step of inspiration. When we are inspired by the Holy Spirit we have a wealth of ability with which to work. When we are empowered by Christian inspiration we 揷an do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us?(Phil. 4:13, KJV). We read in Job: 揃ut there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.?(Job 32:8, KJV)

One of the most important things to remember as we study Christian inspiration is that when we are inspired we must use our inspiration for the glory of God and to do His will. Jesus tells us: 揃ut seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.?(Matt. 6:33, KJV) We must first seek His righteousness and His will before we will be able to use His inspiration for both His glory and our growth and benefit.

There are 4 steps to achieving success through Christian inspiration:

1. Recognize that everything we have is from God and that everything we do should be to glorify the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God gives us His Spirit and His inspiration to be used for His glory. Job says of God (the Ancient): 揥ith the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.?(Job 12:12-13, KJV) God holds all the wisdom in the earth and only He can dispense of it.

2. Ask God for the inspiration that you need. 揂sk, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you?(Matt. 7:7, KJV) Before we can be given the wisdom of God and His inspiration, we must first ask Him for it. James tells us: 揑f any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5, KJV)

3. Purpose to use the wisdom and Christian inspiration He gives you for His glory and His purpose. Once we are given wisdom and inspiration, we have a tremendous responsibility to use it prudently. Jesus Himself tells us: 揊or unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.?(Lk. 12:48b, KJV).

4. Practice using Christian inspiration. Once you have Christian inspiration, you must practice using it. So often we are given a gift and we do not use it. Just like any skill we might learn, Christian inspiration is most effectively used long-term when we daily accept it. When you are inspired or have an inspired thought about something you have been struggling with, write it down, or immediately put it into action. When you use the Christian inspiration you are given, you likely place yourself in an ideal position to receive future inspiration.

Now you have 4 basic steps to Christian inspiration. When you consistently apply these four steps, and spend time with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself on a daily basis, you will be able to tap into a nearly limitless supply of inspiration. Take the time to study the accompanying Bible verses in this article, and meditate on the Word of God daily.

You have my permission to reprint and distribute this article as long as it is distributed in its entirety, including all links. ?Sean Mize 2006

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Emotional Baggage

2011-10-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

We all have them. It has many faces.We carry them around us, We store them in the remotest part of our brain, in the deepest chambers of our hearts.We have them in our extensive database of memories. Some are so close to the heart, it brings out tears at the slightest provocation. Others may feel anger, very deep resentments and may exhibit anti-social or antagonistic behaviours.

Shadows follow and haunt many, in their dreams or waking hours, in unlikely places, unexpected and intimidating. Uncontrollable anger that can lead to violence can explode without warning.

Others will live in denial and spend their lives disconnected with the real world. Some will find blame in everyone except themselves; it抯 always the other person抯 fault. What about victims and the victimizers?

Many are lost searching for something, they can not identify. Something is missing. A mass of lonely faces line the crowded streets, sit in public places, in schools, agonize through the day in the workplace, gather at churches perhaps to seek solace. Everyday.we see a vast sea of sad , depressed and unfriendly faces. Our roads are open avenues to lash out their frustrations, thus uncontollable road rage. Scary.

Emotional excess baggage demands a high price at times. There are those who succumb to the weight of this burden, it gets too much to bear. They find no further reason to keep up the fight. Life loses its lustre, they find the world cruel, their existence meaningless.To them, the fight over, if there ever was one.

There are many who go through life like a driftwood,l et the current take them wherever, it does not matter anymore. Is our world this cruel?

What causes these emotional suffering?

Broken dreams, broken relationships, failed careers, lost hopes, betrayals, violations, childhood trauma, or other forms of trauma ,add to this health issues. Social disgrace, financial disasters, poverty and addictions cast deep emotional scars to the most vulnerable members of the family and society.

Is our fast-paced society to blame? Add to this the pursuit of material success, endless toys,gadgets and exponential advances in technology. Fragile relationships, weakening family ties, unreasonable expectations of self
and of others add to the already overstuffed emotional baggage.Some carry them for a long, long time.

All is not lost,if we take a moment to listen to our deeper needs, beyond the physical. There is a flood of information, organizations, professionals and other resources most communities offer. Deep emotional suffering is a critical
issue that can no longer be ignored, by society and by those who suffer. There is more to life.

Wisdom of the ages from different cultures and beliefs are revived or revised to suit the present psyche of society. It offers a holistic approach , involving the whole person抯 mind, body and spirit.

The wonders of medical and scientific research are vast,although pill-popping is not always the best answer.

Take stock of the weight of your emotional baggage .

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"The Inside is What Counts"

2011-10-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings self-help readers,

This article will deal with what is on the inside of us. Who we are on the inside, seems to show up on the outside no matter how hard we try to hide it. You have no doubt heard of people wearing their hearts on their sleeves and this is because what is in our hearts are some deep emotions. You can be the best actor/actress in the world but if you are hurting inside you are in bad emotional shape. You can mask your pain with a smile or a laugh but that pain is still there. You can not make that pain disappear with alcohol or drugs it simply returns when the narcotic is out of the system. Medication will also need to be constantly taken if one is on anti-depressants. Why? Because the heart itself, what is on the inside of every single person on this planet is never dealt with. God speaks of people who honor Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him. God knows what is inside of all of us. The choice can be to run from who we are. To pour ourselves into various addictions to get away from who we are. We must however deal with who we really are if we are to move past any pain in our lives.

Before my darling mother passed away, she uttered the words it is time to move on to my wife and I. Those words were very hard to hear but they still ring true today as I am reminded of them when I reflect back on my last days with her. I could have chosen to stay in the emotional state of numbness that I was in during her last days on earth or proceed to keep all the great memories of my mother in my heart and enyoy the rest of the time that God has given me on the earth. The choice was mine. It was a difficult one but one that I believe that all of us must make when it comes to dealing with who we are. If I chose to stay in a state of numbness and deal with it by working too much or withdrawl I would too busy focusing on myself. I would miss out on spending time with my amazing wife and daughter and I would never be able to get that time back.

Take a look at who you are inside. Talk about the pain with someone you can trust and move on. You can do it. You must do it if you are to be the very best that you can be. Choose not to live in the past because you will miss the very future that God has planned for you.

Much continued positive attitude success,

The creator of "Positive Attitude Secrets"

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How Breathing Differently Can Make You Happier

2011-10-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

"When you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe, you expire." ?Quote from an 11-year-old抯 science exam

John Grinder, co-creator of NLP talks about the link between respiration, physiology, internal state and high performance. He calls this 憈he chain of excellence? I recently read a book by Osho, the wonderfully non-PC mystic and guru. In the book, Osho instructed the reader to pay attention to their breathing rate when they were sad, and notice the timing of the in-breath and out-breath. He explained that next time they were happy, they could re-induce the sad state by merely repeating the breathing pattern. Fortunately, he added, it works the other way round too!

Follow some or all of these exercises;

Firstly; When you are experiencing a powerful, positive state, allow yourself to become aware of your breathing rate. Pay particular attention to the timing and rhythm of your in-breath and out-breath.

Secondly; Next time you are in a neutral or negative state, start breathing at the rate and rhythm from exercise one, and within a minute or so, the positive state should begin to return.

Many gurus advise people to do breathing exercises regularly. I know Tony Robbins does in his marvellous book 揢nlimited Power?he advises that you start each day with a breathing exercise of inhaling slowly and deeply, then holding it for twice as long as the inhalation and exhaling in twice the pace. It really is invigorating and a great way to get motivated at the start of the day, especially if you are looking to do some things with your day that require motivation.

Breathing is powerful, our life force and is a major factor influencing our state of mind (if you uncertain about this, hold your breath for two minutes & re-read this sentence) This being the case, please use your common sense when doing any of these exercises (if you have a respiratory condition, please check with your health advisor first.) I do not want any asthmatics complaining that they did themselves harm following these exercises!!

So, thirdly; Start breathing comfortably but deeply, in through your nose & out through your mouth. Imagine that you are breathing from that area of your abdomen just beneath your belly button. Make the in-breath last to a count of 5 and the out-breath to a count of 6. Continue for at least 2 minutes, and notice what happens.

This 5:6 ratio seems to be a simple yet powerful way you can induce a relaxed state at will. The art of Yogic breathing is called Pranayama. Pranayama offers many different approaches for cleansing the mind & body through breathing exercises. Here抯 one of them (with thanks to RA Wilson):

Fourthly (this may seem a bit odd to do, I抎 recommend not doing this in front of friends or at work!) ; Lie on your back & pant like a dog, breathing rapidly in & out through your mouth 20 times. Then, breathe slowly, deeply and gently in and out 20 times through your nose. Once again, do the mouth-panting 20 times, then resume gentle nose-breathing. Notice what happens.

This technique is referred to as the breath of fire, and typically results in a state of?well, you find out!

These techniques can be very powerfully utilised when wanting to get in control of your state if you are going through a period of change such as reducing your weight, stopping smoking or developing more confidence.

Please remember that most people don抰 breathe nearly enough. Start to breathe more deeply and notice how much better you feel. Have lots of fun with this. Notice how good you can make your self feel when you breathe differently.

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"Secrets of a Positive Attitude"

2011-10-22T04:47:00.000-07:00

Greetings self help reader,

Are you constantly bombarded by thoughts of negativity? Plagued by feelings of insecurity? Do you see everything in a negative manner? The reason for this lies deep within your heart. You are what you mentally and spiritually eat. If a person drinks alchohol on a daily basis, odds are their body will be affected in some way. They may have liver issues, develop cancer or incur some other type of health problem directly related to the amount of alcohol they have consumed. In the same way, a person who constantly feeds themselves negative thoughts will simply turn into a negative person.

This is the time to go on a diet. A diet of positive attitude food. You have to literally stop feeding your mind negative things. Ask yourself is this thought negative or positive or negative? What do negative thoughts look like? Well, they start with can't rather than can, no as opposed to yes, will and not won't. The Bible which is the greatest self help book ever written, speaks about taking every thought captive. The problem in our society has become that our thoughts have taken us captive. We have begun to let our thoughts control us.

A great way to know what we are negative about is to ask those people who are closest to us. You can ask your spouse
or another person in your life who really knows you how they would rate your attitude on a scale of 1 to 10. 10 being super positive and 1 super negative. Ask this person to be totally honest with you. You will benefit from their honesty even if it causes you pain. Ask this person what it is that you specifically say that they perceive as negative. Write down what they say and look at the actual words. Now is the time to be honest with yourself. Those words are a reflection of what is inside you. They are who you are. The great thing is that you can change. It is as simple as making a choice to do so. You must decide to replace the thoughts of negativity with thoughts of positivity. Decide what words you will change the negative words on your paper to. Once you have done this, make an effort to insert these new positive thoughts in your mind. You will begin to notice a positive change taking place in your life. Your family, friends and co-workers will all notice it as well. They may not know what is different about you. But they will know that you are not the same person that you were.

The items which are causing negativity in your life could very well be the news, movies, constantly replaying tragedy in your mind and the list could go on. These things should be eliminated if you want your new mental health regimen to be a success. The news is very negative and does not help someone who is trying to rid their mind of such thoughts. When you are feeding yourself thoughts of death from a war or gunshot or car accident visually the outcome will be negative. I do believe there is a time to grieve over the death of a loved one. However, if a person constantly replays this negative event in their minds it can lead to depression. The person who has passed away is not coming back and we must close that chapter in our lives and move on to the next chapter. This is a difficult task which can only be done by making a decision to proceed with our own life, no matter how hard this may be.

You can do it. You can and will have a positive attitude, if you simply take the steps outlined above. You do not have to be what you were in the past. You can be different in the future. The choice is yours. I know you will make a positive one.

Much continued positive attitude success,

The creator of "Positive Attitude Secrets"

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Do you need reasons to cheer up a bit?

2011-10-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

Are you a recent expatriate? Have you just arrived in your new location only to find out that you have by no means escaped certain annoyances that occurred on a daily basis back home? I mean issues such as: paying the bills, standing in lines, car repairs, meeting deadlines, endless meetings at work, and so on. Yes, this is life no matter where you live, where go and where you are right now.

However, to be very understanding, these issues can be especially tough when you are a newly arrived expatriate. Not only do you have to deal with all the daily events and routine, but you also have to manage a range of other expatriate-related realities namely; language barriers, visa problems, getting lost every other day, having to pass a driver抯 test again, driving on the 搘rong?side of the road, getting used to the food, not being able to get a decent cup of coffee and the list continues ?
However, there is good news. Although the going may be tough, there are many upsides to being at this point of your life right now and there are reasons to be bright and cheerful. Let抯 consider a few:

* Strangers appreciate you for trying to speak their language. In fact they make you feel special for doing so.
* How about those friends you met at the local tennis club? They help you with cultural information, make phone calls for you and are available for any Q & A.
* People you barely know help you get the Internet hooked up.
* Colleagues take the time to show you how subway system works.
* Neighbors advise you on which grocery store to shop at and which markets offers great deals.
* New friends share their best-kept secrets of favorite locals and drag you off for fun nights on the town.
* The gym manager gives you a special membership discount as a way to welcome you into town.
* Teachers at the Dutch, French or Spanish language classes have more patience than you ever thought possible for any human being.
* People passing by on the street help you find your way around this new city.
* Colleagues support you in meetings and help you understand the company policies and rules.

And so, before you know it, you are beginning to enjoy your daily life and you begin to feel that you are a real and integral part of the community. Actually, at the end of the day, it all comes down to getting out what you put in. If you really want to give your term in this new land a fair go and be happy while living abroad, you may just need to go out on a limb, take some risks, put some effort into your experience and live your life with positive expectation.

Give your host country a chance and open your eyes for all it and its people have to offer. Be prepared to live outside of your comfort zone and don抰 compare everything to how it is done back home. You are in a different place now and if you make this place home and treat it like home and I can almost say with confidence, your new home will treat you back in more ways than you ever thought possible. You may not ever want to leave ...
Quote of the week

揥ondrous is the strength of cheerfulness and its power of endurance ?the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or the sullen.?Thomas Carlyle

CHEERY HAPPENINGS IN MY WEEK:

* Free fruit.
* Translation help.
* A local public holiday.
* A new friend.
* Phone calls from home.

How was your week?

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Money Can Not Buy You Happiness

2011-10-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

I am sure there will be many people who read this article and will think I am rather mad. Quite frankly I do not care. In this article I write about what in my humble opinion are the most importants things in life, health and happiness.

All that most of my friends talk about is money:

What car do you drive?

How much is your house worth?

How much do you earn?

How much did your suit cost?

Where are you going on holiday this year?

I find all of this very boring and think that they are rather sad. They seem to be in some sort of competition and they are basically obsessed about money.

I will give you an example of one such friend, his name is John. He never seems to talk about anything else and is always looking into get rich quick schemes. He is also in a lottery syndicate, of which there are about fifty members. Each member pays around ten pounds in per week. John likes to go out socialising on a Saturday night, however soon gets itchy feet at the time of the lottery draw. A few minutes later he will go to the toilet where he will then phone his girlfriend. He takes with him to the toilet a piece of paper with his numbers on and a little pen. After his girlfriend has told him which numbers were drawn, John will then then spend around twenty minutes checking his numbers, and then re-checking to see if he has any winning lines.

Eventually he returns to the group who seem very keen (apart from me) to find out how much he has won/lost. To date he has only won small amounts, however is convinced that one day he will become a millionaire. He will then start talking about the lottery, asking other people what they would buy if they were lucky enough to ever win. At this point I become very bored and start to wish I had stayed at home and watched the football.

For me the two most important things in life are health and happiness. These are two things which money can not buy. A few years ago, my dad was taken ill. He was in a real bad way and had to spend around five months in hospital. Him being ill was a huge shock to me as he was only fifty-seven. I feared the worst, even though I was trying my hardest to think and stay positive. I remember thinking, if I gave those doctors everything I own in the world, it still would not help him. I felt powerless and at that moment realised that money is only paper.

Happiness is the same, I remember at the age of twenty-one having lots of money and had been surprised that I was depressed at the same time. At other times I have had next to no money and have been extremely happy.

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Happiness Takes Work: 5 Choices to Create Happiness

2011-10-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

All of us have met people who just seem to be happy most of the time. Perhaps you have assumed that these people are just naturally happy, or that they are the lucky people who have an easy life, or they had really loving parents. Most of the time, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Happy people are making specific choices regarding their thinking and behavior. Happy people consciously choose to think and behave in ways that result in happiness. Unhappy people are unconsciously thinking and behaving in ways that create unhappiness.

Following are five of the specific choices that happy people make:

OPTIMISM

Happy people see the glass as half full, while unhappy people choose to be pessimistic ?to see the glass as half empty. Optimistic thinking does not just happen - it is a choice regarding how you see life. Optimistic people are optimistic because they CHOOSE to be optimistic. Instead of allowing their ego wounded self to be in charge with all its doom and gloom, happy people put their loving adult self in charge and open to the wonderful possibilities that life has to offer. Happy people realize that their thinking is the beginning of a creative process that leads to manifestation. By thinking in positive ways, they move themselves to act in ways that manifest their dreams.

KINDNESS

Happy people choose to be kind and compassionate toward themselves and others. Happy people have learned that how they treat themselves and others determines much of how they feel. Happy people do not wait to be happy before being kind to themselves and others. They realize that their happiness is the RESULT of their caring behavior, not the CAUSE of it. They are kind, caring and compassionate whether or not they feel like it. They have chosen this way of being, and their happiness is the result.

FORGIVENESS

Happy people do not harbor resentment toward others, even others who have been mean and hurtful toward them. They realize that resentment makes them unhappy, so they choose to allow people their humanness and forgive them their hurtful behavior. Because happy people tend not to take personally others?uncaring behavior, they don抰 get their feelings hurt in the same way that people do who take others?behavior personally. Happy people recognize that another抯 behavior is really about that other person, so they move into compassion toward themselves and others rather than into judgment.

ACCEPTANCE

Happy people realize what they can control and what they can抰. They live by the Serenity Prayer, accepting the things they cannot change and changing the things they can. Unhappy people are constantly trying to change people and circumstances and do not accept their lack of control. As a result, they are constantly frustrated. Happy people realize they cannot control others and outcomes, so they focus on what they can control ?their own thinking and behavior. Acceptance of what they can and cannot control leads to happiness and inner peace.

GRATITUDE

Finally, happy people are consistently grateful for what they have, rather than complaining about what they don抰 have. They notice the many gifts and blessings that come their way and they frequently express gratitude for the everyday things in their lives ?the beauty of nature, the food they eat, the smile on a friend抯 face, their ability to see, hear, walk, talk. Even many disabled people who may not have the blessings of eyesight, hearing, speech or legs are often happy people because they focus on what they do have and what they can do, rather than focusing on what they are missing out on.

If you want to be happy, then you need to recognize that happiness is the result of your thinking and behavior, not the cause of it. If you choose to focus on becoming conscious of what thoughts and behavior make you feel happy, you can become a happy person ?regardless of your present circumstances. Happiness does not just happen ?it takes work!

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Happiness: The Ultimate Birthright

2011-10-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

The key to happiness is both simple and complex. It is the sum total of more than 2,000 years of philosophy, psychology, speculation, and discussion about the meanings and sources of happiness. From Aristotle in 340 B.C. through to the modern thinkers, speakers, and writers of today, this key to happiness has hardly changed. It is the same for virtually all men and women in every country and all walks of life. The key to happiness is this: Dedicate yourself to the development of your natural talents and abilities by doing what you love to do, and doing it better and better in the service of a cause that is greater than yourself.

This is a big statement and a big commitment. Being happy requires that you define your life in your own terms and then throw your whole heart into living your life to the fullest. In a way, happiness requires that you be perfectly selfish in order to develop yourself to a point where you can be unselfish for the rest of your life.

YOUR HAPPINESS MUST COME FIRST

In Edmond Rostand抯 Play Cyrano de Bergerac, Cyrano is asked why he is so intensely individualistic and unconcerned with the opinions and judgments of others. He replies with these wonderful words: 揑 am what I am because early in life I decided that I would please at least myself in all things.?
Your happiness likewise depends upon your ability to please at least yourself in all things. However, most people are reluctant to use their own happiness as the standard by which to judge the events in their lives. This is primarily because we let others define or affect what brings us happiness. And we often believe it is more important to make other people happy than it is to make ourselves happy. This is nonsense.

Human beings are happiness-driven organisms. Everything we do in life is oriented toward maintaining and increasing our level of happiness. We are psychologically constructed so that it is impossible for us to be any other way without making ourselves mentally and emotionally ill. The fact is that you can抰 give away to anyone else what you don抰 have for yourself. Just as you can抰 give money to the poor if you don抰 have any, you can抰 make someone else happy if you yourself are miserable.

The very best way to assure the happiness of others is to be happy yourself and then to share your happiness with them. Suffering and self-sacrifice merely depress and discourage other people. If you want to make others happy, start by living the kind of life and doing the kinds of things that make you happy.

LET HAPPINESS BE YOUR GUIDE

Make happiness the organizing principle of your life. That is, compare every possible action and decision against your standard of happiness to see whether it would make you happier or unhappier. Soon, you will discover that almost all the problems in your life come from choices that you have made ?or are currently making ?that do not contribute to your happiness.

There will of course be countless times when you will have to do little things that don抰 make you happy in pursuit of your larger happiness. However, as Earl Nightingale said, 揌appiness is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.?You feel really happy only when you are moving, stepby- step, toward the accomplishment of clearly defined goals that you feel will enhance the quality of your happiness.

Since you can抰 be truly happy until you are clear about your inherent possibilities, it抯 important that you take some time on a regular basis to analyze yourself and identify your strengths and weaknesses. There is an old saying, 揝uccess leaves tracks.?You can look back on your life and identify who you really are and what you should be doing with your life. One of the best ways to do this is to constantly ask yourself this powerful question:

揥HAT ONE GREAT THING WOULD I DARE TO DREAM IF I KNEW I COULD NOT FAIL?rdquo;

Imagine that you are absolutely guaranteed success in the pursuit of a particular goal, big or small, shortterm or long-term. Imagine that you have all the money, all the time, all the education, all the contacts, all the resources, and everything else that you could possibly need to achieve any one big goal in life. What would it be? This is a very important question because when you remove the limitation from your thinking, you often get a very clear idea of exactly what you should be doing with your life. Your greatest dream is an indication of your natural abilities and of what is really important to you.

All successful men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their fortune could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, goal or purpose. Step-by-step realization of their ideal makes them genuinely happy.

LIFE扴 4 CATEGORIES

Dr. Viktor Frankl, who wrote the book Man抯 Search for Meaning, said that you can divide the thing you do in life into four categories. The first category consists of the things that are hard to learn and hard to do. An example for many people is mathematics. Many of us struggled with math in school and still struggle with bookkeeping, accounting, financial statements, and tax returns as adults. If you find mathematics hard to learn and hard to do, this is the sort of activity for which you are clearly unsuited. No matter how much of it you do, or how good you get at it, you will never achieve any lasting satisfaction or happiness from it.

The next category consists of things that are hard to learn but easy to do. Riding a bicycle, driving a car, and tying your shoes are hard to learn but easy to do once you抳e practiced enough. These are seldom the sort of activities that cause you to feel terrific about yourself when you engage in them. They do not demand your best.

The third category consists of things that are easy to learn but hard to do. Physical labor falls into this category. Digging a ditch with a shovel and chopping wood with an ax are easy to learn but they are hard to do, and never get any easier.

The fourth category is the key. These are things that are easy to learn and easy to do. You seem to have a natural proclivity for them. When you are engaged in this sort of activity, time flies. The things that are easy for you to learn and do are the sort of things that you should be doing with your life. They indicate where your natural talents and abilities lie. Engaging in these activities with your whole heart, and committing yourself to become better and better, will give you all the joy, satisfaction, and happiness you could want in life.

HAPPINESS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT

Everyone has an area of excellence. Everyone has something that he or she can do in an outstanding fashion. It may take weeks, months, or even years for you to develop yourself in that area so that you can really perform in an extraordinary fashion, but you will be strongly attracted to that sort of activity from the beginning. You will enjoy reading about it and talking about it and thinking about it. You will find yourself admiring people who are outstanding in that area. You will look longingly at that field and wonder what it would be like to be in it and to be successful at it. That is very often your heart抯 desire. That area of activity where you can become excellent is probably what you were put on this earth to do.

So resolve to persist until you succeed. The first part of courage is the resolve to launch in faith toward your objectives; the second part is your willingness to endure in the face of the inevitable disappointments and setbacks you will encounter on the road.

Happiness is not an accident. Happy people are those who deliberately do the things that invariably lead to happiness. Happy people are those who know what they want and then throw their whole hearts into using their unique talents and abilities to make a contribution to the world in the achievement of their goals.

You are put on this earth with a special purpose, programmed with unique talents and abilities that have not yet been fully tapped and utilized. When you focus all your energies on unlocking your true potential, you can claim your ultimate birthright: happiness

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Happiness And Health Are The Two Most Important Things In Life

2011-10-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

The world is becoming obsessed with money and all things material. From the size of your house, the type of car and even where you travel on your holidays, some people are trying to go one better do their friends and family.

For me these people are quite sad. I have a friend who is similar to the people above, he is always thinking of money, always talking about money. How to earn it, how to spend it etc. He is part of a lottery syndicate, there are about fifty people in this syndicate. When he goes out on the Saturday evening, he always takes with him a piece of paper with the numbers on and a little pen. At around nine o'clock he phones his girlfriend and she tells him what the numbers are for that particular night. He then spends around twenty minutes checking the numbers, and then re-checking to see if he has any winning lines.

He then returns from the toilet area and is asked by other members of the group about how much he has won/lost. He has yet to have any major win to this point, this does not deter him however and for the next hour, he will start a debate, asking different people how they would spend their winnings, if they ever won the lottery.

For me the two most important things in life are health and happiness. These are two things which money can not buy. A number of years ago, my father became very ill. He had to spend around five months in hospital and he was only fifty seven. I feared the worst, even though I was trying my hardest to think and stay positive. I remember thinking, if I could give those doctors everything I own in the world, it still would not help him.

Happiness is the same, at times I have had lots of cash in my back pocket, however have been quite depressed. At other times I have had next to no money and have been extremely happy.

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Happiness is the Path to the Productive Workplace

2011-10-21T03:41:00.000-07:00

According to the American Dream Project, the average American works between 43 and 51 hours per week. Does that make us more productive? No. In fact, the United States is ranked 8th in productivity behind countries like Norway, Italy, and France. Yet people in those countries work fewer hours. So what will make us more productive?

First, it is important to understand that the average person is only productive 5 hours a day, yet our average workday is 8 hours with fewer people taking breaks and vacations than ever before. Second, it is also important to differentiate between the higher living standard of Americans and happiness. Our higher living standard is due mostly to our long work hours and higher spending patterns, yet that standard does not make Americans more productive, nor does it make people happy. In fact, it only serves to make us more exhausted. The American Dream Project goes on to explain that this exhaustion decreases our productivity while pushing us into activities that are not necessarily correlated to happiness, but just escapism.

So how can employers maximize productivity while decreasing stress? Focus on your employees. According to the Great Place to Work Institute, the companies with the happiest employees are also the most productive. However, contrary to popular belief, money does not buy happiness in the workplace. In fact, there is very little correlation between making over $50,000 per year and happiness in general. For most people, happiness is about low stress, trust, and a feeling that they matter.

If happiness comes from trust and a feeling that they matter, then what are some things an organization can do to foster those feelings? Primarily, a company needs to have a management team that builds that sense of trust and caring. One way to bring about the caring environment is to provide services that enhance the employees?lives, like a concierge service.

Concierge services provided as an employee benefit gives employees a tangible view that their employer cares about their personal needs as well as their productivity. This promotes loyalty and productivity. It is a useful and inexpensive way to provide for employees needs, and it will help in lowering employee抯 stress levels. In fact, one company funded a study that showed 62 percent of employees would like help in getting things done and believed that the help would lower the stress in their lives. Also, 50 percent of those surveyed would pay to have more time with their families.

Those statistics reinforce the American Dream Project抯 assertion that happiness is not necessarily tied to money, but to lifestyle. If you feel like your company could use a little boost in productivity and employee loyalty, then maybe it is time to really look at what your employees need. Check out concierge services to add just a little light into your employees?lives and see how your work environment changes to a positive, productive workplace.

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Passion: Fire In Your Soul

2011-10-20T23:46:00.000-07:00

Many people try to hold a raging fire within themselves, but it restlessly and relentlessly gnaws at their core. Some have tried to cover it up with alcohol, numb it with drugs, hide it with shopping, kids, work, or religion, or fuel it with sex. The Baby Boomers looked for eternal youth and to change the world. They thought they would never grow up, but they did. They thought they would change the world and they did.

The previous generation looked for the American Dream. Some found it. Many did not. The present generation seems to be seeking success. Yet, the gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" widens. Each generation and each individual, in turn, searches for something, but it often slips from their grasp.
The fire carries both energy and discomfort. The key is to use the discomfort as a motivator and the energy as fuel.

Redfield in the "Celestine Prophecy" talks of the need for a historical perspective. The first man or woman met his/her physical needs. Then he or she explored and conquered the world and put it to their collective service. Now we seek something and we don't seem to know what it is.

When we are connected to our roots and our souls, passion rises quickly and pushes us the next level of life or learning or love. It does not have to be love of a mate. It could be creative passion, fueling what we do for ourselves, work, community, or family. Anything where the totality of who you are is absorbed in the doing, requires passion. To loose it, is soul death, or at least deep sleep. It will cry to be heard when it sleeps.

I've sometimes been afraid of my passion. It seems so fierce at times. I guess I fear it will consume me and nothing else will matter. I know that can happen. I've had a small taste of it when I work for hours into the night, so absorbed by my work that I forget time, sleeping, and eating. But, I also know that I must have time in my life to live the every day life of doing the mundane things that must be done. Balance is probably still the key, but you must not loose your passion all together. Your life will be too dry and dull without it.

Remember your first love? Nothing else mattered. You felt as if you would walk to the ends of the earth for that love. Remember that? While that first passionate, all consuming love does not last, it gives us a taste of a force within ourselves that carries tremendous energy. Look for your passion and it will find you.

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Managing My Resistance: Learning to Flow with What Life Offers

2011-10-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

One of the things that interests me most about conflict is the tendency to resist it and the ways in which this resistance causes me to miss key moments, when I might respond with purpose and intention but do not. Resistance is a reactive habit. When I resist, I'm on automatic, and I fail to spot the opportunity to respond with the conscious engagement of being fully present.

Aikido ?the martial art I practice and teach ?suggests that resistance escalates conflict. When I push, the conflict pushes back. Aikido replaces resistance with alignment and redirection. I change my view from "this person is attacking me" to "this person is offering energy that I can use."

Aikido (pronounced eye-key-doe) is Japanese for "the way of blending with energy." Ki means universal energy or life force. Ki Moments are those in which we are fully aware of our life force and our ability to influence our environment.

In aikido, the attack is inevitable, a part of life. We can influence the outcome of the attack by the way in which we engage and direct it. Will I resist and create a contest, ensuring a win-lose outcome? Or will I practice aikido and transform the attack into a gift of energy? How do I make these choices when I am feeling attacked?

To begin:

Have a positive and useful purpose. Without a purpose to guide us in the conflict, we end up falling back on habitual patterns of reaction. Refocusing on purpose answers the question "What am I really going for here?" and directs the conflict toward a useful outcome.
Practice skills and techniques that move us toward our purpose. We have reactive habits that ?in the heat of the moment ?take us away from the goal. Changing our conflict "habits" requires skill building, practice and persistent application.

My work focuses on bringing aikido principles to life in "off the mat" scenarios ?the life "attacks" that we experience in the workplace, in our relationships, and in difficult life events that can occur at any time. How can we turn daily conflicts into life teachers? Just by asking the question, we begin to transform conflict moments into ki moments and attacks into energy we can use to build the kinds of home, work, and community environments we want to live in.

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The Secret to Happiness and Maslow抯 Hierarchy.

2011-10-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

揟he secret to happiness is contentment?(Dali Lama)

If we are content with what we have, and where we are, then we are happy.
This means not grasping for attainment of material objects or even spiritual understanding, but being content and just allowing life to happen.
How does this help us to achieve the things we 搘ant?

I抦 glad you asked! This brings me to Maslow抯 theory on the hierarchy of human 搉eeds? the answer to that question is revealed within the following explanation and its accompanying story.

Maslow, was an eminent Psychologist who developed a theory on the psychological need of humans; it is often demonstrated in the form of a pyramid, and referred to in relation to Education, Motivation and Sales training.
A summary of his theory would be: that we humans have 搉eeds?that must be satisfied in an order of priority, before higher ideals can be achieved the lower ideals MUST be met.
The order of these needs doesn抰 change from individual to individual, they are as follows:

1. PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS, air, water, food, rest, exercise, etc
2. SAFETY NEEDS, shelter, job security, retirement plan, insurance
3. LOVE AND BELONGING, children, friends, partners
4. SELF ESTEEM (1), fame, recognition, reputation, dignity
5. SELF ESTEEM (2) Confidence, achievements, FREEDOM

If we don抰 meet all the needs in the lower levels we will always be in deficit and be trying to meet them before we can obtain the highest levels of complete self actualization and FREEDOM.

Here抯 a story I wrote to illustrate Maslow抯 theory in a practical situation, it抯 illustrated in a negative context because most of us will understand it better this way. Note: (L5) means level 5 as per above.

The following is based on a true story; some details have been changed to allow for publishing here.

A Person抯 car breaks down on an old dirt road in the Barclay plains it抯 a scorching 44 degrees in the shade, but there aren抰 any trees to provide shelter, he抯 in the middle of nowhere, outback, Australia.
He was on his way to Darwin to give a lecture on Self Defence. He had been giving these talks for some time now and really enjoyed sharing his knowledge, not for the respect that others gave him, but because he is a master of the subject and it felt good doing it. (L4/5)
At first he wasn抰 concerned about the situation and he allowed his mind to be free and 憈ake in? the beauty of the landscape, he started to reminisce about his friends and family, wondering what they抮e doing at that time, then he turned on the radio and drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up he realized that he was feeling lonely and would love to have someone to talk to. (L3)
After a few hours he started to feel a little uncomfortable and realized that he could be in some danger so he tried to think of a plan for his safety.
After some time he decided to head off in search for help.
It started getting dark and he became really worried; his senses were tuned into every sound. (L2)
Then he realized that he hadn抰 eaten since breakfast and that he was hungry and thirsty. (L1)
After two more days his only thoughts were about finding water to stay alive, he wasn抰 concerned about eating because his body knew it could survive for weeks without food, but only a few days without water.
So then his immediate concern was for the basic need of water.
SUDDENLY!! Someone jumped on him from behind, and started to choke him he couldn抰 breathe! Then his need for air was stronger than his need for water!
It was only a joke; his best friend had come looking for him when he didn抰 show up in Darwin on time.
He found the car then tracked his mate to where he found him, looking pretty rugged. Then as all good mates do, he decided to play a practical joke to give him a fright! They are still good friends today.

The end

The simple lesson here is this:

This story shows a person who had met all his needs and was at the highest level. He had truly manifested his dream into reality and how he quickly went into 揘eeds Deficit?(ND)
Clearly we must walk before we can run, If we can抰 breath we aren抰 worried about water, we NEED air, our ND is air; this is a very basic example.
To look at it another way we could say that; trying to be a highly regarded successful whatever (4/5) will not be possible if we are in ND of (1, 2, or 3).
Our ND needs attention first; this doesn抰 mean that if we don抰 have a house and family we can抰 achieve our dream ambitions.
On the contrary it means that we should, let go of our graving, yearning and striving to achieve success at any cost type of attitude, and maintain our lower levels of needs so that we can open the path to the higher levels.
Many of us, myself included have been guilty of forgetting about our needs for friends and family when we are trying to obtain the higher ideals of success.

This area can be a particular problem with the internet, because it uses up so much of our time and attention.
If we maintain our basic needs we will be able share our dreams and talk about them and believe in them and be content and happy about them.
Thus allowing our dreams to manifest into reality.
Doesn抰 it make sense that with this kind of thinking we will all be able to move on to the higher levels of self actualization?

Maintain your ND and believe in your DREAMS the rest will happen!

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The Path to Happiness

2011-10-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

Happiness is something that so many people strive for each day and yet many times it eludes them. Often, they feel that happiness can be theirs if only their situations were different. Have you ever felt like that?

So often we get caught up in what I call the 搃f only抯? If only my husband were nicer to me. If only I had a better job. If only the children were grown and out of the house. The list can go on and on.

We can waste so much of our precious time dreaming of the 搃f only抯? So many people fall into this trap and end up miserable most of their lives.

The problem is that they are looking for happiness to come to them somehow. As if it were something that could be possessed. When happiness does happen to come it seems so fleeting that it quickly passes away.

People erroneously think that happiness is just a feeling like some passing fancy. I am here to tell you that happiness is not a feeling, it can be a way of life. Happiness can be yours on a daily basis if you will only follow some basic principles.

First, you must live in the NOW. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised to us so you need to be present in the now.

Secondly, you must control your thinking and the thoughts that pass through your mind. Happiness can be called a state of mind and the way to happiness is bringing your mind into its proper state.

If I live in Texas and I want to be in California I need to change states. In order for me to be in that State I need to make some changes. In this analogy we will decide to take a train. The train must be going in the proper direction and we will arrive at our destination. We must know which train we are on, or we may end up where we don抰 want to be.

Think of this train as your thoughts. That抯 right, your train of thought. If you don抰 want to stay in Texas you have to get on the right train. If you let any train of thought into your mind then you will be taken to and fro and never arrive at the destination you want.

The question then is how do we get on the right train?

The ticket to getting on the right train is called gratitude. Gratitude is an attitude and as we look to all that we have to be thankful for instead of dwelling on what our problems are we will find that we too can be whisked away to the state that we wish to be in.

There is a path to happiness and that path is gratitude.

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The Secret of Happiness

2011-10-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

What does happiness mean to you? There抯 a lot of searching going on these days for the elusive emotion of 揵eing happy?--where do you find it, how do you create it, even what it actually is.

But I抎 like to share a little secret with you -- happiness is not just for a lucky few who were born with it.

You see, happiness is not something you can reach out and touch or put in the refrigerator and take a sip when you need it. Happiness is not found on a beach in Hawaii (really!) or in a perfect body. It抯 not even in that perfect relationship that Tom Cruise tries to sell us in the movies.

Yet from the images bombarding you every day, it抯 easy to make the mistake that happiness will arrive on your doorstep when you have the latest car, the best clothes, a fancy home, isn抰 it? It抯 easy to get caught in the trap of thinking that if you could just find the right person, they抎 arrive with a box of happiness attached to his/her hip. But all this does is convince you that happiness is something to be found outside of yourself.

And that抯 where you get off track. Because the secret is that happiness is simply a by-product of creating and living a life that works, a life that you enjoy -- whatever that is. Happiness comes from doing what you what, where you want to do it, who whom you want to do it with.

And yes, I can hear all of you -- 揃ut I can抰 get the job I want because I抎 have to go to school for 8 years, and I have to live here because I can抰 afford to move, and what do you mean 搘ho I want to do it with?because I want to hang out with Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey or Bill and Hillary Clinton?

And thank you all for making my point for me.

You see, happiness starts by believing you have control over your life; and grows by making choices that will give you a sense of well being, satisfaction. Happiness comes from deciding that you *will* go to school for 8 years if that抯 what it takes. That you *will* organize your life until you can afford to move. And that YOU decide who to hug, how much to smile, what music you listen to, and who you hang out with, even if it抯 not Bill and Hillary.

Happiness is about making the best choices you can about who you spend your time with, how you making your living, how much you learn, what you put into your body. Because when you feel good about the space you抮e in, when you抮e with people you admire and respect and they admire and respect you, when you抮e working on a project that抯 meaningful to you -- happiness will shine right through.

And that抯 no secret.

Decide today to stop chasing happiness, and instead choose three things that you love to do, that contribute to your feeling of well-being and satisfaction. Schedule time for them, every day if possible, every week at least. It doesn抰 have to be for a long time, just 10 minutes a day will help you create the happiness that you抮e looking for. Guaranteed.

And that抯 no secret either.

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The Power of Positive Thinking.

2011-10-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the bridge of Manifest life. Don' t let any situation take the control. You are the second master of the game, under the universe master law, what you think is what you get. Can that be possible?
Yes it can be, you got to be in a manifesting state, your mind, your body is one, not two.
The flow of energy that is rotating in the universe can break you if you are not going in the right direction. You must follow the law of the universe, and be happy. Do not worry about what is happening, but accept it and act toward a positive trend if it can be done, but never stay without acting when the bad situation, the non lucky time frame is falling on you, this is definitivly a law of the universe, and it will happen again and again, you got to do something, but the thing that will put you on the right track...

You must understand that; be careful, the universe can' t be redirected, rather you should follow the same direction, and profit from the tremendous flow of vital energy coming from the six directions.
Good force are there, but you must know how to avoid the bad forces. Although the positive forces are stronger, it is easy to fall in the wrong wave, and quite difficult to focus and stay on the right way.
So how can you be positive all the time, you think: nobody can do that.
No, a lot of people do it, what is the difference between them?
Two kind of people: The sleeping, and the awake.
It is not the real sleep here, you should understand what the sleeper is: in fact, he is awake like everybody, so why is he a sleeper?

Just look around you, and try to find out: is that man awake or he is a sleeper? Do that exercise, and you will be astonished with the results, you will be able to feel people, to feel the energy, like you feel the wind touch on your skin...
He is a sleeper because he can' t control, he doesn' t see... Everyday, he wakes up like every people in this world(law of the universe, nobody can change it), however, he is not satisfied with his life, it is just a matter of doing things because they got to be done, because everybody is doing that...
The sleeper act, eat, do everything without vitality, without energy, without love, without passion, he is a sleeper, his life is empty.
Worst he doesn 't know what is life...
We will complete the sleeping case, and start with the awake, the enlighten case...

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Don't Be A Slave To Your Things

2011-10-20T01:45:00.000-07:00

Do you have things like a bicycle, jetski, or swimming pool that sit unused? Is it that you don't have time to use them because you have to work so much just to pay for them? Sometimes it seems like all the things we own somehow own us.

The bad news is that it's often true. We have to arrange our lives around our things. You get a new truck that can go anywhere, but you're too busy working to go there. Someone is out fishing while you are putting in overtime to pay for your fishing boat. You use your large-screen television a lot, but does it sufficiently reduce the debt-stress that came with it?

Break The Chains!

The good news is that there's a better way. Actually, there are three better ways. First, know what you really value. Second, use cash instead of debt. Third, learn how to look at costs and benefits.

Will you really enjoy that $2,000 mountain bicycle enough? Maybe. This isn't about right or wrong desires. It's a question of truly seeing your own values. Think back to things you've bought but not used, or not used enough. What truly enjoyable things could you do with that money if you had it now? You've got to be self aware and honest.

Cash is king. The price may seem the same, but put those things on a credit card and, with interest, you'll pay a lot more. Cash means you have to save and wait a little for things, but you can buy more and have less stress. Credit cards provide the illusion of a richer life. Escaping debt gives you the reality.

Finally, learn to understand costs and benefits. A friend once came to the realization, using pen and paper, that his jetski cost him $300 for every hour he used it the first year. Loan interest, gas, insurance, depreciation, repairs, licenses - these things add up. And he thought it was too expensive to pay $100 per day to rent one! Consider the real costs of things, and look for a cheaper way, or at least make an honest decision that it's worth $300 per hour to you.

Your things should be making your life better. If they aren't, you need to start looking at them differently. Don't let your things own you. Change your approach.

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Faithful Emotions

2011-10-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

The original article contains an image of a sad clown. This can be found on my blog through my website.

The sad clown attracts us and evokes a feeling of sadness and compassion. Have you ever noticed that the sadness and compassion really feels like it is for you? Often we live our suppressed emotional experiences through some other external situation, mainly entertainment. Once we抮e in a safe environment, it抯 okay to let it out. Except, you抳e buried so many emotions, you抮e not sure what is left unexpressed. It can derail you at any time, upsetting your equilibrium, setting the waterworks at the drop of a hat, and blazing the rage with a tiny spark.

Consider a new way of being in this world; a way that allows the expression and understanding of your emotions. Imagine being present for others who are enmeshed in difficult times, barely coping to keep their emotions in check. What healing can occur! What strength will be gained! What friendship and loyalty will be developed! What team support will be developed! What courage will be found!

If we抮e human, then what does it mean to be human?
If we抮e spirit, then what does it mean to be spirit?
If we抮e emotions, then what does it mean to be feelings?
If we抮e the mind, then what does it mean to be thoughts?
If we抮e soul, then what does it mean to be soulful?

I believe we are spiritual beings having a physical, human experience. Within in that context, we experience many things on many levels. Could it be that this is what it means to be a multi-dimensional being? I抦 not interested in empirical evidence and succinct clarity; I抦 interested in the experience of being and life. The complexity of existence and the human entity absolutely requires an element of faith and trust in an inner core that cannot be defined by science.

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Facing Problems in Healing the Hidden Self

2011-10-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

Article Body:

If a challenging situation happens in an individual抯 life when he or she begins to develop negative thoughts. When this happens, the person often starts to blame self or others, which the self-denial could result to an emotionally disturbance.

Into the bargain, energy, strength and dynamism are all arrivals from the conscious mind, yet when disturbances develop, these dynamic energies start to flop. Today, the charts are overriding the count of people that deal with emotional problems that causes unbalance.

A range of medical and non-medical rehabilitation solutions have been recently introduced to make the processes of self-healing more effective.

Meditation is one of the most unbeaten treatments, which has reaped popularity. The advantages of meditation are unmatchable to many other strategies used in the past to encourage healing the hidden self.

Meditation can help with generating power of the mind. Mediation contributes in curing any illness and in the process, energy is produced, which aids in keeping the therapeutic processes of the body and mind working smoothly.

Of course, we have other natural options that can assist us with healing the hidden self. Some of the top picks are the Ayurveda, or the latest naturopathy. Acupressure is very popular and diverse other natural treatments have contributed a great deal in self-healing. This includes the healing of the inner or hidden self. In fact, these therapies have motivated people抯 thinking both spiritually and mentally. The hidden self when motivated can assist with curing the mind and body devoid of any side effects.

Other natural healing solutions have proved some worth as well. Some of the oldest, yet new solutions include biofeedback. Biofeedback works with monitoring systems to regulate body functions, such as the heart rate, blood pressure, et cetera. According to experts if we have the power to regulate our body functions, thus it can assist us with self-healing the hidden self.

Neurofeedback is another alternative that has proven to assist with healing the hidden self. Neurofeedback programs have encouraged motivation, inspiration, relaxation, and much more. In fact, we are encouraged to relax often to give the body and mind room to heal.

Despite that all of these natural products, programs and solutions has proven to assist with healing the hidden self, it is in fact proven that meditation is ultimately the better choice. Of course, some people find it difficult to meditate, so they will use other solutions, such as the Neurofeedback to encourage relaxation and meditation.

Another natural source is the aromatherapy solutions for healing. Aromatherapy has several types of aromas, which are intended for particular purposes. You can go online to discover the fragrances. Moreover, which aromas can assist you with healing self?

Moreover, you may benefit from subliminal learning. By learning how to explore your subliminal mind you can accomplish any goal you set for yourself.

We all go through challenges each day. Some of us go through more problems than others do, but each of us has the power within to manage the volume of stress we face.

If you are overwhelmed with stress, your best bet is to set up a stress management solution, and then start practicing natural healing techniques, such as mediation daily to take back control of your life.

If your stress is coming from pain, perhaps you can benefit from pain management. Perhaps a combination of biofeedback, Neurofeedback, massage therapy, meditation, aromatherapy, et cetera can do you some good. Don抰 rely on unnatural remedies to relax pain, rather practice pain healing the natural way.

Go online to learn more solutions for dealing with common problems.

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New Year's Resolutions? Don't Be So Hard On Yourself

2011-10-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Have you set resolutions for yourself to accomplish in 2006? Maybe you want to get more exercise, eat healthier, or spend more time with your family. If you're in business for yourself, maybe you are thinking about hiring a bookkeeper, working fewer hours, or beefing up your marketing plan. All of those things are very good goals, but how do you really feel about them? If you're like me, you probably think that you need resolutions, and furthermore, you have to accomplish all of them in order to be successful. How can we not feel that way when the media is chirping away about making and keeping our new year's resolutions?

Well, maybe you should go a little easier on yourself. What about trying just one new thing to improve your life in some small way? This can either be something personal or professional. The important thing to remember is that this "thing," whatever it is, should be important to you, and bring value to your life in some way. Even if it's just taking 20 minutes at the end of each day to kick back, close your eyes and do absolutely nothing; if that will improve your peace-of-mind or help you to relax, that's great -- mission accomplished!

Try to remember that we are all human, and that no one is perfect. Take baby steps to reach your goals, and they won't seem so overwhelming. And if things are just fine in your life right now, and you don't feel the need to make any improvements, then don't. It's that simple. Don't worry about having lofty goals -- just focus on smaller ones as you see fit.

By taking care of yourself, and not putting the pressure on to create resolutions that you may never keep, you'll be able to enjoy 2005 to your fullest. Here's to a healthy, happy, and successful year ahead...your way!!

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Overcoming Depression

2011-10-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

Identifying Depression
Depression, like most mental illness runs the continuum of severity. It can be mild or major. It can last from weeks to months. It can involve anxiety symptoms as well. Depression is primarily characterized by sadness and/or loss of pleasure in nearly all activities. Additionally, there may be symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and psychomotor activity (changes in both mental and physical responsiveness and/or activity).

A depressed person may struggle with feelings of low self worth, recurrent thoughts of dying, as well as difficulty concentrating or making decisions. In children and adolescents the mood is often manifested as irritability rather than sadness. Some people may deny having feelings of sadness; instead they may report feeling numb or having no feelings at all.

Taking Action
First, it is important to look at how severely one抯 functioning may be impaired. If the person抯 level of functioning has been significantly impaired, i.e. they are having difficulty performing their daily routine, seek professional help immediately. A trip to the family doctor to rule out any medical conditions that might be causing the mood disorder is a good place to start.

Second, assess whether there have been any significant changes in circumstances, relationships etc. that may be contributing to the depression.

Third, if your loved one indicates they have a plan or intentions to harm themselves, take action immediately to get help. Call a mental health professional that you have been referred to by a reliable source or check your phone book for community mental health services. You can also call 1-800-784-2433 a suicide prevention hotline. If the threat is imminent, call 911.

Don抰 Wait ?Get Help
One of the biggest reasons people do not seek help is the shame they feel about having a mental illness. The reality is that our minds are vulnerable to illness just like our bodies. There is no shame in developing the flu or some other medical condition, so why is there with the mind? Those who avoid seeking help because of the shame they feel only languish longer than necessary.

How Counseling Can Help
A counselor can help a person gain perspective about their illness; resolve problems that may be contributing to the depression and assist the person in developing coping skills.

However, in addition to counseling, depending on the severity of the depression, medication may also be a treatment option. You can discuss this with your counselor, who could then refer you to a psychiatrist to prescribe and manage the necessary medication.

Relief is available for difficulties that plague our minds. It is truly the wise that seek out the help, wisdom and counsel of those whom God has equipped to facilitate the healing of the mind.

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Do you want to achieve fulfilment, success and true hapiness?

2011-10-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

Are you in control of your destiny?

As you are reading these words, you may be thinking about and looking for a way to improve your sense of fulfilment, success and true happiness in your life.

It seems that some people nearly always attain success in relationships, business and personal fulfilment, while others in similar circumstances may do well, but never seem to reach the higher levels.

We often say they are "lucky" but I suggest that luck has nothing to do with it.

What does have everything to do with it are the following six factors.

They are the areas which every one of us need to improve in order to attain personal fulfilment, success and happiness. Which of these would you wish to improve?

1. Self-image.
Your beliefs about your self affect how you feel and how you appear to others. Your self-confidence and self-worth are the result of your self-image.

2. Self Control.
The true fact is that either you control your life or you are controlled by it.

3. Creativity.
In its broadest sense it is the artist and the scientist within you, who solves your problems and brings new ideas.

4. Cooperation.
No man is an island, and the successful person will be expert at communication skills, persuading and encouraging others to make his own and their shared goals come true.

5. Planning.
It is said, that "If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up somewhere else". If someone doesn't have clear and focused goals, they cannot complain if the "somewhere else" is not to their liking.

6. Concentration.
Willingness to get going, concentrated effort, persistence and resilience in the face of obstacles - all are crucial to success in achieving life goals.
?

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Healing the Hidden Self by Examining the Mind

2011-10-19T02:45:00.000-07:00

Article Body:

Deep in the cavities of the mind is your subliminal channel that circles the subconscious, conscious and unconscious mind. In this region of the brain is the area where the psyche resides and holds hidden messages that when explored one can discover answers.

Using learning techniques you can extract from this area of the mind and have it assist you with discovering messages from your past that you can use to put the pieces of the puzzle together that will make you a whole person. Some of the popular techniques that can assist you with exploring the subliminal mind are meditation.

One must learn these useful techniques by practicing. Practice will push your mind and body so that it can adapt to changes that will occur during subliminal learning process. If your body and mind resists some techniques then you will need to use some strategies and perhaps other techniques to adapt to meditation.

Some people find meditation difficult. However, by learning some guided relaxation techniques, it can assist you with meditation. Practice is the key, since it will cause your mind and body to adapt to delving into deeper thoughts, or mediation.

Practices of meditation are a process of directing the mind and body to relax. Upon the point of relaxation, one can delve into a meditative state of mind.

Learning meditation by practicing will make it easier to probe into subliminal exploring. When you find it difficult to meditate, practice some guided relaxation techniques first.

How the process of meditation works:

Effective Meditation to start, one will need to find a quiet area. Remove all distractions from your setting. Get in a relaxing position, reclining on your back in a restful area. Close your eyes once you have relaxed. During the process, you want to use your visual aid tools or mental pictures and some self-talk.

Start the mediation process by visualizing your toes. Use your images and awareness so that you can focus on your toes and the reactions occurring. Continue to move up over our entire body while focusing on each sensation your body expresses. At one point, you will tense the body. Let it go and resume relaxing. Breathe in and out while you focus and relax. Let each breath come naturally. Continue to regulate your chest activities as you work through the breathing steps.

Continue to focus. Notice your thought patterns. When you notice, your thought patterns getting out of control, instead of repressing the thoughts, continue to encourage relaxation by breathing naturally while keeping your eyes closed. Let your thoughts roam. Go into a world that you would like to visit. For instance, picture you standing on a lovely mountaintop and off to the distance you can visualize natural surroundings with pure waterfalls in the backdrop. You can go anywhere you like.

Focus while you feel the sensations of nature flow over your body. Visualize until you feel at ease and then take a deep breathe,

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Guilt, Resentment, and Our Struggles

2011-10-18T23:12:00.000-07:00

Why Do I Feel Guilty?

Before we can start to understand the why behind the guilt, let抯 first define it. Guilt means that we believe that something we are doing is causing pain to someone else. It抯 activated by our behavior, thoughts, or feelings that we judge to be wrong or bad.

Normal parents are protective of their children. But what if your parents were overprotective? What if every time you played sports, rode your bike, or roughhoused with friends, your parent梐t best梑ecame disturbed and梐t worst梖rantic? 揥atch out, you抣l get hurt!?揧ou抣l break a leg!?and so on. Would you have interpreted that as interest in your well being, or rather, believed that you were hurting your parents by your sense of adventure and fun? Children who think that their actions are causing pain for their parents will feel guilt.

Let me be clear. I抦 not talking about a parent抯 normal range of caution and concern. I am talking about extreme caution and worry over small risks. But if you grew up always experiencing irrational guilt about worrying an overprotective parent, you抣l also experience guilt in response to risks as an adult. You抣l feel frustrated by your excessive sense of caution, but most likely you won抰 be aware of its cause, and so you抣l be unable to change.

Does Any of This Sound Familiar?

1. You feel responsible for your parents?or siblings?misery, and guilty about pursuing your own goals. How you tried placating them, or atoning, in order to relieve your sense of guilt will explain some of your self-defeating life patterns.

2. You quietly developed self-hatred and resentment about having to inhibit a normal behavior or goal when your parent continuously behaved badly toward you. How did you respond to the resentment you felt?

3. You rebelled as a way of protesting. You hoped that they抎 get the message you were sending by your behavior and change for the better (that is, you became stubborn to protest against a parent who was too controlling in the hopes that he or she would get the message and be less controlling). Or, you rebelled to prove to yourself that you抮e your own person and you can抰 be manipulated. This type of defiant rebelliousness is responsible for many painful self-defeating behaviors.

4. Even though you promised yourself that when you grew up you抎 never behave the way your parents did with you, you notice that you抮e mimicking their worst qualities.

I want you to know why it抯 so hard to free ourselves of the behaviors we hate no matter how hard we try, no matter how much willpower we exert, no matter how much advice we receive from others. To understand why it is so hard, we抣l delve into why our childhood patterns continue on into our adult lives even though they are clearly negative patterns and we no longer are living with our parents. The negative effects of our family experiences remain hidden from our conscious mind, even though this information is critical to changing what we most dislike about ourselves. We抣l pin down this elusive awareness in this book and you抣l begin to make positive changes in your negative behaviors. Finally and amazingly, many people you抣l meet will tell you that they didn抰 experience major problems in their families and they aren抰 aware of any guilt feelings. And they抣l tell you this despite obvious, and serious, personal problems. Why? Let抯 see.

Exercise: Now Look at Yourself

Imagine that you could be reborn into your family today. Now imagine that you were born into your family with all the knowledge that you possess right now. Consider writing about the following:

?What would be different for you in your relationship with your mother?

?What would be different for you in your relationship with your father?

?What would be different for you in your relationship with your siblings?

Moving Ahead

Beginning the process of change means beginning a hunt for the causes of your problems that are lurking below the surface of any problem. In the next article, 揇o You Think You抮e in Control of Your Life?? we抣l start the hunt for your underlying causes.

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Making Everyday a special day

2011-10-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

The same sun, the same sky, the same home, and the same routine. Life is boring. Every day is same. How to carry on from day to day? Why does a week not have seven sundays? Don't you find yourself saying - 'I want to enjoy life. I am getting bored with my schedule that never changes. There is no excitement in my life.' Ask few friends around their life and they will say something similar. Why is life becoming a bore for them and how to make it exciting?

Can one escape work? No sensible person can? Can a parent stop caring for his/her children? No. Can an executive stop taking decisions? No. Then how to make life exciting? There must be some way. Yes, there is a way and it is very simple. Just look out of your window and watch the sky. Do you observe any clouds? Look at them. Look at the different shapes? Who made them? From where did they arrive and where will they go? Look at some flowers in your home. Observe the symmetry. Touch and feel the softness. How lovely! We are surrounded by treasures, but we have no time to look at them. A child's smile can make today a different day than any other day. Try to make a child smile and feel the joy.

Look at the night sky. Observe the stars and think about the distances. Some are so far away that it takes light, hundreds of years to reach us. How many millions of years you will take to walk and reach them? What is beyond them? Observe, think and get excited. Life need never be dull for any of us. Take another example. While sitting on your table, have you ever wondered about the wood that was used to make it? Have you thought about the life of the tree? A small seed grew into a gigantic tree.
How exciting. What of the tar on the road? It comes from deep inside the earth, goes to refineries and is laid on the roads.
How deep must the oil well have been? How did they locate the oil and what will happen after we finish all the oil?

The world is full of objects that can make us think and wonder. It is our attitude that makes our life. If we adopt a child-like attitude towards things, we will bring joy back in life. I am not asking you to give up your work and enjoy. But find time during the day to look at things and wonder. Bring joy back in your life. You can begin right now. Look at your screen. What happens to the text after you shut down your computers? Where do they all go, when you close the browser? Isn't life full of excitement? Live it.

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Oprah Show Series: Have You Let Yourself Go?

2011-10-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

We can always count on Oprah. If we need a good book, or a good chocolate, she抯 there with a recommendation and, if you happen to be in the audience, a sample. Perhaps Oprah is at her best, however, when you need a swift kick in the bottom - when you need someone telling it like it is, pulling no punches.

We turn to Oprah for weight loss advice and inspiration, tips on jeans that don抰 make our butts look big, and "girl, no you didn抰" comments on our hair and makeup. So it抯 no surprise that Oprah, queen of the TV talk show and the best friend we抳e never met, has turned the makeover show on its head by offering us a series called "Have you let yourself go"?

Featuring the stories of real women who feel they抳e let a part of themselves go and wonder how to retrieve it, the series examines the plight of women who say they抳e lost a piece of themselves somewhere along the path. One woman featured on the first episode of the series was Cheryl, who became a mom 4 years ago and feels she抯 lost a part of herself to motherhood.

"I chose to stay at home", she said in her confessional cam. She pointed to her clothes and hair and noted that she cares little about either and then plaintively said, "I feel I抳e lost a lot of myself."

According to oprah.com, 90% of respondents in a recent survey at the website admitted they have let themselves go. The women featured on the series of shows have a variety of life stories to tell, from abuse and weight gain to broken relationships and significant life changes that brought them to a point, they say, of losing themselves and letting themselves go.

The Oprah message boards have been buzzing since the first shows aired. Women confess they know exactly how the show guests feel, and share similar stories of putting others first, feeling depressed, gaining weight and feeling hopeless and helpless to put things right.

One woman said she lost her job 4 years ago, moved into a contracted job for two years and is now out of work. She identifies, she says, with the issues presented on these Oprah shows. "I feel like I have let knowing who I am go", she wrote. "I have been settling and I don抰 want to settle for just anything. I want to get back on track. I need help and I want to make a comeback - Why am I scared to look at myself? I need to bring that to the surface."

Oprah doesn抰 dwell on people抯 problems without offering experts and solutions, and for this series, she offers us Dr. Robin Smith who has suggested a vast reading list to help us in our bid to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and get our new life.

Some of the suggested reading includes:

- The Woman抯 Comfort Book, by Jennifer Louden

- The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth, by M. Scott Peck, MD.

- Getting the Love You Want, by Harville Hendrix, PhD.

- Necessary Losses, by Judith Viorst

- The Language of Letting Go, by Melody Beattie

- The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Don Miguel Ruiz

- Family Secrets: The Path to Self-Acceptance and Reunion, by John Bradshaw

In this quest to help women renew themselves, Oprah has also brought a personal trainer on board. Jeanette Jenkins offers up daily exercise and eating plans. Visit oprah.com for the plan, or you can download a printable version of it there as well.

Finally, the Oprah.com website is also offering an online journaling tool called a "discovery journal". The "Who am I?" journal is designed to help you discover yourself, says Dr. Robin. That, she suggests, might be the first step toward retrieving the part of yourself you thought you lost.

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The ride of your life: who's driving?

2011-10-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest challenges that most people face in the exiting times we live in, is the feeling that their lives are just spiralling out of control. They feel like the events and circumstances of their lives have lead them along a torturous route and that they have no control over all the misfortunes and wrong doings that brought them to this moment in time.

The truth is that your life will not change until and unless you assume full responsibility for it. Responsibility, or your ability to respond, is not a way of accepting some form of blame as most people think, but rather a way of accepting your ability to respond to any situation. It is absolutely critical to realize and accept that it is never the actual events of your life but only your responses to these events that will shape and create your life. You are never the creature of circumstances and you have the ultimate ability to consciously decide what things mean and how to respond to it. You are the only one that can and the only one that will take you where you want to go in your life.

Responsibility is not some skill you need to go and find outside of yourself but it is something you already possess. All you need to do is to assume this power that calls on you to stop blaming any and everything other than yourself. Most of us have been conditioned to blame someone else for the parts of our lives that don't work. When you take full responsibility for your life you put yourself back in charge; you get back in behind the wheel of your life and now you have the ability to control and direct your life the way you choose to. Ultimately it is not the conditions of your life but rather the decisions about what things mean and what you are going to do about it that will create the real conditions of your life.

When you are fully responsible you recognize that you are the creator of your life. At some level you were responsible. If not by your conscious actions, then by the meanings and emotions you attached to the events and experiences. Only when you accept responsibility for creating everything in your life can you start to un-create and re-create it the way you truly want. If you keep blaming someone or something else you will remain bound because you will always rely on something or someone else to be responsible for the way you feel and ultimately someone else will be responsible for the state of your life. You have to consciously unfold your arms, get out of the back seat and get back behind the wheel and start directing your life towards where you want it to go, instead of just going with the flow.

See, there are only two real choices in life, the one conscious and the other unconscious: you can either choose to be directed by the events and circumstances of life and let the river of life take you wherever it's going or you can have both your hands on the steering wheel and decide that you are in full control. You get to decide where you go. Although you can't control all the events of your life, you can always decide what the events mean to you and how you are going to respond. Whenever anything happens to you, you have to respond to it in order to create the outcome. Most people have fallen into the cultural hypnosis that just passes the responsibility on to someone else. This is why their lives feel out of control, because it is. They have not taken responsibility.

You create your world. When you assume your responsibility you are in charge and this is an internal shift in your thinking and behaviour. Your psychology is not just a big part of your life but it is "everything." Winning and loosing in life is an internal game. By learning to control and direct your mind you get to choose what things mean and therefore you get to choose your response, also known as your responsibility. No one can ever give you responsibility. It is an internal process and a switch that only you can turn on or off.

Being fully responsible doesn't mean you live in blame and self pity. It means that you live life from a place of power where you know that on some level you are fully responsible for what happened and you will be responsible for everything that is to come. Be careful how you utilize your past experiences. With responsibility comes a new emotional territory that reinvents your past. You want to use your past as a place to learn from and a place to pull pleasure from. Right, wrong or indifferent, there is a gift in there somewhere. You just need to find it. It's never too late to have a happy childhood ?you have the ability (and response-ability) to find an empowering meaning in whatever life gives you.

Responsibility means that you are in charge. You call the shots. Nobody and nothing is in control and to blame other than you. This is how you turn problems into opportunities and how an ordinary life becomes extraordinary. Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said that life is either a daring adventure or nothing. What is it going to be for you? You can either let the environment steer your life or you can get behind the wheel and take responsibility for every aspect of your life. Life is one amazing adventure, but only if you perceive it as that. By being responsible you can take yourself anywhere you want to go because you are the only one who gets to steer your ship and direct the course. You can't control the wind but you can most certainly direct your sails.

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