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Wednesday, February 27, 2008 

Discouragement 
Current mood:  mellow 
Category: Life 

Please note this is all my personal interpretation. 

Usually I do not watch religious TV shows, but for some reason I had an urge this morning. It was called Armed for War with this guy named Steve Foss. It was part 2 of a series called Dealing With Discouragement.

The 2 main principles I picked up from the show were this. 1) Disappointment is rooted in a lie. 2) Disappointment leads to discouragement which leads to offense. 

Having an expectation that is set real high, then the outcome turns out lower than that results in disappointment. Mr. Foss was not saying to set expectations low, but to know what the truth and realistic view is. Then with the 2nd principle one bad thing happens then it just gets out of control like an avalanche. With the 1st principle I believe you can substitute lie with misunderstanding. With the second principle I believe you can substitute Discouragement with depression, also offense with anger. Mr. Foss said to stop the negativity at the beginning. 

Mr. Foss used an example of when he was first trying to start up his new church. He heard God speak to him saying he would get 1000 added to his church by the end of the year. All the members of the church did a lot of evangelism on the streets. They had quite a bit of success, but almost all went to a different church. The night the year was going to end there was not 1000 members more of his church not even close. Mr. Foss was still hoping for a miracle right up to 11:59pm during a special church service. What he was expecting did not come. He was extremely disappointed to say the least. After that the church lost half of its members, they lost their building, and a lot of people became discouraged. Almost 2 years later Mr. Foss heard the voice of God tell him to go back to a tape of when they first made the prediction of a 1000 members being added. He listened very closely and it said = 1000 members will be added to "the" church. He went back to the records of all the people they had helped bring closer to Jesus. Sure enough there was over 1000. This original disappointment(and misunderstanding) had started because of a "lie" he had told himself. Since the year 2000 Mr. Foss has of course grew his church and is helping people worldwide. 
 

Thursday, January 24, 2008 

Interesting Question 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 

Interesting Question 
"** All Negative Situations Can Be Turned Positive ** In fact, all negative situations can be positive and vice versa. We live in a dualistic reality and the only reason at all that something is good or bad is because we say so. In every situation, you can look for the silver lining. All you have to do is ask yourself, "How can I turn this into something good?" It's truly a reality shifting, magic question. 

I had some things nagging me when I read these magic words from Mark yesterday. I immediately asked myself that question and instantly I got answers. I felt much better right away and started turning around what had been a less than stellar day for me. So if you're day goes on the fritz, you can simply ask yourself, "How can I turn this into something good?" It instantly changes your focus to something positive. As soon as I asked that question my day turned around for the better. I salvaged what was seemingly a bad day, just by asking myself a simple question. How easy can it be? The reason it was a bad day to begin with was because I believed it to be bad. I took actions that made me believe it was bad. In short, I was focused on the bad and that is what I got. I was subconsciously asking myself "Why this was such a bad day?" Ask and you shall receive. And this was all happening at a subconscious level. This magic question can take any situation and force you to focus on what you can gain from your supposed problems. Imagine if you got robbed at gunpoint and lost the $2,000 you just took out of the bank. Most people would label that as extremely negative. 

You could ask yourself the same question: ==> How can I turn this into something good? Maybe you can learn how to prevent it in the future. Or maybe it challenged some false belief you had about life that was holding you back. Or maybe it will show you how to create or earn more money than ever before because you were forced to earn more. Maybe you'll gain a deeper trust in God or realization about life all due to this "negative" experience. Or maybe you can learn how to protect yourself so that never happens again and you turn it into a career and help thousands or even millions of people, all because you got robbed and it was a terrifying experience for you. " 


Monday, January 14, 2008 

Good Life Tips 
Current mood:  calm 
Category: Life 


Some great tips from the Anthony Robbins organization.

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other. 

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want. 

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it. 

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye. 

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married. 

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much. 

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely. 

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly.. No name calling. 

ELEVEN.Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?' 

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 

FIFTEEN. Say 'GOD bless you' when you hear someone sneeze. 
SIXTEEN.. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions. 

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. 

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. 
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice. 

TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

Saturday, January 05, 2008 

What makes everything OK 
Current mood:  quiet 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 

There is only a few things I can think of that makes life worth living. The top being love. You can love someone without being "in love". I tend to think of this as Christian love. I have heard "Love is enough". It is when it is God's. He can transform you all the way to your most inner being. Sometimes the trials are there just to draw you closer to Him, so you do not have to suffer even greater later on. 
Finding your purpose in life. Usually this involves something you enjoy doing anyways. This brings a lot of joy. One of my purposes is to pass along inspirational stories and quotes. Also I try to encourage others with spoken word. All of this comes straight from my heart. I do not say it unless I truly mean it. A lot of things I do may seem contradicting, but they are not. Most people do not and will not ever understand me. 
Hope. The hope for something better. I truly believe 2008 will be better for everyone. Everyone I know has had a rough 2007, so no one is alone on this. 


Sunday, December 23, 2007 

Wonderful Christmas Story 
Current mood:  content 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 

The Stranger at the Gas Station
The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. He had no decorations, no tree, no lights. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. There were no children in his life. His wife had gone. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through. Instead of throwing the man out, George, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the space heater and warm up. 

"Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy. I'll just go."

"Not without something hot in your belly." George turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew. Made it myself. When you're done there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me be right back," George said.

There, in the driveway, was an old 53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken."

George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold; the car was dead. "You ain't going in this thing," George said, as he turned away.

"But, mister. Please help."

The door of the office closed behind George as he went in. George went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building and opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. George turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck. Their tires were shot, too. That 'ol truck has brand new ...." George thought he was talking to the stranger. But, the man had gone. The thermos was on the desk, empty with a used coffee cup beside it.

"Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought. George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So, he put a new one on. "Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car. As he was working, he heard shots being fired.

He ran outside and, beside a police car, an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease. "Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills.

"You hang in there. I'm going to get you an ambulance." The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

George sat down beside him. "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think, with time, you're gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

"None for me," said the officer.

"Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts."

The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it, now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George. "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now, give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun.

"Put that thing away," George said to the cop. "We got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need the money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now, put that pee shooter away." George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time.

The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job. My rent is due. My car got repossessed last week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes. But, we make it through the best we can." He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair, across from the cop. "Sometimes, we do stupid things."

George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Being stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now, sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."

"Shut up and drink your coffee," the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn.

"Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man. Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other. "That guy work here?," the wounded cop continued.

"Yep," George said. "Just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas, boy ... and you, too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems." George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go. Something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need." George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car, and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier. "And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that, too," George said. "Now, git home to your family."

The young man turned, with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree, and all, seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was getting a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder, "But, you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor. The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. The true spirit of the season is love and you keep it as good as any man. You have loved your neighbors as yourself."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And, when your days are done, you will be with Martha again." Then George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

George fell to his knees. "O Lord Jesus, I didn't know ...."

-- Author Unknown -- 

 
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 

 A Love Story 
Current mood:  hopeful 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 

A Love Story by Brian Atz 

"One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah the beauty of God's creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me. 

He asked me, 'Do you love me?" 

I answered, "Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!" 

Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?" 

I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, "It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You." 

Then the Lord said, "If you were blind, would you still love my creation?" 

How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, "Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you." 

The Lord then asked me, "If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?" 

How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word." 

The Lord then asked, "If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?" 

How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, "Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name." 

And the Lord asked, "Do you really love Me?" 

With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!" I thought I had answered well, 

but God asked, "THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?" 

I answered, "Because I am only human. I am not perfect." 

"THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?" 

No answers. Only tears. 

The Lord continued: "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?" The tears continued to roll down my cheeks. "Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?" I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give. "You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all." 

"DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?" 

I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When I my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, "Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child." 

The Lord answered, "That is My Grace, My child." 

I asked, "Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?" 

The Lord answered, "Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever." 

Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God, "How much do You love me?" The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour. And for the first time, I truly prayed."

12/9/07
“Is It Love Or Infatuation? 

Infatuation is instant desire, one set of glands
calling to another. 

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It takes root
and grows, one day at a time. 

Infatuation is marked by a feeling of insecurity. You
are excited and eager but not genuinely happy. There
are nagging doubts, unanswered questions, little bits
and pieces about your beloved that you would just as
soon not examine too closely. It might spoil the
dream. 

Love is the quiet understanding and mature acceptance
of imperfection. It is real. It gives you strength and
grows beyond you - to bolster your beloved. You are
warmed by his presence, even when he is away. Miles do
not separate you. You have so many wonderful little
films in your head that you keep replaying. But near
or far, you know he is yours and you can wait. 

Infatuation says, "We must get married right away. I
can't risk losing him." Love says, "Be patient. Don't
panic. Plan your future with confidence." 

Infatuation has an element of sexual excitement.
Whenever you are together you hope it will end in
intimacy. Love is not based on sex. It is the
maturation of friendship which makes sex so much
sweeter. You must be friends before you can be lovers.


Infatuation lacks confidence. When he's away, you
wonder if he's cheating. Sometimes you check. 
Love means trust. You are calm, secure and
unthreatened. He feels your trust, and it makes him
even more trustworthy. 

Infatuation might lead you to do things you will
regret, but love never steers you in the wrong
direction. 

Love is elevating. It lifts you up. It makes you look
up. It makes you think up. It makes you a better
person than you were before.” 

- Ann Landers 


“You Are”

“You are strong

   when you take your grief and teach it to smile.
You are brave

   when you overcome your fear and help others to do
the same.

You are happy

   when you see a flower and give it your blessing.

You are loving

   when your own pain does not blind you to the pain
of others.

You are wise

   when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true

   when you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive

   when tomorrow's hope means more to you than
yesterday's mistake.

You are growing

   when you know what you are but not what you will
become.

You are free

   when you are in control of yourself and do not wish
to control others.

You are honorable

   when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous

   when you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble

   when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful

   when you see me just as I am and treat me just as
you are.

You are merciful

   when you forgive in others the faults you condemn
in yourself.

You are beautiful

   when you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich

   when you never need more than what you have.

You are you

   when you are at peace with who you are not.”

-	Unknown

"You are not the momentary whim of a careless creator
experimenting in the laboratory of life. . . You were
made with a purpose."- Og Mandino

I think we are called to do more than claim the
victory that God demonstrates in the passion of
Christ.  I think we are called to share a word of
hope, even when we struggle to find hope for
ourselves.  
 
Our Christ came as the Light, but not for himself.  He
came that we might have Life (and abundant life at
that) so that we might be reflectors of that Light to
others.  
 
We all find ourselves in a bewildering place that we
call the world.  But the Light illumines a way for us:
 to follow His path is to find  -- or at least
struggle to find -- a purpose. And we live under the
responsibility as Christians to share what light we
have with those in need of it.

Monday, November 26, 2007 

Scripture for Depression 
Current mood:  exhausted 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 
 
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. 
Joshua 1:8-9
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 

2 Chronicles 20:17
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you. 

Psalms 30:4-5
Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. 

Psalms 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. 

Psalms 62:2
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 

Isaiah 40:31
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall run and not faint. 

Isaiah 58:6-11
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 

Isaiah 60:1-2
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. 

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 28:20b
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. 

John 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. 

John 16:20
I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 

Romans 8:16-18
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. 

2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

Ephesians 6:12-18
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 

Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 

Colossians 3:1-2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

1 John 4:16-19
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 
 

Thursday, September 06, 2007 

57 cents 

Current mood: working 

Category: Religion and Philosophy 
 

This is amazing:


A little girl stood near a small church from which
she had been turned away because it was "too
crowded."

"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the
pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor
guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand,
took her inside and found a place for her in the
Sunday school class. The child was so happy that
they found room for
her, and she went to bed that night thinking of
the children who have no place to worship Jesus
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one
of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called
for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended
their daughter to handle the final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn
and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to
have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in
childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help
build the little church bigger so
more children can go to Sunday School."

For two years she had saved for this offering of
love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew
instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and
the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit,he told
the story of her unselfish love and devotion.

He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise
enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there...

A newspaper learned of the story and published It.
It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them
a parcel of land worth many thousands.

When told that the church could not pay so much,
he offered to sell it to the little church for 57
cents.

Church members made large donations Checks came
from far and wide. Within five years the little
girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge
sum for that time (near the turn of the century).
Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia , look up
Temple Baptist Church , with a seating capacity of
3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University,
where thousands of students are educated.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital
and at a Sunday School building which houses
hundreds of beautiful
children, built so that no child in the area will
ever need to be left outside during Sunday school
time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen
the picture of the sweet face of the little girl
whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such
remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait
of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author
of the book, "Acres of Diamonds".

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD
CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

St. Theresa Prayer -

REMEMBER to make a wish before you read the
prayer. That's all you have to do. There is
nothing attached. This is a powerful novena.

May today there be peace within.
May you trust your highest power that you are
exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that
are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow
your soul the freedom to sing and dance. It is
there for each and every one of you.

Please pass this on if you like it. 


Sunday, September 02, 2007 

Words of Wisdom from my Dad
 
Category: Religion and Philosophy
 


This is an excerpt from my Dad's Bible study from
Matthew Ch 5.

"How do we turn grief to relief? What can we do? What
can God do for us?

First, don't blame God and don't blame yourself. God
gave you free will to choose to turn to Him for help,
to decide that you will not go on with the rest of
your life in sorrow and tears. We have to accept the
reality of what has happened but not with emotional
defeat. Fight back, our world needs everyone in it
participating. You are here for His purpose and only
you can fulfill it. He wants and expects us to join
with Him in achieving His goals in the world. When you
think and care for others, it is hard to maintain your
selfish grief. Count your joys not your sorrows. Sing,
"Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count
your blessings see what God has done." Let your grief
become your servant by feeling more compassion for
others that are hurting.

Dr. Schuller states, God offers real comfort in five
ways:

1. God gives us courage. To go on, to live through the
grief, to pick ourselves up to the point to face
tomorrow.

2. God gives us a sense of calm. All of the loved ones
I have lost are alive. Praise the Lord. All there is,
is life.

3. God gives us companionship. This can come from
family, friends, Bible Study group, and/or church.

4. God gives us compassion. Dr. Brooks, the first
woman pediatric surgeon in the United States had many
accolades. She lost her 27 year-old brother, who was a
test pilot for the Air Force. She said about her
grief, "I don't think you ever get over it. You learn
to live with it. And I learned to live with my
brother's death. Later, in my medical practice, I saw
him at every age as the little boys, then the older
boys, as they came through. I was able to love them
and give to them instead of him."

5. God gives us a new set of commitments. Art
Linkletter's commitment to reach lives of young people
who are ensnared in the deathtrap of drugs grew out of
his daughter's tragic death as a result of drugs and
his son's death in an automobile accident. 
Dr. Schuller asked, "Art, how do you turn a tragedy
into a personal triumph?"
He answered, "The most difficult thing is to admit the
tragedy, to accept it. It is something in your life
over which you had no control, and God's plan for us,
as we all know, is more than we can fathom. It's part
of the pattern of life---life and death."
"Having once admitted and accepted the deep, deep pain
of the wound, then you begin to realize that you have
expanded your own capability of loving and caring for
others. Until you are hurt, you can never truly
understand the hurts of others. Until you have failed,
you cannot achieve success. In my own case, the pain
in my life started me on a crusade against drug
abuse---trying to help young people and families."
"Not everybody may be called to start a crusade as I
was, but everybody can reflect love and caring. Every
person alive needs love today.""


Friday, July 27, 2007 

Meditation
 
Category: Life
 

1)Choose the best spot.

"Pick a place where you feel at ease" recommends
meditation teacher Maureen-Orfino-Pollinger.

2)Sit Comfortably.

Keep your back straight, sitting cross-legged or with
feet flat on the floor. If this uncomfortable you can
lie down.

3)Take a few deep breaths,
and close your eyes. Relax tight muscles and breathe
normally.

4)Silently repeat your mantra -

A soothing word or phrase. For example, "Peace" or
"Love". "This helps to put you in the moment" explains
Orfino

5)Sit Quietly.

"Allow your thoughts to come and go," says Orfino.
"Don't try to judge them," Your body will become very
relaxed.

6)When your finished,
take a few deep breaths and return your awareness to
the room. "Know that you have undergone healing."
 


Good Scripture
 
Current mood: calm
 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 

James 1:2-4


Trials and Temptations 


2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face
trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything.


Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything 

1 There is a time for everything, 

and a season for every activity under heaven: 

2 a time to be born and a time to die, 

a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

3 a time to kill and a time to heal, 

a time to tear down and a time to build, 

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 

6 a time to search and a time to give up, 

a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

7 a time to tear and a time to mend, 

a time to be silent and a time to speak, 

8 a time to love and a time to hate, 

a time for war and a time for peace. 

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have
seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made
everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom
what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know
that there is nothing better for men than to be happy
and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat
and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this
is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does
will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and
nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will
revere him. 

15 Whatever is has already been, 

and what will be has been before; 

and God will call the past to account. [a] 

16 And I saw something else under the sun: 

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, 

in the place of justice—wickedness was there. 

17 I thought in my heart, 

"God will bring to judgment 

both the righteous and the wicked, 

for there will be a time for every activity, 

a time for every deed." 

18 I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that
they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man's
fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits
them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have
the same breath [b] ; man has no advantage over the
animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the
same place; all come from dust, and to dust all
return. 21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward
and if the spirit of the animal [c] goes down into the
earth?" 

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man
than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For
who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

Monday, July 09, 2007 

Misc. thoughts 
Current mood: complacent 
Category: Life 

I went to my part time job for the first time in about
2 months. Even though its nowhere near what I need to
help recuperate from the doctors bills, it is much
appreciated. Thank you God for your timing. 

This weekend has truly been long, I have been at my
full time job the majority of the time. With a little
sleep thrown in. I will be able to rest eventually
Tuesday and I am looking forward to it. 

I have received quite a few pieces of good advice and
even the negativity is sort of appreciated. Sometimes
it makes you think. Sometimes it just makes you ill if
it is repeated more than a few times.

I would like to say again from one of my older blogs
inspired by my Mom- Never write down anything negative
especially in a journal. There is no need to remember
the bad things when your memory starts to fail.

I had believed in the idea of purgatory for a long
time. It was thrown out the window today, because of
my Dad. What a wonderful spiritual conversation. I
always thought that people(especially myself) needed
to be refined by the fire so to speak after death to
be able to be brought into the presence of God. Which
I could find some scripture that may go along sort of
with this. But basically the Catholics invented the
principle. There is not any direct reference to
purgatory in the Bible that I know of. The whole idea
just seemed fair to me, because it seemed like the
more sins you commit the more time you spend in
purgatory. Anyways with what my Dad said. I can not
present it is as eloquently as him, but I will try to
cover the basic points. He reminded me of when Jesus
died and the criminal beside him believed him. Jesus
said TODAY you will be with me in paradise. Just with
the time mentioned, that proves there is no purgatory.
Faith alone is enough. Yes people might backslide,
commit sins, but with true faith you will get to the
point where temptation will not effect you. Then my
Dad reminded me Jesus has already prepaid my sins and
everyones' FOR ALL TIME. Yes I love Jesus and because
of my faith I want to have a lifelong growing process.
Sometimes I think I may need 2 lifetimes to get where
I need to be. The thing is, it is usually an extreme
hardship that brings about change. For example, even
though I never drank very often the one time recently
I did I broke my hand. Therefore I am going to take
that as a sign I should not drink anymore. Some thing
worse could have happened later on if this had not
happened. This goes for other things also.

I still have a problem with forgiveness. Forgiving
myself, needing forgiveness, and forgiving others. It
has still been improving. The thing though is there is
no one on earth that can judge me only God and I know
he will when I die. I had this super jerk this weekend
at work, he kept complaining about the same stuff even
though it was something minor and the problem was
fixed. Then he went out and caused problems for other
people by being noisy in the middle of the night. The
noise was so bad I had to call the police to have him
quiet down. I could have had him arrested since he did
it two nights in a row, but I forgave him. I looked at
the circumstances and did not take it personally. He
also did quiet down eventually. I keep getting
reminded of the fact a lot of people blame the person
that is convenient whether they have the right to or
not. I am an employee of the company, so sure they can
take it out on me. Thats part of the reason I am
there. But there is no need for melodrama and
repetition. There is only a few things I know of to do
when seeking forgiveness- apologize as many times as
you think is necessary, explain yourself to them(no
one else has the right to know, unless you hurt them
indirectly), and try to make up for it. After this is
done pray a lot and ask for forgiveness from God. If
you are truly sorry He WILL ALWAYS forgive you. Then
forgive yourself. This will be the hardest part and it
will take time. A lot of help can come through prayer,
friends, and family. 

Actions speak louder than words. If you are about to
do something that does not feel right, do not do it.
Anything that you do not feel comfortable explaining
to your parents or friends you do not need to do.
There may be a reason, but will it be good enough for
God. There is no undoing the past. All you will be
able to do is try to improve from then on and not make
the same mistake. Please truly think about all these
things, I had to learn the hard way, you do not have
to.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 

Dedication 
Current mood: nostalgic 
Category: Life 

I learned today that my Aunt Rosa passed away. She was
one of the relatives I never really saw and I am sad
for that. Her and my Uncle had given me the Daily
Bible that I read the year of 2006. I am ashamed to
say that they gave it to me as a HS graduation gift
over ten years ago. If I would have read their gift
back then a lot of things would have been different in
my life. A lot of my questions would have been
answered a lot earlier. I believe almost all of life's
questions are answered in the Bible. So if you want
answers look in there. About 3 months ago I had a
wonderful idea probably God inspired. I went over to
my Grandma's house and got all the addresses of my
family. Most I had never even taked to, but I wanted
to. I sent them all a letter about myself and one of
my favorite stories "God lives under the bed". Aunt
Rosa was one of the three who wrote me back, out of
over 20. I was very glad I had put forth the effort to
do this. Families are not as close today as they use
to be. Aunt Rosa was a wonderful example of a
Christian and I am very happy she wrote me back. God
bless her and her whole family. Thank you Aunt Rosa.


Monday, June 25, 2007 

Miracle 
Current mood: grateful 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 

Its very hard to write about this, because truly I do
not like to admit stupid stuff I do. Last Monday I did
something stupid, basically the best way to put it was
"drunken martial arts". I ended up breaking my hand
below the pinky finger. Tues night I actually taught
martial arts class, and then went to First Choice
afterwards on 2nd loop since they are an after hours
care. They were very nice and professional. After the
X-rays they said it was broken and put it in a
temporary splint. The bad news was they said it
appeared to be at an angle and would need to be broken
again to be reset. They told me they would give me a
referral to a bone doctor, unfortunately this took a
couple days. I was still able to get an appt.
relatively quick(small miracle right there). Well I
went today and they told me I did not need it
reset(this of course is the miracle). Several people
had prayed before I went. Thank you for your prayers
and thoughts.They put a real good splint on it. The
people there were very nice and efficient. Dr.
Moore(the orthopedic surgeon) and Brian(gentleman who
put on my splint) especially were awesome. They have
my highest recommendation. They are right beside
Carolinas on Freedom Blvd. I was very grateful to God
for granting me all the friendliness, not having to
have my hand broken again, and for my Mom helping me
pay. The main life changing thing about this is I will
always think about 3 times before drinking, if I ever
drink again. I only drank about a few drinks once
every other week before. Drinking just some every once
in a blue moon, makes your tolerance less than someone
who drinks everyday. The doctor's visits were
expensive, but if I never drink again financially it
will work out better. Hope everyone has a wonderful
day.- C

Sunday, June 10, 2007 

Negative People 
Current mood: okay 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 


Thanks for the negative comments. I learn how people
can still be childish when physically they are an
adult. My main sin has stopped now, what can you say
about your life and the way you live it. If you do not
make the choice someone else wants you to make, it
does not mean that it is wrong. Why don't you learn
how to take it along with just dishing it out. Instead
of resorting to elementary school cussing. It did make
me reminisce about high school days though. Then lie
about everything being okay just so you can dish it
out some more from a higher point.

Realization 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 


I am sorry to every person I have ever spoke to or
written to if you have got the feeling of arrogance
from me. I have never claimed to be an all-knowing and
all-loving Christian. I may have come across that way
posting a lot of scripture and stories. That is not my
intentions. I want to share inspirational stories with
people and I want to help bring them encouragement. 

I am sorry also for misrepresenting Christians in
general due to my sins. I am NOT trying to beat myself
up, feel sorry for myself, or have anyone else have
pity on me. I am trying to confess to everyone and
share my mistakes so everyone can be a better person
than I am. The only person who has anything to
actually hold against me has already forgiven me
showing me the true example of a Christian. Everything
I have studied, read, and talked about is what I was
shown a real life example of. Truly is amazing. 

My Realization is this - "I am not a Christian, I am
trying to be a Christian." I was confused, not a
hypocrite. A lot has to be worked on for me to claim
to be a Christian. I do believe in Jesus Christ, pray,
and read the Bible. Until all the acceptance of the
good and the bad comes I will not claim to be a
Christian. I still do hold to the fact of in general I
have gotten better than a few years ago, but that is
not good enough it needs to be more of an ongoing,
daily pursuit. As opposed to about every other day
pursuit that I have been doing. 

In the meantime though I am going to share positive
messages whether I am sent negative comments or not.
Because I truly hope that one of my messages might
help change someone's mind more positive even for just
a minute. Then if they pass it on even better. Sending
these messages are part of me becoming a Christian. I
will be improving and trying to live a Christian
example. 


Monday, May 14, 2007 

My Confession 
Current mood: blank 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 

First off make sure you read my Unforgivable Sin blog
also. 
I can type my confession with just one sentence. I am
guilty of every sin either in thought or action at one
point in my life. Most of them may have been over 11
years ago when I was an ignorant teenager, but I am
still guilty today. When I truly started on my quest
for more knowledge about God is when I started feeling
more of the actual feeling of guilt. Which is a great
thing, because it gets you to quit whatever it is that
you are doing wrong. I can say one thing a lot of the
hardships I have faced in my life were self inflicted.
Its much better to learn your mistakes the first time,
unfortunately though I and the majority of people have
to repeat them again to learn them. In my blogs I try
to share some of my mistakes so other people will not
have to go through them. I also try to spread a few
inspirational messages around and encourage others to
do the same. Any of my blogs or things on my page you
are welcome to copy/paste along to someone you think
might like it. I still believe in Romans 8:28(I'll let
you look it up). This is one of my favorite scriptures
and basically covers all bad situations. I can
honestly say even in the midst of stressful times if I
turn to God or do something good for someone I feel a
sense of peace almost indescribable. So if you are
feeling bad, do something nice for someone else and
you will cheer up. Here are a few new quotes I saw
today- 

"If you judge someone, you have no time to love
them."~Mother Theresa
"Smile, it confuses people"~Unknown
Please remember the below scripture - Jesus forgives
you if you ask for it, then forgive yourself. As
always I am still working on the forgiving myself part
and the sinning no more part. I never said I was
perfect and if you personally think you are perfect or
act that way than you are lying. That includes the
people that think they are better than everyone else.
Pride is the most mentioned of the 7 deadly sins in
the Bible as far as I know. 

John 8:2-11 (New International Version)

2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where
all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to
teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees
brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her
stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher,
this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the
Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what
do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap,
in order to have a basis for accusing him. 
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground
with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him,
he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of
you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a
stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the
ground. 
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a
time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left,
with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus
straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?" 
11"No one, sir," she said. 
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go
now and leave your life of sin."


Tuesday, November 20, 2007 

Misc thoughts on Gossip 
Current mood: indifferent 
Category: Life 

For a change I am not going to use any Scripture or
quotes. I have had a couple blogs about Gossip before
which have some Scripture though if you want to go
back to look at them. As usual there is always someone
going around gossiping. Some is direct lies, some
melodramatic ideas, and then some truth. Hard to pick
and choose though when it comes from the mouth of a
Gossip. You might as well just determine that all of
it is a lie and disregard it. In the Bible I do
remember Gossip and slander being listed with things
like stealing and even murder. I even remember one
place where it says all sins are equal. I think the
best way to determine if it is gossip or not is
probably to think how would the actual person take it,
if said to them. More than likely it will get back to
them. You will have to make amends to them and then
you will have to be judged by God for it later on.
Gossip about the good in people instead. 


Monday, November 12, 2007 

A Week Before World Ends 
Current mood: drained 
Category: Life 


Sort of a toss up to put this in the category of Life
or Religion. It concerns both. 

What if I knew the world was going to end in a week?
Answer it for yourself after you read my thoughts. I
would see all the people that I love. Most importantly
when I got this special last time with them I would
make sure they knew I loved them. I would try to at
least speak to all the blood relatives I could get a
hold of on the phone. Also I would make sure if there
was anything that I did not make perfectly clear that
I was thankful for, I would tell that indivual. I
would send out several positive bulletins here on
Myspace probably Scripture related. I would also spend
some time going door to door handing positive stories
out. I would spend time praying and reading the Bible.
I would not drink any alcohol, smoke, or do any drugs
because I would want to remain as focused as possible
to do everything. I would try to arrange some
skydiving. 

On the same topic I have noticed this year has been
noticeably full of more trials for almost everyone I
know. It has been my most trying year ever. Sort of
wonder if it is a forecast of the end. It does not
matter though because I will continue to try to enjoy
life, and try to help people in the meantime. My
advice for today is just in case the world does end
sometime soon, if there is anything you really wish to
do or say, Go Ahead and Do it. 


Sunday, November 04, 2007 

In Memory 
Current mood: tired 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 

On Monday October 29th, 2007 my Grandfather passed
away. He was a wonderful person. He was a family man,
served in the US Navy, was a High School teacher, and
an electrician. He gave me an example of what a
righteous man is, which only several people have been
able to do.

The main regret I have is that I should have spent
more time with him while he was alive. I know that he
is at peace now and at home in heaven. I believe the
Earth is not really home, that Heaven is. I feel this
is a large part of the reason why a lot of people feel
out of place and/or something missing. The only way it
gets filled is through God, because it makes you
closer to Him and Heaven. Please spend as much time as
possible with your loved ones. Go way out of your way
if you have to; be willing to do anything to get one
more minute with someone you love. 

I do remember the last time we went out just us
together. We went to the Aroma Underground to share a
good cup of coffee. He told me stories of when he was
teaching and when he was an electrician. The main
thing I relate to this is several of his students
still were highly thankful to him even after a couple
of decades. What a fine job he did teaching. 

Thanks to the staff at Commander Nursing home and
Mcleod Hospital. He spent approximately a month at
Commander. Every time I went out there all the staff
members I saw or talked to were always very nice and
professional. He was at Mcleod during the last few
days. They were also the same way and were always
accommodating. I believe he was as comfortable as
possible before he passed. I was thankful I was there
on the last day. Amazing how God worked that out. At
my work my schedule was what I thought at the time all
messed up. I was off when I should have been working 3
times. If I would not have been off I would not have
saw him and I would not have been able to go to the
viewing. The schedule had been changed for other
reasons (I had not requested it) before my Grandpa
went to the hospital, so needless to say it was not a
coincidence. 

The viewing and the funeral were both very well done
and I appreciate their fine work. The most positive
thing is that a lot of the family came into town. I
enjoyed getting to see everyone. Some of them
unfortunately I probably would not have seen otherwise
for a few years. That is another thing I have and will
work on in the future. As I feel everyone should
attempt to do. When difficult times do come about that
is when you truly see who your friends and family are.
A lot of my friends I consider family anyways. 

My Grandpa changed a lot of lives and I am very
thankful for knowing him. Please pray for my family
and especially my Grandma if you read this. I still
have trouble grasping the concept of being married for
over 60 yrs and then this happening. It makes a lot of
other relationships pale in comparison. It is
wonderful to know though that devotion and commitment
such as this exists. Thank you to everyone who has
already said kind words to me and my family. Thank you
for your prayers.

Monday, October 22, 2007 

Turn your Memories Around 
Current mood: excited 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 


I typed this up from "365 Days of Power" October 22nd
reading. 


"Turn Your Memories Around

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I admit that I've allowed some bad memories to
paralyze me and keep me from taking the step of faith
I need to be taking right now. I forgot to consider
how You saved me, delivered me, and rescued me from
the events that caused those painful memories. I only
reflected on the bad part, failing to recognize how
faithful You were to help me in that situation. Today
I am making the choice to turn my memories around.
Holy Spirit, help me see my past bad experiences in
the light of God's goodness and faithfulness. Fill my
mind with the good things God has done for me and the
knowledge that He will continue to be faithful to
deliver me, no matter what opposition comes my way. I
pray this in Jesus's name.

My Confession for today

I confess that God is good! He has been faithful to
me. He has never failed me. He will never fail me in
the future. Even when bad things tried to come against
me, God saved me, delivered me, and brought me out
with no permanent harm. It is a miracle I survived
everything that happened to me in the past. But from
this moment on, I choose to turn my memories around
and to reflect only on how good God has been to me
through all of life's events. I will trust in Him to
show me how to get around every impasse so I can
finish the job He's given me to do. I declare this by
faith in Jesus' name."
13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken
hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is
behind and straining toward what is ahead. -
Philippians 3:13



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6 reasons to think before you speak 
Current mood: anxious 
Category: Life 


Here are six reasons why you should think before you
speak - the last one is great! Have you ever spoken
and wished that you could immediately take the words
back? Here are the Testimonials of a few people who
did..... 

FIRST TESTIMONY: 

I walked into a hair salon with my husband and three
kids in tow and asked loudly, "How much do you charge
for a shampoo and a blow job?" I turned around and
walked back out and never went back. My husband didn't
say a word...he knew better. 

SECOND TESTIMONY: 

I was at the golf store comparing different kinds of
golf balls. I was unhappy with the women's type I had
been using. After browsing for several minutes, I was
approached by one of the good-looking gentlemen who
works at the store. He asked if he could help me.
Without thinking, I looked at him and said, "I think I
like playing with men's balls." 

THIRD TESTIMONY: 

My sister and I were at the mall and passed by a store
that sold a variety of candy and nuts. As we were
looking at the display case, the boy behind the
counter asked if we needed any help. I replied, "No,
I'm just looking at your nuts." My sister started to
laugh hysterically. The boy grinned, and I turned
beet-red and walked away. To this day, my sister has
never let me forget. 

FOURTH TESTIMONY: 

While in line at the bank one afternoon, my toddler
decided to release some pent-up energy and ran amok. I
was finally able to grab hold of her after receiving
looks of disgust and annoyance from other patrons. I
told her that if she did not start behaving "right
now" she would be punished. To my horror, she looked
me in the eye and said in a voice just as threatening,
"If you don't let me go right now, I will tell Grandma
that I saw you kissing Daddy's pee-pee last night!"
The silence was deafening after this enlightening
exchange. Even the tellers stopped what they were
doing. I mustered up the last of my dignity and walked
out of the bank with my daughter in tow. The last
thing I heard as the door closed behind me, were
screams of laughter. 

FIFTH TESTIMONY: 

Have you ever asked your child a question too many
times? My three-year-oldson had a lot of problems with
potty training and I was on him constantly. One day we
stopped at Taco Bell for a quick lunch in between
errands. Itwas very busy, with a full dining room.
While enjoying my taco, I smelled something funny, so
of course I checked my seven-month-old daughter,
andshe was clean. Then I realized that Danny had not
asked to go potty ina while. I asked him if he needed
to go, and he said "No". I kept thinking "Oh Lord,
that child has had an accident, and I don'thave any
clean clothes with me." Then I said, "Danny, are you
SURE you didn't have an accident?" "No," he replied. I
just KNEW that he must have had an accident, beca use
the smell was getting worse. So, I asked one more
time, "Danny, did you have an accident?"This time he
jumped up, yanked down his pants, bent over, spread
his cheeks and yelled "SEE MOM, IT'S JUST FARTS!!"
While 30 people nearly choked to death on their tacos
laughing, he calmly pulled up his pants and sat down.
An older couple made me feel better, thanking me for
the best laugh they'd ever had! 

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: 

This one had most of the state of Michigan laughing
for 2 days and a very embarrassed female news anchor
who will, in the future, likely think before she
speaks. What happens when you predict snow, but don't
get any? We had a female news anchor who, the day
after it was supposed to have snowed and didn't,
turned to the weatherman and asked: "So Bob, where 's
that 8 inches you promised me last night?" Not only
did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did
too, they were laughing so hard! 

Now, didn't that feel good? 
Pass it on to someone you know who needs a laugh, and
remember...we all say things we don't really mean, so
think before you speak. 

My favorite part, I love this quote here!!!! 

"There comes a point in your life when you realize who
matters, whoever did, who won't anymore, and who
always will. So don't stress about people from your
past...there's a reason why they didn't make it to
your future" 
'I'm different, let this not upset you'- Paracelsus. 



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Saturday, October 13, 2007 

Guy Rules 
Category: Life 

Guy rules!

We always hear the "rules" from the female side.
Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules!

Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
(You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it
down.)

1. Sunday: Sports.
It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.
Let
it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport.
And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to
almost
every question.

1. Come to us with a problem if you want help solving
it.
That's what we do. 
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem.
See a
doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an
argument.
In fact, all comments become null and void after 7
Days.

1. If you won't dress like Victoria's Secret girls,
don't
expect us to act 
like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't
ask.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways
and one
of them makes 
you sad or angry, then we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something, or tell us
how
you want it done.
Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just
do it
yourself.

1. When possible, please say what you have to say
during
commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and
neither
do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors. Peach, for example,
is a
fruit, not A 
color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what
mauve
is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We
will
act like nothing's 
wrong.We know you are lying, but it is just not worth
the
hassle, besides we 
know you will bring it up again later.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to,
expect an answer you 
don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything
you
wear is fine.... 
Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking unless you're
prepared
to discuss such 
topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!



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Friday, October 05, 2007 

7 Step Program to Self Improvement 
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes 


"A Better You" Your 7 Day Step Program to
self-improvement


"I seem to lost count on how many times I've read and
heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and
right. Not that I care (and personally I don't), it
seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as
flawless people, living the fairytale life of riches
and glamour. I suppose we all have to stop sticking
our heads in the clouds and face reality.

There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem
despite of how trivial it could get. But whatever
happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense
of self.

So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here
are some of the things you can think and improve on
that should be enough for a week.

1. Know your purpose 
Are you wandering through life with little direction -
hoping that you'll find happiness, health and
prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission
statement and you will have your own unique compass
that will lead you to your truth north every time.

This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to
be in a tight or even dead end. But there's always
that little loophole to turn things around and you can
make a big difference to yourself.

2. Know your values 
What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5
values. Some examples are security, freedom, family,
spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals
for 2005 - check your goals against your values. If
the goal doesn't align with any of your top five
values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

The number shouldn't discourage you, instead it should
motivate you to do more than you can ever dreamed of.

3. Know your needs 
Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically.
Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be
acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be
loved? There are so many people who lived their lives
without realizing their dreams and most of them end up
being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List
your top four needs and get them met before it's too
late!

4. Know your passions 
You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life.
Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only
hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become
the person you ought to be. Express yourself and honor
the people who has inspired you to become the very
person you wanted to be.

5. Live from the inside out 
Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by
regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature.
Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most
of us city slickers it's hard to even find the peace
and quiet we want even in our own home. In my case I
often just sit in a dimly lit room and play some
classical music. There's sound, yes, but music does
soothe the savage beast.

6. Honor your strengths 
What are your positive traits? What special talents do
you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those
closest to you to help identify these. Are you
imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to
express your authentic self through your strengths.
You can increase your self-confidence when you can
share what you know to others.

7. Serve others 
When you live authentically, you may find that you
develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are
true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of
your talents to the world around you, you give back in
service what you came to share with others -your
spirit - your essence. The rewards for sharing your
gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much
more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can
appreciate what you have done to them.

Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is
worth it. It shouldn't always be within the confines
of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of
your own room. The difference lies within ourselves
and how much we want to change for the better.

To Your Success and Wealth...

Leon Edward

http://www.Leaders-Success-Wealth.com "


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Monday, September 24, 2007 

Testimony 
Current mood: calm 


What a great summary to one of the most important
chapters of "The Purpose Driven Life". It would be
great if people took the time to write down their own
personal testimony to God. I have done mine on my
webpage at www.angelfire.com/blog/health. That was
done way before I read Rick Warren's book though. I
might try to write a more current sometime soon.



"Chapter 37—Sharing Your Life Message (pages 289-296)

Summary

At the moment of a person's salvation until the day he
enters eternity's door he has been appointed as and
given the responsibility of being God's messenger.
Every believer has a life message to share with the
world, and it is within his God-given purpose to share
the unique life experiences that make up his life
message with others, both saved and lost. A believer's
life message is composed of the following:

· His testimony.

Each believer has a testimony on how Christ has made a
difference in his life, which:

1. Needs only to be shared (relayed) according to the
facts, not proven as in a court of law.

2. Is totally unique—one-of-kind—upon the earth.

3. More credible than a sermon to many listeners,
since it comes from a "satisfied customer" and not a
"professional salesman."

4. Easier to relay than principles.

5. Captures the attention of many listeners.

6. Bypasses the intellectual defenses of many
listeners.

Each believer should be ready at any occasion to share
his testimony. A good way to prepare for "any
occasion" is to write down and memorize the following
four points of the testimony:

1. Life prior to Christ.

2. Realization of the need for Christ.

3. Personal salvation experience.

4. Differences Christ has made.

· His life lessons.

Each believer has truths to share that, through his
contact with God, have given him personal insights,
which will assist others to gain knowledge and wisdom.


These truths (life lessons) may entail what God has
taught through personal failure, lack of finances,
pain and sorrow, depression, being patient, illness,
disappointment, family, friends, the church, and other
relationships.

· His godly passions.

Each believer, as he grows closer to God, will be
given a passionate concern from God to share with the
world. Such a passionate concern may be about
championing a cause (an abuse, an addiction,
depression, a disease, etc.), or speaking up for a
group (unborn, poor, imprisoned, etc.), or spreading
God's Word in a specific manner (starting new
churches, training Christian leaders, Bible teaching
and/or translating, etc.), or for a specific
geological location. God has myriad tasks to be
performed upon earth, and He uses His children through
the assignment of passionate concerns to accomplish
them.

· The gospel message.

Each believer is personally assigned the God-commanded
mission to share the salvation message with the lost
of the world, that by faith alone in Christ alone a
person is granted eternal life by the grace of God. Of
the five purposes that a believer has for his life
(membership in the family of God, model Christ,
magnify God's glory, minister God's grace, and
messenger of the gospel message), it is the sharing of
the salvation message that alone is totally unique to
temporal life on earth. The time to do this is limited
for each believer.

Quotes

"Sharing your testimony is an essential part of your
mission on earth because it is unique." (pg. 290)

"Your personal testimony is more effective than a
sermon, because unbelievers see pastors as
professional salesmen, but see you as a "satisfied
customer," so they give you more credibility." (pg.
290)

"While is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser
to learn from the experiences of others. There isn't
enough time to learn everything in life by trial and
error." (pg. 292)

"God gives us different passions so that everything He
wants done in the world will get done." (pg. 293)

"God has never made a person He didn't love." (pg.
294)

"We must care about unbelievers because God does. Love
leaves no choice." (pg. 294)

Scriptures

1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:17b; 1 John
5:10a; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 1:8; 22-26; 1 Peter 3:15, 16;
Psalm 119:33; 106:43; Proverbs 25:12; Psalm 51;
Philippians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 1:4-10; Psalm 40;
Psalm 119:71; Genesis 50:20; Matthew 12:34; Psalm
69:9; Jeremiah 20:9; Galatians 4:18; Romans 1:17; 2
Corinthians 5:19, 14; 1 John 4:18; 2 Peter 3:9;
Colossians 4:5.

Conclusion/Comments

Every believer has the privilege, the opportunity and
the responsibility of sharing his personal life
message with others on earth, which is composed of his
testimony (salvation experience), his life lessons
(personal insights from experiences with God), his
godly passions (personal God-given concerns in life),
and the sharing of the gospel message with
unbelievers. Although all four components are
important, nothing supercedes the believer's efforts
to bring the lost to Jesus Christ by means of sharing
the salvation message, which is faith alone in Christ
alone."

Saturday, September 15, 2007 

Keep the Faith 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 


This is all from one of my devotional books called
"Instant Messages from God"

"When Times get tough, keep the faith."

Faith in What We Don't See

1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this
trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under
everything that makes life worth living. It's our
handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what
distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.


-Hebrews 11:1

"In the months and years ahead , your faith will be
tested many times. Every life- including yours - is a
series of successes and failures, celebrations and
disappointments, joys and sorrows. Every step of the
way, through every triumph and tragedy, God will stand
by your side and strengthen you … if you have faith in
Him. Jesus taught his disciples that if they had faith
they could move mountains. You can too.

If you place your faith, your trust, indeed your life
in the hands of Christ Jesus, you'll be amazed at the
marvelous things He can do with you and through you.

Today and every day, strengthen your faith through
faith, through praise, through worship, through Bible
study, and through prayer. God has big plans for you,
so trust his plans and strengthen your faith in Him.
With God, all things are possible, and He stands ready
to help you accomplish miraculous things with your
life … if you have faith."

"Faith means believing in advance what will only make
sense in reverse."- Philip Yancey

Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4perseverance, character; and character, hope.

7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let
petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers,
letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a
sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together
for good, will come and settle you down. It's
wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at
the center of your life. 

- Philippians 4:6-7(MSG)

The Lord lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their
loads. The Lord loves the righteous.- Psalm 146:8(NLT)

"Instant Tip-

Faith should be practiced more than studied. Vance
Havner said " Nothing is more disastrous than to study
faith, analyze faith, make noble resolves of faith,
but never actually to make the leap of faith." How
True!"

"My prayer to God- 

Dear Lord, direct my path from the temptations and
distractions of this world, and make me a champion of
the faith. Today I will honor You with my thoughts, my
actions, and my prayers. I will worship You, Father,
with thanksgiving in my heart and praise on my lips,
this day and forever. Amen."

Tuesday, September 11, 2007 

Some Great Principles 
Current mood: calm 
Category: Religion and Philosophy 


Thanks to my friend for posting this. Please pass this
along if you like it.

~100 Proverbs From "THE SECRET" ~ 

1. We all work with one infinite power.


2. The Secret is the Law of Attraction (LOA).


3. Whatever is going on in your mind is what you are
attracting!


4. We are like magnets - like attracts like. You
become AND attract what you think!


5. Every thought has a frequency. Thoughts send out a
magnetic energy.


6. People think about what they don't want and attract
more of the same.


7. Thought = creation. If these thoughts are attached
to powerful emotions (good or bad) that speeds the
creation.


8. You attract your dominant thoughts.


9. Those who speak most of illness have illness, those
who speak most of prosperity have it…etc…


10. It's not "wishful" thinking. 


11. You can't have a universe without the mind
entering into it.


12. Choose your thoughts carefully – you are the
masterpiece of your life.


13. It's OK that thoughts don't manifest into reality
immediately (if we saw a picture of an elephant and it
instantly appeared, that would be too soon)!


14. EVERYTHING in your life you have attracted –
accept that fact – it's true.


15. Your thoughts cause your feelings.


16. We don't need to complicate all the "reasons"
behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two
categories – good feelings, bad feelings.


17. Thoughts that bring about good feelings mean you
are on the right track. Thoughts that bring about bad
feelings means you are not on the right track. It's as
simple as that.


18. Whatever it is you are feeling is a perfect
reflection of what is in the process of becoming.


19. You get exactly what you are FEELING!


20. Happy feelings will attract more happy conditions.


21. You can begin feeling whatever you want (even if
it's not there)… the universe will correspond to the
nature of your song.


22. What you focus on with your thought and feeling is
what you attract into your experience.


23. What you think and what you feel and what actually
manifests is ALWAYS a match - no exception.


24. Shift your awareness!


25. "You create your own universe as you go along"-
Winston Churchill


26. It's important to feel good ( ( ( (((GOOD))) ) ) )


27. You can change your emotion immediately – by
thinking of something joyful, or singing a song, or
remembering a happy experience.


28. When you get the hang of this, before you know it
you will KNOW you are the creator.


29. Life can and should be phenomenal – and it will be
when you consciously apply the Law of Attraction.


30. Universe will re-arrange itself accordingly.


31. Start by using this sentence for all of your
wants: "I'm so happy and grateful now that…… "


32. You don't need to know HOW the universe is going
to rearrange itself. Just know that it does.


33. LOA is simply figuring out for yourself what will
generate the positive feelings of having it NOW.


34. You might get an inspired thought or idea to help
you move towards what you want faster.


35. The universe likes SPEED. Don't delay, don't
second-guess, don't doubt…


36. When the opportunity or impulse is there – ACT.


37. You will attract everything you require - money,
people, connections… PAY ATTENTION to what's being set
in front of you.


38. You can start with nothing – and out of nothing or
no way - a WAY will be provided.


39. HOW LONG??? No rules on time – the more aligned
you are with positive feelings the quicker things
happen.


40. Size is nothing to the universe (unlimited
abundance if that's what you wish) We make the rules
on size and time.


41. No rules according to the universe – you provide
the feelings of having it now and the universe will
respond.


42. Most people offer the majority of their thought in
response to what they are observing (bills in the
mail, being late, having bad luck….etc..)


43. You have to find a different approach to what is
through a different vantage point.


44. "All that we are is a result of what we have
thought" - 


45. What can you do right now to turn your life
around?? Gratitude!!


46. Gratitude will bring more into our lives
immediately.


47. What we think about and THANK about is what we
bring about.


48. What are the things you are grateful for?? Feel
the gratitude.. focus on what you have right now that
you are grateful for.


49. Play the picture in your mind - focus on the end
result.

50. VISUALIZE!!! Rehearse your future…


51. VISUALIZE!!! See it, feel it! This is where action
begins.


52. Feel the joy – feel the happiness 


53. An affirmative thought is 100 times more powerful
than a negative one!


54. "What this power is, I cannot say. All I know is
that it exists."- Alexander Graham Bell


55. Our job is not to worry about the "How". The "How"
will show up out of the commitment and belief in the
"what".


56. The How's are the domain of the universe. It
always knows the quickest, fastest, most harmonious
way between you and your dream.


57. If you turn it over to the universe, you will be
surprised and dazzled by what is delivered – this is
where magic and miracles happen!


58. Turn it over to the universe daily… but it should
never be a chore.


59. Feel exhilarated by the whole process – high,
happy, in tune.


60. The only difference between people who are really
living this way is they have habituated ways of being.


61. They remember to do it all the time.


62. Create a Vision Board – pictures of what you want
to attract – every day look at it and get into the
feeling state of already having acquired these wants.


63. "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of
life's coming attractions."- Albert Einstein


64. Decide what you want – believe you can have it,
believe you deserve it, believe it's possible for you.


65. Close your eyes and visualize having what you
already want - and the FEELING of having it already.

66. Focus on being grateful for what you have already
– enjoy it!! Then release it into the universe. The
universe will manifest it.


67. Whatever the mind of a individual can conceive, it
can achieve"


68. Set a goal so big that if you achieved it, it
would blow your mind!


69. When you have an inspired thought, you must trust
it and act on it.


70. How can you become more prosperous?? INTEND IT!!


71. 'Checks are coming in the mail regularly'…. or
change your bank statement to whatever balance you
want in there…. and get behind the feeling of having
it.


72. Life is meant to be abundant in ALL areas….


73. Go for the sense of inner joy and peace then all
outside things appear.


74. We are the creators of our universe!


75. Relationships: Treat yourself the way you want to
be treated by others – love yourself and you will be
loved.


76. Have a healthy respect for yourself.


77. For those you work with or interact with regularly
– get a notebook and write down positive aspects of
each of those people.


78. Write down the things you like most about them
(don't expect change from them). Law of attraction
will not put you in the same space together if your
frequencies don't match


79. When you realize your potential to feel good, you
will ask no one to be different in order for you to
feel good. 


80. You will free yourself from the cumbersome
impossibilities of needing to control the world, your
friends, your mate, your children…..


81. You are the only one that creates your reality!!


82. No one else can think or feel for you – its YOU –
ONLY YOU.

83. Health: thank the universe for your own healing.
Laugh, stress free happiness will keep you healthy.


84. Immune system will heal itself.


85. Parts of our bodies are replaced every day, every
week..etc…. Within a few years we have a brand new
body!


86. See yourself living in a new body. Hopeful =
recovery. Happy = happier biochemistry. Stress
degrades the body.


87. Remove stress from the body and the body
regenerates itself. You can heal yourself!


88. Learn to become still – and take your attention
away from what you don't want, and place your
attention on what you wish to experience.


89. When the voice and vision on the inside become
more profound and clear than the opinions on the
outside, then you have mastered your life.

90. You are not here to try to get the world to be
just as you want it. You are here to create the world
around you that you choose. 


91. And allow the world as others choose to see it,
exist as well.


92. People think that if everyone knows the power of
the LOA there won't be enough to go around – This is a
lie that's been ingrained in us and makes so many
greedy.


93. The truth is there is more than enough love,
creative ideas, power, joy, happiness to go around.

94. All of this abundance begins to shine through a
mind that is aware of it's own infinite nature.
There's enough for everyone. See it. Believe it. It
will show up for you.

95. So let the variety of your reality thrill you as
you choose all the things you want… get behind the
good feelings of all your wants.


96. Write your script. When you see things you don't
want, don't think about them, write about them, talk
about them, push against them, or join groups that
focus on the 'don't wants'…remove your attention from
don't wants… and place them on 'DO WANTS'!

97. We are mass energy. Everything is energy.
EVERYTHING!

98. Don't define yourself by your body – it's the
infinite being that's connected to everything in the
universe.

99. One energy field. Our bodies have distracted us
from our energy. We are the infinite field of
unfolding possibilities. The Creative Force.

100. Are your thoughts worthy of you? If not - NOW is
the time to change them! You can begin right where you
are right now. Nothing matters but this moment and
what you are focusing your attention on!
Verbal Self Defense 
Current mood: contemplative 
Category: Life 


How Verbal Self-Defense Works 
by Suzette Haden Elgin, Ph.D.

Introduction to How Verbal Self-Defense Works

How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable
Getting Your Point Across With the Gentle Art of
Verbal Self-Defense 
by Suzette Haden Elgin, Ph.D.
In every aspect of our lives we have to deliver or
respond to negative messages at times--whether it's
giving an employee a poor appraisal or disciplining a
child or defending our political or religious beliefs
from attack. But these simple disagreements often
degenerate unnecessarily into belligerent exchanges
and pointless arguments. Some say that human beings
are born to argue and that language is simply another
weapon of survival. Suzette Haden Elgin heartily
disagrees and in this new book shows how to disarm
hostile language and radically improve communication
with the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense. Readers
will learn a variety of proven techniques for
conveying negative messages in a clear and assertive
manner, but without antagonistic and destructive
language. 

Lots of people think verbal self-defense means
fighting back. Their image of verbal self-defense is a
collection of killer smart cracks plus strategies for
using language to wipe the floor with their opponents.
It's not an accurate image. 
In this edition of How Stuff Works, I'd like to show
you a different way to relate to other people,
especially when you disagree. Let's talk about it a
minute. 

Why Verbal Self-Defense is a Skill We Need

It has undoubtedly happened to you. There you are, in
the middle of a fierce argument with someone, and
suddenly you realize that you not only don't
particularly care about the subject of the argument
but you can't understand how you got into the
altercation in the first place! 

This isn't trivial. Hostile language is dangerous to
your health and well-being; it's toxic stuff. People
who are frequently exposed to hostile language get
sick more often, are injured more often, take longer
to recover from illness and injury, and suffer more
complications during recovery. As an obvious result,
they tend to die sooner than those not so exposed.
What's more, hostile language is just as dangerous to
the person dishing it out (and to innocent bystanders
who can't leave the scene) as it is to the person on
the receiving end. 

Obviously it's to your advantage to stay out of
arguments in both your personal and your professional
life, unless something truly important -- something
about which you care profoundly -- is at stake. Even
then, most of us are aware that it's possible to have
intense discussions that don't turn into altercations.
How is it, then, that intelligent people keep finding
themselves involved in arguments almost by accident? 

The answer is pretty simple, and it's a relic of the
days when humankind dealt with sabertooth tigers at
close range on a regular basis. One of the parts of
your brain (the amygdala) is on constant duty, and one
of its primary tasks is to scan for danger. When it
spots an incoming perception that meets its criteria
for danger, it has the ability to send a message that
provokes an immediate fight-or-flight reaction, and it
can do that without first going through the reasoning
part of your brain. It can literally short-circuit
your thinking process. In the sabertooth tiger days
this was a good thing. You saw something vaguely big
and furry, and you either left the scene fast or threw
your club. You acted first, and then you thought about
it, which increased your odds of survival a good deal.


This part of your brain can still be a good thing on
those very rare occasions when you do face imminent
life-threatening sudden peril from tornadoes or
terrorists or mad gun-toters. The problem is that it's
just as likely to kick in when the only threat you
face is some klutz who wants to argue about whether
his computer is more powerful than your computer. If
the amygdala thinks the klutz is a threat, it bypasses
your reasoning brain -- and shortly you're thinking,
"I don't even CARE whether my computer has more memory
than this turkey's computer! How the heck did I get
INTO this?? And how the heck do I get OUT of it so I
can get on with my day??" This can happen to anybody
now and then; we all just lose it sometimes. But if it
happens often, it's a grave threat to your well-being.
It's a lot more dangerous to you than most of the risk
factors you spend time and money trying to guard
against. You need to know how to put an end to this
nonsense. 

The Basics of Verbal Self-Defense

Verbal self-defense has three basic parts: 
understanding what's really going on 
listening instead of leaping to conclusions 
knowing how to respond. 
Understanding what's really going on
First and foremost, you need to educate your amygdala.
When somebody comes at you with hostile language, your
amygdala typically says, "DANGER! RED ALERT!", and off
you go. You need to be able to change the criteria
your amygdala has for defining a threat. 

Suppose a two-year-old runs at you screaming "YOU BIG
MEANY! I don't LIKE you!" and starts pounding on your
knees with tiny fists. Your amygdala doesn't pay the
slightest attention. You know the toddler is no threat
to you, you understand what causes such episodes, and
you have better sense than to get involved in a fight
with the poor little kid. The key here is that you
understand what's going on, and that lets you stay
detached and rational. 

With verbal attackers, the problem is that we usually
don't understand what's going on. The dominant idea
about such people in our culture is that their goal in
attacking you verbally is to hurt you, to cause you
pain, to do you harm -- and that does of course fit
your amygdala's specifications for danger. However,
the idea is all wrong. It's a myth, just as "Sticks
and stones will break your bones but words will never
hurt you" is a myth. 

Anybody can verbally attack once in a while. You're
over-tired, you've had a horrible day, you're coming
down with a bad cold, somebody says a few innocuous
words at you, and you lose it -- you go after them as
if they'd approached you swinging an axe. But chronic
verbal attackers -- the ones that keep everybody
around them in turmoil all the time, the ones that
people will flee into a restroom to avoid when they
see them coming down the hall -- are different. Sure,
they could be sadistic psychotics out to savage you,
but that's not likely (and if they are, there'll be
other clues, such as the fact that they are swinging
an axe). Almost always, chronic verbal abusers behave
the way they do for one of two reasons: 

A small percentage are simply klutzes. They're
ignorant. They know no other way to communicate with
other human beings. All they need is education. 
As for the rest, they're desperate for attention and
they know that throwing hostile language at you will
get your attention. 
In both cases, once you understand what's really going
on, your reaction to such people will no longer be,
"Danger! Red alert!" Your reaction will be compassion.
As in "Poor thing. Desperate to communicate, and
that's the best he/she can do." Or "Poor thing.
Desperate for attention, and that's the best he/she
can do." You still may not like the attacker and
you'll still find the attacker's behavior
unacceptable, but you won't have any interest in
arguing. 
Listening instead of leaping to conclusions
Psychologist George Miller long ago said something so
important that I call it Miller's Law; he said, "In
order to understand what another person is saying, you
must assume that it is true and try to find out what
it could be true of." That is, when somebody says,
"Hey! My toaster talks to me!", your proper response
is a neutral "Oh? What does your toaster say?"
Followed by careful listening, with your full
attention. You're not accepting as true the statement
that the person's toaster talks to him or her; you're
assuming temporarily that it is true, and then you're
listening carefully to find out what the statement
could be true of. 

That's not how most of us operate. Most of us use a
rule that I call Miller's Law In Reverse. We hear
somebody say something that we react to negatively; we
immediately assume that the utterance is false; and we
stop listening because we're busy telling ourselves
what's wrong with the person that explains why they'd
say something so unacceptable to us. We leap to
conclusions. We tell ourselves things like these: 

"He's only saying that because.... he's
uneducated/crazy/drunk/old/sadistic/showing off." 
"She's only saying that because.... she's an
airhead/vicious/on drugs/totally confused/out to get
me." 
"They're only saying that because... I'm short/people
like them have no manners/I can't afford a decent
suit/they don't like me." 
The minute we do that, all listening stops. You can't
listen to what someone else is saying and listen to
your own self-talk at the same time; it's not
neurophysiologically possible. And what happens next?
A great deal of the time, a fight happens. Like this: 
X: "Hey! My toaster talks to me!"
YOU: "Look, I don't have time for that kind of
garbage! I've got work to do!"
X: "And I suppose MY work isn't as important as
yours?"
YOU: "I didn't say that."
X: "Oh, yes you did!"
YOU: "I did NOT! I just said..." 
And so on, downhill from there. 
People tell me they don't have time to listen, they're
too busy. I can assure you, based on three decades of
teaching verbal self-defense, that they spend far more
time straightening out the messes that result from not
listening. Give the speaker your full attention for as
long as it takes to understand what's really being
said and why. Even if the speaker is a child. Perhaps
especially if the speaker is a child. I once heard a
mother answer a child's "Mom, I wish I was dead" with
"Were dead, dear, not was dead." This is how we end up
reading in newspapers that a child has done some
terrrible thing "without warning." This is what's
behind going home one night and finding that your
spouse has left you "without warning." There's always
a warning, but somebody has to be listening to it;
otherwise, the person will give up and stop trying. 

Knowing how to respond
Our culture teaches three standard ways to respond to
a verbal attack: 

Attacking back - "How DARE you say that to me!" 
Pleading - "I can't BELIEVE you're going to start that
again when you KNOW how much work I have to do today!"

Debating - "There are three reasons why what you say
is ridiculous. First..." 
All three are strategic errors, because all three
reward the attacker by providing your immediate full
attention, often with an emotional reaction thrown in
that increases the intensity of that attention. All
you do when you use those three traditional responses
is encourage the attacker to do it again. After all,
it worked. 
What you need is a response that doesn't do this. You
need a response that lets the attacker know you won't
serve as willing victim. Fleeing the scene won't do
it; fleeing makes it obvious to attackers that they
"got to you"; they'll be eager to try again. Silently
ignoring attackers won't serve either; in our culture,
silence is punishment, and is just another kind of
counterattack. Like fleeing, it says, "You got to me.
You can push my buttons." 

The verbal self-defense system that I teach includes
an array of techniques too large to fit in this brief
article. But I can give you two examples here (and you
can find more information in my books or at my verbal
self-defense Web site, http://www.adrr.com/aa/). Your
goal is to respond to hostile language in a way that
doesn't set you up as a victim, doesn't reward the
attacker, doesn't require you to sacrifice your
principles or dignity, and causes no loss of face on
either side. For instance.... 

Use The Boring Baroque Response

When I'm asked to teach just one quick technique that
can be used in lots of situations and is easy to
learn, I teach the Boring Baroque Response (BBR).
Suppose you have to deal with someone who is forever
coming at you with hostile attacks like "WHY can't you
EVER do your share of the WORK around here??" and "WHY
do you eat SO MUCH JUNK food??" and "WHY don't you
stop DRESSING like a NERD??" 
What your attacker wants is an interaction that goes
roughly like this: 

X: "WHY do you eat SO MUCH JUNK food??"
YOU: "Whadda you MEAN? I DON'T eat a lot of junk
food!" 
X: "Oh, NO? What about that DOUGHNUT I saw you eating
ten minutes ago?" 
YOU: "Listen, I didn't have time to eat breakfast! I
NEEDED that doughtnut!" 
X: "Oh, yeah? Well what about that PIZZA you ordered
yesterday afternoon...." 
And so on... 
This gives your attacker a chance to run you through a
long list of complaints about the way you eat, and to
demonstrate his or her power to really get you going.
Even if you come out of this thinking that you have
"won the argument," you've lost -- because the attack
worked, and the attacker got what he or she wanted.
People like your attacker are like little kids who'd
rather be punished than ignored: If the only way they
can get your full attention is to get your negative
attention, they'll settle for that. 
Instead of falling for this tactic, use a Boring
Baroque Response. Your attacker has come at you with
"WHY do you eat SO MUCH JUNK food??" And here's what
you say, while you stare not at the attacker but off
into space, as if you were thinking deep thoughts. 

"You know, I think it's because of something that
happened to me when I was just a little kid. We were
living in Detroit at the time, and... No, wait a
minute! It couldn't have been Detroit, it must have
been when we were living in Indianapolis, because that
was the summer my Aunt Grace came to visit us and
brought her dog. You know those funny little dogs with
the big ears that stick out? Well, this dog...." [And
so on for as long as it takes.] 
A response like this delivers the following message:
"I notice that you're here to pick a fight. Do that if
you like, but it's not going to be much fun for you,
because I won't play that game." Listening to a BBR is
excruciatingly boring. The most usual result is that
by the time you've gotten to the part about your
aunt's dog the attacker is already saying, "Oh, never
MIND!" and leaving in a hurry -- while making a mental
note that you're no fun as a victim and shouldn't be
chosen for that role in future. 

When the attack comes in the form of a statement
instead of a question, as in "ALL YOU DO is stuff your
face with JUNK food!!", just begin with "You know,
hearing you say that reminds me of something that
happened to me when I was just a little kid...." and
so on. If you need a hifalutin version, say it reminds
you of "an article I read only the other day in the
New York Times. No, wait a minute.... It couldn't have
been the New York Times. It must have been the
Washington Post , because that's the one that comes on
Thursday and Eileen always gets it before anyone else
and....." . The BBR is also the best way to deal with
none-of-their-business questions and comments from
strangers. Like, "Oh, what a cute baby! It looks
Chinese! [Or Spanish. Or whatever. The nosy stranger's
point is that whatever the baby looks like, it doesn't
look like it shares your ethnic heritage.] Where did
you GET it?" Just remember one thing: You have to do
the BBR straight. If you sound sarcastic or
patronizing or hostile, it becomes a counterattack and
it won't work. 

Use Computer Mode

Hostile language in English almost always has two
identifying characteristics: 
lots and lots of personal vocabulary and personal
comments. 
lots of extra stress on words and parts of words. 
Responding with more of the same is like throwing
gasoline on a fire; it gives your attacker everything
needed to feed the argument and make it escalate.
There's a very different way of talking (from the work
of Virginia Satir), that I call Computer Mode. To use
Computer Mode: You avoid everything personal; you talk
in platitudes and generalities and hypotheticals; and
you keep your body language -- including the tune your
words are set to -- neutral and controlled. Computer
Mode defuses verbal attacks because it doesn't give
the attacker what he or she wants and it doesn't give
the attacker any fuel with which to keep the
altercation going. There is no safer stance. 
Suppose somebody has come at you with an attack like
"WHY can't I ever FIND anything around this place? Do
you HIDE STUFF just to be annoying, or WHAT??" Don't
take the bait. Don't start claiming that you don't
hide things; don't start explaining your system for
putting things in their places; don't start yelling
that the attacker is the one who misplaces everything
or is just too stupid to be able to find anything;
don't just yell, "Get out of my FACE, you creep!" All
those responses reward the attacker and make you a
participating verbal victim. Instead, say something
like this: 

"People get irritated when they can't find things." 
"It's very annoying not to be able to find things." 
"Misplaced tools [or books, or supplies, or whatever]
cause problems in every workplace [or home, or clinic,
or whatever]." 
"Nothing is more distressing than having to hunt for
things." 
No matter how many more times the attacker throws
hostile language at you, continue to answer only with
another response in Computer Mode. If the hostile
strategy has always worked in the past, it may take
the attacker a while to understand that it's not going
to work this time. Eventually, the attacker will run
out of steam and give up -- and again, will make a
mental note that you're no fun as a victim and
shouldn't be chosen for that role in the future. 
You'd be amazed at how many potential arguments I've
nipped in the bud with a single meaningless emergency
platitude. The attacker makes the first hostile move;
and I answer, solemnly, "You know, you can't tell
which way the train went by looking at the tracks."
Many, many times, the next line from the poor soul
attacking has been, "I never thought of it like that."
Almost every time, the argument has ended right there
-- for an impressive savings in time and energy all
around, and far less pollution of the language
environment. 

Going Forward

In every hostile-language situation you have a broad
range of responses at your disposal, from fierce anger
at one extreme to silence at the other. Different
responses have different consequences. The
consequences of either the amygdala-driven
fight-or-flight response, or the traditional responses
of counterattack and pleading and debate, are rarely
satisfactory. The consequences of chronic exposure to
hostile language literally threaten your life and the
lives of everyone else one involved. You don't have to
go that route. Use verbal self-defense instead. 
About the Author
Suzette Haden Elgin, Ph.D., is an expert in applied
psycholinguistics and is the founder of the Ozark
Center for Language Studies (OCLS). OCLS offers a
complete line of verbal self-defense products and
services; for more information, contact Suzette
directly. She is the author of the Gentle Art of
Verbal Self-Defense series, including: How to Disagree
Without Being Disagreeable, You Can't Say That To Me!,
and more than a dozen other books and audio programs.
You can also find a lot of information on verbal
self-defense in her recent The Grandmother Principles
and in her novels, which aren't part of the series. Go
to http://www.sfwa.org/members/elgin for links and
details. 


Friday, April 20, 2007 

Does God Exist? 

Does God exist? Is there proof of God? The following
offers candid, straight-forward reasons to believe in
the existence of God...

By Marilyn Adamson

Just once wouldn't you love for someone to simply show
you the evidence for God's existence? No arm-twisting.
No statements of, "You just have to believe." Well,
here is an attempt to candidly offer some of the
reasons which suggest that God exists. 




But first consider this. If a person opposes even the
possibility of there being a God, then any evidence
can be rationalized or explained away. It is like if
someone refuses to believe that people have walked on
the moon, then no amount of information is going to
change their thinking. Photographs of astronauts
walking on the moon, interviews with the astronauts,
moon rocks...all the evidence would be worthless,
because the person has already concluded that people
cannot go to the moon. 




When it comes to the possibility of God's existence,
the Bible says that there are people who have seen
sufficient evidence, but they have suppressed the
truth about God.1 On the other hand, for those who
want to know God if he is there, he says, "You will
seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your
heart, I will be found by you."2 Before you look at
the facts surrounding God's existence, ask yourself,
If God does exist, would I want to know him? Here
then, are some reasons to consider... 


1. Does God exist? The complexity of our planet points
to a deliberate Designer who not only created our
universe, but sustains it today.

Many examples showing God's design could be given,
possibly with no end. But here are a few: 

The Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and
corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly
nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50
miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were
smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the
planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere
would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter.3 Earth is
the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of
the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal
and human life. 


The Earth is located the right distance from the sun.
Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly
-30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any
further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any
closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional
variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make
life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this
perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around
the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also
rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of
the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day. 


And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the
Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates
important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do
not stagnate, and yet it restrains our massive oceans
from spilling over across the continents.4 


Water...colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet
no living thing can survive without it. Plants,
animals and human beings consist mostly of water
(about two-thirds of the human body is water). You'll
see why the characteristics of water are uniquely
suited to life: 


It has an unusually high boiling point and freezing
point. Water allows us to live in an environment of
fluctuating temperature changes, while keeping our
bodies a steady 98.6 degrees. 


Water is a universal solvent. This property of water
means that thousands of chemicals, minerals and
nutrients can be carried throughout our bodies and
into the smallest blood vessels.5 


Water is also chemically neutral. Without affecting
the makeup of the substances it carries, water enables
food, medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used
by the body. 


Water has a unique surface tension. Water in plants
can therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing
life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the
tallest trees. 


Water freezes from the top down and floats, so fish
can live in the winter. 


Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is in the
oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed
which removes salt from the water and then distributes
that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the
ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which
are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over
the land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a
system of purification and supply that sustains life
on this planet, a system of recycled and reused
water.6


2. Does God exist? The human brain's complexity shows
a higher intelligence behind it.

The human brain...simultaneously processes an amazing
amount of information. Your brain takes in all the
colors and objects you see, the temperature around
you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the
sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the
texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and
processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At
the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing
functions of your body like your breathing pattern,
eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in
your hands. 


The human brain processes more than a million messages
a second.7 Your brain weighs the importance of all
this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant.
This screening function is what allows you to focus
and operate effectively in your world. A brain that
deals with more than a million pieces of information
every second, while evaluating its importance and
allowing you to act on the most pertinent
information... did it come about just by chance? Was
it merely biological causes, perfectly forming the
right tissue, blood flow, neurons, structure? An
astounding an organ that it is, it surpasses being
functional. There is an intelligence to it, the
ability to reason, feel, move and relate. How does one
explain the human brain? 




3. Does God exist? "Chance" or "natural causes" are
insufficient explanations.

The alternative to God existing is that all that
exists around us came about by natural cause and
random chance. It someone is rolling dice, the odds of
rolling a pair of sixes is one thing. But the odds of
spots appearing on blank dice is something else.
Pasteur proved centuries ago (and science still
confirms it) that life cannot arise from non-life.
Where did human, animal, plant life come from? 

Also, natural causes are an inadequate explanation for
the amount of precise information contained in human
DNA. A person who discounts God is left with the
conclusion that all of this came about without cause,
without design, and is merely good fortune. It is
intellectually wanting to observe intricate design and
attribute it to luck. 





4. Does God exist? To state with certainty that there
is no God, a person has to ignore the passion of an
enormously vast number of people who are convinced
that there is a God.

This is not to say that if enough people believe
something it is therefore true. Science, for example,
have discovered new truths about the universe which
overruled previous conclusions. But as science has
progressed, no scientific discovery has countered the
numerical likelihood of an intelligent mind being
behind it all. In fact, the more science discovers
about human life and the universe, the more complex
and precisely designed we realize these to be. Rather
than pointing away from God, evidence mounts further
toward an intelligent source. But objective evidence
is not all. 

There is a much larger issue. Throughout history,
billions of people in the world have attested to their
firm, core convictions about God's existence--arrived
at from their subjective, personal relationship with
God. Millions today could give detailed account of
their experience with God. They would point to
answered prayer and specific, amazing ways God has met
their needs, and guided them through important
personal decisions. They would offer, not only a
description of their beliefs, but detailed reports of
God's actions in their lives. Many are sure that a
loving God exists and has shown himself to be faithful
to them. If you are a skeptic, can you say with
certainty: "I am absolutely right and they all are
wrong about God"? 

5. Does God exist? We know God exists because he
pursues us. He is constantly initiating and seeking
for us to come to him.

I was an atheist at one time. And like most atheists,
the issue of people believing in God bothered me
greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend
so much time, attention, and energy refuting something
that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to
do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my
intentions as caring for those poor, disillusioned
people...to help them realize their hope was
completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had
another motive. As I challenged those who believed in
God, I was deeply curious to see if they could
convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become
free from the question of God. If I could conclusively
prove to believers that they were wrong, then the
issue is off the table, and I would be free to go
about my life. 


I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God
weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was
pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God
wants to be known. He created us with the intention
that we would know him. He has surrounded us with
evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his
existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't
escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact,
the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my
prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that
the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people
believing in God is because God is actively pursuing
them. 

I am not the only one who has experienced this.
Malcolm Muggeridge, socialist and philosophical
author, wrote, "I had a notion that somehow, besides
questing, I was being pursued." C.S. Lewis said he
remembered, "...night after night, feeling whenever my
mind lifted even for a second from my work, the
steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so
earnestly desired not to meet. I gave in, and admitted
that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that
night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all
of 

Lewis went on to write a book titled, "Surprised by
Joy" as a result of knowing God. I too had no
expectations other than rightfully admitting God's
existence. Yet over the following several months, I
became amazed by his love for me. 


6. Does God exist? Unlike any other revelation of God,
Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of
God pursuing us.

Why Jesus? Look throughout the major world religions
and you'll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and
Moses all identified themselves as teachers or
prophets. None of them ever claimed to be equal to
God. Surprisingly, Jesus did. That is what sets Jesus
apart from all the others. He said God exists and
you're looking at Him. Though He talked about His
Father in heaven, it was not from the position of
separation, but of very close union, unique to all
humankind. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had
seen the Father, anyone who believed in Him, believed
in the Father. 

He said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows
me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light
of life."8 He claimed attributes belonging only to
God: to be able to forgive people of their sin, free
them from habits of sin, give people a more abundant
life and give them eternal life in heaven. Unlike
other teachers who focused people on their words,
Jesus pointed people to himself. He did not say,
"follow my words and you will find truth." He said, "I
am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to
the Father but through me."9 


What proof did Jesus give for claiming to be divine?
He did what people can't do. Jesus performed miracles.
He healed people...blind, crippled, deaf, even raised
a couple of people from the dead. He had power over
objects...created food out of thin air, enough to feed
crowds of several thousand people. He performed
miracles over nature...walked on top of a lake,
commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends.
People everywhere followed Jesus, because He
constantly met their needs, doing the miraculous. He
said if you do not want to believe what I'm telling
you, you should at least believe in me based on the
miracles you're seeing.10 


Jesus Christ showed God to be gentle, loving, aware of
our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet deeply
wanting a relationship with us. Jesus revealed that
although God views us as sinners, worthy of his
punishment, his love for us ruled and God came up with
a different plan. God himself took on the form of man
and accepted the punishment for our sin on our behalf.
Sounds ludicrous? Perhaps, but many loving fathers
would gladly trade places with their child in a cancer
ward if they could. The Bible says that the reason we
would love God is because he first loved us. 


Jesus died in our place so we could be forgiven. Of
all the religions known to humanity, only through
Jesus will you see God reaching toward humanity,
providing a way for us to have a relationship with
him. Jesus proves a divine heart of love, meeting our
needs, drawing us to himself. Because of Jesus' death
and resurrection, he offers us a new life today. We
can be forgiven, fully accepted by God and genuinely
loved by God. He says, "I have loved you with an
everlasting love, therefore I have continued my
faithfulness to you."11 This is God, in action. 


Does God exist? If you want to know, investigate Jesus
Christ. We're told that "God so loved the world that
he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him
should not perish but have eternal life."12 


God does not force us to believe in him, though he
could. Instead, he has provided sufficient proof of
his existence for us to willingly respond to him. The
earth's perfect distance from the sun, the unique
chemical properties of water, the human brain, DNA,
the number of people who attest to knowing God, the
gnawing in our hearts and minds to determine if God is
there, the willingness for God to be known through
Jesus Christ. If you need to know more about Jesus and
reasons to believe in him, please see: Beyond Blind
Faith. 


If you want to begin a relationship with God now, you
can.

This is your decision, no coercion here. But if you
want to be forgiven by God and come into a
relationship with him, you can do so right now by
asking him to forgive you and come into your life.
Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door [of your
heart] and knock. He who hears my voice and opens the
door, I will come into him [or her]."13 If you want to
do this, but aren't sure how to put it into words,
this may help: "Jesus, thank you for dying for my
sins. You know my life and that I need to be forgiven.
I ask you to forgive me right now and come into my
life. I want to know you in a real way. Come into my
life now. Thank you that you wanted a relationship
with me. Amen." 


God views your relationship with him as permanent.
Referring to all those who believe in him, Jesus
Christ said of us, "I know them, and they follow me;
and I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my
hand."14 


So, does God exist? Looking at all these facts, one
can conclude that a loving God does exist and can be
known in an intimate, personal way. If you need more
information about Jesus' claim to divinity, or about
God's existence, or if you have similar important
questions, please email us. 




About the Author:

As a former atheist, Marilyn Adamson found it
difficult to refute the continuously answered prayers
and quality of life of a close friend. In challenging
the beliefs of her friend, Marilyn was amazed to learn
the wealth of objective evidence pointing to the
existence of God. After about a year of persistent
questioning, she responded to God's offer to come into
her life and has found faith in Him to be constantly
substantiated and greatly rewarding.


(1) Romans 1:19-21 

(2) Jeremiah 29:13-14 

(3) R.E.D. Clark, Creation (London: Tyndale Press,
1946), p. 20 

(4) The Wonders of God's Creation, Moody Institute of
Science (Chicago, IL) 

(5) Ibid. 

(6) Ibid. 

(7) Ibid. 

(8) John 8:12 

(9) John 14:6 

(10) John 14:11 

(11) Jeremiah 31:3 

(12) John 3:16 

(13) Revelation 3:20 

(14) John 10:27-29


Wednesday, April 18, 2007 

The Spiritual Alternative to Tolerance 
Category: Life 


The Spiritual Alternative to Tolerance

by Guy Finley 
(Unpublished notes: 2000 words) 
Deep spiritual work reveals the truth that hellish
things on earth manifest as they do because their dark
cause dwells hidden somewhere in us. We are about to
look into this interior abyss and shine into its
unseen corners a beautiful light of understanding. We
will illuminate the center of the earth where dark
forces are always celebrating some victory over
unconscious human beings. 
Imagine the chief devil calling together every
possible evil entity that is in range of his magnetic
voice and saying, "How can we interfere up there? What
can we do to further deceive human beings? We must
keep them in the dark so they can't see the Light that
wants to rescue them. I want something so evil, so
sinister, that no one will know what happened. Who's
got it?" 
And the flames of all the little imps dim a little bit
because they're afraid; but two days later, they all
come back with a few ideas, although nothing
spectacular. Then one tiny imp hops on the shoulder of
the devil and whispers something in his ear. Great
flames shoot out of the devil and sear the little imp
who cries out "Thank you!" Then the devil exclaims,
"Ah! I have the plan in hand!" 
He looks around at all of his lieutenants, each of
whom is assigned to certain individuals on earth, and
gleefully instructs them: "I want you to go up there
and spread the idea of 'tolerance.' Go tell the stupid
human beings up there that they should start teaching
the idea that the tolerance of others is the same as
the love of them. Oh yes! This is my best deception
yet! It's a real killer!"
We have had sown into our minds a certain social
contrivance, a convenient mechanical reaction called
"tolerating" people who do not meet our approval. We
"tolerate" those who don't please us or who rub us the
wrong way. And we believe that our ability to tolerate
another individual is the same as learning to live in
harmony with him or her. Nothing could be farther from
the truth! 
It is through just such a deception that human beings
have almost lost the possibility of being able to see
how true Love is being choked out of us and off this
planet. As surely as there are objects that choke the
throat, there is that which chokes the soul. Now let's
examine this idea and learn what it will take to
remove this unnatural obstruction. 
We must begin by recognizing the following truth: All
forms of tolerance have their root in one form or
another of resistance, a fact that should make the
next truth obvious to us: We cannot resist something,
be negative towards it, and be in a loving
relationship with it at the same time. 
Here's what this means practically speaking: When we
unconsciously think "I will 'tolerate' this person by
putting up with his dark manifestation, but only
because I don't want anyone to see just how negative
he makes me" -- then what has happened to us? We come
to believe that we are "loving" because we repress our
wish to lash out at whoever disturbs us. 
Government and social institutions heavily promote
this idea of "tolerance" to maintain the illusion of a
progressive, evolving society; but to love one another
has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with harboring
resistance while calling it acceptance. Resistance
isolates, separates, and chokes. Love embraces,
welcomes, and breathes freely. But there is more yet
to see here, if we will. 
The whole notion of this order of tolerance is rooted
in the idea of superiority, as only a superior person
tolerates an inferior human being. When we are with
someone, and we must "tolerate" him or her, we are in
a state of secret self-love that keeps itself in place
by having that which it quietly denigrates. But this
unconscious state of self is only half the limitation.

Unconscious self-superiority keeps itself in place
through a process of resisting what it imagines it
isn't like, but by the fact of the negative reaction
proves its unseen likeness. Shakespeare said,
"Methinks thou dost protest too much," because he was
pointing out that what we most strongly dislike in
another is what we unconsciously recognize in
ourselves. 
The first step in harmonious relationships is simple:
We need only realize the truth that there is no one
whom we are not like in some way, even if we don't
actively express this quality. The deception is that
we're sure we're unlike everyone except for those who
match the images we have of ourselves. And so it goes
that we live from -- see our lives through the eyes of
-- a kind of "self" that is in a perpetual state of
resisting anyone seen as being "not like me." But Love
cannot grow where resistance rules.
We're not created to resist anything; we are created
to grow through everything. Resistance to life kills
the process of spiritual development. When we resist
what life would show us about ourselves, we
effectively close the door on the Light that wants to
help transform us by showing us what we don't know we
harbor in our soul. 
The human being is created to develop in the
"likeness" of that marvelous intelligence that made
us. This divine intelligence didn't create anything
that it fears or hates. It's a ridiculous thought to
walk around and believe (as we all do because of the
strong sense of self that it produces) that another
person is our enemy simply because we feel enmity for
him or her. 
Now don't be mistaken, there are plenty of unpleasant
people; our world is packed with them! But, given the
negative effect of resenting others, and the fact that
for now all we know to do towards those who disturb us
is to resist them, could it be that when it comes to
our human relationships we have been blinded to one of
the main reasons for them? The answer is "yes." 
Just as the wind moves through a tree and carries its
pollen to the blossoms of another tree, our
relationships are intended to be pollinations. They
are intended to act as conditions for us that create
the possibility of understanding that, in reality,
there is no such thing as this separate self that
lives only to create what it must then tolerate! 
This idea of tolerating human beings can't possibly be
the seed of something celestial. This part of us that
has become a master of tolerating those whom it can't
stand has come to be as strong and prevalent as it is
because of how superior it makes us feel. This
unconscious self-righteousness is not an act of love,
but a form of hatred; it is a weakness. 
Now, here's a special spiritual exercise designed to
develop harmonious human relationships. Just as we can
be taught the Heimlich maneuver -- a swift action that
can be taken to dislodge what is choking the body --
we can learn a spiritual maneuver that we may call
upon every day, as often as it is necessary, to help
us dislodge something that is presently choking our
soul. The point of this study and the new
understanding it reveals is to help us get past the
unconscious thinking that we can do something against
ourselves and expect a positive outcome. 
This exercise is called the "You-I Maneuver." You can
work with it every moment of the day, whether you're
with people or you're sitting alone and thinking about
someone. To employ this maneuver effectively, you will
need to be as sensitive in your interactions with
other people as a spider web is to the slightest
breeze. You can do this because your True Nature is
created to be just this sensitive. Any energy that
touches us sets off a resonance within us that we are
created to be conscious of as it moves through us. 
When we're around other people, and start to have a
negative reaction toward them, what we don't catch is
what occurs within us before it occurs to us that we
must tolerate this person. In this moment an
unregistered resistance impresses itself upon our
soul, and from it takes shape a reaction that always
begins with the word "you"-- as in "You are this," or
"You are that." There is this instant sense of
separation between one's self and the person one is
with. From this is born an actual surge of pressure
that identifies the one outside of us as being the
cause of our sense of conflict. But now we are
beginning to know better than to blame another for the
negative states revealed in us. 
So in this same moment when we look at that person and
feel this pejorative word "you" start to take shape,
we are going to add the word "I" to it: Now it's
"You-I." Inwardly you will be working to realize by
this new expression something like this: "You . . . I
have seen the exact same character in me." For
instance if an angry person comes to you, instead of
tolerating his or her negative state, work with this
maneuver like this: "You . . . I have seen the exact
same anger in me." 
This exercise is good for any negative manifestation
you react to in another. You never allow the momentum
of the negative "you" produced through intolerance to
exist without understanding that the self that resists
only resists seeing evidence of itself through the
life of another. In that moment we disarm the lie of
the "superior" self and steal from it its corrupting
power to produce the illusion that we are different
from the people we tolerate. And in the collapse of
that opposite, Love and compassion are born. I can no
longer treat you as someone to be "tolerated"; I
realize the fact that you and I really are "neighbors"
because we share a common pain. 
Here is a summary of the exercise called the "You-I
Maneuver." We need a new intention in all of our
relationships, something like this: I will not suffer
you; I will suffer us. I will not cast you out as
being something inferior to myself. I will not do that
because I can't recognize anything in you as being an
inferior condition unless I have it in myself. 
Our work, if we're willing, is to catch that surging
separation called "you are different from me." And
then, in that same moment, to apply our new
understanding that cancels this unconscious act of
resistance. Instead, we embrace the realization that
"you" and "I" are both exposed in this God-given
moment that is meant for the purpose of transcending
ourselves. 
Remember that "tolerance" is a lie because it produces
a "me" that is always apart from what I am tolerating.
There cannot be Love where there is separation. Work
at the "You-I Maneuver." Learn to watch this low-level
self that is trying to destroy the possibility of Love
awakening in us. Risk leaving yourself open by
refusing to identify with the parts of yourself that
would have you believe that resisting Life can lead to
being embraced by it. Do the inner work it takes to
make this exercise personally meaningful and you will
understand the greatest secret on earth: everyone on
it has a gift just for you -- if you will only take
it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guy Finley is Founder and Director of the Life of
Learning Foundation, devoted to helping people realize
their True Relationship with Life. Guy is the author
of over 30 books and audio albums that have sold over
a million copies in 15 languages worldwide, and is on
the faculty of the Omega Institute, the nation's
largest and most trusted holistic education provider.
Guy's radio program "Letting Go with Guy Finley" airs
Sundays on Lime Radio (Sirius Radio Channel 114), and
his live, call-in radio program "Guy Finley Live" airs
monthly on HealthyLife.net as part of the network's
"Visionary Celebrity Host Series." For more
information about Guy Finley and Life of Learning call
(541) 476-1200 or visit GuyFinley.com, where you can
also sign up to receive a free, weekly Key Lesson. 


Sunday, April 15, 2007 
 

 7 Steps to Improve your Life 

7 Things to do everyday to improve your life.
Tried to be considerate making this where it can be used by everyone. There are plenty of free articles on the internet that go into great detail about each of these 7 things. Keyword search always works well. Or if you want to have a simple exercise program you can go to https://www.angelfire.com/blog/health

1) Pray and/or Meditate

2) Read the Bible and/or Spiritual Book

3) Communicate with family and friends (Fellowship) - They will be there when you need them as you should be when they need you. This will help solidify your relationships. Make sure you get around to everybody during the week. 

4) Drink 1 ounce of water for 1/2 your body weight in pounds. (Ex. You weigh 150lbs, drink 75 ounces of water) - Your body is mostly water therefore you need it. Almost every diet I have seen includes drinking  alot of water. 

5) Exercise - Walk, weight lift, jog in place, jump rope, etc. Anything just do it.

6) Stretch - A few minutes is all it takes. 

7) Clean Some - Around your house, car, yard, etc. even if it is just for a few minutes.

 

Monday, April 02, 2007 
 

 Anti-Spam, Anti- Telemarketing 
Category: Life 
 

For Debt Collectors that are calling and harrassing you. Under the FDCPA, you have the right to tell a collection agency employee to stop contacting you. Simply send a letter stating that you want the collection agency to cease and desist all telephone communications with you. All agency employees are then prohibited from contacting you, except to tell you that collection efforts have ended or that the collection agency or original creditor may sue you. You can do this even if the collector is not breaking the law. Make sure you keep a copy of the letter for yourself and send it certified mail. For further information and some of the main laws for Debt Collectors go to the following website. The Fair Debt Collection Practice Act.  http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm 


This is the main law you need to read in regards to telemarketing calls. The Consumer Protection Act of 1991. It is possible to sue a company if they violate one of these rules. I am not saying it would be easy though. When a telemarketer calls make sure you ask which company it is, their phone number, and the name of the person. Make sure you make a note of when exactly they called also. http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html 
 

This is a great website for information on debt collection and debt consolidation.  http://www.creditinfocenter.com/
 

This is a good place to look up businesses that you may be wary of making a transaction with. It is also a good place to complain about a business that has scammed or mistreated you.  Very interesting reading also. http://www.ripoffreport.com/

Another good place to file a complaint for most types of businesses. http://www.bbb.org 
 

This is a good website to go to with a lot of links for reporting spam and scams. http://www.elsop.com/wrc/complain.htm 
 

Sunday, March 18, 2007 
 

 Unforgivable Sin 

This is from a good book I am almost done reading called "Hard Questions about the Bible made easy"
 

"Is the 'unforgivable sin' unforgivable?" 
 

What's the Problem? 
"Do you really believe that there is a sin that is unforgivable? Do you really hold to that?"
 

What the unforgivable sin is not
Most people have no idea what the unforgivable is. There are many people who think they are so "bad" that what they have done must be the unforgivable sin. The following is a list of some of the things people have thought the unforgivable sin to be.
- Murder
- Adultery
- Masturbation
- Blasphemy
- Having an abortion
- Not going to church
- A Divorce
All these ideas are very wide of the mark.
 

Did Jesus ever say that there was any sin that would not be forgiven? 
"Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Holy SPirit will not be forgiven." Matthew 12:31 
 

What the unforgivable sin is 
Jesus had just healed "a demon possessed man who was blind and mute."  Matthew 12:22
The Pharisees said that Jesus had expelled demons by the power of the prince of demons, Beelzebub. So their unforgivable sin is attributing Jesus' miracle, which was performed in the power of the Holy Spirit, to Satan. The unforgivable sin is to call Jesus and his divine power satanic.
People who do this would never go to Jesus for forgiveness, as they are saying he is of the devil. So their sins will never be forgiven by God.  
 

Unbelievers 
 

Some have theorized that the one sin that is unforgivable is the sin of "unbelief". That is to say "unbelief" is the one sin that the blood of Jesus could not cover. Every other sin in the world can be forgiven, but if one fails to place one's faith in Jesus Christ and decides to remain in "unbelief" - then that sin of unbelief is not forgivable. It is a direct rebuff of the work of the Holy Spirit on one's heart. 
 

Are you worried? 
Anyone who is genuinely concerned that he may have committed the unforgivable sin, has not done so. For such a person will ask God for his forgiveness. It is only the person who does not think that he or she ever needs God's forgiveness, who may have committed this sin. 
 

No one is turned away 
Jesus said, "Whoever comes to me I will never drive away."  John 6:37 
 

A Quote To Chew Over 
"There is only one person God cannot forgive. The person who refuses to come to him for forgiveness." Anonymous 
 

Sunday, March 18, 2007 

Daily Om 

This is from the DailyOm website, but I saw it on Willow's blog. Thanks Willow for the original post. 
Lifting Pain's Veil
Bitterness 
It is natural to feel resentment or anger when life does not unfold as expected. We consciously or unconsciously anticipated one experience, and we grieve for the loss of it when the universe puts something else in our path. Most of the time, we work through these feelings and they pass. Occasionally, our anger and resentment do not fade and are instead transformed into bitterness. Bitter feelings allow us to become perfect victims in that we no longer feel obliged to work toward healing and choose instead to identify with our pain. Yet as unwholesome as bitterness can be, it is also a natural element of our emotional palette. When we acknowledge that it is okay to feel bitter, we reconnect with our hurt in a constructive way and can begin the process of working through it. 
The nature of bitterness is rooted in the fact that the pain we feel provides us with a rationale. We may feel that we deserve to embrace our bitterness to its full extent. And to be bitter is, in essence, to cut ourselves off from all that is positive, hardening our hearts and vowing never to let go of our hurt. But just as bitter feelings can be self-defeating, so too can the release of bitterness be life-affirming in a way that few other emotional experiences are. When we decide that we no longer want to be bitter, we are reborn into a world filled with delight and fulfillment unlike any we knew while in the clutches of bitterness. The veil it cast over our lives is lifted, letting light and warmth touch our souls. 
Divesting yourself of bitter feelings can be as simple as truly forgiving and moving on. Even when your bitterness has no concrete object, you can forgive situations too. Healing pain can be challenging but may be easier if you remind yourself that you are the only entity truly affected by your emotional state. In time, you will discover that letting go of your bitterness frees you to initiate the healing process and allows you to once again celebrate the possibility of the more wonderful life you deserve.
 

Saturday, March 17, 2007 
 

 Money 

"Money will buy a bed, but it will not buy sleep.
Money will buy food, but it will not buy an appetite.
Money will buy medicine, but it will not buy health.
Money will buy a house, but it will not buy a home.
Money will buy a diamond, but it will not buy love.
Money will buy a church pew, but it will not buy salvation.
Money will buy a music building, but it will not buy a 
choir praising the Lord."
-Author unknown.  (My Dad added last line)
 


 Sunday, March 04, 2007 
 

 Evangelism 

Why should you evangelize? Well if you found something good. Such as you tried a good restaurant, wouldn't you recommend it to others, so they can share in the enjoyment also. If you tasted a new food or drink, wouldn't you comment on it to your friend. If you have done that then you already have evangelized. Some people (including me at one time) think of Jehovahs Witnesses when you think of the word evangelism. I have dealt with some that are rude as my customers and several other people that I work with also have. They were not knocking on my door, they were here at my work being rude. The thing is I have also dealt with people probably from all types of faith and some of them are rude. In general I think Jehovahs Witnesses have the right idea. The only problem is, some of them think there is one supreme religion that supercedes all others. There is only a right religion for the indivual. Whatever works for them and helps them IMPROVE themselves. I like the people who give out tracts. It takes a lot of courage to talk to a stranger to share your beliefs. These people do not take up much time and hand you a card with usually very positive statements on it. You can read it at your convenience. I am mostly a Christian, but there are also other beliefs I have. You have to be true to your own indivual beliefs, but be open minded about new ideas. If you are interested in something research it and try to prove the validity of it. If there is enough evidence then let it be your belief. I found a lot of answers to hard questions at Christiananswers.net. Evangelism does not necessarily have to be about God. I try mostly to evangelize about positive things, such as positive quotes, inspirational stories, life lessons(no need for my friends and family to make the same mistake as me), and anything that I think may be helpful to another. Its very easy to start just put a positive quote on your webpage or email an inspirational story to a friend. Copy, paste, and print is an awesome way to do it. I feel it has a lot more effect though if is not in the form of a chain letter. Just REMOVE the pass it on part about - your life will be ruined, something bad will happen, monkey will crap on your roof if you do not do this, etc. Something simple like "pass it on if you think it has merit" is a decent phrase to use. The one main concept  I have found during my research on different religions, which even atheists believe in is LOVE. So if you love others you are doing pretty good. 
"When I stand in that heavenly city and saints around me appear, I hope somebody comes up and says, 'You're the one that invited me here.' " - Unknown 
 

"Other than the reward waiting for you when you arrive, the only thing you can take to heaven with you is a friend."- R. Larry Moyer
 

Monday, February 26, 2007 
 

 Equality 

Malachi 2:10
 10Don't we all come from one Father? Aren't we all created by the same God? So why can't we get along? Why do we desecrate the covenant of our ancestors that binds us together? 

Thursday, February 08, 2007 
 

 DailyOm blog 

This is from the DailyOm website
"Not Always Easy
Meant To Be 
Some of our goals and dreams come to fruition so easily that it is as if an unseen hand has done much of the work for us. When this happens, we say it must have been meant to be. On the other hand, when dreams and goals require a tremendous amount of effort, we may interpret this to mean that our dream is not meant to be. However, difficulty is not necessarily a sign that our hopes and plans are ill-fated. On the contrary, difficulties and challenges along the path can be important parts of the project's overall meaning. 
When everything goes smoothly, we feel blessed by the universe, as if a fleet of angels is guiding and supporting our every move. When things are rough or ambiguous, we sometimes feel that we have been abandoned. And yet, the truth is that we are blessed in both cases. Our angels and guides are always present. They may choose at times to back off and let us figure something out for ourselves, and this is when things seem difficult. But when things are difficult, we learn and grow in specific ways. There is a unique satisfaction that comes to us when we succeed at something that has been a challenge. Our sense of self-reliance expands, and our ability to endure and keep the faith is stronger for having been tested. We learn that we are capable of confronting and overcoming the obstacles in our path, and this empowers us to dream still bigger dreams, knowing that we will not be daunted by the challenges inherent in birthing them. 
When we find ourselves facing difficulties with a particular plan or project, the chances are we know already whether we are meant to continue on or let it go. We simply need to look within ourselves for the answer. When an idea is meant to be, it comes back to us time and time again. Then we know we can go forward, no matter what challenges arise, knowing that it is meant to be."

Friday, February 02, 2007 


Worrying 


"It is the fire of suffering that brings forth the gold of godliness."- Madame Guyon 


Some excerpts from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren 


"God has a purpose behind every problem. He uses circumstances to build our character."

"God uses problems to draw you closer to Himself."

"We learn things about God in suffering that we can't learn any other way." 

"Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves." 

"If you are facing trouble right now, don't ask, "Why me?" Instead ask, "What do you want me to learn?" Then trust God and keep on doing what's right." 


Some excerpts from 31 Days with the Master Fisherman by R. Larry Moyer 


"For a Christian, there is a tremendous source of comfort when faced with worry. We can take anything that is on our shoulders and, through prayer, push it onto His – knowing His shoulders are so much bigger than ours." 

"If you are going to worry, worry about having a consistent prayer life, or spending time in the Word, or introducing a neighbor to Christ. And if you concern yourself with My business, I'll concern Myself with yours." 
 

Some excerpts from Battlefield of the Mind devotional by Joyce Meyer. 

"The word worry is defined as a feeling of uneasiness or a troubled, anxious, distressed, and concerned mind. Another definition I have heard for worry is to "torment oneself with disturbing thoughts." When I heard that last definition, I immediately decided that I am smart enough to know better than to sit around tormenting myself." 


"Try this. Each day, focus on the things God has done for you in the past. This will make it easier for you to expect good things in the future."

"Worry is a sin against God.As long as I've been in the church, I don't think I've ever heard anyone make that statement. But it is sin. It is calling God a liar. It is saying that God is not sufficiently able to take care of you and provide for your needs. 
Faith says, "God can do it." Worry says, "God isn't able to help me." 

"The more you focus on the problems, the larger they become." 

"If you are worrying about what might happen, you're hindering God from working in your life."

Philippians 4:13


13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.


Psalm 37:5-10 (New International Version)

 5 Commit your way to the LORD; 
       trust in him and he will do this: 

 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, 
       the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 

 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; 

       do not fret when men succeed in their ways, 
       when they carry out their wicked schemes. 

 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; 
       do not fret—it leads only to evil. 

 9 For evil men will be cut off, 
       but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. 

 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; 
       though you look for them, they will not be found. 


Matthew 6:31-33 (New International Version)

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' 

or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 
32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 
 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 
and all these things will be given to you as well.


2 Corinthians 4:17 (New International Version)

17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 


1 Peter 4:12 (New International Version)

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.


Romans 5:3-4 (Amplified Bible)

3Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

    4And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of [a]character (approved faith and [b]tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] [c]joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.


Romans 8:28 (Amplified Bible)

28We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.


Matthew 6:26-28 (New International Version)

26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 
 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.  28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.


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


 
Monday, January 29, 2007 


 Not Enough Time 


This poem was given to me today by a very dear friend.
 

I knelt to pray but not for long,

I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work

for bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,

and jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done,

my soul could rest at ease....

All day long I had no time

to spread a word of cheer.

No time to speak of Christ to 

friends, they'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,

that was my constant cry.

No time to give to souls in need,

but at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,

and  stood with downcast eyes.

For in his hands God!  held a book;

It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said:

'Your name I cannot find 

I once was going to write it down...

but never found the time.' 


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

Saturday, January 27, 2007 


 Great News 


One of my friends is now a born-again Christian! I
 actually had a spiritual conversation with him. He
 told me that a lot of Christians had been around him
 lately and then one day last week he accepted Jesus.
 He told me this one guy at work that happened to like
 wrestling talked about it some also. Its cool how God
 gets someone the indivual can relate to in a better
 way. He told me about how much easier things were to
 handle, which I remember that same change also in my
 own life. I told him a lot of the deep thoughts I had
 about the Bible such as my viewpoints on Hell, books I am reading now, and suggested reading the Book of
James and John. He does not like reading much, so he
might not read the Bible much. I did mention the Bible on cd though. But I am glad he has done the most important step. It takes work though, just much nicer with God carrying you around. 


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

 
 Rudeness Part 2  


Everyone knows I have always had a problem with rude people.  I know that a lot of things are to build character. Today I read about it in a different context. The reading said that Love for others is not built in isolation, it is formed even by aggravating, unloving people. Mostly being around all kinds of people. I do remember reading a lot of actual scripture about loving others, but the book(The Purpose Driven Life) brought the two things together in a way I could understand better- Love and aggravating people being necessary. This books speaks more clearly to me than most books do. The thing that touched me the most is that I have been praying for a long time for myself to be more loving, and God has been granting my prayer all along in a way that I did not understand at the time. He does this in everybody's life in ways that make sense later. I have posted a few bulletins about love and even wrote a real good paragraph about it over 10 years ago. If you are interested, it is in my older blogs.

 

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

 
Saturday, January 20, 2007 


 Rudeness 


I am still having a problem with my thoughts when I deal with rude people. I try to remember they are God's creations and children also. I know to not take it personally, and that they are usually bothered by something that has nothing to do with me. I have read a lot of scripture about it and know they will have to be judged for all wrongdoings. As I will also(theres a lot). I guess the thing that helps the most though is knowing that these people are just being weak minded and being influenced by Satan. I feel some pity toward them. Another point is I would rather learn patience and understanding here on Earth than after I die.


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

Friday, January 19, 2007 

 Good Books 


I have been reading two great books recently. One is the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, and the other is 31 days with the Master Fisherman by R. Larry Moyer. Both are daily devotionals, very simple reading that does not take very long to read each day. Both books quote a lot of Scripture and it goes hand in hand with the Bible. 

 
A few of the interesting points I have seen so far in Warren's book - God has a purpose for your life, and life is much more fulfilling when you discover the purpose. It was not an accident that you were created, God made you as a unique indiviual that he loves. People are made for eternity, this life is only temporary. All of life is a test and character is delevoped through it. "In my own life I have noticed that God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions, and tests my love through people." "Offering yourself to God is what worship is all about." 

 
A few of the interesting points I have seen so far in Moyer's book - "We become keenly aware that if a lost person does not hear the Gospel from us, the next person  who speaks to them could be someone spreading the wrong message. If they do not hear it from us, they may not hear anything at all." My favorite quote from the chapter Keep it Simple -  "This is the Gospel: Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead." Your tongue can do a lot of harm or a lot of good. Avoid excuses given to God. God will help you if you are afraid, even Paul one of the best speakers of his time "trembled" with fear. 


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

 
Tuesday, January 09, 2007 


 Ben Stein Words of Wisdom 


If they know of him at all,  many folks think Ben Stein is just a quirky actor/comedian who talks in a  monotone. He's also a very intelligent attorney who knows how to put ideas and  words together in such a way as to sway juries and make people think  clearly.

The following was written by  Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning  Commentary


Herewith at this happy time of  year, a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue w ho  Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when  I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the  grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they?  Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why  are they so important?

I don't know who Lindsay Lohan  is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's  wife.

Am I going to be called before  a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no  clue who Nick and Jessica are.

If this is what it means to be  no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next  confession:


I am a Jew, and every single  one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit  when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I  don't feel threatened. I don' t feel discriminated against. That's what they  are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when  people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or  getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that  we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It  doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key  intersection near my beach house in Malibu If people want a creche, it's just  as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards  away.

I don't like getting pushed  around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed  around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and  tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came  from that America is an explicitly atheist  country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved  down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another  way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and  we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand  Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm  getting old, too.

But there are a lot of us who  are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where  theAmerica we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we  send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not  intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you  thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was  interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let  something like this Happen?" (regarding Katrina)

Anne Graham gave an extremely  profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of  our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our  lives.

And being the gentleman He is,  I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His  blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent  events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when  Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained  she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better  not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt  not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we  shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little  personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr.  Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's  talking about and we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why  our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why  it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it  long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do  with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to  hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending  messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar  and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this  message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not  sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more  worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of  us.

Pass it on if you think it has  merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you  discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape  the world is in.

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

Tuesday, December 12, 2006 

 
Traffic Tickets 

Sort of bad day, someone extremely close to me got a speeding ticket today. I just wanted to warn everyone that during the holidays their are more police officers out, more drunk drivers, and people are more stressed out. Slow down please to lessen the chances of you paying financially(ticket) or physically(wreck). Also think of the possible rise in insurance. Happy Holidays. 


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

Hell  

 
Just spent the last few hours reading online. Spent a hour about reading about the king and High Priest Melchizedek.He is only mentioned a few times in the Bible. Mostly Hebrews Chapter 7. I thought it was very interesting that they said he was the one Jesus replaced as the main high priest. Also saw one website saying that Melchizedek was the human incarnation of the Holy Spirit. Definitely possible, but it does not say yes or no in the Bible. Just use his name in a search engine to find out more. Here is one of the main websites I looked at. The sound spiritual concepts is definitely worth looking at.
 

www.reunificationchurch.org
 

Most of the time I spent reading about Hell. I tend to agree with most of what I read. It appears though in some, possibly the majority of Bibles nowadays indivual words have been mistranslated. This is a human mistake not a God mistake! A lot of the times in the Bible when Hell is mentioned it is really referring to an actual place called Gehenna. Out of all the things I read I believe the lake of fire(not necessarily hell) does exist, but for the purpose of purifying, and cleansing. The idea of purgatory is a lot closer to what I believe, not an eternal torment in hell. In other words when someone dies they are judged fairly and justly. Therefore the time in the lake of fire is in accordance to the evil you committed on Earth. Whereas I believe Earth is somewhat a training and proving ground. All I know is I would prefer to accept and give love(God is love) here than after I die. Here is one of the more interesting websites going into greater detail about this. Some of the articles are very long, but worth reading. 
 

http://www.what-the-hell-is-hell.com/
 

If something does not sound right to you, research it and let your heart choose from right and wrong. 

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

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 

 

Health Tips 

 
I have read a lot of health books, magazines, and articles. My recommendation if you are looking to start a lifestyle change (say that because diets are just short term) are the following. The Abs Diet, and The Harvard Food Pyramid.  I also think the Low Carb Slim Fast plan is great for a few weeks but not for long term. One thing is constantly repeated in almost everything I read. To drink water. I do not believe in the 8 glasses of day, because how can this take into account different weight. I recommend take your body weight in pounds divide it by 2 and that is how many ounces you should drink. Example you weigh 160 pounds divide by 2= drink 80 ounces of water. The way you eat is more important than exercise, but if you wish to get in shape a lot faster, exercise is required. 

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

Saturday, October 14, 2006 

 
 Arguing just for the sake of arguing 

 
Some of you realize that I work in the customer service industry. If not, now you do. Well the only time I get on the computer is here at work, I do not have one at home anymore. Just a little while ago I had a situation where I had to have a customer's driver's license to be able to enter the information in the computer. Which it is always required by company policy and it is a safe way to make sure the credit card is theirs. I know if someone stole my credit card, I would prefer the customer service checked, before I got charged. Anyways immediately after he took it out, he put it back in his wallet. Then he got mad because I asked him to take it out again. I told him as politely as I could that I did not see it yet. This infuriated him of course and he needed to get my name, and said he would be reporting me and all that. I thanked him for his business and said have a good day(no, not in a sarcastic way, I said it sincerely). As my normal procedure I go ahead and write up my version for the management. Time, date, explanation and so on. Always a good practice to do in the customer service industry. This person is a good representative of what I am against. I try to spread around positive things and he is one that spreads around negativity.


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

 

Ten Guidelines from God 

 
Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines 

 
1. QUIT WORRYING:

 
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sitand worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you?
 
Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way? 

 
2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:

 
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, 
if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize. 

 
3. TRUST ME: 

 
Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials.
 
Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. 
 
Problems with your emotional roller coaster?For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask. 

 
4. LEAVE IT ALONE: 
 

Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple.
 
You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back,
you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job. 
 

5. TALK TO ME: 

 
I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy.
 
Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! 
 
I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life.
 
I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend. 

 
6. HAVE FAITH:

 
I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes.
 
I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be? 

 
7. SHARE:

 
You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? 
 
That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none. 

 
8. BE PATIENT:

 
I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences.
 
You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades,travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush. 

 
9. BE KIND:

 
Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

 
10. LOVE YOURSELF: 

 
As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me.
 
Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me.
 
Don't ever forget......

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

If this is your wake-up call, do not touch that snooze button!

 
     During the last year or so, all kinds of signs have been coming to me that something major will happen soon.  The 6/6/6 date came and next year more importantly 7/7/7 will occur.  I consider 7 a very holy number and of course a lot of people think of it as a lucky number especially those in Vegas. The number 7 is repeated 52 times in the book of Revelations.  Seven stands for "completeness".  I tend to see the number 911 at least twice a week.  I do not look at the clock much but when I do that happens to be a number I see quite often.

 
      This is an excerpt from my Daily Bible; "God still uses "Early Warning Systems" today to signal danger to his believing ones.  Perhaps something from your Bible reading has "hit home" in an area of your life that needs changing.  Or maybe the "prophetic voice" of a Christian, counselor, friend, pastor, or parent has alerted you to the danger of continuing down the path you are on.
 

     Take a moment today to look for "early warning signals" in your own life- a conviction of sin, a tugging of conscience."

 
     So maybe you are not a Christian, but would it really hurt to start improving areas of your life that you know you need to improve.  Do it for yourself and people you love. If you do believe in God, then do it in his honor.  "Live each day as if it were your last."

 
"If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will avoid one hundred days of sorrow." - Greg Anderson 

 
"To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best." - William M. Thackeray 
 

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia 
 

Please copy and pass this on to your loved ones.

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

Monday, November 13, 2006 
 

  Shirt Evangelism 

What is Shirt Evangelism?

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise
~Proverbs 11:30

Opening Doors the Opportunity to Share the Gospel
Only God could do it. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins; He gave the
greatest gift of all time. Everyone who has received it wants to tell others. This
is just such good news you can't keep it to yourself. Jesus' command to go into
the entire world and preach the good news is the desire of every Christian.
He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
~Mark 16:15

People want to share, but opportunities are limited. Cynical attitudes, fear of
man, and societal pressures stop people, don't talk to anyone is the attitude, but
people must hear the Word.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord wil be saved." How, then,
can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear
without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless
they are sent? As it is written,
l
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
~Romans 10:13-15

Shirt Evangelism Changes Everything

People want to tell and people need to hear, what can be done? Many
witnessing plans have been used, some with more success than others. Great
evangelists have had successes, but what about the masses? Jesus' command is
not to a few, but Shirt Evangelism is for everyone. It is a great way to breaking
down barriers that hinder efforts to share.
How Does It Work?
Shirt Evangelism is simple: get the other guy to start the conversation! It is
much easier to share the Gospel when someone asks you! Uncomfortable
situations are now changed. If they do not understanding the message, people
will ask about your shirt. Once they ask, you tell them about the shirt and most
importantly, the good news. When they start the conversation, people are not
threatened; the barriers to conversations are broken down, and they will listen.

How Do I Get Started?
The only thing you need to get started with Shirt Evangelism is the desire to
share the Gospel and a Christian shirt that will draw questions. The best are
shirts without scriptures.

Why Do I Need a Shirt Without Scriptures?
Shirt Evangelism shirts are different because they don't proclaim your faith,
they open the door for you to share your faith! When you wear a typical
Christian shirt (one with Bible reference on it) you are making a statement. By
the very fact that you shirt has scripture on it you are proclaiming "I am a
Christian". When was the last time you wore a Christian shirt and someone
asked you to tell them about Jesus? But what if you had a shirt that had no
scriptures on it? What if the shirt carried a bold spiritual truth? And what if that
shirt was able to inspire the questions in both the believer and unbeliever? Now
you have a powerful witnessing tool! The lost, seeing your shirt but not
understanding it, tend to ask questions like "I don't get your shirt" or "What does
that mean" The door to share the Gospel is now open in a new way. Since they
asked you a question you are free to answer without anyone feeling threatened.
Now you can explain the meaning and symbolism of your shirt, and at the
same time explain the love of Jesus; without the pressure that can hinder your
witness.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
~Proverbs 11:30

© 2001 ACME, Inc. This article maybe reprinted and or reproduced in any fashion provided
all quotes are used in context and the following information is included:
Written By: David Williamson Dave@feargod.com Visit our web site at www.FearGod.com
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV.
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved
 

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

Saturday, September 30, 2006 


 Good Scripture 


Love, for the Day is Near 
 8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"[a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 
 11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.[c]   Romans 13:8-14 (New International Version)

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

Friday, September 29, 2006 

 
Words and Dreams 

 
Words can be very powerful. Certain words can tear down others and inflict harm. Other words can uplift and encourage.
It's easy for us to dismiss the power of words. And how many of us guard our tongue throughout the day. I find it is easy to make comments that are negative, sarcastic or frivolous without giving much thought at all. It reminds me of the saying, "engage brain before speaking".
Sometimes we use words without even knowing what they really mean. I've often been surprised after looking up in a dictionary a word that I thought I always knew the meaning to.
God's inspired word can be found in scripture. This is why ongoing Bible study is important. Of course, humans wrote the Bible, so it is important to look for the consistent message of love, grace, giving and forgiving that is woven through the Bible and not get bogged down in literal terms that are clearly cultural in context and not always consistent with Jesus' message to love God and others.
Try today to use some loving and encouraging words. Thanks for reading these.

Peace and joy, 

Tom Gilbert

 
 
Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

 
God can do anything, you know far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Ephesians 3:20 The Message) 
 
What are your dreams, your passions, the things that excite you, that energize you, and that make you come alive? Whatever they are, no matter how wild or how unrealistic they may seem to you right now, they pale in comparison to what God has planned for you. The key to having and living this life God has for you is in this verse. It comes by letting God live and work in and through us. Now keep in mind this does not mean that everything will be all wine and roses. God may live though you in a mighty way. He may have things planned for you that are incredible and that will affect many people in great ways, but it may cost you dearly. You may find that you lose favor in your church, you may lose a job and you may even lose your life. 
 
Now please hear me clearly. I am not advocating going and be a jerk for God. That is not what I am saying or what God wants. But when we stand up for God out of our love for Him and others and stand against the things that are keeping people in bondage and advocate for their freedom, the freedom that Christ bought for them on the cross, we will be met with resistance. That kind of freedom takes control way from those who are trying to control people for their own purposes. Look at the life of Jesus, John the Baptist, the lives of the Apostles, and the thousands of believers throughout history who were killed for simply believing and professing the truth of God. God did great things with their lives. He gave them lives worth living. That is what I believe is meant by an abundant life. It is a life worth living.
 
Years ago I saw a painting at the State Fair. It was a picture of Jesus and the caption was," I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it."
 
God wants great things for all of us — things beyond what we have ever thought of. All we need to do is accept His love, trust Him, and let Him live and love through us. This is a life truly worth living. 
 

Fight for the Heart of Your King 

Pete Reinbold

 
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Tuesday, September 26, 2006 

 
The Bible 

 

The Bible Lives 

 
Generation follows generation 

  yet it lives.

Nations rise and fall

  yet it lives.

Kings, dictators, rulers come and go

 yet it lives.

Torn, condemned, burned

  yet it lives.

Hated, despised, cursed

 yet it lives.

Doubted, suspected, criticized

  yet it lives.

Damned by atheists

  yet it lives.

Scoffed at by scorners

 yet it lives.

Exaggerated by fanatics

 yet it lives.

Misconstrued and misstated

yet it lives.

Ranted and raved about

yet it lives.

Its inspiration denied

Yet it lives

- as a lamp to our feet.

Yet it lives

- as a light to our paths.

Yet it lives

- as the gate to Heaven.

Yet it lives

- as a standard for childhood.

Yet it lives

- as a guide for youth.

Yet it lives

- as an inspiration for the matured.

Yet it lives

- as a comfort for the aged.

Yet it lives

- as food for the hungry.

Yet it lives

- as water for the thirsty.

Yet it lives

- as rest for the weary.

Yet it lives

- as light for the heathen.

Yet it lives

- as salvation for the sinner.

Yet it lives

- as grace for the believer.

To know it is to love it.

To love it is to accept it.

To accept it means life eternal.

-Written by 0. Woods 


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

Attitude is Everything

By Francie Baltazar-Schwartz 

 
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

 
He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

 
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

 
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

 
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."
 

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
 

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.
 
I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
 

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.
 

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man. " I knew I needed to take action."
 

"What did you do?" I asked.
 

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply.. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
 

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything. 

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

Pastor's Calling Card 

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house,it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote, "Revelation 3:20" onthe back of it and stuck it in the door.
 

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10." Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter.
 

Revelation 3:20 begins, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."
 

Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are!
 

"A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Prov. 17:22) Now, pass it on!
 

God is good--ALL the time!

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


Tuesday, September 12, 2006 

 Gossip 

" Giving scandal to another"- This was on a list of bad things on a christian website.

My Dad's words-
"Gossip, we're exposed to it everyday in one form or 
other.  Walk away from it.  It is impossible, to walk in another's shoes.  Many times, I just realize that I don't have all the facts.  Coins have 2 sides and most people can't see that there is a middle."

My thoughts- Gossip pretty much permeates everywhere including people's churches. What a shame everyone has been guilty of this at one time or another including me. I admit it's very interesting sometimes. Some things need to be shared which other people need to know. The thing is you really need to think what is and what is not gossip before you repeat it.  

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

Tuesday, September 05, 2006 

 Writing Journals or Blogs 

Interesting piece of wisdom I learned from my Mom today about writing. Common sense, but never really thought about it. She told me that whenever she writes in her journal she only writes about positive things. No need to remember the bad things. She mentioned when her memory is not good anymore I could read to her from it. Who would want to hear about the bad things again and relive it anyways.

Another take on this about writing blogs- why spread negativity around, when you can spread positive thoughts to everyone. Especially important if you even acknowledge karma. God knows what you are doing too. 

Another 2 tips- 1) Write any of your important thoughts down immediately. I know sometimes I forgot things that probably would have made a difference. 2) If you actually have a paper journal make sure you hide it real well or lock it up.

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

Sunday, September 03, 2006 

 Silent Hill 


I watched Silent Hill a few days ago. It was a great movie. I know a lot of times the good and bad are so clearly defined. But in this one I sort of wonder. The religious fanatics in this movie seem just as bad as the demon. I know their are people like this to in reality. What right do they have to do the judging of people that is supposed to be reserved for God. I am definitely guilty of my pre-judgements also, but no where near the extreme some people take it to nowadays. Lets see people have 2 options for their judgement - A) Literally (as in movie) burn someone to cleanse them of sins or figuratively by words of anger  B) Words of kindness or an offer of help.

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

Monday, August 21, 2006 


 Save some money 

Hopefully this stuff will help somebody save some money. Eating healthier if you do it wisely, actually is cheaper. I used to go dining out 3 or 4 times a week. Eating at home definitely saves money and it is more special when I do get to dine out. I tried Lentils last week. They were really good especially mixed with Lo-carb/lo-fat Kraft 3-cheese ranch. I actually did some comparasions they have the highest protein and fiber out of all the beans I saw. Pretty cheap too. 50c bag it kept me eating for 3 days. I realized after I dumped the bag in the pot that it was just way too much for 1 meal for 2 people. I bought some bulk frozen meat(like chicken breasts, hamburger, turkey burgers) a while back. And I still have some left. I wish I would have changed my personal spending habits a long time ago. Still have a problem buying energy drinks, but have corrected that some too. They are usually over $2 a piece at any gas station, but now I get the ones from Wal-mart. Under $3 for 4. Arizona Low carb extreme energy shot. They did not have it last time, so I am sticking with coffee for a little while. I will be cancelling my Blockbuster monthly all you can rent deal at the end of this month and maybe do it once every three months. There is nothing left to watch already. Sad, huh? Amazingly enough it does not seem like I have much time to watch movies either. But its cheaper than even one trip to the theater. It costs like $30 to go to the theater for 2 people, food, and drink. I suppose every once in a blue moon it is worth it. 

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

 June 6, 2006 

Toxic Cans 

Beverage Cans 

  This incident happened recently in North Texas.

  A woman went boating one Sunday taking with her some cans of coke which
she put into the refrigerator of the boat.

  On Monday she was taken to the hospital and placed in the Intensive
Care Unit.
  She died on Wednesday.

  The autopsy concluded she died of Leptospirosis which was traced to the

can of coke she drank from, not using a glass.

 

  Tests showed that the can was infected by dried rat urine and hence the

disease Leptospirosis.

 


  Rat urine contains toxic and deathly substances. It is highly

recommended to thoroughly wash the upper part of soda cans before

drinking out of them.


  The cans are typically stocked in warehouses and transported straight

to the shops without being cleaned.

 


  A study at NYCU showed that the tops of soda cans are more contaminated

than public toilets (i.e).. full of germs and bacteria.

  Wash them with water before putting them to the mouth to avoid any kind
of fatal accident.

  Please forward this message to all the people you care about.

  (I JUST DID)

  P.S. This applies to cans of beer too!

  See also;

  http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic856.htm 

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

Sunday, May 14, 2006 

 My thoughts after drinking/ Life Lessons 

Current mood:  contemplative 

It has been a descent night. I wanted to say something about my past blog, currently I do not affiliate myself with an established religion. I feel as if there is not one correct way to worship and it is up to the indiviual to choose the right way for them. Whichever way you feel is correct is the right way for you. 

I believe God communicates with us all in the way we can understand best. Personally I am told through friends. Sometimes it is just a random sentence that I just understand in a different way. Then sometimes it is direct. One of my great friends communicates through dreams. Another communicates through cards(or so he thinks anyways, not sure about this one). 

I have been learning a lot of things again recently that I should have already known. Such as I know the patterns in my life. It tends to be a circle. Everything that happens to me will happen to another person I have a relationship(friendship or just someone I know) with in the exact same way. In a way this is a blessing and a curse because I do get to get a unique understanding seeing situations from both sides. It is not just a theory anymore, it has happened way too many times now. So it is a fact. It helps drastic when you learn how your life goes. Take the time to recognize your patterns. 

This weekend I truly thought I would have to deal with a bunch of jackasses, but suprisingly everyone was nice. There is no reason to make up a reason in your mind to worry about. It was just worry for nothing. As it usually is. Another lesson it reminds me of is never judge a book by its cover. 

Started taking Relacore a few weeks ago. It actually works as a mood enhancer. I do not take it on a daily basis to make sure I do not get too relient on it. I do not know if it works for burning ab fat as it says. But after you get your mood enhanced- who cares?

I would like to mention that I have heard several horror stories about identity theft. People nowadays broadcast their full names and dates of birth everywhere. Needless to say this is dangerous. I actually took my name off my email addresses and on here and just switched to initials. If someone wants to get to know you they need to be patient. Names hold a lot of power.  Having a shredder at home to shred bills and personal info helps to.

By the way my Paranoia is not a weakness, it gives me an edge. I am more aware than most and have a slightly better reaction time. Its a lot harder to follow me or to sneak up on me. 

Love is the meaning of life. I can hear a few people saying- You are a sap. But it is true. It does not have to be a romantic love either, it can be love of a moment, friendship love, love of a family member, love of music, love of God(you knew I had to throw this in here) etc. Just the enjoyment of the present and not worrying about later is love of the moment. 

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