Spiritual Christian

The Sabbath and Moses

2009-10-05T03:53:00.001-07:00

The Sabbath, already in the world, already introduced to the people of God, becomes a part of the revealed will of God, the Law in the following passage:

Exodus 20:8-11. "Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you , nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."

a. Note how the Lord connects this command to His original introduction of the Sabbath in Genesis. The motivation for keeping the Sabbath in any generation is simply the fact that God rested from His creative works. He establishes this practice then, not as a local custom, but as a universal way to relate to God as Creator and finisher of works. He who is saved from the dead works of sin which only cursed him, understands that his works are finished in Christ's great work, thus giving the Sabbath even more meaning :

Hebrews 4:10. "For he who has entered His rest [in the Spirit ] has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His."

b. From the Exodus 20 accounting we glean that God expected strangers to keep this day holy also. Foreigners. Non-Jews traveling with Israel. Gentiles. No word is given to the Gentile after he leaves the gates of the Jew, but while he is with them, he is not exempt from so special a time.

c. Note that this commandment is the longest of the ten, yet it would seem, the most mis-understood of all.

d. Especially of importance to those who sincerely wish to know God's will in this matter is the placement of Sabbath-breaking alongside murder, adultery, theft, lying, covetousness, idol worship, pantheism, disrespect to parents, and blasphemy . Whatever we are led to think about Sabbath observance for our day, there is no question about the seriousness of this practice for the people of God in the wilderness.

e. In keeping with the last point, does it not seem strange that even men of the world and especially great majorities of the Church honor nine of the ten commandments, but this seventh day thing is set aside in most minds?

f. By stating in clear words "...the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God" there is forever laid to rest the idea of a "first-day" Sabbath. If the day is to be changed for some given reason down the road, let it not wear the name of God's original day. To speak of the Sabbath is to speak of the seventh day, by God's definition.

g. Many have therefore resorted to a New Testament phrase to differentiate between Saturday and Sunday: The Lord's Day. It may not be totally clear what is meant by this title, but the first clue is in the passage we now study, where the Sabbath is referred to as "the Sabbath [day] of the Lord ..." That is, the Lord's Day. Surely every Jew through the apostles at least would have understood it that way, does it not seem probable? So when John, a Jew, says in Revelation, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day," is it likely that he spoke of Sunday?

h. No mention is made in this text regarding exactly how to keep the Sabbath holy. Other Scriptures develop the point that it is not the seventh day as a meeting day, but the seventh day as a day of rest that is being advanced here.

The Sabbath is thus introduced formally to the world, and calls upon us yet today to decide what our connection is to be.

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.

Romance - Why Write It

2009-10-04T20:32:00.001-07:00

If you think Romance is a lesser form of fiction, go off immediately and read Pride and Prejudice.

There are many kinds of genre fiction, but nobody accuses Ian Rankin or Ruth Rendell of being lesser writers - simply because they write Crime. Genre fiction has certain expectations and constraints. But what else you do with it is up to you - and your talent.

While writing classic Romances, Jane Austen managed to comment on society, give a feel for time and place, and for people's absurdities, strengths and flaws.

Some Romance is published just for the escapism. And that's fine, too. We all need to escape from time to time. Whatever you choose to do with it, Romance can be fun to write - but don't make the mistake of thinking it's easy. It can be as hard to execute well as any other kind of writing.

Many people believe there's an easy-to-follow formula - a cookie cutter to shape the story with their eyes closed. But this would make Romance fiction incredibly boring - to read and write. Every book would be the same.

As I said, it can be fun to write. But in order to write well, you have to like romance. You must enjoy daydreaming sappy stories. You must go aaah when you hear of love that works out.

Besides being enjoyable, romance can be good practice for writing any form of fiction. You're constrained by the expectations of genre, which frees you up in a strange way to be really creative within those limitations.

It gives you the freedom to concentrate on the important things - every story worth turning a page should have believable characters, conflict that carries us through it, a satisfying ending, a world we can believe in, and language that entertains us.

These are the things that make any book good, no matter what you are writing. Romance forces you to concentrate on these aspects, since these are the aspects that will make your story stand out above the crowd.

Readers want to know that certain things are likely to happen in a Romance, and that other things won't. But we also like to be surprised. We like to be held on tenterhooks - not quite sure which way you'll swing our emotions. And this is what makes any story great.

Jo-Anne Richards is the author of four novels. Her latest is My Brother's Book, published by Picador.

She is co-founder of allaboutlove.net, a website dedicated to romance reading and writing. The site publishes novels and short stories, and runs interactive online writing courses in romance writing. It includes a basic lesbian romance writing course - thought to be unique.

Jesus Christ: The First, The Last, The Eternal

2009-10-04T13:10:00.001-07:00

Luke 17:20-17:24 Jesus Christ. The First, The Last, The Eternal. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

There are many times in our lives where we ask ourselves the question;What is my purpose in Life? And there are some who make a living, telling others exactly what it is. Many write books covering the subject and others make movies and presentations, but none really address the answer very clearly. Haven you seen time after time children killing themselves because they say that there is no purpose in their lives? The demands of this life time and especially of this upcoming generation is weighing down many a persons spirit, cutting them to the bone, not leaving them any recourse but to go with the flow, being swept away with peer pressure and company abuse. So what is the answer, is it in a book, a movie, a presentation or a single mans idea of life? No, The answer is in Jesus. Lets read a little Scripture and look at the Son of Man.

Luke 17:20-24, And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

Counselors, psychriacrist and others say they know what people need, but they never mention Jesus. Jesus, The Son of Man, Son of God, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Word, The Prince of Peace, The Lord of The Sabbath, The Christ, The Seeker of the Lost, The Avenger, The Rewarder, The First, The Last, The Eternal, The Faithful Witness,The First Begotten of the Dead, The prince of the Kings of the Earth, The Bright and Shining Star, The Alpha, The Omega, The First, The Last, The Morning Star, The Holder of The Key of David, and the Amen. Man writing book after book explaining what our purpose is in this life, giving us, theology, terminology, making trees, animals and even man gods to pray to and seek healing from. False hope, false doctrine, Idol worship and man science.

Trying to explain our origin from science, evolution and revolution, new wave religions that can neither hear nor answer prayer. Mankind building up man as a demigod, searching our purpose from the stars and from the Big Bang Theory.

Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Matthew 11:27 is a perfect place to start finding your purpose on this earth. You must be known of The Father, you must be recognized by the All Mighty, without Him there is no purpose in your life, except to die and be judged. Is your purpose in life to posses? James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Jer 17:11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

Luke 12:19-20 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
The Bible says no.

[Ref.Jam_1:6, Jam_1:7; Job_27:8-10, Job_35:12; Psa_18:41, Psa_66:18, Psa_66:19; Pro_1:28, Pro_15:8; Pro_21:13, Pro_21:27; Isa_1:15, Isa_1:16; Jer_11:11, Jer_11:14, Jer_14:12; Mic_3:4; Zec_7:13;]

Is our purpose in life to receive Glory from our name and position in life? John 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Phi 3:18-19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Well the Bible says no, mans glory is fading and foolish to try to achieve.

Is our purpose in life to gain riches? Jesus said; Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! the deceitfulness of riches Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; James 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Rev 18:15-17 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, Well again the Bible says no. So then you ask, What is our purpose in life and who is this Son of Man, Jesus Christ? The answer is simple; Romans12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Our purpose in Life is to be a living sacrifice to God, to seek His Glory, His Wisdom, His Knowledge, His Acceptance as Children of The Almighty. Our purpose in Life is to Serve as our Saviour Served. Then can we also say that our purpose in life is not to be subject to ordinances?

Col 2:20-23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh. Can we also say then, that this Son of Man is a living word from God that is a guide to righteousness, to Glory, to Honor, to Life, not as we know it but a life eternal in Spirit and not in the flesh? A regenerative Spirit that leads us to God?

Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Jesus, The Son of Man, Son of God, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Word, The Prince of Peace, The Lord of The Sabbath, The Christ, The Seeker of the Lost, The Avenger, The Rewarder, The First, The Last, The Eternal, The Faithful Witness, The First Begotten of the Dead, The prince of the Kings of the Earth, The Bright and Shining Star, The Alpha, The Omega, The First, The Last, The Morning Star, The Holder of The Key of David, and the Amen. Seek out the Son of Man while He still may be Found and know your purpose in Life.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Sermons International
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Jesus, The Master Copywriter

2009-10-04T05:31:00.001-07:00

One of the longest threads in the history of Michel Fortin's Copywriter's Board is "Jesus, The Master Copywriter." This topic caused a stirring back then and pulled in many opinions that both agreed with my position and bluntly disagreed with my views.

Irrespective of how you assess the Bible, as mere literature or Holy Writings, the fact is that there are many copywriting lessons to be learned from this all time bestseller. Considering the position that the Bible holds in the literary world and the number of books inspired by the Bible you shouldn't be surprised that the "secrets" of persuasion are also hidden in its pages.

Here was where the great literary genius William Shakespeare got his inspiration and he is considered the master of English literature.

It so happens that I also get my inspiration from these pages-for copywriting!

Now let's look at one example and it's recorded in the Gospel according to John in chapter 4 of his book. It commonly called the story of the woman at the well. And it goes something like this ...

It's midday and Jesus waits by a well while his disciples go to a nearby town to buy food. A woman approaches the well to draw water, a very uncommon time since the most women come in the cooler parts of the day to collect water.

Jesus asks her for a drink to which she is very surprised that a Jew should ask a Samaritan woman for such a favor. These two people groups had no dealings with each other except for trade and business.

The woman questions Jesus request to which he replies that if she really knew who she was talking to she would ask him for living water so she never has to return to the well again. What? This really got her attention because such "living water" would mean that she would never have to face the stare of neighbors who shunned her as a moral failure.

But she is puzzled by the fact that Jesus has nothing to draw water from the well, so how could he give her "living water"? She immediately compares him to Jacob who dug the well centuries ago, "Are you claiming to be better than Jacob?"

Once Jesus had her attention he immediately asked her to call her husband. She immediately went on the defensive and claimed she had no husband. Then Jesus indicated that the man she was living with was not her husband but she was married four times before. Ouch!

This was a personal blow to her ego but it came only after Jesus had gained her interest by making her an incredible offer-living water.

Because this subject was so uncomfortable she tried to change the course of the conversation into a theological debate about the right place to worship. Jesus entertained her question anyway and she finally became convinced that he was not an ordinary man.

She finally left her water pots-the very thing she came for-and ran into the village to tell every one about her encounter. (Talk about word-of-mouth advertising.)

You are free to read the original narrative for yourself but here are some pointers that may be of interest to you as a copywriter and marketer:

1. Jesus spoke to her as an individual not as a crowd or a group of people. He made her feel that she was the most important person to him right there and then. Every good copywriter is able to make the reader of the sales letter feel like they are listening to a friend sharing some good advice, instead of one nameless member in a crowd.

2. Jesus knew her problem. He understood his "market" and what the woman was looking for. If you can determine the driving force behind your target market then the sale is 50% made. She wanted water but MORE than just water. She was looking for a reason to make a change in her life.

3. Jesus spoke to her in the language she understood. He entered the conversation that she was already mentally engaged in. She wanted a way to stop coming to the well at midday but more so a reason not to be ashamed of her life. Speak in the language of your market and you'll get them listening. Speak about what they are already interested in and you have a friend.

4. Jesus answered her objections by selling himself as the solution to her problems. She had two major objections: He had nothing to draw the water and they had a big difference in beliefs. Both of these objections were answered which led to the "sale." He not only treated her with respect (it wasn't considered proper for a man to speak with a woman in public like this) but also gave her hope for the future. We can say that he over-delivered, so much that ...

5. He made a happy customer who was more than willing to share the good news with others!

This narrative is a classic study of how to turn "enemies" into friends, prospects into your best "evangelist" and curiosity seekers into lifelong customers.

Go ye and do likewise!

Ray L. Edwards is a freelance copywriter, copywriting coach, Internet marketing consultant and published author. He has made his clients millions of dollars online and can be contacted about his services at http://www.webcopy-writing.com

The Only Solution for World Peace

2009-10-03T22:02:00.001-07:00

We know that this sounds insane, and too good to be true, but the Messiah is now on Planet Earth. The Holy Biblical Signs of his arrival from the Prophet Isaiah were that he was to be accompanied by great rocks of hail, (The breaking up of the Antarctic Iceberg, and the breaking up of the Arctic Greenland Iceberg), and a great destroying tempest of overflowing waters, (The Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina). 4 signs, North, South, East, West.

In the Holy Bibles of Christianity Islam and Judaism God of Mount Sinai promised through the prophets Moses, Isaiah, Malachi, Ezekiel, Jesus Christ, and Muhammad, that God would smash down a wall, a Levi, with a destroying tempest of overflowing waters, leaving filth in the streets, announcing that the Messiah was on Earth. We wrote, dated, and predicted all of this in detail with Biblical citations in March 2005 online at The Temple of Love, months before Katrina hit on August 29, 2005.
http://www.thetempleoflove.com
on New Page 3, Our Differences.

In 33 AD the Jewish people in Israel believed Psalm 2 that God would help the Messiah take a rod of iron and smash the occupying Roman Empire just like God had helped Moses part the Red Sea and drown the Egyptian Army. This did not happen. Instead, Jesus united 2 billion Christian people today with a few simple words. Then Muhammad united a billion Muslims today with a few more words. Today, Nov. 4, 2005, the Christian and Muslim people are expecting their Messiah Jesus Christ to return on a flying white horse from Heaven to defeat the evil on Earth and usher in an era of Peace forever. We hate to be grinchlike, but this will not happen either.

Saving life on Earth is up to Us All. You, are the Messiah. By definition, All of Us on Earth today, United as One, toward the common goal of creating World Peace and Paradise on Earth Forever, have the ability to create it now. We must all choose now weather to be the saviors or the destroyers of all life on Earth forever. God said through King David in Psalm 82:6, You are Gods, You are children of God, All of you. You are also potential Messiahs. Our fate rests in our own hands. We survive or we perish. Its up to us now.

The Temple of Love Unites Christianity Islam Judaism and Everyone else, and the countries they all live in, by tying us together with our common threads and resolving all of our differences. The Temple of Love is the only solution for saving life on Earth from extinction in nuclear world war and its aftermath nuclear winter then ultraviolet summer. World Peace is our only hope. We have become too smart, too technologically advanced for Nuclear World War, and its aftermath nuclear winter then ultraviolet summer, our present heading, which will have zero survivors, unlike New Orleans and the Tsunami. It's common knowledge.

The Monotheistic Lie

2009-10-03T14:46:00.001-07:00

Avraham who is known as the father of nations is credited with bringing monotheism to the world 3500 years ago, opposing those of many gods and beginning a tradition that has spread throughout the world-but, that is simply not true. There was never a question among the ancients as to the reality of the Creator of Heaven and Earth, but their contention was the Creator had abandoned creation into the hands of the stars and constellations to who they prayed.

True it was the affluence that fed the earth was conveyed on the wings of angels attached to the tenuous little shafts of star-light that surround the world with illumination; were it not for the darkness of space a mantle of light covering the solar system would be visible. They called the Creator-God of gods. The only question was: where is God.

Since God, Creator, is neither physical nor spiritual, therefore nothing in creation from the lowest physical manifestation until the highest metaphoric hint of the truth can encompass God; to the Creator creation is but a small thing, an easily done accomplishment. Perhaps, thought the ancients, God created, but God left. Avraham came to announce to the world that God was present in the seven outer worlds of the solar system and in the four corners of this physical earth where life abounds.

This knowledge of God's presence was conveyed through a single word: Echud/One; the Talmud-Book of Law breaks down each of the three letters, reducing them to numbers then extrapolates: the Oneness of God (Aleph/One) is in the seven heavens and the earth (Chet/8) and the four corners of the earth (Dalet/4). One is a philosophic idea portraying the relationship forged between Creator and creation.

The idea of One goes beyond the first of many-the dot progenitor of a line-One is unique and indivisible. Those who say God is the accumulation of all existence diminish the idea of One. The beginning and the end is comparable one to infinity; infinity is made up from many ones and one is the beginning of infinity-thus the comparison to God falters. There are no parts to God, only the effluence of God is divided up into particulars according to the needs of creation.

The Creator is not defined by creation in any shape, form or fashion; being beyond creation God is available to everybody and everything all the time everywhere. It is why we pray in our minds and in our hearts because this innate knowledge permeates the human experience. It is this knowledge that Avraham brought into the world by means of his life which was full of miracles giving witness to the fact that God was truly in the world.

This fundamental idea of Echud/One was later enshrined in what is known as the Shema Yisroel, a saying of six words-the mainstay of Jewish faith declaring: God is One. When religion came along 2000 years ago this pristine idea was adopted, usurped, expropriated and finally manipulated into something other than the truth: God is one among many instead of One indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Monotheism is the lie of religion trying to reduce the important message delivered by the father of nations, Avraham, who came to help the world from the darkness of chaos. It is the purpose of religion to hide the truth so the seeker will become reliant on a poor substitution-dogma. In the laws of charity, the greatest gift one can give to a poor person is a means to become self-supporting. The Talmud-Book of Law insists wealth is only found in the knowledge of the truth.

Dovid Krafchow lives in San Francisco and is the author of Kabbalistic Tarot published by Inner Tradition and a new series of five ebooks called The Dance of the Pig: a cosmology and world history based on the Cabala, available only at JewishBohemian.com Dovid is a Jewish elder and teacher, unaffiliated and non-religious. He stridently believes that in the end it is the individual who changes the world

The Sabbath - More Than Just a Day Off

2009-10-03T06:53:00.001-07:00

After the Law is given to keep the Sabbath holy in Exodus 20, we meet this re-enforcement of the command:

Exodus 31:12-17. "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, Surely my sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord Who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death. For whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done in six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."

It doesn't get a lot clearer than that. This Sabbath is forever. But some new elements are added that we should look at:

a. First there is the element of time. Not only is the Sabbath from the beginning of creation, but now it is to stretch forever. God sees no time here when Sabbath-keeping is not to be in vogue.

b. Nevertheless, some will say, and this is another point that seems new to this passage, there must be a people called Israel forever in order for there to be an eternal Sabbath, for this practice is to be a sign between God and this special people. Correct indeed. Let us hear once more from the apostle to the Gentiles talking about something oh so Jewish:

Romans 11:12-26 [portions]. "If their [Israel's] fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness... if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches were broken off, and you being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches... hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in... and so all Israel will be saved."

What are you saying, Paul? He's saying Israel is forever. He's saying God bypassed the Jewish nation temporarily to open the door to other nations, but when all is said and done there is only one tree, one nation, and it is called Israel! The program of God is for Israel His chosen, but I am a part of Israel if I continue on in faith. Israel is forever. Not Israel according to the flesh, that is, all those born as Jews, but the Israel of God, His blood-covenant people, people of the New and Better Covenant established by and in Messiah. We will speak more of this later, but for now we understand, that if Israel can be forever, so can her Sabbaths.

c. There is also added in our text the notion of refreshment. The spirit is revived and made to prosper again on that seventh day. Fleshly entertainment cannot bring this about, but rather the coming together of God's people for prayer, worship, and Word. Thus is suggested the means by which the Commandment is to be kept.

d. Once more note the death penalty for Sabbath-breakers. God wants His people blessed. He will be severe in His enforcement.

There is one final mention of Sabbath in the book of Exodus:

Exodus 35:2-3. "Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day."

a. Is this latter regulation because of the work involved in creating a fire? Or is cooking of all sorts here forbidden?

b. Notice in all of the passages that this is more than just a day off. It is a holy time, an opportunity to draw near to God on a weekly basis, with no hindrances. The rich and the poor and all other class divisions are here given an equal fifty-two days a year to draw near to God and refresh their spirits.

An enticing idea, for those who desire fellowship with God. 52 retreats a year, every year, until Jesus comes.

On Fear, From 40,000 Feet Up

2009-10-02T23:39:00.001-07:00

Emotion, that is, how I "feel" from moment to moment, is not a good guide for where a life should go. Take the disciples. They truly loved Jesus, or so it seemed. They certainly "felt good" about Him. They listened to His Words, experienced His power, became for three years attached to Him. So when Jesus talked of dying they truly believed they were ready to die with Him. That is, they felt they were ready. We often mix those words believe and "feel" as though they were the same. We have probably, similar to the disciples, convinced ourselves that we are in a totally bonded relationship with Christ, and that anything He wants we will do. But are we listening to what He wants?

Yes, the disciples were so overcome by how they felt that they all claimed they'd die for Jesus... even in opposition to Jesus' clear statement to the contrary. "No, you won't. You'll deny you even know me."

Hear Peter's self-assurance, a trait many of us will recognize as self-deception: "Yes, those other guys, they're weaklings. I suspected it all along. But there's a reason you've favored me with leadership of this bunch. Even if they all leave you, I will not!"

No Peter, back off. Sit down. This won't work until Pentecost. Then you will have your fill of suffering for Jesus. But you're not ready now. Yes, Peter, there'll come a time when they will take you to places you do not want to go. You'll be forced to stretch out your hands as your Master did, and die His death. But you're not ready now. Wait for the Spirit to do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

I often believe, or is it feel, that the Christ in the church of North Korea has called me to itself somehow. I have said to the Lord that I will go. But I have not gone. I have stayed and done what it is possible to do from this side of the world. Now, only the Spirit ordains times and seasons, but is it because of my utter lack of self-awareness that His time is not now?

The writer of Proverb 28 says that "the wicked flee when no one pursues." So much of our fear to do His will is nonsensical. In the full light of Heaven, it is all nonsensical. If we have been promised that we can never be separated from the love of Christ, why do we hesitate to do anything He asks? "The righteous," that same wise one goes on, "are as bold as a lion." Righteousness, right relatedness to Christ is what gives boldness. There truly is "no fear in love" says John. "Perfect love casts out fear."

So love and righteousness knock fear down. Faith too, in the promise: "I will never leave you or forsake you." This promise was given to Israel and Joshua but the writer of Hebrews says it is ours. We can laugh at fear from now on...

...said he, glibly. Easy for me to laugh at your fear, criticize your stubbornness to get on with God's program for your life. Oh how I need to deal with my own:

For example, I write all this from an airplane, many thousands of feet in the air. Not too exceptional, you say. Except for the fact that for years I feared the very thought of entering an airplane. A bad experience on a night flight years ago made me earth-bound until recently. But if I am being called to be a part of the team that will give the Good News to North Korea, if I am to relate to a people who must live in fear every day of their lives, and in hunger and want, surely facing this mostly irrational fear is something that has to be done. God is gracious. In His time He will finish the work He has begun in me.

My point today is that so often our emotions do not match up with the realities of our nature. In another but related context Paul says, "What I want to do, I do not do..." We often dream beyond our reach. But of course, never beyond His. We want things that we cannot obtain by any fleshly means, but if they are His wants, they will be obtained by His means.

Oh for more of Him! Oh to know His will, and not to flinch when he says, "It's time."

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page 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 .

What Do They Have that We Don't Have?

2009-10-02T16:35:00.001-07:00

They, meaning the suffering church. The persecuted church. The church in pain. We, meaning the western church. The comfortable church. The prosperous church.
Are they really different from us, or is it only that there is a government in place that hates Jesus more than ours does? Or does it mean that we don't speak up and speak out enough for Jesus? Do we speak the whole truth about Christ or are we afraid of political correctness?

Consider the relatively recent stories of the following brothers and sisters (these are current stories.) Perhaps in the reading, God will convict us of work we are not doing, or at least make us grateful to belong to such a wonderful family of people.

In CHINA, a pastor serves a 3-year prison sentence in a labor camp. His wife has just been released, and now fearfully cares for their son. The pastor's church has been raided during a worship service.

In PAKISTAN, two evangelists working with Muslim converts are attacked by the Taliban. One is shot and killed instantly. Threats to the other. Two Muslims wounded, one escapes.

In INDIA a law has been passed in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Under it, anyone forcibly converting someone can be imprisoned up to two years. In this state of six million, only eight thousand are Christian. Using this law, Hindus beat three Christian brothers, giving them internal injuries.

In LAOS, 12 pastors are arrested after meetings. One of them is being denied visitors.

And so on and on the cross of Christ is carried . How we appreciate those who take upon them the very character of Christ. May God give us grace to die with them and with Him.

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 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. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Could Christian Pride Get You in Trouble?

2009-10-02T14:28:00.001-07:00

There's a good chance that most of us know at least one person who seems to be very prideful. These people are often hard to deal with and can easily get their feelings hurt. When someone who has a lot of pride, gets trapped in a corner, they often come out swinging in full attack mode.

When a Christian has a lot of pride, and is faced with a problem about their religion, the opposition had better be prepared, especially if this person is large and intimidating. I'm not referring to every Christian here, I'm not even referring to every Christian with a lot of pride either, I'm referring to Christians who mix their prideful beliefs with factual evidence.

These people can often become stubborn and the more that you push or pull, the deeper they dig their heels in, until they can't even be moved in either direction. It's almost like they're feet are buried in a large concrete slab of cement.

Yes pride can get you into trouble, they key is, knowing how to get yourself out of trouble. When someone approaches you with a question about your beliefs that you don't have the answer to, simply respond with," I will have to do some research and get back with you."

Don't let your pride get in the way and create an enemy out of someone that could provide you with some useful information about other beliefs or even your own religion. Think about it, your pride can often dig holes that you might not be able to get out of.

Eliminate Bible Propaganda

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Rapture Or Second Coming? A Second And Third Distinction Refuted

2009-10-02T09:05:00.001-07:00

Those who hold that the "catching away" of the church to glory and the second coming of Christ are two distinct events teach that, at the rapture, all believers are resurrected, whereas at the Second Coming there is no resurrection until antichrist is defeated. This is called "begging the question," using your preconceived conclusion as proof of your conclusion!

In Revelation 19 we are shown an army of believers behind Jesus, meeting Him in the air. They have just been resurrected and are on their way to conquer the earth. They are not fresh from the graves, it is reasoned, so it is assumed they have been with Jesus seven years and therefore are not resurrected.

But the theory calls for more than the two Bible raisings, the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation called for by Jesus (John 5:28-29). It demands a third resurrection, for one is seen in Revelation 20:4-6 also. Here, John, relating things not always in order, but sometimes by topic, states in chapter 20 that the persons he sees are part of the first resurrection. He does not see a resurrection, but sees the ones who have been resurrected. That means that there was no resurrection seven years before , except in the Hollywood style movies of our own generation.

John is saying here that he saw thrones set up after antichrist is judged. The reign with Christ foretold here is for all those who suffer with Jesus. Romans 8:17, "If we suffer with him" we are "heirs with Christ." The whole creation is awaiting our reign, 8:19. II Timothy 2:12, "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him." Revelation 5:10 quotes the "elders" , those who have gone on before us, as saying, "We shall reign on the earth."

So in talking of the thrones he brings in a description of the persecuted saints who reign with Jesus. He is not implying that the whole army following Jesus is not a resurrected entity. He is in fact in perfect harmony with Daniel 7:25-27:

"He [little horn] shall persecute the saints of the Most High...then the saints shall be given into his hand [tribulation] for a time, and times and half a time [the same three and one half years of John's Revelation]. But the court shall be seated, [judgment]...and the greatness

of the kingdoms...shall be given to the saints of the Most High [resurrection]..."

There are two resurrections coming (John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:4-5). The first, and the second. The first, when Jesus comes to earth. The second, 1000 years later, the resurrection of the damned. By calling this pre-tribulation event a "rapture", the fact that it is a resurrection is covered up. But , added to the two resurrections of revelation 20, well, that's just one too many.

Another supposed distinction seen between rapture and second coming: Immortality is given believers at the rapture, but at the second coming

they already obviously have it. Here again, normally logical scholars break the rules of logic by using the conclusion to prove the point. It is seen as utterly impossible for saints to be raised, glorified, "immortalized", and coming back to earth in so short a time. Forgotten, perhaps, is what happened on "Resurrection Day", commonly called Easter. Jesus in His new body began immediately to do the work God called Him to do, though He had been dead for three days. In our new bodies, made after the image of Christ, will be placed new instincts, skills, and powers. A simple flight to Jesus does not seem all that complicated for a God who can speak worlds into existence, and raise up Christ from the dead in an instant.

We shall all rise. We shall be changed. In a moment! In the twinkling of an eye. Dead shall rise and experience the same miracle. And their first assignment: Hold on! We're going for a ride with King Jesus while he pours out judgment on the earth.

Where Did God Come From?

2009-10-02T03:32:00.001-07:00

If you believe in certain religions, like Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and even Buddhism, there's a good chance that you believe in some sort of God like being or cosmic force, especially the one that created our world that we live in today.

Where did God come from? What are we doing here? And where are we going, after we die. Some of these questions, are hard to answer and scientifically difficult to prove. There is very little evidence to prove, where God actually came from, what are we suppose to be doing here and where we are going to go, after we die.

If nobody knows where God came from, why are there so many religions, that believe in a God? Think about it for a moment, the Christian God, was the creator of the universe, and the creator of everything. Where's the proof? Why do people continue to study the Bible, and believe in a God, that they can't really even put their hands on?

If God is truly real, why wouldn't we have ever seen him? It doesn't make a lot of sense, to believe in imaginary beings, or invisible entities and pray to a God that we might not ever see or touch. It might not make a lot of sense, but if you ask serious religious followers, of these religions a question like, can you prove that there actually is a God, there's a good chance that these religious believers will reply, with a simple yes.

They have no proof, no evidence, and almost base their entire beliefs on faith, instead of facts. Rarely do they seek any evidence or even read their religious text, with a goal to understand what they're reading. Most of these people take everything that they learn, lock it away in their head, and never ask any serious questions about their religious beliefs, like these.

If there is a God, why wouldn't he show himself? If there is a God, why wouldn't he prove that he does exist, so that others wouldn't have to doubt his existence? Something to think about, on the days that you're not going to your place of worship.

Who's God Is More Powerful

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Paradise - A Garden in a City

2009-10-02T01:50:00.001-07:00

A preacher once told me, when you're trying to show how crooked a stick is, just find a straight stick and lay it beside the crooked one. I haven't followed that wise advice always. I've often, for example, contradicted Kim Jong Il, who claims that his version of Korea is a Paradise. Communist propaganda has shared that imagery often through its history. The worker's Paradise.

Have you ever chuckled when you realize that these founders of atheistic states use Biblical imagery to describe their strange concoctions?

Today I lay before you and Mr. Kim and the workers of the world the straight stick. The real thing. The Bible's description of Paradise. Those who are averse to Biblical literalism will have trouble with this. But I believe in a literal God who sent a literal Saviour into a literal world to save literal mankind from its literal sins. A literal reward is in store for them, totally out of this world.

The presence of the tree of life in the middle of the garden called Eden in Genesis 2:9, ties Eden to the place that John calls Paradise (Hebrew, Pardace, "forest, orchard" ) in Revelation 2:7, where the tree surfaces again.So anything that can be said of Eden can be said of Paradise. Not only that, but the descending city of God called the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 and 22 likewise contains that tree. That's three names for the same incredible capital of the New World. The Bible actually speaks much of this place, enough to make us desire it with all our heart if we are His.

The original man and woman were placed in a simple garden. But they encouraged an unwelcome guest there, and defiled the entire place. God could not allow them to partake of eternal life in their sinful condition. They were cast out.

Paradise was then hidden from man's view by angel guards who to this day do not allow any unauthorized persons to enter. Can a garden be uprooted and taken into the sky, or was this place somehow disconnected from the mainland to begin with? That seems to be the greatest mystery, one which we will thoroughly understand when we need to.

Meanwhile, Jesus says that in His Father's house are many dwelling places (John 14) and that He has gone to prepare a place for us. We assume he has been building this city, house by house, over the years until now it is a luscious place that combines the finest architectural styles of heavenly beings with the natural wonders of the original "park" (the oriental meaning of Paradise ).

Did Jesus really believe in a place called Paradise? Oh yes. He would not have lied in His dying breath - or any breath. He promised his cross-fellow that on that very day, after the pain, after the shame, they would be together in Paradise (Luke 23:43).

Other famous house guests include the apostle Paul, II Corinthians 12:4, who became a believer in a literal Paradise one day when he was suddenly whisked up to the place himself. His fleshly pride would not have been able to bear the talking about such splendors that he saw, if he had not been given from then on a grievous thorn of reminder, 12:7.

Oh it's real. It's coming. Just as we have always heard. Jesus promised it to all just as He promised it to the thief, in Revelation 2:7, " To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God."

Pray for North Korean believers today. Pray that they will overcome the Satanic torment that follows them into concentration camps and hunger and loss. Pray for Western Christians too, that they will overcome riches and comfort and lukewarmness.

For the city with the garden is only for overcomers.

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.

The Story of Chosun, Part Six

2009-10-01T18:53:00.001-07:00

In world history it is now the entry into the "Dark" or "Middle" ages. Romanist priests throughout Europe and Buddhist priests in the far-eastern nation which will one day be Korea,

But there is political trouble in the East also. A tribe called the Khitans in the northern part of the Korean peninsula continues to aggravate the area and seek dominance. They attack their southern neighbors (Koryo, eg) in 1010 with an army of 400,000, and are even successful until they reach the capital Pyongyang (still capital of North Korea). They are resisted and beaten back.

But every year they try again, and every year Koryo, heir of the old "Korguryo", ancestor of modern Korea, appeals to China, and is denied by same. Many thousands continue to die. China today seems to be ignorant of Korean woes also, as it sends NK refugees back to certain tragedies in their own land. China then and China now is for China.

In 1019, Koryo wins a major and decisive battle, gaining kudos from surrounding regions. All of this with no help from big Sister. By 1020 there is a formal peace with the Khitans. So much for negotiation being better than might.

Enter a new, but really continuing, struggle, between Confucius & Buddha. It is frustrating to see Korea trying to choose between two equally damning philosophies. One might appreciate the high moral standards of one like Confucius, the problem being that the wise one did not die for his people, and unless someone can be counted on to be the sin-bearer, all the wisdom and morality under heaven will be to no avail.

In 1032, Khitan threatens again. A certain bridge is left standing by the people of Koryo and the Khitan kingdom is insulted. An attack is considered. And while they consider, Koryo builds a wall from the Yalu River (present northwestern boundary of North Korea,) across the peninsula to the Japan (East) Sea! Appeasement is not their style.

Ironically, after China has denied Koryo any assistance for so many years, she has the boldness in 1077 to ask Koryo to aid against Kitans, who now threaten a weakened Empire.

One more note of interest in the 11th century. In 1093 a 2nd capital now appears in Koryo: Han-yang . Today we call this city Seoul. It is the capital of South Korea.

Century twelve sees the continued rise of Koryo, but with continued conflict with challenging neighbors. A splinter group of the Khitans, the Yujin tribe, receives a welcome visit from a monk of Koryo. He marries there. A couple of generations down, one related to him, Agolta, actually becomes the chief of that tribe. In 1114 the Yujin tribe breaks away altogether from the Khitans, eventually even conquering them.

So Koryo has a dangerous neighbor to the north again. Much later in the century, Cho-Wijong of Pyongyang rises up, gathers a following, fails in a bid to threaten Koryo. In fact, the king of Koryo lays siege to Pyongyang, starving its residents. A famine even leads to cannibalism, as we have seen in the modern version of this land today.

Eventually the rebels are defeated and scattered, the whole country is in a state of anarchy. And the king, like Nero of Rome, parties through the entire debacle. Once again we are reminded of modern times and the present reign of a dictator who lives like the richest of the world's monarchs while his people suffer and die.

The history of Korea is a sad story, century after century. Next time: enter the Mongols. Things don't get better.

Only Christ can save a Korean heart. Please pray for more and more of Jesus to be sent to more and more Koreans.

Category: NK: History

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.

Manipulating Bible Verses - Thou Shall Not Murder

2009-10-01T15:59:00.001-07:00

If you're a Christian, you've probably heard of this Bible verse. Thou shall not murder. If you've heard of it, you probably know that it's one of the 10 Commandments or one of the original laws from Moses. However, most people don't know about its application to Christianity.

If I was to tell my children, not to lie and always tell the truth but I was a liar, would this be considered a good example for my children? If my children seen me lying and then I told them not to lie, would they consider that a lie? Does this example make sense to you?

As the parent, I'm the example. As the children, they are my disciples or followers. By lying to my children, I am showing them that it is okay to lie or stretch the truth or even manipulate the English language for my personal benefit.

How much different is this example from the example of the way some Christians use the Holy Bible? "Thou shall not murder," to me translates into," you should not kill." That's pretty simple and easy to understand, wouldn't you agree.

I could easily manipulate this Bible verse into, thou shall not murder, only applying it, to killing someone without a reason or you can kill someone in the name of God. You can change the meaning of anything if you really want to.

The point I would like to make here, is that the truth always comes out in the end, once the lying and the manipulation becomes visible. Do you have the ability to tell who's lying and twisting the Bible scriptures for their benefit or personal gain?

Bible verses that are clearly written, shouldn't have any hidden messages. "Thou shall not murder," is easy to interpret, once you understand what all four of these words mean and this task can easily be accomplished with a dictionary.

Thou - refers to you, the person being addressed or written to.

Shall - it will happen in the future or is intended to happen.

Not - is often used to express refusal, denial or the negation of the statement, just made.

Murder - the crime of killing another person deliberately and not in self-defense.

With the definition of these four words sitting right in front of us, you could still interpret this Bible verse in the few different ways. I'm going to take a stab at it and interpret it as I see it.

"You should not kill another person deliberately or outside of self-defense."

This means that I am not allowed to kill anyone, in the name of God, during war, or for any other reason except for defending myself.

When it says," Thou shall not murder," how does this apply to animals or anyone who is involved in a death sentence. Judges, lawyers, prison guards and other individuals who are directly involved in the murder of someone else.

How many other Bible verses have been manipulated for the benefit of Christianity?

God Said What

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In North Korea - Help! Someone Call 911!

2009-10-01T11:33:00.001-07:00

Behold one cup of rice. During the dark famine days, and in certain portions of North Korea today, in certain people groups and ages, this is the rationed amount for an entire day. Eight ounces. Eight or nine hundred calories. Every day. Until you die by starvation.

The international minimum standard for calories per day is said to be two to three times that much . North Korea sets the standard at 1,600 calories per day, about 450 grams, less than two cups per day. Some people in Korea actually are given that much. In fact Party faithful are given up to 900 grams, twice the standard set by the Kim government. Some receive as little as 300. Perhaps less.

That's one topic. The amount of food the government expects one to live on. The other topic is, even with the low NK standard, will North Korea have enough food to meet its goals? If the state is now giving, as I have read elsewhere, 550 grams per day to its adults and 300 to children and elderly,that's 15 million persons times 550, and 7 million persons times 300. Therefore, 12,000 + tons of grain per day, or nearly 4 million tons per year.

Can North Korea produce 4 million tons per year? It hasn't always. During the famine years of the 90's it was about half that much. No one is daring to say that the situation has improved dramatically, only mildly. Free markets have popped up here and there but if the rice isn't there to sell, the proper economy means nothing.

And don't forget the recent floods. And don't forget how donated foods are still misdirected to feed the government's loyal ones. There is still so much to do. In fairness, there are projects scattered over the country attempting to right the problem. But so far no one has come up with a workable solution.

No, we're not out of the rice fields yet.

On the way home tonight, the car in front of me on the freeway suddenly veered to the center lane and almost crashed into a truck. Then a hard right and off went that same car went onto the shoulder and beyond, finally turning on its side and sending up a stream of smoke. I was shaken. I pulled over, got out of my car, and since I do not carry a cell phone, I began madly waving my arms to try to get people to stop and/or call 911. Many did, both. And creative Americans found the way to get the needy victim taken care of. They smashed a window. Pulled the man out, as it was obvious he was not only conscious -though bleeding- but quite aware of what was happening and willing to cooperate. He'll be fine now.

Perhaps I philosophize too much, but it occurred to me as I climbed back in my little car, shaking but thankful, that there are some of us, due to age, due to lacking skills, etc. whose only job is to wave our arms and hope that God will send help. Maybe there's some creative prayer warrior, some gifted financier, some talented economist, who will get on over to North Korea and start doing what needs to be done. Surely most of us don't have things on our agenda that are more important? I mean, I wanted to get home tonight after a day at work. But this man who was possibly dying in a car...

Anybody out there? These articles are not written to make people cry and sigh, but to motivate them to action. Chosun is in serious trouble. Dying as a nation. Almost totally without Christ. Doomed therefore forever. Hidden from the light and the truth found in Jesus Christ alone. There's got to be something you can do. Will you pull over and help a vehicle spinning out of control?

Does Anyone Have a Direct Line to God?

2009-09-30T06:34:00.001-07:00

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.

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Living the Ultimate Lie - Religious Fundamentalism

2009-09-29T23:13:00.001-07:00

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

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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.

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Is Overpopulation a Religious Problem?

2009-09-29T16:11:00.001-07:00

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.

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Rocking the Foundation of Christianity

2009-09-29T08:57:00.001-07:00

Whatever you build a house, you start with the foundation, if you're writing a book, it might be an outline for the table of contacts, but when were talking about Christianity, rarely do any Christians ever research the origins or how Christianity began.

Most Christians assume that Jesus was the one who started Christianity, however, he was Jewish and there is a good chance that he never even thought about starting a new religion. I know, Jesus is God and he knows everything and he knew that he was going to start Christianity. Okay, but what if.

That might not be entirely true. We don't have any proof that Jesus was actually a superior god like being. We can speculate or assume all that we want to, however there is very little evidence to support, that Jesus did anything that the writers of the New Testament, suggested he had done.

I would like to challenge most Christians, to do a little research and quite possibly start rocking the foundation of Christianity. It's much more important to understand Christianity than to call yourself a Christian. Will a little bit of research help or hurt you, as you study Christianity.

You can start by looking at the origins of the Bible, the Council of Nicaea, the Emperor Constantine, the missing years of Jesus in the early Roman Catholic Church.

To understand anything, you must understand its origins. Take some time out of your busy life, to start studying the foundation of Christianity.

Do Christians Believe Everything
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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 Christian 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.
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Does Anyone Have a Direct Line to God?

2009-09-29T01:22:00.001-07:00

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.

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

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Living the Ultimate Lie - Religious Fundamentalism

2009-09-28T17:55:00.001-07:00

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

Problems With Noah's Ark Story

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Is Overpopulation a Religious Problem?

2009-09-28T10:39:00.001-07:00

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.

What About The End of The World

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Transform Your Good Intentions Into Real Results

2009-09-15T01:40:00.001-07:00

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.

Is the Bible Accurate

2009-09-14T12:26:00.001-07:00

I'm going to start with the first book of the holy Bible, Genesis chapter 1 verse one through five. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said," let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

If the Bible is historically accurate, did God actually create earth. I have been battling over this, my whole life. It's very easy for someone to accept and believe in any religion, government, other people or whatever they truly desire to make real. I see it every day of my life, open your eyes and you will see it to.

It's hard to imagine that a superior entity like God created everything that we touch and see. The moon itself is pretty big and the creation of the sun would prove to be a little more difficult, but if you're God and your all knowing and all powerful, he or she or it, must be one incredible being.

This is only the first couple of paragraphs in the Bible and there is no, I repeat no, historical accuracy to this event. It seems like God or man, whoever wrote the Bible, should have started the Bible with something a little more believable for people that live in the 21st century. It's not hard to imagine someone 2000 years ago, believing in something like this.

2000 years ago the Romans were worshiping their own gods, we might find this ridiculous today but back then the Romans would punish you if you didn't worship their gods. We are not too far from that today. If we don't stop organized religion and their influence on humanity, we're going to have serious problems in the future.

The biggest problem I foresee is common sense. If the Bible has 500 historical accurate facts that can be proven without a doubt by historians, scholars and other intelligent people, but has one thing that can't be explained, how do we handle this. How do we handle the fact that the Bible states God created light? If this is false, what else is false in the Bible.

Greg is currently working on a Personal Power Ideas. If you're ever wondering why some people can achieve success, while others seem to struggle aimlessly, what would it hurt, to take a couple of minutes of your time, if you could actually find the truth.

20 Facts You May Not Know About Frangipanis (Plumeria)

2009-09-13T23:09:00.001-07:00

According to Mexican myth the gods were born from Frangipani flowers.
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.
The colorful caterpillar of Pseudosphinx tetrio feeds predominantly on the leaves of Plumeria rubra (frangipani).
"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.
Frangipanis are good hosts for dendrobium orchids.
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.
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.
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.
The frangipani is regarded as a sacred tree in Laos and every Buddhist temple in that country has them planted in their courtyards.
Frangipanis won't burn except in extreme temperatures (over 500 degrees).
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.
The frangipani is also associated with love in feng shui.
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.
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.
In Malay folklore the scent of the frangipani is associated with a vampire, the pontianak.
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.
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).
The frangipani is the national flower of Nicaragua and it features on some of their bank notes.
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.
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

2009-09-13T09:58:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-12T20:27:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-12T07:18:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-11T17:47:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-11T03:49:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-10T14:00:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-08T07:25:00.001-07:00

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 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

2009-09-08T06:53:00.001-07:00

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.

Was Jesus Really Real - Video

2009-09-08T04:31:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-08T02:06:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-08T02:03:00.001-07:00

"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

2009-09-08T00:02:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-07T23:41:00.001-07:00

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."

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

2009-09-07T21:23:00.001-07:00

(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

2009-09-07T18:51:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-07T18:30:00.001-07:00

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

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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

2009-09-07T16:34:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-07T16:23:00.001-07:00

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.

The Call is to Die

2009-09-07T14:04:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-07T11:38:00.001-07:00

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?

2009-09-07T10:51:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-07T09:23:00.001-07:00

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 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

2009-09-07T09:11:00.001-07:00

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.

Darby, Scofield, And Pre-Tribulation Theology

2009-09-07T06:51:00.001-07:00

As one looks through church history, he is astounded at the nearly total silence about a "pre-tribulation" rapture. But in 1830, a single "prophecy" was picked up by one movement leader and began to spread. At about this same time, the one called the "father of modern Dispensationalism" got wind of Margaret Macdonald's dream, and paid her a visit. He listened well, then went home and made some changes, incorporating it into his own theories about the end times.

John Darby was also the father of the Plymouth Brethren movement, a church which was openly proud of what they called this "new doctrine," once they got hold of it. Brian M. Schwertley, in Is the Pretribulation Rapture Biblical? says "The Plymouth Brethren openly admitted and were even proud of the fact that among their teachings were totally new ones which had never been taught by the church fathers, medieval scholars, Protestant Reformers, or the many commentaries."

It is not clear to me about whom "prince of preachers" Charles Spurgeon was speaking in the following quote, but one wonders if it was not the "Brethren" themselves. Spurgeon lived in the day when the pre-tribulation rapture was freshly hatched. It is obvious what he thought of the idea. Hear him well:

"...there is a certain troublesome sect abroad nowadays," said he, "to whom the one thing needful is a perpetual speculation upon prophecy...They plume themselves upon an expected secret rapture , and I know not what vain imaginings beside..."

The creator of the "Scofield Reference Bible" (1917) included Darby's teachings in his notes. Seeing such things "in the Bible" emboldened many other saints to trust this doctrine as though God had said it Himself. There followed the inclusion of pre-tribulationism in the curriculums of well-known and greatly loved institutions such as Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary, and in the 1970's, a book and movie by young people's theologian Hal Lindsay.

There seemed to be no stopping it after that. Today it has permeated much of the western evangelical world. It is far from universal in the church today, and far from historical, as I have shown, but there is as we say a very "vocal minority" of believers, mostly Western/American, who swear by this doctrine.

Thankfully, history is not our final, or even our major appeal when deciding upon the truth of a teaching. History has spoken its clear word, but God Himself has spoken on this and every issue that matters to a believer. Let us hear what His Word says about it, and let all of men's theories be gone.

Rapture Or Second Coming? Final Distinctions Refuted

2009-09-07T04:34:00.001-07:00

So is there a difference between the rapture of the church and the return of Christ to the Earth? Modern theologians have suggested that it is not proper to pray with John, "Come Lord Jesus," if we know He is not coming for seven years (at least). Thus there must be an un-announced and a clearly predictable coming, both. This seems to make

This implies that every time we pray, we are changing God's plans. Rather, when we pray, it must be in accord with God's will. That is, Jesus, I know you are coming, and you are welcome here! Your will be done, Come as you plan to come, Lord Jesus! I want it and I am looking forward to it.

Anyone who has prayed that prayer over the last 2000 years, including John the Revelator, understood that it might not be answered physically and immediately. But the prayer went up anyway, and continues to rise to Heaven. To suggest that a prayer is invalid because God has a fixed moment for its answer is to suggest that our desires should supercede His.

When we pray for healing, He hears us. Or for financial blessing. Or for deliverance. Or for the salvation of family members. He hears. But the answer may be down the road. Our knowing that we must wait upon God does not stop us from crying out to Him, yea, day and night ( Luke 18:1-5).

The Spirit and the Bride call out for these many years, Come, Lord Jesus. But He doesn't come. But He will. When it is time. For now, the world is in a mess, the world needs the Saviour, O come, O come, Emmanuel! Keep praying it saints!

One final suggestion that the rapture and return are two different events separated by seven years is that the judgment seat of Christ and the

marriage of the Lamb must take place in Heaven and with the Church present, and before His coming to earth. Yet he can offer no proof of the location and timing of these events, for, of course, such proof does not exist.

Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:10 simply state that there will be a time when saints stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Revelation 19:7-8 describe not the wedding, but the announcement of same. The marriage has come. The wife is ready. Blessed are those invited. But wait! Some serious work to do first, following this announcement. Now the church descends with Jesus (Revelation 19:7-21) to the earth, taking its first step toward the announced supper. There, as described by prophets and apostles, the Kingdom is set up after Christ's victory over His enemies. Then Jesus keeps His promise to drink the fruit of the vine with His followers (Matthew 26:29). It seems to me that this is a more logical arrangement of details.

But for a "proof text" that this will happen, neither the pre- or post- people can find one. It simply is not there.

In fact, no proofs can be offered anywhere in God's Word that there is such a thing as a "pre-tribulation" rapture, that there is a rapture at all without the revelation of Christ and the setting up of His kingdom on earth, that there is any distinction between our catching away and his coming again. Thank God, much of this teaching is losing its grip, and there are many places in the world where men's books are not available, only God's. These people believe what the church believed for two millennia, namely, "Immediately after the tribulation... they will see the sign of the Son of man..."

Bullying Awareness - How to Become Aware of & Clamp Down on Office Bullying

2009-09-07T03:19:00.001-07:00

The 7th November marked National Ban Bullying at Work Day. As a part of this, a leading employment solicitor in the south has joined the campaign to help reduce bullying in the work place by raising awareness of this epidemic that causes companies a mind-blowing 19 Million work days every single year. Despite this there are still companies that are either unaware or ignore this problem within the work place.

Despite radical improvements over the past few years, around 40% of UK based companies have not got an explicit and effective policy on workplace bullying in-place. The head of employment law at a leading Southampton based solicitor has recently commented on that are clear policy is needed as bullying can cause a whole range of problems for any business. These can include reduced productivity and performance, poor morale, increased staff turnover and tense inter employee relations. Over 2 million people a year are bullied every day at work and the, 'come to your senses' theme of the campaign centers on reducing the fear for employees and to encourage co-workers who think that someone is being bullied to have the courage and the conviction to speak out and not to ignore the problem.

The Hampshire Solicitor has detailed some advice to anyone looking to minimize the threat of bullying in the work place: Create and implement a clear, widespread ant-bullying and harassment policy that can be read and communicated by all staff members. Ensure that this policy is zero tolerance and that any complaints made will be treated with the utmost severity and the company will investigate all cases and act accordingly. Prevent bullying from happening in the first place. Team building days and social events are always appreciated and enjoyed. This can raise staff morale, as-well-as help strengthen inter-office relationships.

Put up anti bullying posters around the office to re-enforce the message laid out by the original policy. Communication is always paramount in any company and by conducting regular meetings between management and staff, barriers can be broken down and trust increased Keep informed. Most people do not know that email bullying is one of the most common forms of bullying, therefore by taking steps to monitor and filter-out and bullying emails. If you do find yourself as a victim of bullying, it is best to remember this quote by Benjamin Disraeli. "Courage is fire, bullying is smoke."

Check out Divorce Lawyer and Family Solicitor at http://www.mooreblatch.com

The Last Words Of Daniel

2009-09-07T02:08:00.001-07:00

Daniel's last words (Daniel 11-12). He speaks of one who will attempt to rule all, even heavenly things. There is an indication that things military will be his god. He will be attacked by Egypt and perhaps Syria. He will retaliate with great force and take over other countries. Some will escape, some will not. From the east and north come rumblings of approaching trouble, perhaps China and Russia in a united front, as they often are. In a last mad dash toward world conquest he arrives, perhaps, at Armageddon. But his time runs out. He is unceremoniously picked up "by the scruff of the neck" and thrown by King Jesus into his eternal home far from the love of God.

Much of what could be said about the specifics of antichrist's rule would be speculation. My goal here is to specify who Scripture has highlighted as the man of sin. In chapter 11 of Daniel I believe it is clear that the Spirit led Daniel to review in prophecy pre-Roman history so as to show us one man, an evil man, a man who desired but never obtained world prominence. A man who passed off the scene for many centuries but who returned, invigorated by demonic power to finish in the end time what he began earlier: the elimination of the Jewish people, and the enthronement of himself in the place of all gods.

Chapter 12 paints the added touch we need to complete this picture. The angel relates to Daniel that it is at the time of the reigning of "the king", that the unparalleled time of tribulation occurs, spoken of also by Jesus as the forerunner to His own approach.

Finally in the book of Daniel, the prophet himself needs attention. He is told to seal the book until the time of the end, in response to his many questions about the future. I am not sure how Daniel and the Spirit "sealed" this work but it is a fact that men through the ages have not had access mentally to it. It has been literally a sealed book. Incomprehensible. Under attack. Rejected. Until recently, as more and more people get a grasp of what this book really means. That could only mean that the time of the end is upon us, for that time was to be the time when the sealing would be over, and the book made available (12:9).

Lastly there is a question of timing, after which the book abruptly ends. The phrase "time of the end" blends into verse 10 and lets us understand that from the time of the abomination of desolation, the event we have been tracing at Jesus' advice (Matthew 24:15), coupled with the taking away of the daily sacrifice, which happens at the same time, until the very end of all the suffering, shall be 1290 days, a little over three and one half years. In forty-five more days, something blessed happens. By then, are we in the Millennial reign, at the wedding banquet, the Coronation? And by then, Satan is punished, the world is liberated, we come into our own.

And Daniel will be there, says the last verse of his book. Rising from the dead with the saints who are raptured from earth will be the revered prophet, his new body strong and intact, his questions all answered. And I for one look forward to meeting him! The announcement of his presence there, by the way, confirms to us that his entire prophecy was indeed about the "end of days."

What a blessed man! What a blessed book! What a blessed hope!

New Versus Old Lumber - Structural Failure

2009-09-07T01:57:00.001-07:00

During my 30 years of remodeling and building new homes. I have ran across quite a bit of structural framing failures. I find myself answering this question a lot when explaining to a homeowner about the structural failure I am repairing on their home, "Why Didn't They Use Better Lumber" or " Why Didn't They Use Larger Lumber." I really have a hard time answering these questions because I honestly don't know the answer.

However I can try to use some logic and reason to give these people an answer that seems to make sense to both of us. Why didn't they use better lumber, quite simply because, with most older homes that were built before the 1970s they actually do have better lumber. Now you're probably thinking how can these homes have better lumber when the lumber is old versus the new lumber used in a brand new house.

Most of the structural repairs I have made over the years has nothing to do with the lumber and whether it was new or old. A large number of these repairs were caused by neglect and poor maintenance.

The lumber in most older houses are from older growth trees. Some of these trees were extremely large and only the premium parts of the trees were used. The premium lumber is cut farthest away from the center of the tree. Now the larger the tree it makes sense that there will be more premium lumber.

A large majority of the newer lumber used in home construction comes from trees about 6 inches in diameter. Now you're probably wondering how can they cut a 2 x 8 piece of lumber out of a 6 inch tree. Of course they cannot, the larger lumber comes from larger trees.

Most 2 x 4's that are less than 8 foot long can be cut from these trees. This scrap or waste that comes from cutting these two by fours will now go into engineered building materials like particleboard, oriented strand board and engineered beams. Another name for an engineered been would be a paralam.

I hope you're starting to get the picture now when it comes to using new or old lumber. There are companies that are going into old logging rivers and retrieving old growth lumber. These were logs that sank to the bottom of the river's and were never retrieved because it was too costly.

The old growth lumber is quite expensive. Who's to say what problems we will happen in the future from the newer products created with modern day technology. When it comes to building houses it is not an exact science and as contractors we have been repairing the damage from poor engineering for years.

When I use the word poor engineering I am not pointing fingers at engineers. We now have more knowledge about home construction then we had years ago.

New versus old lumber, who wins the battle. Only time will tell.

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 is currently working on more building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Structural Repairs.

Personal Development

Struggling With Spiritual

2009-09-06T23:42:00.001-07:00

I have wrestled with this thing called your spiritual side for many a year. When someone would say to me, you need to get in touch with your spiritual side I would close down. I was brought up in a strict religious, church going family. I started rebelling against the church when I was a teenager, so when someone said I needed to get in touch with my spiritual side; to me they were saying go back to church.

Now for me that was not an option. I had tried going back to a few different churches and I could never find one that I felt comfortable with. A few years ago I started re-reading the Bible, it had been at least forty years since I had even looked at one. I guess I picked up one that had been changed, because it was saying things that were different than what I had been taught as a kid. Of course it was the same bible that my folks had given me when I was about fourteen. I guess maybe because I was just reading it without any preconceived notions, or maybe because I read the whole thing and not just the selected parts.

This started me on a quest, which Ill probably be on for the rest of my life. The problem I have with most churches is that they accept the bible as the final word and wont even look at any other evidence of history. If there is anything said that might contradict how they have been told to interpret it, they just say its not possible. To me that is just not acceptable. Im sure there are those who say we dont have to look because we know this is the truth. For myself, I have found that a lot of what we thought we knew as truth, turned out to be something entirely different.

About this point your probably wondering ok where is he going with all of this, weve heard all these religious arguments before. True enough, I am just trying to establish where I am coming from. This spiritual thing is a whole new ball game for me.

OK what is this spiritual side? To me it is getting to know and accept yourself. Once you start down that path, then you start to realize, you have to also love yourself. For those of us that have been around for over a half a century that is a little hard to come to grips with. After all, men had to be tough, showing emotions was not allowed. Wonder whom the insidious jackass that came up with that was?

Lets go back to loving yourself, just what does that mean. Like any form of love putting it in words is never easy. I mean, gee whiz I want to be taller, more muscular, better looking, etc. I dont believe that is what this is about. We have to accept our inter-self, how we think, act and react. When someone cuts you off in traffic, can you just forgive them? How about when it happens apologize to them for being in the way. Wow now hes gone off the deep end. Well maybe, but I have read some who say that any negative reaction is caused by our own self and if we apologize to the person that we think created that negative reaction then both will benefit.

If we cant love ourselves then how can we love anyone else? Is love, hate too strong? Well if we are uncomfortable with who we are, isnt that going to cloud how we see others? When you look up the original word for devil in the bible, one of the definitions in Strongs concordance when translated into English is adversary. Now who is our biggest adversary? In my opinion our biggest adversary is our own ego. Does your own ego keep you from loving yourself? I think it does, because we dont want to admit that we are wrong, or something we did caused the problem, no it had to be the other person. That brings to mind a saying I heard years ago, My situation is myself. Darn I think that means Im responsible for myself.

Once we can love ourselves, we can begin to love others. Now the bible says to love your enemy, thats a tough one. Well how about when someone does something that we disagree with or is against your core beliefs. What if instead of getting mad or upset with that person or thing you stopped and thought to yourself, that poor person sure must be lacking in love. Put your love out, if you cant direct it directly to that person or thing just put love out to the universe and let it go where it will do the most good. If they will accept it good if they cant then someone else can have the benefit.

If I had heard that a few years ago, I probably have said what in the world is he talking about? Has he become one of those New Ager guys with all kinds of wild ideas? Putting love out into the universe, how can you do that? Maybe thats what this spiritual side is about. Because it makes sense to me now and I can feel love and wish love to go out from me to someone or just out to the universe for whom ever needs it. Its actually a great feeling when you do it and as the old saying goes what goes around, comes around. Now I dont know about you, but for me I prefer to have love coming back to me.

Charlie Phillips has been in construction, and has done everything from labor, carpenter, heavy equipment operator and contractor. Owned and operated of his own truck over forty-eight states and three provinces in Canada. He never attempted much writing until he came across a little tool called spell checker. There are no titles after his name, just a lot of life experiences. Website: http://www.charliephillips.net

The Sabbath - A Psalmist and a Prophet speak

2009-09-06T21:22:00.001-07:00

The Sabbath. Is it for believers today? For sure it was for the people of God assembled at Sinai, yet they often neglected it. Here are a couple of Old Testament documents meant to encourage Sabbath-keeping.

According to the uninspired but probably trustworthy inscription above Psalm 92, we have a song written especially for the Sabbath. Here are significant portions:

Psalm 92. (1) It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to your name, O Most High. By this section we understand that Sabbath is to be a day of praise. (4-5) For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. O Lord, how great are your works! Here is the heart of Sabbath: rejoicing in the creation, recognizing the Creator, resting in His work, the only work that matters.

Isaiah the prophet lived before Nehemiah, prophesying during the times when Israel was undergoing her judgment for idolatry (before and after 721 B.C.). Notice how little the externals matter when the heart is corrupt, and that the Sabbath can be cut out of Jewish tradition, too. Anyone keeping a holy day as a religious exercise as opposed to an expression of a holy commitment to God is not part of the covenant:

Isaiah 1:13-18 [portions]. "Bring no more futile sacrifices. Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies. I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feast days my soul hates... your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good. Seek justice, reprove the oppressor; defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

First the heart, says Isaiah, then the outward signs. Later Nehemiah will turn the people of God to these observances, after their hearts are properly tuned. Even Isaiah, looking into Israel's future, sees a restored Sabbath...

Isaiah 56:1-2. "Keep justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil..."

...and, dare I share it? The following promise is also from the prophet, shattering any notion that somehow Gentile ways are going to dominate the Kingdom of God. No, even though Gentiles will be present, it is the ways of the God of Israel that will be our daily fare in that glorious day:

Isaiah 56:6-8 . "Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant, even them I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar. For My House shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. The Lord God who gathers the outcasts of Israel says, Yet I will gather to him besides those who are gathered to him."

The Gentiles are coming. They will be added to the Jews. And together these people will experience burnt offerings, a House of God, and a Sabbath. Isaiah previews nothing less here than the Millennial Kingdom, a favorite theme of apostles, prophets, and Jesus Himself. So, Sabbath is in the past and the future of the people of God. Is it to be in our present?

In Isaiah 58 is a description of a fast that truly pleases God. Here is how it ends:

Isaiah 58:13-14. "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then shall you delight yourself in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father- The mouth of the Lord has spoken!"

a. Note here the Sabbath is called the holy "day of the Lord". This is the only Biblical time period called the "Lord's Day." Every apostle knew these passages. When they spoke of the Lord's Day, they spoke of the Sabbath. This is how they thought.

b. Here are yet more insights that Israel is given to help her understand just how profitable this weekly time can be. The idea is that the people of God are to give that Day to re-creation of the Spirit of God, not RECreation in the form of food and play. They are to cease from taking care of earthly business, their own concerns, altogether, and seek the business of Heaven.

Isaiah's final Sabbath word is in his final chapter, once more envisioning what the Millennial Day will look like:

Isaiah 66:23. "And it shall come to pass that from one...Sabbath to another all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says the Lord."

In my mind there is no question that Sabbath worship was enjoined on the people of God from creation to Christ, and will be the fare of both Jew and Gentile for the duration of the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. That's 5,000 years of Biblical Sabbath-keeping! What about these last 2,000? Did it all change? I encourage readers to seek God on this matter.

A One Minute Meditation

2009-09-06T19:56:00.001-07:00

Maybe learning to meditate intimidates you, and in any case it's tough to find the time for daily meditation. The solution to both problems is an easy meditation you can learn right now, that will only take a minute to do each day.

An Easy Meditation Technique

Breathing through your mouth expands your chest, but if you breath through your nose you'll notice how your abdomen extends. You see, nose-breathing causes the diaphram to pull air to the bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream and brain. It also tends to relax you.

Breathing through your nose is healthier, and it's the basis of this one-minute meditation. You simply close your eyes, let the tension go out of your muscles, let go of your thoughts (to the extent possible), and take four slow, deep breaths through your nose, paying attention to your breathing.

Is Meditation This Easy?

You're not likey to get you into a deep meditative state with this simple exercise. You will get benefits, though. These will almost certainly include a clearer mind and a reduction in stress.

Try to develop a "trigger" for your meditation. You can do your four breaths when you get into the car, for example, or right after lunch each day. A trigger is a place or time that reminds you, so your meditation becomes a habit.

Some may say this isn't "real" meditation, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying the relaxation you'll get from this technique. You can always pursue deeper meditation later, if you wish. In the meantime, remember that not everything has to be difficult to be of value. Why not do an easy one-minute meditation right now?

Steve Gillman writes on many self help topics including boosting brainpower, losing weight, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, learning gratitude, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. You'll find more at http://www.SelfImprovementNow.com

The Story of Chosun, Part 15

2009-09-06T18:54:00.001-07:00

We continue with the history of Korea by picking up the story of the late 16th century invasion of that land by neighbor Japan. The first target of every nation's invasion of another is the capital city. Seoul falls, the royal family flees northward. Perhaps the Japanese become a little too comfortable with their new prize, for while they linger, the Korean military is able to regroup.

Meanwhile in the South, the Korean navy is busy building ships. It is this era that resurrects the unique "turtle" ship, an elliptical-shaped vessel with a "roof" of iron plates, making it - in those days - totally inaccessible to enemy damage. Over and over this impenetrable wonder is able to beat back much larger Japanese fleets.

The one who should be "world famous" Yi Sun Sin is the commander who promotes this and several other novel techniques for the navy, assuring that in this department there will be no loss. Twenty-three straight victories basically shut down Hideyoshi's dream of world conquest. This is not one of mighty China's dynasties here, but the indomitable folk of the Korean peninsula, incredibly spared by God for His purposes, which He has shown to be rich in Christ in the South already.

There is much guerilla warfare during these days but by and large, the Japanese work their will in the Korean land battles.

Finally China wants to help, not because of their compassion for Korea, but because they do not want Japan coming into China. They are hoping for Korea to control the situation, then allow them to move in and take the glory for it. To the northeastern border they send a small military presence but they do nothing but wait.

Slowly the tide begins to turn. Japan is defeated in the South. 100,000 reinforcements come from home, but Admiral Yi sinks 71 boats with his "turtle", issuing what is called the "death warrant" of the invasion.

Now China feels invigorated, and sends 5000 soldiers. Great friends these. But the army gets trapped inside Pyongyang & loses 3/5 of their force. There is a 50-day truce while the Chinese general brings a message to the Emperor: Japan, it is decided, will be a vassal state of China. The Japanese are less than thrilled with the suggestion.

In I592, December 25, China crosses the [northern border] Yalu River again, this time with a band of 43,000 , but only after the Japanese invasion spirit is already broken.

As Hulbert points out, China's help is unfortunate. Korea is just coming to life, but now China gets the credit and the rewards, while Korea leans heavily on them.

History has continued these trends, rivalry with Japan, dependence on China, through the years. Thank God the South was allowed to start a new trend. Liberty. Which leads to the preached Gospel. Which leads to a nation God can freely bless.

This we desire for the North!

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page 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, over 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 diakonos3@gmail.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.

Advantages of Framing With Steel Studs

2009-09-06T18:29:00.001-07:00

I have heard all sorts of stories over the years of the advantages in framing with steel versus wood studs. One time I even heard you could build an entire house with the amount of recycled steel from a large automobile such as a Cadillac. I find this hard to believe unless you're building a very small home.

My personal favorite for framing with steel studs is that they are extremely straight. I have built nonbearing partition walls using 12 foot 3 1/2 inch wide steel studs and after the drywall you can lay an 8 foot level to check it for straightness on the wall with amazing results.

If you use 3 1/2 inch wide steel studs with 5/8 of an inch drywall you will get an extremely durable and sturdy wall. Framing was steel studs is common in office renovations or remodeling. Most of the steel stud framing is done via the drywall contractors.

Steel studs and termites do not mix. You'll never have to worry about these little buggers or other uninvited house pests damaging your walls.

Over the years I have heard stories that steel framed buildings are earthquake and fire proof. They might be more resistant to fire than wood but keep in mind when metal is hot enough it will bend and warp making it unusable.

When I hear people talking about a fireproof building built with metal framing components my first thought is all of the other materials used in building the house that are not fire resistant. Don't get a false illusion when buying a house framed with steel studs and think it is 100% fire proof.

As far as steel framed buildings being earthquake proof this is another story. I really can't comment too much on earthquake damage to a steel building. The problem with earthquakes is they seem to create fires. So even if you're building does survive an earthquake it could get damaged by a fire in the area.

I have framed more wood homes than steel homes over the years and my steel stud construction is limited to nonbearing partition walls usually located in office buildings. I love framing with metal because of its light weight and ease of construction.

I still love framing with wood. There is something about what framing that I have always loved and always will.

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 is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on House Framing Ideas

What Happens To Nonbelieving

The Sabbath in Leviticus and Numbers

2009-09-06T16:25:00.001-07:00

The third and fourth books of the Bible add details about Sabbath keeping that are significant.

Leviticus 23:3. "Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it. It is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings."

a. Here is the connection between rest, holiness, and meeting together stated plainly. Trying to keep a holy day by one's self is not envisioned here, but a communal effort.

b. However, the Sabbath is not just to be observed at 'church,' but in all the homes.

c. The context of Leviticus 23 is likewise significant. Sabbath is listed here as one of the feasts of the Lord, alongside Passover, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. All of these feasts, and Sabbath itself have a fulfillment in Christ and the life of His people, it is true. They are pictures of the true as were the furnishings of the Temple. But we are left with the question: Are all pictures to be abolished because they are pictures?

Certainly the Lord's Supper is a picture of a greater reality, a mere reminder, yet enjoined upon us by no less than Jesus Himself.

Marriage of two humans is a picture of our marriage to Christ. Should we abandon our mates because marriage is a picture?

Water Baptism is a picture, but a commanded one. Who will tell Jesus it is not important?

But some will say, there are certainly pictures which are no more. Yes, the animal sacrifices are gone for believers in Messiah. The Temple seems to be history. Yet before one says a final good-bye to all these Jewish pictures it is well to visit Brother Zechariah and his future vision of our world:

Zechariah 14:16. "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles."

The prophet here sees a worldwide opposition to Israel, followed by a Messianic victory over that world, and then the instituting of Jewish feasts for the Gentiles. Could it be that the Lord would have been pleased had we never stopped celebrating these things, just as he desired for those first 2,500 years to be filled with more obedient servants? He is longsuffering, and eventually He will have His way.

With "Jewishness" in our past and future, why not more of it in our present?

Would God truly enforce this Sabbath rule on His people? He threatens with death. But will a merciful God ever allow this to happen? Move to the next Bible Book.

Numbers 15:32-36. " Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. Then the Lord said to Moses, The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp. So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died."

There is no comment on this story, no attempt at justification. God is not to be toyed with. The soul that sins shall die. Let no one talk of little sins but rather of rebellious hearts daring to lift themselves above the law of God.

Not every Sabbath breaker was executed. As in our day not every church gossip, not every angry man, not every lustful heart is brought before the congregation. But Christ died for all these sins, and it is just as essential that they be dealt with in our day as in the days of the wilderness. Forgiveness is full and free, but the holiness of God has never changed.

Still, we have yet to establish that Sabbath-keeping is part of the plan of God for us . We have only heard from the Lord through Moses thus far. There is much more, and I encourage my readers to seek diligently for the rest of the story.

Who Is The Antichrist? A Short Answer

2009-09-06T13:57:00.001-07:00

Who is the coming antichrist, according to Scripture?

1. Jesus says this age will begin to come to an end shortly following the world's greatest catastrophe, which itself follows the revealing of the "abomination of desolation."

2. Jesus points us to the prophet Daniel for preliminary definitions of that abomination.

3. In Daniel we are introduced to Antiochus Epiphanes who began an anti-God, anti-Jew campaign decades before Christ appeared.

4. Gabriel leads us to believe that though Antiochus began his career in ancient history, his final blasphemous rise to power will be at the end of all things.

5. The abomination of desolation, the sacking of Jerusalem, the persecution of believers, spoken of by Daniel the prophet is fully orchestrated by Antiochus in a three and one half year period of supernatural power.

6. John confirms all by using the same visual demonstration that there will arise such an evil man, who will do the same destruction, the same persecution, the same blasphemies, in the same time frame as Daniel has already recorded. He will even rise to power from the same "Great Sea." John and Daniel agree.

7. John lets us know that the final world dictator will be one who has been raised from the dead, thus allowing for one who began in antiquity to end in the last days. He will be the eighth of a line of antichrists, yet one of the original seven too.

8. Paul agrees with all of the above, using the man of sin and his abomination as the sign that must happen before Jesus comes. Thus he says exactly what Jesus said.

9. Paul says that even now this one is being held back, so that he will be revealed at the right time in history.

The evidence is then clear and concise. There are things all along the way that we cannot quite figure out. Like, exactly how shall he appear? But then, we believe Elijah shall return and we do not allow that question to stop us from believing it. Our faith tells us that, as a detail is needed , it will be provided.

For now it seems to me important for us to take on a last-days mind-set that is more accurate than that with which we were raised. It demands more faith, more acceptance of the Word as is, less "explaining away" of hard things. But a solid faith has always demanded this. May the Lord keep our eyes open, ready to see and know what is happening in God's plan.

Self Help Tips - Goal Setting 101

2009-09-06T12:32:00.001-07:00

I am so excited for today & for 2009. I know that it is going to be our best year ever. And I have some awesome ideas on how to keep myself and anyone & everyone reading this "Reach Your True Potential" newsletter on target.

If you are not happy with your station in life thus far; find someone who you want to be like; and follow them and learn. You see; the stress we are carrying around seems at an all-time high. Every day there is a rich billionaire land mogul who walks out in a field and blows his head off.

A good question to revisit whenever you are being overwhelmed; Am I having a Breakdown or Break Through? Stick with me this year and you will have more BREAKTHROUGHS than Breakdowns.

IS THERE REALLY TONS OF OPPORTUNITY AROUND US ON JAN. 1, 2009?

It looks like we are going towards another "Great Depression". Well I do not know if you know it or not but while some guys were killing themselves because the thought they lost everything; but there were many millionaires that were made at the end of the great depression. You see; there were those who saw opportunity where others saw lack. It seems to be a sublt difference, but it reaps huge returns when you can habitually see the glass as 1/2 full versus 1/2 empty.

One guy I follow; Tim Ferris (author of The Four Hour, Work Week) had one of the guys he has followed (mentor) for 10 years e-mail him today;

While many are wringing their hands, I recall the 1970s when we were suffering from an oil shock causing long lines at gas stations, rationing, and 55 MPH speed limits on Federal highways, a recession, very little venture capital ($50 million per year into VC firms), and, what President Jimmy Carter (wearing a sweater while addressing the Nation on TV because he had turned down the heat in the White House) called a "malaise".

It was during those times that two kids without any real college education, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, started companies that did pretty well. Opportunities abound in bad times as well as good times. In fact, the opportunities are often greater when the conventional wisdom is that everything is going into the toilet.

Well...we're nearing the end of another great year, and, despite what we read about the outlook for 2009, we can look forward to a New Year filled with opportunities as well as stimulating challenges. SO, IT IS UP TO YOU; WHAT DO YOU SEE? DO YOU SEE A CUP THAT IS 1/2 FULL? OR IS YOURS 1/2 EMPTY? IT IS UP TO YOU?

I am in shock. I just found out that someone that I respected, looked up to, worked next to every day for 8 years; and really liked committed suicide. He was an acquaintace / friend. Here is what I am taking out of it.

Every day that we wake up; we have a decision to make. Are we going to have a good attitude, a luke warm attitude, or a positive / great / excited attitude. ARE WE GONNA SEE THE GLASS AS 1/2 FULL, OR HALF EMPTY?

You see; our attitude is the only thing in this world that we have direct control over. Every thing else comes at us; FAST AND FURIOUS. We must be aware of where our attitude is; and make adjustments when necessary. We need to build a support team around us.

- Stand Guard over your mind, be careful who you hang around, what you read, what you listen to, what you watch
- Because the above will influence your thoughts; Garbage in, garbage out
- Your thoughts will become words
- Your words become actions
- Your actions become habits
- Your habits become character
- Your character becomes your destiny

Do not fall into the trap of listening to the news, to your neighbors, to co-workers at the copy machine or the water cooler. Cause the message out in the world is doom and gloom. It hard times; it is lack, it is fear. Trust me, you will bring into your life that what you focus on.

I understand that we need to see it as it is. And you might say, "Yeah, Darin, it's easy for you to have a positive attitude cause you are fit, positive, happily married, and have three successful business's that are exploding in growth".

"But I got layed off, money is tight, and I am not sleeping at night, I don't have the energy to work out, I am drinking/eating to dull the pain; and I am depressed."

Trust me, I can totally relate. And there is an epidemic out there right now of millions of people that are in the same shoes. I know that it may be hard to believe, but I have been there in the past.

Many of my clients and or their spouses are entrepreneurs. I hear their story every day. I believe that with the fast paced ness of today's information age, the keep up with the Jones' mentality, and lack of physical movement, and the "doom and gloom" mindset that the media is shoving down our throat that this is the most challenging time in the history of the world to be healthy, fit, energetic and happy.

I absolutely know that 2009 is going to be the best year of my and my families lives. And I'll bet that it will be the best years of my one on one clients lives. And if you stick with me, stay open minded, and build a support team up around you, it will be the best year of your life as well.

Things that help me and my clients have a positive mindset (and they will help you as well);

1. Do not answer e-mails until after noon, do not go on the internet to check out the news about your industry, or any news. Do something for yourself. Exercise, deep breath, pray, meditate (think of nothing) I have many techniques in my book that work great.

2. Te-evo your evening programs on tv (or watch less tv) and watch them some other time and go to bed a 1/2 hour earlier than normal.

3. Listen to motivational speakers; Tony Robbins, Les Brown, Tom Venuto, Joel O'Steen, etc. Load your i-pod up, use your lap top and force this stuff in your ear.

4. Hire a coach, a trainer, etc. Be careful about friends or family. I am not saying a friend will not work, I am simply saying that do not get someone who will let you cry on their shoulder. You need someone that is going to be brutally honest with you.

5. Stand up tall with great posture and say "I am going to have a great day today; I am going to have a great attitude today". There is power in the spoken word. Faith it until you make it. There where plenty of things that materialized in my life that I did not really believe deep down in my core. But I faithed them out loud. Sometimes for years until they materialized. Do not give up on your dreams. You can still have it all; A fulfilled, energetic, happy fit life.

I do not care what age you are (I am 43), what condition you are, where your finances are; etc. Everyone knows that we are supposed to have a great attitude. But why don't we. If you could go to the Vitamin Store and purchase a "Have A Great Attitude" pill, we would. But of course, it's never that easy.

The best way to have a great attitude is to have a positive expectation of your outcome. Do you think your best days are in front of you, or are your best days behind you. I am here to tell you that which ever one is your predominant thought is your reality.

Cause if you know that your best days are behind you; YOU ARE TOAST! But if you can have a little faith and start to train yourself to think, speak, and act like your best days are in front of you; then it will be much easier to wake up every day with a killer, positive attitude. In fact, you will begin to wake up excited with tons of real energy.

I do not care how old you are and feel now. Anyone and everyone has the power to change; on a dime; in a heart beat. But sometimes it helps when you feel and acknowledge the pain.

You see; I absolutely know that everything that you and I need to be totally fulfilled in every area of our life; Fitness, / Health, Money / Finances, & Relationships (God, Self, Family, Peers, and even Strangers) is right around us.

If we are not living our dream life; It's not for a lack of re-sources, It's for a lack of re-source fullness. So the tools that I have in store for you in 09 are powerful.

Each and every one of us has the ability to open up your eyes, to see and use what is readily available to you. "Just because we do not see something at any one point in time; does not mean that it is not there."

So, DO NOT LISTEN TO THE NEWS, THE NEIGHBORS, THE STOCK MARKET, THE POLITICIANS; OR ANY ONE FOR THAT MATTER WHO IS NOT LIVING A DREAM LIFE.

So, now the choice is up to you; are you going to have a great 2009, or are you going to keep doin what you've been doin. Just remember, pain is not really bad. It is telling us something. Look at the pain for what it is; a signal. It's a great thing to get a warning. So now you can do something about it. It is not nearly as difficult as you may think.

I love you and believe in you all,

Your Healthy, LifeStyle Coach,

Darin Steen (aka "The Chicago Kid")

Darin Steen, the "Trainers Trainer" is America's Top Fat loss, Healthy Lifestyle Coach. A best selling Author, drug-free for life professional Bodybuilder, Personal trainer, Motivational Speaker, and family man, he is an expert on fat loss, fitness, gaining muscle, and aging gracefully. His goal in life is to help 2 million people realize a higher quality life through making healthier FATLOSS LIFESTYLE choices by leading by example

Learn cutting edge fat loss / fitness strategies & get your free "Fat loss 12 Week E-course" OPERATION BURN FAT FAST at http://www.fatlosslifestyle.com

To learn how & why you should perform "Interval Cardiovascular" exercise to not only lose fat faster, but to build a strong heart & lunges go to http://www.IntervalCardio.com

Media Requests: Darin Steen is a dynamic, high energy television and radio guest available for interviews and corporate speaking engagements

Save the World

2009-09-06T11:28:00.001-07:00

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." (2 Timothy 3:1) The word perilous means dangerous or exposure to the risk of being injured, destroyed, or lost. The rest of the verses express where most of the danger shall come from and also the reason for the promised peril that shall come. "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:2-5) In a society where morality is placed on the back burner anything goes. A philosophy such as do as you will or do what thou will this shall be the whole law was made famous by a known Satanist and founder of the church of satan Aleister Crowley. A world where everyone feels free to do as he or she pleases is a disastrous world where ruin is certain. In a world that does what it feels like there are no rules. What if I feel like murdering someone or raping someone under these philosophies it is perfectly ok? In fact to live by such rules is truly to declare yourself to be God because you are governed by you. Yet, the bible expressly declares that in the last day's mankind will go so far from God that they will bring peril upon themselves and this whole world. Jesus Christ speaking of the last days said "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24:11-12) A world without love, a world where people are selfish and self driven.

Was it not satan that invented the it's all about me theology. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (Isaiah 14:12-15) When satan was cast down to earth In the record of the fall of man did he not preach this same it's all about me theology to Eve "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."(Genesis 3:4-5) Not, much has changed satan is still trying to convince every man and woman that they could be there own god just as he tried to become his own god. Even so much to impose the philosophy of I can do whatever I want God knows my heart. How many times has this been quoted by people to justify their own sin. When God says "no" how can we say God understands, his ways are his ways and we should do are best to keep them (through the power of the Holy Spirit). We should not simply go out of are way to do wrong or continue in our sins simply because it feels good to us. We should seek repentance just as the first words Christ preached "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) A life in God shows the power of God and that power is for God to transform that life. It is always not easy for us to do right but we should do our best to do what God says. For surely if God knows our heart shouldn't we know his heart and his will.

With the knowledge of this danger that is sure to come; the human heart has a unique need to be saved. After all we do all we can do to live so we eat, visit the doctors, we exercise, we drink water, we avoid poverty at all cost, we even seek pleasure to avoid boredom. There is something inside mankind that always drives us towards self preservation and man will almost always choose peace over suffering. The internal desire is another evidence of the need for the salvation of God. Hollywood has always created it's heroes that would soon come and save the world from ruin. When the truth is that this world can't be saved by man nor superheroes it actually will be destroyed according to 2 Peter 3:9-10 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." It is a promise of God that this world shall be destroyed but be of good cheer because although this world will die the people in it can be saved. "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."(John 12:44-47)

What I fear most is that mankind doesn't take the claims of God to be serious or urgent. We should always see the urgency in what God is saying to us. There are a lot of dangerous and very disastrous events that are taking place right now and will take place in the future. We always look to the coming of Christ as being light years ahead of us, but as God said we should not be slack according to his promise that he will destroy this world. Of the last days the scriptures testify in Matthew 24:3-7 "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." Many have came to this earth and claimed to be Christ all the way back to before Jesus time on earth. Most Recently we have seen Jim Jones, Charles Manson, Jose Luis De Miranda, Sun Myung Moon, Billy Meir and others. These men have led many into destruction, just as Christ has spoken. When we speak of wars and rumours of wars how many years in your own personal life can you look back to a time where there was not war going on in the earth? How many years can you remember when there was not a talk about a war? All throughout history we discover war after war and this is the work of mankind. We see nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom everyday. Whole nations of people that hate other nations of people simply because of land disputes, color of skin, and customs. Famines in the land just in 2008 Myanmar, the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, East Africa, and Bangladesh all suffer from food crisis while the rest of the nations over eat. Pestilence the world has many infectious diseases that cause death, most recently Aids, bird flu, flesh eating virus, malaria, cancer, and sars. Earthquakes have shaken many places of this world most recently China and Central Asia. This information lets us know that all things have been checked off and the reason Jesus gave these examples is to let you know that we really don't know when he is coming. The world will be going on business as usual so we should always be ready for his return.

The beauty of the situation is God knows we have a basic need for salvation. We have a human desire for peace, and quality of life. We all want to live forever and not suffer forever. What we really are looking for is hope and not hope that a man can bring. Not the promise of man's change or what man can fix, but hope that God will save us from this wretched world and the disaster of mankind's errors. "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" (Titus1:2) That is a promise that I could believe in, because unlike mankind God cannot lie. He promised salvation and we should expect nothing less. He promised to give us this gift we should expect nothing less. I challenge you to put your hope in something you can't see right now but will see in the future. The promise that God who cannot lie gave to us SALVATION!!!!!

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." -1 John 2:1-2

Luck is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity

2009-09-06T10:42:00.001-07:00

You must be ready when an opportunity comes before you, opportunity often comes in the form of work and that's why most people seem to miss it. Most people are too busy looking for the easy path through life. They seem to lay around waiting for the opportunity of a lifetime,... to simply fall at your feet.

Why would you want to spend so much time complaining about something, or someone? Other people can help you along the way, if you let them, but it's up to you, ultimately, to become the most you can possibly be. I have had plenty of opportunities in my life and have took advantage of some, while letting most of them pass by.

I'm no different than most people but now seem to be aware of my surrounding opportunities, all the time.

How many times do you wish for an opportunity to come along? It's probably one that you missed already, at some point during your life. Are you going to be prepared for the next opportunity when it comes along? These opportunities seem to repeat themselves throughout our lives and if we're not in the right state of mind, we often overlook them and let them pass by, time and time again.

You need to prepare yourself in advance for the next opportunity. If you are prepared and have your eyes open, you will be able to see the next opportunity that comes your way. Preparation will increase your chances for success and good fortune always.

Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes. Be on the lookout, when you're walking to the grocery store, taking a break at work, reading the newspaper, talking to your neighbor, walking down the street or even while you are sitting alone, letting your mind wander away. Your chances for success could come while your in your quiet places, or relaxing. Be prepared.

Are Christians Really Interested

The Three Cs of Marriage.

2009-09-06T09:06:00.001-07:00

Marriage & Relationships. Ephesians 5:20-5:33 The Three Cs of Marriage The three Cs that aid in a successful Marriage Ephesians 5:20-33 There are many different ways according to the scripture to have a successful marriage, here are the Cs in Marriage

1.Commitment, to give, to care for, to entrust, trust,etc.
2.Conversation, to speek to another, to communicate,talk.
3. Christ, The Anointed, The Anointed One. Lets take commitment first, in Ephesians 5: 25, The Bible tells us that the Husbands must Love their wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it..., We all know the basics of a commitment to a wife, but did you know that there is no where in scripture that tells a wife to love their husbands?

Well take the men first. A husband must CARE for his wife as Christ cared for the church, not only in the short term but in the long term as Christ instructed. When Jesus cared for the church ,He set a plan into existence that He knew, would last for eternity. He GAVE Himself for her so that she would live. He ENTRUSTED others to look out after Her as He did His Mother Mary at the Cross. And He put His TRUST in the Disciples to carry on the nurturing of the church to build Her up to maturity. A husband must be Committed to his wife with no longing for another, giving himself fully to her and trusting in her to support his efforts to provide a suitable living, not only for her but their children, which is good and acceptable to God.

There was a humorous story, that I heard a Pastor tell a while back, about a husband and wife that were talking one day of how much one loved the other, after the wife finished her side the husband said, "Honey, I love you so much, I would die for you." and the wife look at him with a serious look on her face and said, " John, Ive heard you say that for twenty years now, and you've never done it" It seems that women today have a different outlook on what a marriage is supposed to be. So it is often , good to look at what God says a marriage is supposed to be. If a man allows his wife to rule over the house, then they are dealing with witchcraft, and God will not be a part of that union. So men, we haft to be very careful to rule the house as God instructed, for the Scriptures say, if a man cannot rule his own house, then how can he rule the House of God ?

Now remember a husband is not ruler or lord over the wife but she is subject unto him as Sara called Abraham Lord out of respect for him. We are not to enslave the wife or abuse her, for the scripture says that, there is no man that has hated his own flesh...., or would we harm our own flesh, and since husband and wife have become one body, we protect and nurture her as we would ourself. Ministers today and in the time of Paul, cared for their congregations as they would care for their own children, lovingly and with patience. If a man abuses his wife, he also condemns himself , being in transgression of Gods word.

Now lets take the same word and delegate it ,to the women or wife. A little while ago, I said that a wife, in scripture, was not told to Love her husband. Ephesians 5:21 states to the wives, "Wives SUBMIT yourselves unto your own husbands , as unto the Lord. lets look at the word submit first, as the Hebrew and Greek translation states it, To surrender, to yield,to obey and to subordinate. As unlike the world, a Christian wife must be yielding and submissive unto her husband, and not as head of the house or him. This is as with the woman and God, having a humbleness and a Godly fear or we would call it a respectful attitude toward the stronger of the two.

The Bible states that the wife is the weaker of the two, in strength and probably because of the transgression of Eve at the garden of will. Being an easier target for Satan and his deceptive powers. A wife must not only be a lover but also a friend to her husband. In my relationship to my wife ,we are best friends. Its good most times before marriage that a man and woman become friends first. Wives, TRUST in your husbands, knowing that as he has committed himself to you ,he has also committed himself to God to fulfill scripture in his relationship to you.

Care for your husbands ,as one who cares for Christ in all things. GIVE yourself to your husbands, knowing that he is the one who has promised not only to you but to God himself, before wittinesses, to Love, Honor and Cherish you. So as you can see the "C" or commitment for the husband also applies equal for the wife. So wives, you must, Trust, Care and Give yourself to your OWN husband as God has instructed. If you look at that verse again, it tells a wife to submit to your OWN husband, stating that you are no longer under submission to anyone save him, whom you have married. End of Part 1

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries A.R.Smith Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Which Bible College Should I Attend?

2009-09-06T06:44:00.001-07:00

Which Bible College should I go to? With so many great Christian Colleges available around the world it can get a bit overwhelming trying to find the one that is best for you.

I remember when I first felt called to go to bible college. I knew that I was called to go, but wasn't sure where. I was willing to go anywhere in the world but didn't know where to start.

It was a big step, which included giving up a well paid job, but I knew it was the right thing for me to do. Here's some quick thoughts on what I learned where important things for me to consider before choosing the right place to attend to help you in your ministry training needs;

1) Does the Christian College line up with what you feel God is calling you to do? For example there's no point going to a Christian College that specializes in worship leading if you feel called to community work

2) Does the Christian College carry similar values to you?

3) Have you done some background research on the Christian College to make sure its got a good track record? A simple Google search will help in this process.

4) Do you have peace about the Christian College you are looking at attending? Phil 4:6-7 talks about a peace that comes upon you that goes past your understanding. The peace that you feel on the inside. If you can learn to live according to this God given inner peace, then you will know that its a God thing!

Once you have followed these steps, you should get a better idea of whether the Christian College you are looking at is right for you. I know my time at Bible College was life changing. I hope yours is too!

Benjamin James is founder of Bible College Guide.com http://www.biblecollegeguide.com and Christian Universities Guide.com http://www.christianuniversitiesguide.com . His passion is to build the body of Christ by helping people become trained and equipped for ministry through bible based training facilities.

Midlife Women in the Age of Miracles

2009-09-06T04:47:00.001-07:00

Are you living your life's dream right now? Women, midlife can be the age of miracles for you. If you are not yet living your dream but are still alive? There's still time!

Victor Hugo once said "Each one should frame his life so that at some future hour fact and his dreamings meet."

There is a story told that years ago, while unearthing an ancient Egyptian tomb, an archaeologist came upon seeds buried in a piece of wood. When they were planted, the seeds realized their potential after more than 3,000 years!

There are seeds of possibility in all of us still. Allow yourself some waking DREAMING... what do you see for yourself?

It's becoming clearer and clearer to me how we create every aspect of our lives - and when we get truly alert - or conscious, we begin to see how we get to SEE in life only that which we have already SEEN in mind..

Do you know where you're going to?
You're going wherever you SEE yourself going...
Take time this week - randomly set an alarm during the day - and when it goes off ask -

is what I'm doing right now taking me where I want to go?

Do you like the things that life is showing you?
It's showing you what you were able to see in the past.
If you don't like what you are seeing - Start SEEING it differently.. Scripture tells us - without a vision, the people perish... Without knowing where you are going - you'll dissipate the energy on things that are meaningless...

How do you see yourself? Where do you see yourself in a year? What are you doing? Who are you being? In 5 years? And ultimately - what's your REAL AIM in life? Women in midlife have the perfect opportunity to ask these questions.

SPEND Time EVERY day picturing what you would have your life to be...

-Create Treasure Maps if you're visual -

-Tell yourself if your auditory...

-Test drive the car if your kinesthetic
You KNOW to do these things-- are you doing them? And,
If not, why not?

You probably have about one third of a lifetime - at least - left. Don't let being a woman in midlife stop you.

This truly can be your age of miracles.

And so, I would like to offer a support system for getting clear on what you want. In fact, I'm all about creating a new Midlife paradigm. When you subscribe to my free Midlife newsletter, you'll also receive instant access to a special report called, "7 Secrets for Reinventing Midlife from the Inside-Out". Go now and submit your comments on my blog Midlife Messages

Dr. Toni LaMotta, Midlife Reinvention Specialist, award winning author, and inspirational keynote speaker.

God's Peace Available in Daily Life

2009-09-06T04:17:00.001-07:00

Living in a world full of trouble, cares, and plenty of anxiety, worry and stress, we can forget as Christians that God's peace is available to us any time of the day and no matter what we are facing. God's peace comes not from the outside of us but rather it comes from the inside of us, out of our born again spirit.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace,...

God's peace is available to us as a result of God, the Holy Spirit, living inside of our recreated spirit. God cared enough for you in this troubled, mixed up world; that He placed Himself inside your spirit so you could have continual contact with Him and He could release His peace to you. God's peace, the Bible says, passes all understanding; in other words, you shouldn't in the natural have such peace in such difficult times.

Jesus told His disciples, God, the Holy Spirit, would come for our benefit.

John 16:7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

God, the Holy Spirit came and lives in your spirit for your profit, your advantage in this world, to have close fellowship with you and to act as your Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby in this earth. In other words He is here when you need help, need someone to talk to you and give you excellent advice and direction for your life.

When we received Jesus as our Savior our spirit was born again, become brand new and was filled with the Holy Spirit and peace coming from His presence. As a result of this, we are as peaceful as God is right now in our spirit concerning everything we are challenged with in this world; we just have to notify our soul, which is our mind will, emotions and intellect. The Holy Spirit is as close to you as your inner man, your spirit.

We have to remember we have God's peace available to us at all times and then yield to this powerful, supernatural force of the fruit of the Spirit so it can work things out. That means we must not allow our soul and circumstances control our thinking. That's why I am writing this article to let you know of His presence in your life and the peace that comes from Him.

Isaiah 1:19 If you will only obey me and let me help you, then you will have plenty to eat. NLT

Daily the Holy Spirit of peace is calling out to us to let Him help us. When we allow His help and allow His peace take control of our mind, then He will be our supply Source.

I am reminded when God supplied the children of Israel with all they needed in the wilderness for 40 years. He will do the same for us as we allow the Holy Spirit to help us.

God, the Holy Spirit wants us to ask for His help and not take the care of this world on our own shoulders.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. KJV

The peace of the Holy Spirit is that peace available to us in the most difficult of situations and is the same peace Jesus told His disciples He was leaving with them.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

Yielding to this peace on the inside of us will keep us from being troubled, afraid, agitated, fearful, intimidated, cowering down to difficulties on the outside and becoming unsettled in our minds. This is reality in the life of the spirit. Learning to live out of our spirit will allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of our life's situations. With the Holy Spirit of peace comforting us, counseling us, helping us, strengthening us and interceding through us; then we will make the right decisions for our lives every time.

If we are not living in this peace at the present, we either do not know about the peace that comes with His presence or we are ignoring Him. Maybe you weren't even aware of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to comfort you, counsel you and be your Helper. Now you do and that should be comforting and peaceful. There is no problem you have His peace cannot get you through.

In the Old Testament, there is testimony after testimony of people who experienced extraordinary deliverance from God in the most difficult and impossible times. You can read of testimonies of supernatural debt cancellation, supernatural favor, supernatural wealth, and supernatural deliverance from enemies and on and on.

Maybe you have some impossibility you are facing today. Now is the time for you to have an extraordinary testimony of deliverance yourself. He is the same God and He has the same abilities available to use on your behalf. So just allow God's peace to overtake your soul today.

God doesn't want us to be full of care about nothing. Ask for the Lord's help, give Him thanks and then fully expect the peace of the fruit of the Spirit to show up and keep or guard your mind so that you have peace beyond human comprehension working on your behalf until the end. It's this peace filled mind, the mind that is stayed on Him that releases God's supernatural help.

That's what happened to Jesus in the garden before His crucifixion. In His anguish of facing the cross, the peace and joy of God helped Jesus make the right choice to do Father's will and go to the cross.

The anguish over things you face in your life may not have caused you to sweat drops of blood like Jesus, but still maybe you have sweat under the pressure of it all. Jesus our High Priest knows what it's like to face pressures in the mind, will and emotions. That's what makes Him a compassionate High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

He is also called the Prince of Peace. Jesus our Prince of Peace is available to us every day. He lives inside of us and we can be as peaceful as He is about our situation. God's peace is what the enemy of our souls comes to steal from us day after day. God's peace is God's guarantee of one victory after another for us. So make a decision to yield to God's peace right now and continue to yield no matter what is going on.

People who do not know the peace of God is available to them will be destroyed for lack of knowledge. Even Christians will experience hardship and one heartache after another, as they seek for some peace on the outside of them through people and things instead of looking to God and His peace on the inside of them.

Our brand new, born again spirit contains supernatural forces called the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance) that work in the most difficult situations to turn things around. God doesn't want us to depend on natural people or natural things to deliver us since He has placed these supernatural forces on the inside of us to do the job and then it's supernatural on our natural.

God wants us to be supernatural in these days. That's why He came to live inside of us. Expect the supernatural ability of God inside of you to move to the outside of you today and every day.

Facing so much today we can forget God's peace is available to us just like the disciples did when they faced a terrible storm on the lake with hurricane winds and their boat was taking on water. Jesus, so peaceful, was sound asleep. Can you imagine that? So they awakened the Prince of Peace and asked Him, "Do you not care if we perish?"

Have you asked Him that question or something similar? He understands and is touched with the feeling of your infirmities. Remember He walked the earth as a man too.

Your Prince of Peace is here today and every day to help you in every difficult situation, as He did with the disciples. Realize He gives you peace and the other fruit of the Spirit to aid you, help you. He will never take control of your life since the fruit of His presence gives you control of your life.

Colossians 3:15 is a wonderful scripture to use as a confession, enforcing the truth of the peace of God giving you right answers just at the right time so that it always turns out for a win, win situation in every decision you make.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

"And let the peace". We must "allow" the fruit of peace on the inside of us help us make correct decisions, guaranteeing we won't end up with shipwrecked lives. God's peace causes us to know in our spirit whether things look right or look wrong for us. God's peace acts continually as an Umpire in our spirit; helping us decide and settle once and for all the questions that arise in our lives in a peaceful state. As members of the Body of Christ we are to live in this peaceful state.

Peaceful is what we are in this world through Jesus Christ no matter how chaotic it is in this world right now or will be! We need to remind ourselves every single day God's peace is in us and available to us; for it will only get worse in the world that we are living in but not living out of. In Christ, Kingdom of God living, spirit living is our way of living now and through which we experience God's peace that passes all natural understanding in this chaotic world.

Whatever is going on around you that may be stressful and may bring concern to your mind, just stop whatever you are doing and wherever you are and just look to the God of peace Who is on the inside of you and listen and yield to what the Holy Spirit says to do or not to do. His direction will always be right, even though His direction at times can seem like the craziest thing you could do. Remember He is God of the universe so He knows just how to handle your situation. As His child, through learning process, His mercy will cover your mistakes if you just ask.

Colossians 3:15 tells us we are to live in the state of peacefulness. It is a fruit of our spirit. Apples are the fruit of an apple tree and peace is the fruit of our spirit now that God the Holy Spirit lives there. Peace is always there in our spirit and that's where we can go when all is chaotic around us. It's like going into another world, a peaceful world. That's how precious God, the Holy Spirit, living inside of us can be to our life.

I think sometimes with all that is going on around us we wonder if He really cares if we perish just like the disciples did. Jesus was right there. The Prince of peace was right there and the Prince of peace is right here with us to calm the storm of fear in our soul so that things on the outside turn out right. In that peace we can allow God to speak through us to those storms of life and command, "Peace, be still!" This supernatural force of peace calms us, calms situations and calms people around us.

Peace comes as well as we get to know our heavenly Father for He is loving, joyful, peaceful, good, faithful, kind, patient, self-controlled and gentle. He is always looking out for you and will take care of any bad situations if we yield to His peace and do not worry and try to work them out on our own.

Take some alone time with the Lord and allow His presence, His peace, His hope and His power fill your soul and start affecting what is on the outside that brought you fear, worry, anxiety and stress. In His presence is fullness of joy. Joy is another fruit of the Spirit that is available to you as you enter into His presence and His peace. You can then be peaceful, joyful, and hopeful. That's when it becomes beyond human understanding. There is still the problem you are facing but you are peaceful, joyful and have all the hope and expectation to see the problems solved and see the changes you so desire.

You will remain constantly in a peaceful state of mind when your mind is constantly stayed on Father God and His Word, you lean on Him and hope confidently in Him, the Rock of Ages.

Isaiah 26:3-4 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

The fruit of the Spirit, the work which His presence accomplishes, listed in Galatians 5:22 are unbeatable forces. Think about it, love, God's unconditional love never fails and causes you to never fail as it is allowed to flow out of you. The fruit of the Spirit joy, fortifies you with supernatural power when you feel weak in your mind. (Nehemiah 8:10) Then the peace of God under girds you and helps you make correct decisions that lead you to a successful, healthy, vibrant life.

The peace of God brings with it hope, the God kind of hope. The peace of God will produce all the hope we will ever need in this world.

This hope is a supernatural force on the inside of you that is more than just wishful thinking. This God hope actually will make you come to the place where you earnestly, intensely expect something to happen. And then before long you will actually experience it. Remaining peaceful, just like staying in faith, is trusting God is with us and is working out all our situations.

I believe there is not much peace and hope in Christians' lives today because they fail to look to God inside of them and fail to yield to the fruit of the Spirit on the inside of them that will change their lives.

Let's make a quality decision, one from which we will not retreat, that we will live from the inside out and allow God to work in our lives. This may not be easy for us at first. We like handling things and we have been trained well by our parents and others to handle things on our own and be worried, stressful and anxious. This can be changed as we get to know Him more in an intimate way.

I suggest you spend some alone time with the Lord so that His presence, His love, His peace, His hope and His power that floods your spirit; can flow out like a river, affecting your soul (mind, will, emotions and intellect) and start affecting what is on the outside that brings all the care and anxiety to you. In His presence is fullness of joy. There may still be the problem staring you in the face, but you are peaceful, joyful and have all the hope and expectation He is working things out.

Spending time meditating scripture promises to you, especially in the New Testament, will also allow the peace of God fill your mind instead of the problems. So get started filling your mind with the Word of peace so you remain peaceful in all circumstances and make right decisions guaranteeing your success.

If you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and experience His peace, just pray this simple prayer, "Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus came to this earth, died on the Cross for all of my sins, past, present and future and He rose again from the dead so that I could be justified in Your sight. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus Christ. I receive you now as my Savior and Lord. Holy Spirit of peace come and live in my spirit now."

Welcome to the family of God! Please let me know you received Christ. Here are scriptures I want to share with you speaking of God's peace coming to you:

Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. KJV

When we become intimate with the Lord then we remain peaceful and good things will result in our lives.

Psalms 34:14 ....seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!

We must seek, crave the peace of God and even pursue or go after the peace of God every day since we live in a chaotic world. God's peace does not come automatic. We have to seek spiritual things and seek our spiritual life in Christ in order not to live a carnal life where the flesh controls us and determines our outcome.

Psalms 37:37 Mark the blameless man and behold the upright, for there is a happy end for the man of peace.

Peace always is the state of mind for the man who knows he is right with God. So it is of utmost importance we know our righteousness comes only through Jesus' finished work at Calvary. Christ's righteousness always brings peace since it eliminates striving on our part to be righteous. Christ's righteousness brings peace that produces a life of true happiness. Christ's righteousness is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions striving to obtain their own righteousness. (The Bible says our own self-righteousness in the sight of God is like filthy rags.)

Psalms 85:8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)....

God speaks peace daily to His children when they will listen expectantly for Him to speak. His words of peace bring an end to all conflict and confusion in our minds and our affairs, and so that's why it is so urgent we listen with expectancy for Him to speak. Be assured and expectant to hear Him speak to you every day. This scripture is a wonderful daily confession.

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Great peace, think about that! Not a little peace but "GREAT PEACE" comes to those who love God's Word! God's Word brings peace and keeps us out of offense and from stumbling through life.

Isaiah 48:18 Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.

Did you notice the punctuation at the end of the first sentence of that scripture? The exclamation point emphasizes we must listen to God and do what He tells us to do! For its then our peace and prosperity will flow like a river. What a confession this would be for our daily lives! Wow!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. KJV

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

So you have been worrying about your future. Take comfort and remain in His peace for God has it all planned out! Stop worrying and trying to plan it out for yourself! His plan is for your welfare, instead of you seeking welfare from the government, a peaceful state instead of evil and hope and expectancy for your God planned final outcome! Here again is a wonderful scripture to use as a daily confession instead of speaking the problems.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Jesus did not tell us life would be all rosy and great. Jesus forewarned us of facing tribulation, trials, distress and frustration while living in this world. But yet in the midst of all of it, Jesus said we can have peace. Then He told us to be of good cheer, have courage, be confident, certain and undaunted by it all, because He Who lives inside of us has overcome the world, deprived it of it's power to harm us and has conquered it for us.

Remain at peace, resting in the truth of Jesus' Words and the fact that He has overcome everything the world has to throw at us. He has deprived it of the power to harm us and has conquered it for us. Here's another daily confession to allow God to be in control in our outcome.

It's not just you against the world, but you and Your God living inside of you, Who has already conquered its power to do you harm. So remain mindful of the One Who lives in you and the fruit of peace along with the other fruit that will supernaturally put you over every time. So yield to God's peace and not the pressures of life and spend more time with Him in the difficult times.

Intimacy with the Lord and meditating His Word will cause Him and His ability to rise up bigger on the inside of you, just like what happened to David facing Goliath; to bring your giant down! This is living in the spirit. Romans 8:5,6 shows us the results of living out of the flesh and out of the spirit.

Romans 8:5-6 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. 6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

Living out of the senses and reason you will be living without the aid of the Holy Spirit and this leads you only to death and misery. But living according to the Spirit we are controlled by the desires of the Spirit and we will be setting our minds on Him and seeking those things that gratify the Holy Spirit, which only leads to life and peace for us in this world.

Romans 14:17 [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Kingdom living is what we are suppose to be experiencing in this earth at this time and not just when we get to Heaven. Kingdom living provides the food and drink and all else we need and produces the righteousness of God, peace that all is well and joy that brings mental, emotional strength and all this by the Holy Spirit living inside our spirit. This is true Kingdom living.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.

We can remain joyful, encouraged, consoled, and comforted because the Author and Promoter of peace is with us all the way through the difficult and challenging days of our lives. Hallelujah! Let's rejoice about that!

Philippians 4:6,7 has been a real blessing to my soul and I pray yours.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God's peace, we can experience at any time goes beyond human reasoning. God's peace garrisons and guards our minds so that no matter what comes against us we remain secure in what Christ has made us to be in Him and has provided for us in Him. We will remain calm and confident that greater is He Who is in us than he that is in this world.

Every day of your life you will have to make the choice to yield to the peace of God that is already on the inside of you. Just yield to Him, the Author and Promoter of Peace. You can even make that choice before you begin each day, before you get out of bed. Make the choice you will not allow anyone or anything steal your peace.

Pray a simple pray, something like this:

"Father, I know you live inside of me. You are my peace. I make the decision right now I am going to allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit flow through me today. I will walk in the peace this entire day. I will not allow anyone or any thing steal from me the peace of God. God's grace and peace are multiplied to me today. I call on your help, Holy Spirit, my Helper, Comforter, and Strengthener. Amen."

My earnest pray is you will be strengthened with all might by the Spirit and the peace of the Spirit that is on the inside of you. I pray you live your life from out of your spirit where God resides. Be at peace in Jesus' name. Amen and Amen.

Janie Baer has produced a CD called God's Spoken Word and her website http://www.godswordalive.com offers products to help Christians use Bible scriptures in every day living finding the secret power of god's word and to help find the unconditional love of Father God. Janie also has a blog, http://www.godswordalive.com/blog Also on her site is Kingdom of God Prosperity Bookstore which offers bibles, audio bibles, music cds, music dvds, Children books & dvds, Christian books, Christian games and other products to help incorporate the Word into your life. She has also recently added Bible scriptures and confessions for healing and health, prosperity, Father God's Unconditional love and continues to add more all the time. She has applied these healing scriptures with her family for over 30 years and as a result they have not had a doctor, hospital or medical bill in all those years. They have just taken the healing Bible scriptures as their medicine as was written in Proverbs 4:22.

Success Starting in Your 40s

2009-09-06T03:14:00.001-07:00

You're going to find it hard to believe, but very seldom does an individual peak with creativity until they reach the age of 40. The average individual usually makes the most money between the age of 40 and 60. This doesn't have anything to do with retirement. Most highly creative people keep producing until they die.

If you're 55 years old and looking for a new career or can't seem to find a job in the profession you have worked at your whole life, don't be alarmed or fearful. Do you think you could start your own business? Is there something, you have always wanted to do but have put it off until retirement, or until you had enough time to do it?

Why wait, if you can't find a job in a business you never truly enjoyed, maybe you can find a new job doing something you love.

I have worked in construction for 30 years and at 44 years old started to pursue a career in writing and plan to create award winning websites and best selling books, for the rest of my life. This doesn't mean, I won't work in construction ever again, but I will become a best selling author within the next 20 years.

Most people don't take the time required to learn a new profession. If you're sincerely interested in another career, and you're 50 years old, there is plenty of people out there to give you hope and inspiration.

If you would like some proof, here's a couple successful American businessman who succeeded after the age of 40. Henry Ford is probably one of the most popular and became extremely successful after the age of 40. Andrew Carnegie, an American industrialists who transformed the steel business and did not start reaping the rewards of his efforts until he was well past the age of 40.

I gathered this information from the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. There is a section in the book where he talks about people after the age of 40 with phenomenal success. Anyone who's interested in gaining wealth through spirituality or finances should read this book.

I've often heard the statement, "People Often Over Estimate What They Can Do in a Year and Often Underestimate What They Can Do in a Decade." If you want to accomplish something after the age of 40, I would advise you to start with a plan and then put that plan and the action. Your plan could take five to 15 years to achieve or longer but think about the rewards, whether spiritual or financial.

Gregory Vanden Berge is working to promote personal development ideas and spiritual reform. He has started a web site for videos and articles based on current information about subject he is very familiar with.

"Education has freed me, to pursue other ideas and release me from the bondage and fear of organized religion."

Gregory Vanden Berge

Effects Of False Prophets

He Walks and He Talks With Us

2009-09-06T01:56:00.001-07:00

"...Jesus himself came up and walked along with them" (Luke 24:15).

Jesus consecrates for us our heartbreaking walks and our aching journeys. How significant and wonderful that Jesus came to Cleopas and his friend. What tenderness of heart that Jesus comes to us! Cleopas and his unnamed companion were talking about their sorrow. No one but God knows who these two men were. One wasn't even accorded the distinction of a name. But Jesus quietly entered into their discouraged lives and conversation and comforted them. None can dare say or think that Jesus doesn't care about the pedestrian person! Love, with pierced feet, walks ahead to give all hope. "He seeks the society of struggling spirits, He gives His presence to sorrowing souls" (A. Raleigh). Another thought, a pastor once noted that only one of the two was named, and he suggested that the reader take his or her own place there beside Jesus and Cleopas. How beautiful!

"They asked each other, `Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'" (Luke 24:32). Our human puzzles are not solved by reason or by what seem to be rational human theories, but by what God tells us. Life can be enormously unreasonable. Every person who has any sensibilities at all has cried out a "Why?" to some unwarranted (or so it seems) work or word. When it happens, our beloved Jesus walks on our Emmaus road with us and reasons with us. He gives us a holy explanation which is wholly safe and sound. So we ask Him, "`Stay with us'...so He [comes] in to stay with [us]" (Luke 24:29). What comfort He gives. Jesus not only grants our request but becomes our Intimate, too.

Certain of God's saints had moments of discouragement:
Moses (Numbers 11:15), Joshua (Joshua 7:7), Elijah (1 Kings 19:4), Job (Job 10:1), David (Psalms 42:6, 69:2, 73:16, 137:1), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 15:10), and these two disciples who thought there was no hope left. But! "He lifted me out...of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:2).

What is their Role in the Second Coming of Christ

2009-09-05T23:34:00.001-07:00

Question

Couldnt the UN be the beast of Revelation thirteen instead of the European Union

Answer

Either the UN and the League of Nations which gave birth to it have never produced any lasting peace, or any reason to fear it very much. Other than a few nominally effective relief programs and monitoring efforts the UN has all but ceased to be the hope of the world. It is not the ineffectiveness of the UN that forces it out of the picture. There is one distinct difference between the UN and the EU. The UN is a relatively modern organization whereas the European Union is an ancient world power, namely the Roman Empire.

According to the Bible the beast once was something, it passed from history for a while then it returns to its former glory at the time of the end. Only the EU has an ancient past not the UN. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder; whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they beheld the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Revelation 17:8

Question

How could anyone possibly accurately identify the antichrist, either before or after he starts to rule?

Answer

Many have endeavored to identify the antichrist in this generation. This is not new, but there are a few signs to show us when weve come upon the real McCoy, and unless they exist all attempts to spot this very wicked ruler are mere guesswork, if not outright nonsense. Because any government, ruler or individual that openly opposes Christ is a type of the final antichrist, many have thought that such figures as Antiochus Epiphanes, Nero, Hitler, Saddam Hussein and a host of others were the antichrist. They were in fact types of the antichrist but they are certainly not the final antichrist of Revelation.

By means of biblical numerology, misapplied scripture passages and some pretty extravagant guessing people have come up with some wild ideas on just who this man is. I have heard names such as Henry Kissinger, Sat Guru, David Duke, Ronald Reagan, the Pope, and a dozen of others. One web page I found recently outlines all the reasons why Arnold Schwarzenegger has to be the antichrist! I could laugh at this choice, but knowing why someone made such a ridiculous choice is no laughing matter.

There is less material available in the Bible to identify the antichrist before his rule than after it begins. There is some reason to believe that he will not even he revealed until after the rapture or removing of the church, a belief based on 2 Thessalonians 2:7. Some of the common mistakes in trying to identify this man happen because we are looking for the wrong kind of personality to start with.

He will not be the leader of any new or old religious order or tradition. He will be a political, military genius. He will come up through ordinary political channels and will rise to power so suddenly that the world wont have much time to consider his past. They will be far to busy trying to keep up with his devious antics in the present.

What can he known about him before he starts to rule is somewhat obscure but it is not hard to think that someone or a few people wont begin to notice him and his unusual way of approaching politics, rather early on. We might he able to identify him when we see some of those traits and attributes that the Bible says he begins to show after he has taken power.

Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote Hook Line and Sinker or what has Your Church Been Teaching You, publisher, PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book published by Xulon Press entitled An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ. His book is now being heralded as the clearest book on the subject of the second coming of Christ since Hal Lindsey's "Late Great Planet Earth" Rev Brescianis website is,

http://americanprophet.org

Reinventing Yourself - Six Ways to Become More of Who You Really Are

2009-09-05T21:08:00.001-07:00

Reinventing yourself, in the best sense, is a process of becoming more of who you really are. There may be times when you experience life-changes that force you to reinvent yourself, but you don't have to wait for a transition. You can reinvent yourself anytime you choose.

It doesn't have to be a total reinvention; you can reinvent just a part of yourself. The goal is to become more and more aware of, and in alignment with, your true self. Here are six things you can do to reinvent yourself, bit-by-bit, in a way that feels right for you.

#1) Stop and Take Stock of Where You Are Out of Alignment With Yourself

How do you do this? It's easy. Just identify the areas of your life that don't feel as good as you want them to feel. These will be the areas where you are out of alignment with your true self.

#2) Assess The Roles You Have Taken On

Take a look at the different roles you play, and see if any of them make you feel constricted, or trapped.

#3) Awaken and Develop One Aspect of Yourself at a Time

Identify the parts of yourself that are dormant and, one at a time, determine what each part needs to be fed in order to grow to its full potential.

#4) Be Your Own Mirror

Stop asking permission to be who you are, and become the only judge of what is right for you.

#5) Be Proactive and Empowered as The Creator of Your Life

Choose what you want to create in your life, instead of just responding to life's changes.

#6) Let The Process be Organic

This is a process of awakening from within, so let it happen naturally, without feeling you need to push. Think of reinvention as personal evolution, and begin creating a life in which you thrive in every way.

Kimberly Wilborn is the host of The Women's Transformation Show on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Begin your own reinvention at http://www.Womens-Transformation.com

The Story of Chosun, Part 1

2009-09-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

They say all of history is "His story." I agree with them. As I begin with you today an accounting of some of the major moments in Korea's past, I offer the accompanying encouragement that what I shall be sharing is not just the past. You will see how Korea was shaped and eventually prepared for the call of God on her life. Yes, the Gospel finally came to that land, and has produced in the South a harvest unimaginable.

But it took a long time for the Koreans to see their need and to reach out for something better than they had. Because of that long refusal and/or ignorance of the Good News, the pattern of independence followed by attacks and foreign domination and independence again, clung to this nation for thousands of years. Homer Hulbert, who will be our guide through most of this history, lived in the 19th - and wrote at the beginning of the 20th - century:

"Hulbert saw that Koreans of the nineteenth century were held captive by a small elite group of aristocratic bureaucrats whose vested interests lay in maintaining government by intrigue and corruption and in keeping the people as isolated as possible from the egalitarian influences of the West..."

That was true then, it was true through much of her history, and even to this day, a portion of the peninsula is dominated by an oligarchy. This particular dynasty of our day represents a foreign power. It is an alien government, a decidedly non-Korean turn of events. But all of that in good time.

For now, let's go back to the beginning, as far as we can anyway. Using Hulbert's classic 2-volume set, History of Korea, 1905, we begin.

PART I: ANCIENT HISTORY. 2322 BC- 892 AD

Legend has it that Korea was founded by a "son of God", God being the creator "Whanung". This was supposed to have happened somewhere between the days of the flood and Abraham. So far we're not as distant from the truth as you might expect. Following the flood account in your Bible is the story of the beginning of nations, especially focusing on one Nimrod, the real man behind all the myths of ancient peoples. Korea's mythological wonder man is "Tan-gun." Tan-gun was born when Whanung breathed upon a woman who wanted a son. That sounds pretty Biblical too. (Did I mention that the woman had once been a bear?)

It is not Seoul but Pyongyang that is Korea's first capital. Today this city is North Korea's number one place. Tan-gun reigns there until about 1122 BC, around the time of the judges of Israel, then disappears from the earth. If long lives trouble you, remember that our Bible has a Methuselah.

The word "chosun" arises during this period. "Land of morning calm" will be the idea attached to the Korean peninsula. And it probably had its calm moments. But the name, historically, is as meaningful as Jerusalem, "city of peace." It's a great idea, and in the future the idea will be realized, but for now...

It is from China that Korea is to be given its first major endowments:leadership, poetry, manners, music, medicine, sorcery, silk culture, weaving. And many attempted take-overs.

For the next 1000 years, the area covering the two provinces nearest Pyongyang today is governed by one Kija and his descendants. Kija is the son of Li, who is the 2nd son of Wuyi, Emperor of China in the 1100's BC. Kija first becomes an advisor to Emperor Tajung, known as the "Nero" of China. Kija actually places himself in exile but later is granted permission by the Chinese government to set up a kingdom on the nearby peninsula. It is independent of China, yet China seems to have regretted the decision at times, and tries to bring it under its control. All these attempts are rebuffed by the growing people group in Chosun.

This Kija kingdom is the first recognizable dynasty. One dynasty will follow the other in Korea until South Korea forms a republic in the mid 20th century. The world is hoping for the end of dynasties altogether in Korea. Somehow the word hasn't gotten up North that dynastic power is not the most efficient way to deal with 21st century citizens.

That's where you and I can come in and change Korea's history. Heart-felt, gut-involved, loud persistent knocking on the door of Heaven. Jesus has let us know that that kind of prayer really does work. Will you join multitudes worldwide in this movement of true liberation?

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page 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, over 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.

Structural Framing Beams

2009-09-05T19:43:00.001-07:00

Let's start with the beams. They can be Glulam, Parallam, Microlam or even wood beams. What are all of these and why do I need them in my house. The beams are used to hold up parts of the house and are located in your walls, roofs and floors. Beams are used to transfer a load from one point to another.

Structural framing beams allow the architect to create large openings, floors and roofs in your house. The beams are also used to support the weight over the doors, windows and other openings in your home. These beams support massive amounts of weight in some cases and are even made of steel if needed.

Another growing problem is the lack of old growth trees in the forest. If we just used wood beams with out using the new engineered beams we would have to cut down a lot more of the bigger trees. So you can add these guys to your Christmas list. The lumber or wood engineers have come up with all sorts of alternatives for new building products. These new beams are just some of them. Keep up the good work guys...

Glulam is a engineered wood product comprised of wood laminations, or 2 x 4s that are bonded together with strong, waterproof adhesives. If you use a Glulam beam on the buildings exterior you will have to order a exterior Glulam beam. In this case the manufacture will use special exterior rated glues for the beam.

When ordering any wood engineered beams specify to the lumber yard what you are using the beam for. Exterior or Interior of the building. If you use a interior glulam over time there is a good chance of the beam delaminating or cracking apart.

Parallam is made from almost all of the wood on the log using veneer strands that are aligned parallel for maximum strength. The end product is a rectangular beam; which is longer, thicker, and stronger than solid-sawn lumber. They are often used as beams, headers, columns, and posts, among others uses.

Microllam is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. It offers several advantages over typical milled lumber: it is stronger, straighter, and more uniform. It is much less likely than conventional lumber to warp, twist, bow, or shrink due to its composite nature. Made in a factory under controlled specifications, Microllam products allow users to reduce the onsite labor. They are typically used for headers, beams, rim board, and edge-forming material.

These beams come in all sorts of different lengths, widths and heights. They are engineered to hold amazing amounts of weight. They really are great engineering marvels.

Tip: I have had to replace almost all of these types of beams over the years due to some form of damage. Like anything else in your home if it is used improperly there is a good chance your are going to have some sort of failure. I have seen people add weight to these structural beams with no thought of them ever failing.

If you are planning on building a room addition, rebuilding your roof, adding a floor or any other type of construction where you are adding a addition load to your house. You might want to consult with a building contractor or structural engineer.

Thanks Greg For Another Super Article On Home Building. For more great articles visit Greg at http://gregvan.com/

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 is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Causes of Structural Failure

Are Your Prayers Being Answered

How Much Should Mary Be Honored?

2009-09-05T18:45:00.001-07:00

These are dangerous waters. Dangerous days. To say only what the Scriptures say will land one in jail in some countries. In my land one can lose favor, or a job, or a reputation. Never has the whole Word been accepted by the whole Church. Nevertheless we keep digging for truth and passing it on when we find it. Let's take a look at some of the titles brother Luke gives to sister Mary, and compare these descriptions to the later interpretations of them.

Have you heard that Mary has been sinless since shortly after her conception? That she is seriously holy in every way, and is to be honored above all mortals? That she is the very Mother of God Himself? All of this and a lot more was derived from conversations in Luke 1.

The angel Gabriel's first word to Mary is where it all begins: "Hail." That's not a word of worship. It's a word of greeting. James (1:1) uses the same word to greet all the Jews scattered throughout his world. Many modern translations have used the more appropriate "Greetings." We say "hello", a word that derives from "hail" , and we mean nothing in particular except, the conversation has begun, I acknowledge you are here.

Hail becomes an awkward word to use in the context of the rote prayer, "Hail Mary, full of grace." Is the pray-er saying, "Greetings Mary..." ? That is what the word means.

Gabriel's "full of grace," has nothing to do with sinless perfection. "Highly favored" is the rendering in most translations. Who can dispute the claim Mary has to the favor of God? It is an amazing grace that allows the very son of God to be carried by a young, poor, unknown virgin of troubled Israel.

There is an equal grace, I think, namely that poor unknown sinners throughout this troubled world, subjects for whom Mary serves as a model, have been allowed to carry the Presence of God in them also, including the forgiveness of sins, power to serve, daily cleansing and sanctification. It is this same grace, Ephesians 1:6 , that has made us equally accepted in the heavens.

But none of us, Mary included, is worthy of worship. Grace humbles us to be worshiping the one who initiated the action. Mary was nothing before Jesus entered her life. So will we all say on that day. Because it is the truth.

Many, many people, in Scripture and out, have found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Remember Noah? Who is Noah, but one full of God's favor, allowed of God to save the world from utter destruction? But praise not Noah. Moses? The Deliverer? He would give all glory to God, and so will we. Mary? What a unique task. What high favor. What a wondrous opportunity. Never before, never after, shall one do such a thing.

But no statues called for. No prayers. No bowing. She did her part. She glorified God. No one in Scripture ever glorified her. So must it remain.

Another conversation in the same chapter is with Elizabeth. The Spirit of God enters this dear woman and calls Mary "blessed among women." Indeed! But in Judges 5:24, Jael, the woman who put a quick end to one of Israel's enemies, is honored with these same words. And honor to whom honor is due is the rule. All those who were given a task from God and performed it will be honored throughout history. But neither Jael nor Mary is to take upon her the glory due only to Him Who created us and died for us. God is jealous that way. He will not endure it. No one is to be lifted up before Him.

And then she is called by Elizabeth the "mother of my Lord." A little stretching of the language and you have "Mother of God." That's a subtle jump from Christian to pagan thought. Many early believers seem to have used this term, and we can almost justify it, because Jesus truly is God. God the Son. And there is a sense in which Jesus and the Father are one. But there the whole teaching breaks down and needs to be discarded. Mary is not the mother of the Father God. Nor is she the source of the Spirit of God, as early Christians were taught on their way to heresy.

She is Mary. In one isolated moment of Divine visitation she was permitted to bear in her body the Lord Christ. Hers was the humanity added to the Divinity. She was the mother of the One called Jesus. She was responsible then for directing Him to His Heavenly Father, a task well on its way by age 12. Then, like John the Baptist, she was to back off. In the story of the Bible, she is essentially gone from the picture after the resurrection story.

It is that balance of emphasis for which we must strive. We love her for what she did. No one else did it. But it was grace. And we honor Him who gave her the grace, as she did. Her role has long since ceased in Jesus' life. But the grace of God continues to move around the world, calling one here and one there to experience that same life of Christ. Those who say yes, as Mary did, will live with Mary, but especially with Jesus, forever.

My work is regularly dedicated to North Korean believers. Join me, will you, in prayer for the North Korean land today, that God will call many into His Heavenly Kingdom, so that when their life of suffering here is done they will be allowed to enter the Glorious Kingdom prepared for those who love Him.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chousen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com. Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.

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.

Studying on Faith Alone - Education Can Often Be Hard on Religious Faith

2009-09-05T16:12:00.001-07:00

It's probably hard to find facts if your mind is already made up. If you're trying to find information on anything, more than likely you will find exactly what you're looking for, if you look hard enough. With all the information out there, available in books, media, and of course the Internet, would we really know the honest to God truth if we ran into one.

Not something that man made up and forced our ancestors to believe in.

If you're studying on faith alone and trying to prove or disprove something, you will succeed. If you're reading the Bible and looking for answers to problems in your life, eventually you will find the answers. All you need is to believe in your God and he will show you the way. Has he truly shown you the way or are you basing your religious beliefs on faith alone.

I have studied the Bible for many years and came to the conclusion that, I was often blinded by the way I view the information and couldn't get the facts most of the time. I always enjoyed reading Proverbs and the story of Job, both of these books in the Bible inspired me to become a better person.

By studying the Bible without faith and looking for information based on facts, it wasn't long before I realized this book could be and I say could be a group of stories that man over the centuries combined into one book during the Council of Nicaea in 325A.D and became religious doctrine for Christians.

In order to study anything effectively, you need to keep an open mind, this might require you to reprogram your thinking. You have been taught for years that only your religion is correct and all other religions are wrong. You can't think like this and gather information effectively.

Studying on faith alone could close your mind and keep you on the path of spiritual resistance. You know you're on this path if only the things you believe in make sense. Nothing nobody else says can make much sense if you're studying on faith alone.

What would it hurt to read a life changing spiritual book on another religion or form of spirituality? If you can't read another religious book, because you're religious organization tells you to only read their spiritual books to gather information, you're following a path of spiritual resistance.

If you're really going to study on faith alone then I suggest studying with intention to learn instead of follow.

Greg is currently working on a religious and spiritual answers 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.

Repentance in the Attic

2009-09-05T13:36:00.001-07:00

Ah, summer. For the educator it often means several weeks of re-grouping and of course lots of extra chores around the house. One of these is most certainly going to be cleaning the attic. While up there yesterday, I ran across a copy of a sermon of Spurgeon about lukewarmness. Spurgeon is always trouble for the flesh. A message on this topic could cancel a lot of plans.

I was awake early this morning. Not wanting to go to my regular prayer place and awaken my wife, I decided to read the Spurgeon message first thing while I was in bed. Oh my. The letter to the Laodiceans could have had my name on it. How easily we let the world poison our walk with God. What a dangerous place is America for a saint aspiring to a separated holy walk. There were two things I knew I had to do.

My wife and I had re-subscribed to Netflix because of their large array of Bible-based movies. Now, you can read the Bible's version of the Samson story and not think anything evil inside. But Hollywood's version is not that harmless. The movies were not edifying us and we knew it. Good-bye Netflix.

Then the TV itself. I've struggled with it all my life. I've destroyed TV's, sent them packing in the garbage can where they belong, "sworn them off." I had a problem like that with sugar until one day many years ago I just said to the Lord, "I won't partake of processed sugar for the rest of this life. Period." God has given me grace to keep that vow nearly perfectly, when he saw I was serious about it.

Today, TV has just gone the way of sugar in my life, and I give Him the glory. I promised Him I will not watch TV alone, I won't watch network TV ever, movies, all the rest. The only thing I will allow before my eyes on that TV is a video about North Korea or some such ministry. Even "Christian" TV does not offer the blessing that it ought. I'll read the Word and worship alone before I will a "star" to guide me.

I put this all in writing to strengthen further my vow but also to suggest to all of you that TV, especially today, is not a necessary commodity. The news is more thorough on the Internet. TV "entertainment", whether drama or music or comedy is done by men and women that most of you would not have in your home. Why should they get to talk to you, but you don't get to talk to them? And sports? How does the saint justify all those hours given to watching men win an earthly prize?

But I must be careful not to judge. It has taken me so long to get here. And I have introduced my entire family and precious saints to this worldly waste. May God have mercy on me for all the hours given over to things that just do not matter. Lately I have not watched much but I've noticed that even the little I do experience brings down my defenses, and my desire to please God.

I am confident that my life is going to be fuller and richer now. Hey, I have not missed sugar. Nature has a lot of sweet things. I will not miss television. God has a greater vision waiting for all those of His who will seek Him with the whole heart.

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, over 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.

You Absolutely Must Know Now - Self Help Tips

2009-09-05T13:19:00.001-07:00

1) Find out what you really want (xyz income a year, romance)
2) And who you want to be (loving, successful, happy)
3) Know WHY you want the above (more time, less stress)
4) State them as specific Intentions (I am / I have vs I will)
5) Start being that person (How would a happy person earning $ xyz act?)

The word "Goal" often brings up draggy, hard to achieve images for most of us. Groannnn! No wonder we lose motivation - 'cos we didn't really care about the goal as much as what we thought it would bring us. It also says "DO DO DO" and while doing is a big part of it, it isn't quite the start point. So what is?

Being. As you focus on who you want to Be, the Doing action flows naturally.

You can be a successful entrepreneur. A great parent. Courageous. Happy. The good news is you get to consciously choose whoever you want to be!

Planning. Next, create SMART goals (specific, measurable, actionable, resonant and thrilling - a little twist on the conventional definition). Your goals should (not that I'm telling you what to do ha-ha) excite you, scare you and align with your values.

Doing. Be ready to take inspired action, and make it consistent action.

Some things you can do to climb back on the horse when you fall:

Hold yourself accountable to a friend, a coach, an accountability partner. Join a mastermind group. Change your goals if they don't excite you anymore. Yeah, really! Let them go. Be nice to yourself, have fun, treat yourself when you accomplish a task and ask for help - you don't have to go it alone.

This isn't an exhaustive list but it's definitely a good place to tap into when stuck.

Bottom-line: By clearly knowing what you want and why, you've got a better chance of getting it. Sounds good to me!

Tia Singh,
Inspired by Fun! Life Coaching -
Life And Success Coach, LOA Coach, NLP Practitioner and Psych K facilitator.
"Bust those self limiting beliefs - they're not working for you anymore!
"Live your Best Life Ever"
Website: http://www.inspiredbyfun.com
Simply stated, I inspire and support people like you to live a life of love, courage and fulfillment. It's time to live the life you were born to live.
Visit my website at http://www.inspiredbyfun.com to learn more about my services and to book a free consultation. Let's get this party started!

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

2009-09-05T11:55:00.001-07:00

Well here's the age old question, how do we go about finding a decent bathroom remodeling contractor.

Here's some things you will be looking for in a contractor.

1. Is Your Contractor Fair and Honest?

2. Does Your Contractor Have Experience Remodeling and Designing Bathrooms?

3. Can You Actually Find a Contractor Who Will Complete the Job in a Timely Manner?

4. Do You Think the Workers Will Be Able to Clean the Job up Daily?

5. Will the Contractor Show up on Time?

6. Is the Contractor Going to Work At Least Eight Hours a Day?

7. Does the Contractor's Crew Have Experience?

8. Is Your Contractor and His Crew Courteous?

If you find a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project that has answered yes to all questions above, hire that person immediately. Most contractors can sincerely answer yes to half of the questions above. If you're looking for the ultimate bathroom remodeling contractor, you could be searching for quite a while, you're looking for some one that is competent and you feel comfortable with.

When hiring a contractor, look for someone who has your interest in mind first and not theirs. Find someone who is willing to help with the designed process of your bathroom and the remodeling. If you find a contractor to be arrogant or controlling, there is a good chance, your bathroom might not turn out the way you envision it.

When hiring a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project or any home improvement project, the most important thing to keep in mind is, whether or not you feel comfortable with this person or not. Never hire a contractor you're not comfortable with.

If a contractor is referred to you by someone you trust, this does not guarantee you will be happy with the bathroom remodel. Most referrals that I have gotten over the years are like rolling the dice, I believe I would have done just as good picking a name out of a hat.

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 is currently working on more building stairs and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Will All Men Ever Hate Jesus

Was Jesus Real or A Myth - Video

2009-09-05T11:07:00.001-07:00

Turning It Around

2009-09-05T08:39:00.001-07:00

I have to confess I have spent most of my life looking for someone or something that would give me success or happiness. When you get on that treadmill, it is just that - a treadmill. You do a lot of running, but you never get anywhere. I always was thinking that if I could just meet the right woman or hook up with the right job, then all would be fantastic...all the while ignoring the fact that if I couldn't be happy within myself then nobody or nothing could make me happy, either.

When we get caught in the trap of letting others control our emotions, when we depend upon others to make us happy, it always will end in failure. Why? Real simple - the wants and needs of another are not our wants and needs; consequently, we both end up with that empty feeling. You know that feeling, that let down when the other person didn't say or do what your were hoping for. Mainly because you are looking for the other person to say what only you can say and if you can't say it to yourself how can someone else say it? For one thing, that other person can't tell you what you want to hear if you really don't know yourself.

The other side of that coin is, we are always trying to impress the other person. We tend to do things that are not really a true reflection of who we are. Instead, we attempt to be what we think the other person wants us to be.

Now if you can get tuned into that person and are at peace with yourself, then you may hear what you want to hear. That's because you already know yourself and are not depending on someone else to create your happiness for you. You both are walking your own path, but walking in the same direction.

I have viewed many motivational movies and read I don't know how many books on self-help and how-to for couples plus read countless inspirational emails and visited many websites, yet these activities always tend to sort of fade after a time and I find myself falling into the same old trap. "If only!" If only what? That's the other problem: do we really know what we want? I can only judge from my own experience and that is, most of the time it is really just taking each day as it comes. Everyone says you should set a goal; well, that's fine, but you know what?...some of us find that very difficult to do. I have tried those "To do" lists, goal setting, etc., and for me none of it seems to work. I'll be honest here. I really have trouble with conceptual things. Tell me you need to put a bridge across a stream and I will find a way to do it. But if there wasn't something I wanted or was aware of on the other side, I wouldn't even think about trying to get over there for myself.

At one point in my life I tried sales and my manager said to me, "How many of these will you sell?" I just looked at him. I was thinking: how do I know how many people will need this item? You guessed it - I didn't last long at that venture.

About now your probably wondering: where is he going ? or what the heck is he trying to say ? Well, I'll attempt to answer that. I still have difficulty setting long-range goals, but one thing that I have been able to do is turn around that negative feeling I get when I don't find that key person or thing that leads to "success" or "happiness." You have probably seen it in "The Secret" or other inspirational movies, but it is tough to do in real life. They tell you just to think of something you like or sing a song. Well, that works for a little while but those feelings keep coming back at you - at least they do me. For me, when I get those negative thoughts, I have to decide, "Do I want to wallow in sorrow and how bad life is treating me?" Or get over it and get on with living my life. Yes, that's the first step if you really want to get out of the doldrums! If you decide you don't want to wallow in self-pity then think of something to be grateful for. Maybe it's nothing more than looking out the window and seeing that the grass is green. Come on, you have something to be grateful for. We can all think of someone who's in worse shape than we are, going through worse trials, emotional/physical/financial hardship, enduring pain, sorrow, or grief. If you're reading this, then be grateful for eyesight!

Simplistic? Maybe, but it will change your mood. That's your first step; now think of what you can do to make the rest of the day a pleasant day instead of continuing on with the negativity you were feeling earlier. The main thing is to take that first step.

Okay you say, if I take that first step will my life turn around and be perfect? An honest answer, I don't know. I do know that any journey starts with that first step and you'll never get there if you don't take it. It also depends on whether or not you want to continue on the journey to a happier life. I also know that if you're in the mid-west and want to get to New York, your journey will be a lot shorter if you head east instead of west. So the decision you have to make for yourself is: do you want to wallow in self-pity or set out on a trail of enlightenment? The choice is yours.

Charlie Phillips has been in construction, and has done everything from labor, carpenter, heavy equipment operator and contractor. Owned and operated his own truck over forty-eight states and three provinces in Canada. He never attempted much writing until he came across a little tool called spell checker. There are no titles after his name, just a lot of life experiences. Website: http://www.charliephillips.net

A Biography of Samuel Beckett

2009-09-05T06:10:00.001-07:00

Samuel Beckett was born on Good Friday, April 13, 1906 in Dublin. He studied French, Italian and English at Trinity College, Dublin from 1923 to 1927. In 1928 he moved to Paris to take up the post of English lecturer in the Ecole Normale Superieure.

A mutual friend introduced him to James Joyce and he worked as his secretary, in 1929 Beckett published his first work which was a defence of Joyce's work and method. In 1930 he returned to Trinity as a lecturer, however citing habit and routine as a 'cancer of time', he quit his post and set out on a nomadic trawl across Europe, finally settling in Europe.

He joined the French Resistance after the 1940 occupation by Germany, in August 1942 his unit was betrayed to the Gestapo, Beckett and Suzanne Dechevaux-Dumesnil. In 1945, Beckett returned to Dublin for a brief visit, during his visit he had a revelation in which his entire future literary direction appeared to him, he documented this in his 1958 play Krapp's Last Tape.

He returned to Paris and began his most prolific period as a writer. In the five years that followed he wrote Eleutheria, Waiting for Godot, Endgame, the novels Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable and Mercier et Camier, two books of short stories and a book of criticism. He married Suzanne in 1961 in a secret civil ceremony in England and he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969. He died in Paris in 1989.

Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net

A Choiceful State of Being

2009-09-05T05:38:00.001-07:00

Julia Cameron in her world famous book The Artist's Way writes about, and for, blocked creatives. That describes not just the writers and artists for whom she initially intended her book, but all of us at one time or another. Being blocked is a fearful state of being.

What keeps us blocked and unable to find creative solutions to our challenges is being in this fearful state. It's like a catch 22 - you can't find solutions to your problems because your problems keep you in a state of fear where you can't find solutions to your problems. As I've written before, when you are experiencing fear you are accessing a portion of your brain called the Reptilian Brain.

This part of our brain is the first brain we had in our evolvement and we still have it for a good reason. It allowed us to survive back in the days of dinosaurs and still serves us in our modern day survival.

To this part of our brain everything is either something to flee from or something to fight. Either fight or run. Notice that there is not an array of choices here. In today's world this translates into the form of the threat usually being a person, rather than a dinosaur. We still react the same by either wanting to fight or run away. Now, however, the fighting may be verbal and the flight may take the form of avoidance.

Luckily for us our brains evolved and we now have additional portions of our brain which we can utilize. The cerebral part of our brain is one of these "new" areas and is where we get creative.

It's where we visualize, create, and and are able to find new opportunities as we "see" choices and solutions.

Using our cerebral brain puts us in a choiceful state of being.

When we move our awareness out of the Reptilian part of our brain and into the cerebral cortex we begin to find choices that are far better than the limitation of only fight or flight. We begin to see choices that lead to collaboration, win/win solutions, harmonious relationships, and most importantly, peace.

Sounds great, doesn't it? But when your consciousness is in the limitation of the fear based Reptilian brain, how do you move it into the creative cerebral cortex? It's quite simple, actually.

Visualization
When you visualize you are automatically moving your awareness out of the Reptilian brain and into the cerebral cortex, activating this creative portion of your brain. Any form of visualization will work. Here's a few suggestions:

Draw a diagram or mind map of the situation. Begin with diagramming the issue and as you work with it and your awareness moves into your cerebral brain, you'll begin to see alternatives and choices. Include them in your diagram or map.
Close your eyes and envision the situation as if it is on a stage and you are the director. As you are watching the players - including yourself as the star - how might you make changes to the plot for an equitable outcome?
Use a visual tool such as a Tarot card. Select a card at random from the deck and describe what's happening in the picture on the card. What are the choices the people on the card have in regards to their situation? How does this relate to your situation?

Living in a choiceful state of being gives you and everyone around you the gift of living in harmony rather than conflict, collaboration rather than competition, and inevitably, peace.

Kathy Wilson helps people get their life unstuck using a multi-faceted approach. She and her clients utilize life coaching, spiritual consulting, NLP, vibrational healing, and teaching... whatever is in her client's highest and best interests. She's a Certified Professional Coach, spiritual teacher, Reiki master, vibrational healer, and author of An Inner Journey: Living Your Life Purpose. For information about her products, services, and classes, visit her websites: http://www.under-one-roof.net and http://www.aninnerjourney.com

Dog Creates Remodeling Nightmare

2009-09-05T04:24:00.001-07:00

How many homeowners normally leave their dog in the backyard or they have full time access to the backyard through a doggie door. You're probably wondering how can a little dog create a remodeling nightmare for any contractor.

This wasn't the case this dog was a large Labrador retriever and tore up everything in the backyard constantly. The house remodel we were working on was a two story room addition over a single story house. This job lasted around six months and the dog was a daily reminder of how much attention a large dog actually needs.

Let's start with the first item of value the dog actually destroyed. It was my favorite tool bags of course that I have taken care of for over five years and deeply appreciated the fact that they were broke in just the way I wanted them to be. Kind of like a baseball mitt that doesn't quite fit right because of how stiff it is until you break it in.

While the homeowner of course apologized and never even offered to replace them. Oh but after that he did mention never to leave anything lying around in the backyard. Lesson learned of course and never forgotten. Well to make a long story short this large dog could chew up tools, lumber, plumbing pipes, electrical wire and was even able to destroyed the plywood fencing we would use to keep him away.

I'm going to stop right there with the remodeling nightmare created from this dog in hopes that other contractors can learn from my valuable lesson. As a contractor you should never assume that a homeowner will replace any damaged or broken tools and materials.

As a homeowner with a dog reading this article, think about having a place to enclose the dog if necessary while remodeling work is done on your home.

I love being around dogs and other animals but sometimes a problem like this can make life extremely miserable for both parties.

Greg Vanden Berge has been building and remodeling for over 30 years and his information has proven valuable to most contractors and homeowners all over the world. He usually tries to write at least two articles a day on home improvement or remodeling problems.

Greg is in the process right now of working on a home inspection website that will revolutionize the home inspection business. He is also working on a book to help homeowners and contractors as well as other home related professions in dealing with the home inspection process.

You can visit the home inspection website currently under construction at Home Inspection Help

Personal Development

The Christ That Should Never Be Followed

2009-09-05T03:45:00.001-07:00

The vital importance of knowing and being obedient to God's word cannot be overstressed as it guarantees protection from the greatest deception planet Earth is facing and will continue to face for some time.

What is this deception? Jesus repeatedly and forcefully warned his disciples that, "...there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold he is in the desert; go not forth, behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (KJV, Matthew 24:-27).

The great and terrible deception is the following of a false Christ who possesses great supernatural power to perform signs and wonders to convince people to believe he is God. The scripture above reveals much valuable information about the great lie that so many will believe. First, it should be observed that the manifestation of diabolical power that the false Christ will display will not be distinguishable by the natural eye or reasoning. This is why he would be able to deceive the very elect of God if they made the decision to follow him based purely on what their eyes witness.

The reasons why so many will be deceived into following such false Christs and prophets vary. However, many of these people have willfully rejected the true Christ, closing their eyes to his word and covering their ears to not hear his voice. They invited the hardening of their hearts just as the Egyptian pharaoh did when he refused to let the children of Israel go. This is why the Bible warns the reader to respond to God's conviction while his conscious is still intact (Exodus 7:3, Hebrews 3:8).

Far too many people do not realize that there is a point of no return regarding salvation. Scripture gives a frightful warning to such individuals. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 says, "even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion (deception), that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Recommended reading: Jesus Or His Impostor?

Freedom is Here and Now

2009-09-05T01:18:00.001-07:00

One may ask oneself, exactly what is freedom and what does it means. Well the dictionary explains it as meaning self government, exemption from control, unrestricted, openness, etc. Vine's dictionary says primarily of freedom to go wherever one likes, of freedom from restraint and obligation in general.

In the Book of Romans 6:20 it tell us about the freedom from sin. It says When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

The Bible tell us in the Book of 2Corinthians 3:17 it says Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

The Year of the Lord's Favor in Isaiah 61:1 says The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

Look at John 8:31 it says To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. In the Book of Galatians it speaks about Freedom in Christ. In 5th chapter verse 13 it says You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

In 1st Peter 2:15 it says For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone; Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.

In closing As we move forward in this new year of 2009, the people have spoken for change in America. I pray that a change will come and that the change brings the freedom to do more of God's will, by doing good, showing proper respect to everyone, to love your neighbor as yourself, and the freedom from the restraint of sin and that everyone do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Let our obligation in general, belong to Jesus Christ.

Always Remember To Read Your Bible!

Love Always,
Your Sister in Christ,
Mella Davis

Born Again or The Kingdom of God

2009-09-04T22:57:00.001-07:00

Jesus was sent to Earth to deliver a Message to mankind. A startling message from Outer Space - the third Heaven - from our CREATOR GOD. A correct understanding of what that REVELATION is - the one and only true Gospel - separates God's Church from all others, and exalts the pure religion above every false way (John 17:17).

There is only one way to enter God's Kingdom - and that is through Christ (Acts 4:12). He is the Key that unlocks God's Royal House, the Open Door to the Universe, the Gateway to Eternity, the Immortal Pioneer who has led the way! All other ways are dead ends and will self-destruct (John 10:1).

GOD IS REPRODUCING HIMSELF! That's the glorious Good News that Jesus boldly proclaimed! The Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD announces the GOD KINGDOM: a Spirit-Born Kingdom of God-Beings! A Royal Family that we can enter (Rev. 3:21). A Divine Family that will administer God's Government throughout the universe and eternity (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:18).

God became man, so man could become God (John 1:14; Matt. 10:25). Mankind has been created after the GODKIND, and after a life of conversion, of changing for the better, of going through the process of purification (becoming more God-like, more Christ-like, more Kingdom-like) we can be BORN AGAIN BY A RESURRECTION - just like Jesus was, the firstborn of MANY brethren! (Rom. 1:4; 8:29). Presently, we're far too human, but soon we're to be transformed into glorious, immortal Spirit! (John 10:34-35; Ephes. 4:24). This is what Jesus told Nicodemus, the Jewish religious leader. He didn't beat around the bush, He got straight to the point and told him: "You must be born again" (John. 3:3).

Jesus elaborated on this bombshell, seeing Nicodemus was dumbstruck (just like so many religious people today), and explained that if your parents are flesh and blood humans, it's only natural that you're also human. "That which is born of the flesh IS flesh." You're nothing more or less. Kind after kind (Gen. 1:27). And if you're born again by a Spirit-composed GOD, it's only supernatural that you'll become a Spirit-composed God! "That which is born of the Spirit IS Spirit" (John 3:3-8). Human-beings can become GOD-BEINGS! But first we must be BORN AGAIN.

Unless we're born again - by a RESURRECTION - we can't even see or enter God's Royal Family! The apostle Paul clearly taught the same as Jesus: "And as we have borne the image of the earthy (flesh and blood), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (Spirit). Now this I say, brethren, FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD...but we shall all be CHANGED... raised incorruptible... and...put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:48-53). When will mortals become immortal? (Proving we're not now!). When will we change our composition and character? "...at the last trump" (vs.52) - NOT during this life, but at Christ's Coming and our resurrection (Rev. 11:15; 20:6). How plain and simple!

Why have the vast majority of professing Christians been deceived on this point? Why do they go about bleating that they're "born again" already? Jesus said "that which is born of Spirit IS Spirit" and Paul said "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God." Will you believe the Bible or traditional Christianity? (Mark 7:7).

But will we actually become GOD-BEINGS? (1 John 3:9). Will God be our literal FATHER? Will we take on His FAMILY NAME? (Ephes. 3:15; Rev. 22:4). Yes! Because it's REVEALED that "when He shall appear, we shall be like Him" (I John. 3:4), "who shall change our vile body (flesh), that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body (Spirit), according to the working whereby HE IS ABLE even to subdue all things unto Himself"(Phil. 3:21). Even as David and Daniel prophesied of the BRIGHT FUTURE God has in store for us, when we'll inherit His divine nature and form: "... I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake (at the resurrection), with thy likeness" and "shine...as the stars for ever and ever" (Ps. 17:15; Dan. 12:3). Again, kind after kind (Gal. 4:19). What a glorious hope and calling!

Mankind created after the Godkind, born again at the resurrection, Spirit-composed and Divine! THIS IS THE WHOLE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF GOD! Soon it'll be mission accomplished in our lives and we'll experience the "finishing touch" to our spiritual creation (Phil. 1:6; Rev. 1:8; Ephes. 2:10). We're actually the Kingdom of God in embryo - the PIONEERING COMMUNITY of an advanced civilization - who'll soon help establish HEAVEN ON EARTH! Meanwhile, may we continue to develop and reflect the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER of God in joyous anticipation! (2 Pet. 1:4).

David Ben-Ariel, a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall, shares a special focus on the Middle East, reflected in hard-hitting articles that help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon

Are You a Spiritually Balanced Person?

2009-09-04T22:15:00.001-07:00

Spiritualism is the ability of a person to know beyond the senses. The world can be understood as the combination of the matter and spirit. While the matter is visible and known to the senses, the spirit that is the cause of the matter is not known to the senses. The knowledge of the spirit is obtained by the observation of the matter.

Spirit is all pervasive in the world as all objects are derived from this spirit. The spirit is, therefore, also known as God, Paramatma (Universal Soul), Supreme etc. All branches of knowledge are an attempt of the man to understand this spirit. Einstein expressed this desire of the spiritual person in the following words,

"I just want to know the thoughts of God. The rest are details."

Spiritualism, contrary to the common perception, is not other-worldly as it is very much related to this world. It is an attempt to discover the ultimate reality which is hidden behind the material beings. When Newton saw an apple falling from tree, he did not focus his thoughts on the apple but on the force that is driving the apple to the ground. Then he found that the same force works between every material object of the universe. He called it gravity. Yet no one has ever seen the gravitational waves or understood the reason why such forces emerge from the matter. Yet this knowledge has been extremely valuable for the mankind.

Spirituality too is nothing but an attempt of the man to discover the unseen and unknown force that drives every reality of this world. The only requirement to become spiritual is to change the focus from the "form" to the "formless" as Osho said,

We should drop our obsession with form so that the formless can enter. The moment the manifest leaves our mind, the unmanifest enters."

Many thousands years back, Upanishads, explained spiritualism as the highest knowledge of the world in the following words (Mundaka, I, i, 6)

By this knowledge, the wise realize everywhere that which can not be perceived and grasped, which is without source, features, eyes and ears, which has neither hands nor feet, which is eternal, multiformed, all pervasive, extremely subtle and undimishing, and which is the source of all.

If the knowledge of the spirit can not be acquired by the mind and senses then, how one can get it. The answer is that the spiritual knowledge can be obtained only by the spark of the spirit that is present in every living creature, which we know as soul. Thus the source of spiritual knowledge is the soul which alone is capable of understanding the knowledge of the spirit. It is for this reason that the spiritual knowledge is also called self-realization as it emerges from within and not from outside.

Four Means of Spiritualism

The goal of spiritualism is to know the spirit, the all pervasive reality of the universe. It was found that such knowledge is possible only when the person transforms himself to a spiritual person and moves in the path of divinity or salvation. This is also known as yoga or union of Self with the God or Divine.

Bhagwat Gita provides for four paths of salvation viz. Gyanayoga (knowledge of Supreme), Karmayoga (Selfless Action), Bhaktiyoga (Faith) and Dhyanayoga (self-realization).

Since all branches of knowledge are nothing but the branches of the same tree, hence all the four paths are common in other branches of knowledge like science which describes these four steps as hypothesis, experimentation, analysis and theory.

However, people often follow the simplest path and stick to only one path instead of balancing the four methods of union. However, these people feel disappointed and disillusioned soon as they fail to evolve spiritually.

Only a person who strikes proper balance in all four types of spiritualism attaints the spiritual evolution.

1. Knowledge: Understanding Scriptures

The truth of spiritualism is hidden in the scriptures. Yet it is not the words of the scriptures that carry the essence of the knowledge but the spirit of the scriptures that can be realized only by the soul. Scriptures requires highest level of imagination and thoughts. The meanings of the texts of Bible are not comprehensible like science. For example, read this texts from Bible

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35 (KJV)

Scriptures are like poems which mix reality with imagination and symbolism. The proper understanding of scriptures requires deep knowledge of life and man. Try understanding this para of Bible

Jesus said to her, `I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:24-26)

Yet man with repeated effort and deep desire can grasp the truth of the scriptures just like a person after repeatedly seeing movies of different kinds or after reading fictions develop the ability to understand the truth after filtering the fiction or symbolism.

2. Selfless Action: Verification of Knowledge

Once a person has developed some understanding of the scriptures, the next step is to ensure that what he understood is correct. It has to be tested and verified just like a theory in science has to be verified by experiments. Roger Bacon (1214?-1294?) English philosopher, scientist said,

The strongest arguments prove nothing so long as the conclusions are not verified by experience. Experimental science is the queen of sciences and the goal of all speculation.

It is for this reason that Gita has given highest place to Karma amongst all paths of salvation as without action, the knowledge can never be verified. Further, like scientists, the person has to keep himself away in participating the experiments and work merely as an observer. Thus the requirement is selfless karma. Only when the experiment is done without selfish motive, the results are accurately known.

If the laws of the scriptures are properly understood, then the result of an action would result into the goal as predicted in the scriptures. If the results does not match than either the theory is wrong or the experiment is wrong.

3. Faith: Believe in Scriptures

If the theory is correct and the experiment has been performed rightly, the results of the action are same irrespective of the observer and the person. In this regard, there is no difference between a scientist and a spiritual person. Thus the results prove the theory that causes the development of faith in the theories of the scriptures.

Faith is the first achievement of the spiritually awakened person. He experiments not on others but on him, hence there are no chances of errors or manipulation. Can anyone doubt the truth of an incident which he has witnessed by his own eyes? Hence the faith is automatically generated. Repeated success of the experiment deepens the faith of the theory and his capability to understand the scriptures and the nature of the spirit.

Faith is highly valued in all religions. Bible elaborate the importance of faith in the following words

He (Jesus) told them, "Because of your lack of faith. I tell you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.

Yet faith can never be forced as it is impossible to influence the soul. No one can lie to himself or fool himself. Faith or belief comes only when a person is really convinced about the truth or accuracy of the principles. Yet once the faith is achieved, nothing remains unachievable.

4. Self-Realization: The Power of Concentration

It takes considerable time before a person has developed the correct understanding of the scriptures and able to distinguish the truth from the symbolism. In the beginning, large deviations are found in the theory and the results of the action. However with concentration, one can realize the fault and get the right knowledge and right experimentation.

The process of deep thinking or concentration is often called the self-realization in religion as this knowledge is realized from within. In Gita, it is called Dhyanayoga or self realization which is the pinnacle of spiritualism. Self-realization has been given the highest place in all religions. In the Gita Lord Krishna says

I shall fully explain to you the Self-knowledge together with Self-realization after knowing that nothing more remains to be known in this world.

Francis Marie Arouet de Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer, philosopher explained the power of thinking in the following words,

No problem can stand the assault of sustained thinking.

A Balanced Approach to Spiritualism

Every person who intends to know the spirit or God has to balance all four paths as no single path can lead to spiritualism. Mere bookish knowledge of the scriptures can make a person philosopher but not spiritual. Knowledge without knowing is like cloths which are worn externally and can be changed anytime. This knowledge does not transform the person as he does not really know the spirit. He could only know the body of the spirit and not the True knowledge of Spirit just like none can understand a person merely from his photograph.

Similarly all selfless actions do not provide any benefit to man. First of all, without knowledge it is impossible to do any action as every action originates from a motive or desire. Action without proper knowledge may cause more harm to the person instead of giving any benefit to him.

The blind devotion or faith in the words of the scriptures is the most fetal error a man can commit in the name of religion. Such people are called fanatics or fundamentalists as they instead of knowing their scriptures know only the words. Thus they take body as the whole truth can commit unpardonable crimes in the name of God.

Finally, mere concentration does not yield to anything. It is virtually impossible to see the unseen and understand the formless without having some basic knowledge of the scriptures. Even the most awakened persons started from the scriptures before, they could develop their new understanding of the spirit. Self-realization does not come in vacuum but its feet lies firmly on the existing base of spirituality and religion. Yet the understanding and knowledge arising out of self-realization is fresh like a new born child, as it is designed from a purpose to help solve a real-life problem.

When a person combines all the four means of spiritualism, he is able to move to the higher and higher orbit of spiritualism and attain divinity, the goal of spiritualism and religion.

Dr. Awdhesh K Singh is an Engineer by education and philosopher by passion. He holds his PhD degree in the area of E-Governance.

He has published several papers in International Journals and Conferences on the subject of E-governance and the application of Artificial Intelligence tools like Fuzzy Logic (FL) and Expert Systems (ES) for E-governance.

He has keen interest in the study and application of Religion, Spirtuality and Philosophies for solving the real-life problems of the modern world.

Many of his articles are published on the website of Aatmic Science Forum and Science of Soul.

His can be contacted on the email aksinghirs [a] yahoo.com

Finding Homes Using the Internet - Home Shopping

2009-09-04T20:49:00.001-07:00

You can simply type the words real estate or homebuying into any search engine on the World Wide Web and you will come up with hundreds, maybe even thousands of websites that are extremely helpful and full of great information. Like the one you're on right now.

Finding homes with the internet, combined with a skilled real estate salesperson, provides you with the most effective technology available today. Most websites start out, having you select a state you would like to search in and then, select a city, with your price range.

By answering their questions, this narrows the search down to all of the homes available in the area. The internet has made home shopping very simple. Considering what you had to go through in the 1970s. You found a realtor or by looking in the yellow pages, sometimes you found a good realtor and if you are lucky, maybe you would find you a good home.

Most of the time, the first homes you would look at, were owned by the real estate professional you were working with.

There are however a couple of problems with using the internet to find your dream home. Some of the verbage used and photographs taken can create a wonderful illusion of a tropical paradise but the reality, it's a regular home in a decent neighborhood.

Some of these photos are taken by skilled photographers who take advantage of every angle and tend to give an illusion of grander. When you actually start driving around and looking at these homes, only then will you get a reality check, of what the home actually looks like. You'll get used to it.

After you've looked at a few of your future dream homes, you will get a better idea of what I'm talking about with these wonderful pictures and the extraordinary home descriptions like "Beautiful Three Bedroom House with an Ocean View." When reality it's a two-bedroom house with an extra closet for the third bedroom and the ocean is 45 miles away, but you can see it on a clear day if you actually climb to the top of the largest tree on the property.

Take your time when searching for your dream home and don't let any one push you into making a decision if you're not ready. If you find your real estate professional a little too aggressive or pushy, get out of your contract, if you've signed one and find another, more helpful real estate salesperson to help you with your home purchase.

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.

Find other real estate tips and great advice, from another one of the Internet's best website creators.

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