Does Anyone Have a Direct Line to God?

I have heard Catholics tell me that the pope has a direct line to God. I don't really know if that's true, but if he does, or anyone else does, I would like to ask them to do me a favor.

I would like them to ask God a few questions, these questions aren't going to be difficult, and we could even make them in yes or no formats, but these answers need to be asked and only God can provide us with the answers.

The first question that I would like to ask God, would be about starvation, why are there so many starving people all over the world? Are we or are we not supposed to be fruitful and multiply? Is overpopulation creating more problems in the world today, than it might have 2000 years ago?

These questions above, could be a little difficult to answer, but they shouldn't be too difficult for someone like God. I believe that God can handle a few tough questions and if the Pope or anyone else has direct communication with God, I would like to suggest something to them, quit wasting your time on frivolous things and start asking God the serious questions, that every one is really interested in.

It doesn't make a lot of sense, to pray and worship to somebody who realistically won't answer or deliver the things that we are requiring. I realize that most religious people are told, that God only answers some prayers or that God isn't ready to answer your prayers yet.

Anyway, if gods not going to answer all of our prayers, couldn't he at least answer some of our questions.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended authors, Don Miguel Ruiz

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Thanks For Reading Our Articles

Living the Ultimate Lie - Religious Fundamentalism

I've been doing research on Christianity and other religions throughout the world for quite some time and find it hard to believe that most of these religious followers, won't even listen to facts that I and others have found regarding their religion.

I find most of these people to be living the ultimate lie and when it comes to Christian fundamentalism or someone who I would consider to be a super Christian, these people adamantly hold both hands over their ears, while stomping their feet, trying to scare me into submission.

No matter how you slice it, no matter how you want it delivered to you, the truth is always going to be the truth. If you won't listen to the truth, you will live trapped living in a world of lies. It doesn't matter whether you're a Christian who believes in Jesus or an Islamic follower of believes in Allah, the truth, for most people, can only be found outside of your religion.

Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. How many religions talk about how the world was created, most of their followers, choose to believe their religious leaders and their religious text, without ever questioning, but often doubting what they were taught.

Science teaches us one way, religion teaches us another, however, neither one of them have any scientific evidence to back up their theories.

The minute that you state either one of these beliefs as a truth, you're living in a world of lies. If a scientist or religious leader, can convince you that their way is right, they have simply took a belief, without any evidence and made it into a fact. This illusion, is simply a belief that you have personally made into a truth and as long as you continue to believe this, without doing any of your own research, you will continue to spread lies and rumors throughout the world.

Problems With Noah's Ark Story

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religous article library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Thanks

Is Overpopulation a Religious Problem?

Overpopulation really isn't that hard to understand. People love each other, want to reproduce and have offspring. Their parents took care of them, and they will take care of their children. People love to have families and these families love to have more families. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

Now is overpopulation a religious problem? If you listen to religious text and understand a few simple sentences, you will see that there are plenty of religions all over the world that encourage the multiplication of mankind.

In the Bible, God tells man to be fruitful and multiply. If you read this a little differently, you might take it that God wants men to eat as much fruit as he wants to and plant more trees so that he can have more fruit and be fruitful.

That's not exactly how most Christians read this Bible verse. Christians need to have more children, and their children need to have more children. This is how they interpret the words, to be fruitful and multiply.

I do believe that religions all over the world play an important part in our worlds population problem today. It's not the people who are educated, that are constantly reproducing, in today's world.

Most religions support population expansion, but what are they going to do, once the world becomes so overpopulated, that we can't even take care of ourselves. This should give you another point of view to look at, especially if you one part of the problem and not the solution.

What About The End of The World

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with superior biblical knowledge , answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Thanks For Reading Our Articles

Does Anyone Have a Direct Line to God?

I have heard Catholics tell me that the pope has a direct line to God. I don't really know if that's true, but if he does, or anyone else does, I would like to ask them to do me a favor.

I would like them to ask God a few questions, these questions aren't going to be difficult, and we could even make them in yes or no formats, but these answers need to be asked and only God can provide us with the answers.

The first question that I would like to ask God, would be about starvation, why are there so many starving people all over the world? Are we or are we not supposed to be fruitful and multiply? Is overpopulation creating more problems in the world today, than it might have 2000 years ago?

These questions above, could be a little difficult to answer, but they shouldn't be too difficult for someone like God. I believe that God can handle a few tough questions and if the Pope or anyone else has direct communication with God, I would like to suggest something to them, quit wasting your time on frivolous things and start asking God the serious questions, that every one is really interested in.

It doesn't make a lot of sense, to pray and worship to somebody who realistically won't answer or deliver the things that we are requiring. I realize that most religious people are told, that God only answers some prayers or that God isn't ready to answer your prayers yet.

Anyway, if gods not going to answer all of our prayers, couldn't he at least answer some of our questions.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:
Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended authors, Don Miguel Ruiz

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Thanks For Reading Our Articles

Living the Ultimate Lie - Religious Fundamentalism

I've been doing research on Christianity and other religions throughout the world for quite some time and find it hard to believe that most of these religious followers, won't even listen to facts that I and others have found regarding their religion.

I find most of these people to be living the ultimate lie and when it comes to Christian fundamentalism or someone who I would consider to be a super Christian, these people adamantly hold both hands over their ears, while stomping their feet, trying to scare me into submission.

No matter how you slice it, no matter how you want it delivered to you, the truth is always going to be the truth. If you won't listen to the truth, you will live trapped living in a world of lies. It doesn't matter whether you're a Christian who believes in Jesus or an Islamic follower of believes in Allah, the truth, for most people, can only be found outside of your religion.

Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. How many religions talk about how the world was created, most of their followers, choose to believe their religious leaders and their religious text, without ever questioning, but often doubting what they were taught.

Science teaches us one way, religion teaches us another, however, neither one of them have any scientific evidence to back up their theories.

The minute that you state either one of these beliefs as a truth, you're living in a world of lies. If a scientist or religious leader, can convince you that their way is right, they have simply took a belief, without any evidence and made it into a fact. This illusion, is simply a belief that you have personally made into a truth and as long as you continue to believe this, without doing any of your own research, you will continue to spread lies and rumors throughout the world.

Problems With Noah's Ark Story

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religous article library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Thanks

Is Overpopulation a Religious Problem?

Overpopulation really isn't that hard to understand. People love each other, want to reproduce and have offspring. Their parents took care of them, and they will take care of their children. People love to have families and these families love to have more families. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

Now is overpopulation a religious problem? If you listen to religious text and understand a few simple sentences, you will see that there are plenty of religions all over the world that encourage the multiplication of mankind.

In the Bible, God tells man to be fruitful and multiply. If you read this a little differently, you might take it that God wants men to eat as much fruit as he wants to and plant more trees so that he can have more fruit and be fruitful.

That's not exactly how most Christians read this Bible verse. Christians need to have more children, and their children need to have more children. This is how they interpret the words, to be fruitful and multiply.

I do believe that religions all over the world play an important part in our worlds population problem today. It's not the people who are educated, that are constantly reproducing, in today's world.

Most religions support population expansion, but what are they going to do, once the world becomes so overpopulated, that we can't even take care of ourselves. This should give you another point of view to look at, especially if you one part of the problem and not the solution.

What About The End of The World

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.
His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with superior biblical knowledge , answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Thanks For Reading Our Articles

Transform Your Good Intentions Into Real Results

It seems to be the custom in our society to use the unwrapping of a new year's calendar as an excuse to turn the page on an area of our life that we are not happy about. However, in reality, I notice that the gym, always full during the first week of January, gets strangely quiet by the end of that first month.

Why do most resolutions fail? Do resolutions really work to create lasting change?

The cause of many failed resolutions is the attempt to modify behaviors without realizing that the root of our results resides in our thoughts, attitudes, assumptions and beliefs about the world: how we define our personal truth.

Our unconscious truth is that we want instant gratification, without sacrifice, effort, or pain. We want the magic bullet that will make our lives the way we want them, right now. We want change while staying in our comfort zone. We deserve what we want!

Change is essential to who we are. To thrive as living beings, we need to continuously evolve and grow. We need to change to be in sync with the world around us. Change is good, change is vital.

We make a resolution when we see that there is a part of our life where the results don't quite match the idealized picture we have of ourselves. The recognition that something needs to change is a good thing. Stating the resolution consciously, out loud, is an important trigger to start the process of conscious change away from what we don't want and towards something we do want.

Where resolutions fall down is that most people set themselves up for failure. Resolutions are the first part of a system to modify your thoughts, words, actions, character and destiny. However, just saying it is not enough to make the change happen.

What is the best way to ensure that you are building the future you really want, in your life, your career, your relationships, your business, your livelihood?

The most important factor in creating and implementing successful resolutions is to give yourself the time and room to learn a new way of being. Many self-help experts say it takes three weeks to adopt a new habit. They are partly right...it may take three weeks to feel comfortable with a new habit, but it takes six to twelve months to lock it in as a way of life that is automatic for you. That's why clarity, commitment, detailed planning and long-term support are so important.

A resolution turns into a result through a simple process:

a. Intention: describing the result that you want;

b. Strategy: creating a plan to make it happen and gathering the resources you need;

c. Execution: living your plan, integrating new habits and actions, making things happen; and

d. Result: outcome that you assess and feedback to modify any of the previous steps to make the result as close as possible to your intention.

Anytime of the year, not just January 1, is a great time to create a resolution that works. Consciously adopt one new result into your life each year, and you will be creating the future you really want, by design instead of by default. Isn't that worth making a deliberate decision to change, now?

Davender Gupta is a business leadership coach and Certified "Book Yourself Solid" Coach whose mission is to guide passion-driven solopreneurs and beginning network marketers to accelerate their Vision from Passion to Profit. Join the discussion on his blog frompassiontoprofit.com and his main site coachdavender.com He welcomes your questions by e-mail at coach@davender.com or by phone, toll-free, at 1-888-788-8844.

20 Facts You May Not Know About Frangipanis (Plumeria)

1. According to Mexican myth the gods were born from Frangipani flowers.
2. Frangipani (Plumeria) is very rare in China, and even more precious than orchids. So, when a person gives frangipani flowers to a sweetheart, it is the closest thing to saying you're special, I love you in a culture where expression of personal feelings is frowned upon.
3. The colorful caterpillar of Pseudosphinx tetrio feeds predominantly on the leaves of Plumeria rubra (frangipani).
4. "Warming" oils -- such as those from frangipani are said to have a calming influence on those suffering from fear, anxiety, insomnia or tremors, according to the principles of Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old Indian holistic science that seeks to balance mind, body and spirit.
5. Frangipanis are good hosts for dendrobium orchids.
6. According to Vietnamese myth, ghosts live in trees with white and fragrant flowers including the frangipani. In Vietnam and China the colour white is associated with death and funerals.
7. In Hindu culture, the flower means loyalty. Hindu women put a flower in their hair on their wedding days to show their loyalty to their husbands.
8. There is a theory that Catholic missionary priests spread frangipanis around the world as they travelled. This may explain why the frangipani is so popular and common in the Philippines and Thailand but very rare in China and Vietnam. Thailand and the Philippines welcomed the Christian missionaries while, in China and Vietnam, they were persecuted until around the 1850s.
9. The frangipani is regarded as a sacred tree in Laos and every Buddhist temple in that country has them planted in their courtyards.
10. Frangipanis won't burn except in extreme temperatures (over 500 degrees).
11. In Caribbean cultures the leaves are used as poultices (a healing wrap) for bruises and ulcers and the latex (sap) is used as a liniment for rheumatism.
12. The frangipani is also associated with love in feng shui.
13. In India the frangipani is a symbol of immortality because of its ability to produce leaves and flowers even after it has been lifted out of the soil. It is often planted near temples and graveyards, where the fresh flowers fall daily upon the tombs.
14. In Vietnam the frangipani is used for its healing qualities: the bark, mashed in alcohol, prevents skin inflammation. It is also used to treat indigestion and high blood pressure, while the roots have purgative effects on animals and the milk-like sap serves as a balm for skin diseases. The white flowers are used in traditional medicine to cure high blood pressure, haemophilia, cough, dysentery and fever.
15. In Malay folklore the scent of the frangipani is associated with a vampire, the pontianak.
16. In modern Polynesian culture, the frangipani can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status - over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.
17. Frangipani trees were once considered taboo in Thai homes because of superstitious associations with the plant's Thai name, lantom, which is similar to ratom, the Thai word for sorrow. As a result, frangipanis were thought to bring unhappiness. Today, however, the blossoms are presented as fragrant offerings to Buddha and Thai people wear them on special festival days like Songkran (Thai New Year).
18. The frangipani is the national flower of Nicaragua and it features on some of their bank notes.
19. The name, frangipani, comes from the Italian nobleman, Marquis Frangipani, who created a perfume used to scent gloves in the 16th century. When the frangipani flower was discovered its natural perfume reminded people of the scented gloves, and so the flower was called frangipani. Another version has it that the name, frangipani, is from the French frangipanier which is a type of coagulated milk that the Plumeria milk resembles.
20. The name, Plumeria, is attributed to Charles Plumier, a 17th Century French botanist who travelled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species, although according to author Peter Loewer (The Evening Garden: Flowers and Fragrance from Dusk Till Dawn; Timber Press, 2002) Plumier was not the first to describe Plumeria. That honour goes to Francisco de Mendoza, a Spanish priest who did so in 1522.

Diane Ellis is co-owner of the site http://www.AllThingsFrangipani.com where you'll find information about frangipanis (plumeria) including growing tips, propagation, and frangipani pests and diseases.

You can also buy beautiful frangipani gifts such as jewellery, UV resistant outdoor stickers, toiletries, gift packs, and hand crafted bags.

Top 10 Relaxation Tips For Entrepreneur-Caregivers

According to a MetLife Study, the three hardest problems for caregivers are finding time for oneself, balancing work and family responsibilities, as well as balancing physical and emotional stress. If you are a small business or solo entrepreneur who also is taking care of an aging or ill parent, then you have the perfect set-up for your own illness, unless you take the proper time to care for yourself, as well.

As a wellness consultant and entrepreneur-caregiver myself, the following are my top 10 tips for relaxation which also work across the board for anyone involved in care giving activities. Choose at least three that you can incorporate into your life on a regular basis.

1. BE GRATEFUL EACH DAY.

Look at the news and you know that life is not promised to us. Just waking up knowing that the day literally is the beginning of the rest of our lives should give us a pause and make us joyous to be alive. There is something to be said for an "attitude of gratitude" even in the midst of your care giving duties.

2. STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES.

Often when I find myself in a frenetic pace, I simply stop and remind myself that there is no need to get into a tizzy about whatever I am trying to accomplish. Sometimes peace of mind is better than running around like a chicken with its head cut off. The sun and moon will always rise -- at their own pace.

3. A GOOD NIGHT'S REST.

For most people seven to eight hours of sleep is ideal. Of course, some people can function well with fewer hours depending upon their makeup. The key thing is to know when you clearly aren't getting enough and to make adjustments. Sleep is the time that our bodies use to rejuvenate itself. It is hard to feel relaxed when we're exhausted from a lack of sleep. Proper sleep is CRITICAL for the caregiver.

4. THE ART OF THE BATH.

Taking a good bath has given way to the quick shower for many people. But nothing can beat a long, hot soak for the ultimate in quiet time, reflection, and relaxation. Light some candles, diffuse some essential oils, put on some relaxing music and simply go "ahhhhh."

5. FOOD FOR FUEL.

You are what you eat. Garbage in. Garbage out. Plug yourself with junk and non-nutrient rich food and it is going to be hard to feel 100%, let alone relaxed and refreshed. There are scores of books on proper eating. Pick an approach that works for you and stick with it. Intense caregiving is not the time to give in to junk food.

6. GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER.

Feng Shui is the art and science of placement. The basic premise is that our home is a mirror, a metaphor for our lives. If you're saddled with a cluttered home, then it actually weighs on your subconscious, making it difficult to feel truly relaxed.

7. CH'I ENHANCERS.

Surround yourself with ch'i enhancers. Ch'i means life energy in Chinese. Ch'i enhancers are those things that make us feel relaxed, happy, and peaceful. Wind chimes, water fountains, soft music, and fragrance are all wonderful examples of the enhancers. Pets represent one of the all-time ch'i enhancers and work wonders for both the caregiver and the person being take care of. With their innocent faces and happy hearts, pets can uplift us when everything else goes kerplunk.

8. CH'I LEADERS.

Ch'i leaders are our own cheerleaders. Surround yourself with positive people who support and energize you. Toxic people will only drain your energy, making it hard for you to go about life ever feeling relaxed. Learn how not to give away your personal power to noxious people.

9. EXERCISE.

Get the blood flowing. Volumes have been writing about the benefits of exercise. The net of it is that we actually increase our capacity to go about our daily chores by exercising, and therefore feel less stressed. When we have accomplished our tasks in a timely and fit fashion, it is a lot easier to feel relaxed. With care giving there always are lots of things to be done!

10. MEDITATE AND PRAY.

Silence is indeed golden. Sometimes we become hyped up over a problem simply because we haven't taken the time to be quiet and still. It's amazing the answers I get when I stop and turn off the inner chatter. And no matter what your religious belief, praying to a higher power can certainly take the stress out of a situation and make us breathe a sigh of relief knowing that it will turn out for the best in the end. Reflexology, massage, and healing touch are excellent ways to get into a deep meditation. As a caregiver you simply MUST find some quiet time for yourself.

2007 Paula Quick.

Paula Quick is the owner of Quick Works Wellness, LLC, a mind, body, spirit lifestyle company, based in Richmond, Virginia. She is a Personal Life Coach/Reflexologist and offers numerous programs for personal transformation and relaxation. She specializes in helping entrepreneurs who are taking care of aging and ill parents. She can be reached at 804-381-6842 or onyourfeetcoach@aol.com

Please visit her website at http://www.caregiverwellnesscoach.com for more information.

Feng Shui Laughing Buddha For Business Luck

Laughing Buddha is considered as a deity of abundance whose images and statues are seen in many business places these days. He is regarded as an avatar of Maitreya who is considered to be a future representation of enlightenment in Buddhism. Since Maitreya is associated with happiness, which can be considered to be an extension of having enough to eat and living a contented life, Laughing Buddha is represented having a belly. He helps to overcome sadness and obstacles, and offers a smooth ride filled with happiness throughout the year. He is said to have a face that is very smiley to signify fulfillment and joy.

He is also considered as the representation of an eccentric Chinese monk who lived many years ago. He was considered to be a man of good nature and was always seen carrying a cloth bag with many items like rice, sweets for the children and food for the poor. He may also be seen sitting on a cart drawn by kids or holding a fan that was considered a wish fulfilling fan. The Laughing Buddha of today represents the monk who goes around and blesses people with happiness, good luck and family luck.

He is said to bring incredible luck and can be seen at cashier counters, reception desks, entry foyers and lobbies of hotels and restaurants and almost many premises in Asia.

He is also represented carrying symbols like ingots, pots of gold, treasure bag and usually associated with abundance, wealth and happiness luck.

He is seen surrounded with children and is said to bring descendant luck into families. His statue or painting with kids placed in the west area of the living room is said to be very lucky for couples aspiring to have kids.

Displaying the Laughing Buddha in the family room is considered to bring family harmony and dispel any problems and quarrels.

He is also represented in jade pendants jewelry, which is considered to be very lucky. Giving a gift of the statue is considered a very friendly gesture. In most Asian cultures a representation of Laughing Buddha is given on notable occasions like weddings and anniversaries.

Always display the statue on a nice table and display the deity in living rooms and entry areas of the house. Please do not display in bathrooms or kitchen.

In many temples of Asia the Laughing Buddha is seen sitting facing the entrance and is considered a symbol of good luck.

Veda Singam offers quality articles, short snippets on Feng Shui and Astrology. Moreover she also offers astrology horoscope content. Her work is published in Astrojasta.com, a free online resource for astrology horoscopes. Visit the Zodiac Zone of that website for free monthly and daily horoscopes, astrology, numerology, feng shui and kua number resources.

Start Your Work Right With a John Deer Tractor

The Deere Company, more familiarly known as John Deere, is one of the largest and most successful manufacturers of farming equipment in the world. The color scheme of green and yellow immediately identifies a John Deere tractor, even if its trademark design of a leaping deer were not just as identifiable.

In 1837, John Deere was a blacksmith in Grand Detour, Illinois. The farmers in the area were having a great deal of difficulty in tilling the tough, prairie soil - much of it sticky clay - with their cast iron plows. Something better was needed. Deere perfected the self-scouring steel plow (constructed from highly polished steel and with a a correctly shaped moldboard). So successful was this new plow that Deere was able to go into partnership with another businessman in 1843 to speed up production. By 1848 he'd moved his company to the transportation hub that was Moline, Illinois (located on the banks of the Mississippi River) and had produced 10,000 plows.

Up until that time, a farmer requested a plow and the blacksmith made it to order. Deere manufactured several plows at one time, so that the farmer could come in, look around and see what he wanted, and then buy it then and there. That was the kind of innovation that started the John Deere company on its long, successful road.

It wasn't until 1868 that the business was named the John Deere Company. Up until that time Deere had had many partners, but he always stressed that only quality products would come out of his company. Deere's son Charles became director of the company and under his aegis it became even more and more successful.

It was in 1912 that John Deere moved into the tractor business - that branch for which they are best known today. Over 90 years later they are still going strong. The company employs around 50,000 people in many countries, including the United States and Turkey, Canada, the United Kingdom, China, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, India, Poland, and Mexico. Their main business headquarters are still located in Moline, Illinois.

The Deere family is no longer connected to the John Deere company - which is huge with many subsidiaries including the AGRIS Corporation (John Deere Agri Services), John Deere Landscapes (a supplier of landscaping plants, materials, and irrigation equipment) and even
NavCom Technology, Inc. (Precision positioning systems and intelligent mobile equipment technologies) to name a few.

As with all major companies, John Deere has a website which provides a history of the company, a search function to find the dealer nearest you, and a complete catalog of all their offerings, from residential to commercial equipment, from golf & turf tools to agricultural machines, to construction, forestry, and engine components. In other words, they'll have a piece of machinery or equipment to meet your every need.

Andrew Caxton is the editor and journalist of many information websites like http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com, who has written more articles and newsletters on gardening . A website with tips on John Deere tractors.

Feng Shui Brings Health and Wealth

Years ago I owned and managed a visitors' memento store in Jamaica. When I went to buy stock the trader introduced the green frog which was doing very well in the market and encourage me to sell it These frogs boasted huge male sex organs and were of no interest to me. In the end he eventually persuaded me and I bought a few and just as he explained they went very fast.

I believed it was the extra-large external reproductive organ that caused them to go so quickly since there was not anything attractive, nothing really to like concerning these frogs. To be honest I found them gruesome. I wondered why they were green and not brown like the brown frogs we are familiar with in Jamaica.

A few day ago while searching online I came across an article which said green frog is one of the symbols used in Feng Shui to generate wealth. It stated that a green frog when placed near the entrance of the house as if guarding a dish of coins will attract wealth for that family. One can be deprived of his wealth through ignorance. So many tourists came eagerly buying up the frogs and there was I trying to make money and did not know the significance of these frogs. I simply believed tourists were attracted to the oversized male sex organs: none made me the wiser.

I write all this to explain the benefits Feng Shui can bring to homes and offices thus promoting, health, wealth and love into persons' lives. According to Feng Shui practitioner, Amit Jain there are flows of invisible energies in the home that can create havoc on one's health, personal and professional life upsetting areas of health, finances and happiness of all family members.

All around us we are over whelmed with energy such as electricity, solar, electromagnetic, X-ray, natural and artificial light, sound, color, and geo-magnetic energies. When in agreement and balanced energies can surely affect us positively just as they negatively affect us when they are out of balanced and harmony.

It had been proven that energies that enter your home and office can improve or weaken the health depending on the way the house and furniture are aligned with the fundamental points of east south west and north. Feng Shui states that in order to get maximum health benefits the front door of buildings should face the east or the north Cardinal points.

In the event that a door faces another direction other than east or north; concave mirrors or life cards can right and correct the negative effects. One should get a Bagua and learn from this chart where the different sections of the house are aligned that represent the various aspects of one's life such knowledge, children, wealth and friends. Having this knowledge can certainly improve standard of living. One of the first rules is to make sure that each of these areas in the home is free from clutter. The next rule is each direction on this chart is ruled by a natural element like wood, metal, fire ,water, putting the wrong symbol in any of these areas will cause opposing effect

According to Feng Shui practice a simple thing as a bad placement of a toilet can have devastating effect on individuals. It must not go in the south east, or north east of your home or office it is not good as this is the area designated to wealth and health on the Bagua chart. Toilet seats must be kept closed to avoid symbolic implication of flushing out one's health and wealth. A dripping faucet in those directions must be fixed immediately.

Where you master bed room, children's room and servant's room is position in your home will indicate who really has the power in the house. Some time our children have so much power over us demanding and selfish, it is time to check out which direction their room is positioned in the home. The person who has the south west position will be more settled and have more dominance.

The direction in which the head goes when sleeping is also important especially when it relates to health because more energy radiates from the north south axis. The east and west positions are the next best directions for sleeping.

Juliet Christie Murray is a Jamaican Teacher. At present she is a vice principal in a Jamaican High School Author of two inspirational books and web master of http://specular-jamaica.com and http://blackwomenandtheirhair.blogspot.com

How To Stop Drinking Soda

Face it, drinking soda just adds empty calories to your diet.

You could change to sugar free or zero soda but that's probably even worse than drinking regular, sugar laden, soda. The nasty additives make diet soda a bad choice (look up aspartame if you need convincing). Plus your body doesn't differentiate too well between real sugar and pretend sugar, so you get a lot of the bodily reactions with diet soda that you do with regular soda.

So, how do you stop drinking soda? Not just now or today or this week. But altogether. Except maybe for special occasions.

First off, make sure there's none in the fridge. Not having soda in the house makes it a conscious effort when you next want to slurp down some soda.

Secondly, if you've been used to drinking cola, don't go cold turkey. The caffeine takes time to leave your system, so ease out of drinking cola gently.

Third, keep some sparkling water in the fridge and drink that when you get the urge for soda. Maybe add a slice of lemon or lime to spruce up the tast.

Fourth, drink plenty of water. You should be doing this anyway - the recommendation is 8 glasses a day.

After a while - likely about two weeks - you'll find that your tastes have started to change. What appeared attractive to you in the shape of fizzy soda is no longer as attractive. You'll find yourself instinctively asking for something other than soda. Maybe water. Maybe tea or coffee (but don't overdose on that as a soda substitute!).

Get help to stop drinking soda by using the power of hypnosis to help your subconscious mind help you to quit drinking soda.

Firewood Tips: Seasoned Firewood and Proper Storage Log Rack

Typically any piece of firewood over 8 inches in diameter should be split. Firewood should be split as soon as possible after it is cut. It is much easier to split green wood than seasoned wood. It is best to select a good hard wood verses a soft wood like pine to burn.

Place your firewood rack 20 to 25 feet from your home or any building if possible. Firewood attracts many insects such as ants and termites. Keeping a proper distance from any structures will keep the insects from entering your home. A log rack should be designed to
keep your firewood off the ground. When firewood sits on the ground it takes longer to season and it tends to attract mice and snakes looking for a home. Stack your firewood allowing air to circulate around the logs but most of the moisture will be drawn from the cut ends verses the split sides. It is not recommended to cover your firewood during the seasoning, this can trap moisture in and will delay the drying time and could cause mold and fungus to grow. Once your firewood is seasoned cover the top layers during fall rains and winter snow. This will allow you to grab dry wood from the top while air circulates through the rest of your firewood

Seasoned firewood will have checks and cracks and weigh much less than fresh cut firewood. Over 50% of the weight in fresh cut wood is moisture. Seasoning of firewood is important for several reasons. When firewood is burned any excess moisture has to be "cooked" out of
the wood. This excess moisture escapes as smoke. If your fireplace doesn't draft very well the smoke could come back into your room. Burning firewood that isn't seasoned uses all the heat from the fire to "cook" out the excess moisture and doesn't produce heat for your
home. Seasoned wood will ignite and burn much easier and cause fewer problems with condensation and creosote. Continue Article

http:http://www.thelograck.com

Inerrancy of the Bible - Are There Mistakes in the Bible

What does the word inerrancy main? Inerrancy would refer to text that is accurate and totally free of any errors or without any mistakes. Does this sound like any book that you have ever read or have knowledge of. Maybe there is a one sentence book that could fall into this category.

Most books however and even this article has mistakes. If I made a decision to base my life, my entire life and that of my children and grandchildren, I would want to make sure that it was accurate as possible.

Is the Bible, 100%, 90%, or even 50% accurate. Are these stories that were written by people many years ago and the lessons have been helpful but now need to be rewritten.

Does the Bible actually contain the will of God? Some scholars believe that certain sections of the Bible meet this criteria while others do not. How can these people judge if they are not God and how can we believe in this stuff is not true.

If the Bible was inspired by God but written by men, this could actually mean that God had complete control over writing the Bible or does this mean that the man wrote the Bible with gods inspiration. I'm inspired by God daily and often write about it, but don't seem to have enough followers to make it into the biblical Hall of Fame. I'm writing with inspired beliefs right now.

If there are errors in the Bible, how extensive or how many errors are there actually. There are actual stories that can be documented as historical facts. This doesn't mean the rest of the Bible is factual, nor does it mean it is historically inaccurate.

The Bible has some errors in it and some facts that we can prove but leaves us with the question, is this a book from the Creator of the universe or a book written by men, to make us believe, it was written by God and if so why are we still believe being in it. Why do some people read this book and other religious text daily? What motivates them to read holy Scripture regularly but doesn't seem to allow them enough time to find out if they are reading accurate information.

The biggest problem I have with the inerrancy of the Bible is the fact that most people tend to ignore certain truths and cling to their childhood beliefs about religion. If this is not the way or the truth, I would want to start looking for it, instead of following someone else's dreams or religious doctrine.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion. Religious Education And Fear

Using Words In The Bible Effecti

God's Specific Sign Of The End Of The Age

The Gospel has been making inroads world-wide for many centuries. It is at its all-time greatest expansion today. The Gospel is on every continent and in every country. But there are cultural groups, some say several hundred, living in those countries that have not a word of Scripture in their native language. Do those groups all qualify as "nations" in the Bible sense? Will Jesus wait until every man, woman, and child has had a chance to hear a word of Scripture in his own language? Is that the requirement? Then what of the millions who have already died without hearing that Word?

Or was Jesus' statement about the Gospel being preached in all the world (Matthew 24) before the end would come, general on purpose, adding only one more backdrop for the condition of the world when He is about to come? It is true that the world will not end until the Gospel has gone around the world, but that process has taken many hundreds of years, and may take many more. It cannot be a "sign", for no one knows exactly when it is fulfilled. In fact, is it fulfilled now?

In the verse following this "gospel" sign, 15, is a statement that is so specific that it far overshadows all that has been said so far. I believe it is the answer the disciples were seeking. It is backed up by Scripture and followed up by an action scenario that leads quickly to the end of the world!

Let me make that last point again. It will change forever your idea about the end times. If you are able to grasp what I am sharing here, you will be able to lay aside human opinions that have for so long governed Matthew 24. The point is this: There is absolutely no textual need for any break between verse 15 and verse 31. That is, the "sign" mentioned in verse 15 kicks off a series of events that leads in a relatively short time to the very revelation of Jesus Christ in the clouds. This is one understanding you will not receive in most other discussions of this passage available today. It sweeps away theories. It frees itself from historical speculation. It ties itself directly to passages in Daniel and Revelation and leads God's people to see that One Spirit spoke to all. The message is awesome, even frightening at times, but not confused.

Do you see it? A signal is given, panic ensues, worldwide trouble follows this, so bad that the time period is shortened by God Himself, more false prophets appear, Jesus comes! Those who see the beginning of this series of events will most likely see its end (Matthew 24:34). Otherwise it could not be considered a sign. If the "abomination" took place in the first century but I live in the twenty-first, why should I think it was signaling anything?

Granted, in A.D. 70, armies did encircle Jerusalem, and the Roman conquerors destroyed almost (but only almost) everything standing. And the Temple was defiled by Caesar's general Titus ( atype of abomination). And those in the vicinity panicked and ran (hence, "desolation"), not necessarily because Jesus had told them to (for the unsaved Jewish community had long since written Jesus off) but because that's what you do when you are met with such a forceful attack. Yes, Jews were protected in neighboring Edom, at Petra, etc. But the rest of chapter 24 did not happen. Jesus did not return to Earth! And the instructions given to us remain intact: "Let him that reads understand." I think no one was reading about this catastrophe in A.D. 70. But we read. And more and more, we understand. This event has not yet occurred, though the Jews of the first century had a very real dress rehearsal.

I realize that what I am proposing will set interpretation of predictive prophecy study back many years, but that's a great idea. Let's set it back, in fact, to the days when it was first spoken, and read for ourselves what Jesus said! For He said that after the abomination of desolation takes place, He will come. Good enough for me. Once one knows what that phrase means, he has a grasp of when Jesus will come.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Was Jesus Really Real - Video

10 Ways to Deal With Negative Thinking, Panic and Paralyzing Fears

I recently heard from a friend who had been laid off at the newspaper she worked at because of the faltering economy. She didn't have many job leads and her motivation was at an all-time low. She felt that there was nothing more frightening than being a writer in an uncertain job market.

Panic and fear quickly took over; where would she go from go from there?

How would she pay her bills?

How would she cope with uncertainty?

Her mind was plagued with self-doubting, self-defeating thoughts and she began to spiral out of control, right into a dangerous state of anxiety that threatened to paralyze her into stagnant ground forever.

As she began to realize what a toll her predicament was leaving her in, it became clear to her that she needed to take action and do something to get herself out of the hole she was in.

Once she sat down and began to reflect on things, working through the paralyzing fear and the negativity that came along with the devastation of losing her dream job and having to start over from the beginning, everything started to make sense and she was on a roll!

Sometimes it takes a moment of crisis to help us refocus our thoughts and energies into what we want our professional and personal goals to be and what we need to accomplish.

The following points will help you focus and concentrate on the positive rather than dwell on the negative, motivating you to move forward into action rather than leaving you stuck in a rut.

Reading through them should help you gain some perspective into your particular situation:

1. Allow yourself to be upset and grieve if things have gone wrong

Sometimes you suffer from start-up inertia because you're having to make a new start and you're stubbornly holding on to the way things were.

It is perfectly normal to feel panicked, upset, angry, sad, even outraged; you wouldn't be human if you didn't feel that way.

Take some time to get in touch with those feelings.

The night my friend got laid off she drove home, fell into bed and literally could not move for 45 minutes.

Then she called me.

I got her to get up, take a long shower, change into some comfortable clothes, and then she spent some time sat in front of the television watching 'Friends'.

Give your mind and body time to settle into the initial shock of change, whatever it may be. But focus primarily on how you feel and let those feelings out.

2. Take a DEEP BREATH!

Your mind deserves it, your body deserves it, your lungs deserve it.

Taking deep breaths improves circulation, calms anxiety and helps you focus.

Once you're done moping, take a deep breath and start to move.

3. Organize your home, organize your life

Is your house a mess? What about your room or your home office? Can you not see yourself going through the piles of papers on top of your desk? Have you looked at your bills lately and seen what you have?

If you haven't done any of these things, now is the time to do it.

There is nothing more stressful when we are in a state of panic than a living space that has no room for us to live in it.

So tackle the mess; wash those clothes, clean out that pantry, throw out the clutter, get those bills out of the way.

You'll be surprised how much more motivated you will be when you surround yourself with cleanliness and order.

4. Surround yourself with positive people

Now would be a good time to reconnect with friends that you haven't spoken to in a while, or even with the friends that you talked to just yesterday, those friends that always have an encouraging word, who are helpful and positive.

Do yourself a favor and avoid people who are always down in the dumps, or who always have something negative to say.

However:

5. Don't confuse negativity with constructive criticism

Some friends may seem like they're helping but they're just feeding the cynicism. Conversely, friends that may appear to be negative are actually offering ways to help by sharing your experiences and showing you a better way to focus.

Listen to the people that are there for you, take what you can use, and dismiss those things that you don't want to use or that you can't use. Don't allow yourself to be brought down by it.

Take charge of your life again.

6. Have someone objective to talk to

When possible, sometimes having an objective third party to talk to and run ideas by can be tremendously helpful.

In some cases, a therapist can be of vital importance in your growth process towards finding yourself and focusing on your career and life goals. They can provide you with a perspective that is sound, rational and unbiased, while still keeping your best interests in mind.

7. Keep a journal of your progress

Write your ideas and your thoughts down and read over them the day after. You will gain some valuable perspective and insight into your own growth and where you are at.

8. Get out of the house!

Take your laptop or notebook to the local coffee shop or park, somewhere with some interaction and get out into the world! This will give you a chance to get out of the house and possibly meet some people, network and create some opportunities towards accomplishing your goals.

9. Actively look for opportunities to do the things that you love most and turn them into opportunities for you

Do you enjoy attending art shows? Love doing volunteer work? Do you like fishing with friends or going to the library or attending meetings for local organizations?

These are all things that would not only satisfy the craving for you to do something that you enjoy, but it would also present you with opportunities to network, meet people that could help you get ahead, and spend time taking care of yourself and your mental and emotional health.

10. Finally, SMILE and BELIEVE!

Easier said than done, I know. Believe me, nothing about my friend's situation warranted a smile and some faith. But had she not kept herself smiling, it would have been so much harder to be positive and pull out of that state of anxiety.

Believe in yourself and the things that you have accomplished and remember that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to do.

So get your coat, get your shoes, get your smile and go out into the world!

Taking heed of these valuable insights will help you create and maintain a positive energy source in your life and keep inertia at bay. You will feel better, be more motivated and definitely more at peace.

All it takes is for you to make that first move. Don't let panic paralyze you into inertia. Anything is possible; it's up to you to make it happen!

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: stay motivated

Saul's Conversion

"And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized." (Acts 9:18 NAS)

In Acts chapter 9 verses 1 through 18 we have the account of Saul's conversion from a persecutor of Christians to an apostle of Christ. In several of my most recent posts here it has been shown that in the early years of the establishment of the church that when a person heard and believed the gospel, accepting it, it always led immediately to baptism. The reader and Bible student must ask himself why?

With Saul's conversion we have the fourth such account with the same result. Verse 18 says of Saul that "he arose and was baptized." (Acts 9:18 NAS) The reader needs to take note of some things said in earlier verses.

Jesus in speaking to Saul on the road to Damascus says to him, "enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do." (Acts 9:6 NAS) Just a few verses later we see the Lord sending a man by the name of Ananias to Saul. (Acts (9:11 NAS) Ananias was sent to Saul for more than one reason, to achieve more than one end, but I ask this - was not one end to tell Saul "what you must do?" If Ananias did not tell Saul what he must do then who did? It was not Christ for he could have done it on the road to Damascus if he was going to be the one who did it.

Now what did Ananias tell Saul? Did he tell Saul you need to have faith in Jesus? Did he need to tell him that? Had not Saul become a believer already? Did he tell Saul you need to repent? Had he not done that? If his experience on the road to Damascus had not wrought these things what would it take? What do you think he told Saul "you must do" as per the words of Jesus when Jesus said it would be told him?

The text said he "arose and was baptized." Why be baptized? Was it not because it "shall be told you what you must do" and baptism was the thing he must do? But, we do not have to guess at it or reason our way to this conclusion for we can turn to Acts 22:16 where Saul recounts his conversion experience and tells us what Ananias told him. "'And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'" (Acts 22:16 NAS)

Now why was this a thing Saul must do? Because as the text in Acts 22:16 tells us baptism is for the purpose of washing away one's sins. As Peter said in Acts 2:38 it is "for the forgiveness of your sins." This is the very reason in every account of conversion that we have discussed those who believed were baptized. As Jesus said, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16 NAS)

Is it so hard to believe Jesus? Is it so hard to believe Peter, to believe Philip, to believe Ananias? Judged by the belief and practice of the world it must be.

Tired of pep sessions and motivational speeches called sermons? Would you like to hear preaching like it use to be where you can learn something from the Bible versus what some theologian has said? If so why not listen to the preaching of Waymon Swain? Highly recommended by your author.

Stair Lighting Problems

Walking up and down the stairs in the dark could become a safety issue. If the stairs in the house are not that old, there should be a light switch at the top and a light switch at the bottom of the stairway. This is a three way switch and is designed to allow you to turn the stair lighting on as you walk up the stairs and then turn the stair lighting off, once you've safely reached the top of the stairway. And vice versa as she walked down the stairs.

If you don't have a light switch, there are motion sensor lights that are battery operated and can be installed easily in the stairway. These lights can provide you with peace of mind, while protecting your family from accidents.

Stairway accidents are nothing to joke about, I lived in a two-story house with four other people and was the last one to fall down the stairway. None of us got seriously injured and the stairway was built to meet local building codes and was inspected by a building and safety inspector. The stairs were built correctly and the stair lighting was no problem, but people still fell down the stairway and it always happens in the evening.

During the day time there were two windows that let plenty of light into the stairway and in the evening the stairway became quite dark, rarely was the stair lightning ever turned on. This could have been outright laziness but nevertheless, it was rarely used and eventually became a safety issue.

Lighting your stairway might not end all of your problems but it can and some of your problems. There are plenty of stair lighting systems available on the market today and some of the battery operated stair lighting systems can be installed by most homeowners.

Think safety always and do your best to solve your stair lighting problems as soon as possible to prevent injuries or accidents.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more building stairs or home building ideas.

Religion Articles

Spiritual Humor In Religion - Read This It's Funny

Well you probably heard of the problems that some people get into when they drink a little too much and start to drive their cars. This is known as drinking and driving irresponsibly and can be hazardous to your health but more hazardous to your pocketbook. Overdosing on drugs, spending too much money shopping, gambling excessively and last but not least, spending too much time at your place of worship can be hazardous to others. Over time, our loved ones seem to suffer the most from our excesses.

I suggest most people use religion responsibly and try not to overindulge in the excesses of your spiritual practice. Like an alcoholic drinking until they feel good, only to wake up feeling bad the next morning. And then starting the process all over the next day.

Now for the big question, "Are You a Religiousoholic?" Do you spend too much time at church? Do you surround yourself exclusively with people that share your same religious beliefs?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, there's a good chance you're a religiousoholic. Like alcoholics and drug addicts, there is help for you, once you've identified your problem, we can help. We call it our 5 step program. Alcoholics Anonymous has a 12 step program for recovery but we have eliminated a couple and rearranged others in hopes for a faster recovery.

Religionolism is no laughing matter and should be handled with the utmost delicacy. Start with the first step and work your way down the list and within a short period of time you should find yourself free from the religious tyranny of your institutionalized religion.

Step 1. The biggest problem you're going to happen during your recovery will be the temptation from religious followers, wanting you to come back. Like a drug addict, saying no to drugs,it's hard, you're going to have to be strong here. Learn to say no to organized religion and yes to religious freedom.

Step 2. Instead of reading Scripture, start reading about other religions around the world. You will find some weird things and new ideas, but the bottom line here is that you'll be able to see some similarities, and silliness between the religions.

Step 3. You can still spend time praying, just spend more time praying about how grateful you are, instead of praying for something you want, start spending a little more time thanking God for the things in your lives that you already have. I have spent a lot of time praying for things I never got. When I stopped praying for the things, I thought I needed, I started getting the things I really needed.

Step 4. Start spending a little more time believing in yourself, some religions seem to give all the glory and credit to their gods and very little to the people that are actually making the sacrifices. I have also noticed that when something goes wrong, some religious followers tend to punish themselves and it just doesn't seem fair. God gets all the credit when things are good and you blame yourself when things go wrong.

Step 5. Start showing a little more compassion towards people who don't think the same as you do or believe in your religion. Love and compassion are the true acts of a religious believer. I believe you'll find that in every religious scripture... somewhere.

Sometimes we get a little carried away in our beliefs and tend to beat up other people who don't share them with us. If you're part of a religion who discriminates, shows intolerance, bigotry or prejudice to other nonbelievers, maybe this isn't the religion you think it should be.

Dalai Lama - "All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness, the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. If we could communicate better and understand different religious philosophy and cultures.

Just how big of a deal is Money Organized Religion. Your money is used for various things and some of them, you might not really want to spend the money on. Something to think about.

If you want to read something funny and get your daily laugh in, you need to read this, it's funny Using Religion Responsibility. It's based on overindulgence.

Dreams and Jesus

(Below is a poem that hopefully will inspire you about faith, Jesus, and the walks that we take in life. It enlightens us to have faith, and really believe what is true to our heart. If one believes in Eternal Life and their Lord Jesus, I believe that they can accomplish anything.)

-----------------------------------------------

Into the midst, lies a flame of untold glories....

Just breathe...

Just breathe, and the night will go away.

Into the fog, I hold out my hands.

"Come and touch me, I've been waiting...

See me, for there is a drought throughout the lands."

Just breathe, and he will hold me,

"Just breathe my child, and your faith will awaken."

I am afraid

I am forsaken,

A man tells me the story of a drought in the land...

Who will bring me water?

Who will bring me hope?

"Just breathe, and your questions will be answered."

And the man opens my closed eyes.

"My child, here is your land..."

My heart is restless.

My mind aches of confusion.

Who will bring me faith?

Who has brought on this resurrection?

Who will provide me water to my lands?

Again, I close my eyes,

and a strange man holds ot his hand.

"Just breathe and I will hold you.

Let your steps become mine and I will carry you.

For thou name is Jesus, and it is I who has brought on this resurrection.

I will bring you your water."

http://www.arianacherry.biz

Two Witnesses in Jerusalem

Church of God minister Arlen Berkey, in "The Work of God in the Laodicean Era," makes a statement nobody in God's Church would disagree with: "The whole world will soon know about the two witnesses. They will not be welcome by this world."

We are not responsible for how the world reacts to these two men (it does NOT say ministers), however, we should question whether the two witnesses will be welcome by God's Church!

Does that sound preposterous? Presumptuous? Not if you're well-versed in holy Scripture! It was often the religious who opposed the Prophets and it was the religious leaders who stirred up the people to cry out against Jesus: "Crucify Him!" There is nothing new under the sun.

The two witnesses will be sent by God in the spirit of Elijah. The chief spokesman between the two will hail from the royal house of David and fulfills the Elijah role and will shake up the earth by his God-given MESSAGE and MIRACLES! (Zechariah 12:8).

Herbert W. Armstrong, in the spirit of Elijah, laid the foundation for such a great Work, and restored precious truths to God's CHURCH. Jesus Christ will restore God's government to the entire Earth (Acts 3:21). The interlude finds the leader of the two witnesses, in the spirit of Elijah/HWA, restoring truth to the NATION of Israel (Malachi 4:4). There is no contradiction. This is based upon the Law and the Covenant and is testified to by the Prophets.

Some might initially resist God's choice of men to fulfill the controversial roles of the two witnesses (Jeremiah 15:10). Even Moses' met rejection by his own people God sent him to save (Acts 7:25, 35). Moses and Aaron met first with the elders of Israel before going before pharaoh (Exodus 4:29). God's Church will know the identity of the two witnesses before the world sees them take the stand in Jerusalem.

God's apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong, saw we must reach "the cities of Judah" and yet God didn't permit him to do it. But God will give Judah His Message, last but not least! God has been raising up someone for this very purpose (Isaiah 41:27).

Herbert Armstrong also began to see that God's Church has a divine commission to help physically prepare for Christ's coming to Jerusalem: The Great Mideast Commission: Reaching the Cities of Judah. Read and believe it for yourself in Mr. Armstrong's autobiography and wonder why you haven't heard any of your ministers preaching about it or chomping at the bit to get it done.

Soon the the Two Witnesses will rise and shine in this world of darkness, and finish the Work that God has given us to do. Jesus Christ is returning in this generation! May we be found worthy to escape the nuclear blitzkrieg about to strike, and to stand before Christ when He returns to claim David's Throne in Jerusalem!

Here's some kosher food for thought:

Will an earthquake bring water to the deserts? Preparing the way for the Church of God to enter "Her Place?" (Isaiah 43:20).

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer in Ohio and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Visit the Beyond Babylon blog.

Separating From God

If you quit going to church or your place of worship, would you feel like you are separating your self from the congregation, the people that go to church with you, or do you feel like you would actually be separating from God somehow. I believe some people think that God is actually in the church and if they were to quit going to church, they would actually lose a direct link to God. Most people believe what they are told and follow their leaders.

If you're a Christian, can you answer me this, What Church Did Jesus Belonged to? Was he a Catholic, Protestant, evangelical or some other form of Christianity, maybe, just maybe he believed in a different religion altogether. I often wonder if Jesus was a Buddhist or he learned something magical from the Egyptians. It's said that Jesus traveled to other countries, do you think it's possible that he learned some sort of ancient wisdom from a man or woman, instead of being born God.

Is this how he was able to perform the miracles written about after his death?

Jesus supposedly studied the Torah and was considered to be Jewish, but was he really. While Jesus was studying the Torah, did he gain knowledge and wisdom, or was he actually born knowing everything. How can we actually prove that Jesus knew everything?

Does it say anywhere in the New Testament about going to church on Sunday, when Sabbath is actually Friday evening or Friday at sunset to Saturday at sunset. Have you ever thought about why they switched days. The God from the Old Testament seem to get pretty mad if anyone did anything on the Sabbath, which was Saturday. One person decided that it would be better to go to church on Sunday and now we call it the Lord's Day. What really happened to the Sabbath?

It often gets a little more confusing, the more conscious effort you put into educating yourself about your religion and others throughout the world.

People often assume that I have separated from God somehow and could be going to hell, because I write some of these articles. I'm hoping that you will do a little more research about your religion and find your true North, your true direction in life, what it is you are actually here to do. Don't follow the faithful blindly, follow the intelligence willfully.

Life of Jesus

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Change Your Thinking About Life

What do I do when I get down and out. Well that use to happen to me often and I seemed to suffer with some minor depression. It would seem like time would stand still. I would look at the clock and notice the time. Let's say 2:23 in the afternoon. I would look back to see what time it was about fifteen minutes latter and it would be 2:26. Wow what in the heck is going on with this clock.

I just couldn't believe it seemed like the day would never end. I would just sit there and think about all the stuff going on in my life, good and bad of course. This seemed to last until I was in my early twenties. I just didn't want to feel like this any more. I made a Conscious design not to get depressed period. I never wanted to feel like that again.

I read a book on ESP and in the book it described visualizing a rose as you went to sleep. I started doing this every night and while I was doing the exercise it seemed to make me feel relaxed in a way I never had felt before. The reason for the exercise was to teach you to visualize something peaceful. This in turn would put you in a peaceful state of mind.

Then a thought came into my noggin. What if when ever I start to feel bad or seem to be going into a sort of depressive state of mind I change my thoughts. It worked... I would start to visualize something else that made me feel comfortable and give me a peaceful feeling. Man was I surprised with my results.

Keep in mind I didn't think of this all on my own but I did put the pieces of the puzzle I needed to together that I needed to change my life. It seemed like I could use this form of self control in different parts of my life. If I was at work and someone made me mad.... Well this didn't work all the time... I still got mad. Let's pick something else OK.

I would worry about something on the job that wasn't going right. Then I would get irritated over something else that wasn't even related to what I was worrying about. Why did I take it out on the other person when what I was really mad about was something else. We do this all the time in our lives. We seem to get mad, get even or give up. Why do we do this and what can we do to stop it.

My main point to all of this is we can change our thinking and change our lives. We can learn new things to change our thinking. We don't need to give up hope that we will always be like this. Change the things you don't like about yourself. Do it today. If you need some help there is a great book that will help you change your life for the better.

You can find it at http://www.live.spiritualideas.com This book has a lot of tools to create the change in your life you want to have a more full filling life.

Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown. Ross Perot.

Start Living Your Dreams Today and Create a Wonderful Life For Yourself And Your Family. Greg Vanden Berge is one of the best inspirations on the planet. You will be hearing a lot about this guy in the future. You can count on it.

Should The Bible Be Edited

Always Winter, But Never Christmas

Always winter, never Christmas. Thus it was spoken of the land of Narnia in the C.S. Lewis classic, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.". This is the unthinkable for a small child, and for bigger kids too, an unbroken winter. Such, it seems to me, is the plight for these many decades in North Korea. Surely there are bright moments. And Christ Himself has entered this heart and that. But in the main, the land is in darkness. That was the thought going through my head this Christmas Eve morning as I prayed for North Korea. A Scripture formed in my thinking and I realized I was in Isaiah, chapters 8 and 9.

This is the classic passage of Christ coming to Galilee, and to the world, bringing His dazzling Light to a desperate planet. It was desperate when He first came, it will be even more desperate when He comes again. And a picture of that desperation is daily painted for us by reflecting on ancient and modern Chosun. It was North Korea that I was seeing as I heard these words inside. They are spoken from the vantage point of a future time, when the regime has changed forever...

(8:22) Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they [Chosun] will be driven into darkness. (9:2-4) The people who walked in darkness [Chosun] have seen a great light [Jesus]. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death [Chosun] , upon them a light has shined. You [Jesus] have multiplied the nation and increased its joy. They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You [Jesus] have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor..

(9:6-7) For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government [of Chosun and the world] will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

We may not know God's timing, but we know His heart, His zeal. This message is not welcomed with enthusiasm by most present world leaders, who can't accept that they and their dynasties are limited by the hand of the God they ignore. But when it's all over, only Jesus reigns! Lord haste the day! And preserve Your people until then.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

The Call is to Die

It's been in the Scriptures all along. The invitation to come die with and for Jesus. I shall not try to explain it away. We must not only "hate" the world around us, but our own life too.

"Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

It starts in the Old Testament. See Joseph off to give food to his brothers. Left for dead. The prophets one by one eating the sweet word of God, but when feeding it to those around them, one by one tasting the bitterness of death. Jesus Himself, and foremost, with His message to give, a life to live, but Who gives Himself freely in love to die. The apostles with that same message, but death is their reward too. They count it a privilege to die with Jesus.

Through the church's history the trail of blood is the pathway along which the narrow way winds. Enemies of the Roman State, then enemies of the Roman Church, and systems like it in many nations. Called to die for Jesus. Nothing has changed.

Why even in the last days, during the last trials of the church, a great company is ushered into heaven and the question rings out, "Who are these?" The answer is that these innumerable members of the Body of Christ got there, not escaping from, but right through the middle of, great tribulation.

Yes, far be it from the Scriptures to say that the "tribulation saints", as we love to call them, are the spineless backslidden Christian wannabes portrayed in slick books and movies in this post-Christian era. That they are some sort of second-class citizens who don't even merit the name "church". No, that same group is described later by John as beheaded witnesses who are lifted up to reign with Christ for 1000 years. They become the brightest stars the church has ever known.

Does the book-reading movie-loving "saint" of our own lazy culture think that somehow our own slovenliness at Christian warfare will be able in any way to compare with those luminaries? That we should be snatched up to glory while the enemy is raging at his highest decibels on earth?

The call is to trouble and suffering and death. If we suffer with Him, we reign with Him. All who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Those who will follow the crucified Christ must follow Him in this also. There are no exceptions. The one who dies for Christ seals the message of the cross that he has preached.

Even now, readers and listeners may be waiting for the softening of the blow. "Here is what that really means," he will say. No, there is no interpreting away of God's Word. The call upon our lives is the call to die. Yes, surely there is a crown. Yes, surely there is pure joy on the other side. But the other side is reached through the valley of a death chosen by us. A decision to take the cross and be crucified upon it in His time and place. For the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. The cross is on the way to the crown. For so many of us we view the cross as "in the way."

Yes, death will come to all regardless of our choices. But how wonderful from Heaven's vantage point to see one who did not have to die, go ahead and give his life anyway.

We've heard the call to salvation. The call to the Spirit-filled life. The call to faithfulness. The call to growth and service. If we are to continue on with Him, we must hear the call to die.

Look for "Bob Faulkner" on http://sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

A Review of Catholic Gifts

As someone who has been a devout practitioner of Catholicism for as long as I've been breathing, it stands to reason that many of my family and friends are Catholics as well. People always gravitated to those who share similar values. This is comforting on many levels, and helps reinforce my faith all the more.

In addition, these are the people that I really care about and cherish in my life and I know what they hold dear. For the most part, because I know them so well, I can be sure that they'll appreciate receiving Catholic gifts on special occasions. It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to find stores in my area that carry Catholic gifts in their inventory, but because of the marvels of the Internet, I'm always able to find quality items. These days, there are numerous websites that are dedicated solely to selling Catholic gifts, which is great if you are shopping for baptisms, first communions, confirmations, Christmas. Whenever one of these occasions comes up for someone in my circle of family and friends, I always go online because I know there will be a plethora of high-quality and affordable Catholic gifts to choose from.

Are you curious to know what types of Catholic as I can purchase online? Well for starters anything you can buy at a regular store you can buy on the Internet. For example, there are many websites that offer reading materials such as inspirational books, faith-based living guides, Bibles, and more. There are books that are written for all ages from 3 to 93, so right there alone is a huge treasure trove of appropriate gift ideas.

Jewelry is another category of Catholic gifts that is always popular and always appreciated. Probably the most popular next to artwork. Again, there is a huge collection of choices, ranging from the very basic to the very exquisite. Necklaces in the form of gold or silver crosses, crucifixes, and medals are appropriate for both men and women, which really opens up the gift giving universe. Other jewelry products that make for fantastic Catholic gifts include chastity rings, prayer bracelets, and rosaries. Most of these items can be personalized with an inscription of your choice to truly make them a meaningful keepsake.

There are also Catholic gifts that would make wonderful decorations for the home. I'm talking about items such as wall hangings, framed prints, statues, figurines, plaques, and even holy water fonts. You can get all these products online and have them conveniently shift right to your door. This and that a lot better then jumping in the car and driving all over the place not nine if you can find anything to your satisfaction?

The next time the thought of giving Catholic gifts comes to mind, he did not advise and check out the World Wide Web. You might be surprised at all the terrific and affordable products that you can order right there at your fingertips!

Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding religion. You can get interesting and informative information here at Catholic Gifts.

Brainwave Entrainment to Fall Asleep - Fact Or Fiction?

Brainwave Entrainment (sometimes known as Brainwave Synchronization), is the term used for bringing brainwaves into a certain state. Whether that state is Alpha, Delta, Beta, Gamma; there is some real truth in the ability to sync both hemispheres of the brain for a desired result.

Many scientific studies have been going on for years, researching binaural beats, which are tones release to the ear through the brain, and helps "synchronize" the two hemispheres to a certain state. Mainly here we are focusing on the Deep Delta state, that which is mostly associated with sleep.

When we are in the Delta brainwave state, we are in a deep dreamless sleep. Sometimes it is hard for many people to enter. Think about it. Do you wake up in the middle of the night? Or do you find that it's hard for you to go to sleep?

According to multiple products, it is able to produce delta brain signals and put the listener to a deep state of relaxation and sleep. Many scientists are still researching this, and there are still some unanswered questions. Only you can decide.

Because of today's society, unfortunately many people are taking prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications to help them fall asleep. What they don't realize (the sad part about it, most do) is that there are many side effects that can occur that have nothing to do with the symptom. Brainwave Entrainment is an alternative to sleeping medication in that it has no reported or proven side-effects.

Brandon is a Hypnotist who is the owner of http://www.HypnoticSubliminals.com

Finding Something You Don't Like About Yourself - Creating Habits

Finding something you don't like about yourself is usually very easy for most people. Most of the time you don't even have to ask your family or friends because you have heard them complain about the same thing for years. How many times have you heard someone mention, I need to lose weight?

Here's a list of things people don't like about themselves. If you're one of those people that has a hard time finding something wrong with yourself, you could always ask one of your friends for some suggestions. I'm sure they would like that.

1. The need to lose weight. This of course is one of the worst problems with Americans. Most people need to lose weight and let's not forget there are some people that need to gain weight.

2. The need to stop gambling. As more Indian reservations are allowed to build gambling casinos and of course as the Internet gambling gets larger, I've noticed some people with gambling problems.

3. The need to stop drinking alcohol. The abuse of alcohol has been going on for many years. These people have an excuse for why they drink and most of the time it doesn't make sense.

4. The need to stop smoking. This could be one of the most difficult things I've ever seen my friends and family deal with.

5. The need to stop excessive behaviors. For example, gossiping, cruelty, bullying, lying, cheating, stealing, partying etc. You get the idea.

6. Don't forget the dreaded shopaholic. Most shopaholic's seem to have large credit card debt and can't seem to stop this vicious circle of buying and owing money to their creditors.

7. Working long hours or the workaholic. Sometimes this is a necessity but I would suggest that you change your lifestyle if possible. Reevaluate your reasons for working so hard.

8. Religious fundamentalists. People that spend too much time at their place of worship and soon find themselves feeling guilty if they're not doing something spiritual.

9. The need to be on time. This would include people that have problems giving themselves enough time to get ready for work or school.

10. The need to stop doing drugs. I thought by now, approaching my 50s, that drugs would no longer be a problem in the United States, but it is. It's one of the most damaging things people can do to their lives.

There are plenty of things that people would like to stop doing or start doing. If you're a smoker and you seem to shop excessively near the casinos, I would advise you to start with something small and work your way up to the big stuff.

What are you going to change today about your life? Make a list of things that you're not happy with about your life and start making the changes today that you need to create the life you deserve and desire.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a personal development video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Effects Of False Prophets

The Deity of Jesus Christ - Peter and John

Peter and John were often in each other's company. They also shared the same ideas about their Saviour.

I Peter 1:10-11, The Spirit of the Prophets. Do I need to prove to my readers that it was Jahweh, the Covenant God of Israel, who sent and spoke through the prophets? No? Good. But there is a piece of information that we are not given until the Apostle Peter shares it with us in his letter; listen carefully: "Of (your) salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently...searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify..." But wait. There's more to the mystery. Peter continues (II Peter 1:21) "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Yahweh, Christ, Holy Ghost. One.

I John 5:7, Simply One. That's right, John, keep it simple for us. " For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." With a statement like this, we want to say with the disciples, "Now speakest Thou plainly, and speakest no proverb..." (John 16:29) These three are one. Not to be understood. To be believed!

I John 5:20, True God. John, in typical zest for this topic, ends his first epistle thus:(5:20) "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. THIS is the true God, and eternal life." Jesus, the true one, is the true God.

Revelation 1:8, God of the visions. At the beginning of the feverish activity of this book, John sees one that he claims is like "the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass...and His voice as the sound of many waters." Later Jesus identifies Himself more clearly by stating, "I am He that liveth and was dead." (1:18)

But others in the line of prophets have seen similar men. They did not call them Jesus, but we always assumed they were God. For example, Daniel's "ancient of days." (Daniel 7:9) "...the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool..." Then there's Daniel's "certain man," found in 10:5-6 "...and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz; His body also was like the beryl, and His face as the appearance of lightning, and His eyes as lamps of fire, and His arms and His feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of His words like the voice of a multitude."The same Divine Being .

Revelation 5:13, Equally Praised. You will notice a praise service going on. "And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Same equation here. We can't stretch so far as to say that there are two separate entities here, both receiving these adulations. Neither can we deny the dual character of the One God. Marvelous mystery!

Revelation 22:13, Alpha and Omega . We can do no better than to end with these famous words from Jesus. Or are they from the Father? Even the "red-letter-makers" of my King James Bible get confused on this one! Clearly it is Jesus calling Himself "Alpha and Omega" in the first chapter of the book, verses 8 and 11. By the time we get to chapter 21, and the same words are spoken, the editor shies away from his red letters when he comes to verse 6. Here the context speaks of God, the God who shall "wipe away all tears", and "make all things new", and "give to him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." This One says "I will be his God, and he shall be my son," to that same thirsty one. But no red letters! I ask you, Who is the "Alpha and Omega"? All you have to do to find out is go to chapter 22, where , in the brightest of red letters , in verse 13, following a verse that says "Behold I come quickly," is the statement, I am Alpha and Omega..."

The inconsistency is understandable, but hardly justifiable. This God of the New Jerusalem is none other than Jesus Himself! And if every word that was ever spoken by this God known as Jesus were to be colored red, would not the entire set of Holy Scriptures have to be of this hue? The Book is "God-breathed", is it not? To be God-breathed means to be Jesus-breathed. I think you've probably got the point by now!

Jesus is God.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.