What Does the Bible Say About Love?

We celebrate Valentine's Day each year on February 14th. This is a day that we appreciate the one we love. We give them cards and gifts and go out of our way to show how much we love them. Love is a very powerful emotion. And can be a great motivator in our lives. But the bible teaches us that love is not an emotion that can come or go, but a decision that we make. Some of us feel that we are in love one day and out of love the next. If our loved one doesn't do something right or be who we want them to be, we don't love them anymore. But that's not true love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves." When we choose a mate, these are traits to look for and traits that we should also possess.

It can be easy to fall in love, but ask yourself these questions to see if it's true love? Is this person a christian believer in Christ Jesus. Are they saved and have put God first in their life? And are they willing to put you first, before all others, only second to God? Genesis 2:24 says, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This scripture indicates that in marriage we become as one person and no other, including parents, should come before our mate. And we should also give the time and effort to make our marriages last a lifetime, so perhaps the divorce rates can diminish. For 1 Corinthians states, "Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

But what does the bible say about love? 1 John 2:5-6 says, "But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." Jesus is an example of true love. He wants us to show our love for each other in action and truth and not just by words alone. (1 John 3:18) If we want to know what true love is, we just need to follow God and his example. The path and definition of love is found in 1 John 4:7-12, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." Now that we know God's definition of love, it is important to determine whether we are just following emotions or following God's will. If God's will is done first, then true love will always last.

Wanda is a wife, mother, public speaker of "1 Minute With Wanda" and contributing author of EzineArticles.com. She has been writing about God and spirituality for over 20 years and has researched the bible and its history. Wanda also specializes in christian poetry and children books and believes and teaches that regardless of a person's background or their mistakes of the past, God has a place for them. She currently resides in Chino, California.

She is the publisher and bestselling author of "Kids Ask The Darndest Things About God And The Beginning- Answers From The First Five Books Of The Bible" available at http://www.ball-publications.com

Visit Ball Publications Christian Books at http://www.ball-publications.com and sign up for our FREE "The Knowledge" monthly Newsletter. Gain Knowledge and Power with articles, discussions, tips and special offers that will be provided from time to time. Take advantage of up and coming books and events, radio broadcasts and recommended products of interest for you and your family!

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Radical Religious Leaders - World Religion and Leadership

If we look at someone like Adolf Hitler, he was a radical leader that gave the people what they really wanted. He gave them hope of a new world where they would be at the top of the food chain, he would create a superior race of people and call them Arians. Most of the people in Germany and neighboring countries started to believe in German racial superiority. This thinking gained more momentum as other parts of the world fell from German military strength.

We can look back at history and point our fingers at radical leaders from the past like Adolf Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin, and Genghis Khan. The list goes on but one thing is for sure, most of these empires have crumbled to the ground, but have left their mark on the world we live in today.

How do we take someone like Jim Jones, "The People's Temple" leader who was based in San Francisco, California and led his followers to Jonestown, Guyana, in search of something better. These people left their country, to follow their leader, full hope of that Jonestown would provide them with something they were desperately searching for, only to end up committing suicide. Was Jim Jones considered a radical religious leader and can we tell the difference today when were so caught up in their religious beliefs.

It becomes easy for others to see the problems with religious leaders, only when they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Should these people be banned from practicing religion because of one, or two, or maybe 50 mistakes. When do you honestly know in your heart that these people are not serving your best interest as religious leaders?

I believe the future of religious leaders is going to play a powerful part in our lives for years to come. It's hard to imagine how someone can follow so closely behind their leaders, that they can't see around them. Is there someone in your life, who you look up to and admire, do these people treat you like a daughter or son, does it seem like there helping you get over hurdles in your life on a regular basis. Do you look to these people for answers, hope and even faith?

There's a fine line between radical religious leaders and great religious leaders. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.

Try not to get caught up in any one person's beliefs. You could soon find yourself in the same situation as Jim Jones followers. It seems hard to imagine has but if you continue to put others interest first and foremost, you could end the becoming part of a radical religious following and only when it's too late will you be able to see the truth. By then it could be too late.

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

Have you ever gave it much thought, choose your religion, did your parents, or friends, or maybe even your grandparents, show you the way

Wood Attic Vents

Separation of Church and State? Says Who?

Excerpts from fellowship about the real Jesus and the role of Christians in society today:

If you understood that Yeshua is the I AM - He not only had the Canaanites destroyed for their pagan religious practices, He sent Israel and Judah into captivity for refusing to follow His biblical religion and as Yeshua drove out of "My Father's House" the moneychangers with a whip in His hand! Certainly that was met with raised eyebrows and shaking of heads, not to mention FEAR! Yes, fear religion!

And anybody who is a Christian who dares to deny that Christ will rule, as necessary with a ROD OF IRON, enforcing PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, simply is either in denial or woefully ignorant of the biblical King of Kings and Lord of Lords who will soon reign on Earth from Jerusalem with TOUGH LOVE!

You're talking Old Testament.

I'm talking the Law and the Prophets that Yeshua upheld and will enforce when He reigns perfectly from Jerusalem with TOUGH LOVE, giving different strokes for different folks.

Notice that God hasn't ordered the execution of anyone since Jesus walked the earth.

Yes, He has, time and again through the Law and the Prophets that haven't been made null and void by the tender mercies of our God, the Sermon on the Mount, except for those who are truly repentant as we can best determine with the help of God. Why do you think it is written about the ministers of State: "He bears not the SWORD in vain?" And that such ministers of state are to enforce the Law of God, serving as the vengeance of God? Romans 13 shows God has ordered the execution and other forms of punishment upon lawbreakers since Christ, since His Word remains true and hasn't changed or been altered to accommodate fickle men and fleeting societies.

Jesus never told us to establish any form of government on earth. He clearly taught that His kingdom was not of this earth. If He wanted a government here now, He would have made one here, now. We, as disciples, are not called to rule here or even govern here.

Now you sound like the traditional Worldwide Church of God and those groups who have forsaken it in droves since the Great Apostasy after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, concerning avoiding politics, shirking your responsibilities, your civic DUTIES, failing to render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's, and by such woeful neglect and sinful negligence, have forfeited the reigns of government to the wicked and then cry about how awful things are! "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." I submit they're not such good men or they would do something!

Yeshua revealed HIS Kingdom of God-Beings, the ruling Kingdom-Family of God administering the Law of God, is yet future, that's true, of which He will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. However, as the I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He has established an earthly kingdom called Israel and Judah today, our family of nations - the Anglo-Saxon and white peoples of Northwestern Europe with our Jewish brethren. And to us, which includes those called to be Christians now: "REMEMBER THE LAW OF MOSES MY SERVANT WITH THE STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS" (Malachi 4:4).

God calls upon our Israelite family of nations to RESTORE HIS LAW AND ORDER, and we'll receive blessing to the degree we love and obey and He will bless our NATIONAL EFFORTS that reflect national repentance, learning to go by God's Word as LAW, trusting in His wisdom, rather than leaning to our own understanding with all our different political parties of men. We must recognize we are suffering national curses for national disobedience and repent and avert further national disasters (Daniel 9:11). God will draw near to us as we draw near to Him. God's Kingdom on Earth has always been through the physical descendants of Jacob-Israel, and we're to be a TYPE of the future Kingdom of God-Beings that will reign over us as we reign over other nations.

We are called to be Christ on earth. To show others by our example, who He is. Would Jesus have advocated war? How about slaughter?

Yes, we are called to reflect Christ on Earth, and our NATION is called to reflect GOD on Earth, as a "Light to all nations," a MODEL NATION for others to follow, seeing our sound mindedness and wisdom, peace and prosperity from following God's heavenly law here on Earth.

Christ would certainly advocate war, if and whenever necessary, without hesitation, as revealed in the Law and the Prophets, the Law of Moses that our peoples and professing Christians have forgotten to our confusion and shame! Onward Christian Soldiers!

This is where groups like the KKK confuse the heck out of me. They obviously don't know Christ. If they did, they'd know that He'd never treat another human the way they do.

I don't know a single member of the KKK and from personal experience know how a group's beliefs can be misrepresented by hysterical mobs. If the KKK is biblical on this or that, I support them on this or that. Where they're not biblical, I would say so and not offer support but call upon them to change.

The racist NAACP obviously doesn't know Christ or they wouldn't judge everything falsely by the color of someone's skin rather than the content of character (while ignoring national issues that are biblically based on ethnicity), and they wouldn't hold people down and under and back so they can keep their self-important positions they've prostituted themselves for at the expense of their own people whom they've sold down the river, listening to the siren calls of the race hucksters like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, both of whom should move to Africa and lead the way and create opportunities for others to follow. I would support them expressing such creativity in action instead of always cursing the real or imagined darkness rather than lighting a candle.

So many people claim to be followers of Jesus, then turn right around and go against His teachings. Jesus taught us to turn the cheek, love our enemy, bring peace and love to the sick and hurting. Deliver others of demons and heal the sick. I see none of this in our government body and I see very, very little of this in the corporate church body.

God's one government has two branches. Jesus was talking to individuals (Sermon the Mount) and He was talking to the NATION (10 Commandments/Law of Moses) when He revealed how we are to live. So many people claim to be followers of Jesus, then turn right around and go against His teachings. He said to expel sworn enemies from our Land; to execute various criminals and cleanse the Land, to wage war, if and whenever necessary, and not to show the mercy of fools to nations or individuals who hate our guts and would slit our throats their first opportunity. We're to love our neighbor as ourselves, not more than ourselves.

Yeshua said to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves." He was referring to an ATTITUDE, a willingness to go the extra mile, out of our way, but not indefinitely! If we take all of Yeshua's teaching on any given subject, rather than twist His teachings into some hippy pacifism, you'll see there's a time and a place, which is why He could act so violent and knock over tables and chairs and drive both men and animals from the Temple with a WHIP IN HIS HAND!

Certainly doesn't fit the traditional false image, does it? His harsh words against the religious leaders of His day certainly weren't smooth and pleasant to listen to, especially if you were on the receiving end of His verbal attacks! And when He reigns, He will rule with a ROD OF IRON and rebuke some nations, punish others and even destroy some.

Folks would do well to not try to tell the REAL JESUS about His teachings or to remember His Sermon on the Mount! Jesus will perfectly exercise the Law of Moses tempered by the Sermon on the Mount, as divine wisdom calls for, and we're called to whatever extent we're offered in this life to do the same, whether it's in the home, office, pulpit or political position. That's why our kings, our rulers, are commanded by God to read and study His Word daily that it may be the LAW OF THE LAND, and they can be humbled by realizing they're merely human instruments of God's grace, God's rod and staff.

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

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Restoration - Hallelujah

Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God almighty, Were free at last. Not being free in the body, but rather, free in the spirit. What is freedom, where does it come from and how do we obtain it? Many people around the world today are asking these same questions. From Africa, to China, North America to Russia, Australia to India.
Freedom will never be obtained in this life but the freedom comes from Knowing God and releasing the burdens of the flesh. Not wanting to be king of the world, nor ruler of physical ownership of the seen, but of the unseen. Our, hope, home and joy is not of this world, we are all strangers here. We have a kingdom to come, that will never end.

We have become custom to being able to, do as we wish, go where we want and conduct ourselves accordingly. But we were, and still are bound by chains and fetters in this body. Pain, suffering, discontent, disease are all part of our bondage. Many that don't believe in God, haven't seen nor felt the true freedom that one experiences as God fills their body with the spirit of Jesus Christ and with the truth and the release of their sin. The spiritual and not the physical.

The cry of happiness and the joy of knowing the truth. When I came to realize that I was lost and had no hope, I gave myself over to the one that died on that cross and the burdens fell to the floor. I was no longer bound by what I thought I knew, I wasn't bound by fear nor anxiety. I no longer feared death. I was born again in the flesh and in the spirit. I knew where my spirit lay.

In John 8:32 we learn, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. What is the truth that John was speaking of ? John himself, at one time, as were all mankind, in the bondage of the physical, not knowing the truth of Gods freedom of the spirit. When we were lost, we never knew that we were in chains, having knowledge but not knowing the truth of our surrounding's.

The truth that all manner of things, from the living to the innate will all come to and end. Steel will rust, Wood will burn, Stone will crumble and all other things are but for a time.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Jesus is wanting to make us all free of this world, its, hate, strife, worry and from the unknown. Its the unknown that causes many to have failing hearts and troubled minds.

Not knowing from one day or another weather they will be alive, weather someone will take all they have, or weather this world will meet a violent end. Fear of the unknown is causing many a sleepless night. Fear and confusion, causes marriages to fail, body's to become sick and the mind to become unstable.
In Luke 21:25-26, we see the reason many will die because of fear. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity(Trouble, confusion, fear of the unexplained, the inexplicable, seeking answers but not finding one.); the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence (Transgression, Disobedience, breaking of the Law.) of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men(Man writes laws and bibles to justify themselves.); but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men( idols,false gods and false prophets.) is abomination in the sight of God.

The turning away from the truth, being reconciliatory to all manner of filth and religions, being tolerable of lies and evil, making a pact with the devil, just to have a short lived peace. This present age is filled with violence, of so called religion. To obtain peace, there will be a pact made between those that say they are religious and the demon of darkness, this is undeniable. A Pact with the free nations and those nations that hold their people in religious bondage. Here is mans fear and confusion, what price will mankind pay for peace?

Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. The beginning of something must also have an end. Being born must also end in death, for we all must die, weather you believe in God or not, your life will end in death.

In Galatians 3:28, we see that God has no respect of persons. What does this mean? No one is above the judgment of God, no one is below Gods ability to save, we are neither, rich nor poor, white nor black, heathen nor civilized in Gods eyes. We all, as a race of people, are all the same. There are only two types of people on this earth, those born in first Adam (Born in Sin, human, and those born into last Adam, those of the spirit of Christ.) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
God does not look at the flesh, but rather looks into the spirit, for God is spirit. No man has ever entered into the next life in the flesh. We were all sinners at one time but thru the sacrifice of Jesus we all have the ability to become the Sons of God, free from the wrath to come and from the everlasting death of Hell. It is not blasphemy to say that we are the Sons of God, nor Lords, Preast and Kings, for the price was paid for our privilege to say so.

Amos 9:1, I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword(War): he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.
Amos 9:2-5 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel(Hebrew = garden land), mountain ridge, North Western Israel, extending 13 miles North West from the plain of Esdraelon to the Mediterranean Sea, where it ends in a promontory marking the southern limit of the Bay of Haifa.), I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword (War), and it shall slay (kill) them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good (Gods Wrath).
And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.

Barnes states of Amos 9:4-5, Height or depth are alike open to the Omnipresent God. The grave is not so awful as God. The sinner would gladly dig through into hell, bury himself, the living among the dead, if so he could escape the sight of God. But thence, God says, My hand shall take them, to place them in His presence, to receive their sentence. Or if, like the rebel angels, they could place their throne amid the stars Isaiah 14:12-14, of God thence will I bring them down, humbling, judging, condemning.

The Glory of knowing God and His Son Jesus, is worth more than this world can offer. If you would gain this world and all its riches and loose your soul, what would you give to change what you have done?

Why are you holding onto a life that will bring you nothing but pain, fear, discontent, confusion? Many today are fearful of loosing their retirement, medical coverage, their homes, jobs and money. Doesn't God feed the Birds of the air and creatures of the fields, doesn't He give the trees fruit and the flowers their color? God is our Source and Supply, for He is ever present. Cant you understand that if God cares for this world and its nature, that He cares more for you? Everlasting peace and joy can only be obtained in the next life, for mankind is on a path of death and destruction. Its your choice. ars

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

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In the Nature of Humanity There is No Hope!

Feeding, nursing, caressing, counseling, and religiously washing the old nature of fallen humanity will not save anyone. The only way a child of God can be produced is when a person "is born of the Spirit." The flesh must die, for there is no other cure. The religion of humanity loves an outward show of rites, rituals and ceremonies (Colossians 2:20-22), but these will not lead us into right relationship with God. Rather, it is the inner change of our nature, and the heart transformation that only Christ brings; that is the hope for our salvation.

"Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations- 21"Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22which all concern things which perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." (NKJV)

Everything that has to do with our former nature will "perish with the doing," because they are born of the flesh. In Matthew 15:11, Jesus said, "Every plant which my Father hath not planted shall be rooted up." (KJV)

[i]"These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus to those whose religion was of the flesh and consisted in ritualistic washings and making long prayers. They were those who honored God only with their lips, and not with their life. They thought a person was defiled only by, "that which goeth into the mouth" (Matthew 15:11, KJV). Jesus declared these words to religious men (Scribes and Pharisees) who "teach for doctrine the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9, KJV), and made more out of "that which goeth into the mouth," instead of "that which cometh out of the heart."

Such was the reason for this discourse between the Lord and the wayward religious leaders. For no matter how much they loved their religion, in and of itself, it can save no one, because the flesh cannot be converted by the works of man.

Remember, it is impossible for you to make your own heart clean. The old nature cannot be cleansed, and the new nature needs no cleansing, "For the heart of man is full of deceit and desperately wicked." Only Jesus can remove your old, fallen, carnal, corrupt, sin nature, and give you a new heart. The Word of God tells us, the only way we can receive a "clean heart" is through redemption. This truth destroys the modern idea of 'making men better without converting them.'"

If we are justified by grace, why are we trying to be sanctified by the works of man? Such thoughts come under reproof in Galatians 3:3, "Are you so senseless (unintelligent) having begun by the Spirit (the new nature) are you being made perfect in the flesh?" ([ii]Darby).

The Fallen Nature At-A-Glance

When Adam fell, humanity became guilty of sin. His sins formed what has become known as the carnal, or fallen nature within us. It is for that reason that we have become inheritors of the sin nature. The Bible states, "All have sinned and come sort of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

The nature of fallen humanity is desperately wicked - there is no hope in it. We cannot clean it up, purify, self-help or improve upon it. The only way we can overcome it, and it's eternally destructive traits, is to exchange natures - throw out the old, put it to death, through the sacrificial death of Christ, and receive His new nature in its place.

Our nature comes from the begetter, and the begetter of sin, is Adam. Since our nature determines everything we think and do, God had no choice but to reject all who bear it, and thereby, keep them from cohabitating His presence. This rejection does not mean that God hates humankind; rather, it simply means that He, the holy God, cannot and will not allow sin to dwell in His presence.

The sign of His great love for us, even in our fallen condition, however, is that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die in our place, so that we through Him, might be freed from sin, and the nature of fallen humanity.

That is the reason David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit" (Psalm 51:10-12, KJV).

Notice that David did not pray, "God, please counsel evil out of my heart," or "Through my self-will, and continued efforts at self-improvement, O God, make my heart holy." The reason such prayers won't work is simple, the only way to be saved, and wholly sanctified, is for God to create a new heart, a spiritual heart, in place of the fleshly, lust-driven, heart of sin that we possessed from birth. Truly, our only hope exists in His ability to change us into His likeness, from the inside out!

[i] The Two Natures in the Child of God, E.W. Bullinger. Published: 1999. Publisher: Truth for Today.

[ii] Darby Translation of the Bible or Darby's New Translation. Translated by John Nelson Darby. Public Domain

Tom Cannon is an experienced author, and has written numerous books, including; "Two Faces in the Mirror," "Servants of the King," "Mountain Empire" and "Changing Natures." He is the director of Destiny Ministry, Inc., and ministers worldwide in conferences, churches and seminars.

For more information on this topic, or to purchase books, head on over to Amazon.com, http://www.TomCannon.org, or http://www.DestinyMinistry.net bookstore.

Book Preview: Google Book Search

Email: destinyministry@gmail.com

Read more blogs at: TomCannon.org.

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Why Solar Energy? - 5 Reasons to Use Solar Energy

Many of us are aware of the changes being made to our climate causing weather patterns to severely alter around the globe but what are the major factors attributed to this anomaly? One of the major factors to Global warming as it's called is the emissions of Carbon Dioxide from power stations still burning fossil fuels.

Relying on coal oil and natural gas endangers our future. Toxic pollution global climate changes and the knowledge of diminishing fuel supplies is causing social unrest but we are adding to all this every time we use electricity. Instead of continually using fossil fuels that are unsustainable we should be looking to transform our world economy and global warming by using the alternative renewable energy that's so abundant on our planet, namely solar energy.

Here are 5 reasons why we should be using Solar Energy

1. All over the States people have been left without power. In California alone over the past few years Millions have constantly experiencing power cuts. Experts tell us this is just the begriming.

2. The Earth's population is estimated to reach 10 billion over the next 40 years so with energy sources depleting rapidly now is the time to make more use of Solar Energy for our power electricity needs.

3. Solar energy is clean, easy to use and solar panels and solar installation kits are constantly being improved upon while coming down in price.

4. Cost Effective: Using Solar energy to run electrical item in our homes was once thought of as too expensive but after the initial installation has been paid for there are no ongoing cost's so it's more cost effective in the long run.

Just think, the cost of electricity on the Grid is constantly increasing so by installing your own solar power you could pay off the installation fees in a few years easily from the amount you will be saving.

5. It may surprise you to learn that just a small fraction of the solar radiation that hits the earth could in fact replace the worlds energy consumption. Take into account that sunlight is a free commodity and you have another reason to use Solar Energy.

So to recap on why we should be using Solar Energy to replace fossil fuels. It's cleaner, it's not toxic, homes do not have to be connected to a national grid allowing remote places the luxury of electricity.

The earths population is increasing rapidly while our natural resources are depleting making it imperative that we use an alternative energy supply. And lastly it's a free resource that's in constant abundance.

Saving money is great but saving the planet is something we should all be doing our part in. By installing solar panels you will save money on electricity bills and help save the planet. To find out more about how solar power energy works and how easy it is to install visit http://www.solarpowerenergysaving.com

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Two Ways to Save Water in an Energy Efficient Home

Many times we think of energy only as heating and cooling systems or providing electricity to our homes for televisions and other appliances.We fail to understand how much energy it takes to run other systems in the home.

For instance, a great deal of energy is required to deliver and treat the water we use every day in our homes.How much?According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of energy it takes to treat and supply the water we use every day is equivalent to the electricity needed t power more than 5 million homes for a year! With 23 states currently experiencing drought conditions and water shortages, water management is a responsible action to take, especially when you're planning to build a green home. Two money and energy-saving strategies which can be easily incorporated into an energy efficient home design are:

1. Reduce overall water usagein the home by specifying low-flow water fixtures, low-flush or composting toilets, installing aerators on all taps, and installing low-flow showerhead nozzles.

2. Specify a plumbing system that reuses grey water(wastewater from domestic usage such as dish washing, laundry and bathing) for flushing toilets, watering lawns, etc. (note: some grey watersystems require approval by most local building jurisdictions, your architect will verify this prior to design).

By implementing a few simple actions to use water more efficiently, the average homeowner can reduce their water and sewer bills by one third, a significant savings!According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, "If all U.S. households installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $18 billion dollars per year."

It's easy to incorporate energy efficiency in your home design.Start by talking to a greenarchitect about your goals and ask questions about what strategies will work for your climate, budget, and home design.

About the Author: Jeremy Bonin, AIA NCARB LEED AP, a principal partner of Bonin Architects & Associates, is an award-winning green architect and the author of TIMBER FRAMES: Designing Your Custom Home. With a special interest in sustainable design and green homes, structural insulated panels (SIPs), as well as timber frame construction, Jeremy incorporates renewable energy practices where possible, including geo-thermal, solar, radiant heat, and energy-efficient foundation systems.

Cut Electrical Wire

Power Saving

Property owners are looking for more ways than ever to "DIY", tackling their own home improvement projects to save money and boost property values. One of the best projects doesn't require power tools and will have a huge impact - on your electric bill. Here are a few things you can do this weekend to save hundreds of dollars this year.

1) Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) - you might be tired of hearing about them but a 14-watt CFL is as bright as a 60-watt incandescent bulb, uses 75 percent less energy, and lasts ten times longer. A 4-pack costs under $10 but likely represents nearly $800 in lifetime savings.

2) Exterior lighting - If you can read book outside at night, you're probably wasting energy. Switch out 60 watt candelabra (mini) bulbs for 20 or 40-watt ones, and 60-watt standard bulbs with 14-watt CFLs.

3) Electric hot water heater - Does your hot water heater and pipes feel warm to the touch? Insulate them and cut power use up to 25 percent. Carefully wrap the copper hot water pipes with tubular polyethylene insulation or insulated pipe wrap ($6 for 25 feet). Water heater blankets go for around $20 and can be installed with duct tape and a pair of scissors. Just make sure you don't cover the access panels.

One day of sweat equity and a $50 investment could pay for itself within two months, and keep returning guaranteed savings for years to come. These days, that's even better than your IRA! This project can be done this weekend and before you know it, you will be saving a lot of money.

Dusty Lindemann is a handyman in Northern Virginia with the group, http://shirlingtonapartments.com

Plywood Beam Repair

DIY Solar Panels - Do it Yourself Solar Panels

Have you always been frustrating over exorbitant electrical bills every month? If you have been finding a great way to save your electricity, DIY solar panels could be your answer. The solar panels will absorb the sunlight and transform it into electrical energy.

How to DIY solar panels?
A solar power system will work best when it is put at a spot where it can capture the most sunlight. It is either your backyard, garden and the best spot would still be at places where there is no blockage of sunlight like rooftop.

The solar power system materials are easily available at many places. You can actually get the materials for less than $200. You will need materials such as :

- Solar cells
- Copper Wire
- Sillicone
- Solder
- UV Protector
- Plywood
- Accessories like as scissor, sand paper, salt water etc.

Although some people may think of getting a ready-made panel just to save the hassle but it is not as difficult as what you think. No special skills are needed to build your own solar panels. Everybody can do that as long as they have a step-by-step detailed guide. Furthermore, the pain of forking out several thousand first for this kind of solution is not really worth it especially when you can do it yourself with less than $200. The guide, earth4energy by Michael Harvey will show you the steps and the cheapest materials to get for building your own homemade solar panels system.

Explore this great savings guide on How to DIY Solar Panels.

Start to build your own Solar Power System and eliminate your power bills that you have always been frustrating on.

Broken Electrical Outlet Cover

Lower Costs, Energy and Reduce Your Heating Bills

A lot of the times you'll realize you're throwing away money unsuspectingly, for instance, you'll be at home, comfortable, cozy and toasty, opening bills, only to notice your heating bills are astronomical. The perfect time to reduce your heating bills in the winter is actually the summer time because there is a lot of work that needs to be done that may expose you to the weather.

However, winter or no winter, there are still options to cut costs during the frigid season.

Why pay more money on your heat when you don't have to?

If you feel like your radiators are pumping a little bit too much oil for you to handle or your furnace is blasting at an alarming rate to the point of perspiration, it may be a good time to fix that, and updating your windows and doors may be the solution for you. Your heating systems may be overworked because they're having a hard time keeping the temperature in your apartment or home because your windows and doors may have excessive cracks, causing a draft in your place.

Replacing your doors and windows could be done utilizing a professional contractor or by yourself if you're looking to be cost-effective and have the experience to handle the project.

If you decide to do this during the winter, make sure you know what you're doing so the process doesn't have to take longer than expected, have your loved ones somewhere else while this is going on. Replacing your windows and doors provide more benefits than just reducing your heating bills.

Performance: Replacing your windows/doors will improve the efficiency of them, allowing them to work smoother and it'll also give you a chance to make them a little more accustomed to your style.

Maintenance: The new windows and doors will not need much, if any, work on them. Designs have vastly improved over the years and will only continue to do so.

The Look: Having new windows and doors will improve the overall aesthetics of your home, improving the appeal of the home itself, as well as value to the home.

Don't let the design of the windows/doors distract you from your main goal to save energy and lower your heating bills.

Learn about other tips on home improvement ideas as well as the tips on finding the right movers.

Tile Roof Stucco Damage

3 Home Solar Power Solutions

Many people are under the impression that installing home solar power solutions are difficult and best left to the professionals. You will be happy to know, despite misconception, these solutions are quite cheap and easy to install. In addition, you will drastically cut your power bill and be doing your part to save power and ensure a better future for the next generations.

In this article you will find a few options for home solar power solutions.

Solar Heating Systems: The installation of a solar heating system for your home will significantly reduce your power bill, along with saving the world's quickly-exhausting power resources. If you're worried about the price, rest assured that your wise investment will return you absolutely free service within 3-4 years.

Solar Lighting Systems: A solar lighting system stores converted solar energy in cells. The electrical energy taken from the solar cells is what powers the home lighting system. When you install a solar lighting system in your home, you can stop worrying about your electricity bills.

Cooking with Solar Energy: A solar cooker uses no fuel what so ever. The only drawback is the amount of time it takes to cook. You can cook food for up to 5 people in the small box, you will also be surprised to know that you can boil food items, roast and bake! This free energy source is a great way to reduce those high bills and save some power at the same time.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill.

Get our complete guide at Modern-Trends.info/Energy.

Ceiling Repairs

Decorating? Don't Forget Lighting For the Home

If you are considering redecorating or updating your home, don't forget the lighting. Well chosen and properly installed lighting can make all the difference in your remodel. Lighting for the home has changed dramatically and can add so much value for very little. Bring your home into the 21st century by simply replacing bathroom or kitchen light fixtures.

Good lighting for the home will set a relaxed mood, make us look great, and provide ample light for performing tasks. Take a look around the spaces in your home. Commonly we try to light an entire room with a single light source. Instead, try using a variety of light sources, the professionals refer to this as "Layers of Light." This will help create the proper illumination without glare.

Today we should also be concerned with not only the design but the sustainability as well. Are we saving resources by using energy saving bulbs? We should be aware when purchasing fixtures that they have recycled parts and do not require as much wasteful packaging. Track lighting can be found that uses low energy LCD bulbs and direct light in several directions, thus illuminating more space.

While you are working on updating your interior lighting consider your outdoor spaces. Are they well lit for safety and security purposes? Are you concerned with the rising cost of traditionally sources energy? Consider solar lighting for your landscape and patio lights. Are you interested in fighting light pollution? Poor quality outdoor lighting not only wastes billions of dollars and natural resources but it also robs us of our starry skies. Several manufacturers today offer many beautiful and energy saving lighting solutions.

Whether you are looking for a simple accent lamp, or an elegant chandelier, it is important to keep size in proportion with the room. The recurring blunder that a lot of homeowners make is purchasing lighting for the home that is either not bright enough to serve a purpose or way too large. You should strive for inviting lighting. You want your family and guests to feel relaxed.

When a visitor is approaching your front gate, or front door or when they have entered your foyer their senses are receiving signals as to what type of personality you have. Will they feel as if they are entering a brightly lit, hostile environment? Or will the soft lighting welcome them, make them feel like special guests and beg them to return?

The influence of lighting for the home is remarkable. It quite possibly encourage an invited guest to drive right by your house or beckon them in. Does your home take center stage in the neighborhood? Try going on a little cruise through your streets. Did you notice anything that needed extra attention?

By following a few simple rules for lighting the interior and exterior of your home will help create the right home lighting for all activities, whether indoors or out. It is quite easy to shop online and carefully peruse the various lighting store's offerings. Contrast the various prices and styles with what you can find locally at an electrical shop or hardware store in your area. Changing the lighting in the home can add more value than you could imagine.

Find more information on home lighting and lighting systems visit Lighting For The Home.

Wood Beam Repairs

Solar DIY Kits and DIY Wind Power

The increase in popularity of the solar DIY kits and wind turbines for homes has brought about a radical change in the way that most people view this technology. For many years, it was ludicrously expensive to install and would take years before you starting to make your initial investment back. There was no such thing as cheap solar panels, but that has all changed. Do it yourself solar panels are not just easy to manufacture in your back yard, but will cost a fraction of the price of the already made models.

Even without any experience in building home solar systems, just about anyone can follow the novice video instructions and build an 80watt panel in their own garage. Just by popping down to the local hardware store, you'll find everything you need. The solar panels cost no more than $200 to manufacture and because you built it, you know how to fix it. A roof solar panel can be used to run a refrigerator, or a television or even a washing machine. At a cost of just a few hundred dollars, you can turn these cheap solar panels into a lucrative income by building them and maintaining them for people you know.

You don't have to stop there, household wind turbines are just as easy to manufacture and at half the cost of a solar panel, you can harvest a breeze into extra power for your home. Wind generators for sale are usually of the marine kind and do an excellent job, but due to the cost involved, they are not often used as wind turbines for homes. The home wind generator can be built in hours and can be a great addition to your alternative energy plan.

With your very own solar wind generator system, you can save money, earn money and in the event that there is a power cut, you don't have to miss that vital sports game. In fact, you can still watch and have a cold beer while the neighbours watch on jealously and all this while doing your bit for the planet.

Stove Smith has lived off grid for a few years on a remote island in Central America and discovered that with the aid of new techology, going green doesn't have to mean going hippy. A tech savvie guy with a passion for saving money and saving the planet. Take a look at how you can cut your bills without spending a fortune and do your bit for the planet while you're at it - http://www.no9to5ers.com

Wood Window Sill Damage

What is Environmentally Friendly Real Estate?

We are hearing this expression a lot more these days "Green". The federal government does not have a specific definition for "environmentally- friendly", so we have to rely on organizations that will set standards to qualify a product or usage of a product to meet minimum requirements to be labeled for energy efficiency or environmental safety. In this time of high oil prices, and climate change, there is a new awareness of how we effect the environment we live in.

Environmental concerns have become popular conversation. While some of the ideas and practices have been around for ages, the practical use of these concepts in our modern times is new. We hear and see it in everything from clothing, alternative fuel, building products, and cleaning products. We are seeing it in businesses (banks, colleges, municipalities) that are cutting back on mail-outs and billing, trying to lessen the use of paper. There is also a lot of discussion on what makes a product "green". These the words have been used loosely and with-out directive or management. There are organizations on a national, state and local level that offer a set of specific guidelines or criteria for products to be able to garnish their label of "environmentally safe" or "energy efficient". For the most part consumers have to educate themselves and look for reputable companies, read labels and research products.

Green building has become a popular concept and along with all the great products and professionals that are available, there are also plenty of scams and scam artist associated with being "green". The term "green wash" typically describes the exaggeration or overstatement of terms used as "being green" or" good for the environment". Check with your local government and other organizational offices for information about product providers or a list of professionals who can guide you in products for your home. From new home builders who are building homes that have to meet energy efficiency standards of the local city ordinances or to products for home owners who want to improve their homes energy efficiency. Local offices can provide information about professionals who have the ability and training to perform energy audits and other services that can help in your decision to make minor or major environmental or energy efficient changes. Consumers need to have the ability to understand how features and products that make claims of being green or good for the environment will be of a particular value to them. As a single consumer you may think that your efforts do not make a difference on the whole but every little step or action adds up to a greater end.

Being green does not mean you need to be wealthy or compromise your comfort and health. In most instances living green should not require any special effort. There are many cities that work with energy companies to help consumers switch to efficient products with rebates and other incentives, including such products as low water flow toilets, programmable thermostats, solar panels, thankless water heaters, florescent bulbs, weather stripping and the list goes on. A little energy saving here, a little less trash in our land fills there, one less gallon of gas, all of these can add up to a lot of savings. And not just in monetary gains, but in a safer and cleaner environment for all of us. The world is getting smaller due to technology; maybe if we can make small changes to our own surroundings, there will continue to be changes on a larger scale. So what is environmentally friendly? Maybe it means to live and treat the earth around us like there is a tomorrow.

Austin real estate, residential resale and new home sales. Information for Austin Texas real estate skyrealtyaustin.com

Stairwell Mold To Basement

Why Should We Give Thanks To God?

On Thanksgiving Day, families all over America sit down to dinner at the same time -- halftime.

"Thanksgiving has two good words," says Hollie, age 9. "They are 'thanks' and 'giving,' and that's what we need to do -- thank others and be giving. Those are two things my mom taught me."

Hollie, your mom has taught you well. Gratitude is one of the most important lessons parents can teach their children.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life," writes Melody Beattie. "It turns what we have into enough, and more. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Adrienne, 9, is fortunate to have a father who's not ashamed to offer thanks to God: "I like when my dad prays before we eat. I don't know why, but I just do."

Tori, 6, is already following the example of godly parents: "I like Thanksgiving because I get to eat chicken, and my mama is with me, and my daddy is with me. I get to see my cousins. I get to be with God because I say the blessings."

Tori, you might have the wrong bird, but you've definitely got the right spirit and company.

You have a kindred spirit in Ally, 11: "I like Thanksgiving because it is good to thank God. He gives us so many blessings that we don't even realize. It's the least we can do to give him one whole day of thanks, but we should be giving thanks daily."

Robert, 8, goes even further: "I can give thanks when I broke my finger and that it didn't get cut off. I can give thanks when my dad got shot four times and that he didn't die."

Wait a minute! How could anybody find a bright side to a broken finger or gunshot wounds?

This kind of worldview sees all circumstances as divine tapestry. Faith in God's sovereignty and goodness transports the believer into a realm where giving thanks in everything is as normal as breathing. This doesn't mean that everything we encounter is good, but rather that God's goodness and power will work it out for his purpose and our benefit.

Why, then, do we complain instead of giving thanks?

"Pride slays thanksgiving, but an humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow," wrote 19th century minister Henry Ward Beecher. "A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves."

Kimberly, 8, is an example of someone who is grateful even in the midst of great loss: "My grandmother died of a heart attack, and it was hard to thank the Lord for that. I was very close to my grandmother. I saw her almost every day. But now, she doesn't have any more pain, and she is in heaven."

Think about this: Even though we sorrow over the loss of loved ones, not even death can make spiritual Christians ungrateful. The Lord Jesus absorbed death's sting when he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Faith alone in Christ alone guarantees everlasting life.

Memorize this truth: "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Ask this question: Can you give thanks for everything?

Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated columnist, producer, author, speaker and website developer. To see more material like this, visit http://www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. The Kids Talk About God website contains free, online content for children and families. See Careys Kid TV Interviews. Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own book. Let an 11-year-old girl take you on a trip around the world in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print Scripture verses illustrated by child artists. Receive a complimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons.

Bible quotations in this Bible lesson are from the New King James Version.

Copyright 2006 Carey Kinsolving

Going To Heaven Or Not

Is Mary the Mother of God?

A resounding No is heard from the reaches of heaven as I realize the power of knowledge, understanding the simple Chronology of the Christian Church, and recognizing the fallacy of the Catholic Churchs system of belief. Do they know? I wonder

The Chronology of the Christian church interjects an opportunity to take a break before we go into the Crusades because the Inquisition and the Reformation will require more attention. The Dark Ages are significant to the History of the Church. But, after the schisms and the heresies I feel its time to tackle one of the biggest stumbling blocks between Christians.

Is Jesus truly God or the Son of God?

Is Mary the Mother of God or the mother of Jesus, The Son of God?

I tremble with emotion taking on this subject because I am opening myself up to being declared a Heretic, as many of the early Christians were. I only hope everyone will read to the end of the chapter before anathemizing me.

I believe the Bible itself has given us the answer, only we are too wise and too learned to recognize it.

First, open your bibles to: Luke (10: 21-23)

At the very moment He (Jesus) rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the CHILDLIKE. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and ANYONE TO WHOM THE SON WISHES TO REVEAL HIM.

Jesus is the Word made Flesh. Paul, who wrote the Books of Corinthia, knew Jesus to be the Wisdom (Word) of God, made Flesh. But, are Jesus and God the Father one and the same?

Jesus said in John 5:30

I cannot do anything on my own. I judge as I hear, and my judgement is just, because I do not seam my own will, but the will of the Father, who sent me.

We know that the Father and Jesus are one, and yet Jesus tells us, in Luke 14:28:

You heard me tell you, I am going away and I will come back to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, FOR THE FATHER IS GREATER THAN I.

God pondered, according the Old Testament how to send His Son(Wisdom) to earth. God sent Jesus to be our Savior, the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. God instilled in Him, Wisdom and His Plan of Salvation. Thats why Jesus said He could do nothing without the Father guiding Him. And its why He said, The Father and I are One, and The Father is greater than I. But Jesus is not God. He is the Son of God, the long awaited Messiah.

If God is the Father, and Jesus is the Son, how can Mary be the mother of God, when she was the virgin mother of Jesus?

For More information about the History of the Catholic Church, and the answer to the question "Is Mary the Mother of God?" please visit my website at http://annetoxley.com

(c) 2007 - Anne T. Oxley

How Do I Know What The Universe

Unlocking Your Spiritual Mind - Spiritual Video

Ahhhhh is the sound of God and can be used for meditation. Listen to this wonderful sound and try to find God in it.

Question Your Religion

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

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

Secret
What The Bleep Do You Know

He Walks and He Talks With Us

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

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

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

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

Is Imagination Better Than Knowl

Tithing Education - Giving From Guilt

If you're part of any organized religion and donate money on a regular basis, do you know where your money is going? Have you ever asked what they are spending the money on? Are you one of those people who feels that your pastor and church leaders know best and never even ask them, because you might feel inferior to them? Have you asked in the past and were told not to worry about it but still would like to know.

Before you give your hard earned money away, whether you're doing it out of guilt or pleasure, make sure you're supporting the right organization. You should never feel the need to donate money if you don't have it to give.

I went to a church that had funds for everything, building funds, starvation funds, church funds and even funds to fund of funds if they ran out of money. Okay I just threw that last part in their but all kidding aside, there's plenty of stuff to be done in our country, to help the starving, the poor and the needy. Why do we need to go to other countries?

I want to make a suggestion to people who can't afford to give their money away but feel guilty if they don't. In the Bible it tells you to give away 10% of your earnings to the church. The part that it doesn't tell you is what to do if you can't afford to give 10% to the church. I personally have known quite a few people who give money out of guilt and fear but will tell you that this is a requirement of their religion and its okay. God will take care of us and he always does.

I don't really believe God, the all powerful all-knowing and loving creator, wants us to suffer, if we just don't make enough money to survive. If you're planning on sending your child to a Christian private school and could only afford to send them to that school, using the money that you were going to tithe to the church, what will you do? Tithe the money to the church so that they can use it to feed hungry people in other countries or build a new church somewhere or help with your child's education.

Some of these decisions are made difficult by religious doctrine and these are the parts of organized religion that I have problems with. When do we use common sense, combined with a little education to seek the truth. Does your religion ask you to seek the truth but not to gather your information beyond their religious boundaries?

Only give what you can afford to give and feel good about it. If you don't feel good about giving your money away, don't do it. Take care of yourself, so that you can take care of others, if you choose to. Living a life of fear and guilt doesn't make sense.

Question Your Religion

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

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

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

Listen To Advice From Confucius

My Love - A Poem About One's First Love

There are three main reasons why someone comes to Christ and receives Him as Lord and Savior of their lives and drives men and women to their knees before Him.

One reason is through a realization of the holiness of God and the unholiness, wretchedness of man and the complete realization that God is everything and you are nothing. Second reason is brought about with a very real and overwhelming fear of God's wrath and the final expression of His wrath being hell. Plus, the reality of what we really deserve from God is to spend the rest of eternity separated from Him in hell. Third reason comes about by falling head over heels in love with the loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

To fully realize how much Jesus Christ loves you and how much you mean to Him. My reason for first accepting Jesus Christ into my heart and life was reason number three. No one introduced me to Him, He just revealed Himself to me in a personnel, intimate way that I will never forget. At the start of my freshmen year in high school, all of my childhood friends moved away and I was left alone. In addition, I did not feel a lot of love at home from my parents and my one younger brother. I entered high school alone, feeling unwanted, unloved and consequently became depressed.

Looking back at my freshmen year, I would say the hardest part of being and feeling alone was not actually being alone or feeling disconnected from people but instead feeling that I wasn't valuable enough, for anyone to want to get to know me.

I always knew about God but I did not know Him; there is a tremendous difference between the two. Growing up, my parents would often take my brother and me to church. And during elementary school I would go to Bible class which was held once a week in a trailer and lasted about an hour. Church and Bible class is where I learned about God and some of the stories in the Bible. However, as far as I can remember, no one really taught me how to know God personally and intimately. Having no one to talk to during my freshmen year, I decided to take on the endeavor of getting knowing God by talking to Him.

My getting to know God started in conversations with Him, actually, I'm the one that did all of the talking so I guess it wasn't much of a two way conversation. Many times these conversations took place in an oak tree. However, whenever I talked to God I would request one desire, which was for God to take my life literally. Looking back, I realize that I wasn't getting to know God and certainly had no real clue to who He was. For God is the God of life and not death. And when one realizes God's love for them and embraces that love then one cannot help but to live life to the fullest. Jesus said, "..I have come that they may have life and life to the full." (John 10:10).

God is a rewarder of those who seek Him, no matter how one starts the seeking process. A couple of months into my freshmen year of high school, God sent me a friend and someone that He can talk through. His name was Ken Caster and he was a junior at my school. I met Ken while I was sitting alone at the lunch table in the cafeteria. As I was eating Ken approached me and sat down. He then did something that no one else had ever done, he asked me my name.

Ken did not immediately start preaching to me about Jesus. Really he didn't talk at me, spilling out theological and evangelical useful information. Instead, he simply started asking questions about me, he started to get to know me. I did not know it the time but it was at that moment I was talking face to face with God; for by just seeking to get to know me, Ken was displaying the character and heart of Jesus. For in every believer God lives and when we walk in obedience in accordance with God's holiness and His love then Jesus, who is also God (John 1:1-3,14), is manifested through the life of the Christian.

After several weeks from the first meeting with Ken I started going to Campus Life, there I met more of Ken's friends who quickly became my friends. Campus Life was a ministry which met once every other week. During the meetings there would be an icebreaker, then an open discussion about contemporary issues and how they relate to the Christian life. At the end of every discussion, a leader or someone would wrap up the discussion and the meeting would close with a social time. Someone working with Campus Crusade for Christ were in charge of these meetings. I am sure that during these meetings, Ken or someone told me about Jesus but I don't remeber anyone telling me the Gospel or salvation.

Towards the end of March of my freshmen year, Ken invited me to see a Christian comedian named, Ken Davis in concert. It sounded fun so I agreed. In April Ken and some of his friends picked me up and took me to the concert. During the show I could not remember the last time, if any, I laughed and not only laughed but laughed so hard, that at times it was hard for me to breath. Towards the end, when the laughing stopped, Ken Davis proceeded to tell us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the first time when I heard about the Man, the God and the Savior that I would fall in love with.

At the end of his message Ken Davis asked everyone to bow their heads and not to think about anything. He asked, while heads bowed, to let the Holy Spirit move and allow God to talk to our hearts.

This night was the first night when God spoke and I listened. While my head was bowed God did speak to me, not with words but with His love and I began to feel and sense Jesus Christ's presence, His loving presence, all around me and inside of me, and for the first time in my life I did not feel alone. Then Ken Davis asked if anyone wanted to accept Jesus into their heart and if so to come up front.

Without thinking, I slowly stood up with my head still bowed and I slowly made my way up to the stage. As I was making my way up I began to lift my head and shame started sliding off me like butter and acceptance started to clothe me.

While I was walking down the aisle and up towards the stage, I did not look to the right or to the left but looked straight ahead then up towards the heavens, it was like I was looking straight into the loving eyes of the Savior.

For it was that night I saw the face of my love but it wasn't my fleshly eyes that beheld Him but my spiritual eyes that beheld Jesus Christ, my love. It was that night I knew I would never again be alone. After much rejoicing with Ken Caster and his friends I went home and headed up stairs to my bedroom.

In my bedroom alone but yet not alone I made a vow I said, "Jesus, I want to live for you no matter what. If it is cool or uncool, if it is the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do, I will live for you. Since then I started conversing with God and now I try to do the majority of the listening. When God speaks to me, many time I hear his words and feel His arms around me and His love warming my heart and spirit on cold, dark nights.

It was on one of those nights that I wrote my first poem called "My Love." Other poems would follow mainly about Jesus, which comes from my new heart that I received the night when I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart and life, at a Christian comedian concert in April of my freshmen year of high school.

My Love

I remember when I first fell in love,
your gentles like a dove,
your voice calling me
to be your love.

I remember when I first held your hand,
as I promised to cherish you
in this foreign land.

When times come when I feel lost and scared,
I hear your voice saying,
"You have nothing to fear,
remember you are mine,
All of this because I care."

For I know, I am the apple of your eye,
before you I was nothing but now I am something,
by the result of your love that will never die.

There was a time, long ago
when you proved your love for me,
and showed me once and for all,
You will never let me go.

For my sins you died upon a tree,
with powerful action,
on the cross,
you displayed your love for me.

When I heard you had died, I started to cry,
but tears of sadness turned to tears of joy,
when you arose and appeared by my side.

Soon you told me you had to leave,
to prepare a place for me,
where we will be together for eternity.

My love, there are still times when I feel discouraged,
when I grow suddenly afraid and loose all courage,
tough still I am quick to rejoice,
for you have promised me,
you will come back for me,
and with your sweet voice,
call me by name to join you in eternity.

Jeff Dalton
317-902-2266
http://www.gracereminders.com
Reminding people of God's grace with one word at a time

Eye Of The Needle Christian Stor

Words and Truths That Will Challenge the Hearts of Leaders and Those Who Aspire to Be Leaders

I vividly remember that night when our Professor of New Testament, James S. Stewart was preaching in Lothian Road in Edinburgh, Scotland, and his powerful and animated declaration, "Defend the Bible? I would just as soon defend a lion. Just turn the Bible loose. It will defend itself." It was only recently that I learned that it was Charles Spurgeon who first spoke these penetrating words.

Everything which relates to God is infinite. We must therefore, while we keep our hearts humble, keep our aims high. Our highest services are indeed but finite, imperfect, but as God is unlimited in goodness, He should have our unlimited love. Do these words not challenge our hearts?

We have the truth and we need not be afraid to say so. It was another strong Christian leader who spoke these words and they are so very relevant in 2009 for those of us who are in Christ and who believe the Bible.

Having a full life is not necessarily a long life. I have just been re-reading the memoirs of Robert Murray McCheyne of Dundee, and his influential ministry certainly supports these salutary words.

The world isn't reading the Bible. The world is reading Christians like you and me, and if they don't like what they see in us, they're not going to want what we have, and we have what everyone so needs, Jesus Christ. Again, that will not be popular in certain places in 2009, but it just happens to be true.

Only one life will soon be past and it is only what is done for Christ that will last. Let that sink in deeply!

Inner purity results in outer power. We see that so perfectly clearly in the life of Jesus Christ and to a lesser degree in the life of the early Church. But what a challenge it is to me! Is it a challenge to you?

With complete consecration comes perfect peace, and these words were breathed by a saintly Chinese believer in Jesus called Watchman Nee, whose teaching and writing has inspired many. He was a leader who continues to lead today as disciples of Jesus Christ study his writings.

No one ever became, or can become truly eloquent without being a reader of the Bible, and an admirer of the purity and sublimity of its language. Now, that is almost too strong but I know what the writer is getting at. Do you?

It's not the parts of the Bible I don't know that worries me, but the parts that I do. That statement from a leader is a very different field has something profound to say to each of us.

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is losing interest in what is familiar. Again this can happen almost without our noticing as we search for something fresh to say and at times perhaps even novel. It is better to say what is true than what is new!

Tell me what you do with your time and money and I will tell you where your heart is. How vitally important that is in these times of financial crisis.

We can have no power from Christ unless we are persuaded that we have none of our own. I need to remember that frequently. Would that not be true for us all?

Sandy Shaw.

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com

Magical Numbers

Patronym - The Name of God the Father As Patronym

The Patronym is the Name of God the Father. When you are sealed, it is written in your forehead. It shows you belong to God, that He has claimed you as His own child.

It is not enough that you consider God your Father. You need His consideration. You need Him to say that you are His child. You may want Him to be your Father but you must have His approval to realize your dream.

You may say, "You are like a Father to me." But does He say, "And you are a child to me," in response? This is what you are seeking. The favorable response of God. And being sealed is the way.

When you are marked with the Seal of God he claims you as His own. He owns you. He should be able to do with you as He will. That is the ideal at least. But it's not always that way.

And most people are not marked by God. It is not common. It is unusual. It is not the norm. It is an exception. But it can happen to you. Just like it happened to some of the people in Heaven.

One of the apostles John saw a multitude of people in Heaven. There were 144,000 of them. And each of them had the Name of God written in their forehead. They belong to God. And so can you.

God is seeking people to belong to Him. It hurt God that man disobeyed Him from the beginning. That was not what He created you for. He created you to work with Him. To help Him. And so He could help you.

Because when you belong to God you are not just His property. You are glorified. And He will give you what your heart desires. He will help you fulfill your dreams. Just as you help Him with what He is doing.

And often the two will be inseparable. You will want what God wants. He will want what you want. The goals of the two of you will be in such agreement that when one of you gets their way so will the other.

It can happen to you just like it happened to the people in Heaven. God can favor you as His own. You can belong to Him. The way it happens is to be sealed with the Patronym in your forehead, or Name of God.

Jason Witt is a sinner healed and sealed. He has been transformed by Jesus, who came and made His Home in Jason's heart and in his mind. Come and see what Jesus foretold that is starting to happen today. Jason Witt dot org

My Parents Influence On Me

Achieve Your Goals in 1 Year

I often look at this scenario in the first or second session of an executive coaching encounter, so I thought I would share the thought process.If you identify parts of your business life in this scenario, take heart - you will always gain from another fresh perspective!

Think about it.You have been running your business for several years now, have hired a number of staff, have made a good amount in sales, your customers appear happy, and, it appears you are on your way to accomplishing your dream!You may have even hired an executive coach to share your dream with.

Wait a minute, that dream - where did you put it inside your cranium, in the left or the right lobe?Hmm, was it something your coach asked that you couldn't answer?

As a matter of fact, you may have noticed that your staff has been grumbling a bit lately about unhappy customers, late deliveries, poor quality product, and not being paid enough for what they are worth.When was the last time you looked at the product quality, the delivery schedule, when did your staff last get a wage adjustment?

Is this your business?Let's hope not, but, if it is, are you willing to try a few basic exercises? If so, here are some executive coaching tips.

First, would you write down your 5 top business goals for the year?Consider a revenue goal - increase sales to $ 1 million, a profit goal - achieve a 5% net profit after taxes, a personnel goal - provide my employees 40 hours training in customer service, a process improvement goal - decrease unit product time and cost by 10%, and a customer goal - increase customer satisfaction rates by 25%.

Second, identify why you have these goals.As an executive coach I often ask my clients these questions: Why are they important to your business and its success?How are they related to you achieving your dream?Oh yes, have you written your dream down yet?

Third, let's ask how you are going to accomplish these goals?Will you need much more input from your employees, will you need to survey your customers to identify their current level of satisfaction, and will you talk with your accountant and business advisor about industry benchmarks for sales, profitability, and production time/costs?

As the owner, will you be doing what you do best, and liking the results - all in one year?I hope you will answer yes and achieve great satisfaction in the year ahead.

About

Warren J. Rutherford President of Rutherford Advisors Inc. is an Accredited Associate, IIB, a CMT Accredited Master Mentor with certifications as a Behavioral Coach, an Analyst in Axiology, a One Page Business Plan Consultant, and is a BNI Assistant Director in the SE Mass/RI Region. He provides executive coaching and business advisory and consulting services to small and medium-sized business. He can be reached at http://www.RutherfordBusinessAdvisor.com Copyright 2009, Rutherford Advisors, Inc. All rights reserved

Creating Success For Teenagers

Practical Affirmation - Focused Action

Everybody knows what an affirmation is, right? A little recitation you say a few times in the morning to make the mirror happy. Positive thinking. A gimmick. A cynic might perceive affirmations as naive self-deception or even as lies.

Sometimes it seems that way, doesn't it? You've chanted the phrase, "I am abundance and prosperity" a boatload of times and still have trouble paying the bills. You've affirmed, "I am the possibility of energy and vitality" and still you're exhausted. You've ranted, "I love and believe in myself!" with the best of 'em, but your self-esteem just doesn't take off.

Yet we also hear the magnificent success stories. Is there a trick to this affirmation game?

Yep. Sure is. And you're about to learn what it is.

Besides the actual language of the affirmation, there are a few more things that need to happen in order to bring the deal to life. Today, we'll be looking at action. Sometimes people get this part backwards, as I hope the following snippet will illustrate:

Me, to wellness coaching participant: So how has your self-image project been coming along?

Participant: I haven't done anything.

Me: We wrote out your action steps for the past week in your planner. Did you follow them?

Participant: Nope. Haven't even opened it.

Me: Why not?

Participant: Low self-esteem.

No amount of affirmation is going to overcome the refusal to take action. The average person, once they say they're going to do something, will set an internal expectation that they're going to do it. Sometimes something happens and it doesn't get done -- ever.

Typically, at that point the person will make up a story in their head about why they didn't do it. Next time a similar situation comes up, something like this will begin to play on their internal tape loop: "I didn't feel like doing it last time, so I didn't. I'm still alive. I survived without doing it last time. Guess I can survive without doing it again now. I'm off the hook!"

Off the hook, yes. Happy? Not a chance.

The person who gets caught in this feedback loop has just conclusively proved to himself that he is a liar. He said he was going to do something, and then let himself off the hook without following through. He is still alive, but he feels like a schmuck.

He also doesn't have the tangible outcome that the action would have produced.

This is what happened to Joe, who was recently laid off from his job as a carpenter. Things are tight. But his sister told him not to worry. She even helped him out by suggesting a calming affirmation:

"My family is securely provided for. All our needs are fulfilled."

Joe started saying the affirmation, just like his sister told him. The next night while spacing out in front of the TV, Joe got a brainstorm. "We've got a big backyard," he thought. "I'll plant a vegetable garden! At least we won't be hungry."

Next time Joe was at the store, he picked up a few seed packets. When he got them home, he read the directions on the back. Plant in well-prepared soil.

Joe, not being an experienced gardener, wasn't sure how to prepare the soil. He never got around to figuring it out and didn't plant the seeds. Now, 2 months later, he's short the cash he spent and has nothing to show for it.

"These affirmations don't work!" he moans. "I said it and nothing happened! Still no job, and we've about tapped out our savings."

As I tell the story here, it's pretty obvious that the affirmation really could have worked. Joe had the insight he needed. He just didn't follow through with action. To make matters worse, his mind is now telling him, "You're a guy who doesn't follow through. No point thinking up any more bright ideas, is there?" The door to creative solutions has slammed shut.

Oh yeah. Joe's job counselor says he has low self-esteem.

Had he planted the garden, chances are that Joe's self-esteem would have weathered the storm just fine. How come? Well, instead of eating frozen chicken nuggets and popcorn for dinner, he'd be fat and happy on fresh garden produce. The nutrition alone would have given him a boost. But that's just the beginning.

Had he planted the garden, Joe would have earned the right to think of himself as a resourceful individual who seizes inspiration, trusts his instincts, and follows through. That mental state would most likely have him think of a few other things, too, beyond the garden. He would most likely have followed through on some of those inspirations as well. Might even have gotten himself another job by now.

Focused action is one of the key factors that brings affirmation to life. Why not make a plan and try it?

Elizabeth Eckert coaxes, cajoles, and gently guides the creation of healing intent. She's the founder of http://www.wordcures.com and author of Word Cures: How to Keep Stupid Excuses From Sabotaging Your Health. Align your whole self for health ... starting today! Share "Arielle's" real-life success story and optimize your own natural healing energy.

Eye Of The Needle Christian Stor

How Developing Your Awareness About Universal Laws Will Work To Your Advantage and Success

Universal laws also known as spiritual laws or laws of nature are principles that never change. They rule over our universe. Once you become aware of how these incredible principles operate, and align your actions with these laws you will literally attract abundance into your life.

Because of a lack of awareness of how these laws work we have tried to get abundance by struggle, working more, resulting in physical and emotional overwhelm, fear, anxiety, depression and many other problems.

The Universal laws work by exact precision. They are predictable, they never waver or err, and make no distinction on who they work for. They work regardless of your gender, color, age, religious preference of if you are aware of or are ignorant about their existence.

Just like gravity makes no distinction as to who they work for, the universal laws work with the same unwavering and precise fashion. It doesn't matter if you are black, white, young or old, Indian, Chinese, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or an atheist. These laws work in a predictable and specific way 100% of the time.

When you develop an awareness of how they work and you consciously align your thoughts and actions with them, you will attract and experience seemingly impossible outcomes, and attract what you desire into your life. Understanding these laws will develop a deep awareness of the incredible power that these simple truths hold. They will help you to rewrite and replace the self sabotaging and limiting beliefs that have caused struggle and hardship in your life.

Most people don't know who they really are, or the reason for being in this world. Because of this lack of awareness they don't know what they are capable of creating and achieving, operating only by their five senses to create what they want.

We only see our body composed of nine systems, organs, tissues and cells, but they are further broken down into molecules, atoms, protons, electrons and subatomic particles.These are all electromagnetic vibrating waves of light called Quanta.

Quantum physics is the science that explains how this infinitely small universe that you and I cannot see with our physical eyes operates. It tells us that at the lowest denominator we are a soup of energy.

So it is important to realize that you are more that your body or your five physical senses. You are energy, housed in a body. You are infinite potential, pure energy at your core. You are intelligence and consciousness. You are magnificent, powerful, and invincible. You have all this potential residing within you which needs to be activated and released so that you can create what you desire. So how does this incredible intelligence work? How do you fit into the whole scheme of things?

First realize that everything is energy. It is present everywhere and cannot be created nor destroyed. Energy moves from one form to another, from a higher vibration to a lower vibration, from a subtle to a gross form, and is interchangeable. Energy can be changed into matter and matter can be converted into energy. Energy is always changing. It is in constant motion and it never rests. Change is energy's only attribute.

Second, the universe operates by natural laws, meticulously and with accuracy. There are truly no accidents. When you work with these laws they will work with you.

Just like the wave is a part of the ocean and the ocean is a part of the wave, and the two cannot be separated, so too you as an individual can have your own views and at the same time be connected to the infinite possibilities of the universe.

These laws work when you realize that you are not separate from the universe but are one, that you are in partnership with one another and are working together as a team. Therefore to work together as a team you must learn how the universe operates, so that these laws can work to your advantage.

Brenda Blindenbach is the best selling co-author with Dr.Wayne Dyer and Anthony Robbins, of Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Living In Clarity.
She is also a Possibilities DNA Instructor/Practitioner who enables clients to make shifts in their beliefs, helps them see and feel their progress immediately and teaches them how to replicate it. Claim Brenda's free audio on "Do you understand the laws of the universe"? Available at :=>

http://www.peacefulinterlude.com/.

Why I Built Spiritualbooks4u

Our Abundant Universe

We live in a perfect, infinite and extremely abundant Universe. Everything that we could possible need or want is available to us, once we learn to accept it. Part of the spiritual message that I want to impart to everyone is that it's perfectly ok to accept the abundance that comes your way. Not only that, it's also ok to manifest more.

In a limited, finite Universe for one person to have more means that another has to have less. Too many people today trap themselves into poverty and utterly hideous lifestyles because they simply can't envision the infinity of the resources available to them. Much of the training that I want to impart to people is not just that we can live and survive, but that we can live well and thrive.

When a person has a limited perspective then everything that person does must come through the filter of those limitations. Mystic Wolf Press is about breaking free of those limitations and sharing the bounty and abundance of the universe with as many people as possible. I believe that Lao Tzu gets the credit for saying "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for the rest of his life."

Give yourself permission

In our modern culture we usually look to external sources for permission to do anything. We've become accustomed to being told what we can and cannot do by the government, the church, our family, friends and the television.

The simple fact is that every one of us has the ability to connect to our own inner authority and inner power. Some of the philosophies and exercises in this book will cover this in more detail, but for now I want you to give yourself permission to open your mind and heart and study the information in here from the attitude of "I CAN".

Giving yourself permission is the first step in touching and using your inner authority. It's the moment when you quit reacting to what is happening to you and begin to take charge of your life and chart your own course.

Keeping a Positive Attitude

As you begin to follow this path you're going to experience emotions, feelings and in some cases pain. Sometimes it'll only make sense years later when you look back on it and realize what was happening. In many cases starting your business is like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle without having any kind of picture to go by.

No matter what happens, or where you feel drawn to go, a positive attitude will make the whole thing easier. I try to look at everything as a test, and that works for my personality. Each individual moment I have choices that I can make. I can be enlightened or ignorant, loving or afraid, loud or quiet and it all depends on my willingness to listen to the inner voices that we all have. The inner voices (spirit guides?)(Yeah, I know it sounds crazy) are an amazing asset to keeping you on the right path and helping you become the person you came here to be.

That kind of insanity requires a positive attitude.

Developing your self-awareness

Becoming the spiritually aware entrepreneur begins with the process of learning to accept exactly who you are, with all your warts, wonders and blemishes.

Your self is just like a blanket that you cover up with or a jacket that you put on. Spend some time becoming completely comfortable with it and you'll begin to see that you can put it on and take it off at will. It's just an external way to identify which self is yours. Once you can get beyond that and see that you don't really exist, then you can really start having fun with this stuff.

Developing your self-awareness is a multi-faceted exercise that encompasses all parts of your being. No matter how good you become at it there will always be new layers to uncover and new things to learn.

At the elementary levels of this business you'll have to look at your physical self, your mental self and your spiritual self and see how you can integrate them into your total being. This is a process that can take the rest of your life, so settle in for the long haul. As you can see this is about much more than just creating a business, It's about creating a businessperson (you) that you can be proud of.

The Law of Reciprocity

Simply stated, the Law of Reciprocity is; "What goes around comes around."

I realize that this sounds simple, almost to the point of being silly, but this incredibly simple concept is echoed repeatedly in every single spiritual path and religion in the world for a good reason. It works!

When it comes to your business it's especially important to remember that what you send out is what you'll get back. If you send out fear and hate then that's exactly what you'll get back.

When you use this principle in your life it's important to remember that what you want to receive is what you have to give. If you want to have more time then give time. If you want more money then give money. If you want more love then give love, etc., etc.

Those interested in really using this principle in your lives are encouraged to read Stuart Wilde's book The Trick to Money is Having Some and Robert Kiyosaki's excellent Rich Dad, Poor Dad series. I can't praise either of those books enough as they've been extremely helpful for me personally.

Dr. Wayne Dyer also talks about this principle repeatedly in his books, as do Louise Hay, Caroline Myss and a host of others. This concept can be used to enhance every part of your life, so look for new ways to use it.

** (Authors note; First, a word about energy. You'll see me use that term a lot in this book, partly because some of these sections are cut from the other books that I've written on meditation. How can I cut those sections out of a meditation book and plop them right down into a business book? I do it because we are not only dealing with money and business but with our relationships to one another and the universe in general!

Money is a form of energy. It's the tool that we apply to various situations as a lever to get things done. When you begin to see that money is only a form of energy then it opens you up to all of the different forms of energy that you can use, rather than just money. For instance, in many cases what we need is not really money, but some other resource such as another person's time or a tool that someone else has. Learn to open up to having the proper energy that you need rather than to just having money. With that in mind I'm only going to refer to energy for the rest of this section. It's up to you to identify and find the proper form of energy that you need for a particular situation) **

When you are using your energy and sending it to someone else, it's vitally important to remember that what you send is what you'll get back. Therefore you'll always want to keep this in mind, even when training in the dojo. As you begin doing these exercises you are going to be using more energy in your everyday life. Even though it's very subtle, people will still be able to feel that energy and respond to it.

If you let that energy run loose and uncontrolled, especially if you haven't learned to balance out your anger issues and emotional attachments, then you are going to offend people and hurt feelings, even when you don't mean to.

As you begin building up your personal catalog of experiences and experimenting with your energy, you're going to be tempted to play with it with other people. Remember to keep your intentions clear and remember that what you send out is what you're going to have returned.

If you want to practice sending energy into other people make sure that you are sending loving and benevolent energy. Even though you'll occasionally be tempted to send a good dose of revenge and retribution out to those you think deserve it, remember the Law of Reciprocity. For my part I try to make a point of sending good energy to those who disagree with me. If they are wrong then I hope that the energy helps them see the right answers. If it turns out that I'm wrong (which apparently happens a lot J) then it's good to send a little 'thanks and happiness' to someone who helped you learn a lesson.

Robert Kiyosaki writes profoundly about the Law of Reciprocity in his books. He makes a great point that you have to give if you are going to receive and that you must give away that which you need most to receive.

If you need money then you must give money. Give it to a charity, or to a 'bum' or to a stranger on the street, but give it just to give it and don't try to have any expectations about what you'll get back. This is important.

When you give simply to give and without any expectation of a return then you are sending out a message to the universe that "I have plenty! I have so much that I can just give it away to help someone else."

Like attracts like. When you have an abundant and giving attitude then you'll find that there is plenty of abundance to share. When you have a negative attitude and won't give because you feel that you don't have enough to share then you are just confirming that reality for yourself.

Spend some time thinking about this and working up to it. You don't have to give away your house and cars. Start small and send $5 a month to PBS or NPR, to an animal rescue shelter or some other charity that you can believe in. You may think that $5 a month isn't enough to make a difference for anyone, but every charity that I've ever seen would be happy with that.

Don't have any expectations about what you may get back for your donation. Do it just to share and in the hopes that it'll help those hardworking folks make the work a better place.

This next section is when we get into the power of Networks so think about this, if everyone in the network that you are going to build also sends in $5 a month to a charity then you are going to get to the point, as your network expands, where you will be single-handedly affecting some real social change. If you want to multiply this then talk to the people in your downline (your network) about everyone sending $5 a month to the same charity.

2006 Robert Morgen. This article may be used by anyone, anywhere as long as the author's bio and links are included.

"Our Abundant Universe" is an excerpt from Robert Morgen's new book The Spiritual Entrepreneur.

Robert Morgen had a near-death kundalini awakening in 1992.

He's the author of 'Kundalini Awakening for Personal Mastery 2nd Edition' and 'The Spiritual Entrepreneur'

Find out more about his books, radio shows and teleseminars at http://SpiritualEntrepreneur.biz

Missing Years Of Jesus